In the large arena of Mexico City, decorated for the occasion, in front of more than 20,000 people eager to wave the flag of their country of origin, she was elected. Miss Universe 2024the 73rd in the history of the most important beauty pageant in the world. The winner was Victoria Kjær Theilvig from Denmark. Looking like a real Barbie, she is a socially engaged entrepreneur.
Who is Victoria Kjær Theilvig, Miss Universe 2024
Victoria is tall, statuesque, very blonde and with sky blue eyes. Ha the look of a Barbie or Disney princessbut hides a true warrior character. Aged 21, she is a professional dancer, with a very respectable CV: graduated in Economics and Marketing, she works as entrepreneur in the jewelry sector. “I am here today because I want change,” he said before wearing the crown that belongs to the most beautiful in the universe.
Nordic beauty is actually aactivist engaged on different fronts. On social media and through philanthropic activities, he works to raise awareness about mental health – and for this he has already achieved some international recognition. Also dealing with young women’s empowerment and animal protection. This is a record victory, because it is the first danish become Miss Universe.
For the first time, mothers were also admitted
Do beauty contests still have meaning today? The question remains open, even if the anachronism of judging young women on the proximity of their bodies to superimposed aesthetic standards is undeniable. Despite everything, Miss Universe tries – and it is up to the public to decide whether she will succeed or not – to keep up with the times. First of all, on the geopolitical level: this year, among the more than 120 competitors, there were representatives of country competing for the first time such as Belarus, Eritrea, Guinea, Macau, Maldives, Moldova and Uzbekistan.
The rules to follow to participate in the competition are still strict, but before they were even stricter. When Miss Universe was created in 1952 only single women were admittedaged 18 to 28, without children and never married. In 2023, this limit was removed and wives, ex-wives and mothers also participated in the competition. And this year, a mother was also among the five finalists, 28-year-old Venezuelan Ileana Marquez Pedroza.
Beauty pageants are becoming more inclusive
To become a miss, it remains necessary and essential to be beautiful (but beautiful for whom?). But perhaps we are beginning to understand that to be beautiful you do not have to be heterosexual, cisgender, pure and without disabilities. And if until a few years ago a beauty with short hair was enough to cause a sensation, in 2020 the participant of Miss Italia Giulia Talia shook up prejudices by declaring that she homosexuality. Tashi Choden, the Bhutanese contestant for Miss Universe 2020, also came out as an open lesbian.
While two years earlier, in 2018, model Angela Ponce was the first transsexual to be crowned Miss Universe Spain, the first to win such an important beauty pageant. Even before that, it was Mikayla Holmgren who broke another barrier, becoming the first person with Down syndrome be admitted to a beauty contest, and also win several headbands.