Miss Colombia is 63rd Miss Universe

MANILA, Philippines - Miss Colombia was crowned the 63rd Miss Universe on Sunday (Monday morning, Manila time) during its coronation night held in Miami, Florida.

 

The beauty queen bested 87 other contestants to become the successor to Venezuela’s Gabriela Isler.

 

Miss USA Nia Sanchez is named first runner-up. 

 

Miss Ukraine Diana Harkusha is second runner-up, Miss Netherlands Yasmin Verheijen is third runner-up and Miss Jamaica Kaci Fennell is fourth runner-up

 

The Philippines’ bet Mary Jean Weigmann made it to the pageant’s top 10, but failed to reach the top five.

 

Mary Jean is the first Filipina Miss Universe candidate not to reach the pageant’s finals since 2010; Her predecessors Venus Raj, Shamcey Supsup, Janine Tugonon and Ariella Arida all it to the top five when they competed in the pageant.

 

The 27-year-old beauty queen from North Cotabato was declared an early favorite in the pageant, along with Miss Columbia and Miss. But Mary Jean ultimately failed to make the cut, while dark horses such as Miss Netherlands made it to the finals. Pageant favorite Miss Venezuela also failed to make it in the top five. 

 

This year’s contest was marred by a controversy after a seemingly innocuous selfie  sparked criticism in Lebanon because it featured a smiling Miss Lebanon alongside Miss Israel. The Israeli beauty queen, Doron Matalon, posted a picture of herself with colleagues from Japan, Slovenia and Lebanon on her Instagram account. The result? A formal Lebanese investigation into the scandal. 

 

While Mary Jean failed to win the crown, local beauty contest enthusiasts already have something to look forward: the 2015 Binibining Pilipinas pageant--which is responsible for selecting the country’s representatives for Miss Universe, Miss International and Miss Supranational, among others--is set this March. - with the Associated Press