Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters of South Africa is Miss Universe 2017!

Photo courtesy| indiatvnews.com

Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters made history for her country today, after becoming the second Miss South Africa to be crowned Miss Universe after 39 years!

The 22 year-old business management graduate cried of happiness as she was crowned by 2016 Miss Universe, Iris Mittenaere from France.

The business management graduate from Sedgefield, Western Cape in South Africa, dazzled the panel of judges both her beauty and brains.

When she had been asked earlier what quality in herself she's most proud of, and how will she apply that quality to her time as Miss Universe, Demi-Leigh replied that as Miss Universe, you have to be confident in who you are as an individual. A Miss Universe is a woman that has overcomes many fears, and, by that, she is able to help other women overcome their fears. She is a woman that nothing is ever too much to ask for, and I think that is exactly who I am.

Miss South Africa bet 91 competitors in the 66th annual Miss Universe.

Top 3 finalists (L to R) South Africa, Colombia and Jamaica. Photo courtesy| Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Finalists accompanying Nel-Peters into the top three were Miss Colombia Laura Gonzales and Miss Jamaica Davina Bennett.

(L to R) Thailand and Venezuela

Completing the top 5 were Miss Thailand Maria Poonlertlarp and Miss Venezuela Keysi Sayago.

Photo courtesy| www.missuniverse.com

While the other countries that made the top ten were:

Miss Brazil, Monalysa Alcantara

Miss Canada, Lauren Howe

Miss Philippines, Rachel Pters

Miss Spain, Sofia del Prado

Miss USA, Kara McCullough

Photo courtesy| www.missuniverse.com

Completing the top 16 were:

Miss China, Roxette Qiu

Miss Croatia, Shanaelle Petty

Miss Ghana, Ruth Quashie

Miss Great Britain, Anna Burdzy

Miss Ireland, Cailin Toibin

Miss Sri Lanka, Christina Peiris

As well as competing in categories ranging from swimsuits to evening gowns, the women also had to answer the critical question that tells the judges a bit about them.

(From L to R) Farouk Shami, Pia Wurtzbach, Lele Pons, Ross Mathews, Wendy Fitzwilliam, Megan Olivi, Jay Manuel
Photo courtesy | http://celebzee.com

The panelists scored the women on each contests, narrowing from a group of 16 down to a final three.

(From L -R) Steve Harvey, Ashley Graham, Carson Kressley, Lu Sierra

The show was hosted by Steve Harvey and Ashley Graham, while Carson Kressley joined runway coach and pageant expert Lu Sierra in the commentary and analysis table throughout the telecast.