MANILA, Philippines – Australia’s Jessica Lane was crowned Miss Earth 2024 on Saturday night, November 9 in Okada Manila, Parañaque City.
Last year’s winner, Miss Earth 2023 Albania’s Drita Ziri, passed down her title.
Lane bested 89 other contestants who vied for the title of Miss Earth — one of the four biggest international pageants in the world along with Miss Universe, Miss World, and Miss International. This made her the 24th beauty queen to clinch the highly coveted Earth crown.
As the new ambassadress of Miss Earth based in the Philippines, she will represent the organization, which advocates for environmental protection. The new Miss Earth is also expected to use her platform to raise awareness and influence others to help save the planet.
She is also the third Miss Earth titleholder crowned during a physical pageant since the competitions were held online in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. Lane is also the second Miss Earth titleholder to wear the crown designed by Long Beach Pearl, a Vietnamese jewelry company, which also created Miss International’s sakura-themed crown.
Miss Earth is an annual global competition that celebrates the diverse beauty of nature’s fauna while promoting the preservation and conservation of our planet through eco-tourism and sustainability initiatives.
Meanwhile, Lane’s elemental court includes Iceland’s Hrafnhildur Haraldsdóttir as Miss Earth Air, USA’s Bea Millan-Windorski as Miss Earth Water, and Peru’s Niva Antezana as Miss Earth Fire.
The top 8 finalists who fell short of entering the final four were announced as runners-up, with equal placements:
- Cabo Verde
- Dominican Republic
- Puerto Rico
- Russia
Philippines’ very own Irha Mel Alfeche finished in the top 12.
The new Miss Earth makes history as the first Miss Earth titleholder from Australia. In the past, Australia’s highest placement in the pageant is the Miss Earth Air title, which the nation achieved in 2022 (Sheridan Mortlock); 2017 (Nina Robertson), and 2015 (Dayanna Grageda).
Courtesy of Lane’s victory, Australia now joins the elite list of nations which have won all four major pageants. Aside from Australia, these nations include Brazil, Venezuela, Philippines, USA, Puerto Rico
Here’s the list of Australia’s victory in the other Big 4 pageants:
Miss Universe: Jennifer Hawkins (2004); Kerry Anne Wells (1972)
Miss World: Belinda Green (1972); Penelope Plummer (1968)
Miss International: Kirsten Davidson (1992); Jenny Derek (1981); Tania Verstak (1962)
– Rappler.com
