Contestant from South Africa crowned Miss Universe

By Sara M Moniuszko, USA TODAY , WXIA From 11 ALIVE.com

The runner-up was Miss Colombia.

The woman representing South Africa has won has won the Miss Universe crown.

Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, who recently earned a business management degree, was crowned Sunday during the event that took place at The AXIS theater at Planet Hollywood casino-resort on the Las Vegas Strip.

The runner-up was Miss Colombia Laura Gonzalez. The second runner-up was Miss Jamaica Davina Bennett.

Ninety-two women from around the world participated in the decades-old competition. This year’s edition had the most contestants ever.

The 22-year-old Nel-Peters has earned a yearlong salary, a luxury apartment in New York City for the duration of her reign and more prizes.

During a pre-taped interview, the Western Cape native talked about how her experience being held at gunpoint made her passionate about training women in self-defense. She plans to bring that passion, along with a self-defense program she helped develop, to the Miss Universe platform.

During the competition’s Q&A portion, the newly crowned Miss Universe was asked about the most important issue she thought was facing women in the workplace.

“In some places, women get paid 75% of what men earn for doing the same job, working the same hours — and I do not believe that this is right,” she said. “I think we should have equal work for equal pay for women all over the world.”

Miss Colombia and Miss Jamaica also impressed the judges during the Q&A segment, answering questions on how to talk to children about terrorism and sexual harassment, respectively.

“Sexual harassment is a form of abuse and no abuse should be tolerated whether in the workplace or in society,” Bennett said. “I believe that men and women should come together and be professional.”

The competition’s top 13 finalists were Thailand, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Spain, Ireland, Croatia, Great Britain, USA, Brazil, Canada, Philippines, Venezuela and China.

Last year, Iris Mittenaere from France was crowned when the pageant took place in the Philippines.

IMAGES:

LAS VEGAS, NV – NOVEMBER 26: Miss South Africa 2017 Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters (center L) embraces Miss Teen USA 2017 Sophia Dominguez-Heithoff (center R) as she is named the 2017 Miss Universe. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters is crowned by last year’s Miss Universe, Iris Mittenaere from France. GETTY

Anika Conolly, Miss Cayman Islands 2017 debuts her National Costume on stage at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on November 18, 2017. The National Costume

Yvonne Clarke, Miss Trinidad & Tobago 2017 debuts her National Costume on stage at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on November 18, 2017. The National Costume

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ADD IMAGE: Miss Jamaica, Davina Bennett Jamaicans.com