LAS VEGAS, Nov 27:
South Africa’s Demi-Leigh Nel- Peters was today crowned Miss Universe for 2017.
India’s Shraddha Shashidhar could not make a mark at the world’s biggest beauty pageant, failing to make it even to the top 16.
The country was hoping for a double win with Manushi Chhillar bagging the Miss World 2017 crown on November 18.
Nel-Peters, 22, was presented the crown by her predecessor Iris Mittenaere of France, according to the Twitter account of the Miss Universe pageant.
Colombia’ Laura Gonzalez and Jamaica’s Davina Bennett were announced as first runner-up and second runner-up respectively.
In the competition’s Q&A section, Nel-Peters was asked, “What quality in yourself are you most proud of and how will you apply that quality to your time as Miss Universe?”
She responded by saying, “As Miss Universe you have to be confident in who you are as an individual. And Miss Universe is a woman that has overcome many fears and by that she is able to help other women to overcome their fears.
“She is a woman that nothing is ever too much to ask for and I think that is exactly who I am.”
Miss Venezuela and Miss Thailand were the other contestants who made it to top five at the pageant.
The event, which was held in Las Vegas, was hosted by comedian Steve Harvey. A total of 92 contestants participated in the pageant.
Harvey is known for his infamous gaffe during the Miss Universe 2015 pageant when he mistakenly named the first runner-up as the winner.
Harvey referred to his blunder and said he was grateful to the Oscars.
“I’ll tell you what I’m grateful for this Thanksgiving weekend. I’m grateful for the Oscars. ‘Cause it let me off the hook. So, you can sit here and act like you didn’t see what Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway did, but it got me off the hook,” Harvey was quoted as saying by E Online.
He was referring to the Oscar awards ceremony earlier this year when Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway announced “La La Land” as the best picture. It was only after the entire cast and crew were on the stage that the mistake was realised — the award had actually gone to “Moonlight”. (PTI)
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