Ashley Burnham from Canada was crowned Mrs. Universe 2015 on August 30 at an event which was held in the Belarusian capital of Minsk.
Ashley Burnham is a member of Enoch Cree Nation. She is the first First Nations woman and the first Canadian to win the contest.
Above: Ashley Burnham of Canada reacts as she wins the Mrs. Universe 2015 contest in Minsk, Belarus.
Above: Ashley Burnham of Canada reacts as she wins the Mrs. Universe 2015 contest in Minsk, Belarus.
Burnham, 25, is a model and actress. In 2010, she participated in the Miss Canada pageant.
Above: Ashley Burnham of Canada, winner of the Mrs. Universe 2015 contest, takes the stage during the competition in Minsk, Belarus.
Above: Ashley Burnham of Canada, winner of the Mrs. Universe 2015 contest, takes the stage during the competition in Minsk, Belarus.
The participants of the contest visited the central botanical garden in Minsk where they were welcomed with bread and salt, a traditional custom expressing hospitality.
Above: Participants of the Mrs. Universe 2015 contest during their visit to the central botanical garden in Minsk, Belarus.
Above: Participants of the Mrs. Universe 2015 contest during their visit to the central botanical garden in Minsk, Belarus.
The contest was held in Minsk on August 24-30.
Above: A Chinese participant of the Mrs. Universe 2015 contest.
Above: A Chinese participant of the Mrs. Universe 2015 contest.
Visiting the BelAZ manufacturing plant in the city of Zhodino was part of the tour program for the participants.
Above: A participant of the Mrs. Universe 2015 contest takes a selfie as she stands close to a 360-ton payload BelAZ mining dump truck.
Above: A participant of the Mrs. Universe 2015 contest takes a selfie as she stands close to a 360-ton payload BelAZ mining dump truck.
The Mrs. Universe competition started in 2007.
Above: Takako Honda Hiruma of Japan prepares backstage during the Mrs. Universe 2015 contest in Minsk, Belarus.
Above: Takako Honda Hiruma of Japan prepares backstage during the Mrs. Universe 2015 contest in Minsk, Belarus.
The Mrs. Universe is an annual international beauty pageant that focuses on married contestants.
Above: Participants take a photo with a smartphone on a selfie stick as they wait backstage before the Mrs. Universe 2015 contest in Minsk, Belarus.
Above: Participants take a photo with a smartphone on a selfie stick as they wait backstage before the Mrs. Universe 2015 contest in Minsk, Belarus.
Over 60 successful married beauties from all over the world came to Minsk to take part in the competition.
Above: A Russian participant of the Mrs. Universe 2015 contest.
Above: A Russian participant of the Mrs. Universe 2015 contest.
Above: Karol Uzaga Valerin of Costa Rica prepares backstage during the Mrs. Universe 2015 contest in Minsk, Belarus.
Over the last years, the contest has been held in various countries, including Russia, Malaysia, Bulgaria, and Latvia.
Above: Participants of the Mrs. Universe 2015 contest pose on trucks at the BelAZ plant in Zhodino, outside Minsk.
Above: Participants of the Mrs. Universe 2015 contest pose on trucks at the BelAZ plant in Zhodino, outside Minsk.
The theme of this year’s competition was battling domestic violence and child abuse. As a survivor of physical and sexual abuse, Burnham said the theme of the pageant resonated with her.
Above: A participant of the Mrs. Universe 2015 contest from the Caribbean, Mayra Joli poses for a photo with a woman during their visit in central botanical garden in Minsk, Belarus.
Above: A participant of the Mrs. Universe 2015 contest from the Caribbean, Mayra Joli poses for a photo with a woman during their visit in central botanical garden in Minsk, Belarus.
Above: Participants in the Mrs. Universe 2015 contest at the BelAZ plant during their visit in Zhodino, Belarus.
"Ever since I was little, I loved acting and being in the spotlight and on stage and everything," the winner said.
Above: Ashley Burnham (center) celebrates after being crowned Mrs. Universe during the Mrs. Universe 2015 pageant final in Minsk, Belarus.
Above: Ashley Burnham (center) celebrates after being crowned Mrs. Universe during the Mrs. Universe 2015 pageant final in Minsk, Belarus.
