Miss Grand International 2017 is Maria Jose Lora, Miss Grand Peru. She is the 5th Miss Grand International and has joined the growing sisterhood of queens from Puerto Rico, Cuba, Australia and Indonesia. Lora is a entrepreneur from Lima. The first female Grand Slam winner of the year is 27 years old and stands 1.8m tall. The 1st runner-up was Miss Venezuela, Tulia Aleman, the 2nd runner-up was Miss Philippines, Elizabeth Durado Clenci, the 3rd runner-up position went to Brenda Jimenez, Miss Puerto Rico, and rounding out the Top 5 was Nikola Uhlirova, Miss Czech Republic, the 4th runner-up.

Top 10 semi-finalists were Indonesia, Ukraine, South Sudan, Thailand and Vietnam.

Those who made the first cut as Top 20 quarter-finalists were Australia, Paraguay (Best in Social Media), Mexico, Brazil, Costa Rica, Netherlands, China, Russia, India,  and Laos. The biggest shocks of the night were the exclusion of Belgium, Jamaica, Fiji and Sri Lanka. 

The event took place at the luxurious Vinpearl Phu Quoc Resort & Villas, in Phu Quoc island, Vietnam, and it was attended by over 5000 people. It marked the second time Vietnam hosted a Grand Slam beauty pageant, the first being Miss Universe 2008. The 77 candidates also visited Ho Chi Minh and Quang Binh.

 Hosting the 5th Miss Grand International Pageant was Nicole Cordoves, vice-Miss Grand International 2016, from the Philippines, and Xian Lim, an American-born Filipino actor, model and singer. Ariska Putri Pertiwi, Miss Grand International 2016, crowned her successor.

It was a magnificent show, which opened with an energetic number to the sound of a remix of Little Mix´s hit song "Power". Indonesia won the first award of the night, Best in National Costume, before Vietnam was named Miss Health and Beauty. The 20 quarter-finalists were called in no particular order and went back on stage to compete in the popular swimsuit competition, all wearing bikinis by MGI. They walked the runway to "Falling", by Alesso. Costa Rica was named the Best in Swimsuit. 

Then it was time to reveal the names of the 10 semi-finalists. Indonesia won the popular voting and was granted a direct spot in this stage of the competition. The other 9 completed the group and all of them got ready for the Stop The War speeches.

As the 10 semi-finalists gave their moving speeches, the other delegates stood behind them carrying Vietnamese lamps. It was a beautifully produced number, showing some of the local culture.

Standouts here were Indonesia, Peru, Puerto Rico, who spoke about the devastating effects of the two hurricanes that hit her island territory, and South Sudan, who shared with the audience that she did not have the opportunity to attend school due to being a refugee in her country. 

It was a tough job for the judges, but only 5 candidates could continue in the competition and they were Peru, Puerto Rico, Czech Republic, Philippines and Venezuela. After a final question, which asked them what law they would implement to punish people criminals, and the Final Look walk, it was time to announce the name of Ariska´s successor.

The new Miss Grand International won US$ 40,000 in cash, one year residence at Movenpick Residences Ekamai with full chaperone service, and is expected to travel the to at least 10 countries promoting the Stop The War cause.