South African wins Miss Universe crown
Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, who represented South Africa, won the Miss Universe crown Sunday.
The 22-year-old, who wants to use her reign to champion HIV/ AIDS and self-defence causes, was crowned at The AXIS theatre at Planet Hollywood casinoresort on the Las Vegas Strip.
“HIV/AIDS is a very big problem in my country South Africa, so I hope to stand as an advocate for that,’’ she said before reporters after the event.
Along with the title, NelPeters earned a yearlong salary, a luxury apartment in New York City for the duration of her reign and more prizes.
The runner-up was Miss Colombia Laura Gonzalez, while the second runner-up was Miss Jamaica Davina Bennett.
Ninety-two women from around the world participated in the decades-old competition.
When asked to name the most important issue women face in the workplace, Nel-Peters said the lack of equal pay.
“In some places, women get paid 75 per cent of what men earn for doing the same job, working the same hours and I do not believe that is right,’’ said Nel-Peters, who recently earned a business management degree. “I think we should have equal work for equal pay for women all over the world.’’
Nel-Peters is from the South African coastal community of Sedgefield in the Western Cape province. She helped develop a program to train women in selfdefence in various situations after she was robbed at gunpoint a month after she was crowned Miss South Africa. Miss South Africa Demi-Leigh NelPeters waves after she was announced as the new Miss Universe at the Miss Universe pageant on Sunday in Las Vegas.
The subject of sexual harassment against women, which has dominated headlines in the U.S. over the past two months, was raised during the pageant.
In response to a question, Jamaica’s Bennett said no form of abuse, including sexual harassment, should be tolerated, and any instances of sexual harassment should be brought to authorities.
After the show, Nel-Peters said women can empower each other to stand up against any abuse.
“You feel so empowered because you are on a stage with 91 other women that are strong, that are independent, that have worked really hard,’’ she said. “They are all winners; they are winners of their own countries, and to me, that was so empowering. That just showed me that if women take hands and stand together, we are unbreakable and we can say no to the things that are wrong in the workplace, at home or wherever you might go.’’