Miss Universe 2024 Victoria Kjær Theilvig in her first interview with HOLA!: 'I want to be the best version of myself'

Nothing was going through my mind. I was in a state of shock, and it all felt surreal to me. Being there was something I had worked towards my entire life, so actually being present and still standing was incredible for me.

I love being in Mexico. The people are incredibly warm and welcoming, making me feel right at home. The food is amazing, and the culture is vibrant and rich. It was a true honor to be there with nearly 130 remarkable women. Every day, I learned so much from each of them, drawing on their diverse cultural backgrounds and life experiences. We had a significant age range, with the youngest being 18 and the oldest 40.

I learned a lot every day and took the opportunity to get to know these amazing women. Being around them was incredibly inspiring, and I am grateful for the experience.

My roommate was from Jamaica, while I was from Denmark. These two places are entirely different, but we were like yin and yang. We connected instantly, and having her in my room was terrific. She is the sweetest person. I became close with many of the girls because I was excited about this trip and eager to learn from people worldwide. For instance, I connected with Tati from Peru and girls from Germany, Bolivia, and Finland. I cherished my relationships with all of them; I loved them all.

My father, my sister, and my cousins flew in from Denmark to watch the final, which was incredible. I saw them at the hotel, and our reunion was filled with joy. We were all in shock and crying tears of happiness—it was amazing. I still get emotional talking about it now. 

When I got to my room at midnight, I called my mom on FaceTime, and we were both crying as I showed her the crown. She had been watching the entire final and eagerly awaited my call, so it felt special. 

Before I left for Mexico, she wrote me a letter and told me to open it as soon as I was on the flight. I kept it as my lucky charm throughout the trip and read it every night. It gave me so much hope.

The letter was in the shape of a heart, and she wrote things to me like I would do great, to keep believing in myself, and that I knew I could do it. So I was on the flight, and I read it. My eyes were filled with tears because she was so amazing.

She had to be home with my younger sister and my dog.

I am the oldest of three sisters. I have a younger sister who is 12 and another younger sister who just turned 18. The 12-year-old is in shock; it's surreal for her. For me, the proudest moment is making my younger sisters feel genuinely proud. I aspire to be an inspiration and a role model for them and now for the whole world.

I have a cousin who participated in Miss Universe, and I looked up to her when I was younger. I'm the only one in my family who has participated in beauty pageants. I realized something important when I was five years old, and that's what I've been working on since then. I've been a professional dancer all my life, which has taught me discipline. I have always enjoyed watching beauty pageants and admire the wonderful, free-spirited individuals worldwide.

When I turned 17, I realized it was time to take action. I decided not to wait any longer because when you have a goal, you should pursue it immediately. At 17, I was determined to achieve my dream. Now, at 21, I am proud to be part of Miss Universe. This experience is a testament to the fact that hard work pays off.

My parents have always been supportive of my ambitions. While they value education greatly, I began pursuing my goals very young because I wanted to achieve more than just academic success. I started my own company when I was 16, and now I can support myself through that venture. This has allowed me to focus on making my dreams come true. I am grateful for my family's unwavering support.

I come from a dysfunctional family, but I prefer not to dwell on the negative aspects of my past. Instead, I aim to transform my experiences into strengths that drive me forward and help cultivate a positive mindset. Regardless of where you come from or your background, it's important to strive for more, using those experiences as motivation to improve. Ultimately, your life is in your hands, and you have the power to shape it.

When I turned 17, I realized it was time to take action. I decided not to wait any longer because when you have a goal, you should pursue it immediately. At 17, I was determined to achieve my dream. Now, at 21, I am proud to be part of Miss Universe. This experience is a testament to the fact that hard work pays off.

My parents have always been supportive of my ambitions. While they value education greatly, I began pursuing my goals very young because I wanted to achieve more than just academic success. I started my own company when I was 16, and now I can support myself through that venture. This has allowed me to focus on making my dreams come true. I am grateful for my family's unwavering support.

I come from a dysfunctional family, but I prefer not to dwell on the negative aspects of my past. Instead, I aim to transform my experiences into strengths that drive me forward and help cultivate a positive mindset. Regardless of where you come from or your background, it's important to strive for more, using those experiences as motivation to improve. Ultimately, your life is in your hands, and you have the power to shape it.

Yes, Denmark is a very small country with a population of six million inhabitants, and beauty pageants have never been a significant event here. However, right now, Denmark is buzzing with excitement. The media is buzzing, and I feel like my face is everywhere. It's a fantastic feeling to finally showcase the significance of beauty pageants and their impact on the world in Denmark. My home country is immensely proud that I put Denmark on the Miss Universe map as the first woman from Denmark to win the title.

The homecoming doesn't have an exact date yet, but we are planning an event after New York.

I'm very excited! We have to do all the official photo shoots, and I love being in New York. It feels like my second home because I have family there. Miami also holds a special place in my heart; when I was little, I used to travel here three times a year. So, for me, Miami feels like a second home, too.

I'm genuinely excited about everything. I can't wait to travel worldwide, experience different cultures, and connect with local communities. I want to offer help wherever I can. While I know I can't change the entire world, I can make a difference in small ways. If I can help just one person, that will bring me much hope.

To me, it's hard to understand because I'm still me. When people ask, 'Can I take a picture with you?' I respond, 'Why would you want a picture with me?' It's crazy.

I have been working very hard leading up to the competition. My team and I have made a concerted effort to connect with a wide range of international designers from around the globe. I traveled to Bangkok and Miami and engaged with numerous Latino designers. My goal was to represent not only Danish culture but also to showcase designers from various countries, allowing me to support local stores and highlight the incredible talent found worldwide. It was essential for me to help as many companies as possible.

My biggest dream was to be Miss Universe, and I have achieved that. Now, I am focusing on the journey, striving to improve myself, and becoming the best version of myself. Even though I am Miss Universe, I learn something new daily and want to continue my personal growth.

The universe has a plan for me, so I don't have a specific next step. I plan to continue my philanthropic work and spend time with my family. At this moment, I'm not dreaming of becoming an actress or pursuing anything particular, but I trust that the universe has a great plan for me, and I look forward to seeing what unfolds.

Nicholas Alexander Chavez!

I would love to be in a comedy; I enjoy that genre. I would also love to do a teen romance movie. I appreciate that he is nice, sweet, funny, and outgoing.