Australian Miss Universe contestant Tegan Martin made it to the final 10 out of more than 80 countries at the pageant in Miami on Monday, however was unsuccessful in claiming the crown.
Newcastle-born Ms Martin said on Monday she was ecstatic to reach the final 15 and make the semi-finals, and then be grouped into the remaining 10.
The last Australian to take the crown was Jennifer Hawkins in 2004.
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Miss Colombia Paulina Vega was crowned Miss Universe, beating out first runner-up Miss USA Nia Sanchez.
Ms Vega, a 22-year-old student of business administration from Barranquilla, Colombia, said on Sunday the contests leading up to Miss Universe were the first she had participated in.
She also said they would be her last as she would be eager to return to her studies in Colombia after her reign.
“It will be a dream come true to represent the woman of today,” Ms Vega had said earlier in the week in talking about the role of the winner.
“A woman that not only cares about being beautiful and being glamorous, but also cares about being a professional, intelligent, hard-working person.”
Second runner-up was Miss Ukraine Diana Harkusha.
Miss Jamaica Kaci Fennell and Miss Netherlands Yasmin Verheijen were also among the top five, emerging from the field of 88 contestants.
In June Ms Martin was crowned Miss Universe Australia after twice finishing second in the beauty pageant.
The 22-year-old stumbled on her evening gown as she sauntered down the runway, but retained her composure to trounce the competition with her answer to a question on what she would change about the federal budget.
Ms Martin grew up in Newcastle and has been living in Sydney for the past few years.
She is also studying a bachelor of health science and is a qualified hair and make-up artist.
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