Mississippi s own Miss USA Asya Branch places top 20 at Miss Universe Miss Mexico Universe wins 69th Miss Universe pageant Share Updated: 3:30 PM CDT May 17, 2021 The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. Miss Mexico Universe wins 69th Miss Universe pageant Share Updated: 3:30 PM CDT May 17, 2021 Mississippi s own Asya Branch competed at the Miss Universe pageant over the weekend as Miss USA.Branch spent months preparing for the international competition, even before a date was set.Officials with the Miss Universe pageant in addition to the committee panel and hosts agreed on the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida as this year s host location.Branch spent several days learning choreography and getting to know the other contestants. Prior to finals night on May 16, Branch competed in the National Costume Contest. Branch represented her home state, dressed as a mockingbird (Mississippi s state bird). The following nights, she competed in interviews and prelims. From this, the committee panel narrowed the search from 74 contestants to a final 20. The fan vote then decided who would be the 21st person to compete Sunday night.Branch s name was called Sunday night to be one of the top 21 contestants to compete in finals night for the Miss Universe title.After swimsuit, another cut was made from 21 to the final ten. Unfortunately, Branch did not make the cut, however, making it to the final night is no small feat! Branch is the first black woman to win Miss Mississippi USA and first Miss Mississippi USA to win Miss USA. Branch will finish the second half of her reign as Miss USA back in New York. She will be sharing an apartment with the new Miss Universe Andrea Meza.Meza s former title was Miss Mexico Universe. She said in an interview with GMA Monday she has been dreaming of becoming Miss Universe since she was 15 years old. Meza s inspiration to go for the title was from Mexican actress Ximena Navarrete won the Miss Universe title back in 2010. Meza s final question focused on the COVID-19 pandemic and what she would have done if she was in charge of her country. Her final statement shared her thoughts on the beauty industry through social media and pageants. You can find Meza s first interview with Good Morning America in addition to the answers from her final question and final statement here. The runner-up to Meza was Miss Brazil Julia Gama.Below is a list of the top 10 from the Miss Universe 2021 pageant.Miss Universe 2021- Miss Mexico Andrea Meza1st runner up- Miss Brazil Julia Gama2nd runner up- Miss Peru Janick Maceta Del Castillo3rd runner up- Miss India Adline Castelino4th runner up- Miss Dominican Republic Kimberly Jiménez RodríguezTop 10 finalist- Miss Jamaica Miqueal-Symone WilliamsTop 10 finalist- Miss Australia Maria ThattilTop 10 finalist- Miss Puerto Rico Estefanía Soto TorresTop 10 finalist- Miss Thailand Amanda ObdamTop 10 finalist- Miss Costa Rica Ivonne Cerdas
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