Twenty-four-year-old model Iris Mittenaere from France was named Miss Universe in Manila on Monday, beating 85 contestants to win the coveted crown for France again after six decades.
Miss France Iris Mittenaere reacts before outgoing Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach places the Miss Universe crown on her during the 65th Miss Universe beauty pageant in Manila, the Philippines on January 30, 2017. /CFP Photo
Miss France Iris Mittenaere reacts before outgoing Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach places the Miss Universe crown on her during the 65th Miss Universe beauty pageant in Manila, the Philippines on January 30, 2017. /CFP Photo
Miss Haiti Raquel Pelissier, 25, came in the second, while Miss Colombia Andrea Tovar, 23, was placed the third.
Mittenaere, who was born in the northern French town of Lille and is pursuing a degree in dental surgery, is only the second Miss France to take home the crown after Christiane Martel in 1953.
The new Miss Universe Iris Mittenaere of France waves to photographers during a press conference after being crowned the winner at the Miss Universe pageant in Manila,the Philippines, on January 30, 2017. /CFP Photo
The new Miss Universe Iris Mittenaere of France waves to photographers during a press conference after being crowned the winner at the Miss Universe pageant in Manila,the Philippines, on January 30, 2017. /CFP Photo
She succeeds last year’s winner Miss Philippines Pia Wurtzbach.
Miss France Iris Mittenaere speaks next to emcee Steve Harvey during the question and answer portion during the 65th Miss Universe beauty pageant in Manila, the Philippines on January 30, 2017. /CFP Photo
Miss France Iris Mittenaere speaks next to emcee Steve Harvey during the question and answer portion during the 65th Miss Universe beauty pageant in Manila, the Philippines on January 30, 2017. /CFP Photo
"I think France and Europe really need a Miss Universe (after six decades)… French people love beauty pageants but they don't really know Miss Universe because our country never wins," Mittenaere said in her first press conference, predicting that more people would become interested in the show in the future, following her win.
Miss Universe candidates (L to R) Andrea Tovar of Colombia, Iris Mittenaere of France and Raquel Pelissier of Haiti stand on stage during the finals of the Miss Universe pageant in Manila, the Philippines on January 30, 2017. /CFP Photo
Miss Universe candidates (L to R) Andrea Tovar of Colombia, Iris Mittenaere of France and Raquel Pelissier of Haiti stand on stage during the finals of the Miss Universe pageant in Manila, the Philippines on January 30, 2017. /CFP Photo
The 65th Miss Universe pageant was held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila and was hosted by US comedian Steve Harvey, who made headlines in December 2015 when he mistakenly named Miss Colombia as the winner, instead of Miss Philippines Pia Wurtzbach.
(Source: Xinhua)
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