Miss Universe 2017: Twitter Says Miss Jamaica Davina Bennett Robbed Of Title

The results of Miss Universe 2017 were announced on Sunday, with Miss South Africa Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters having been crowned the winner. However, not all were happy with the results and expressed their anger on social media saying Miss Jamaica was robbed of the title.

Rounds boos were even heard from the audience at Sunday’s event when Jamaica's Davina Bennett was declared second runner-up in the competition. The backlash against the judgment soon began pouring in on Twitter and some accused the pageant of being racist.

One user tweeted: Institutions like Miss World and Miss Universe and the Olympics are afraid of black power, black representation, black body, or black images. Black people will never stop dominating and breaking imaginary barriers in for our children’s harmony and yours. #MissUniverse #Jamaica.

Others recalled a similar situation that happened in 2014 when the judges and organizers of the Miss Universe contest were subject to criticism for giving the then representative of Jamaica, Kaci Fennell, the 5th place.

This year too, many felt Bennett was the clear winner and was robbed of the title. Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness, also joined in to acknowledge that Bennett represented the country in a great manner.

The winner was decided after the top 3 contestants were asked what was the one quality they had that they were proud of and they would use it if they were crowned the winner.

The winner, Nel-Peters, answered: "As Miss Universe, you have to be confident in who you are as an individual. A Miss Universe is a woman [who] has overcome many fears, and, by that, she is able to help other women overcome their fears. She is a woman that nothing is ever too much to ask for, and I think that is exactly who I am."

Meanwhile, Bennett answered: "The quality I am most appreciative of is my drive, my determination. I am the founder of a foundation that spreads awareness for the deaf community, and this platform is such a great platform to just let [people] know that these persons need opportunities and equal opportunities like those in society. And so the Miss Universe competition will be the platform for me to use this foundation to spread awareness for all the deaf people around."

People thought Bennett ’ s answer— that promoted her advocacy — was well-thought out and set her apart from others ’ generic answers.

According to Jamaica Gleaner, Bennett was a second-year marketing student at the University of the West Indies and had established a foundation for the hearing impaired called The Davina Bennett Foundation For The Deaf.

In an interview with The Gleaner in September, Bennett revealed that she never thought she would one day represent her country on the world stage.

"I didn't think I could do pageantry. I was always afraid of speaking. I was more of a walk on the runway and come off type of girl, but I decided that it was time for a change. I started the foundation before Miss Universe. I needed a platform to have a voice for these persons who need my support. That was my main motivation going in, and what can I say? I'm the winner today," she said after Miss Universe Jamaica.