(CNN) Miss France is the new Miss Universe.

Decked out in a gold-sequined gown, 24-year-old dental surgery student Iris Mittenaere beat 12 other finalists to take the crown. As Miss Universe, she will be campaigning for dental and oral care around the world.

"This sash is not only a sash," said Mittenaere, who is from Northern France, in a Miss Universe interview after the pageant. "This is something to help people, to understand people."

Photos: Miss France wins Miss Universe Contestant Iris Mittenaere of France is crowned the new Miss Universe by former Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach of the Philippines. Hide Caption 1 of 17 Photos: Miss France wins Miss Universe Miss Universe winner Mittenaere presents during the pageant's national costume and preliminary competition at the Mall of Asia arena in Manila on Jan. 26. Hide Caption 2 of 17 Photos: Miss France wins Miss Universe Miss Universe contestant Andrea Tovar of Colombia presents during the national costume and preliminary competition. Hide Caption 3 of 17 Photos: Miss France wins Miss Universe Miss Universe contestant Le Hang of Vietnam presents during the national costume and preliminary competition. Hide Caption 4 of 17 Photos: Miss France wins Miss Universe Miss Universe contestant Johanna Acs of Germany presents during the national costume and preliminary competition. Hide Caption 5 of 17 Photos: Miss France wins Miss Universe Miss Universe contestant Jenny Kim of South Korea presents during the national costume and preliminary competition. Hide Caption 6 of 17 Photos: Miss France wins Miss Universe Miss Universe Keity Drenan of Panama during the national costume presentation in the preliminary competition of the Miss Universe pageant. Hide Caption 7 of 17 Photos: Miss France wins Miss Universe Miss Universe contestants in their swimsuits during the preliminary competition on January 26. Hide Caption 8 of 17 Photos: Miss France wins Miss Universe Miss Universe contestants in their swimsuits during the preliminary competition. Hide Caption 9 of 17 Photos: Miss France wins Miss Universe Miss Universe contestants in their swimsuits during the preliminary competition of the Miss Universe pageant. Hide Caption 10 of 17 Photos: Miss France wins Miss Universe Miss Universe contestant Le Hang (R) of Vietnam in her long gown along with other candidates during the preliminary competition of the Miss Universe pageant. Hide Caption 11 of 17 Photos: Miss France wins Miss Universe Four days later, at the final judging, Miss Universe candidate Iris Mittenaere (R) of France reacts after being named Miss Universe over fellow candidate, first runner-up Raquel Pellisier of Haiti (L). Hide Caption 12 of 17 Photos: Miss France wins Miss Universe Mittenaere walks on stage after being crowned the winner of the Miss Universe pageant at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila. Hide Caption 13 of 17 Photos: Miss France wins Miss Universe The new Miss Universe (centre R) is congratulated by the other candidates after being crowned at the pageant, on Monday. Hide Caption 14 of 17 Photos: Miss France wins Miss Universe Mittenaere is embraced by former Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach of the Philippines (L) after winning the Miss Universe pageant. Hide Caption 15 of 17 Photos: Miss France wins Miss Universe Mittenaere (R) of France is crowned the new Miss Universe on Monday, January 30. Hide Caption 16 of 17 Photos: Miss France wins Miss Universe The new Miss Universe Iris Mittenaere of France waves to photographers during a press conference after being crowned the winner. Hide Caption 17 of 17

First and second runner-ups were Miss Haiti (Raquel Pelissier) and Miss Colombia (Andrea Tovar). The top finalists hailed from Kenya, Indonesia, Mexico, Peru, Panama, Colombia, Phillippines, Canada, Brazil, France, Haiti, Thailand and the U.S.

The pageant changed its format this year; it had 12 instead of 13 finalists, and counted online votes from the Miss Universe app and Twitter.

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