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| Vietnamese representative H’Hen Nie is part of the Top 5. |
The 24-year-old model, actress, TV host and seasoned beauty queen, who was born to an Australian father and a Filipina mother, took the top spot at the Miss Universe pageant held on Monday (Dec 17) in Bangkok.
Miss South Africa Tamaryn Green was the first runner-up, while Miss Venezuela Sthefany Gutierrez was the second runner-up.
Southeast Asian countries were also well-represented, with contestants from Indonesia and Thailand making it into the Top 20, while Miss Vietnam H'Hen Nie rounded out the Top 5.
Gray wore a sparkling red dress, and said, "When I was 13, my mum said she had a dream that I would win Miss Universe in a red dress." According to the Associated Press, she said her mom cried when they saw each other after she won the competition.
The office of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte congratulated the winner, saying in a statement: "Ms. Gray truly made the entire Philippines proud when she sashayed on the global stage and showcased the genuine qualities defining a Filipina beauty: confidence, grace, intelligence and strength in the face of tough challenges."
"In her success, Miss Philippines has shown to the world that women in our country have the ability to turn dreams into reality through passion, diligence, determination and hard work."
Gray is the fourth Filipina to be named Miss Universe.
Vietnamese representative H’Hen Nie marked a historical landmark for Vietnamese beauty upon clinching a Top 5 spot in the grand finale, along with candidates from Puerto Rico, The Philippines, South Africa, and Venezuela.
She had an impressive bikini performance at the semi-finals of the beauty pageant on December 13. H'Hen Nie looks stunning in a two-piece yellow swimsuit. The beauty exudes confidents and struts the catwalk in a professional manner.
The show was hosted once again by comedian Steve Harvey together with model Ashley Graham, and featured a performance by R&B artist Ne-Yo.
This year’s Miss Universe competition was the 67th annual event and represented 94 different countries and territories./.
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