Miss Universe: The ascension of beauty queens from the Global South

Beauty queens from the global south between 2017 to 2021 won the ultimate crown consecutively and held competitive runner-up places.

During the 72^nd Miss Universe Competition, Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua was crowned overall winner of the competition, making her the fifth Global South winner in the past five years and the ninth in the last 10 years.

At the Gimnasio Nacional José Adolfo Pineda, San Salvador in El Salvador, Nicaragua was handed its first-ever taste of victory at the Miss Universe campaign when Sheynnis Palacios topped the list of 84 women.

Before her crowning moment, Palacios was asked, "If you could live one year in another woman's shoes, who would you choose and why?”

“I would choose Mary Wollstonecraft because she opened the gap and gave an opportunity to many women. I would want that gap to open up so that more women could work in any area they choose to work in because there is no area where women could not work in," she said.

In the spirit of celebration and appreciation of Miss Nicaragua's triumph on the global stage, a recap of the global south beauties in the past five years.

Harnaazareand Sandhu, India (Miss Universe 2021)

In a historic win, Harnaaz Sandhu claimed the Miss Universe crown for India in 2021, ending a 21-year gap for the country. Sandhu, previously crowned Miss Universe India 2021, expressed overwhelming joy, emphasizing the importance of self-belief and individual uniqueness in her victory message. Harnaaz Sandhu said the following about youth audiences: "The biggest pressure the youth is facing is to believe in themselves, to know that you are unique, and that's what makes you beautiful. Stop comparing yourself with others, and let's talk about more important things that are happening worldwide."

Andrea Meza, Mexico (Miss Universe 2020)

Andrea Meza, a software engineer, secured Mexico's victory as the 69th Miss Universe. Despite having the shortest reign in history due to the pandemic, Meza's triumph highlighted a shift in beauty standards, emphasizing that beauty goes beyond physical appearance. During the final statement round, Miss Mexico was asked to address the topic of changing beauty standards. "We live in a society that more and more is more advanced and as we have advanced as a society, we have advanced with stereotypes," she shared via a translator. "Nowadays, beauty is not only the way we look. For me, beauty radiates not only in our spirits but in our hearts and the way we conduct ourselves. Never permit someone to tell you that you are not valuable." 

Zozibini Tunzi, South Africa (Miss Universe 2019)

Zozibini Tunzi, the third South African to win Miss Universe, made history by embracing Afro-textured hair on the global stage. Tunzi advocated for leadership education for young girls, challenging societal labels on women. Her unconventional reign opened doors globally, leaving a lasting impact. At the question and answer, Zozibini answered the question, "What is the most important thing we should be teaching girls today?" She answered, "I think the most important thing we should be teaching young girls today is leadership. It's something that has been lacking in young girls and women for a very long time. Not because we don't want to, but because of what society has labelled women to be. I think we are the most powerful beings in the world."

Catriona Gray, Philippines (Miss Universe 2018)

Catriona Gray's victory in 2018 brought pride to the Philippines, showcasing qualities of confidence, grace, intelligence, and strength. Gray's success exemplified the ability of Filipino women to overcome doubt and pressure, turning dreams into reality. "My heart is filled with so much gratitude…There were moments of doubt where I felt overwhelmed and I felt the pressure," she said.