Danish contestant is her country’s first Miss Universe

MEXICO CITY—Victoria Kjær Theilvig of Denmark was crowned Miss Universe on Saturday, the first from her country to win the 72-year-old title.

Kjær, 21, beat out Miss Nigeria at the end of the 73rd edition of the competition in Mexico City Arena, with Miss Mexico placing third. An animal protection advocate, she also works in the diamond-selling business.

This was also a pageant of other firsts, with some countries represented for the first time—such as Belarus, Eritrea, Guinea, Macau, Maldives, Moldova and Uzbekistan.

The ceremony began with 131 mariachi musicians and singer Taboo of Black Eyed Peas playing “Mexicana,” a song written for the contest by bandleader Emilio Estefan of Miami Sound Machine fame.

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The gala was hosted by American television personalities Mario López and Zuri Hall; Olivia Culpo of the United States, the Miss Universe of 2012; and Catriona Gray of the Philippines, the Miss Universe of 2018.

This was the third time Mexico hosted the pageant. Organizers said there were more than 120 contestants.