Miss Denmark won the Miss Universe 2024 pageant
Miss Denmark Victoria Kjær Theilvig has been crowned the new Miss Universe.
Theilvig, 21, was named the winner of the 73rd Miss Universe competition on Saturday night in Mexico City. She was crowned by Miss Universe 2023 Sheynnis Palacios, the first woman from Nicaragua to win the title.
In second place was Miss Nigeria Chidimma Adetshina, followed by Miss Mexico María Fernanda Beltrán Figueroa.
Theilvig is the first Miss Denmark to win Miss Universe. It had been 61 years since a contestant from the country had placed in the top five of the competition.
During the final round, the top five contestants were all asked the same question: "Miss Universe has inspired generations of women. What is your message to the women watching you right now?"
"No matter where you come from, no matter your past, you can always choose to turn it into your strengths," Theilvig said in her response. "It will never define who you are. You just gotta keep fighting."
"I stand here today because I want to change, I want to make history, and that's what I'm doing tonight," she added. "So, never give up, always believe in yourself and your dreams, and that is exactly what you're going to do."
Theilvig is a dancer and beauty entrepreneur who regularly advocates for mental-health support and animal rights. She aspires to become a lawyer.
Multiple contestants made history at Miss Universe this year.
Adetshina, who won first runner-up, is the first Miss Nigeria to place in the top five at Miss Universe.
Miss Egypt Logina Salah was the first woman with vitiligo to compete in the pageant, while 40-year-old Miss Malta Beatrice Njoya was the oldest woman to compete in the Miss Universe pageant.
