Miss Mexico was crowned Miss
Universe on Sunday in Florida, after fellow contestant Miss Myanmar used her
stage time to draw attention to the bloody military coup in her country.
Sunday night marked the Miss
Universe competition’s return to television after the pageant was cancelled in
2020 for the first time due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Andrea Meza, 26, finished first
ahead of the Brazilian and Peruvian finalists in a flashy televised event,
hosted by American actor Mario Lopez and television personality Olivia Culpo.
Dressed in a sparkling red
evening gown, Meza tearfully walked the catwalk as Miss Universe for the first
time, before rushing back for a group hug with the other competitors.
Meza beat more than 70
contestants from around the globe in the 69th instalment of Miss Universe,
which was held at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
In the days leading up to the
final competition, Miss Myanmar Thuzar Wint Lwin, who made the top 21, made
waves when she used her time in the spotlight to bring attention to the coup in
her country.
“Our people are dying and being
shot by the military every day,” she said during her biographical video, which
showed photos of her taking part in the anti-coup protests. “Therefore I would
like to urge everyone to speak out about Myanmar.”
She also won the award for best
national costume: during that competition segment on Thursday, she wore an
outfit beaded in traditional Burmese patterns and held up a sign that said,
“Pray for Myanmar.”
Myanmar has been in an uproar
since February 1, when the army ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
At least 796 people have been
killed by security forces since then, according to a local monitoring group,
while nearly 4,000 people are behind bars.
Miss Singapore Bernadette Belle
Ong — who did not make the top 21 — also used the national costume portion to
make a political statement.
Dressed in a glittering red
bodysuit and matching thigh-high boots, she turned around to reveal her cape —
in the colors of the Singaporean flag — was painted with the words “Stop Asian
Hate.”
The United States in particular
has seen a surge in anti-Asian violence in the past year, which activists have
blamed on former president Donald Trump’s rhetoric, especially his repeated
description of Covid-19 as the “China virus.”
The pageant has also drawn
criticism in the past for objectifying the contestants.
In recent years, the competition
has shifted image, focusing more on female empowerment and activism.
AFP
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