A Complete Recap Of The Highlights From The 69th Miss Universe Competition

In a time when the world is at its darkest, the 69th Miss Universe competition shines its brightest.

The most prestigious pageant of them all is happening right now at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, in Florida, with Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo representing the country on the global stage. 

Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo will be going up against 73 other candidates hoping to bring home the coveted Miss Universe 2020 crown. 

Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo has proven to be a strong contender throughout the competition.

On the way up to the coronation night, she became the most followed Miss Universe 2020 candidate on Instagram with over one million followers and made it to Top 5th spot of popular picks on Missosology. The Ilongga beauty also wowed with her Philippine-flag inspired national costume designed by the late Rocky Gathercole, that channeled some serious Victoria's Secret model sexiness and confidence and again, with her yellow Furne Amato asymmetrical dress for the event's evening gown segment. 

Many have their fingers crossed for Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo to bag the fifth Miss Universe crown for the country. She follows Miss Universe 2019 Gazini Ganados who made it to the Top 13 in last year's competition. 

As the pageant's coronation night unfolds, we follow Rabiya Mateo on her last leg of her journey to the crown.

Stay tuned and revisit this article for live updates of the Miss Universe 2020 competition!

Hosts Olivia Culpo and Mario Lopez got the night started with the Top 21 finalists, announcing seven candidates per batch:

Miss Colombia Laura Olascuaga 

Miss Peru Janick Del Castillo 

Miss Australia Maria Thattil

Miss France Amandine Petit

Miss Myanmar Thuzar Wint Lwin 

Miss Jamaica Miqueal-Symone Williams 

Miss Mexico Andrea Meza

Miss Dominican Republic Kimberly Jimenez

Miss USA Asya Branch

Miss Indonesia Ayu Maulida Putri

Miss Argentina Alina Luz Akselrad

Miss Puerto Rica Estefania Soto Torres

Miss India Adline Castelino

Miss Curaçao Chantal Wiertz

Miss Philippines Rabiya Mateo

Miss Brazil Julia Gama

Miss Great Britain Jeanette Akua

Miss Nicaragua Ana Marcelo 

Miss Thailand Amanda Obdam

Miss Costa Rica Ivonne Cerdas

Miss Vietnam Khanh Van Nguyen Tran 

After Rabiya Mateo was announced as one of the Top 21 finalists, in  her video interview that was shown, she said, "I really had my humble beginnings and education had transformed my life. Now, I'm a teacher and I hope that my students will see the value of education the way that I saw it. We live in a country where there's a lot of poor families, and education is our social equalizer that whatever is the status of your family, if you educate yourself, you will be able to land a great job."

Check out the Top 21 finalists recap below!

The following girls moved on to the Top 10:

Miss Jamaica Miqueal-Symone Williams 

Miss Dominican Republic Kimberly Jimenez

Miss India Adline Castelino

Miss Peru Janick Del Castillo

Miss Australia Maria Thattil

Miss Puerto Rico Estefania Soto Torres

Miss Thailand Amanda Obdam 

Miss Costa Rica Ivonne Cerdad

Miss Mexico Andrea Meza

Miss Brazil Julia Gama

Watch the Top 10 recap in this Miss Universe post:

Of the Top 10, candidates were narrowed down to the Top 5:

Miss Mexico Andrea Meza

Miss India Adline Castelino

Miss Brazil Julia Gama

Miss Dominican Republic Kimberly Jimenez

Miss Peru Janick Del Castillo

The Top 5 candidates were asked different questions by different judges during the first Q&A round. It wasn't surprising that questions revolved around the COVID-19 crisis and gender issues. Below is what each candidate answered: 

Miss Mexico Andrea Meza

Question from Brooke Lee: If you were the leader of your country, how would you have handled the COVID-19 pandemic?

"I believe there's not a perfect way to handle this hard situation such as COVID-19. However, I believe what I would have done was to create the lockdown even before everything was that big. Because, we lost so many lives and we cannot afford that. We have to take care of our people, that's why I would have taken care of them since the beginning." 

Miss India Adline Castelino

Question from Tatyana Orozco: Should countries lock down to COVID-19 despite the strain on their economies or should they open their borders and risk a potential increase in infection rates? 

"Good evening, Universe. Coming from India and witnessing what India is experiencing right now, I have realized something very important—that nothing is more important than the health of your loved ones. And, you have to draw a balance between economy and health and that can only be done when the government works with the people hand in hand, and produces something that will work with the economy. Thank you." 

Miss Brazil Julia Gama

Question from Sheryl Adkins Green: In many countries, women are still considered incapable of being world leaders. Convince these countries that they're wrong.

"Women are such important parts of the society. And just because we're not encouraged in the same way men's are, we have our potential wasted. The world needs women's contributions because we came for some reason, and I invite every woman to understand that we are the leaders of our own lives and yes, we can do a lot for our communities. So please, take your power!"

Miss Dominican Republic Kimberly Jimenez

Question from Christine Duffy: The night she won Miss Universe, Zozi Tunzi explained the importance of teaching leadership to young girls. How would you do that as Miss Universe?

"Good night. Thank you for the question. I come from a family completely filled with women, of which have helped me, propelled me to help them today. Working with my non-profit, Nino de Cristo, I understand I don't need a title to be able to help others and to be able to support them. Thank you."

Miss Peru Janick Del Castillo

Question from Zuleyka Rivera: What would you say to the woman watching tonight, who are currently experiencing sexual or domestic abuse?

"I will tell them that I admire their strength, that they're survivors, and that I've been there too. I became the hero of my own story, that's why I advocate to save little girls from being victims. They're survivors. They're heroes. They have the power and don't ever, ever make anyone silence your voice."

After the first round of Q&A, the Top 5 were asked to choose a topic at random and speak about it for 30 seconds at the final statement round:

Miss Mexico Andrea Meza: Changing beauty standards

"We live in a society that more and more is more advanced. As we have advanced as a society, we have also advanced with stereotypes. Nowadays, beauty isn't only the way you look. For me, beauty radiates not only in our spirits, but in our hearts and how we conduct ourselves. Never permit someone to tell you that you are not valuable. Thank you.”

Miss India Adline Castelino: Free speech and the right to protest

"The right to protest—we’ve seen many protests in the recent days. Especially, I want to point out the protests that women have made throughout the years with equal rights. Until today, we lack in them. Because, protests help us raise our voice against what’s happening, against inequality. It helps minorities in any democracy to raise their voice so the protest is very important. What is not important is when you use it, because with every right comes a responsibility, so use it with power. Thank you."

Miss Brazil Julia Gama: Mental health

“Mental health is still a very stigmatized topic and it keeps us from giving the right assistance to those in needs. May we all tonight remember to normalize conversations about anxiety or depression because we all hurt sometimes, but we don’t need to face it alone. May we all come together because togetherness is our strength and together we can overcome anything. So, let’s support each other. Let’s share empathy. Thank you."

Miss Dominican Republic Kimberly Jimenez: Global poverty

"During this pandemic, my country, the Dominican Republic, has risen to 23% poverty rate. For me, being able to be in front of you guys, representing the Dominican Republic, that makes me incredibly proud that it will help our tourism and us as human beings, that we have to realize there are so many people out there that need our help and that we can overcome anything. Thank you." 

Miss Peru Janick Del Castillo: Climate change

"It is our collective responsibility to start taking action in order to save our planet. Just by the little by little, we can start making a difference. Little by little, by recycling, teaching young generations about taking care of our beautiful, beautiful earth, we're just here for one time. And this is the time that we have to start taking care of it. Thank you." 

The competition's final round did not include a Top 3 semi-finals as was the tradition from previous years. The winners were chosen from the Top 5. 

At the end of the evening, Miss Dominican Republic Kimberly Jimenez was named Fourth Runner-Up and Miss India Adline Castelino as Third Runner-up. 

Miss Peru Janick del Castillo earned the Second Runner-Up spot with Miss Brazil Julia Gama making it to First Runner-up.

Miss Mexico Andrea Meza was named Miss Universe 2020.

Congratulations to all the winners!

Lead photos from @andreamezamx