Miss India Adline Castelino is the third runner-up at 69th Miss Universe 2020 while Miss Mexico Andrea Meza won and was crowned the Miss Universe 2020. Andrea has become the third Mexican to win the Miss Universe title. Miss Brazil Julia Gama and Miss Peru Janick Maceta del Castillo won the second and third spots, respectively. The contest was held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida on May 16.
Myanmar’s Miss Universe contestant, Thuzar Wint Lwin, used the pageant on Sunday to urge the world to speak out against the military junta, whose security forces have killed hundreds of opponents since it seized power in a February 1 coup. “Our people are dying and being shot by the military every day,” she said in a video message for the competition.
The 22-year-old, who traces her roots to Udupi in Karnataka, won Miss Diva 2020 making her India’s representative at Miss Universe, this year. During the pageant, Adline received praise for her well-rounded response in the question-answer round. She was asked: “Should countries lockdown due to COVID-19 despite the strain on their economies, or should they open their borders and risk a potential increase in infection rates?”
To this, the model responded, “Good evening universe. Well, coming from India and witnessing what India is experiencing right now, I have realized something very important that nothing is more important than the health of your loved ones. And you have to draw a balance between economy and health. And that can only be done when the government works with the people hand in hand and produces something that will work with the economy. Thank you.”
Adline won hearts in a saree that she wore for the National Costume round. Inspired by the national flower, lotus, the ensemble was designed by Hyderabad-based designer, Shravan Kumar. Explaining the significance of the outfit, she wrote, “My national costume embodies the true essence of a woman. The saree is a traditional attire that binds the whole country together. Yardage of priceless legacy, the saree is known to have 80 different styles of draping. It does not judge class or caste, is worn by most Indian women even today. The border and pallu of the saree is encrusted with an embroidery depicting the 300-year-old Pichwai art form, adding grace. The beautiful colour of the saree is inspired by the national flower of India, the lotus, which symbolises knowledge and spirituality.”
