Danish national Victoria Kjær Theilvig has achieved a historic milestone by being crowned Miss Universe 2024, marking the first time a Danish participant has secured the prestigious title. The 21-year-old, who is known for her competitive dancing, entrepreneurial spirit, and aspirations in law, triumphed over more than 120 contestants at the annual beauty pageant held in Mexico City on a Saturday evening. As she received the tiara from the outgoing Miss Universe, Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua, Theilvig was met with applause from her fellow contestants on stage.

The finale of this year's event was graced by a performance from the renowned singer Robin Thicke and was co-hosted by "Saved by the Bell" star Mario Lopez along with former Miss Universe Olivia Culpo. The competition commenced with a preliminary round that saw the field of contestants reduced to a select group of 30, based on their performances in a vibrant national costume contest held on Thursday. The semi-finalists then showcased their风采 in swimwear, leading to 12 of them proceeding to an evening gown segment. The final stage involved the top five contestants addressing a variety of questions, touching on topics such as leadership and resilience.

When questioned about how she would live her life differently if she were not subject to judgment, Theilvig responded to the panel of judges by stating that she would not alter her approach, asserting, "I live by each day." She later encouraged viewers to "keep fighting … no matter where you come from," emphasizing her message with the declaration, "I stand here today because I want a change, I want to make history, and that’s what I’m doing tonight."

Chidimma Adetshina of Nigeria was announced as the first runner-up, with Maria Fernanda Beltran of Mexico securing the position of second runner-up. Suchata Chuangsri of Thailand and Ileana Marquez Pedroza of Venezuela were also among the top contenders, with Pedroza, a 28-year-old mother, making a historic mark in the top five following the competition's recent decision to remove several restrictions. This year's Miss Universe competition marked the first occasion in its 72-year history that women over the age of 28 were eligible to participate. Over two dozen of the finalists were of an age that would have been prohibited in previous editions, with Malta's Beatrice Njoya becoming the first and only woman in her 40s to reach the final round.

The removal of the age limit was part of a broader movement calling for the modernization of the pageant. Prior to the 2023 contest, the Miss Universe Organization also lifted a long-standing ban on pregnant women or mothers, as well as women who are — or have ever been — married. Delegates representing each country were chosen through local pageants that hold licenses from the Miss Universe Organization.

This year's competition also saw Cuba, represented by Marianela Ancheta, participate in Miss Universe for the first time since 1967. Several nations, including Belarus, Eritrea, and the United Arab Emirates, sent contestants for the first time. However, in April, the Miss Universe Organization clarified that Saudi Arabia was not making its debut in the 2024 pageant, dispelling what it called "false and misleading" reports.

The lead-up to this year's final was not without controversy, with some national-level contests facing issues. The Miss Universe South Africa contest saw Adetshina withdraw from the competition (and later be chosen to represent Nigeria) after questions about her nationality sparked a wave of xenophobic hostility. In December of the previous year, the director of the Miss Universe Nicaragua contest, Karen Celebertti, resigned shortly after Palacios was crowned, amid allegations of conspiracy and treason. She, along with her husband and son, were accused of involvement in a plot to overthrow the government.