Miss Universe 2017: Shraddha Shashidhar, model and the winner of Yamaha Fascino Miss Diva 2017 could not make it to the top 10 at the event. (IE image)

Miss Universe 2017: After Haryana girl Manushi Chhillar’s spectacular win at the Miss world 2017, India’s hopes today were pinned on Shraddha Shashidhar who was representing the nation in the Miss Universe contest in Las Vegas. But, unfortunately, Shraddha couldn’t win the coveted crown. A model and the winner of Yamaha Fascino Miss Diva 2017, Shraddha could not make it to the top 10 at the event being held at The Axis at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. At the National Costume competition, Shashidhar chose to symbolise love and purity in the form of Radha. She opted for a costume designed by Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla and Melvyn Dominic Noronha for the competition. India has won the Miss Universe title twice.

Miss South Africa Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters was crowned Miss Universe in a star-studded ceremony making her only the second South African to ever win the crown. The second runner-up was Miss Jamaica and the first runner-up was Miss Colombia. Margaret Gardiner last took the crown in 1978. The other contestants who could make into the top 10 were USA, Venezuela, Philippines, Canada, Spain, Brazil, Colombia, Thailand.

This year’s edition of the Miss Universe pageant has separated contestants by geographic region for the first time. As many as 92 women from around the world were competing for the Miss Universe 2017 title at the pageant, hosted by Steve Harvey. 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 the region will also move forward in the competition. This year’s pageant has more contestants than ever before. Cambodia, Laos and Nepal are being represented for the first time in the show.

One in 1994, when Sushmita Sen became the first Indian woman to win the title, followed by Lara Dutta’s win in the year 2000. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan won the Miss World title in 1994 whereas Priyanka Chopra brought laurels for India in 2000 when they won Miss World and Miss Asia Pacific respectively.