Miss France beats Haiti and Colombia to clinch Miss Universe title

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.”

Contestant Iris Mittenaere of France is crowned the new Miss Universe by former Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach of the Philippines.

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.

Miss Universe contestant Andrea Tovar of Colombia presents during the national costume and preliminary competition.

Miss Universe contestant Le Hang of Vietnam presents during the national costume and preliminary competition.

Miss Universe contestant Johanna Acs of Germany presents during the national costume and preliminary competition.

Miss Universe contestant Jenny Kim of South Korea presents during the national costume and preliminary competition.

Miss Universe Keity Drenan of Panama during the national costume presentation in the preliminary competition of the Miss Universe pageant.

Miss Universe contestants in their swimsuits during the preliminary competition on January 26.

Miss Universe contestants in their swimsuits during the preliminary competition.

Miss Universe contestants in their swimsuits during the preliminary competition of the Miss Universe pageant.

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.

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).

Mittenaere walks on stage after being crowned the winner of the Miss Universe pageant at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila.

The new Miss Universe (centre R) is congratulated by the other candidates after being crowned at the pageant, on Monday.

Mittenaere is embraced by former Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach of the Philippines (L) after winning the Miss Universe pageant.

Mittenaere (R) of France is crowned the new Miss Universe on Monday, January 30.

The new Miss Universe Iris Mittenaere of France waves to photographers during a press conference after being crowned the winner.

Miss France wins Miss Universe

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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.

Related: Sierra Leone enters Miss Universe competition for the first time

This was the first time Sierra Leone entered the competition and was represented by Hawa Kamara, 2013 Miss West Africa. Miss Canada, Siera Bearchell, also made headlines for taking on trolls who body-shamed her for her size.

The annual pageant was held on Monday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines. Host Steve Harvey joked on the show that he got the winner right this year, after last year’s snafu of getting it wrong. Rapper Flo Rida and R&B group Boys II Men provided entertainment.

Related: Miss Universe Canada takes on body-shamers with a badass message