Victoria Kjær of Denmark is declared as Miss universe

Victoria Kjaer Theilvig has been crowned Miss Universe, the first contestant from Denmark to achieve the honour.

The 21-year-old dancer, entrepreneur, and animal rights activist beat out more than 120 contestants in the pageant’s 73rd edition held in Mexico City. First runner-up was Chidimma Adetshina, a law student representing Nigeria, followed by Maria Fernanda Beltran of Mexico, Suchata Chuangsri of Thailand, and Ileana Marquez of Venezuela. Marquez, 28, had earlier made history as the first mother to be crowned Miss Venezuela. After the 2023 competition included married, plus-sized and transgender contestants, this year’s featured women older than 28 – the cut-off in previous pageants. Among them was Beatrice Njoya of Malta, who at 40 became the oldest woman to reach the grand finale. Adetshina was formerly a Miss South Africa finalist before she was hounded over a nationality row which forced her to represent Nigeria.