Vanessa Ponce Biography

Vanessa was born Silvia Vanessa Ponce de León Sánchez, on March 7, 1992, in Guanajuato, a city in central Mexico. She grew up in Mexico City.

Vanessa has a degree in international business from the 'University of Guanajuato.' She also holds a diploma in human rights. Vanessa is fluent in English and Spanish.

Vanessa stepped into the world of modeling through the Mexican reality TV series 'Mexico's Next Top Model.' She participated in the fifth season of the show in 2014 and ended up winning the contest. On May 5, 2018, Vanessa won the title of 'Miss World Mexico.' The event was held at the ‘Salón Imperial de Villa Toscana,' Sonora. She was one of the 32 participants in the contest and was crowned by 'Miss Mexico 2017,’ Andrea Meza.

Vanessa currently serves on the board of directors of a rehabilitation center for girls. Highly involved in social work, she has volunteered for 'Migrantes en el Camino,' a migrant shelter home that assists and works for migrants from various parts of the world. She has also spoken for the 'National Youth Institute.' Vanessa is associated with a special school called 'Nenemi.' The school provides intercultural education to children from local tribes.

Vanessa was declared the winner of the international beauty pageant 'Miss World' in 2018. The event was held in Sanya, China, on December 8, 2018, and she competed against 118 contestants from across the globe. She was crowned by the previous year’s 'Miss World,' Manushi Chillar from India. With her win, Vanessa became the first Mexican to win the prestigious title. The event was telecast live on 'Romedy Now.' Vanessa, the 68th 'Miss World,' is a "beauty with a purpose" in the truest sense of the word. In the pageant’s final round, Vanessa was asked to explain how she would use her influence as 'Miss World' to help people. Her heart-warming answer to this question won the hearts of all the judges and the voters. She answered that the title would not change anything about her and that she would continue working for people the same way she has been working for the past 3 years. Vanessa believes in the motto “We all need each other.”

Vanessa is an athletic person who loves outdoor sports. She enjoys playing volleyball and Ultimate Frisbee. She is also a qualified open water scuba diver. A multitalented woman, Vanessa loves to paint. True to her Mexican heritage, she is a quesadilla lover. One of her favorite TV shows is 'Downtown Abbey.’