Miss Universe 2016 Is Iris Mittenaere from France | Here’s What You Need to Know about Her + Find Out Which African Country Made it to Top 6!

Iris Mittenaere from France is Miss Universe 2016! Iris is 23 and was born in Lille in the Nord Pas de Calais region in northern France.

She is in her fifth year of dental school. Iris says she loves extreme sports, including skydiving, bungee jumping and hang gliding. She also enjoys cooking French food and traveling.

As Miss Universe, she wants to advocate for access to education and children’s rights. As a dental student, she also wants to continue her awareness campaign for dental and oral care, taking her campaign all around the world.

When asked what quality makes someone confidently beautiful, Iris told us, “Beauty shines from the inside out. Be kindhearted, believe in moral values, have confidence in myself, but also admit my flaws, that is the way to work on myself and become confidently beautiful.”

See some highlights from Iris’ Miss Universe journey below!

Swimwear

Iris Mittenaere, Miss France 2016 competes on stage in Yamamay swimwear featuring footwear by Chinese Laundry during the 65th MISS UNIVERSE® Preliminary Competition at the Mall of Asia Arena on Thursday, January 26, 2017. The contestants have been touring, filming, rehearsing and preparing to compete for the Miss Universe crown in the Philippines. Tune in to the FOX telecast at 7:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed on Sunday, January 29, live from the Philippines to see who will become Miss Universe. HO/The Miss Universe Organization

Iris Mittenaere, Miss France 2016 competes on stage in Yamamay swimwear featuring footwear by Chinese Laundry during the 65th MISS UNIVERSE® Preliminary Competition at the Mall of Asia Arena on Thursday, January 26, 2017. The contestants have been touring, filming, rehearsing and preparing to compete for the Miss Universe crown in the Philippines. Tune in to the FOX telecast at 7:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed on Sunday, January 29, live from the Philippines to see who will become Miss Universe. HO/The Miss Universe Organization

Preliminary Evening Gown

Iris Mittenaere, Miss France 2016 competes on stage in her evening gown during the 65th MISS UNIVERSE® Preliminary Competition at the Mall of Asia Arena on Thursday, January 26, 2017. The contestants have been touring, filming, rehearsing and preparing to compete for the Miss Universe crown in the Philippines. Tune in to the FOX telecast at 7:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed on Sunday, January 29, live from the Philippines to see who will become Miss Universe. HO/The Miss Universe Organization

Iris Mittenaere, Miss France 2016 competes on stage in her evening gown during the 65th MISS UNIVERSE® Preliminary Competition at the Mall of Asia Arena on Thursday, January 26, 2017. The contestants have been touring, filming, rehearsing and preparing to compete for the Miss Universe crown in the Philippines. Tune in to the FOX telecast at 7:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed on Sunday, January 29, live from the Philippines to see who will become Miss Universe. HO/The Miss Universe Organization

Head Shot

National Costume

Iris Mittenaere, Miss France 2016
debuts her National Costume on stage at the Mall of Asia Arena on Thursday, January 25, 2017. The contestants have been touring, filming, rehearsing and preparing to compete for the Miss Universe crown in the Philippines. Tune in to the FOX telecast at 7:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed on Sunday, January 29, live from the Philippines to see who will become Miss Universe. HO/The Miss Universe Organization

Iris Mittenaere, Miss France 2016
debuts her National Costume on stage at the Mall of Asia Arena on Thursday, January 25, 2017. The contestants have been touring, filming, rehearsing and preparing to compete for the Miss Universe crown in the Philippines. Tune in to the FOX telecast at 7:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed on Sunday, January 29, live from the Philippines to see who will become Miss Universe. HO/The Miss Universe Organization

Crowning Moment

***

A day before the coronation, the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) has decided a day to name top 13 finalists instead of the originally announced, Top 12. According to chief Paula Shugart, 213 million votes were cast by fans around the world.

The change in format is the result of the pageant opening its voting channels through Miss Universe app and Twitter to fans.

TOP 13 LIST

12 out of the top 13 was selected after an extensive round of preliminary interviews and competition. The thirteenth was selected as the winner of a fan vote, where over a hundred million votes was cast.

• Miss Kenya – Mary Esther Were
• Miss Indonesia – Kezia Warouw
• Miss USA – Deshuana Barber
• Miss Mexico – Kristal Silva
• Miss Peru – Valeria Piazza
• Miss Panama – Keity Drennan
• Miss Colombia – Andrea Tovar
• Miss Philippines – Maxine Medina
• Miss Canada – Siera Bearchell
• Miss Brazil – Raissa Santana
• Miss France – Iris Mittenaere
• Miss Haiti – Raquel Pelissier
• Miss Thailand – Chalita Suansane (Fan Vote Winner)

TOP 9 LIST

After making some jokes about his nervousness when reading cards, Steve proceeded to announce the Top 9, who are:

• Miss USA – Deshuana Barber
• Miss Thailand – Chalita Suansane
• Miss France – Iris Mittenaere
• Miss Mexico – Kristal Silva
• Miss Kenya – Mary Esther Were
• Miss Colombia – Andrea Tovar
• Miss Canada – Siera Bearchell
• Miss Haiti – Raquel Pelissier
• Miss Philippines – Maxine Medina

The top 6 will be heading to the Question and Answer portion, the most highly anticipated portion (or dreaded if you are the candidate). Each of them will be given a unique question sourced from an online agency based in the US. The top 3 will be given one question to ponder and give the best answer to

TOP 6 LIST

After the long gown competition, Steve Harvey now announces the Top 6.

• Miss France – Iris Mittenaere
• Miss Kenya – Mary Esther Were
• Miss Colombia – Andrea Tovar
• Miss Philippines – Maxine Medina
• Miss Thailand – Chalita Suansane
• Miss Haiti – Raquel Pelissier

TOP 3 LIST

• Miss Colombia
• Miss France
• Miss Haiti

WINNER – Miss France, Iris Mittenaere