This Contestant's Hair Made Miss World History

While some people were caught up with the terrifyingly awkward Miss Universe mix-up, one pageant contestant was busy making history. Sanneta Myrie was the first Miss World contestant to wear dreadlocks on stage, according to Jezebel, and she looked absolutely fabulous. Miss Jamaica might not have won the pageant — Mireia Lalaguna, Miss Spain, took the crown — but she's inspiring women everywhere to remain true to themselves.

The 24-year-old doctor winner is making history with her fabulous hair. Not only is she gorgeous, smart, and extremely talented, but she's a true role model for women everywhere. When asked about her hair by BET, she gave such an honest answer.

"I lock my hair because I identify with it," she tells BET. "I am very much rooted in that Afro-centric nature, where we as Jamaicans are rooted. It's my expression. The only thing to eclipse the natural beauty of Jamaica is the spirit of its people... one of strong resilience, creativity, and ingenuity."

This woman is truly breaking boundaries in the most amazing way possible — by being herself. Out of 114 contestants, she managed to make it to top five overall and place third in the talent portion of the night. Pageants are often criticized for rewarding a very specific (and very narrow) type of beauty, so it's so refreshing to see more diversity on the stage.

According to Jezebel, Myrie gave an amazing answer to the question of why she deserved to be named Miss World: “My story is one of a little girl whose life was transformed with charity and love and my quest in life is to give that back to as many people as I can, and to inspire the world with my story, that no matter where you are from, your skin type your hair color, your situation — your dreams are valid,” she said. It doesn't get much more inspiring than that!

Although Myrie is the first woman to rock her dreadlocks in the Miss World pageant since it began in 1951, she's not the first public figure who has used her hair make a statement. Here are just a few women chose to go natural or rock their signature 'do in 2015.

Zendaya

After the negative comments about her hairstyle at the 2015 Grammys, Zendaya stood by her choice and even got her own Barbie doll — complete with dreadlocks!

Maria Borges

Borges became the first African American to rock natural hair in this year's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

Laverne Cox

Using the hashtag #TransIsBeautiful, Cox took a makeup-free, natural hair selfie and looked absolutely stunning.

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