Mexico's Andrea Meza was crowned Miss Universe this Sunday at a gala held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Miami (Florida, USA). The pageant turned into a "Latin party", as the first and second runner-up were Miss Brazil, Julia Gama, and Miss Peru, Janick Maceta.

Meza, a 26-year-old software engineer, thus brings the third Miss Universe crown to Mexico, after Lupita Jones, who won in 1991, and Ximena Navarrete, who won the title in 2010. The pageant is back after it was canceled for the first time in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Clad in a bright red evening gown, Meza tearfully walked down the runway as Miss Universe for the first time, before embracing in a group hug with the other contestants. Meza has bested more than 70 contestants from around the world in this, the 69th Miss Universe gala.

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In the days leading up to the final, Burma's candidate Thuzar Wint Lwin, who has broken into the top 21 finalists, used her time on stage to draw attention to the coup d'état in her country. "Our people are dying and being shot by the military every day," she said during her biographical video, in which she showed photos of herself participating in anti-coup protests.

"Therefore, I would like to urge everyone to speak out about Burma." The Burmese representative won the award for best national costume. During that part of the pageant, the contestant appeared with a sign that read "pray for Burma."