Victoria Kjær Theilvig of Denmark Crowned Winner

Miss Denmark is now Miss Universe!

On Saturday, Nov. 16, contestant Victoria Kjær Theilvig became the first-ever Danish winner of Miss Universe as she took home the title at the 73rd version of the competition.

The beauty pageant, held in Mexico City, featured over 120 additional contestants, as Nigeria’s Chidimma Adetshina finished as first runner-up, followed by Maria Fernanda Beltran of Mexico, Suchata Chuangsri of Thailand and Ileana Marquez Pedroza of Venezuela, per the Associated Press and CNN.

Theilvig, 21, accepted her tiara from Miss Universe 2023, Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua.

The competition itself was held inside the city’s 20,000-person-capacity Mexico City Arena, with its finale hosted by Mario Lopez and Olivia Culpo, another former Miss Universe.

During the event, Theilvig urged viewers to “keep fighting … no matter where you come from,” according to CNN.

“I stand here today because I want a change, I want to make history, and that’s what I’m doing tonight,” she added.

Per the AP, Theilvig is an animal protection advocate and works in the diamond-selling business.

During her winning moment, Theilvig and Adetshina could be seen holding hands excitedly in anticipation of the results, before Theilvig squatted to the ground and was presented with her accolades after the results were called.

“With grace, intelligence, and beauty, you’ve captured our hearts. Congratulations, Miss Universe 2024,” the competition wrote in an Instagram caption on Sunday, Nov. 17, alongside photos of this year’s winner.

In a later post, Theilvig celebrated her “first sunrise” as Miss Universe. “Waking up with gratitude, dreams, and a crown—ready to embrace this incredible journey. ✨,” she wrote.

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Elsewhere during the Miss Universe event, 131 mariachi musicians joined Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas for a song created by Emilio Estefan, “Mexicana” — during what marked Mexico’s third time hosting, per the AP.

The competition also marked a first-time showing for contestants from Belarus, Eritrea, Guinea, Macau, Maldives, Moldova and Uzbekistan, according to the outlet.

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Outside of Miss Denmark’s victory, this year’s ceremony featured plenty of other firsts, including women over the age of 28 being able to enter Miss Universe.

Miss Universe announced the change in September 2023, stating that it would allow “every adult woman in the world” eligibility to compete.