The crowd in San Salvador, El Salvador, roared with applause as Erica Robin began her walk across the Miss Universe stage on Saturday.
Robin, who placed in the top 20, made history as the first woman to represent Pakistan in the pageant, though she said her decision to compete was met with mixed reactions from people in her country.
The 24-year-old is a model and, according to her Miss Universe bio, among the 1% of Christians in Pakistan.
“I’m most proud of standing up for what I believe in my life. Recently, right after I was announced as the new titleholder for Miss Universe Pakistan, I received some backlash from different sectors of the community, but I would like to stand up for what I believe in,” Robin said in her bio.
“Despite these criticisms, I was ready to face any challenges ahead of me while maintaining my values as a young modern Pakistani woman, representing our rich culture and heritage, and showing the world that Pakistan can celebrate the success of women,” she added.
Robin uses her platform to advocate for gender equality in the workplace, and she volunteers at the Karachi Down Syndrome charity.
