Jessica Lane of Australia is crowned Miss Earth 2024 during the coronation night at the Okada in Paranaque City on November 9, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Australian environmental journalist Jessica Lane has been crowned Miss Earth 2024, marking a historic win for her country in the prestigious global pageant.

Lane triumphed over 75 contestants during the coronation night held on Saturday at Okada Manila. Her victory not only made her the first Australian to hold the Miss Earth title but also highlighted her dedication to environmental advocacy.

”I feel incredibly honored. It’s been such a journey and truly, it could have been any of these women,” Lane said. “Each of them was inspiring empowering, and I just feel so incredibly grateful.”

As the new Miss Earth, Lane takes over from Drita Ziri of Albania, the 2023 titleholder. Lane expressed her joy and pride in winning, particularly as an environmental journalist with a passion for sustainability.

“I love my country so deeply. We have a really rich heritage rooted in environmental sustainability but to be chosen amongst these incredibly inspiring women, each of them has such a strong advocacy and dedication to preserving our earth. It’s truly such an honor,” she said.

Lane vowed to use her platform to make a positive impact. “There’s a lot to do,” she said. “I think that as an environmental journalist, I have the responsibility and the voice to hopefully inspire people and really make a change.”

Lane’s first initiative will be to tackle the environmental issue of shark nets in Australia, a cause she has long championed. “I’ll get back to Australia [and] the first thing that’s gonna happen is the removal of the shark nets. It’s an environmental issue. It’s been going on for quite some time and I’m a firm advocate against it,” she said.

Additionally, Lane plans to promote sustainable fashion as part of her broader mission to inspire a more eco-conscious world.

”Further, I’ll be promoting sustainable fashion and hoping to really inspire people and make a difference,” she added.

The Philippines’ representative, Irha Mel Alefeche, earned a spot in the Top 12.

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The pageant also crowned the winners of the four elemental titles.

Miss Earth-Air Hrafnhildur Haraldsdóttir from Iceland, Miss Earth-Water Bea Millan-Windorski of the USA, and Miss Earth-Fire Niva Antezana from Peru all expressed gratitude to their supporters and shared a message.

Haraldsdóttir emphasized the importance of taking action for a sustainable future. 

“We are all the future. We need to step up to make a change. We need to be more sustainable. We can make it a fun way. We don't have to think of sustainability and a greener future as something boring," she said.

Millan-Windorski encouraged young people to take action against climate change. 

”The biggest antidote to uncertainty and fear is hope, perseverance, and dedication, and my message to all young people out there is [that] we need to come together and make a difference now. There’s a lot of targets like by 2030 and by 2040 and that can seem daunting, but the first step is really understanding and taking action," she said.

Antezana reminded viewers that every small action counts in the fight to protect the planet. “We can all make a difference. We can do a lot of small things that come together as a great change. So, we can start it step by step and make the world a better place," she said.

With Lane’s victory, Australia joins the ranks of countries that have produced a Miss Earth titleholder, a title that continues to shine a spotlight on global environmental issues. 

As Miss Earth 2024, Jessica Lane will have the world stage to continue her work advocating for sustainability and inspiring change.