Stunning Momoko Abe was crowned as the winner of Miss Universe Japan 2017 in the national finale held earlier today. Momoko hails from the province of Chiba and is 22-year-old beauty with a height of 1.75m. She was mega favourite to win the crown even before the finale and she battled out 45 other contestants to claim the title of Miss Universe Japan. She succeeds Sari Nakazawa as the new queen who will now represent Japan at Miss Universe 2017.

At the same event, Miss Ehime-Kanako Fukuoka was declared as the first runner-up and Miss Tokyo-Ayaka Koshiba finished as the second runner-up. The third runner-up title went to Miss Nagano-Natsuki Konishi while the fourth runner-up was handed to Miss Akita-Tomoka Konno.

Akiko Kojima became the first Japanese and Asian to win the Miss Universe crown in 1959. Rio Mori became Japan’s second Miss Universe winner in 2007. Kurara Chibana in 2006 missed the Miss Universe crown by whiskers to Miss Puerto Rico. Japan  haven’t performed very well in last decade, in fact after Riyo Mori, Japan could only place twice in the finale. Momoko Abe is already liked by many across pageant circuit and is expected to bring placement for Japan this year. Do you see this as a possibility at Miss Universe 2017? Do share you views in comment section.

Photo Credit: Miss Universe Japan Facebook Page.