Vegan Miss Mexico wins Miss Universe (video)

Seren Morris (Newsweek/MSN, 5/17/21); Crystal Quintero, Ashley Wells (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Who is Andrea Meza? Mexico's former Miss World crowned Miss Universe 2021

Miss Mexico Andrea Meza was crowned Miss Universe last night at the 69th annual pageant held at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida, which was delayed last year due to pandemic fears.

Vegan Mexican food makes best Buddha bowls

Meza beat out dozens of other competitors for the crown, including four fellow Latinas right behind her:

• runner-up Miss Brazil Julia Gama
• second runner-up Miss Peru Janick Maceta Del Castillo
• third runner-up Kimberly Jiménez Rodríguez from the Dominican Republic
• fourth runner-up Adline Quadros Castelino [Portuguese born in Kuwait to one or more Latin parents?] from India.

Who is Miss Universe winner Andrea Meza?

Vegan Miss Mexico Andrea Meza is crowned Miss Universe 2021 onstage at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino on May 16, 2021, in Hollywood, Florida (© Rodrigo Varela/Stringer/Getty).

India's Aldine Castelino (center)

Andrea Meza is a 26-year-old model, software engineer, and make-up artist from Chihuahua, Mexico. Meza represented Mexico at Miss World in 2017 and has also been crowned Miss World Americas and Mexicana Universal.

She has a degree in software engineering from the Autonomous University of Chihuahua and says she is proud to be a woman who graduated in a male-dominated field of study.

As well as being a software engineer, the Mexican model works with the Chihuahua tourist office as an ambassador to promote her hometown's tourist attractions and culture.

Q&A: Miss Peru vs. Miss Mexico, Miss Universe 2021 • May 16, 2021

She is also an activist focusing on women's rights and works with the Municipal Institute for Women, which aims to end gender violence. Meza has said: "I see myself as an ambassador for human rights. It is something that matters a lot to me, and I want young women to fight for their rights."

Everything You Need to Know

The Miss Universe winner has worked with a global charity association raising funds in India, Indonesia, and China for the downtrodden.

Meza's hobbies include practicing CrossFit and extreme sports, such as rappel and sandboarding, and she owns an activewear brand named Andrea Meza Activewear that is said to be launching soon. Additionally, she likes to sing and says it's a very powerful way to show her emotions.

Meza is also vegan [avoids meat, dairy, and animal byproducts], citing her concern for the wellbeing of the world [human environment] and animals as her reasons for following a plant-based lifestyle. More

How can I be hot and vegan like Meza? Vegan's Guide to Good Nutrition (peta.com)