Guardian of the Mangroves – Overall Winner. Tanya Houppermans, Cuba. A curious American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) swims right up to Tanya, at Gardens of the Queen (Jardines De La Reina), an archipelago off the coast of Cuba. It has been strictly protected since 1996, and is one of the most untouched marine ecosystems in the world. ‍ “The healthy population of American crocodiles is down to the pristine condition of the mangroves and I wanted to capture close ups of this gentle giant in its natural habitat. I hope this image can illustrate that protecting areas like this is so critical”. (Photo by Tanya Griffin Houppermans/Mangrove Photographer of the Year)

British singer-songwriter Rita Ora seen attending Jonathan Ross Halloween party at The House of Koko on October 31, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Ricky Vigil M/GC Images)

A model presents a creation from the JianShangYun collection by Chinese designer Shuo Jiang at China Fashion Week in Beijing, Thursday, March 30, 2023. (Photo by Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo)

A guest wearing a fur hat looks on before a fashion show by Chinese brand CHNNYU during BRICS+ Fashion Summit in Moscow, Russia on November 29, 2023. (Photo by Maxim Shemetov/Reuters)

Crystal ice cubes at Jingyuetan National Forest Park attract tourists in Changchun City, northeast China's Jilin Province on January 10, 2024. (Photo by Splash News and Pictures)

(L-R) American rapper Doja Cat, Jeffrey “J” Cyrus and American singer-songwriter Bebe Rexha attend the 66th GRAMMY Awards on February 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

Alex Sun, left, Peter Simplicio and Matt Connelly jump through a hole in the ice into Lake Andrews on the Bates College campus, Friday, February 9, 2024, in Lewiston, Maine. The annual Bates College Puddle jump started 50 years ago as a Winter Carnival tradition. (Photo by Andree Kehn/AP Photo)

A view from the opening night of the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Camping World Team Series in New York City, New York, United States on August 9, 2024. New York Mavericks earned an upset win against Kansas City Outlaws during their hometown debut at the Barclays Center. (Photo by Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images)