Miss France wins the crown of Miss Universe 2016

Miss France Iris Mittenaere bested 85 of the most beautiful women all over the world today, 30 January 2017, at the MOA Arena, Philippines, to win the crown of Miss Universe 2016.  France regains the crown of Miss Universe after 64 years since Miss France Christiane Martel won Miss Universe 1953.

Miss France Iris Mittenaere, 23 years old, was not an early favorite during the preliminaries, but her confidence and beauty shown bright and she was able to qualify into the top 13 along with the following candidates to compete in the swimsuit competition.

1. Miss Brazil Raissa Santana
2. Miss Indonesia Kezia Warouw
3. Miss Panama Keity Drennan
4. Miss Peru Valeria Piazza
5. Miss Canada Siera Bearchell
6. Miss Mexico Kristal Silva
7. Miss USA Deshauna Barber
8. Miss Philippine Maxine Medina
9. Miss Kenya Mary Esther Were
10. Miss Thailand Chalita Suansane
11. Miss Colombia Andrea Tovar
12. Miss Haiti Raquel Pelissier
13. Miss France Iris Mittenaere

Miss Myanmar won Best in National Costume which she declared weighs more than 14 kilograms.

After the swimsuit competition, the 13 candidates were trimmed down to 9 leaving the following candidates for the long gown competition.

1. Miss Canada Siera Bearchell
2. Miss Mexico Kristal Silva
3. Miss USA Deshauna Barber
4. Miss Philippine Maxine Medina
5. Miss Kenya Mary Esther Were
6. Miss Thailand Chalita Suansane
7. Miss Colombia Andrea Tovar
8. Miss Haiti Raquel Pelissier
9. Miss France Iris Mittenaere

The top 6 proceeded to the answer and question portion.  Some of the candidates requested for an interpreter, however, Miss Philippines Maxine Medina opted to answer in English instead which lost her the chance to qualify to the next and final round.  Each candidate had to answer a different question and were called in the following order:

1. Miss Philippine Maxine Medina:  What is the most significant change you’ve seen in the world in the last 10 years?
2. Miss Kenya Mary Esther Were
3. Miss Thailand Chalita Suansane
4. Miss Colombia Andrea Tovar
5. Miss Haiti Raquel Pelissier
6. Miss France Iris Mittenaere

Top 3 candidates Miss Haiti, Miss Colombia & Miss France were asked the final question:  What was the worst mistake in your life and what did you learn from it?

Miss France Iris Mittenaere, standing 5’8”, bagged the title with Miss Haiti Raquel Pelissier as first runner up and Miss Colombia Andrea Tovar as second runner up.

Steve Harvey hosted the show with performances from Boyz II Men.

Miss Universe 2016 Iris Mittenaere laid down her advocacies for her reign during the press conference after the coronation.  She shared that her charity is education for all children especially for young women.  She added that she will continue the advocacies of Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach.

Paula Shugart, President of Miss Universe Organization, was quoted declaring that 2016 Miss Universe in Manila is the best show so far.

The current Miss Universe pageant was founded in June 28, 1952 by Pacific Knitting Mills which manufactured Catalina Swimwear.  The current parent organization of Miss Universe is WME/IMG & 21st Century Fox.  The official website of Miss Universe is missuniverse.com.

Photo Credits:  missuniverse.com