South African beauty queen Zozibini Tunzi was crowned the 2019 Miss Universe on Sunday night.
Ms Tunzi emerged top in the contest after impressing the judges and fans through the different rounds with different outfits.
Miss Puerto Rico, Madison Anderson and Miss Mexico, Sofía Aragón emerged as runner-ups.
During question time Ms Tunzi said that the most important thing that girls needed to learn was leadership.
“It’s something that has been lacking in young girls and women for a very long time not because we don’t want to but because of what society has labelled women to be. I think we are the most powerful beings in the world,” she said.
Tonight a door was opened and I could not be more grateful to have been the one to have walked through it.
May every little girl who witnessed this moment forever believe in the power of her dreams and may they see their faces reflected in mine.
I am #MissUniverse2019. pic.twitter.com/gMkjmVCabo— Zozibini Tunzi (@zozitunzi) December 9, 2019
Ms Tunzi had been running a campaign online where she urged South African men to write what she described as love letters to the country’s women.
She went on to incorporate the letters in her national costume outfit that also featured the South African flag colours.