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Winner of Miss World 2019, Toni-Ann Singh of Jamaica, centre with crown, is congratulated by other contestants after winning the award, at the 69th annual Miss World competition at the Excel centre in London Saturday, Dec 14, 2019, as 120 national representatives from around the world compete for the famous blue crown. Reigning Miss World, Vanessa Ponce de Leon from Mexico will crown her successor.(Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)
Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi, of South Africa, poses for photos with her crown after an interview in New York on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019. Tunzi, a 26-year-old gender violence activist, was crowned Miss Universe 2019, on Sunday in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Miss USA, Cheslie Kryst competes in the Miss Universe pageant at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. December 8, 2019. Picture taken December 8, 2019. REUTERS/Elijah Nouvelage
Miss Teen USA 2019 Kaliegh Garris attends the 2019 Miss Universe Pageant at Tyler Perry Studios on December 08, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Paras Griffin/Getty Images/AFP)
In this Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018 file photo, Miss New York Nia Franklin reacts after being named Miss America 2019 in Atlantic City, N.J. Three black women are the reigning Miss USA, Miss Teen USA and Miss America. Chelsie Kryst completed the historic triple on Thursday, May 2, 2019 beside pageant winners 2019 Miss America Nia Franklin and recently crowned 2019 Miss Teen USA Kaliegh Garris. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray, File)
When Toni-Ann Singh of Jamaica was crowned Miss World 2019 on Dec. 14, she joined a special and unique sorority – she was one of five black women to claim a crown in the major world beauty pageants.
Less than a week earlier, South Africa's Zozibini Tunzi won the title for Miss Universe. The 26-year-old gender violence activist had to leave her studies due to family economic struggles, but was able to continue her education thanks to her work as a model, according to the Associated Press.
In May, North Carolina lawyer Cheslie Kryst was crowned Miss USA.
"Mine is the first generation to have that forward-looking mindset that has inclusivity, diversity, strength and empowered women. I’m looking forward to continued progress in my generation,” Kryst said during her acceptance speech.
Kaliegh Garris won the crown for Miss Teen USA in April 2019, with hopes of becoming a trauma nurse.
In September 2018, Nia Franklin of New York won Miss America, also becoming the first woman to win the title, without the swimsuit contest.