A 22-year-old South African Woman, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters who trains women in self – defense was on Sunday crowned Miss Universe at the pageant held in Las Vegas, United States.

Miss Nel-Peters who hails from Western Cape Province and had just earned a business management degree from North-West University beat runners-up, Miss Colombia, Laura Gonzalez and Miss Jamaica, Darina Bennett to clinch the coveted crown.

She said her passion for self-defense was reinforced recently when she was hijacked and held at gunpoint about a month after winning the Miss South Africa title.

Nel-Peters, who wore a unique big smile throughout the pageant added that she has been preparing to be an actress since the age of 16. After graduating from performing school she moved to Bogota, Colombia where she built her modelling career.