2018 Miss Universe - Philippines' Catriono Elisa Gray Wins Crown

Catriona Elisa Gray from the Philippines was crowned Miss Universe 2018 at a gala ceremony in Bangkok, where representatives from South Africa and Venezuela secured the first runner-up and second runner-up spots

 

 Catriona Gray of the Philippines is crowned the new Miss Universe 2018 by Miss Universe 2017 Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters

 

India's Nehal Chudasama Loses Miss Universe Crown but Wins Hearts Worldwide

 

Miss India 2018 Nehal Chudasama looked graceful in a dazzling bronze evening gown designed by ace designer Swapnil Shinde as she represented her country at the 67th Miss Universe pageant at Impact, Muang Thong Thani, Pak Kret, Thailand.

Despite the fact that Nehal, who is based out of Mumbai, failed to make it to the Top 20 Miss Universe shortlist but she has already won millions of hearts worldwide.

At the pageant, representatives from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Curacao, Great Britain, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Jamaica, Nepal, Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Thailand, US, Venezuela and Vietnam made it to the Top 20.
  

Angela Ponce,Miss Spain Becomes First Transgender Woman To Compete In Miss Universe

Angela Ponce, better known as the reigning Miss Spain, didn't win the Miss Universe pageant Sunday

But she didn't seem to mind.

Simply by representing her country this year, Ponce became the first transgender woman to compete in Miss Universe. After the preliminary rounds, the 27-year-old model said it was "an honor and pride" to be part of the history of the pageant.

"This is for you, for those who have no visibility, no voice, because we all deserve a world of respect, inclusion and freedom," Ponce wrote on Instagram on Friday. "And today I am here, proudly representing my nation, all women and human rights."

Though Miss Universe - and other beauty pageants - have undergone scrutiny (and changes) in recent years to avoid objectifying women, Ponce said she embraced the competition as a chance to fulfill not only her personal ambitions but to be an ambassador for Spanish culture.