The organization of Miss Universe Japan is all hosted the coronation ceremony for the 2021 edition of the pageant on  few minutes ago in Tokyo, where stunning 33 semi-finalists from all over the country competed for the crown and an opportunity to represent Japan at the upcoming Miss Universe 2021. Juri Watanabe was crowned Miss Universe Japan 2021 as she succeeded Miss Universe Japan 2020 Aisha Harumi Tochigi, at the end of the event.

A proud half-Japanese and half-Korean beauty, Juri has grown up in Japan, China and the United States. She has always been treated as an outsider. Throughout her experiences she has realized the identity is not something we are born with but it is something that is fluid and changes over time. Through the Miss Universe platform, she hopes to bring awareness to the idea that we can come from different backgrounds but still share a common experience and to help others out there who face similar struggles. Juri speaks fluent English making her a strong and ideal representative for the international platform.

During the final question-answer round on being asked about the present state of women in Afghanistan, Juri emphasized, “I believe it is very unfortunate that women are losing their rights. From the moment that women are born, we are disadvantaged, but women deserve to be heard, deserve to have a voice in society, that is why I stand with them. I believe that women have the power to change the world and the women in Afghanistan deserve the same rights that all the privileged women do.”

Previously this year, Aisha Tochigi represented Japan at Miss Universe 2020, where she emerged as one of the strongest contenders at Miss Universe 2020. She also promoted the debut of Karate at the 2020 Summer Olympics, which are being hosted by her country, as her national costume at the international platform. Her performance was highly appreciated but unfortunately she remained unplaced.

Japan has been under a dry spell for more than a decade now since Riyo Mori last won the Miss Universe crown in 2007. For the 2021 edition of Miss Universe, Juri Watanabe will represent Japan in Eilat, Israel, this December, with an aim to bring home the crown to end the long-standing absence for the Miss Universe crown.

Congratulations queen!