France's Iris Mittenaere is the 65th Miss Universe

MANILA, Philippines (5th update, 12:02 p.m.)  — After wowing the judges with her Moulin Rouge national costume, her answers in the two question and answer portions and her final walk with Boyz II Men, Miss France Iris Mittenaere has just been named Miss Universe 2016.

Mittenaere, 24, from the small town of Lille in northern France said Monday in reply to a final question from pageant host Steve Harvey that she would be honored if she just landed among the three finalists, but was visibly stunned when she was announced the winner among the field of dozens of contestants.

Mittenaere was speechless and put her hands on her face as the outgoing winner from the Philippines, Pia Wurtzbach, crowned her as the crowd erupted in cheers and applause at the packed Mall of Asia Arena by Manila Bay. In her profile, she said she would "advocate for dental and oral hygiene" if she takes home the crown.

In the final question to the top three finalists, the candidate were asked to cite a failure in their life and explain what they learned from it.

I failed several times in my life. So I thought I failed the first time that I went on a casting because my name was not in the list. And the very next day I found I was in a new book. So I think when you fail, you have to be elevated and you have to try again and keep going. If tonight I'm not one of the winners, I will still have the great honor being one of the three finalists. So I think I have failed before but for me this a great first opportunity.

Miss Haiti, Raquel Pelissier, a 25-year-old survivor of the devastating 2010 earthquake that destroyed her hometown, was named first runner up while Miss Colombia, 23-year-old, Andrea Tovar, was second runner up.

"I survived the earthquake," Pelissier said in reply to the same question, citing the quake the Haiti government estimated to have killed more than 300,000 people and displaced more than 1.5 million others. "I felt I was failing myself because I was not living my dreams ... But I chose to be a very positive person, and learned a great lesson from it because if I am here today, it is because I am living my dreams."

As he closed the ceremony, the American comedian host declared: "This is Steve Harvey, I got it right," referring in jest to his mistaken announcement of Miss Colombia as the winner in the last pageant in Las Vegas more than a year ago that sparked an uproar.

Mittenaere survived 85 other candidates from all over the world, incuding the Philippines' Maxine Medina who made it to the final six of the competition.

Mittenaere is the second Miss Universe winner to hail from France. The first Miss Universe winner from the country is Christiane Martel in 1953.

Reigning Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach from the Philippines passes the crown to the new queen, Iris Mittenaere from France on Monday, Jan. 30, 2017. MUO

A stunned Iris Mittenaere has been crowned the new Miss Universe at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Philippines. MUO

Mittenaere in an outfit by Sherri Hill and footwear by Chinese Laundry during the opening of the Miss Universe preliminary competition on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2017. MUO

Miss France in the swimsuit segment of the preliminary competition on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2017. MUO

Miss France walks the stage in a Moulin Rouge-inspired national costume at the preliminary competition of Miss Universe on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2017. MUO

Malacañang, meanwhile, congratulated the new queen, who succeeded Wurtzbach, who was crowned in December 2015.

"People of France are rejoicing. Truly, this is a proud moment for their country. Iris brought tremendous joy to her people by representing France well on the international stage with her winning grace, regal bearing and inspiring answer," the Palace said in a statement. — Reports from Deni Rose Afinidad-Bernardo with the Associated Press