Miss France Iris Mittenaere was crowned the next Miss Universe on Monday (Philippine time) at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena in Pasay City.
Miss Haiti Raquel Pelissier and Miss Colombia Andrea Tovar finished first and second runners-up, respectively.
Mittenaere’s win ended the country’s 63-year title drought since the victory if Christiane Martel in the pageant’s second edition in 1953.
The top six candidates were Miss France, Miss Kenya, Miss Colombia, Miss Philippines, Miss Thailand, and Miss Haiti.
Judges were TV star and former model Cynthia Bailey, Emmy and Tony award-winning producer Francine LeFrak, and editorial director of fashion magazine PAPER Mickey Boardman.
Also in panel of judges are Miss Universe 2011 Leila Lopes Leila Lopes, Miss Universe 1994 Sushmita Sen, and Miss Universe 1993 Dayanara Torres.