Miss South Africa Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters has been crowned Miss Universe at a pageant in Las Vegas.

The 22-year-old, who recently earned a business management degree, named the lack of equal pay as the most important issue women face in the workplace.

Nel-Peters walks away with a year-long salary and a luxury apartment in New York City for the duration of her reign, apart from more prizes.

She is the second woman from her home country to earn the crown.

Miss Colombia Laura Gonzalez was awarded runner-up title, while Miss Jamaica Davina Bennett won the second runner-up.

Ninety-two women from around the world participated in the beauty pageant, which saw the first representatives from Cambodia, Laos and Nepal.