Miss Universe 2020Andrea Meza from Mexico was crowned as the 69th Miss Universe. The pageant that was held on May 16, in the Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood Hotel or famously known as the Guitar hotel in Florida was aired live and saw participants from all around the world. Meza was preceded by Miss Universe Zozobini Tunzi of South Africa.

Nearly 100 women from the far reaches of the cosmos descended upon Hollywood (Florida) on Sunday for the 69th Miss Universe pageant.

Meza, 26, beat out 73 other women representing their countries and territories, including runner-up, Miss Brazil Julia Gama, and second runner-up, Miss Peru Janick Maceta Del Castillo. Meza — who has a degree in software engineering, according to her contestant biography — was presented the crown by her successor, Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

During her final statement, Meza was given the topic of changing beauty standards, and offered an inspiring answer.

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“We live in a society that more and more is more than advanced, and as we advance as a society, we’ve also advanced with stereotypes,” she said. “Nowadays beauty isn’t only the way we look. For me, beauty radiates not only in our spirit, but in our hearts and the way that we conduct ourselves. Never permit someone to tell you that you’re not valuable.”
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She(Andrea Meza) is also an activist focused on women’s rights and inclusion and currently works closely with the Municipal Institute for Women, which aims to end gender violence.

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Like most things, the Miss Universe pageant was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only was the ceremony postponed from late 2020, but 19 countries and territories — Angola, Bangladesh, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Georgia, Germany, Guam, Kenya, Lithuania, Mongolia, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Saint Lucia, Sierra Leone, Sweden, Tanzania, Turkey and the U.S. Virgin Islands — were forced to withdraw from the competition.