A 21-year-old student, Ako Kamo, has won the Miss Universe Japan 2019 pageant on Thursday, August 22 at the Yamano Beauty College in Tokyo.

Yu Harada, Sakurako Fujino, Aisha Harumi Tochigi, Runa Matsui were the Top 5 finalists.

The pageant’s national director and former Miss Universe Japan, Hiroko Mima, crowned the new Miss Universe Japan at the end of the glittering competition.

Ako bested around 40 other contestants to win the coveted national beauty title. She succeeded last year’s winner, Yuumi Kato, and will now prepare to represent Japan at the Miss Universe 2019 pageant.

Japan has won the prestigious Miss Universe title twice with Akiko Kojima in 1959 and Riyo Mori in 2007.

Photos: Miss Universe Japan