Andrea Meza, the newly crowned Miss Universe, is an impressive young lady. The former Miss Mexico from Chihuahua understands her role in representing Mexico on the world stage. Meza takes that responsibility very seriously, and is not afraid to speak her mind. That’s what makes her so unique, growing up in a society that is only beginning to accept women as equals in the workplace. And this, of course, explains the message behind her victory statement when she uttered the words, “Mexico, this is for you.”
“Nowadays, beauty isn’t only the way we look,” noted Meza in response to a random question by the pageant judges. ” For me, beauty radiates not only in our spirit, but in our heart and how we conduct ourselves. Never permit someone to tell you that you have no value.”
Meza is a confident young woman, and for good reason. She holds a degree in software engineering, and is a certified makeup artist and model. She also owns her own clothing line and is a well known activist in the area of gender based violence. And if that’s not enough, Andrea is not afraid to speak out against her own government if she sees fit.
“I believe there is not a perfect way to handle COVID-19,” said Meza when asked about the pandemic. “However I also believe I would have created a lockdown (in Mexico) a lot sooner before things got too big. We lost so many lives and we have to take care of our people.”
Meza’s win was not without controversy, as an online conspiracy theory surfaced that she was married, which would have been against the pageant rules. A photo shoot posted 3/09/19 showed Meza in a white wedding gown pictured with a male model named Jorge Saenz in a tuxedo, but it was merely a promotion for the Chihuahua Tourism Board. Saenz confirmed that the pair were on a modelling assignment and the photo was a media prank.
The incident though, ironically came at a time when Meza had hit a low point in her life due to the virus. Like many of us, she found herself unemployed and had to return home to live with her parents, but they were extremely supportive.
“My dad said ‘okay, you don’t have to work right now, but you can focus on something else,’ and that’s what I did,” Meza recalls. “I love sports, so that’s when my family inspired me to launch an activewear line, and not be afraid to ask for help.”
It didn’t take long for this fiercely independent woman to get back on track. Meza’s stunning beauty was an obvious asset in the Miss Universe event, but her perfect English and composure under pressure nailed the title for her. Miss Peru and Miss Brazil were also finalists, making it a clean sweep for the hemisphere.
Contestants from 73 countries participated in this year’s event, held at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Meza, 26, now plans to move to New York City this summer to continue her reign and pursue future opportunities. But you can bet she will be quick to remind folks in the Big Apple where she’s from and where her heart remains. As she promotes her platform, Meza’s goal is for young girls and women to “embrace their imperfections and enjoy the ride.”
“Just be yourself and don’t compare yourself to others, because we are all different,” says Andrea. “That’s what makes us special.”
