Mexico’s Andrea Meza was crowned the much envied and coveted title of Miss Universe 2021. Miss India Adline Castelino was also eying the top spot but had to settle for the third runner-up spot. On Sunday, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida hosted the 69th Miss Universe contest.
Andrea beat 73 gorgeous women from 73 countries across the world and got crowned by the former Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi, the first black woman to be crowned the coveted title after Leila Lopes. Andrea was previously crowned the 2020 Mexicana Universal and Miss Mexico 2017. She was also the first runner-up at the Miss World 2017 which saw the 6th ever Indian to receive the title, Manushi Chhillar.
It was a historic moment for Andrea as she became the first ever Brazilian woman to be crowned Miss Universe. It was a befitting moment as Meza was crowned by Zozibini Tunzi, who in her right also bade history by being the first ever Black woman from South Africa who won the title in 2019. Tunzi while crowning Meza made sure that the crown doesn’t fall off and stays on her head.
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After her victory, Meza’s public release read-
“I am so honored to have been selected among the 73 other amazing women I stood with tonight. It is a dream come true to wear the Miss Universe crown, and I hope to serve the world through my advocacy for equality in the year to come and beyond.”
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During the final statement, Meza gave an applause worthy perspective in which she spoke about beauty standards.
“We live in a society that more and more is more than advanced, and as we advance as a society, we’ve also advanced with stereotypes,”
-Meza said.
“Nowadays beauty isn’t only the way we look. For me, beauty radiates not only in our spirit, but in our hearts and the way that we conduct ourselves. Never permit someone to tell you that you’re not valuable.”
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Who is Andrea Meza?
Andrea Meza hails from Mexico’s Chihuahua city where she was born and brought up. She has a degree in software engineering and according to the Miss Universe website, she is proud to be a woman that excelled in a field that’s dominated by men.
A software engineer by profession, she’s also a make-up artist and a model with passion around activism of different kinds. Andrea’s primary focus is to advocate women’s right and speak for inclusivity. She has also worked closely with the Municipal Institute for Women.
The eldest among 3 daughters, she has also been closely associated to charity that raise funds for those who need most in China, India and Indonesia. An outdoorsy person, Andrea also enjoys extreme sports such as sand boarding, crossfit, rappel, etc. While pursuing her modeling career, she also became the brand ambassador for Chihuahua.
According to the release by Miss Universe, Andrea will leave for New York City “to represent the brand and various philanthropic organizations during her reign.”
India’s Adline Castelino crowned third-runner up
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While Andera Meza was titled the coveted Miss Universe 2021, the first-runner up, second-runner-up and third runner-up was awarded to Brazil’s Julia Gama, Peru’s Janick Maceta & India’s Adline Castelino. With poise and grace in every step of her strut, the 22-year-old Indian gave a tough fight to her competition.
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It was a historic moment for India as for the first time in 20 years an Indian made it to the top-5 of the Miss Universe. In 2001, the then model and now Bollywood actress Celina Jaitly was the 4th runner-up of the prestigious competition.
In the entire course of the competition Castelino used the platform to voice out her opinions about LGBTQ+ community, women in the marginalized communities and other important societal issues.
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During the Q&A round, she was asked the tough question of whether countries should impose a lockdown due to COVID-19 or open the borders to strengthen economy but risk increase in cases.
To this tough question, Castelino replied-
“Coming from India and witnessing what India is experiencing right now, I have realized something very important that nothing is more important than your health, and of your loved ones and you have to draw a balance between economy and health, and that can only be done when the government works with the people hand-in-hand and produces something that will work with the economy.”
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Born to Mangalorean Catholic parents, the 22-year-old studied at Mumbai’s Wilson College. She was also awarded the Miss Diva Universe 2020.
Also Read: Miss India Adline Castelino declared 3rd runner-up at the 69th Miss Universe beauty pageant, 2020-21
