The Latest: Contestant from South Africa wins Miss Universe
The Latest on the 2017 edition of the Miss Universe pageant taking place in Las Vegas (all times local):
7 p.m.
The woman representing South Africa has won the Miss Universe crown.
Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, who recently earned a business management degree, was crowned Sunday during the event that took place at The AXIS theater at Planet Hollywood casino-resort on the Las Vegas Strip.
The runner-up was Miss Colombia Laura Gonzalez. The second runner-up was Miss Jamaica Davina Bennett.
Ninety-two women from around the world participated in the decades-old competition. This year's edition had the most contestants ever.
The 22-year-old Nel-Peters has earned a yearlong salary, a luxury apartment in New York City for the duration of her reign and more prizes.
Last year, Iris Mittenaere from France was crowned when the pageant took place in the Philippines.
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6:40 p.m.
Women representing Jamaica, Colombia and South Africa are the last contestants on this year's Miss Universe pageant.
The pageant on Sunday kicked off with 92 contestants, which were eliminated by stages that included geographic division, swimsuit and evening gown modeling, and a round of questions.
The annual pageant is airing live on FOX from The AXIS theater at Planet Hollywood casino-resort in Las Vegas. This year's competition had more contestants than ever before.
The 21-year-old Davina Bennett is representing Jamaica. The representative of Colombia is 22-year-old Laura Gonzalez. South Africa is being represented by 22-year-old Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters.
The winner will go home with a yearlong salary, a luxury apartment in New York City for the duration of her reign and more prizes.
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6:20 p.m.
Only five women are still in the running for the Miss Universe crown.
The field of contestants was narrowed down Sunday, after 10 women modeled their evening gowns while Grammy-Award winner Fergie performed her new song "A Little Work."
The remaining contestants represent South Africa, Thailand, Venezuela, Jamaica and Colombia.
This year's edition of the annual pageant is airing live on FOX from The AXIS theater at Planet Hollywood casino-resort in Las Vegas.
The five contestants will be asked questions during the next stage of the competition.
The winner will go home with a yearlong salary, a luxury apartment in New York City for the duration of her reign and more prizes.
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5:50 p.m.
Ten finalists have been chosen in the Miss Universe pageant.
Six women were not selected to move on Sunday after the swimsuit portion of the competition, which is filmed live at The AXIS theater at Planet Hollywood casino-resort in Las Vegas.
The U.S. representative Kara McCullough, of Washington, D.C., modeled a two-piece bikini and made the top 10.
The other finalists represent Venezuela, Philippines, Canada, South Africa, Spain, Brazil, Colombia, Thailand and Jamaica.
Host Steve Harvey has poked fun at his 2015 botched Miss Universe crowning throughout the night.
Three days after people in the U.S. celebrated Thanksgiving, Harvey told the audience he is "grateful for the Oscars," referring to the best-picture flub at this year's Academy Awards.
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5:15 p.m.
The competition is down to 16 women.
The Miss Universe pageant has eliminated 76 contestants after separating the women by geographic region for the first time during the show airing live on Fox from The AXIS theater at Planet Hollywood casino-resort in Las Vegas.
The women representing Thailand, Sri Lanka, Ghana and South Africa were chosen to move forward in the competition for the Africa and Asian Pacific region.
Representatives from Spain, Ireland, Croatia and Great Britain have advanced from the Europe group.
Meanwhile, Colombia, Canada, Brazil and the U.S. will continue in the pageant after being picked from the Americas region.
The wild cards went to Venezuela, Jamaica, China and Philippines.
The winner goes home with a yearlong salary, a luxury apartment in New York City for the duration of her reign and more prizes.
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4:25 p.m.
This year's edition of the Miss Universe pageant has separated contestants by geographic region for the first time.
The 92 women on Sunday were divided into three regions: Americas, Europe, and Africa and Asian Pacific. Four contestants from each region are guaranteed to advance to the finals. Four other women regardless of region will also move forward in the competition.
This year's pageant has more contestants than ever before. Host Steve Harvey says Cambodia, Laos and Nepal are being represented for the first time in the show.
The decades-old competition is airing live on Fox from The AXIS theater at Planet Hollywood casino-resort in Las Vegas.
Grammy-Award winner Fergie and Rachel Platten, best known for her 2015 hit "Fight Song," are scheduled to perform during the show.
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4:05 p.m.
The 2017 edition of the Miss Universe pageant has begun in Las Vegas.
More than 90 women are taking part in the decades-old competition airing live on Fox from The AXIS theater at Planet Hollywood casino-resort. Members of the audience waved flags from dozens of countries as the showed kicked off.
Steve Harvey has returned as the show's host despite botching the 2015 Miss Universe crowning. Grammy-Award winner Fergie and Rachel Platten, best known for her 2015 hit "Fight Song," are scheduled to perform during the show.
The 92 women include representatives from Iraq, Austria, Japan and Venezuela. This is the largest Miss Universe in the pageant's history.
The U.S. is being represented by Washington D.C.'s Kara McCullough.
Current Miss Universe Iris Mittenaere from France will crown her successor.
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3:27 p.m.
More than 90 women from around the world are set to take the stage in the Miss Universe pageant.
A new Miss Universe will be crowned Sunday, when the contest returns to Las Vegas.
Ninety-two women will take part in decades-old pageant that will air live at 7 p.m. EST on Fox from The AXIS theater at Planet Hollywood casino-resort.
Steve Harvey returns as the show's host despite botching the 2015 Miss Universe crowning. Grammy-Award winner Fergie and Rachel Platten, best known for her 2015 hit "Fight Song," are scheduled to perform during the show.
This year's judges include YouTube star Lele Pons and former judge on "America's Next Top Model" Jay Manuel.
Kara McCullough of Washington, D.C. is representing the U.S.
Current Miss Universe Iris Mittenaere from France will crown her successor.
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