Stephanie Del Valle beat 116 contestants from around the globe to be crowned by Miss World 2015 Mireia Lalaguna of Spain at the 66th annual international beauty contest finale, which was held on December 18 at The Theater at MGM National Harbor in Oxen Hill, Maryland, US. Being an ambassador of her country was "an honor and a great responsibility" to her.
The 19-year-old Puerto Rican beauty wore a dress made by Carlos Alberto of silk organza and decorated with precious Swarovski stones. The famous designer was inspired by Puerto Rican national flower — hibiscus, or Flor de maga.
Stephanie likes to have options and so she has a proper career plan. The ambitious young lady studies law and communications in a double major program at Pace University, New York, while pursuing her lifelong ambition of following a career in entertainment during her spare time.
The brown-eyed brunette is the youngest in her family and has two elder siblings. Since her very childhood, she was in love with fine arts. At the age of four she became a member of the prestigious San Juan Children's Choir, which she considers one of her greatest achievements.
"The proudest moment in my life was the first time I travelled by myself to Brazil at the age of 8 as an ambassador for my country, singing with the San Juan Children's Choir. This event is also memorable because it was a life changing experience as it was the first time I was confronted with real poverty through the eyes of a child, the same age as me," Stephanie said in her introduction video for the contest.
The newly crowned Miss World 2016 is also a compassionate social worker who runs a project called "A Choir of Angels." She describes it as "a therapy program based on music, which serves as an alternative treatment for babies with Down Syndrome, to achieve wellness and improve their lives."
The beauty queen also likes to learn songs on the guitar when she has nothing much to do, as she revealed on her Instagram page. Speaking of the guitar, "School of Rock" starring Jack Black is Stephanie's favorite musical movie, the entire script and soundtrack of which she knows by heart.
The Puerto Rican model is 1.78 meters (5 feet 10 inches) tall and she speaks three languages fluently: Spanish, English and French.
Stephanie enjoys reading a lot, especially during a flight when nothing can distract her. By the way, her personal motto is a quote from the Antoine de St Exupery's Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince): "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
