South African business graduate Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters has been crowned Miss Universe.
The Miss Universe 2017 competition took place Sunday night (local time) in Las Vegas, airing here in New Zealand on Monday afternoon.
After 19-year-old Kiwi contestant Harlem-Cruz Atarangi Ihaia was eliminated early, it was down to the final three in the last moments of the competition.
Miss Universe host Steve Harvey acknowledged his famous screw up of 2015, when he read out the wrong winner, saying: "We've been here before. Be afraid, be very afraid," as he accepted the envelope.
Miss Colombia Laura Gonzalez was announced runner-up. The second runner-up was Miss Jamaica Davina Bennett.
Miss South Africa Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters held back tears as she accepted the crown. The beauty has reportedly earned a business management degree.
Ninety-two women from around the world participated in the decades-old competition, the most contestants ever.
Newshub.
