Andrea Meza of Mexico was crowned Miss Universe 2020 in Florida last May 16
NEW YORK — Miss Universe is heading to Israel for its 70th competition.
The Miss Universe Organization announced Tuesday that the pageant will be held this December in the southern resort city of Eilat.
Steve Harvey will once again return as host.
The three-hour event will broadcast live on Fox in the U.S. and also in 180 countries and territories across the globe. It will end with the current Miss Universe, Mexico’s Andrea Meza, crowning her successor.
Meza, a former software engineer, has advocated for women’s rights and is also encouraging people to get the vaccine from COVID-19. Soon after she was named Miss Universe, Meza invited the media to cover her first vaccination shot in New York.
In a statement released by the Miss Universe Organization, Meza said she hopes “as many people as possible” get vaccinated so they can participate in the 70th Miss Universe contest. Meza was crowned Miss Universe in May, beating out Miss Brazil.
Previous winner Zozibini Tunzi fit the crown on Meza's head and waited to make sure it would stay in place as Meza beamed and took her first walk to the front of the stage.
Tunzi, a public relations professional who became the first Black woman from South Africa to win the contest, had held the title since December 2019. Last year's ceremony was postponeddue to the pandemic.
Source: USA Today, 7/20/201