Vanessa Ponce

At the age of 22, she participated in the fifth season of Mexico's Next Top Model, which ran in 2014. At the end of the reality show, she was eventually declared as the winner.[14] Her prize package included a cash prize of Mex$300,000, an appearance at the New York Fashion Week, $50,000 worth of Mary Kay cosmetics, a modeling contract with Queta Rojas management, a Volkswagen Tiguan, $125,000 worth of Tommy Hilfiger apparel and an editorial spread in Glamour magazine.[15][16][17]

She was crowned Miss Mexico City 2018, and later was crowned Miss Mexico 2018 on May 5, 2018, in the Imperial Hall of Villa Toscana, Sonora, to represent Mexico in Miss World 2018. She was crowned by Miss Mexico 2017 and Miss World Americas 2017 outgoing Andrea Meza from the State of Chihuahua, Mexico.[18]

She represented Mexico at the 68th edition of Miss World. During the final question and answer round of the contest, she was asked - “How would you use your influence as Miss World to help others?” she replied by stating:

“I would use my position just as I have been doing for the past three years, by being an example. We all can be an example of good in the world. We all have to care, we all have to love and we all have to be kind. It doesn't cost a thing and helping is not that hard. You just have to go out there and there will always be someone who needs what you have to offer. So, help anyone you can guys.”[19]

At the end of the event, she won the title and was crowned Miss World 2018, on 8 December 2018 in the city of Sanya, China. She was crowned by the outgoing titleholder, Manushi Chhillar of India.[20][21]

Vanessa Ponce de Leon is the oldest Miss World as of now. She won the contest when she was 26 years and 276 days, surpassing the previous record of Miss World 1989, Aneta Kręglicka, who was 24 years old and 244 days old at the time of her victory.[6][7]

During her reign as Miss World, she lived in England[22] and visited China,[23] Thailand,[24] United States,[25] Indonesia,[26] India,[27] Uganda,[28] Philippines,[29] Ghana,[30] Singapore,[31] Poland,[32] Tanzania,[33] Bahamas[34] and various cities in her home country Mexico.[35]

At the end of her reign, Ponce crowned her successor Toni-Ann Singh of Jamaica as Miss World 2019 in London on 14 December 2019.[36]

On 19th August 2019, she gave an interview in Women Fitness about her exercise routine, diet, workout, skincare and hair care, under the title 'Miss World Vanessa Ponce de León: An Unmatched Beauty'.[37]