Victoria Kjær Theilvig of Denmark has been crowned Miss Universe 2024, with her win marking the first time a Dane has won the international pageant. She follows in the footsteps of Nicaragua’s Miss Universe 2023 Sheynnis Palacios. And like Theilvig, Palacios win marked the first time in the country’s history they had won the crown. So it was an extra special moment that Palacios got to crown Theilvig in Mexico City on November 16th.
Remezcla got a chance to speak with the new reigning queen Victoria Kjær Theilvig about following in Palacios footsteps and that crowning moment. Theilvig said, “Sheynnis Palacios was a big big role model for me and a big inspiration. So standing here today and stepping into her footsteps is a really big commitment but a commitment I am so ready to work hard on.”
Theilvig didn’t expect the win, that much was clear from her surprised face when she held hands with Miss Nigeria in the final moments of the Miss Universe 2024 competition. But when it happened, the arena broke into cheers. So much so that even this writer, who attended Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico City thanks to Telemundo, was surprised at the amound of love and joined in.
“I had a moment with Sheynnis when she put the crown on me,” Theilvig said when we asked if Palacios and her shared a moment about the big win. On the stage she was so in shock that she was focused on taking everything in. But afterwards she did have a heartfelt moment with Palacios. “I had an opportunity to have a little Facetime call with her where she was just like “Congratulations and this is going to be amazing.” And she is just so sweet.”
A huge aspect of Miss Universe that many people don’t consider is that this is a sisterhood. Despite speaking different languages, having different cultures, or anything else that might get in the way, there aren’t many people who can understand an experience like Miss Universe. And for Theilvig, she bonded with the other contestants that headed down to Mexico City with her.
When asked if there were any queens in particular she bonded with, Theilvig really couldn’t pick. She said, “I spent time with all of my fellow Miss Universe sisters because they were all so nice. [And I had an] open mind where I wanted to learn all about their background stories and their cultures. Because I love embracing so many different women.”
But the more she talked, the more Theilvig opened up about the entire experience and who she bonded with. Theilvig said, “But of course I had my roommate, Jamaica and the girls in my hallway like Peru, Thailand, Bolivia, Germany, Colombia, and Mexico. I can count on all of the them because I love all of them. Each of them were so amazing and so inspiring.”
Being in Miss Universe also affording Theilvig an opportunity to check out Mexico and everything they have to offer. And while she loved hanging out with her fellow queens and getting to know them and their culture, there was something else that she really loved about Mexico City. And it’s the food.
While being in Mexico, Theilvig ate the best tacos she’s ever had. She said, “I love the tacos here. And you have like this special Mexican sushi, but the tacos in Mexico were nothing like the ones we have in Denmark. So I loved all the different foods I tried in Mexico.”
Being who we are, we asked about tacos in Denmark. Because Latin American food is undeniabilty something loved all over the world. And she didn’t hold back on the stark differences between tacos in Denmark and tacos in Mexico itself. “[In Denmark] they’re crunchy, and boring. And if you go to a Mexican place it’s not really [authentic] Mexican. It’s greasy. But here in Mexico, they were so fresh and so full of flavor. I loved it so much. Totally different experience.”
With Miss Universe now co-owned by Thai entrepreneur Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip and Mexican businessman Raúl Rocha Cantú, we know that Miss Universe Victoria Kjær Theilvig is going to be busy inspiring, traveling, and trying out new cuisines and experiences from all over the world.
