The 69th Miss Universe Pageant
The 69th MISS UNIVERSE ANDREA MEZA
Andrea Meza, 26, is from Chihuahua City, and represented her home country, Mexico, as Miss Universe Mexico, in the 69th annual Miss Universe competition.
Andrea has a degree in software engineering, and is an activist, focused on women's rights and currently works closely with the Municipal Institute for Women, which aims to end gender-based violence. She is also a certified make-up artist and model, who is also passionate about being active and living a healthy lifestyle.
She is vegan, and enjoys extreme sports in her free time. Andrea is also the official Tourism Brand Ambassador for her hometown, Chihuahua, promoting the best touristic attractions and rich culture her beautiful home offers.
This Year, Miss Universe Got Political
On Sunday night in Hollywood, Florida, Miss Mexico Andrea Meza was crowned Miss Universe. This was particularly exciting for pageant stans who’d been waiting a year since the show was delayed due to COVID-19. But what was arguably even more exciting for the rest of the world was witnessing Miss Singapore Bernadette Belle Ong, Miss Myanmar Thuzar Wint Lwin, and Miss Uruguay Lola de los Santos make powerful statements during the “national costume” segment last Thursday.
Ong walked down the catwalk in a red sequined bodysuit, red thigh-high boots, and a red-and-white cape with voluminous sleeves — a riff on Singapore’s national flag. But the surprise came when she turned around. Her red-and-white cape was hand-painted by Filipino artist Paulo Espinosa with the message: “Stop Asian Hate.”
“What is this platform for if I can’t use it to send a strong message of resistance against prejudice and violence!” Ong wrote on Instagram. Arwin Meriales, the Filipino designer who created the cape, echoed her, saying, “It’s not just a national costume. It’s a statement and protest to stop Asian hate. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of such a cause?”
Miss Universe contestants unveil protest messages in politically charged pageant
The Miss Universe stage was lit up with colorful protests as contestants from Singapore, Uruguay and Myanmar used the limelight to unveil messages about political and social issues.
During the "national costume" segment of the annual competition, which concluded Sunday in Florida, the three contestants revealed messages alluding to anti-Asian hate, discrimination against LGBTQ communities and the ongoing political crisis in Myanmar.
In a one of the pageant's most dramatic moments, Miss Universe Singapore, Bernadette Belle Ong, strode down the runway wearing an outfit inspired by the colors of Singapore's national flag before turning to unveil a call to "Stop Asian Hate." Miss Universe Uruguay, Lola de los Santos, meanwhile showed support for LGBTQ communities with a rainbow outfit and skirt reading, "No more hate, violence, rejection, discrimination."
At Miss Universe, Contestants Mix Pageantry With Political Messages
Left to right: Miss Universe Uruguay Lola de los Santos, Miss Universe Myanmar Ma Thuzar Wint Lwin and Miss Universe Bernadette Belle Ong during the National Costume segment of Miss Universe 2021
Thuzar Wint Lwin strode down the runway at the Miss Universe pageant in a costume that represented her Chin people in northwestern Myanmar. When she got to the end, she took a bow and unfurled a scroll she'd been carrying.
"Pray for Myanmar," it read.
It was a powerful message from Myanmar's Miss Universe contestant — and a reference to the ongoing bloodshed in her country since the military junta seized power in February.
At Miss Universe, Contestants Mix Pageantry With Political Messages
Left to right: Miss Universe Uruguay Lola de los Santos, Miss Universe Myanmar Ma Thuzar Wint Lwin and Miss Universe Bernadette Belle Ong during the National Costume segment of Miss Universe 2021
Thuzar Wint Lwin strode down the runway at the Miss Universe pageant in a costume that represented her Chin people in northwestern Myanmar.
When she got to the end, she took a bow and unfurled a scroll she'd been carrying. "Pray for Myanmar," it read.
It was a powerful message from Myanmar's Miss Universe contestant — and a reference to the ongoing bloodshed in her country since the military junta seized power in February.
Miss Singapore Sends #StopAsianHate Message With Powerful Miss Universe Costume
The annual Miss Universe contest is always a highly-anticipated affair and this year is no different, complete with plenty of camp and circumstance. But the stakes got higher in the national costume segment of the night, with contestants looking to shine a spotlight on the political issues of their countries or communities. Myanmar’s candidate Thuzar Wint Lwin raised a banner towards the end of her walk that read "Pray for Myanmar," highlighting the violent clashes in February when military forces seized and detained elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other members of the National League for Democracy.
Miss Singapore Bernadette Belle Ong, however, fully incorporated her message into the costume itself, calling attention to the #StopAsianHate movement through a dazzling bodysuit and with the hashtag on a flowing cape. She explains the message through a post on her Instagram account: "This year’s national costume is inspired by the Singapore flag. The red of the flag represents universal fellowship, and white purity. These ideals ring true not just for Singapore but also at an international competition like Miss Universe that brings women together to empower each other and address important issues. #stopasianhate"
Ong goes on to remind audiences of Singapore's cosmopolitan nature where communities of different ethnicities and religious practices live in harmony. "Our peaceful social fabric is built on respect for all races, languages and religions. 🌟 We stand tall and raise our voice for democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality. This is what makes Singapore thrive as a multicultural, inter-religious nation."
Miss Universe S'pore 2021 dons 'Stop Asian Hate' slogan on national costume with flag colours
Miss Universe is being held in the United States this year at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, located in the city of Hollywood in southern Broward County.
The area, however, has the dubious honour of having a record daily average of more than 400 Covid-19 cases, while the state of Florida has more than 3,000 daily infections.
But that has not deterred Ong. Ong, a model-actress-host, joined Miss Universe Singapore (MUS) 2019, where she won the Miss Charm subsidiary award. She was handpicked by MUS national director and 2011 winner Valerie Lim to be Singapore's delegate in December 2020 after the local event could not be held because of the pandemic.
At Miss Universe pageant, Myanmar’s contestant pleads “our people are dying”
Myanmar’s Miss Universe contestant, Thuzar Wint Lwin, used the pageant on Sunday to urge the world to speak out against the military junta, whose security forces have killed hundreds of opponents since it seized power in a Feb. 1 coup.
"Our people are dying and being shot by the military every day," she said in a video message for the competition, where she was appearing in the finals at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
"I would like to urge everyone to speak about Myanmar. As Miss Universe Myanmar since the coup, I have been speaking out as much as I can," she said.
Miss Mexico crowned Miss Universe 2021; Myanmar’s contestant pleads: ‘Our people are dying’
(Left) Miss Mexico Andrea Meza is crowned Miss Universe 2021 onstage at the Miss Universe 2021 Pageant at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on 16 May 2021 in Hollywood, Florida and (Right) Miss Myanmar Thuzar Wint Lwin appears onstage at the Miss Universe 2021 - National Costume Show at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on 13 May 2021 in Hollywood, Florida (Source: AFP)
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.
The 69th Miss Universe 2021 Top 10
THE Philippines' bet Rabiya Mateo has ended her pageant journey in the top 21 of the of the 69th edition of Miss Universe held at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, United States on Sunday evening, May 16, 2021 (US time).
Of the 74 countries who competed in the competition, 10 confidently beautiful women successfully entered the top 10 of the competition.
Here's the list countries who entered the top 10:
- Jamaica - Miqueal-Symone Williams
- Dominican Republic - Kimberly Jimenez
- India - Adline Castelino
- Peru - Janick Maceta
- Australia - Maria Thattil
- Puerto Rico - Estefania Soto
- Thailand - Amanda Obdam
- Costa Rica - Amanda Obdam
- Mexico - Andrea Meza
- Brazil - Julia Gama
The 69th Miss Universe Pageant
- Miss Universe Mexico took the crown - Andrea Meza, whose full name is Alma Andrea Mezza Carmona, is the official winner of the 69th Miss Universe pageant
- Miss Universe Thailand made Top 10 for the sixth consecutive year - Miss Universe Thailand, Amanda Obdam was top seven out of 74 nation representatives
- Miss Universe Nepal brought the Himalayas to the stage - Miss Universe Nepal, Anshika Sharma’s costume was strikingly full of elements that symbolised Nepal
- Miss Universe Myanmar wins national costume competition - Miss Universe Myanmar, Thuzar Wint Lwin used the star-studded pageant to signal the turmoil her nation is facing
- Miss Singapore addresses hate crimes against the Asian community - Adding to the list of political statements made during the national costume competition is Miss Universe Singapore, Bernadette Belle Wu Ong
- Miss Universe Philippines found an ally in Miss Universe 2018 - Also facing criticism for her national costume is Rabiya Mateo, Miss Universe Philippines
- Louis Fonsi serenades Top 5 finalists - The Top 5 Miss Universe finalists were serenaded by Luis Fonsi
- Arden Cho from Teen Wolf was part of the panel - For those of you wondering why one of the judges looked extra familiar, it’s because she’s no other than Arden Cho a.k.a Kira from Teen Wolf
Miss Universe 1952 - The first Miss Universe pageant
Armi Kuusela of Finland as Miss Universe 1952
Miss Universe 1952 was the first Miss Universe pageant, held at the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium in Long Beach, California, United States on 28 June 1952.
At the end of the event, actress Piper Laurie crowned Armi Kuusela of Finland as Miss Universe 1952. It was the first victory of Finland in the history of the pageant.
Contestants from 30 countries and territories participated in this year's pageant. The pageant was hosted by Bob Russell. The competition featured the Romanov Imperial Nuptial Crown, which was previously owned by a Russian czar. The crown was said to have 1,535 diamonds, 300 carats, and was valued at $500,000.
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