Philippines' Maxine Medina exits after climbing to Miss Universe final 6

MANILA, Philippines (7th update; First published 8:30 a.m.) — In trimming 86 candidates to six, the Miss Universe pageant on Monday included the Philippines' representative Maxine Medina before she bowed out.

The 26-year-old Medina advanced to the final six after nailing the evening gown and swimsuit segments. Maxine stood out in her Rhett Eala red gown with glittery top and embellished trumpet skirt.

For the question and answer segment, the six top contestants talked about the refugee crisis and human rights, among other political and social issues.

Asked what would be the "most significant change" in the world in the last 10 years, Maxine picked the Miss Universe pageant.

In the last 10 years in being here in the world is that I saw people being in one event like this in Miss Universe. It's something big to us that we are one as a nation, we are all together.

With Medina and two other candidates failing to advance, left to compete for the crown were:

1. Miss France - Iris Mittenaere
2. Miss Colombia - Andrea Tovar
3. Miss Haiti - Raquel Pelissier

Mittenaere of France was crowned Miss Universe after wowing the judges with her Moulin Rouge national costume, her answers in the two question and answer portions and her final walk.

Maxine at the start of the Miss Universe telecast on Monday, Jan. 30, 2017. MUO/Tom Starkweather

Maxine walks in her swimwear at the preliminary competition of Miss Universe on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2017. Philstar.com/Efigenio Toledo IV

Maxine in her emerald gown by designer Rhett Eala at the Miss Universe preliminary competition on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2017. Philstar.com/Efigenio Toledo IV

The national costume of Maxine Medina featuring a headress reportedly worth about a million pesos. Philstar.com/Efigenio Toledo IV

Judges were Miss Universe 1993 Dayanara Torres from Puerto Rico, Miss Universe 1994 Sushmita Sen from India, Miss Universe 2011 Leila Lopes from Angola, Editorial Director of Editorial Director of popular fashion and pop-culture magazine, Paper, TV star Cynthia Bailey, and Emmy and Tony award-winning producer Francine LeFrak scored the candidates based on their ability to articulate themselves under pressure while sharing a thoughtful, well-informed response.