South Africa's Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters was crowned Miss Universe 2017 on Sunday, ending a nearly four-decade long drought for her country in one of the world's biggest pageants, EOnline has learned.
Nel-Peters, a 22-year-old business management graduate, beat out 91 other candidates during the finals held in Las Vegas. South Africa last won Miss Universe in 1978.

Outgoing Miss Universe Iris Mittenaere crowned Nel-Peters with the $250,000 pearl-encrusted Mikimoto crown.
During the competition's Q&A portion, the newly crowned Miss Universe was asked about the most important issue she thought was facing women in the workplace.

"In some places, women get paid 75% of what men earn for doing the same job, working the same hours — and I do not believe that this is right," she said. "I think we should have equal work for equal pay for women all over the world.”
Miss Colombia and Miss Jamaica also impressed the judges during the Q&A segment, answering questions on how to talk to children about terrorism and sexual harassment, respectively.

“Sexual harassment is a form of abuse and no abuse should be tolerated whether in the workplace or in society,” Bennett said. “I believe that men and women should come together and be professional.”
The competition's top 13 finalists were Thailand, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Spain, Ireland, Croatia, Great Britain, USA, Brazil, Canada, Philippines, Venezuela and China
Follow NEWS.am STYLE on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
16:21, October 12
Beautiful Faces Attract Women Regardless of Gender: Scientists Discover How Men and Women Look at Beauty15:30, October 12
Silicon Valley Billionaires Become Hollywood’s Biggest Villains: Musk, Zuckerberg and Altman Take Centre Stage in Dark New Films14:38, October 12
Tobey Maguire ‘Walks’ Ex-Wife Down the Aisle to Marry Billionaire Heir Just Weeks After Their Divorce Was Finalised14:17, October 12
Fruits and Vegetables Are Up to 50% Less Nutritious Than in the 1960s: Scientists Warn of ‘Nutrient Depletion’ in Food13:29, October 12
‘I Only Held a Dollar Bill for the First Time Five Years Ago’: Britney Spears Slams Her Parents Over Years of Conservatorship12:41, October 12
‘I Don’t Want to Get Naked in Front of a Stranger’: Amanda Seyfried Turned Down Lead Role Over Sex Scenes12:20, October 12
‘Die After a Performance and Go Skydiving at 100’: Judi Dench Is Not Afraid of Ageing or Death11:28, October 12
‘Spaghetti Killer’: Brooklyn Beckham Mocked Online Yet Again Over His Latest Cooking Video11:11, October 12
Kelly Clarkson Blasts Store After Humiliating Shopping Experience: “You’re an Idiot”10:30, October 12
Loved-Up Lewis Hamilton and Glamorous Kim Kardashian Reunite at the Singapore Grand Prix19:19, October 10
Meghan Markle Wants to Flee Prince Harry as Reports Claim Their Marriage Is on the Brink of Collapse18:20, October 10
30,000 Bottles of Fine Wine Worth £4 Million Stolen in Italy in Suspected Biggest Winery Heist in the Country’s History