# Victoria Kjær Theilvig

Maria Victoria Kjær Theilvig (Danish pronunciation:; born 13 November 2003) is a Danish model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe 2024. Kjær Theilvig is the first Dane to win Miss Universe.

## Early life

Kjær Theilvig was born on 13 November 2003 in Herlev, a suburb of Copenhagen, where she was raised. Kjær Theilvig attended Lyngby Handelsgymnasium, where she studied business and marketing. Kjær Theilvig afterwards became a professional dancer, and advocated for mental health awareness, animal rights, and entrepreneurship in the beauty industry.

## Pageantry
### Miss Denmark

Kjær Theilvig began competing in pageantry after becoming a contestant for Miss Denmark 2021, ultimately placing as the second runner-up. The following year, she was appointed Miss Grand Denmark and represented Denmark at Miss Grand International 2022 in Indonesia, placing in the top twenty.
In 2024, Kjær Theilvig was appointed Miss Universe Denmark after the winner of the Miss Denmark 2024 pageant, Emma Heyst, opted not to compete at Miss Universe 2024. Heyst was instead appointed Miss Universe Denmark 2025 and is slated to compete in Miss Universe 2025 pageant.

### Miss Universe

As Miss Universe Denmark, Kjær Theilvig competed in and won Miss Universe 2024, held on 16 November in Mexico City. Kjær Theilvig became the first Danish woman to be crowned Miss Universe and the first blonde winner since Jennifer Hawkins of Australia at Miss Universe 2004. She is, in addition, the second Danish woman to win any of the Big Four international beauty pageants, following Catharina Svensson at Miss Earth 2001.
During the preliminary competetion, Kjær presented a national costume as a Viking warrior goddess with red and golden ornamentation. At the top 5 question and answer round, Kjær Theilvig was asked, "How would you live your life differently if you knew nobody would judge you?" She answered:
   I would never change how I live my life. We learn from our mistakes. We learn every day. We learn something new and we got to take that and bring it to the future. That’s why I live each day by each day, and I just got to stay positive. So, no, I would not change anything.
During the final question and answer round, Kjær Theilvig was asked, "Miss Universe has inspired generations of women. What do you want to say to the ones watching you now?" She answered:
   “My message to all the world that is watching out there is no matter where you come from, no matter your past, you can always choose to turn it into your strengths. It will never define who you are. Just got to keep fighting. I stand here today because I want to change. I want to make history. And that’s what I’m doing tonight. So never give up, always believe in yourself and your dreams, and that is exactly what you are going to do.”
At the end of the event, Kjær Theilvig was crowned Miss Universe 2024 by outgoing titleholder Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua. Accordingly, she is the first winner to wear the Light of Infinity golden pearl crown unveiled by the Miss Universe Organization that same year.
In her capacity as Miss Universe, Kjær Theilvig traveled to Mexico, the United States, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Puerto Rico, Netherlands, and her home country of Denmark.