24-year-old Catriona Gray was named the most beautiful woman in the universe on Monday in the Thai capital Bangkok. The music student prevailed over more than 90 competitors for the coveted title.
This year’s Miss Universe election also caused a stir with the first transsexual candidate in the history of the competition, the Spaniard Angela Ponce.
During the live televised poll, the candidates were asked about their views on topics such as press freedom, the legalization of marijuana, refugees and the #MeToo debate. The later winner, Gray, received applause for her work in the slums of the Philippine capital, Manila. In the event of her victory she wanted to find areas „where I could give something back where I could offer something.“
Miss USA has to apologize
The decision who received the Miss title, this time met a women-only jury. The Spanish candidate Ponce had already made history in advance: she was the first transsexual candidate since the beauty pageant six years ago passed away from the principle that all candidates should be „naturally born“ women.
Ponce is committed to a greater acceptance of transsexual people and hopes for a „more tolerant and respectful“ society. Outside the Miss Universe competition, transsexuals are still often marginalized and misunderstood. The suicide rate among them is high.
On the other hand, there was a mood for Miss USA, Sarah Rose Summers, who was amused by the social media about the candidates from Vietnam and Cambodia because they did not speak English. For the 24-year-old earned a Shitstorme. Later, Summers apologized via Instagram for the statements.
Already on Saturday, 8th of December, the „Miss World“ was announced in China. The winner was 26-year-old Vanessa Ponce de Leon from Mexico.
