• Miss Mexico Andrea Meza is crowned Miss Universe 2020. Getty Images
    Miss Mexico Andrea Meza is crowned Miss Universe 2020. Getty Images
  • The 69th edition of the pageant took place at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Florida, on May 16, 2021. Getty Images
    The 69th edition of the pageant took place at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Florida, on May 16, 2021. Getty Images
  • Miss Mexico Andrea Meza is crowned onstage by Miss Universe 2019, Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa. Getty Images
    Miss Mexico Andrea Meza is crowned onstage by Miss Universe 2019, Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa. Getty Images
  • Miss Universe, Miss Mexico Andrea Meza. Getty Images
    Miss Universe, Miss Mexico Andrea Meza. Getty Images
  • Andrea Meza is congratulated by fellow contestants. Getty Images
    Andrea Meza is congratulated by fellow contestants. Getty Images
  • From left: Miss Mexico Andrea Meza, Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi and Miss Universe Brazil Julia Gama ahead of the announcement. Getty Images
    From left: Miss Mexico Andrea Meza, Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi and Miss Universe Brazil Julia Gama ahead of the announcement. Getty Images
  • Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi appears onstage at the Miss Universe 2020 pageant. Getty Images/AFP
    Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi appears onstage at the Miss Universe 2020 pageant. Getty Images/AFP
  • Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa. Getty Images
    Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa. Getty Images
  • Hosts Olivia Culpo and Mario Lopez speak on stage with Miss Bolivia, Lenka Nemer, who won the Impact Award. Getty Images
    Hosts Olivia Culpo and Mario Lopez speak on stage with Miss Bolivia, Lenka Nemer, who won the Impact Award. Getty Images
  • Luis Fonsi performs onstage at the Miss Universe 2020 pageant. Getty Images
    Luis Fonsi performs onstage at the Miss Universe 2020 pageant. Getty Images
  • Contestants appear on stage ahead of the final announcement at the Miss Universe 2020 pageant. Getty Images
    Contestants appear on stage ahead of the final announcement at the Miss Universe 2020 pageant. Getty Images

Miss Universe: Zozibini Tunzi crowns Miss Mexico Andrea Meza as winner


Farah Andrews
  • English
  • Arabic

Miss Universe 2020 has wrapped, with Miss Mexico Andrea Meza being crowned queen at the May 16 event.

The 2019 winner, South Africa's Zozibini Tunzi, was at the US pageant to crown her successor.

Watch as an emotional Meza is crowned here: 

The first runner-up in the 69th iteration of the competition was Miss Brazil Julia Gama, followed by Miss Peru Janick Maceta, and Miss India Adline Castelino came fourth.

A number of special awards were given during the event, including Best National Costume, which went to Miss Myanmar Thuzar Wint Lwin; the Impact Award, which was awarded to Miss Bolivia Lenka Nemer; and the Carnival Spirit Award, which was given to Miss Dominican Republic Kimberly Jimenez.

The event was last year postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic. It was hosted on Sunday night at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, South Florida, and was hosted by Mario Lopez and Olivia Culpo, a former Miss Universe who was crowned in 2012.

The event featured a performance from Puerto Rican singer Luis Fonsi.

Dubai designers Furne One and Michael Cinco shine on Miss Universe stage

Gowns created by two Dubai designers have been front and centre at the ongoing Miss Universe pageant.

Filipino designer Furne One (pronounced o-nay), who has dressed many Hollywood and Bollywood stars with his 20-year-old Amato label, was tasked to create two looks for his country’s contestant Rabiya Mateo.

Miss Universe Philippines debuted the first look, a bright yellow tulle gown, at the preliminary round of the contest held at the weekend.

One, who also created a gown for Mateo for the finals, says it was a challenge to put together the looks because of travel restrictions.

“I couldn’t travel to the Philippines, so we had all our fittings over Zoom and that took much more time and effort,” he says.

Michael Cinco, another celebrity favourite, also had his designs worn by contestants at the pageant.

Miss Romania Bianca Tirsin on Saturday wore a butterfly-inspired gown made of French sequins and Swarovski crystals from the Filipino designer's spring / summer 2021 collection.

The same night, Miss Czech Republic Klara Vavruskova donned another butterfly-inspired dress with an elaborate cocoon-style ruffled shoulder, also from Cinco’s spring / summer 2021 collection.

On Sunday, Miss Canada Nova Stevens also wore one of Cinco's dresses for the finals. The pair met when she travelled to Dubai in April.

“She is such an inspiring woman, and her journey as a refugee from Sudan to winning the Miss Canada crown is nothing short of amazing," said Cinco. "So we have created a dress to celebrate that. It’s our message of strength and hope.”