Since its first show in 1952 in Long Beach, California, the Miss Universe continues to be one of the biggest annual international beauty pageants. This year's contest saw 92 women from around the world compete for the title, making it the biggest group of Miss Universe contestants ever. Included in the mix were first-time representatives from Cambodia, Laos and Nepal. It all culminated in the final crowning in Las Vegas on Sunday.
The winner? Miss South Africa, also known as Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters. While the glitz of the contest and the build-up to the crowning ceremony is for many people exciting enough, it's Nel-Peters' backstory that is really getting people talking.
[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/Bb0WhOagVIV/?hl=en&taken-by=demileighnp]]
The 22-year-old was held at gunpoint in June this year, just a month after being named South Africa's official beauty queen. She was driving in Johannesburg before she was carjacked and held at gunpoint. The Miss South Africa organization wrote in an official post that Nel-Peters "was approached by three armed hijackers" and that after fleeing her car, "a good Samaritan came to Demi's aid and drove her away from the scene".
[[facebookwidget||https://www.facebook.com/MsSouthAfrica/posts/1039869366144199]]
She herself took to Instagram to post a photo and announce she was safe and unharmed, thanking the kind strangers who helped her out.
"It's people like you who give me even more hope for our beautiful South Africa. Yes, we experience hardships but the good always out ways the bad."
[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/BVE7k3XA9Fv/?hl=en&taken-by=demileighnp]]
Nel-Peters has always advocated for women's rights and encouraged women to learn self-defense, which was only reinforced after the incident. She teaches self-defense courses and has also recently earned a business management degree.
And now, back at the Planet Hollywood casino-resort on the Las Vegas Strip, the Miss Universe crown was placed on her head by last year's winner, Iris Mittenaere from France. Nel-Peters will also be rewarded with a bunch of other sparkly prizes including a year-long salary, a glam apartment in NYC, and importantly – a large spotlight in which she can voice the issues she's passionate about.
[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/Bb-7FrslI7u/?taken-by=missuniverse]]
Just after being crowned on Sunday night, the South-African was not afraid to comment on the topical issue of late regarding sexual harassment.
"If women take hands and stand together, we are unbreakable," she said, "and we can say no to the things that are wrong in the workplace, at home or wherever you might go."
[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/Bb_EyU-FL-c/?taken-by=missuniverse]]
Miss Colombia Laura Gonzalez came second, while afro-sporting crowd favourite Miss Jamaica Davina Bennett finished in third place. She also voiced her thoughts on the issue during the contest. "Sexual harassment is a form of abuse, and no abuse should be tolerated whether in the workplace or in society," Bennett said.
Nel-Peters is using her influence to raise awareness about violence against women and children on social media. "This is a cause dear to me after my attempted hijacking," she wrote in an Instagram post.
[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/Bb9n5NQA2sz/?hl=en&taken-by=demileighnp]]
It comes after other
models have used their prominence in worldwide competitions to voice their concerns about political and cultural issues – just last month, pageant contestants from Peru made headlines after listing grueling facts about violence against women in the South American country, rather than the standard requirement to list their body measurements on stage.
While beauty pageants and modeling competitions are usually of little interest to people and waved away for their trivial nature, we've been hearing more about them in recent times for good reason. Congratulations, Nel-Peters.
