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. 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. 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.”
