MISS UNIVERSE

Global Beauties – Miss Universe 2011 Special » Miss Angola is Miss Universe 2011!!

2011-09-12T22:49:00.000-07:00

Global Beauties – Miss Universe 2011 Special » Miss Angola is Miss Universe 2011!!

Global Beauties – Miss Universe 2011 Special » Miss GB Universe 2011: Malaysia is the winner!

2011-09-10T22:27:00.000-07:00

Global Beauties – Miss Universe 2011 Special » Miss GB Universe 2011: Malaysia is the winner!

Yeah Debbie!!!

DAYS AWAY... ALL WINNERS BUT ONE WILL BE MISS UNIVERSE 2011

2011-09-07T00:57:00.000-07:00

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PAST WINNERS

2011-09-07T00:50:00.000-07:00

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Tracing the regal existence of ‘Miss Universe’

2011-01-02T05:50:00.000-08:00

‘Miss Universe’ has been one of the most esteemed beauty contests in the world for past the 50 years. The renowned pageant, as an annual international competition, has been showcasing culture, talent and beauty with entries from more than 80 countries on the map. Organised by the ‘Miss Universe Organization’, the contest stands a rival to ‘Miss World’ and ‘Miss Earth’ crowns.

Emergence of the pageant

The prestigious contest evolved in 1951 by a California clothing company ‘Pacific Mills’. The pageant became part of ‘Kayser-Roth’ and the ‘Gulf and Western Industries’, before being taken over by ‘Donald Trump’ in 1996. The ‘Miss Universe Pageant’ amended its title from what it was previously known as - ‘Miss America Pageant’, when Yolande Betbeze, the winner of ‘Miss America 1951’ refused to pose in a swimsuit from its major sponsor, Catalina swimwear. Retaliating to this, the brand manufacturer ‘Pacific Mills’ withdrew itself from ‘Miss America’, and established the ‘Miss Universe’ and ‘Miss USA’ contests.

From 1952 to 1971, the main pageant ‘Miss Universe’ was successfully held consecutively, in the continental US. In the present scenario, MUP is held over a two-week period in every May and July, as compared to 1970s to 1990s, when the contest used to be stretched over a month long period.

Variations in the Contest Format

In the few initial years of the pageant, the semi-finalists used to be announced instantly after the preliminary competition. The arrangement was such that the runners-up and winners were announced from the short listed 15 semi-finalists, after the preliminary round. But in 1964, the top 15 was reduced to top 10, and the format incorporated a round of interview, whereby the winner and runners-up were selected from the 10 finalists.

But a year later, in 1965, the pageant adapted ‘cut to 5 finalists’ concept, in accordance to which, the semi-finalists had to compete once again in ‘evening gown and swimsuit’, post the preliminary round, to make it to the final 5.

In 1969, the format introduced ‘a final question’ concept, whereby one last question was posed to the top 5 selected contestants. But earlier this was an on-and-off feature of the pageant. While in 1990, the concept became a norm, and it was mandatory for the final contestants to answer ‘a final question’ put up to them.

The year 1990 brought a lot many variations in the competition format. Now, instead of the count reducing from 10 semi-finalists to 5, it got down to 6. Each contestant was then made to randomly select a judge to ask her a question in the finale of the contest.

Later that year, the contest underwent frequent changes, when the finalist count was reduced to 3, and after that in 1998, it increased to 5.

Surprisingly, in 2000, the interview round of the semi-finals was dropped and the contestants once again, as in the early days of the pageant, began to compete only in swimsuit and gowns.

Two years back, in 2006, Miss Universe contest settled on the announcement of 20 short-listed semi-finalists, to further compete in the swimsuit. After this round, the selected contestants were brought down to 10, those for competing in the evening gown. This round allowed the final 5 to be declared and initiated the ladies towards the final fight in the ‘final question’ or ‘interview’ round. At the end of this final stroke, the runners-up were announced and the winner was crowned by the outgoing queen.

But in 2007, the format again underwent some changes with the top 15 in the swimsuit round; thereafter the 10 selected ones moved on to the evening gown round, where 5 faced elimination. The final 5 answered the final question, allowing the judging panel to decide on the ultimate winner of the crown. Since then, till date, the trend has been on the similar lines – graceful and exciting, leaving no room for foul play.

A majestic crown to take you places

The crowned beauty is awarded a one-year contract with the Miss Universe Organization, with opportunity for going across borders to spread social awareness about the control of diseases, peace. Since the time Donald Trump took over the pageant, the winner is even awarded a Trump Tower apartment in NYC for use during her reign. Along with the main crown, special awards are also awarded to the winners in the category of the Best National Costume, Miss Photogenic, and Miss Congeniality.

Miss Universe has now turned out to be the biggest glam show, where the most beautiful women from across the world compete with each other to earn pride and honour not just for themselves, but also for their countries.

- Bhavna Khullar

JIMENA NAVARRETE -Universe 2010

2011-01-01T15:51:00.000-08:00

MISS UNIVERSE 2010

2010-08-25T04:50:00.000-07:00

Miss Universe 2010, the 59th edition of the pageant, was held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. on August 23, 2010.It was hosted by Bret Michaels and Natalie Morales.
Jimena Navarrete, Miss Mexico, was crowned Miss Universe 2010 by outgoing titlehoder Stefanía Fernández from Venezuela.

Final results Contestant

Miss Universe 2010 Mexico - Jimena Navarrete

1st Runner-up Jamaica - Yendi Phillipps

2nd Runner-up Australia - Jesinta Campbell

3rd Runner-up Ukraine - Anna Poslavska

4th Runner-up Philippines - Venus Raj

Top 10 Albania - Angela Martini
Ireland - Rozanna Purcell
South Africa - Nicole Flint
Guatemala - Jessica Scheel
Puerto Rico - Mariana Vicente

Top 15 Belgium - Cilou Annys
Colombia - Natalia Navarro
Czech Republic - Jitka Válková
France - Malika Ménard
Russia - Irina Antonenko

Final competition scores
Country Swimsuit Evening Gown
Mexico 9.265 (2) 8.913 (1)
Jamaica 9.426 (1) 8.884 (2)
Australia 8.543 (5) 8.841 (3)
Ukraine 8.333 (7) 8.743 (4)
Philippines 8.957 (3) 8.714 (5)
Albania 8.229 (T8) 8.693 (6)
Ireland 8.784 (4) 8.548 (7)
South Africa 8.229 (T8) 8.420 (8)
Guatemala 8.071 (10) 8.286 (9)
Puerto Rico 8.443 (6) 7.971 (10)
Russia 7.843 (11)
Colombia 7.643 (12)
France 7.576 (13)
Belgium 7.571 (14)
Czech Republic 7.429 (15)

Order of announcement
Top 15

1. Puerto Rico
2. Ukraine
3. Mexico
4. Belgium
5. Ireland
6. South Africa
7. France
8. Australia
9. Jamaica
10. Russia
11. Albania
12. Colombia
13. Guatemala
14. Czech Republic
15. Philippines

Top 10

1. Ireland
2. Albania
3. Philippines
4. Jamaica
5. Mexico
6. Ukraine
7. Puerto Rico
8. South Africa
9. Guatemala
10. Australia

Top 5

1. Mexico
2. Australia
3. Jamaica
4. Ukraine
5. Philippines
Special awards
Award Contestant
Miss Congeniality Australia - Jesinta Campbell

Miss Photogenic Thailand - Fonthip Watcharatrakul

Best National Costume Thailand - Fonthip Watcharatrakul

Judges
Preliminary judgesBasim Shami – President of Farouk Systems
BJ Coleman – Publicist, Journalist & Television Personality
Carlos Bremer – CEO and General Director of Value Grupo Financiero
Corinne Nicolas – President of Trump Model Management
Louis Burgdorf – Talent Producer for MSNBC's Joe Scarborough & Mika Brzezinski
Natalie Rotman – Commentator
Sadoux Kim – Television producer
Telecast judges
Chazz Palminteri – Actor and writer
Chynna Phillips – Singer and actress
Criss Angel – Illusionist and musician
Evan Lysacek – Olympic Gold Medal Figure Skater and Dancing with the Stars participant
Jane Seymour – Actress and Dancing with the Stars participant
Niki Taylor – Model
Sheila E. – Musician
Tamron Hall – MSNBC anchor
William Baldwin – Actor, producer, and writer

Historical Significance
Mexico wins Miss Universe for the second time, the first was Lupita Jones in 1991. Coincidentally, Jones was also crowned in Las Vegas.

Countries who also entered the top 15 the previous year were Albania, Australia, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Puerto Rico, and South Africa.

Jamaica, Ukraine, Albania, and Guatemala places their highest ever in the pageant.

Czech Republic placed for the fourth consecutive time.

Australia scored its third straight placement and its highest since Jennifer Hawkins's victory in 2004.

Guatemala last placed in 1984.

Ireland last placed in 1998.

Philippines last placed in 1999.

Russia and Colombia last placed in 2008

USA failed to place in the semifinals for the fourth time in pageant history.

Venezuela did not make the cut for the first time since 2006.
This is also the first time in pageant history where a country (Venezuela) has won twice in consecutive years and failed to place in the following year.

Thailand won both Miss Photogenic and Best National Costume titles, the first time a country accomplished this feat.
European delegates dominated the semifinals for the third consecutive time with 7 semi-finalists, followed by Caribbean with 2 semi-finalists.

Contestants
Country Contestant- Age- Height(cm)-Height(ft) - Hometown
Albania Angela Martini 24 175 5'9" Shkoder
Angola Jurema Ferraz 25 180 5'11" Namibe
Argentina Yesica di Vincenzo 22 174 5'8" Mar del Plata
Aruba Priscilla Lee 22 180 5'11" Oranjestad
Australia Jesinta Campbell 19 178 5'10" Gold Coast
Bahamas Braneka Bassett 20 176 5'9" Freeport
Belgium Cilou Annys 19 178 5'10" Bruges
Bolivia Claudia Arce 19 173 5'8" Sucre
Botswana Tirelo Ramasedi 21 168 5'6" Gaborone
Brazil Débora Lyra 20 180 5'11" Vitória
British Virgin Islands Josefina Nunez 22 165 5'5" Road Town
Canada Elena Semikina 26 186 6'1" Toronto
China Tang Wen 18 176 5'9" Yichun
Colombia Natalia Navarro 23 179 5'10" Barranquilla
Costa Rica Marva Wright 25 180 5'11" San José
Croatia Lana Obad 22 173 5'8" Zagreb
Curacao Safira de Wit 20 181 5'11" Willemstad
Cyprus Demetra Olymbiou 22 174 5'8" Aradhippou
Czech Republic Jitka Válková 18 169 5'6" Třebíč
Denmark Ena Sandra Causevic 20 174 5'8" Sønderborg
Dominican Republic Eva Arias 25 180 5'11" Moca
Ecuador Lady Mina 24 170 5'7" Guayaquil
Egypt Donia Hamed 22 179 5'10" Cairo
El Salvador Sonia Cruz 20 173 5'8" San Salvador
Finland Viivi Pumpanen 22 167 5'6" Vantaa
France Malika Ménard 23 176 5'9" Caen
Georgia Nana Gogichaishvili 21 177 5'10" Tbilisi
Germany Kristiana Rohder 26 182 6'0" Munich
Ghana Awurama Simpson 22 180 5'11" Sekondi-Takoradi
Great Britain Tara Hoyos-Martinez 20 168 5'6" London
Greece Anna Prelevic 20 181 5'11" Athens
Guam Vanessa Torres 25 167 5'6" Dededo
Guatemala Jessica Scheel 20 170 5'7" Retalhuleu
Guyana Tamika Henry 22 171 5'7" Georgetown
Haiti Sarodj Bertin 24 175 5'9" Port-au-Prince
Honduras Kenia Martinez 26 175 5'9" Tela
Hungary Tímea Babinyecz 19 172 5'8" Szeged
India Ushoshi Sengupta 22 171 5'7" Kolkata
Indonesia Qory Sandioriva 19 173 5'8" Aceh
Ireland Rozanna Purcell 19 175 5'9" Clonmel
Israel Bat-el Jobi 22 172 5'8" Afula
Italy Jessica Cecchini 20 177 5'10" Borgosesia
Jamaica Yendi Phillipps 24 178 5'10" Kingston
Japan Maiko Itai 26 173 5'8" Ōita
Kazakhstan Assel Kuchukova 27 175 5'9" Almaty
Korea Kim Joo-ri 22 172 5'8" Seoul
Kosovo Kështjella Pepshi 23 178 5'10" Junik
Lebanon Rahaf Abdallah 22 174 5'8" Khiam
Malaysia Nadine Ann Thomas 23 169 5'6" Subang Jaya
Mauritius Dalysha Doorga 23 173 5'8" Goodlands
Mexico Jimena Navarrete 22 174 5'8" Guadalajara
Netherlands Desirée van den Berg 23 176 5'9" Santpoort
New Zealand Ria van Dyke 21 172 5'8" Auckland
Nicaragua Scharllette Allen 18 180 5'11" Bluefields
Nigeria Ngozi Odalonu 22 178 5'10" Niger
Norway Melinda Elvenes 23 172 5'8" Larvik
Panama Anyoli Abrego 22 177 5'10" Santiago de Veraguas
Paraguay Yohana Benitez 23 176 5'9" San Lorenzo
Peru Giuliana Zevallos 22 180 5'11" Loreto
Philippines Venus Raj 22 175 5'9" Bato
Poland Maria Nowakowska 23 182 6'0" Legnica
Puerto Rico Mariana Vicente 21 173 5'8" Río Grande
Romania Oana Paveluc 19 181 5'11" Braşov
Russia Irina Antonenko 18 178 5'10" Yekaterinburg
Serbia Lidija Kocić 22 180 5'11" Belgrade
Singapore Tania Lim 22 175 5'9" Singapore
Slovak Republic Anna Amenová 25 173 5'8" Bratislava
Slovenia Marika Savšek 23 175 5'9" Šmartno pri Litiji
South Africa Nicole Flint 22 173 5'8" Pretoria
Spain Adriana Reverón 24 177 5'10" Errenteria
Sri Lanka Ishanka Madurasinghe 23 174 5'8" Kegalle
Sweden Michaela Savic 19 174 5'8" Helsingborg
Switzerland Linda Fäh 22 177 5'10" Benken
Tanzania Hellen Dausen 23 168 5'6" Arusha
Thailand Fonthip Watcharatrakul 20 170 5'7" Samut Prakan
Trinidad & Tobago LaToya Woods 24 178 5'10" Couva
Turkey Gizem Memiç 20 178 5'10" Gaziantep
Ukraine Anna Poslavska 23 180 5'11" Nova Kakhovka
Uruguay Stephany Ortega 20 173 5'8" Montevideo
USA Rima Fakih 24 174 5'8" Dearborn
U.S. Virgin Islands Janeisha John 22 173 5'8" St. Croix
Venezuela Marelisa Gibson 21 178 5'10" Caracas
Zambia Alice Musukwa 22 178 5'10" Lusaka

Returning countries and territories
Haiti last competed in 1989.
British Virgin Islands last competed in 2002.
Botswana last competed in 2004.
US Virgin Islands last competed in 2007.
Denmark, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka and Trinidad & Tobago last competed in 2008.

Replacements
Guatemala – Alejandra Barillas was the original winner of Miss Universe Guatemala 2010, but she injured her left foot in an accident, preventing her from participating in the pageant. She was replaced by one of her runners-up, Jessica Schell.

Romania – Alexandra Cătălina Filip was the original winner of Miss Universe Romania 2010. The 1st Runner-up, Oana Paveluc will represent Romania in Miss Universe 2010. Filip is a professional dancer and a national champion (2008–2010) in several types of sportive dancing. The next international dancing competition where Filip and her dancing partner, Ramon Zedan, plan to participate in will be held in Korea on August 28.
Turkey – Miss Turkey Organization is sending Miss Turkey World 2010, Gizem Memiç, because their Miss Universe delegate, Serenay Sarikaya, was underage (17) at the time of her coronation.
Withdrawals

Bulgaria – The Miss Bulgaria Organization will not send a representative to compete in Miss Universe 2010.

Cayman Islands – On September 8, 2009, it was announced that the Miss Cayman Islands 2009 contest would not take place due to lack of funding and sponsorship. Since the winner of that contest also competes in Miss World, there was no Caymanian representative to Miss World 2009 either.

Estonia – Valeri Kirss, Estonia’s national director, is selling the Eesti Miss Estonia pageant.
Ethiopia
Iceland
Montenegro

Namibia – Miss Namibia 2010, Odile Gertze, was crowned on July 31, 2010. Since that was only one week from the official start of Miss Universe 2010, national director Connie Maritz decided not to send the winner to Miss Universe but to Miss World 2010 and Miss Universe 2011 instead.

Vietnam – Vietnam will not have a representative this year. They have officially withdrawn from the pageant.

Crossovers
The following contestants previously competed at notable national and international beauty pageants:

Argentina – Yesica Di Vincenzo competed at Miss International 2008 but did not place.

Brazil – Débora Lyra competed at Top Model of the World 2008 and won.

Canada – Elena Semikina competed at Miss International 2008, but did not place.

Guatemala – Jessica Scheel, was a contestant in Miss Earth 2007.

Jamaica – Yendi Phillipps competed in Miss World 2007 and placed in the top 16 ("Beach Beauty" 1st runner-up).

Korea – Kim Joo-ri competed in Miss World 2009 and placed in the top 16 (Continental Queen of Asia & Oceania).

Peru – Giuliana Zevallos was a contestant in Miss Earth 2008.

Philippines – Venus Raj was a contestant in Miss Philippines Earth 2008 and placed as Miss Philippines Eco-Tourism (4th Runner-up).

Spain – Adriana Reverón placed in the top 8 at Miss Earth 2008.

U.S. Virgin Islands – Janeisha John represented her territory at Miss America 2008, but was unplaced.

MISS UNIVERSE 2009

2010-03-01T18:04:00.001-08:00

Miss Universe 2009
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Date August 23, 2009
Presenters Billy Bush, Claudia Jordan
Entertainment Flo Rida, David Guetta, Kelly Rowland, and Heidi Montag
Venue Imperial Ballroom, Atlantis Paradise Island, Nassau, Bahamas
Broadcaster NBC, Telemundo
Entrants 84
Placements 15
Withdraws Antigua & Barbuda, Denmark, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, Trinidad & Tobago
Returns Bulgaria, Ethiopia, Guyana, Iceland, Lebanon, Namibia, Romania, Sweden, Zambia
Winner Stefania Fernandez
Represented Venezuela
Congeniality Wang Jingyao
China
Best National Costume Diana Broce
Panama
Photogenic Chutima Durongdej
Thailand

Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas.
Participating nations and territories and results.Miss Universe 2009, the 58th Miss Universe pageant, was held at the Atlantis Paradise Island, in Nassau, Bahamas on August 23, 2009. It was the first time back to back victories in Miss Universe history: Stefania Fernandez of Venezuela, was crowned Miss Universe 2009 by outgoing titleholder Dayana Mendoza. 84 countries and territories competed for the title and the pageant was broadcasted live on NBC and Telemundo. On August 22, Jewel Selver representing Turks & Caicos withdrew from the pageant due to illness (dehydration). Only 83 contestants competed in the final on August 23.

The presentation show, rehearsals, dress rehearsal and the grand final took place at Imperial Ballroom, the main 3,650 seats convention ballroom, at the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort.

Final results Contestant
Miss Universe 2009 Venezuela - Stefanía Fernández

1st Runner-up Dominican Republic - Ada de la Cruz

2nd Runner-up Kosovo - Marigona Dragusha

3rd Runner-up Australia - Rachael Finch

4th Runner-up Puerto Rico - Mayra Matos

Top 10 France - Chloé Mortaud
South Africa - Tatum Keshwar
Czech Republic - Iveta Lutovská
Switzerland - Whitney Toyloy
USA - Kristen Dalton

Top 15 Albania - Hasna Xhukiçi
Belgium - Zeynep Sever
Sweden - Renate Cerljen
Croatia - Sarah Ćosić
Iceland - Ingibjörg Egilsdóttir

Final competition scores
[Country Swimsuit Evening Gown
Venezuela 8.760 (4) 8.869 (5)
Dominican Republic 9.189 (2) 9.428 (1)
Kosovo 8.790 (3) 9.250 (2)
Australia 9.264 (1) 9.039 (4)
Puerto Rico 8.533 (7) 9.050 (3)
France 8.640 (5) 8.650 (6)
South Africa 8.460 (8) 8.040 (7)
Czech Republic 8.350 (9) 8.010 (8)
Switzerland 8.611 (6) 7.890 (9)
United States 8.060 (10) 7.550 (10)
Albania 7.900 (11)
Belgium 7.870 (12)
Sweden 7.830 (13)
Croatia 7.811 (14)
Iceland 7.730 (15)

Top 15

1. Puerto Rico
2. Iceland
3. Albania
4. Czech Republic
5. Belgium
6. Dominican Republic
7. Sweden
8. Kosovo
9. Australia
10. France
11. Switzerland
12. South Africa
13. USA
14. Croatia
15. Venezuela

Top 10
1. Australia
2. Venezuela
3. South Africa
4. Dominican Republic
5. Kosovo
6. Czech Republic
7. Switzerland
8. Puerto Rico
9. USA
10. France

Top 5
1. Dominican Republic
2. Australia
3. Puerto Rico
4. Venezuela
5. Kosovo

Special awards
Award Contestant
Miss Congeniality China - Wang Jingyao

Miss Photogenic Thailand - Chutima Durongdej

Best National Costume Panama - Diana Broce

Background music
Opening Number: "I Gotta Feeling" by Black Eyed Peas, "Fire Burning" by Sean Kingston
Fashion Shoot Presentation: "Body Language" by Heidi Montag (Live performance)
Swimsuit Competition: "Right Round" and "Jump" by Flo Rida (Live performance)
Evening Gown Competition: "When Love Takes Over" by David Guetta featuring Kelly Rowland (Live performance)
Presentation show
This marks the first time the Miss Universe preliminary competition was streamed online to a worldwide audience.

At the Preliminary Competition all contestants competed in the Swimsuit and Evening Gown categories as part of the selection for the top 15 finalists who will be revealed during the beginning of the two-hour live telecast of the 2009 Miss Universe Pageant live on NBC and Telemundo on Sunday, August 23 at 0100 GMT.

The Preliminary Competition was hosted by Miss Universe 2008, Dayana Mendoza and Local Bahamas radio personality Ed Fields. London based singer Anthoney Wright performed his hit song "Wud if I Cud" during the competition.

Final show
This marked the first time the Miss Universe live telecast was introduced by Donald Trump.

84 contestants pre-taped the national costume introduction including Turks & Caicos – Jewel Selver. Top 15 were announced, followed by Dayana Mendoza sharing about her experiences as Miss Universe 2008. The Top 15 semi-finalists competed in the Swimsuit competition which Top 10 finalists completed in the Evening Gown competition. The televised audiences could see the judges' average combined scores. Before announcing the finalists, there were two special awards – Miss Congeniality and Miss Photogenic were given. Both two Asian claimed all the special awards - Wang Jingyao of China and Chutima Durongdej of Thailand. Dayana Mendoza revealed that the new Miss Universe crown was the “Peace” model. The Top 5 finalists completed in the though final question round. The 4 runner-ups announced first, followed by the new Miss Universe 2009 – Stefanía Fernández.

The live telecast was hosted by Access Hollywood, Billy Bush and Celebrity Apprentice Claudia Jordan. For the first time, special guest – Heidi Montag performed her first official single Body Language during the Top 15 fashion shoot presentation. When Flo Rida performed during the Top 15 swimsuit competition, and David Guetta featuring Kelly Rowland performed during the Top 10 evening gown competition.

The pageant was also historically significant, using Skype for the first time for the final question. Mayra Matos representing Puerto Rico was asked by Miss Universe 2007 Riyo Mori from Japan via Skype.

Judges
Telecast Judges
Keisha Whitaker – Fashion Maven and Founder of the Kissable Couture Lip Gloss line.
Tamara Tunie – Actress, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit".
George Maloof Jr. – Professional Sports Mogul and Hotelier.
Farouk – Founder and Chairman of CHI Hair Care.
Richard LeFrak – Chairman, President and CEO LeFrak Organization.
Heather Kerzner – Philanthropist and Ambassador for Kerzner International and Resorts.
Matthew Rolston – Leading Photographer and Director.
Dean Cain – Actor and Producer.
Colin Cowie – Author, Television Personality and Designer to the Stars.
Valeria Mazza – International Supermodel.
Andre Leon Talley – Award-winning Writer and Editor.
Gerry DeVeaux – Award-winning Producer, Songwriter and Style Guru.

Preliminary Judges
Mark Wylie – Best Buddies Talent Executive.
Adriana Ching – Licensed attorney and a former real estate developer avid philanthropist.
Todd Winston – Veteran of the hospitality industry and Vice President of Sales at Creative Promotional.
Rosalina Lydster – Fashion designer for celebrities.
Tiza Tjokroadisumarto – Director of Retail Operations for Michael Kors.
Corinne Nicolas – President of Trump Model Management.
David Friedman – Last Call with Carson Daly Executive Producer.
Steven Schillaci – Talent Producer for many hit shows including American Idol.
Mario Mosley – Hollywood Choreographer of Oxygen’s Dance Your Ass Off.
Sarah Markantonis – Ambassador of Kerzner International Bahamas.

Venezuela won Miss Universe back to back 2008 and 2009.
Countries who also entered the top 15 previous year were Australia, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Kosovo, South Africa, USA, and Venezuela.
Croatia placed for the first time.
Puerto Rico, Switzerland and Sweden last placed in 2006. Zuleyka Rivera (who eventually won the crown), Lauriane Gillieron (who placed 2nd runner-up), and Josephine Alhanko (who placed among the Top 20 semifinalists), were the last placers for these countries, respectively.
Albania last placed in 2002, the last being Anisa Kospiri who placed among the Top 10 semi-finalists.
France last placed 2001, the last being Élodie Gossuin who placed among the Top 10 semi-finalists.
Belgium last placed in 1992, the last being Anke Van dermeersch who placed among the Top 6 finalists.
Iceland last placed in 1980, the last being Guðbjörg Sigurdardóttir who placed among the Top 12 semi-finalists.
China won Miss Congeniality for the second time, the last being Zhang Ningning in 2007.
Thailand won Miss Photogenic for the second time, the last being Pasaraporn Chaimongkol in 1990.
Panama won Best National Costume for the third time, the last being Jessica Rodriguez in 2004.
Dominican Republic scored its first back-to-back placement ever in pageant history.
Australia scored its first back-to-back placement since 1992-1993 and its highest since the victory of Jennifer Hawkins.
The host delegate, Kiara Sherman of the Bahamas, failed to place in the semifinals. The last time the host delegate failed to place was in 2005 - Chananporn Rosjan of Thailand.
Billy Bush hosted the pageant for the fourth time, while Claudia Jordan hosted the pageant for the first time. Jordan sat as one of the judges during 2006 and Miss USA 2009.
For the first time, there was a "live" performance during the Fashion Shoot Presentation.

Contestants
Albania - Hasna Xhukiçi
Angola - Nelsa Alves
Argentina - Johanna Lasic
Aruba - Dianne Croes
Australia - Rachael Finch
Bahamas - Kiara Sherman
Belgium - Zeynep Sever
Bolivia - Dominique Peltier
Brazil - Larissa Costa
Bulgaria - Elitsa Lubenova
Canada - Mariana Valente
Cayman Islands - Nicosia Lawson
China - Wang Jingyao
Colombia - Michelle Rouillard
Costa Rica - Jessica Umaña
Croatia - Sarah Ćosić
Curaçao - Angenie Simon
Cyprus - Kielia Giasemidou
Czech Republic - Iveta Lutovská
Dominican Republic - Ada de la Cruz
Ecuador - Sandra Vinces
Egypt - Elham Wagdi
El Salvador - Mayella Mena
Estonia - Diana Arno
Ethiopia - Melat Yante
Finland - Essi Pöysti
France - Chloé Mortaud
Georgia - Lika Ordzhonikidze
Germany - Martina Lee
Ghana - Jennifer Koranteng
Great Britain - Clair Cooper
Greece - Viviana Kampanile-Zagorianakou
Guam - Racine Manley
Guatemala - Lourdes Figueroa
Guyana - Jenel Cox
Honduras - Bélgica Suárez
Hungary - Zsuzsa Budai
Iceland - Ingibjörg Egilsdóttir
India - Ekta Choudhry
Indonesia - Zivanna Letisha Siregar
Ireland - Diana Donnelly
Israel - Julia Dyment
Italy - Laura Valenti
Jamaica - Carolyn Yapp
Japan - Emiri Miyasaka
Korea - Ri Na
Kosovo - Marigona Dragusha
Lebanon - Martine Andraos
Malaysia - Joannabelle Ng
Mauritius - Anaïs Veerapatren
Mexico - Karla Carrillo
Montenegro - Anja Jovanović
Namibia - Happie Ntelamo
Netherlands - Avalon-Chanel Weyzig
New Zealand - Katie Taylor
Nicaragua - Indiana Sánchez
Nigeria - Sandra Otohwo
Norway - Eli Landa
Panama - Diana Broce
Paraguay - Mareike Baumgarten
Peru - Karen Schwarz
Philippines - Pamela Bianca Manalo
Poland - Angelika Jakubowska
Puerto Rico - Mayra Matos
Romania - Bianca Elena Constantin
Russia - Sofia Rudieva
Serbia - Dragana Atlija
Singapore - Rachel Kum
Slovak Republic - Denisa Mendrejová
Slovenia - Mirela Korač
South Africa - Tatum Keshwar
Spain - Estíbaliz Pereira
Sweden - Renate Cerljen
Switzerland - Whitney Toyloy
Tanzania - Illuminata James
Thailand - Chutima Durongdej
Turkey - Senem Kuyucuoğlu
Turks & Caicos - Jewel Selver (withdrew before the final)
Ukraine - Kristina Kots-Gotlib
Uruguay - Cintia Dottone
USA - Kristen Dalton
Venezuela - Stefanía Fernández
Vietnam - Võ Hoàng Yến
Zambia - Andella Chileshe Matthews

National pageant notes
Country changes
United Kingdom changed its name to UK last year, and this year it changed back its name to Great Britain, which was last used in 2000.

Returning countries and territories
Romania last competed in 1998.
Ethiopia, Iceland, Namibia and Sweden last competed in 2006.
Bulgaria, Guyana, Lebanon and Zambia last competed in 2007.

Withdrawals
Antigua & Barbuda
Denmark
Kazakhstan: Olga Nikitina did not compete in Miss Universe for lack of sponsoring from her country.
Northern Marianas: Sorene Maratita, Miss Marianas Universe 2009, did not compete in Miss Universe 2009 due to lack of sponsorship and funding. She will only compete in Miss International 2009.
Sri Lanka: Faith Landers did not participate in Miss Universe 2009 despite being announced that she would.
St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Ronique Dellimore did not compete in Miss Universe 2009, although the press in her country announced that she would.
Trinidad & Tobago: Peter Elias, the franchise holder for Trinidad & Tobago has confirmed that the Caribbean nation did not send a delegate to Miss Universe 2009 due to lack of sponsorship. The Government of Trinidad and Tobago was informed by Peter Elias in 2008 that it was difficult for him to find sponsorship and that he would no longer be able to fund the girls. The Government aware of this announced that this competition is for private investment and not Government investment.
Turks & Caicos: Jewel Selver withdrew from the competition less than 24 hours before the Presentation Night. Claiming she was suffering from dehydration.Selver was the first delegate to withdraw during preparations for the event on location, for many years.

Contestants notes

Some of the delegates have won or participated / will participate in other pageants or model contests:

Kiara Sherman (Bahamas) was Miss Teen Bahamas 2000 – 2001.
Zeynep Sever (Belgium) competed in Miss Globe 2007.
Zeynep Sever (Belgium), Chloé Mortaud (France), Martine Andraos (Lebanon), Anaïs Veerapatren (Mauritius), Happie Ntelamo (Namibia), Avalon-Chanel Weyzig (Netherlands), and Tatum Keshwar (South Africa) competed in Miss World 2009 in Johannesburg, South Africa on December 12, 2009. South Africa placed 2nd Runner-up and won Queen of Africa, while France finished 3rd Runner-up (Top 7 finalists).
Nicosia Lawson (Cayman Islands) competed in Miss World 2008, but did not place.
Jessica Umaña (Costa Rica) competed in Miss Costa Rica 2008, where she was disqualified due to illness. However, she entered the pageant once again a year later, and won.
Iveta Lutovská (Czech Republic) previously held the title of Miss Model of the World 2007.
Ada de la Cruz (Dominican Republic) competed in Miss World 2007 and won the Beach Beauty Award, which gave her an automatic semi-finalist spot that year.
Sandra Vinces (Ecuador) placed in the Top 10 at Miss Top Model of the Globe 2008.
Elham Wagdi (Egypt), was previously first runner up in the 2005 Miss Egypt pageant. Elham won Miss Universe Egypt 2009 and has competed in Miss Earth 2005, Miss International 2006, and Miss Intercontinental 2007 (where she was a semi-finalist).
Melat Yante (Ethiopia) is the current Ethiopia's Next Top Model.
Clair Cooper (Great Britain) represented England at Miss Earth 2007, but did not place.
Lika Ordzhonikidze (Georgia) competed in Miss Intercontinental 2009 in Minsk, Belarus, where she placed at the top 15.
Zivanna Letisha Siregar (Indonesia) won Elite Model Look Indonesia, then she competed in Elite Model Look Asia Pacific Quest 2006.
Carolyn Yapp (Jamaica) was the 1st Runner-up in Miss Jamaica World and the 2nd Runner-up in Miss Jamaica Universe a few years ago.
Emiri Miyasaka (Japan) was the 2nd Runner-up at Miss International Japan 2008.
Eli Landa (Norway) competed in Model Look International 2003.
Angelika Jakubowska (Poland) and Illuminata James (Tanzania) competed in Miss International 2009, but both did not place.
Mayra Matos (Puerto Rico) previously held the title of Miss Teen International 2006.
Võ Hoàng Yến (Vietnam) was the winner of Vietnam Supermodel 2008 and the first runner-up of Miss Vietnam Universe 2008.
Andella Chileshe Matthews (Zambia) was Miss Zambia UK in 2008.
Clair Cooper last competed in Miss Earth 2007 but did not place.

Other notes
For the first time, the Bahamas hosted the Miss Universe.
Croatia was interested in hosting Miss Universe 2009 but they backed out of the project due to economic problems related to the current global economic crisis.
Last July, investor Jonathan Westbrook tried to get Australia to host Miss Universe 2009 but his efforts were in vain as the possible venues were not interested.
Donald Trump had intentions on holding the 2009 pageant in Dubai, but backed out due to the political instability regarding relations between the United Arab Emirates and Israel and also for religious reasons.
Bolivia – Peru dispute
In August 1, 2009 Bolivian officials stated that it could present a legal challenge to the organizers of Miss Universe due to the planned use of a typical Diablada costume by the Peruvian candidate Karen Schwarz. Pablo Groux, Bolivian minister of Culture, said that any use of the costume by Schwarz in the contest would be an unlawful appropriation of Bolivian heritage and threatened to bring the case to the International Court of Justice. El Comercio, a Peruvian newspaper, mentioned that this is not the first time the diablada costume is shown in the contest and that it was María Josefa Isensee, a Chilean, that first used it in the Miss Universe contest. The Peruvian foreign minister José Antonio García Belaúnde said that since the diablada dress is of indigenous Aymara origin it can not be considered exclusive of any of the countries where Aymaras lives.

Prizes
Miss Universe 2009:
A New custom diamond tiara and jewelry designed by Diamond Nexus Labs
A year long salary as Miss Universe
A shoe wardrobe from Nina Footwear
A year’s worth of hair care products and tools from Farouk Systems
A swimsuit wardrobe from BSC Swimwear Thailand
An assortment of Love Collection video cameras from DXG USA
An evening gown wardrobe by Carlos Alberto Haute Couture
A 6 day/5 night vacation for two at Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas with air travel accommodated by JetBlue Airways
A Skype kit featuring a laptop computer with webcam, speakers and a one year Unlimited World plan to talk to friends and family
A collection of ultra light-weight, fashion fresh Heys USA luggage
Luxury accommodations in a New York City apartment for the duration of her reign, including living expenses
A 2-year scholarship from the New York Film Academy valued at more than $100,000
Personal services including membership to Gravity Fitness and hair services from John Barrett Salon
Modeling portfolio by leading fashion photographer Fadil Berisha
Casting opportunities and professional representation by the Miss Universe Organization
Extensive travel opportunities representing sponsors and charitable partners
Access to various New York city events including movie premieres and screenings, Broadway shows and launch parties
Consultation with stylist Billie Causieestko and access to a personal appearance wardrobe
Professional media/public relations representation by Rubenstein Public Relations and Planet PR in New York City
Dermatology and skincare services provided by Dr. Cheryl Thellman-Karcher
Professional health and nutrition consultation by Tanya Zuckerbrot, MS, RD

1st Runner-up:
$3000 cash award
Gift from Diamond Nexus Labs2nd Runner-up:

$2000 cash award
Gift from Diamond Nexus Labs
3rd Runner-up and 4th Runner-up:

$1000 cash award
Gift from Diamond Nexus Labs
Top 10 and Top 15:

$500 cash award
Special awards winners:

$1,000 cash award
Gift from Diamond Nexus Labs

All contestants:
An assortment of Farouk Systems hair care products
Swimsuit from BSC Swimwear Thailand
Designer shoes from Nina Footwear
Fashions by Carlos Alberto Haute Couture
A Luxe collection video camera from DXG USA
An assortment of items from Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas
A Skype starter pack including a headset and a One year unlimited World Plan
Cosmetics from Kryolan professional make-up

MISS UNIVERSE 2008

2008-10-01T22:04:00.001-07:00

Miss Universe 2008
Dayana Mendoza
Venezuela

1st Runner Up Taliana Vargas (Colombia)

Date: July 14, 2008
Presenters: Jerry Springer, Melanie Brown
Entertainment: Lady GaGa
Venue: Crown Convention Center, Nha Trang, Vietnam
Broadcaster: NBC, Telemundo, VTV
Entrants: 80
Debuts: Kosovo
Winner: Dayana Mendoza
Represented: Venezuela
Miss Universe 2008, the 57th Miss Universe beauty pageant, was held at the Crown Convention Center (Diamond Bay Resort) in Nha Trang, Vietnam on July 14, 2008.[1] Dayana Mendoza, Miss Venezuela, was crowned Miss Universe 2008 by outgoing titleholder Riyo Mori of Japan.[2]

Eighty contestants competed in the event[3] which was broadcasted and distributed globally via NBC in English and Telemundo in Spanish to TV outlets in more than 180 countries. The pageant was watched by a live audience of 7,500 and nearly a billion television viewers worldwide.[4]

This is the first major USA-based television production to take place in Vietnam since the end of the Vietnam War. This is also the first time that the Miss Universe pageant was broadcast in 1080i High-definition. And this pageant was held in a contemporary Communist state for the first time.

The final presentation show was on July 8, the dress rehearsal on July 13 and the live telecast on July 14. Most activities were held successively in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Sai Gon), Ha Noi, Da Nang, Hoi An, Ha Long and finally Nha Trang.

Jerry Springer, tabloid talk show host and host of NBC's America's Got Talent, and Melanie Brown, a.k.a. "Scary Spice", member of the UK pop group Spice Girls and host of TLC's The Singing Office, presented this year's competition. Lady GaGa, 22 year-old performer and songwriter, performed her single Just Dance.

Areas of Competition
Crown Convention Center, Nha Trang.Prior to the final telecast, all contestants competed in swimsuit and evening gown during the preliminary competition. They also participated in interviews with the judges.

During the final competition, the top fifteen contestants (based on their preliminary scores) competed in the swimsuit competition, and the top ten (based upon individual swimsuit scores) competed in evening gown. The final five contestants (based upon individual score from evening gown) participated in a final round of on-stage interviews, before the runners-up were announced and the new Miss Universe named.

This was the second year since 2002 that the judges' average scores were shown on television.

Results.Miss Universe 2008: Dayana Mendoza (Venezuela)
The runners-up were:
1st runner-up: Taliana Vargas (Colombia)
2nd runner-up: Marianne Cruz Gonzalez (Dominican Republic)
3rd runner-up: Vera Krasova (Russia)
4th runner-up: Elisa Najera (Mexico)
The following contestants placed in the top ten and competed in both swimsuit and evening gown (in order of placement): Zana Krasniqi (Kosovo), Claudia Moro (Spain), Crystle Stewart (USA), Claudia Ferraris (Italy), Laura Dundovic (Australia)
The following contestants placed in the top fifteen and competed in the swimsuit competition (in order of placement): Eliška Bučková (Czech Republic), Jázmin Dammak (Hungary), Tanzey Coetzee (South Africa), Hiroko Mima (Japan), Nguyễn Thùy Lâm (Vietnam)

Special awards
Miss Congeniality: Rebeca Moreno (El Salvador)
Best National Costume: Gavintra Photijak (Thailand)
For the first time since the award's inception, no Miss Photogenic Award was given.

Final Competition Scores
Swimsuit Evening Gown
Venezuela 9.327 9.697
Colombia 9.433 9.829
Dominican Republic 8.983 9.036
Russia 8.414 8.471
Mexico 9.071 9.429
Kosovo 8.120 8.264
Spain 9.150 8.200
USA 9.207 8.050
Italy 7.671 7.729
Australia 7.814 7.557
Czech Republic 7.386
Hungary 7.229
South Africa 7.133
Japan 7.100
Vietnam 7.050

Historical Significance
This is the first time Venezuela won Miss Universe since Alicia Machado won Miss Universe 1996. This is the fifth time Venezuela has won the title.
Venezuela (1979, 1981, 1986, 1996, 2008) now ties with Puerto Rico (1970, 1985, 1993, 2001, 2006) for the second-most titleholders in Miss Universe history. Miss USA still holds the record with seven (1954, 1956, 1960, 1967, 1980, 1995, 1997).
Since the pageant's inception in 1952, more than half of the contestants (29 total) who have won came from the Americas.
Dominican Republic equaled the finish of Renata Sone in 2005, the highest finish of a contestant from the Dominican Republic since Amelia Vega won in 2003.
Russia had the strongest finish (third runner-up) since Oxana Fedorova won in 2002, before she was later dethroned.
Australia had the strongest finish (tenth) since Jennifer Hawkins won in 2004.
This is the third year in a row that Japan made the Top 15 contestants.
Contestants from Kosovo and Vietnam made the first cut of contestants for the first time in pageant history.
Vietnam's selection past the first cut became the 45th time in pageant history the host country has its contestant make the first cut.
Mexico placed for the fifth consecutive year.
Czech Republic, Venezuela & Japan were also called out for the finals last year.
Hungary, Colombia and Russia last placed in 2006 while South Africa and Dominican Republic last made the cut in 2005.
Countries that got called out to the semi-finals after a long period without placement were: Italy (11 years), Spain (7 years) and Australia (4 years).
It was the first time since 2001 where the number of European delegates surpassed that from the Americas in the semifinals, with 6 contestants from the old continent and 5 from the Americas.
Thailand won the Best National Costume award for the fourth time.
El Salvador won the Miss Congeniality award for the second time.

Judges
Roberto Cavalli - Renowned fashion designer
Joseph Cinque - President of the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences
Jennifer Hawkins - Miss Universe 2004
Ishaa Koppikar - Bollywood actress
Louis Licari - Celebrity Hairstylist
Nguyen Cong Khe - Editor-in-Chief of Vietnamese newspaper Thanh Nien
Taryn Rose - Footwear designer
Donald Trump, Jr. - Executive Vice President of the Trump Organization; eldest son of Miss Universe co-owner Donald Trump
Nadine Velazquez - actress on NBC's My Name Is Earl

Background Music
Mika, "Love Today" — background music used for the Opening and Presentation of National Costumes
Lady GaGa, "Just Dance" — performed live during the Swimsuit Competition
Robin Thicke, "Magic" from the album Something Else — background music used during the Evening Gown Competition

Delegates
Albania - Matilda Mecini
Angola - Lesliana Pereira
Antigua and Barbuda - Athina James
Argentina - Silvana Belli
Aruba - Tracey Nicolaas
Australia - Laura Dundovic
Bahamas - Sacha Scott
Belgium - Alizée Poulicek
Bolivia - Katherine David Céspedes
Brazil - Natália Anderle
Canada - Samantha Tajik
Cayman Islands - Rebecca Parchment
China - Ziya Wei
Colombia - Taliana Vargas
Costa Rica - María Teresa Rodríguez
Croatia - Snježana Lončarević
Curaçao - Jenyfeer Mercelina
Cyprus - Dimitra Sergiou
Czech Republic - Eliška Bučková
Denmark - Marie-Sten Knudsen
Dominican Republic - Marianne Cruz Gonzalez
Ecuador - Doménica Saporitti
Egypt - Yara Naoum
El Salvador - Rebeca Moreno
Estonia - Julia Kovaljova
Finland - Satu Tuomisto
France - Laura Tanguy
Georgia - Gvantsa Daraselia
Germany - Madina Taher
Ghana - Yvette Nsiah
Greece - Dionissia Koukiou
Guam - Siera Robertson
Guatemala - Jennifer Chiong
Honduras - Diana Barrasa
Hungary - Jázmin Dammak
India - Simran Kaur Mundi
Indonesia - Putri Raemawasti
Ireland - Lynn Kelly
Israel - Shunit Faragi
Italy - Claudia Ferraris
Jamaica - April Jackson
Japan - Hiroko Mima
Kazakhstan - Alfina Nassyrova
Korea - Sun Lee
Kosovo - Zana Krasniqi
Malaysia - Levy Li
Mauritius - Marie-Anne Olivia
Mexico - Elisa Nájera
Montenegro - Daša Živković
Netherlands - Charlotte Labee
New Zealand - Samantha Powell
Nicaragua - Thelma Rodríguez
Nigeria - Stephanie Oforka
Norway - Mariann Birkedal
Panama - Carolina Dementiev
Paraguay - Giannina Rufinelli
Peru - Karol Castillo
Philippines - Jennifer Barrientos
Poland - Barbara Tatara
Puerto Rico - Ingrid Rivera
Russia - Vera Krasova
Serbia - Bojana Borić
Singapore - Shenise Wong
Slovakia - Sandra Manáková
Slovenia - Anamarija Avbelj
South Africa - Tansey Coetzee
Spain - Claudia Moro
Sri Lanka - Aruni Rajapaksha
Switzerland - Amanda Ammann
Tanzania - Amanda Ole Sulul
Thailand - Gavintra Photijak
Trinidad and Tobago - Anya Ayoung-Chee
Turkey - Sinem Sülün
Turks & Caicos - Angelica Lightbourne
UK - Lisa Lazarus
Ukraine - Eleonora Masalab
Uruguay - Paula Díaz
USA - Crystle Stewart
Venezuela - Dayana Mendoza
Vietnam - Nguyễn Thùy Lâm

Debuts
Kosovo sent its first ever delegate Zana Krasniqi.

Withdrawals
Barbados, Belize, Bulgaria, Guyana, Lebanon, Saint Lucia, U.S. Virgin Islands and Zambia competed in 2007 but not at Miss Universe 2008.

Returning states and territories
Guam last competed in 2000.[34]
Netherlands and Vietnam last competed in 2005.
Cayman Islands, Ghana, Ireland, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey and UK last competed in 2006.

New Crown
For Miss Universe 2008 a new crown was unveiled. The 18k white and yellow gold crown was designed by CAO Fine Jewelry specifically for the event. With over 1,000 pecious stones, including 44 carats of diamonds, the crown has a value of $120,000 (USD). The design of the crown is highly symbolic. Vietnam is symbolized in the yellow gold, representative of the country's healthy economy, and in the crane, with represents the spirit and culture of Vietnam. Other colors stand for inspiration and feeling, while the depicted heart is meant to reflect faith, hope and unity. The curving patterns of the stones are a tribute to every country, reflecting growth. The crown will only be awarded as part of the contest this year, with the original Mikimoto design being awarded again next year.

Prizes
Dayana Mendoza receives a prize package which includes cash, a one-year contract promoting Miss Universe, world travel, a rent-free, prestigious New York City apartment, a gift bag stuffed with free designer shoes, dresses and beauty products, a $100,000 USD stipend for a 2-year course at the New York Film Academy and free access to famous fashion houses and beauty parlors. Mendoza will spend her year-long reign traveling the world to lecture on humanitarian issues and promote education regarding HIV/AIDS, the official platform of the Miss Universe Organization.

Miss USA falls again
Miss USA, Crystle Stewart, slipped and fell down the stairs during the Evening Gown competition. This was the second year in a row that a Miss USA delegate fell during Evening Gown. This is also the first time in pageant history a contestant fell down during the Evening Gown competition in two consecutive pageants, from the same country, or from any country. Miss USA 2007, Rachel Smith, fell during Miss Universe 2007 in Mexico, and received boos after she made the Top Five contestants. After Stewart fell, she encouraged the audience to applaud by clapping her hands.[41] She was eliminated after the Evening Gown Competition, finishing in eighth place.

Contestant Notes
Miss Pays de Loire, Laura Tanguy, will represent France. She was second runner up in the Miss France competition, but the winner, Valérie Bègue, was banned after suggestive photos of her appeared in the media shortly after she was crowned.
The first runner-up, Miss New Caledonia Vahinerii Requillart, decided to not compete in Miss Universe because she wants to continue studying.
The winner of Miss Russia 2007 Ksenia Sukhinova was supposed to represent Russia, but due to her studies was replaced by her 2nd runner-up Vera Krasova.[citation needed]
Claudia Moro, was appointed as representative of her country instead of winning the title. Patricia Yurena Rodriguez, who originally was crowned Miss Spain, was disqualified because she did not meet the minimum age requirement by the time asked by the Miss Universe Organization.
Daša Živković (Montenegro) placed 3rd Runner-up at the Miss Tourism Queen International 2008 pageant.
In February 2008, Miss Universe organization president Paula Shugart announced that a Miss Kosovo would compete in Miss Universe 2008 in Vietnam. Montenegro and Serbia had already announced that they would boycott the pageant if Kosovo participates. As Vietnam and Kosovo do not have diplomatic relations, the Vietnam government considered disallowing such participation since it opposes Kosovo's independence. In the end, Kosovo, Serbia, and Montenegro competed without incident. Kosovo's Zana Krasniqi made it to the finals, finishing sixth place.
Ingrid Marie Rivera, Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2008 was 2nd Runner-up at Miss World 2005. She was previously Miss Global Queen 2003.
Shenise Wong, Miss Singapore Universe 2008, was previously competed in Miss Asia-Pacific 1999, Miss International 2002, and Miss World 2005.
Marianne Cruz, Miss Dominican Republic 2008 is the reigning Miss Continente Americano 2007.
Sacha Scott (Bahamas) is the daughter of Miss Bahamas 1982, Christina Thompson-Scott, who competed in Miss Universe 1983
Dayana Mendoza, Miss Venezuela 2007 was a finalist at the Elite Model Look International 2001, in Nice, France.
Samantha Tajik, Miss Universe Canada 2008 currently holds the International Model Of The Year 2007 title and was 2nd runner-up in Miss Global Beauty Queen 2007.
Barbara Tatara (Miss Poland) previously competed at Miss Earth 2007 but did not place.
Aruni Madusha Rajapakse (Miss Sri Lanka) placed as a Semi-Finalist at Miss International 2007.
Rebecca Parchment (Miss Cayman Islands) previously competed at Miss World 2007 but did not place.
Tansey Coetzee (South Africa), Alizée Poulicek (Belgium), Laura Tanguy (France), Alfina Nassyrova (Kazakhstan) and Olivia Carey (Mauritius) will compete in Miss World 2008

Dayana Mendoza of Venezuela, Miss Universe 2008

NEWS:
Victory in Vietnam
Miss Venezuela, Dayana Mendoza, was crowned Miss Universe 2008 on July 13, 2008, in Nha Trang, Vietnam. The first runner-up was Taliana Vargas of Colombia. The second runner-up was Marianne Cruz Gonzalez of the Dominican Republic, and the third runner-up was Vera Krasova of Russia. The fourth runner-up was Elisa Najera of Mexico.
Others among the top 10 were Claudia Ferraris of Italy, Zana Krasniqi of Kosovo, Crystle Stewart of the USA, Claudia Moro of Spain and Laura Dundovic of Australia. Others among the Top 15 were Lam Thuy Nguyen of Vietnam, Tansey Coetzee of South Africa, Hiroko Mima of Japan, Elisa Buckova of the Czech Republic and Jazmin Dammak of Hungary.
Miss Congeniality, chosen by the contestants, was Rebeca Moreno of El Salvador. The winner of the award for Best Costume was Gavintra Photijak of Thailand.
The makeup of the Top 5 was fairly conventional, with all the top 5 coming from countries that had won the crown previously. And the two top finishers came from the South American neighbors that arguably have the most vibrant beauty pageant
cultures on Earth.
The site of the pageant was one that would have seemed improbable only a decade
earlier. The largest of the American-based pageant systems held its finals in Vietnam,the country still widely known for having successfully resisted American control in the 1960s and '70s. Vietnam, like some other major Asian nations, has gone in two decades from hostility toward pageants to a fervent embrace.
Americans are likely to remember the pageant because for the second year in a row,
Miss USA stumbled and fell onstage. Just as in 2007, the American representative recovered herself with admirable grace.
One echo of international tensions that remain today was the presence of Zana Krasniqi, Miss Kosovo. It declared its independence from Serbia in early 2008 under the sponsorship of the United States and much of western Europe, and over the strong objections of a number of other countries. Vietnam does not recognize Kosovo, and Ms. Krasniqi initially had visa problems as she sought to attend the pageant. She eventually competed and made the top 10, but was referred to by Vietnamese officials as Miss Kosovo-Serbia.
The biggest break with pageant tradition was probably the farewell walk by Miss Universe 2007, Riyo Mori of Japan. Instead of wearing an evening gown, she was clad in what some observers called a "cleavage tuxedo." The Rising Sun never rose more dramatically.

MISS UNIVERSE 2007

2008-09-29T18:32:00.000-07:00

Miss Universe 2007
Riyo Mori
Japan

Miss Universe 2007
Date: 28 May 2007
Presenters: Vanessa Minnillo and Mario Lopez
Entertainment: RBD
Venue: Auditorio Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico
Broadcaster: NBC, Telemundo, Televisa
Entrants: 77
Debuts: Montenegro, Serbia, Tanzania
Withdraws: Cayman Islands, Chile, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Namibia, Northern Marianas, Sri Lanka, St. Martin, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Sweden, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, United Kingdom
Returns: Barbados, Belize, Curacao, Honduras, Italy
Winner: Riyo Mori
Represented: Japan
Congeniality: Ning Ning Zhang
China
Photogenic: Anna Theresa Licaros Philippines
Miss Universe 2007, the 56th Miss Universe pageant, was won by Riyo Mori of Japan. It took place on 28 May 2007 at the National Auditorium in Mexico City, Mexico. 77 delegates competed for the title, previously held by Puerto Rico's Zuleyka Rivera.

The pageant was held almost two months prior to when it was held in 2006, although the event had generally been staged between late May and early June since 2001. Miss Universe 2006 Zuleyka Rivera reigned for little more than ten months, one of the shortest in the history of the title. Contestants began to arrive in Mexico on 30 April 2007 and were to be involved in a number of appearances and events prior to the final competition.

This is the fourth time Mexico has been the host country and the second time Mexico City the host city of the Miss Universe pageant. Mexico first hosted the pageant in Acapulco in 1978. Miss Universe 1989 was then staged in Cancún and Miss Universe 1993 was held in Mexico City.

The pageant was co-hosted by Mario Lopez and Vanessa Minnillo, both first-time hosts of the Miss Universe pageant.[1] Minnillo, an Entertainment Tonight correspondent and former Miss Teen USA 1998, previously hosted the Miss Teen USA 2004 pageant. Lopez hosted the Miss Teen USA 1998 pageant (won by Minnillo) and also co-hosted Miss Teen USA 2003.

As Zuleyka Rivera was crowning Riyo Mori with the official Mikimoto crown, it slipped from her grasp and nearly fell to the floor. Mori was able to catch the crown, which is made of diamonds and pearls and is valued at over $250,000

Areas of competition
Prior to the final telecast, all contestants competed in swimsuit and evening gown during the preliminary competition. They also participated in interviews with the judges.

During the final competition, the top fifteen contestants (based on their preliminary scores) competed in the swimsuit competition, and the top ten competed in evening gown. The final five contestants participated in a final round of on-stage interviews, before the runners-up were announced and the new Miss Universe named.

This was the second year since 2002 that the judges' average scores were shown on television.

It was also the first time since 2002 that the final question posed on the ladies came from the judges. The previous pageants had final questions coming from the current Miss Universe and the delegates participating in the final five themselves.

Crowd response
Rachel Smith, Miss USA, was booed during and loudly jeered during her final interview. As she answered her question, there were loud shouts of "Mexico! Mexico!", which continued until she answered in Spanish. This followed a similar incident during Miss Universe 1993, when that year's Miss USA, Kenya Moore, was also booed. This may have been due to Miss USA making the top five despite slipping and falling during the evening gown competition, whilst home crowd favourite Mexico did not. It has also been attributed to political issues between the two countries, such as the illegal immigration policy as well as the War On Terror.

Smith had also been booed during the National Costume competition, an open-air event held prior to the final competition where admission was free to the public.

Results.Miss Universe 2007: Riyo Mori (Japan)
The runners-up were:
1st runner-up: Natália Guimarães (Brazil)
2nd runner-up: Ly Jonaitis (Venezuela)
3rd runner-up: Honey Lee (Korea)
4th runner-up: Rachel Smith (USA)
The following contestants placed in the top ten and competed in both swimsuit and evening gown (in order of placement): Flaviana Matata (Tanzania), Micaela Reis (Angola), Rosa Maria Ojeda (Mexico), Puja Gupta (India), Xiomara Blandino (Nicaragua)
The following contestants placed in the top fifteen and competed in the swimsuit competition (in order of placement): Tjaša Kokalj (Slovenia), Lucie Hadasová (Czech Republic), Žaklina Šojić (Denmark), Farung Yuthithum (Thailand), Lyudmila Bikmullina (Ukraine)
Special awards
Miss Congeniality: Ning Ning Zhang (China)
Miss Photogenic: Anna Theresa Licaros (Philippines)
For the first time since the award's inception, no Best National Costume Award was given.
Final competition scores
Country Swimsuit Evening Gown
Japan 9.599 8.943
Brazil 9.560 9.599
Venezuela 8.971 9.510
Korea 9.458 9.183
USA 8.995 8.754
Tanzania 9.223 8.488
Angola 9.150 8.363
Mexico 8.527 7.850
India 8.548 7.825
Nicaragua 8.171 7.674
Slovenia 8.163
Czech Republic 8.113
Denmark 7.969
Thailand 7.940
Ukraine 7.900
Top Fifteen, Eliminated after competing in the swimsuit competition.
In a strong showing not witnessed since Miss Universe 1988, Asian delegates fared well at this year's edition, with four Asian delegates (Japan, Korea, India, and Thailand) making it to the Top 15. The two special awards were also won by delegates of Asian nations (Philippines and China). Of the 125 semi-finalists named in the past ten years, only 14 were from Asia
Japan won the pageant for the second time since Akiko Kojima won Japan's first Miss Universe title in 1959.[citation needed]
Puerto Rico was first 1st runner-up in 2005 and won in 2006. Japan followed the same trend for 2006-2007.
Thailand, Denmark, Ukraine, India, Brazil and Japan made the cut for the second consecutive year. This was the first time since the 1960s that Denmark and Thailand recorded two consecutive placements.
Mexico placed for the 4th consecutive year.
USA placed for the 5th consecutive year.
Slovenia and Tanzania placed for the first time. This was the first year that Tanzania participated in the pageant. Slovenia debuted in 2001.
Angola and Nicaragua reached their highest placement in Miss Universe history, 7th and 10th place respectively breaking their previous records.
Countries that made the semi-finals after a long period without placement were Nicaragua, which last placed in 1977, and Korea which last placed in 1988.
Czech Republic placed for only the 3rd time, it placed in the top 10 in 1993 when it debuted in the pageant and in 2003.
Philippines won the Miss Photogenic award for the seventh time (it has won this award three years in a row since 2005).
China won the Miss Congeniality award for the first time.

Judges
The following celebrities judged the final competition. Martel was added as a judge the day prior to the final competition.

James Kyson Lee - actor on Heroes
Lindsay Clubine - Deal or No Deal briefcase model
Tony Romo - Dallas Cowboys quarterback
Dave Navarro - rock star
Michelle Kwan - World and Olympic figure skating champion
Mauricio Islas - Mexican actor
Marc Bouwer - fashion designer
Nina Garcia - Project Runway judge and Elle magazine fashion director
Dayanara Torres - Miss Universe 1993
Christiane Martel - Miss Universe 1953

Background Music
National Costume presentation: "Say It Right" by Nelly Furtado
Swimsuit Competition: "Wanna Play", "Cariño Mio" and "Money Money" by R.B.D.
Evening Gown Competition: "Give It Up To Me" by Sean Paul (featuring Keyshia Cole)

Delegates
Albania - Sadina Alla
Angola - Micaela Reis
Antigua and Barbuda - Stephanie Winter
Argentina - Daniela Stucan
Aruba - Carolina Raven
Australia - Kimberley Busteed
Bahamas - Trinere Lynes
Barbados - Jewel Garner
Belgium - Annelien Coorevits
Belize - Maria Jeffery
Bolivia - Jessica Jordan Burton
Brazil - Natália Guimarães
Bulgaria - Gergana Kochanova
Canada - Inga Skaya
China - Ning Ning Zhang
Colombia - Eileen Roca
Costa Rica - Veronica Gonzalez
Croatia - Jelena Maros
Curaçao - Naemi Monte
Cyprus - Polyvia Achilleos
Czech Republic - Lucie Hadasová
Denmark - Žaklina Šojić
Dominican Republic - Massiel Taveras
Ecuador - Lugina Cabezas
Egypt - Ehsan Hatem
El Salvador - Lisette Rodriguez
Estonia - Viktoria Azovskaja
Finland - Noora Hautakangas
France - Rachel Legrain-Trapani
Georgia - Ana Giorgelashvili
Germany - Angelina Glass
Greece - Doukissa Nomikou
Guatemala - Alida Boer
Guyana - Meleesea Payne
Honduras - Wendy Salgado
Hungary - Ildiko Bona
India - Puja Gupta
Indonesia - Agni Pratistha
Israel - Sharon Kenett
Italy - Valentina Massi
Jamaica - Zahra Redwood
Japan - Riyo Mori
Kazakhstan - Gauhar Rakhmetalieva
Korea - Honey Lee
Lebanon - Nadine Njeim
Malaysia - Adelaine Chin
Mauritius - Sandra Faro
Mexico - Rosa Maria Ojeda
Montenegro - Snežana Bušković
New Zealand - Laural Barrett
Nicaragua - Xiomara Blandino
Nigeria - Ebinabo Potts-Johnson
Norway - Kirby Ann Basken
Panama - Sorangel Matos Arce
Paraguay - María José Maldonado
Peru - Jimena Elías Roca
Philippines - Anna Theresa Licaros
Poland - Dorota Gawron
Puerto Rico - Uma Blasini
Russia - Tatiana Kotova
Serbia - Teodora Marčić
Singapore - Jessica Tan
Slovakia - Lucia Senášiová
Slovenia - Tjaša Kokalj
South Africa - Megan Coleman
Spain - Natalia Zabala Arroyo
Saint Lucia - Yoanna Henry
Switzerland - Christa Rigozzi
Tanzania - Flaviana Matata
Thailand - Farung Yuthithum
Turks & Caicos - Saneita Been
Ukraine - Lyudmila Bikmullina
Uruguay - Giannina Silva
United States - Rachel Smith
U.S. Virgin Islands - Renata Christian
Venezuela - Ly Jonaitis
Zambia - Rosemary Chileshe

National competitions
Withdrawals
Cayman Islands, Chile, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Namibia, Northern Marianas, St. Martin, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Sweden, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey and United Kingdom competed in 2006 but not at Miss Universe 2007
Trinidad and Tobago did not send a delegate for the first time in fifteen years, due to a lack of financial support. Kenisha Thom, who represented Trinidad and Tobago in 2006 appealed to the government and businesses to support the pageant, to no avail.
Aruni Rajapakse was expected to represent Sri Lanka in the pageant and was listed as a delegate on the Miss Universe website. On 5 May, her name was removed from the website, and it appears she will not compete in the pageant. Sri Lanka will compete in Miss Universe next year. Miss Rajapakse went on to compete in Miss International 2007 representing Sri Lanka and placing in the top 15.

Debuts
Tanzania attended the Miss Universe pageant for the first time.
Following Montenegrin independence in 2006, Serbia and Montenegro competed separately in Miss Universe for the first time.

Returning states and territories
Honduras,[8] which last competed in 2002.
Barbados, Belize, Curaçao, and Italy which last competed in 2005.

Format changes
For the first time in the history of Femina Miss India Contest, the official winner will represent India in Miss World 2007 contest, while the 1st runner-up will compete at Miss Universe.
As of 2006, the winner of Miss Israel competes in Miss World while the first runner-up goes to Miss Universe.

Contestant notes
Megan Coleman, Miss South Africa 2006A number of contestants have taken part in other international competitions:
Miss Guatemala (Alida Boer) competed in Miss Teen International 2000 where she placed first runner-up. Miss Peru (Jimena Elias) competed in the same pageant in 2006, and also placed first runner-up.
Miss Belize (Maria Jeffery) is the sister of Miss Universe 1999 delegate, Viola Jeffery. Critics had suggested that Miss Belize would make the top 15 at Miss Universe 2007, but she missed the final cut. Maria went on to win the Miss Costa Maya International 2007 Pageant (held in Belize) three months later.
Miss Bolivia (Jessica Jordan Burton) took part in Miss Earth 2006 in Manila. She was not a semi-finalist but placed in the top fifteen in the swimsuit prelimary competition. She won Miss Reina Internacional Del Cafe 2008/Miss International Queen Of Coffee 2008. The pageant was in Colombia.
Miss Argentina (Daniela Stuncan Flimioni) competed in Miss World 2000 where she did not place in the finals, and at Miss Earth 2001, where she placed third runner-up.
Miss Zambia (Rosemary Mulenga Chileshe) competed in Miss World 2004 where she did not place in the finals.
Miss Norway (Kirby Ann Tan Basken) competed in Miss Intercontinental 2006, representing the Philippines, where she was a semifinalist. and she won the title of Mutya ng Pilipinas 2006
Miss Poland (Dorota Gawron) won the Miss Baltic Sea & Scandinavia title in September 2006. The second runner-up was Miss Denmark, Zaklina Sojic. First runner-up Sif Aradóttir represented Iceland at Miss Universe 2006.
Miss Costa Rica (Veronica Maria Gonzalez Quesada) won the Reina Mundial del Banano title in 2006.
Miss Brazil (Natália Guimarães) won the Top Model of the World 2007 title and competed in Miss Intercontinental 2006, where she was a semifinalist.
Miss Angola (Micaela Reis), Miss Spain (Natalia Zabala Arroyo), Miss Russia (Tatyana Kotova), Miss South Africa (Megan Coleman), Miss Egypt, (Ehsan Hatem Al-Kirdany), Miss France (Rachel Legrain-Trapani) and Miss Lebanon (Nadine Njeim), will compete at Miss World 2007
Miss Nicaragua (Xiomara Blandino) and Miss Puerto Rico (Uma Blasini) competed in July at Miss Tourism Queen International 2007, both unplaced.
Miss Angola (Micaela Reis) participated in the Miss World 2007 and won 1st runner-up.
Miss Uruguay (Giannina Silva) was crowned Miss América Latina 2007 just days after Miss Universe 2007 ended. She was, however, later dethroned for undisclosed reasons.
Miss Dominican Republic (Massiel Taveras) would go on and win Miss Reina Hispanoamericana 2007/Miss Hispano American 2007 in Bolivia. This pageant used to be called Reina Sudamericana, but it was opened to countries outside of South America, and became Reina Hispanoamericana in 2007.
Miss Aruba (Carolina Raven) competed and win at Miss Teen International in 1999
Other contestant notes
Miss China Ning-Ning Zhang is Miss Liaoning (China) Universe 2007,the winner of Miss Universe China 2007 Zi-Ya Wei will compete in Miss Universe 2008 pageant.
Miss Jamaica (Zahra Redwood) is the first Rastafarian to represent Jamaica at Miss Universe.[10]
Mauritius was represented by first runner-up Sandra Faro because Melody Selvon, the actual winner of the competition, was only 16 years old.[11] Rules state that all Miss Universe contestants must be over the age of 18.
Miss Lebanon Nadine Njeim has the same name as Miss Lebanon 2004 (who competed at Miss Universe 2005). The two are unrelated.

National Costume controversy
In April 2007, controversy erupted over the proposed national costume of Rosa María Ojeda, Miss Mexico. The skirt of the costume depicted scenes from the Cristero War, a Roman Catholic rebellion in the 1920s in which thousands of people were killed, including hangings. The outfit included a bullet-studded belt and crucifix necklace.[ The design was chosen from over thirty others and had been intended to show Mexico's culture and history, but it elicited controversy amid claims it was in poor taste and inappropriate. Pageant owners said that the costume would be redesigned to include image of the Virgin of Guadalupe.

MISS UNIVERSE 2006

2008-09-29T18:25:00.000-07:00

Miss Universe 2006
Zuleyka Rivera
Puerto Rico

Miss Universe 2006
Date: July 23, 2006 (2006-07-23)
Presenters: Carlos Ponce, Nancy O'Dell
Entertainment: Chelo, Vittorio Grigolo
Venue: Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Broadcaster: NBC
Entrants: 86
Debuts: Kazakhstan
Withdraws: Barbados, Belize, Curacao, Italy, Kenya, Netherlands, Vietnam
Returns: Argentina, Estonia, Ghana, Iceland, New Zealand, Northern Marianas, St Lucia, Saint Martin, Sweden
Winner: Zuleyka Rivera
Represented: Puerto Rico
Miss Universe 2006, the 55th Miss Universe pageant, took place at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, USA. Unlike past events, it was held on Sunday, July 23, 2006 (almost two months later than usual). A live international broadcast was made on NBC.

The 2006 pageant is the first time the United States has been a host since 1998, and the second time for Los Angeles, which last hosted the pageant in 1990. The Republic of Kazakhstan was represented for the first time, while the following countries returned after some years of absence: Iceland (1997), New Zealand (2003), Argentina (2003), Saint Lucia (1977), Saint Martin (2000), Ghana (2004), Estonia (2004), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (2004), Sweden (2004) and the Northern Mariana Islands (2002). The 2006 pageant also featured the most delegates in its history, with 86 delegates arriving in Los Angeles.

Natalie Glebova of Canada crowned her successor, Zuleyka Rivera of Puerto Rico, at the conclusion of the two-hour show. Her reign was the longest ever in Miss Universe history: one year and two months, from the time she was crowned on May 31, 2005 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Results
Countries and territories which sent delegates and results.
Miss Universe 2006: Zuleyka Rivera (Puerto Rico)
The runners-up were:
1st runner-up: Kurara Chibana (Japan)
2nd runner-up: Lauriane Gilliéron (Switzerland)
3rd runner-up: Lourdes Arévalos (Paraguay)
4th runner-up: Tara Conner (USA)
The Top 10 (alphabetic order after competing in swimsuit and evening gown): Desiree Durán Morales (Bolivia), Alice Panikian (Canada), Valerie Dominguez Tarud (Colombia), Priscila Perales (Mexico), Kenisha Thom (Trinidad & Tobago)
The Top 20 (alphabetic order after competing in swimsuit): Magali Romitelli (Argentina), Rafaela Zanella (Brazil), Betina Faurbiye (Denmark), Dina Fekadu (Ethiopia), Adrienn Bende (Hungary) , Neha Kapur (India), Anna Litvinova (Russia), Josephine Alhanko (Sweden), Charm Onwarin Osathanond (Thailand), Inna Tsymbalyuk (Ukraine)

Special awards
Congeniality: Angela Asare (Ghana)
Photogenic: Lia Andrea Ramos (Philippines)
National costume: Kurara Chibana (Japan)

Countries that placed for the first time are: Ukraine, Hungary and Ethiopia.
Countries that got called out to the semi-finals after a long period without placement are: Denmark (39 years), Argentina (27 years), Thailand (18 years), Bolivia (16 years) and Sweden (9 years).
Lauriane Gilliéron, 2nd runner-up became Switzerland's highest placement in Miss Universe, surpassing their 1983 record of 3rd runner-up.
Venezuela did not place for only the second time in the past 24 years.
Puerto Rico, with their fifth win, became the second most successful territory/state to compete at Miss Universe, after the USA.
Philippines won the Miss Photogenic award for the second consecutive year (and its sixth).
Japan won the Best National Costume award for the first time.
Contestants
Albania - Eralda Itaj
Angola - Isménia Júnior
Antigua and Barbuda - Shari McEwan
Argentina - Magalí Romitelli
Aruba - Melissa Vanessa Laclé
Australia - Erin McNaught
Bahamas - Samantha Carter
Belgium - Tatiana Silva
Bolivia - Desiree Durán Morales
Brazil - Rafaela Zanella
Bulgaria - Galena Dimova
Canada - Alice Panikian
Cayman Islands - Ambuyah Ebanks
Chile - Belén Montilla
China - Ying-Hui Gao
Colombia - Valerie Domínguez
Costa Rica - Fabriella Quesada
Croatia - Biljana Mancic
Cyprus - Eleni Ierodiakonoy
Czech Republic - Renata Langmannova
Denmark - Betina Faurbye
Dominican Republic - Mía Taveras
Ecuador - Katty Lopez
Egypt - Fawzia Mohamed
El Salvador - Rebeca Iraheta
Estonia - Kirke Klemmer
Ethiopia - Dina Fekadu
Finland - Ninni Laaksonen
France - Alexandra Rosenfeld
Georgia - Ekaterine Buadze
Germany - Natalie Ackermann
Ghana - Angela Asare
Greece - Olympia Hopsonidou
Guatemala - Jackelinne Piccinini
Guyana - Alana Ernest
Hungary - Adrienn Bende
Iceland - Sif Aradóttir
India - Neha Kapur
Indonesia - Nadine Chandrawinata
Ireland - Melanie Boreham
Israel - Anastacia Entin
Jamaica - Cindy Wright
Japan - Kurara Chibana
Kazakhstan - Dina Nuraliyeva
South Korea - Joo Hee Kim
Latvia - Sanita Kublina
Lebanon - Gabrielle Bou Rached
Malaysia - Melissa Ann Tan
Mauritius - Isabelle Antoo
Mexico - Priscila Perales
Namibia - Anna Nashandi
New Zealand - Elizabeth Gray
Nicaragua - Cristiana Frixione Mendoza
Nigeria - Tienepre Oki
Northern Mariana Islands - Shequita Bennett
Norway - Martine Jonassen
Panama - Alessandra Mezquita
Paraguay - Lourdes Arevalos
Peru - Fiorella Viñas
Philippines - Lia Andrea Ramos
Poland - Francys Sudnicka
Puerto Rico - Zuleyka Rivera
Russia - Anna Litvinova
Serbia and Montenegro - Nada Milinic
Singapore - Carol Cheong Yim Foon
Slovakia - Judita Hrubyova
Slovenia - Natasa Pinoza
South Africa - Thuli Sithole
Spain - Elisabeth Reyes
Sri Lanka - Jacqueline Fernandez
Saint Lucia - Sascha Andrew-Rose
Saint Martin - Gisella Hilliman
St. Vincent & the Grenadines - Shivern Peters
Sweden - Josephine Alhanko
Switzerland - Lauriane Gilliéron
Thailand - Charm Onwarin Osathanond
Trinidad and Tobago - Kenisha Thom
Turkey - Ceyla Kirazli
Turks & Caicos - Shaveena Been
Ukraine - Inna Tsymbalyuk
United Kingdom - Julie Doherty
Uruguay - Fatimih Davila
United States - Tara Conner
US Virgin Islands - Cassie Portam
Venezuela - Jictzad Viña
Zambia - Mofya Chisenga

Zuleyka Rivera, Miss Universe 2006
Kurara Chibana, Miss Universe Japan 2006 and first runner-up
Thuli Sithole, Miss South Africa 2005The two tallest delegates are from West Africa: Miss Ghana (6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) and Miss Nigeria (6 ft 1 in (1.85 m))
Four delegates have previously competed in the Miss World pageant. Trinidad and Tobago's Kenisha Thom represented her nation at Miss World 2004, and placed in the top 15. St. Lucia's Sascha Andrew-Rose also represented her nation at Miss World 2004, but failed to place. Lauriane Gilliéron of Switzerland and Tatiana Silva Braga Tavares of Belgium both competed at Miss World 2005 but failed to place as well.
Miss Indonesia, Nadine Chandrawinata, is half German.
The final competition evening gown for Miss USA Tara Conner was designed during a competition held on the reality television show Project Runway.
Miss Colombia's cousin was Miss Colombia 2005 (who failed to make the cut at Miss Universe 2005). Another cousin of hers is pop singer Shakira.
Miss Mauritius, Isabelle Antoo, is the sister of Miss Mauritius 2004, Magalie Antoo, who participated in the Miss Universe 2005 pageant in Thailand.
Miss Mexico, Priscila Perales went on to compete in the Miss International 2007 pageant and win the title. She is the first ever Miss Mexico international to win the title.
This year features the most delegates in the history of the pageant - 86.
Countries that sent delegates the previous year, but failed to send a delegate to this year's competition include: Barbados, Belize, Curacao, Italy, Kenya, Netherlands, and Vietnam.
Although selecting delegates, the British Virgin Islands and Portugal ultimately did not end up participating. The British Virgin Islands selected Deria Joseph, while Portugal was slated to be represented by Marina Rodrigues.
This is the first time Russia made the semifinals after the dethroning of Oxana Fedorova in 2002.
Nada Milinic, is the last contestant to represent Serbia & Montenegro at Miss Universe. In 2007, Serbia and Montenegro would send separate contestants because of the countries' division.
Zuleyka Rivera, the winner of Miss Universe 2006, had one of the shortest reigns of all, just about 10 months, since Miss Universe 2005, Miss Canada, won in May 2005.
Miss Puerto Rico Universe had been the 2nd-runner up in Miss Universe 2004, first runner-up in Miss Universe 2005, and winner in Miss Universe 2006.
Fabriella Quesada, Miss Costa Rica, would go on and win Miss Reina Internacional del Cafe 2007/Miss International Queen of Coffee 2007. The pageant was in Colombia. She also was Miss Teen International 2002.
Mia Taveras, Miss Dominican Republic, would go on and win Miss Continente Americano 2006/Miss American Continent 2006. The pageant was in Ecuador.
Cristiana Frixione, Miss Nicaragua, would go on and win World Miss University 2006 in South Korea

MISS UNIVERSE 2005

2008-09-29T17:58:00.000-07:00

MISS UNIVERSE 2005
Natalie Glebova
Canada

Miss Universe 2005
Date: May 31, 2005
Presenters: Billy Bush, Nancy O'Dell
Venue: Impact Arena, Bangkok, Thailand
Broadcaster: NBC, Channel 7
Entrants: 81
Placements: 15
Debuts: Latvia
Withdraws: Austria, Cayman Islands, Chinese Taipei, Estonia, Ghana, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Sweden
Returns: Albania, Indonesia, Namibia, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom, US Virgin Islands, Zambia
Winner: Natalie Glebova
Represented: Canada
Miss Universe 2005, the 54th Miss Universe pageant, was held in Bangkok, Thailand on May 31, 2005.

At the conclusion of the final telecast, Miss Universe Canada, Natalie Glebova was crowned Miss Universe 2005 by outgoing titleholder Jennifer Hawkins of Australia. She was the second Canadian to win the title, following Karen Dianne Baldwin who was Miss Universe 1982.

The top fifteen was dominated by contestants from the Americas and Caribbean, whilst the top five consisted entirely of women from these regions.
Host City
Thailand publicized its bid to host the pageant 10 July 2004, during a visit by Jennifer Hawkins, Miss Universe 2004, to the country.[1] At the time, Chile, China and Greece were also being considered to host the event.[1]. One month later, it was announced that Bangkok, Thailand had been informally selected to host the competition, at a cost of US$6.5 million.[2] The cost was to be funded by the Thai government in an attempt to boost tourism.[3] In October the proposal faced difficulties when the Thai government were slow to provide the promised funds, which discouraged prospective sponsors.[4], leading Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to become personally involved to make sure that plans were not derailed.[5] The organization awarded official hosting rights to the Matching Entertainment company in December 2004, after an unsuccessful attempt by a different company, Showcase Thailand 2005.[6]

In February 2005, after the Thai government confirmed plans to back the pageant, the Deputy Prime Minister refuted claims that the event would be held in Khao Lak, a resort town devastated by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, but confirmed that Southern Thailand would host events prior to the final competition.[7]

2005 was the second time the pageant was held in Bangkok.[8] The city also hosted the Miss Universe 1992 competition, won by Michelle McLean of Namibia.

Results
The Miss Universe was won by Natalie Glebova of Canada.
The runners-up were:
1st runner-up - Cynthia Olavarría (Puerto Rico)
2nd runner-up - Renata Soñé (Dominican Republic)
3rd runner-up - Laura Elizondo (Mexico)
4th runner-up - Mónica Spear (Venezuela)
The Top 10 (in order of final placement after competing in evening gown and swimsuit): Débora Sulca (Peru), Ieva Kokoreviča (Latvia), Fiona Hefti (Switzerland), Chelsea Cooley (USA), Elena Ralph (Israel)
The Top 15 (in order of final placement after competing in evening gown): Evagelia Aravani (Greece), Claudia Henkel (South Africa), Helene Tråsavik (Norway), Magdalene Walcott (Trinidad and Tobago), Artika Sari Devi (Indonesia)

Special awards
Photogenic: Gionna Cabrera (Philippines)
Congeniality: Tricia Homer (US Virgin Islands)
National Costume: Chananporn Rosjan (Thailand)

Contestants
Albania - Agnesa Vuthaj
Angola - Zenilde Laurinda Josias
Antigua and Barbuda - Shermain Jeremy
Aruba - Luisana Cicilia
Australia - Michelle Guy
Bahamas - Denia Nixon
Barbados - Nada Yearwood
Belgium - Debby de Waele
Belize - Andrea Elrington
Bolivia - Andrea Abudinen Richter
Brazil - Carina Beduschi
Bulgaria - Galina Gancheva
Canada - Natalie Glebova
Chile - Renata Ruiz
China - Tao Si Yuan
Colombia - Adriana Tarud Durán
Costa Rica - Johanna Fernández
Croatia - Jelena Glišic
Curaçao - Rychacviana Coffie
Cyprus - Elena Hadjidemetriou
Czech Republic - Katerina Smejkalová
Denmark - Gitte Hanspal
Dominican Republic - Renata Soñé
Ecuador - Ximena Zamora
Egypt - Meriam George
El Salvador - Irma Dimas
Ethiopia - Atetegeb Tesfaye
Finland - Hanna Ek
France - Cindy Fabre
Georgia - Rusudan Bochoidze
Germany - Asli Bayram
Greece - Evagelia Aravani
Guatemala - Aida Karina Estrada
Guyana - Candisie Franklin
Hungary - Szandra Proksa
India - Amrita Thapar
Indonesia - Artika Sari Devi
Ireland - Mary Gormley
Israel - Elena Ralph
Italy - Maria Teresa Francville
Jamaica - Raquel Wright
Japan - Yukari Kuzuya
Kenya - Rachel Marete
Korea - So-young Kim
Latvia - Ieva Kokoreviča
Lebanon - Nadine Njeim
Malaysia - Angela Gan
Mauritius - Magalie Antoo
Mexico - Laura Elizondo
Namibia - Adele Basson
Netherlands - Sharita Sopacua
Nicaragua - Daniela Regina Clerk
Nigeria - Roseline Amusu
Norway - Helene Tråsavik
Panama - Rosa María Hernández
Paraguay - Karina Buttner
Peru - Débora Sulca
Philippines - Gionna Cabrera
Poland - Marta Kossakowska
Puerto Rico - Cynthia Olavarría
Russia - Natalia Nikolayeva
Serbia and Montenegro - Jelena Mandic
Singapore - Cheryl Tay
Slovakia - Michaela Drencková
Slovenia - Dalila Dragojevic
South Africa - Claudia Henkel
Spain - Verónica Hidalgo
Sri Lanka - Rozanne Diasz
Switzerland - Fiona Hefti
Thailand - Chananporn Rosjan
Trinidad and Tobago - Magdalene Walcott
Turkey - Dilek Aksoy
Turks & Caicos - Weniecka Ewing
Ukraine - Juliya Chernyshova
United Kingdom - Brooke Johnston
Uruguay - Viviana Arena
USA - Chelsea Cooley
U.S. Virgin Islands - Tricia Homer
Venezuela - Mónica Spear
Vietnam - Pham Thu Hang
Zambia - Cynthia Kanema
Records
Of the Top 15; Puerto Rico, Mexico, Switzerland, USA, Norway, and Trinidad & Tobago were also called to the Top 15 last year.
As well as having debuted in this year's edition, Latvia was also called out to the semi-finals (and finals) for the first time. Latvia ultimately placed 7th overall.
Indonesia was also called out to the semi-finals for the first time, the only Asian country who made it to the Top 15 and placed 15th overall.
Israel was last called out in 2001. South Africa was last called out in 2003. Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Canada, Peru, and Greece were all last called out in 2003.
Venezuela was called back to the semi-finals after its failure to place in 2004 (the last time Venezuela failed to place was in 1982).
Delegates
Sharlita Millington (British Virgin Islands), Jana Kuvaitseva (Estonia) and Shivern Peters (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) were expected to compete in the pageant but did not appear. Peters went on to compete at Miss Universe 2006 in Los Angeles, California the following year.
Luisana Cicilia (Aruba), Asli Bayram (Germany), Roseline Amusu (Nigeria) and Magdalene Walcott (Trinidad & Tobago) were not the original representatives for their country but replaced dethroned titleholders.
The following countries returned after some years of absence: United Kingdom (last participated in 2000 as Great Britain), US Virgin Islands (last participated in 2002), Sri Lanka (last participated in 1996), Indonesia (last participated in 1996), Zambia (last participated in 1999), Namibia (last participated in 2003), and Albania (last participated in 2003).
For the first time in the history of the pageant, Sweden did not send a representative to Miss Universe, although they returned for the 2006 pageant.
Cheryl Ankrah was originally crowned Miss Trinidad & Tobago but was dethroned after she was accused of not fulfilling her duties and becoming overweight. Although Ankrah initially got an injunction to prevent another pageant being held, a Judge overturned that and a second Miss Trinidad and Tobago pageant was held. The winner of the second pageant, who represented Trinidad & Tobago at Miss Universe, was Magdalene Walcott. Walcott was earlier a semi-finalist at the 53rd Miss World held in China.
Rychacviana Coffie, Curacao was previously Miss Intercontinental 2002.
Renata Ruiz, Miss Chile, was the first runner-up in Elite Model Look International 2001.
Gitte Hanspal, Miss Denmark was the reigning Miss Scandinavia 2005.

MISS UNIVERSE 2003

2008-09-29T09:09:00.000-07:00

MISS UNIVERSE 2003
Amelia Vega
Dominican Republic.

Miss Universe 2003
Date: June 6, 2003
Presenters: Billy Bush and Daisy Fuentes
Entertainment: Bond and Chayanne
Venue: Figali Convention Center, Panama City, Panama
Broadcaster: NBC
Entrants: 71
Placements: 15
Debuts: Yugoslavia (as Serbia & Montenegro)
Withdraws: British Virgin Islands, Chile, Ghana, Honduras, Iceland, Kenya, Northern Marianas, Portugal, Uruguay, U. S. Virgin Islands
Returns: Barbados, Belize, New Zealand, Taiwan,
Winner: Amelia Vega
Represented: Dominican Republic
Congeniality: Kai Davis
Antigua and Barbuda
Photogenic: Carla Tricoli
Puerto Rico
The Miss Universe 2003 Pageant was held in Figali Convention Center, Panama City, Panama on June 3, 2003. 71 delegates from around the world who competed for the Miss Universe title.

At the conclusion of the final competition Miss Dominican Republic Universe Amelia Vega was crowned Miss Universe 2003 by Miss Universe 2002, Justine Pasek of Panama. She was the first woman from her country to win the title.

Panama hosted the pageant for the second time. In 1986, Miss Universe 1986 was held at ATLAPA Convention Center in Panama City
Placements
The Miss Universe title was won by Amelia Vega of Dominican Republic.
The runners-up were:
1st runner-up - Mariangel Ruiz (Venezuela)
2nd runner-up - Cindy Nell (South Africa)
3rd runner-up - Sanja Papić (Serbia and Montenegro)
4th runner-up - Miyako Miyazaki (Japan)
The Top 10 were:
Gislaine Rodrigues Ferreira (Brazil), Ndapewa Alfons (Namibia), Leanne Marie Cecile (Canada), Katerina Smrzova (Czech Republic), Faye Alibocas (Trinidad and Tobago)
The Top 15 were:
Claudia Ortiz de Zevallos (Peru), Ana José Sebastião (Angola), Susie Castillo (USA), Stefanie de Roux (Panama), Marietta Chrousala (Greece)

Countries and territories which sent delegates and results.
Special awards
Miss Congeniality: Kai Davis (Antigua and Barbuda)
Miss Photogenic: Carla Tricoli (Puerto Rico)
Best National Costume: Amelia Vega (Dominican Republic)

Contestants
Albania - Denisa Kola
Angola - Ana Jose Sebastiăo
Antigua and Barbuda - Kai Davis
Argentina - Laura Romero
Aruba - Malayka Rasmijn
Australia - Ashlea Talbot
Bahamas - Nadia Johnson
Barbados - Nadia Forte
Belgium - Julie Taton
Belize - Becky Belinda Bernard
Bolivia - Irene Aguilera
Brazil - Gislaine Rodrigues Ferreira
Bulgaria - Elena Tihomirova
Canada - Leanne Marie Cecile
Cayman Islands - Nichelle Welcome
China - Wu Wei
Colombia - Diana Lucia Mantilla Prada
Costa Rica - Andrea Ovares Lopez
Croatia - Ivana Delic
Curacao - Vanessa Maria van Arendonk
Cyprus - Ivi Lazarou
Czech Republic - Katerina Smrzova
Dominican Republic - Amelia Vega
Ecuador - Andrea Jácome Ruiz
Egypt - Nour El-Samary
El Salvador - Diana Reneé Valdivieso
Estonia - Katrin Susi
Finland - Anna Maria Strömberg
France - Emmanuelle Chossat
Germany - Alexsandra Vodjanikova
Greece - Marietta Chrousala
Guatemala - Florecita de Jesus Cobian
Guyana - Leanna Damond
Hungary - Viktoria Tomozi
India - Nikita Anand
Ireland - Lesley Flood
Israel - Sivan Klein
Italy - Silvia Ceccon
Jamaica - Michelle Lecky
Japan - Miyako Miyazaki
Korea - Na-na Geum
Malaysia - Elaine Daly
Mauritius - Marie-Aimee Bergicourt
Mexico - Marisol Gonzalez
Namibia - Ndapewa Alfons
Netherlands - Tessa Amber Brix
New Zealand - Sharee Adams
Nicaragua - Claudia Salmeron Aviles
Nigeria - Celia Bissong Ohumotu
Norway - Hanne-Karine Sorby
Panama - Stefanie de Roux
Peru - Claudia Ortiz de Zevallos
Philippines - Carla Gay Balingit
Poland - Iwona Makuch
Puerto Rico - Carla Tricoli
Russia - Olesya Bondarenko
Serbia & Montenegro - Sanja Papic
Singapore - Bernice Wong
Slovakia - Petra Mokrošová
Slovenia - Polona Baš
South Africa - Cindy Nell
Spain - Eva Maria Gonzalez
Sweden - Helena Stenbäck
Switzerland - Nadine Vinzens
Taiwan - Szu-Yu Chen
Thailand - Yaowalak Traisurat
Trinidad and Tobago - Faye Alibocus
Turkey - Ozge Ulusoy
Ukraine - Lilja Kopytova
USA - Susie Castillo
Venezuela - Mariangel Ruiz
Records/Trivia
Manuela Osk Hardarsdottir of Iceland withdrew from the pageant, when a dehydration caused by the weather prevented her from competing in the Preliminaries. However, she stayed in Panama until the pageant was over, joined by her boyfriend.
In terms of regional representation, this was one of the most balanced top fives in recent years, with delegates from Africa (South Africa), the Asia-Pacific Region (Japan), Europe (Serbia & Montenegro), South America (Venezuela), and the North America (Dominican Republic) all making the top five.
2003 was the first time in 11 years that India failed to make it into the semi-finals.
Angola and Serbia & Montenegro were called out to the semi-finals for the first time.
Venezuela, South Africa, Canada, and Panama were the only countries in this edition's semi-finals who were also called out in last year's semi-finals.
As for the other semi-finalists, Japan last placed in 1988, Namibia in 1992, Czech Republic in 1993, the Dominican Republic in 1995, Peru in 1996, both Brazil and Trinidad & Tobago in 1998, and both the USA and Greece in 2001.
Alexsandra Vodjanikova of Germany went on to win Top Model of the World 2007 in Egypt. She changed her last name and she won with the name of Alessandra Alores.

MISS UNIVERSE 2004

2008-09-29T07:18:00.000-07:00

Miss Universe 2004
Jennifer Hawkins
Australia.

Miss Universe 2004
Date: June 1, 2004
Presenters: Billy Bush and Daisy Fuentes
Venue: Centro de Convenciones CEMEXPO, Quito, Ecuador
Broadcaster: NBC
Entrants: 80
Debuts: Ethiopia, Georgia, Vietnam
Withdraws: Albania, Argentina, Namibia, New Zealand
Returns: Austria, Botswana, Chile, Denmark, Ghana, Kenya, Lebanon, Paraguay, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Turks and Caicos, Uruguay
Winner: Jennifer Hawkins
Represented: Australia
Congeniality: Laia Manetti
Italy
Photogenic: Alba Reyes
Puerto Rico
Miss Universe 2004, the fifty-third Miss Universe pageant was held in Centro de Convenciones CEMEXPO, Quito, Ecuador on June 1, 2004. It was won by Jennifer Hawkins of Australia.

Delegates arrived in Quito from May 12, 2004 and participated in three weeks of events, rehearsals and preliminary competitions prior to the final televised competition. Events took place in Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca, and Riobamba.[1]

For the second consecutive year, Billy Bush and Daisy Fuentes hosted the final televised pageant, with entertainment from Gloria Estefan.[2]

At the conclusion of the final competition, Australian model Jennifer Hawkins was crowned Miss Universe 2004, by outgoing titleholder Amelia Vega of the Dominican Republic.[3] Hawkins was the first Australian titleholder since Kerry Anne Wells won in 1972. She was also the first blonde Miss Universe since Angela Visser in 1989.

Host city
Quito, Ecuador was announced as host city of the pageant on 19 August 2003. The city paid $5 million for the right to host the event, although it anticipated recouping this through visitors and promotion of the country during the televised competition.

In March Ecuador's foreign trade minister was forced to reject rumours that the pageant was at risk of being moved to China, and he urged Ecuadoreans to back the pageant.[5] As an added incentive for tourists, Ecuador American Airlines, official airline sponsor of the pageant, offered 5% off airfares to Quito for travel to the pageant, as well as 10% off for those who booked a month in advance. The attempted use of the pageant to promote Ecuador threatened to be derailed just prior to the telecast, when a corruption scandal led to growing demands for the removal of President Lucio Gutierrez in the politically unstable country.

Prior to the arrival of delegates in early May, officials in Quito attempted to renovate areas where they would be visiting, which involved temporarily removing beggars and homeless people from certain areas of the city. Similar action was taken in Bangkok, Thailand prior to Miss Universe 1992 and in Manila, Philippines prior to Miss Universe 1994. The event was protested by native Indian activists and environmentalists who accused the government of concealing the nations poverty whilst the pageant was being hosted.

The delegates, judges, media and tourists were heavily protected by a security detail involving over 5000 police officers. On 16 May, just hours before delegates were expected to participate in a parade in Cuenca, a pamphlet bomb was deactivated by police. Although it was protesting the economic policies of the Ecuadorean government, police suspected that the bomb, found just six blocks from the parade route, was timed specifically to coincide with the event.

Judges
The judging panel for the final competition included:

Anne Martin - Vice President of Global Cosmetics and Marketing of Proctor & Gamble Cosmetics
Petra Nemcova - Sports Illustrated supermodel
Monique Menniken - supermodel
Elsa Benitez - supermodel
Bo Derek - film actress and model
Katie Fitz - Today Show, "You Be The Judge" contest winner
Wendy Fitzwilliam - Miss Universe 1998
Bill Rancic - winner of the first season of The Apprentice
Jon Tutolo - president of Trump Model Management
Jefferson Pérez - 1996 Ecuadorian Olympic Gold Medalist
Emilio Estefan - music producer and entertainer
Kwame Jackson, runner-up on the second season of The Apprentice, was initially chosen as a judge, but he was disqualified because he inadvertently visited the hotel where the delegates were staying and interacted with some of the contestants.[
Results
The title of Miss Universe was won by Jennifer Hawkins of Australia.
The runners-up were:
1st runner-up - Shandi Finnessey (USA)
2nd runner-up - Alba Reyes (Puerto Rico)
3rd runner-up - Yanina González (Paraguay)
4th runner-up - Danielle Jones (Trinidad and Tobago)
The Top 10 (in order of final placement after competing in evening gown and swimsuit): Catherine Daza Manchola (Colombia), Susana Rivadeneira (Ecuador), Christine Straw (Jamaica), Tanushree Dutta (India), Nancy Soto (Costa Rica)
The Top 15 (in order of final placement after competing in evening gown): Kathrine Sørland (Norway), Gabriela Barros (Chile), Bianca Sissing (Switzerland), Rosalva Luna (Mexico), Telma Sonhi (Angola)

Special awards
Miss Congenality - Laia Manetti (Italy)
Miss Photogenic - Alba Reyes (Puerto Rico)
Best National Costume - Jessica Rodriguez (Panama)

Historical significance
Although no countries placed for the first time, a number made the semi-finals for the first time in a number of years. Costa Rica last placed in 1954, the host country Ecuador last placed in in 1981. Other nations who placed after many years without success were: Norway and Chile (1990), Paraguay (1991), Australia (1993), Switzerland (1994) and Mexico and Jamaica (1999). Colombia last placed in 2000, Puerto Rico in 2001, India in 2002.
Countries that made the cut the previous year were USA, Trinidad & Tobago, and Angola.
Shandi Finnessey's first runner-up placement is the highest placement of the USA since Brooke Lee won the country's seventh Miss Universe crown.
Yanina Gonzalez's placement was also only the third time in the forty-two years the country had participated that their delegate made the cut.
Ana Karina Añez, failed to place, breaking Venezuela's twenty-one year streak of placements from 1983 to 2003. This had included consecutive top six placements since 1991.
Puerto Rico wins it's 5th Miss Photogenic award, 4th consecutive win since 2001.

Angola - Telma Sonhi
Antigua and Barbuda - Ann-Marie Brown
Aruba - Zizi Lee
Australia - Jennifer Hawkins
Austria - Daniela Strigl
Bahamas - Raquel Simone Horton
Barbados - Cindy Baston Maizz
Belgium - Lindsy Dehollander
Belize - Leilah Pandy
Bolivia - Gabriela Oviedo Sarrete
Botswana - Icho Keolotswe
Brazil - Fabiane Niclotti
Bulgaria - Ivelina Petrova
Canada - Venessa Fisher
Cayman Islands - Stacey-Ann Kelly
Chile - Gabriela Barros
China - Meng Zhang
Colombia - Catherine Daza
Costa Rica - Nancy Soto
Croatia - Marijana Rupcic
Curaçao - Angeline da Silva
Cyprus - Nayia Iacovidou
Czech Republic - Lucie Váchová
Denmark - Tina Christensen
Dominican Republic - Larissa Fiallo
Ecuador - Susana Rivadeneira
Egypt - Heba El-Sisy
El Salvador - Gabriela Mejía
Estonia - Sirle Kalma
Ethiopia - Ferehyiwot Abebe
Finland - Mira Salo
France - Lætitia Bléger
Georgia - Nino Murtazashvilli
Germany - Shermine Sharivar
Ghana - Minaye Donkor
Greece - Valia Kakouti
Guatemala - Marva Weatherborn
Guyana - Odessa Phillips
Hungary - Blanka Bakos
India - Tanushree Dutta
Ireland - Cathriona Duignam
Israel - Gal Gadot
Italy - Laia Manetti
Jamaica - Christine Renée Straw
Japan - Eri Machimoto
Kenya - Anita Maina
Korea - Yun-yong Choi
Lebanon - Marie-José Hnein
Malaysia - Andrea Fonseka
Mexico - Rosalva Luna
Netherlands - Linsday Grace Pronk
Nicaragua - Marifely Argüello
Nigeria - Anita Uwagbale
Norway - Kathrine Sørland
Panama - Jéssica Patricia Rodríguez Clark
Paraguay - Yanina González
Peru - Liesel Holler
Philippines - Maricar Balagtas
Poland - Paulina Panek
Puerto Rico - Alba Reyes
Russia - Ksenia Kustova
Serbia and Montenegro - Dragana Dujovic
Singapore - Sandy Chua
Slovakia - Zuzana Dvorska
Slovenia - Sabina Remar
South Africa - Joan Ramagoshi
Spain - María Jesús Ruiz Garzón
St. Vincent & the Grenadines - Laferne Fraser
Sweden - Katarina Wigander
Switzerland - Bianca Sissing
Chinese Taipei - Janie Yu-Chen Hsieh
Thailand - Morakot Aimee Kittisara
Trinidad and Tobago - Danielle Jones
Turkey - Fatos Segmen
Turks & Caicos - Shamara Ariza
Ukraine - Oleksandra Nikolayenko
Uruguay - Nicole Dupont Giglio
USA - Shandi Finnessey
- Ana Karina Áñez
Vietnam - Hoàng Ngọc

Contestant notes
Some delegates had previously competed in Miss World, including three women who were runners-up at that pageant:
Christine Straw (Jamaica) placed fifth runner-up at Miss World 1998 as well as making the top ten at Miss Universe.
Zizi Lee of Aruba, was first runner-up at Miss World 2001 and Oleksandra Nikolayenko (Ukraine) was a semi-finalist. Both were unplaced at Miss Universe
Kathrine Sørland (Norway) was third runner-up at Miss World 2002, as well as a semi-finalist at Miss Universe. Odessa Philipps (Guyana) also competed at Miss World 2002.
Bianca Sissing (Switzerland), top fifteen at Miss Universe, was also a semi-finalist at Miss World 2003. Another semi-finalist in that pageant was Marie Jose Hnein (Lebanon), who did not place at Miss Universe. Anne-Marie Browne (Antigua & Barbuda), Angeline da Silva (Curacao) and Lucie Vachova (Czech Republic) also competed at Miss World 2003 but were unplaced in both competitions.
Heba El-Sisy (Egypt) later competed at Miss World 2004, along with Stacy Anne Kelly (Cayman Islands), Anita Uwagbale (Nigeria), and Joan Ramagoshi (South Africa). Nigeria placed as semi-finalist in Miss World 2004.
Yanina Gonzalez (Paraguay), placed third runner-up at both Miss Universe and Miss Earth 2004. Marifely Arguello (Nicaragua) and Liesel Holler were unplaced at Miss Universe but made the semi-finals at Miss Earth 2004. Ferehyiwot Abebe (Ethiopia) and Silvia Gabriela Mejia (El Salvador) were unplaced at both pageants.
Oleksandra Nikolayenko (Ukraine) was invited her to judge the Miss Universe 2005 finals in Thailand and later became director of the Miss Ukraine Universe pageant.
Zita Galgociova was initially chosen to represent Slovakia,[15] but she was replaced with her first runner-up Zuzana Dvorska because she was under the minimum age limit.

National competitions
Georgia, Ethiopia,[16] and Vietnam competed for the first time.
Nations who returned from the pageant after years of absence were Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (last competed in 1991), Austria (1999), Denmark (2000), Botswana (2001), Turks and Caicos (2001), Paraguay (2001), Lebanon (2001), Kenya(2002),Uruguay (2002), Chile (2002), and Ghana (2002).
Countries that sent delegates to Miss Universe 2003, but did not send one to the 2004 pageant were: Albania, Argentina, Mauritius, Namibia, and New Zealand.

MISS UNIVERSE 2002

2008-09-29T04:59:00.000-07:00

Miss Universe 2002
Date: 29 May 2002
Presenters: Phil Simms, Daisy Fuentes and Brook Lee
Entertainment: Marc Anthony
Venue: Roberto Clemente Coliseo
Broadcaster: CBS
Entrants: 75
Placements: 10
Debuts: Albania, China
Winner: Oxana Fedorova
Represented: Russia
Congeniality: Merlisa Rhonda George
U. S. Virgin Islands
Photogenic: Isis Marie Casalduc
Puerto Rico

Countries and territories which sent delegates and results.The Miss Universe 2002 pageant was held in Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico on May 29, 2002. There were 75 delegates from around the world who competed for the title Miss Universe 2002.　Oxana Fedorova from Russia was crowned Miss Universe 2002 by Miss Universe 2001, Denise Quiñones of Puerto Rico.　On September 23, 2002, Fedorova was dethroned and replaced by her first runner-up Justine Pasek of Panama.

Results Placements
The Miss Universe title was won by Oxana Fedorova of Russia (later dethroned)
The runners-up were:
1st runner-up - Justine Pasek (Panama)
2nd runner-up - Zhuo Ling (China)
3rd runner-up - Vanessa Carreira (South Africa)
4th runner-up - Cynthia Lander Zamora (Venezuela)
The Top 10 (in order of final placement): Natascha Börger (Germany), Demetra Eleftheriou (Cyprus), Anisa Kospiri (Albania), Neha Dhupia (India), Neelam Verma (Canada)
Special awards
Photogenic: Isis Marie Casalduc (Puerto Rico)
Congeniality: Merlisa Rhonda George (US Virgin Islands)
National Costume: Vanessa Mendoza (Colombia)
Best in Swimsuit: Oxana Fedorova (Russia)

Final competition scores
Country Swimsuit Evening Gown
Russia 9.88 9.64
Panama 8.79 8.92
China 8.88 9.15
South Africa 8.90 8.79
Venezuela 9.29 8.83
Germany 8.81 8.84
Cyprus 9.15 8.49
Albania 8.34 8.51
India 8.32 8.10
Canada 7.99 8.39

Contestants
Albania - Anisa Kospiri
Angola - Giovana Pinto Leite
Antigua and Barbuda - Aisha Ralph
Aruba - Deyanira Ludwina Frank
Australia - Sarah Davies
Bahamas - Nadia Albury
Belgium - Ann van Elsen
Bolivia - Paola Clarisse Coimbra Antipieff
Brazil - Josiane Oliveira
British Virgin Islands - Anastasia Tonge
Bulgaria - Elina Georgirva
Canada - Neelam Verma
Cayman Islands - Shannon McLean
Chile - Nicole Rencoret Ladrón de Guevara
China - Zhuo Ling
Colombia - Vanessa Mendoza
Costa Rica - Merilyn Villalta
Croatia - Ivana Paris
Curacao - Ayanette Mary-Ann Statia
Cyprus - Demetra Eleuftheriou
Czech Republic - Diana Kobzanova
Dominican Republic - Ruth Ocumarez
Ecuador - Isabel Ontaneda-Pinto
Egypt - Sally Shaheen
El Salvador - Elisa Sandoval Rodriguez
Estonia - Jana Tafenau
Finland - Janette Broman
France - Sylvie Tellier
Germany - Natascha Borger
Ghana - Stephanie Walkins-Fia
Greece - Lena Paparrigopoulou
Guatemala - Carina Velasquez
Guyana - Mia Rahaman
Honduras - Erika Ramirez
Hungary - Edit Friedl
India - Neha Dhupia
Ireland - Lisa O'Sullivan
Israel - Yamit Har-Noy
Italy - Anna Rigon
Jamaica - Sanya Hughes
Japan - Mina Chiba
Kenya - Julie Njeru
Korea - Min-Kyoung Kim
Malaysia - Karen Lit Eit Ang
Mauritius - Karen Alexandre
Mexico - Ericka Cruz Escalante
Namibia - Michelle Heitha
Netherlands - Kim Kotter
Nicaragua - Marianela Larayu Mendoza
Nigeria - Chinenye Ochuba
Northern Mariana Islands - Virginia Gridley
Norway - Hege Hatlo
Panama - Justine Lissette Pasek
Peru - Adriana Zubiate
Philippines - Karen Loren Agustín
Poland - Joanna Dozdrowska
Portugal - Iva Catarina Lamarao
Puerto Rico - Isis Casalduc Gonzales
Russia - Oxana Fedorova
Singapore - Nuraliza Osman
Slovakia - Eva Dzodlova
Slovenia - Iris Mulej
South Africa - Vanessa Carreira
Spain - Vania Millan
Sweden - Malou Hansson
Switzerland - Jennifer Ann Gerber
Thailand - Janjira Janchome
Trinidad and Tobago - Nasma Mohammed
Turkey - Cagla Kubat
Ukraine - Liliana Gorova
Uruguay - Fiorella Fleitas
USA - Shauntay Hinton
U.S. Virgin Islands - Merlisa Rhonda George
Venezuela - Cynthia Lander Zamora
FR Yugoslavia - Sladjana Bozovic

The Parade of Nations was conducted outdoors in the streets of Old San Juan for the first time and the delegates all wore their national costumes. This format of the parade would continue until 2005, although from 2003-2005, the delegates did not wear their national costumes during the parade.
Albania and the People's Republic of China debuted at this year's edition, and both also made it to the semi-finals for the first time.
Cyprus was called out to the semi-finals for the first time.
Russia, Venezuela, and India were also called out to the semi-finals in 2001.
Germany was last called out to the semi-finals in 1989, Panama in 1997, and both South Africa and Canada in 2000.
Vania Millan Miras of Spain winner of Miss Spain 2002 title, but was a replacement of Lorena Van Heerde Ayala winner of Miss Spain 2001.
Seven delegates who withdrew from the Miss Universe 2002 pageant. They were: Karen Russell (Belize), Angelina Patricia Pingkan Sondakh (Indonesia), Christina Sawaya (Lebanon), Loredana Zammit (Malta), María Gabriela Riquelme Escuna (Paraguay), Bernice Gumbs (St. Maarten) and Euwonka Selver (Turks and Caicos). Sawaya of Lebanon would go on and claim the Miss International crown in the latter part of the year.
Sarah Davies of Australia went on to compete in Miss World 2004 in Sanya, China. She finished as 5th runner up in Miss World 2004.
Christina Sawaya from (Lebanon) withdrew because she did not want to compete in the same pageant with Miss Israel
This was the year that there was a high number of black representatives. A number of nations sent a black woman for the first time in their country's history. These countries were: Colombia (big favorite for the crown), Dominican Republic (another big favorite of the local media), Mexico, and Sweden. The USA was also represented by a black woman that year. Ironically, none of the black representatives made the 10 that year, resulting in the creation of the term the 2002 Blackout.
Many of the favorites that year failed to make the cut. They were Puerto Rico (the local rep), Colombia (favorite to win the crown), Dominican Republic (favorite of the Puerto Rican media), Ghana (barely missed the Top 10 and placed 12th overall in the preliminaries), Jamaica, Netherlands (barely missed the Top 10 and placed 11th overall in the preliminaries), and Nigeria (Top 10 Finalist in Miss World later that year).
This was the third time in the history of Miss Universe, that the USA failed to make the semis.
Natascha Borger of Germany would go on and win Top Model of the World 2002 in Germany. Also, she would go on and win Miss Baltic Sea 2003 in Finland.

NEWS:Russia's dethroned Miss Universe committed to a career in the police, was quoted as saying Wednesday she had performed her duties diligently but had been misled over the scale of the title holder's job.
Oxana Fedorova, replaced by Miss Panama in a New York ceremony, told the tabloid daily Komsomolskaya Pravda that she had been astonished at U.S. press reports that she had been lazy, capricious and unworthy of the title.
"There is not a grain of truth in this ... I gave up the title voluntarily. Such are my personal circumstances," Fedorova told the daily in a front-page article entitled "Patriot or Flighty Woman?"
"Before I won, no one told me anything about the conditions of the contract. I never thought there would be so many commitments. And I never had any intention of abandoning my university work. So I told the organizers that I had to go home and of course they couldn't wait months for me to come back."
Fedorova, 24, is to defend a thesis on private security companies at St. Petersburg's Interior Ministry Police University later this year. The daily also quoted an Interior Ministry official as saying she had recently been named a police captain.
She told Komsomolskaya Pravda that as Miss Universe she had demonstrated her commitment in helping AIDS ( news - web sites) victims.
"I worked hard and honestly. My conscience is clear. And I even have a small victory for my efforts," she said.
"After an event in Kenya in support of AIDS victims, the local government allocated $250,000 to tackle the problem. Before, it had closed its eyes to it."
She also said she had to care for her ailing grandfather. Her friends and relatives, she said, had backed her decision.
Fedorova's removal was the first in the history of the pageant. Organizers said she had failed to carry out her responsibilities, while press reports suggested she had gained weight, married or become pregnant.
She said future competitors would have to decide whether they wanted to work as models.
"I did when I was 17. Now I work in the Interior Ministry and I'm proud of it," she told the daily.
A school friend told Komsomolskaya Pravda the ousted beauty queen had a dark-haired boyfriend who was a "big businessman."
Fyodorov was coy about suggestions he was wealthy.
"Is that so?" she said. "I can't say, I really can't say."

By noon yesterday, newly crowned Miss Universe ( news - web sites) Justine Pasek had already put in a full day of heavy lifting. Donald Trump had just slapped a skull-crushing, $250,000 diamond-and-pearl tiara on the Panamanian beauty's highlighted head - having wrestled the monster from the Russian gal he'd fired for being a spoiled brat.
So there I was, walking across Central Park South, in search of some kind of lunch that might agree with the reed-thin Mistress of the Universe. And her shoes.
Such shoes! It hurt me just to look at them, these tan, Roberto Cavalli sky-high sandals, which forced the poor girl to walk on the points of her toes like some sadomasochistic ballerina.
Worse, she was hungry.
"Can we have a hot dog?" she asked her manager, Roston Ogata, who steered her safely to a salted pretzel. Justine, 23, who looked as if she hadn't digested since 1999, glared at the baked item as suspiciously as one might eye a street-vended Prada handbag. Then she devoured it.
Justine's elevation from runner-up to reigning interplanetary beauty queen apparently settled the pageant world's equivalent of a military coup. Crowned Miss Universe in May, Russia's Oxana Federova preferred hanging with her boyfriend to making public appearances.
Much worse, she gained 15 pounds!
In this racket, pounds cost money. Oxana was canned and Justine was ready.
As Miss Universe, she gets a salary - pro-rated due to her shortened reign - yearlong use of a Manhattan apartment, clothes, shoes, watches, a $45,000 scholarship to the School for Film and Television and a $20,000 tiara she can keep.
Did I mention the shoes?

MISS UNIVERSE 2001

2008-09-28T10:26:00.000-07:00

Denise Quinones
Miss Puerto Rico

All photos courtesy of Miss Universe Inc.

Beautiful island, beautiful lady
Miss Puerto Rico, Denise Quinones, won the Miss Universe crown before an ecstatic crowd in Puerto Rico on May 11, 2001. A few minutes earlier, she had won the Clairol Herbal Essence Style Award, and earlier in the week, she had been chosen Miss Photogenic.
She is the fourth Puerto Rican to become Miss Universe.
The first runner-up was Miss Greece, Evelina Papantoniou, and the second runner-up was Kandace Krueger, Miss USA. The third runner-up was Eva Ekvall, Miss Venezuela, and the fourth runner-up was Celina Jaitley, Miss India.
Other semifinalists were Eva Siso Casals of Spain, Agbani Darego of Nigeria, Ilanit Levi of Israel, Oxana Kalandyrets of Russia and Elodie Gossuin of France.
Nakera Simms of the Bahamas was chosen Miss Congeniality.
With televised pageants considered to be in a ratings slump, this one was preceded by some rather unconventional hype. Television advertising on CBS promised "super-scandals." An absurd rumor was floated, with the obvious acquiescence of the pageant's owners, that Miss France had once been a man. Then the rumor was kept alive by repeated denials. When even the most tenaciously gullible began to tire of the "gender issue," the supposed record of Miss Brazil's plastic surgery was leaked to the media. This time, there were no denials.

MISS UNIVERSE 2000

2008-09-28T03:47:00.000-07:00

2000
Lara Dutta
India
Cyprus

Lara Dutta, 21, Miss India, won the Miss Universe Pageant in Cyprus on May 12, 2000 (May 13 according to Cyprus time). She is the second representative of India to win the crown.

Claudia Moreno, 22, Miss Venezuela, was first runner-up, and Helen Lindes, 18, Miss Spain, was second runner-up.

Other finalists were Kim Yee, 22, representing Canada, and Lynnette Cole, 22, Miss USA.

Other semifinalists were Miss Colombia, Catalina Acosta, 22; Miss Estonia, Evelyn Mikomagi, 19; Miss South Africa, Heather Joy Hamilton, 22; Miss Zimbabwe, Corrinne Crewe, 18; and Miss France, Sonia Rolland, 18.

Tamara Scaroni, 23, Miss Aruba, was chosen Miss Congeniality by a vote of her fellow contestants. Letty Murray, 20, of Mexico won the Clairol Herbal Essence Style Award.

For the next year, when people call out the name of Miss Universe, it is India’s Lara Dutta who will turn around.

Ms. Dutta, 21, a Bangalore native born to an Indian father and a European mother, was crowned as the new queen on the morning of May 13, 2000, following a pageant that began at the ungodly hour of 4 a.m. local time in order to be broadcast live in prime time (on May 12) in New York.

Remarking on the innate charisma of a few natural leaders, men like U.S. President John F. Kennedy and Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres, the novelist Saul Bellow once wrote that they must dine strictly on organ meats: their skin simply glowed with an inexplicable radiance and vitality.

A quirky explanation, perhaps, but one must wonder similarly about Ms. Dutta: even in the galaxy of exceptionally beautiful women who graced the Nicosia Hilton for the past month, Ms.Dutta stood out almost immediately as the most radiant star.

Others of the 10 semi-finalists Miss Colombia, Catalina Acosta, who was stunning in her blue sequined evening gown; Miss Zimbabwe, Corrine Crewe, whose appearance in a swimsuit would be an asset to any beach; Miss Canada, Kim Yee, who inherited from her Chinese and Ukrainian parents the best elements of both nations’ physiques -- made a deep impression on journalists and members of the audience.
Yet it was Ms. Dutta’s superior self-assurance and her exceptionally articulate answers to the questions of the master of ceremonies, American entertainer Sinbad, that guaranteed her victory.

Judge Christina Altshul, an MTV VJ, told pageant.com after the competition that the panel had been unanimous in its choice of Ms. Dutta.

One interlude that worked in Ms. Dutta’s favor may have been her refusal to demonstrate classical Indian dance for Sinbad, saying she couldn’t perform the necessary squats in her red, low-backed evening gown. Instead, she did a series of brief hand movements that accompany the dance.

Her determined refusal to perform in an atmosphere she considered uncomfortable or even degrading appeared to win support from an audience that appreciated her self-respect.
So, too, with Ms. Dutta’s answer to Sinbad’s questions about the presence of women among Indian leaders. Women politicians are more sensitive than men, Ms. Dutta said, adding that India’s women stand “shoulder-to-shoulder with their men” and are quite capable and educated -- those that are educated, that is. The audience erupted in a wave of applause.

In contrast to Ms. Dutta’s polish, others of the five finalists seemed to stumble in the question-and-answer session. Miss Spain, Helen Lindes did agree to perform a few basic salsa steps, but she demonstrated neither logic nor humor in answer to a question about the architecture of her native Canary Islands. And in another answer she described a dependence on her mother that judges may have considered too immature for a prospective Miss Universe. Miss USA, Lynnette Cole, a substitute teacher from Tennessee, appeared to lose the natural eloquence she had demonstrated throughout the week, becoming flustered and somewhat tongue-tied at her moment in the spotlight.

Miss Venezuela Claudia Moreno was praised by pageant veterans as most closely embodying the love goddess Aphrodite - an ancient Cypriot native, according to local legend, who served as the "patron saint" of this year’s pageant - in her elegant light-blue gown. Yet the towering Ms. Moreno, soon to receive her credentials as a dentist, appeared to make a dreadful tactical error by attempting to answer Sinbad’s questions in her faltering English, rather than in her fluent Spanish. While other finalists had time to answer three or four questions, Ms. Moreno’s rambling, grammatically challenged answer to a question about pediatric dentistry left her with no time for other questions.

The error was compounded when the field narrowed to just Spain, India and Venezuela. Sinbad asked each contestant to comment on the protests held near Eleftheria Stadium by religious conservatives and feminists, who denounced the “evils” of beauty pageants that allegedly exploit women. All three contestants praised the pageants as a vehicle for women to increase their access and influence - but Ms. Dutta’s beautiful speaking voice and fluent command of English, spoken daily by India’s elite, clearly gave her the upper hand.

In contrast to the earlier round of questioning, Spain’s Ms. Lindes wisely chose to answer in her native Spanish - although those who understood her reply in the original instantly realized that the interpreter offered an abbreviated and not altogether faithful rendering in English. Ms. Moreno, however, tried to answer in English and failed to get her message across effectively. When Ms. Dutta put forth a beautifully crafted exposition of the ways in which beauty pageants help women to advance in all fields, the competition was over.

“I sort of predicted what the final question would be, because I had seen [the demonstrators’] banners” after the final dress rehearsal Friday night, Ms. Dutta told journalists after the competition. Pageant veterans said they were astonished that Miss Venezuela passed up the opportunity to express herself fluently in Spanish.

“This was probably the most important question of her life and she doesn’t answer it in her own language,” Guatemala national director Howard Turner said after the competition. “I simply don’t understand it.”

MTV’s Ms. Altshul said the language difficulty for the Spanish-speaking runners-up was understandable, but could not be discounted.

“Of course that affects the judging,” Ms. Altshul said.

As soon as her name was announced, Ms. Dutta grasped Ms. Moreno in an extended embrace and was then crowned by outgoing Miss Universe Mpule Kwelagobe of Botswana. The tiara did not sit well on Ms. Dutta’s slick hair, however, and for a few moments she feared to take her hand off it.

After the pageant, Ms. Dutta was asked what was the first thing she wanted to do following her selection as the most beautiful woman in the universe.

“Eat breakfast,” was her reply.
For Miss India, Lara Dutta, a model who aspires to a career in international business, her victory as Miss Universe was the best birthday present she could possibly offer her father, who turned 60 the same day.

Yet Ms. Dutta’s victory was not altogether unexpected. Four years ago, she was chosen as Miss Intercontinental in a competition in Germany - “with a different nose,” remarked one pageant professional who has watched Ms. Dutta for years. Last year, in India’s national competition, she placed ahead of Yukta Mookhey, who went on to win the crown of Miss World 1999 several months ago.

In the weeks preceding the pageant, while contestants gathered in Cyprus to prepare for Saturday’s two-hour extravaganza, it quickly became clear that Ms. Dutta was on the short list of favorites. The sole criticism offered by some of her peers was that Ms. Dutta held herself somewhat aloof from the other contestants, appearing to focus almost exclusively on the goal of winning rather than on the value of camaraderie.

Guatemala national director Howard Turner said India has one of the most successful pageant industries, locating promising young women early and coaching them closely as they develop. The investment has made India, which by most criteria belongs squarely in the club of developing nations, into something of a world power in the realm of beauty pageants, as this year’s sweep of the Miss World and Miss Universe titles demonstrates.

Venezuela, which provided first runner-up Claudia Moreno, has a similarly efficient pageant industry whose products often challenge for the top prizes, Turner said. Venezuelan officials even provide a plastic surgeon for their promising contestants, according to one journalist preparing a behind-the-scenes article on the Venezuelan pageant scene.

Ms. Dutta alluded to her nation’s success in a brief post-pageant press conference.

“India is producing girls today who are very intelligent and they prepare us well befor they send us” to international competitions, she said. “I have no idea what lies ahead for me, but I think I’m prepared for it.”

While the master of ceremonies, American entertainer Sinbad, opened the competition with the question, “Who will take [Aphrodite’s] place as the most beautiful woman in the universe?” the results showed that the judges did not choose Ms. Dutta solely on the basis of her beauty.

While Ms. Dutta clearly belonged among the top few contestants in nearly every category, an informal survey of journalists and audience members showed that they placed both of the other finalists, Miss Venezuela and Miss Spain, ahead of Ms. Dutta in the swimsuit competition, and placed Miss Venezuela slightly ahead of Ms. Dutta in the evening gown portion.

Yet it was Ms. Dutta’s brains, polish and poise that left no doubt as to the choice of the next Miss Universe. Simply put, it was evident to all who laid eyes on her that she truly was regal.

MISS UNIVERSE 1999

2008-09-28T03:40:00.000-07:00

1999
Mpule Kwelagobe
BOTSWANA
Trinidad and Tobago

1st runner-up Miriam Quiambao
PHILIPPINES
2nd runner-up Diana Nogueria SPAIN
FINALISTS:
Sonia Raciti SOUTH AFRICA
Lucbel Carolina Indriago Pinto VENEZUELA
SEMI-FINALISTS:
Akuba Cudjoe GHANA
Gul Panag INDIA
Nicole Haughton JAMAICA
Silvia Salgado Cavazos MEXICO
Brenda Liz Lopez Ramos PUERTO RICO

History was again definitely made this year! Mpule ws the first black African to win the crown, the third Africa after Margaret Gardiner and Michelle McLean. Mpule and Wendy Fitzwilliam were the first set of "black-to-black" winners. USA didn't make the semifinals, not since Barbara Peterson failed to make the cut in 1975. This pageant had the most delegates to attend up to present. Mpule was also the first delegate from her country to ever join the Miss Universe pageant. What a stroke of luck. Mpule, however, was a non-finalist at the Miss World pageant 2 years earlier.

MISS UNIVERSE 1998

2008-09-26T08:51:00.000-07:00

1998
Wendy Fitzwilliam
TRINIDAD/TOBAGO
Honolulu, Hawaii
USA

1st runner-up Veruska Tatiana Ramirez
VENEZUELA
2nd runner-up Joyce Marie Giraud
PUERTO RICO
FINALISTS:
Silvia Fernanda Ortiz Guerra COLOMBIA
Shawnae Nicole Jebbia USA
SEMI-FINALISTS:
Michella Dauzacker Marchi BRAZIL
Lymaraina D'Souza INDIA
Andrea Roche IRELAND
Anna Malova RUSSIA
Kerishnie Naicker SOUTH AFRICA

1998 saw the 3rd black woman to win the crown and the second from Trinidad/Tobago in the person of Wendy Fitzwilliam. An unwelcome change, though, is made as television audiences no longer enjoyed the traditional parade of natios with delegates in National Costume but a glitzy fashion-show like slide show of each delegate sans preliminary scores

MISS UNIVERSE 1997

2008-09-26T08:48:00.000-07:00

1997
Brook Mahealani Lee
USA
Miami Beach, Florida
USA

1st runner-up Marena Jpsefina Bencomo
VENEZUELA
2nd runner-up Margot Rita Bourgeois
TRINIDAD/TOBAGO
FINALISTS:
Verna Angela Maria Vasquez CURACAO
Denny Mendez ITALY
Lia Victoria Borrero González PANAMA
SEMI-FINALISTS:
Kristiina Heinmets ESTONIA
Nafisa Joseph INDIA
Ana Rosa Brito Suárez PUERTO RICO
Victoria Lagerstrom SWEDEN

It was thought that this year a record number of pageant delegates would be reached but unfortunate drop outs blew away the record breaking feat. The pageant ended up with 74 delegates. At the end of the night, preliminary favorites Marena Bencomo of Venezuela, Verna Vasquez of Curacao and Panama's Lia Victoria Borrero nor controversial Miss Italy, Denny Mendez (the first Miss Italy of color) were shut out by the wit and intelligence of USA's Brook
Mahealani Lee.

MISS UNIVERSE 1996

2008-09-26T08:41:00.000-07:00

1996
Alicia Machado
VENEZUELA
Las Vegas, Nevada
USA

1st runner up Taryn Scheryl Mansell
ARUBA
2nd runner-up Iyabode Ololade Odusoga
FINLAND
FINALISTS:
Vanessa Guzmán Niebla MEXICO
Ilmira Shamsutdinova RUSSIA
Ali Landry USA
SEMI-FINALISTS:
Carmen Milena Mayorga EL SALVADOR
Sandhya Chib INDIA
Natalí Patricia Sacco Angeles PERU
Annika Duckmark SWEDEN

Venezuela's Alicia Machado was the clear favorite for the crown as she sashayed and charmed her way to the audience's and judges' hearts on pageant night. Shortly after her crowning, Venezuela's 4th Miss Universe was asked what she would do now that she was Miss Universe…Without hesitation, she replied, "EAT, EAT, EAT!!" She would later allegedly gain more ad more weight reaching an all time high of 150 lbs. which led to speculations of stripping Alicia of her crown. Undaunted, Alicia succumbed to the media blitz and crowned her successor a year later 10 to 15 lbs heavier than on the night she herself captured the Universe.

MISS UNIVERSE 1995

2008-09-26T08:38:00.000-07:00

1995
Chelsi Smith
USA
Windhoek, Namibia

1st runner-up Manpreet Brar INDIA
2nd runner-up Lana Buchberger CANADA
FINALISTS:
Desirée Lowry Rodriguez PUERTO RICO
Arlene Peterkin TRINIDAD/TOBAGO
Denyse del Carmen Floreano Camargo
VENEZUELA
SEMI-FINALISTS:
Tatiana Leonor Castro Abuchaibe COLOMBIA
Cándida Lara Betances DOMINICAN REP.
Eleanora Beatrice Carrillo Alamanni
EL SALVADOR
Augustine Masilela SOUTH AFRICA

Newly indpendent Namibia hosts this year's pageant. Namibia's own Michelle McLean had won the title only two years before making it even more timely. This year also marks the year the pageant is first held in Africa and this pageant attracted the most number of delegates ever, 82. This is also the first time since 1984 that South Africa had sent a delegate in the person of Augustine Masilela, and she makes the semi-finals. India almost won back to back titles as Manpreet Brar barely misses the tiel and winds up runner-up to the USA's Chelsi Smith, a consistent favorite even in the preliminaries. Chelsi is the 6th American to win the title, further strengthening the USA's domination of the pageant.

MISS UNIVERSE 1994

2008-09-26T08:01:00.000-07:00

1994
Sushmita Sen
INDIA
Manila, Philippines

1st runner-up Carolina Gomez COLOMBIA
2nd runner-up Minorka Marisela Mercado
VENEZUELA
FINALISTS:
Charlene Bonnin Gonzalez PHILIPPINES
Silvia Lakatosova SLOVAK REPUBLIC
Frances Louise Parker USA
SEMI-FINALISTS:
Rea Toutounzi GREECE
Arianna David ITALY
Dominique Forsberg SWEDEN
Patricia Fässler SWITZERLAND

Another feast for the televiewers eye as Manila hosts te pageant once again after 25 years. Dark horse Sushmita Sen radiates pure charm and intelligence as she overturns favorites hometown girl Charlene Gonzales, press favorite Christine Roelandts of Belgium, USA's Lu Parker, Minorka Mercado of Venezuela and preliminary front runner Carolina Gomez of Colombia to win the title. Sushmita wins the first of two Miss Universe crowns in a decade that proves India as a powerhouse of beauty pageant history.

MISS UNIVERSE 1993

2008-09-26T07:58:00.000-07:00

1993
Dayanara Torres
PUERTO RICO
Mexico City, Mexico

1st runner-up Paula Andrea Betancourt
COLOMBIA
2nd runner-up Milka Yelisava Chulina
VENEZUELA
FINALISTS:
Voni Delfos AUSTRALIA
Namrata Shirodkar INDIA
Kenya Summer Moore USA
SEMI-FINALISTS:
Leila Cristine Schuster BRAZIL
Pavlina Barbukova CZECH REPUBLIC
Tarja Smura FINLAND
Eugenia del Pilar Santana Alba SPAIN

Another year of surprises was this year as Puerto Rico's Dayanara Torres squeaks past preliminary front runners Milka Chulina of Venezuela, Kenya Moore of the USA, and Voni Delfos of Australia with her sweet and charming demeanor amid the loud and unruly Mexican audience who at one point booed the entrance of Miss USA in the semi-finals.

MISS UNIVERSE 1992

2008-09-26T07:54:00.000-07:00

1992
Michelle McLean
NAMIBIA
Bangkok, Thailand

1st runner-up Diana Paola Turbay
COLOMBIA
2nd runner-up Madhushri Sapre INDIA
FINALISTS:
Anke van Dermeersch BELGIUM
Vivian Jansen NETHERLANDS
Carolina Eva Izsak Kemenify VENEZUELA
SEMI-FINALISTS:
Georgina Denahy AUSTRALIA
Lisa Maree de Montalk NEW ZEALAND
Monica Brodd SWEDEN
Shannon LaRhea Marketic USA

Michelle McLean became the second African to win the Miss Universe title after Margaret Gardiner in 1978. The year was 1992. The site was exotic Bangkok, Thailand and another stunning visual feast to the televiewer and a appropriate background for the 78 delegates in competition. One of the heaviest competitions the Miss Universe pageant ever had was indeed this one with several veteran delegates from the previous year's Miss World pageant including Michelle, where she wound up as a finalist.

MISS UNIVERSE 1991

2008-09-26T07:50:00.000-07:00

1991
Lupita Jones
MEXICO
Las Vegas, Nevada
USA

1st runner-up Paulien Huizinga
NETHERLANDS
2nd runner-up Yulia Lemigova USSR
FINALISTS:
Kimberley Mais JAMAICA
Kelli McCarty USA
Jackeline Rodriguez Strefezza VENEZUELA
SEMI-FINALISTS:
Jacqueline Nelleke Josien Krijger CURACAO
Mareva Georges FRANCE
Vivian Rosanna Benitez Brizuela PARAGUAY
Natasha Pavlovic YUGOSLAVIA

There was no doubt that early favorite Mexico's Lupita Jones would do well on pageant night. But not with stiff competition from the likes of statuesque Paulien Huizinga of the Netherlands hoping to repeat Angela Visser's performance only two years before, and USSR's charming Yulia Lemigova, the first delegate from the USSR. Lupita prevailed with the help of a large cheering section in the audience giving Mexico it's only Miss Universe crown to date.

MISS UNIVERSE 1990

2008-09-26T07:47:00.000-07:00

1990
Mona Grudt
NORWAY
Los Angeles, California
USA

1st runner-up Carol Anne Marie Gist USA
2nd runner-up Lizeth Yamile Arevalo
COLOMBIA
FINALISTS
Rosario Rico Toro del Pilar BOLIVIA
Urania Haltenhoff Nikiforos CHILE
Ma.de los Angeles del Rosario Santiago
MEXICO
SEMI-FINALISTS:
Jana Kronkova CZECHOSLOVAKIA
Suzanne Sabloak INDIA
Julide Ates TURKEY
Andreina Katarina Goetz Blohm VENEZUELA

The pageant was celebrating its 30th year anniversary and change came along with such celebrations. Television viewers got an eyeful as the parade of nations showed each delegate in swimsuit and evening gown. From the 10 semi-finalists, 6 finaists were chosen instead of 5. And again this number was trimmed down to three after all 6 finalists answered the dreaded judge's questions. The first batch of 3 finalists were Misses Norway, USA, and Colombia. This year also marked the last reading of the Miss Universe creed by Angela Visser.

MISS UNIVERSE 1989

2008-09-26T07:42:00.000-07:00

1989
Angela Visser
NETHERLANDS
Cancun, Mexico

1st runner-up Louise Drevenstam SWEDEN
2nd runner-up Gretchen Polhemus USA
3rd runner-up Joanna Gapinska POLAND
4th runner-up Adriana Abascal Cisneros
MEXICO
SEMI-FINALISTS
Ma. Macarena Mina Garachena CHILE
Aasa Maria Lovdahl FINLAND
Andrea Stelzer GERMANY
Sandra Foster JAMAICA
Eva Lisa Larsdotter Ljung VENEZUELA

1989 was the longest in terms of pageant preparation lasting for over a month. Early favorites this year were Misses Australia, Holland, Turkey, Spain, Argentina and hometown girl Mexico. Angela Visser literally ran away with the title, her semi-finals competition scores speaking for themselves, only slightly challenged by Sweden's Louise Drevenstam. Angela and runner-up Joanna Gapinska of Poland were non-finalists in Miss World the year before. Jamaica's Sandra Foster merely repeated her performance as a semi-finalist also in the previous Miss World pageant. Today, Angela is a budding actress and television broadcaster, co-hosting several Miss Universe telecasts in the early 1990s.

MISS UNIVERSE 1988

2008-09-25T19:38:00.000-07:00

1988
Porntip Nakhirunkanok
THAILAND
Taipei, Taiwan (Republic of China)

1st runner-up Chang Yoon Jung KOREA
2nd runner-up Amanda Beatriz Olivares
MEXICO
3rd runner-up Mizuho Sakaguchi JAPAN
4th runner-up Pauline Yeung HONG KONG
SEMI-FINALISTS
Diana Patricia Arevalo Guerra COLOMBIA
Patricia Jimenez DOMINICAN REPUBIC
Bente Charlotte Brunland NORWAY
Courtney Gibbs USA
Yajaira Cristina Vera Roldán VENEZUELA

The pageant presentation was one of the most spectacular to date as the stage for pageant night was transformed to a menagerie of moving figures and colorful sceneries complete with flowers, dragons, and butterflies. Media coverage though was less than spectacular. Yet, there were early favorites in the persons of Misses Venezuela, Mexico, and England. , Asians ruled on pageant night as 4 Asian delegates zoomed into the top 5 leaving preliminary toppers USA and Dominican Republic behind. Only Mexico was able to fight through this Asian wall. Thailand's Porntip Nakhirunkanok ran away with the title but not without stiff competition from Korea's Chang Yoon Jung.

MISS UNIVERSE 1987

2008-09-25T19:27:00.000-07:00

1987
Cecilia Bolocco
CHILE
Singapore

1st runner-up Roberta Capua ITALY
2nd runner-up Michelle Royer USA
3rd runner-up Ines Ma. Calero VENEZUELA
4th runner up Laurie Tamara Simpson (MISS INTERNATIONAL 1987)
PUERTO RICO
SEMI-FINALISTS
Jessica Patricia Newton Saez PERU
Geraldine Villaruz Asis PHILIPPINES
Marion Nicole Teo SINGAPORE
Susanne Karin Thoerngren SWEDEN
Carmelita Louise Ariza TURKS & CAICOS

At the onset, Colombia's Patricia Ruiz was the favorite alongside other names as Misses India, Philippines, USA, and Italy. But as soon as the pageant competition progressed, Chile's Cecilia Bolocco would run away ahead of the pack,
a feat which she began during the interview competition. 4th runner-up Puerto Rico's Laurie Simpson went on to win the Miss International pageant later that year.

MISS UNIVERSE 1986

2008-09-25T19:22:00.000-07:00

1986
Barbara Palacios Teyde
VENEZUELA
Panama City, Panama

1st runner-up Christiane Fichtner USA
2nd runner-up Ma. Monica Urbina
COLOMBIA
3rd runner-up Brygida Bziukiewicz
POLAND
4th runner-up Tuula Polvi FINLAND
SEMI-FINALISTS
Deise Nunes de Souza BRAZIL
Mariana Villasante CHILE
Elizabeth Robison Latalladi PUERTO RICO
Eveline Nicole Glanzmann SWITZERLAND
Aimee Likobe Dobala ZAIRE

This would be the last Miss Universe to be held in July as later pageants would be staged in May. Favorites this year included the perennial shoo-ins USA, Venezuela and Colombia, Chile, Brazil, Finland, and Panama. Barbara won the title giving Venezuela it's third Miss Universe title after Maritza Sayalero in 1979 and Irene Saez Conde in 1981. Zaire makes it to the semi-finals for the second year in a row.

MISS UNIVERSE 1985

2008-09-25T19:18:00.000-07:00

1985
Deborah Carthy-Deu
PUERTO RICO
Miami, Florida
USA

1st runner-up Teresa Sanchez SPAIN
2nd runner-up Kayonga Benita Mureka
ZAIRE
3rd runner-up Silvia Cristina Martinez
VENEZUELA
4th runner-up Andrea Beatriz Lopez
URUGUAY
SEMI-FINALISTS
Márcia Giagio Canavezes de Oliveira BRAZIL
Karen Elizabeth Tilley CANADA
Claudia van Sint Jan del Pedregal CHILE
Olivia Marie Tracey IRELAND
Laura Elena Martinez-Herring USA

1985 was another year for controversy. South Africa was supposed to have sent a delegate but she did not arrive as anti-apartheid groups theatened to stage demonstrations if she did. This was the start of a long absence of South Africa in the pageant, only to resurface in 1995. On the lighter side, a sensation that year was Zaire's Benita Mureka who became the first black African finalist and runener-up. The eventual winner, Deborah Carthy-Deu was not an early favorite as were Mises Colombia, Holland, and Canada. Pageant night proved to be her shining moment as she flew past the favorites to win the crown. She was the second Puerto Rican to win after 1970's Marisol Malaret.

MISS UNIVERSE 1984

2008-09-25T19:14:00.000-07:00

1984
Yvonne Ryding
SWEDEN
Miami, Florida
USA

1st runner-up Leticia Snyman S. AFRICA
2nd runner-up Carmen Ma. Montiel Avila
VENEZUELA
3rd runner-up Ma. Desiree Verdadero
PHILIPPINES
4th runner-up Susana Caldas COLOMBIA
SEMI-FINALISTS
Brigitte Berx GERMANY
Ilma Julieta Urrutia GUATEMALA (MISS INTERNATIONAL 1984)
Nancy Neede HOLLAND
Savinee Prakaranang THAILAND
Mai Therese Shanley USA

This year, the original host for the pageant, Calgary, Canada, dropped out due to financial trouble. Miami came to the rescue with barely enough time to prepare. The largest number of delegates arrive in Miami, all 81 of them, a record left unbroken until 1995 produced one more delegate. Local favorites included Mises Venezuela, Colombia and Holland. Guatemala’s Julieta Urrutia impressed people more and more as the pageant progressed. She would later that year win the Miss International crown in Japan. However, Sweden’s Yvonne Ryding was the clear leader on most scorecards and, eventually, the judges'. This year, only 10 semi-finalists were chosen. This is the last year South Africa sends a delegate untill 1995

MISS UNIVERSE 1983

2008-09-25T19:10:00.000-07:00

1983
Lorraine Downes
NEW ZEALAND
St. Louis, Missouri
USA

1st runner-up Julie Lynne Hayek USA
2nd runner-up Roberta Brown IRELAND
3rd runner-up Lolita Laure Morena
SWITZERLAND
4th runner-up Karen Lesley Moore
ENGLAND
SEMI-FINALISTS
Nina Marjaana Rekola FINLAND
Loana Katharina Radecki GERMANY
Federica Maria Moro ITALY
Karen Elisabeth Dobloug NORWAY
Kathie Lee Lee Beng SINGAPORE
Ana Isabel Herrero Garcia SPAIN
Paola Laura Ruggeri Ghigo VENEZUELA

This is the year the "Little Sister" tradition began. Between 1983 and 1995, every Miss Universe delegate would be assigned a “Little Sister”, a girl from the host-city would serve as sort of a companion and good-luck charm. The girl would also wear a similar scaled-down sash of her "big Sister's" country.

MISS UNIVERSE 1982

2008-09-25T19:07:00.000-07:00

1982
Karen Dianne Baldwin
CANADA
Lima, Peru

1st runner-up Patty Chong Kerkos GUAM
2nd runner-up Cinzia Fiordeponti ITALY
3rd runner-up Tina Roussou GREECE
4th runner-up Terri Utley USA
SEMI-FINALISTS
Celice Pinto Marques da Silva BRAZIL
Della Frances Dolan ENGLAND
Sari Kaarina Aspholm FINLAND
Kerstin Natalie Paeserack GERMANY
Maria Francesca Zaza Reinoso PERU
Odette Octavia Scrooby SOUTH AFRICA
Silvia Beatriz Vila Abavian URUGUAY

Preliminary competition and preparations for pageant night were extended to a full month unlike previous pageants which lasted for a week or two. Canada's Karen Baldwin won with not much surprise from her fellow delegates and pageant organizers as she was vibrant and eloquent. Controversy arose with the naming of Patty Kerkos as runner-up to Karen. Most vocal was Italy's Cinzia Fiordeponti, the 2nd runner-up “I deserved to be first runner-up!” Cinzia emphasized

MISS UNIVERSE 1981

2008-09-25T19:02:00.000-07:00

1981
Irene Saez Conde
VENEZUELA
New York City, USA

1st runner-up Dominique Dufour CANADA
2nd runner-up Eva Lena Lundgren SWEDEN
3rd runner-up Adriana Alves de Oliveira
BRAZIL
4th runner-up Dominique van Eeckhoudt
BELGIUM
SEMI-FINALISTS
Lucia Isabel Vinueza Urgueyez ECUADOR
Marion Kurz GERMANY
Ingrid Johanna Maria Schouten HOLLAND
Donella Elizabeth Thomsen NEW ZEALAND
Mona Olsen NORWAY
Tatiana Teraiamano TAHITI
Kim Seelbrede USA

This year, the favorites for the crown were Venezuela’s Irene Saez, the eventual winner, Miss USA, Kim Seelbreede and Miss Brazil, Adriana Oliveira. The audience cheered wildly for Miss Colombia (Eddy Cano), Dominican Republic (Lucia Pena) and Puerto Rico (Carmen Lotti), in addition to those named above. The host Bob Barker was criticized for his sarcasm during the top 12 interviews which was said to have been the cause for some delegates dropping out from top position in the preliminaries to no position in the finals Among the 12 semifinalists, USA’s Kim . Kim dropped from 2nd place in the preliminary standings, not making the top five. On the other hand, Canada’s Dominique Dufour had the surprise jump of the evening. Barely squeaking into the semifinals in 12th place, she ended up first runner-up, just behind Miss Venezuela, who ran away with the title leading in scores the entire competition.

MISS UNIVERSE 1980

2008-09-25T18:59:00.000-07:00

1980
Shawn Weatherly
USA
Seoul, South Korea

1st runner-up Linda Gallagher SCOTLAND
2nd runner-up Delyse Nottle
NEW ZEALAND
3rd runner-up Ma.Rosario Silayan
PHILIPPINES
4th runner-up Eva Brigitta Anderson
SWEDEN
SEMI-FINALISTS
Teresa Lynn MacKay CANADA
Maria Patricia Arbelaez Pelaez COLOMBIA
Guobjorg Sigurdardottir ICELAND
Kim Eun-jung KOREA
Gloria Karamanites Davis PANAMA
Agnes Tanon Correa PUERTO RICO
Thilda Raina Fuller TAHITI

With new innovations along the way, this year marked the birth of the super fast Parade of Nations as each delegate merely shouted out her name and her country. During her morning-after interview, Shawn Weatherly, the 5th American to win Miss Universe, said, “My job is not the exhibition of my body. Talking with people and making friends in all nations is my main duty.” Her ambitions then at the time of her reign were to become a sports commentator after her graduation
from Clemson University with a communications degree. But fate went
the other way and Shawn went on to become a popular television actress.

MISS UNIVERSE 1979

2008-09-25T18:54:00.000-07:00

1979
Maritza Sayalero
VENEZUELA
Perth, Australia

1st runner-up Gina Swainson BERMUDA( MISS WORLD 1979)
2nd runner-up Carolyn Seaward ENGLAND(MISS WORLD 1979 1ST RUNNER UP)
3rd runner-up Marta da Costa BRAZIL
4th runner-up Anette Ekstrom SWEDEN
SEMI-FINALISTS
Adriana Virginia Alvarez ARGENTINA
Sarita Diana Acosta BELIZE
Andrea Hontschik GERMANY
Lorraine Davidson SCOTLAND
Veronika Wilson SOUTH AFRICA
Mary Therese Friel USA
Janet Beverly Hobson WALES

Barely a few minutes into her reign as Miss Universe, Maritza Sayalero of Venezuela heard hysterical screams around her. The back of the stage designed to hold 75 people collapsed after a surge of 200 reporters and photographers onstage. Part of the stage collapsed, bringing along beauty queens and reporters down a 6-foot deep hole. Among those who fell were Miss Malta (Dain Borg Bartolo), Miss Turkey (Fusan Tahire Demirtan), Miss Philippines (Criselda Cecilio), second runner-up Miss England (Carolyn Seaward) and third runner-up Miss Brazil (Marta da Costa). On the lighter side, runner-up Gina Swainson of Bermuda went on to win the Miss World crown later that year.

MISS UNIVERSE 1978

2008-09-25T18:50:00.000-07:00

1st runner-up Judi Andersen USA
2nd runner-up Guillermina Ruiz Domenech
SPAIN
3rd runner-up Shirly Saenz COLOMBIA
4th runner-up Cecilia Catharina Rhodes
SWEDEN
SEMI-FINALISTS
Françoise Moens BELGIUM
Marianne Muller Prieto CHILE
Karen Ingrid Gustafsson HOLLAND
Lorraine Bernadette Enriquez IRELAND
Dorith Jellinek ISRAEL
Alba Margarita Cervera Lavat MEXICO
Olga Roxana Zumaran Burga PERU

In 1978, for the first time in the history of any televised pageant, the judges' composite scores for each semifinalist were shown on the screen! Using the latest in computer technology the judges punched in their scores to a computer terminal. The score was then shown for each contestant in each category save for the final vote. It was early on in the 1978 pageant that Bob Barker informed us that this was the first time that the onstage interview of the 12 semifinalists would be scored and that we would see the score.

MISS UNIVERSE 1977

2008-09-25T18:41:00.000-07:00

1977
Janelle Commissiong
TRINIDAD-TOBAGO
Sto. Domingo,
Dominican Republic

1st runner-up Eva Maria Duringer AUSTRIA
2nd runner-up Sandra Bell SCOTLAND
3rd runner-up Aura Maria Mojica
COLOMBIA
4th runner-up Marie-Luise Gassen
GERMANY
SEMI-FINALISTS
Maritza Elizabet Jurado ARGENTINA
Blanca Aurora Sardinas DOMINICAN REP.
Ineke Berends HOLLAND
Beatriz Obregon Lacayo NICARAGUA
Luz Maria Polegre Hernandez SPAIN
Kimberly Louise Tomes USA
Cristal del Mar Montanez VENEZUELA

And another day in history for Janelle Commissiong of Trinidad and Tobago
had become the first black winner in the 26-year history of the pageant. The accomplishments and memories of Evelyn Miot (Miss Haiti 1962 and first black woman to make the semifinals); Anne-Marie Braafheid (Miss Curaçao and 1st runner-up in 1968); and Gerthie David (Miss Haiti and 1st runner-up in 1975) inspired Janelle. She hailed her victory as "a step in the right direction" toward changing attutudes towards blacks. "I hope it opens people's eyes - black and white." Janelle also remarked that she would like to reform Uganda's murderous dictator, Idi Amin, saying she would like to ask him "why he does the things that he does."

MISS UNIVERSE 1976

2008-09-25T18:36:00.000-07:00

1976
Rina Messinger
ISRAEL
Hong Kong

1976
Rina Messinger
ISRAEL
Hong Kong

1st runner-up Judith Josefina Castillo Uribe
VENEZUELA
2nd runner-up Sian Adey-Jones WALES
3rd runner-up Carol Jean Grant SCOTLAND
4th runner-up Julie Anne Ismay AUSTRALIA
SEMI-FINALISTS
Lilian Noemi Deasti ARGENTINA
Maria Elena Sommer CHILE
Maria Elena Reyes COLOMBIA
Anneke Dijkhuizen CURACAO
Pauline Davies ENGLAND
Rowena Lam HONG KONG
Bente Lihaug NORWAY

"I'm no politician. I think my being Miss Universe will show people that Israel
has another side, not only war." That was one of the first statements of the
new Miss Universe from Israel, Rina Messinger. Still there was controversy in the pageant. Several delegates had
complained about the various activities they were forced to attend. Several delegates were allegedly asked to stay behind and entertain the
rich wealthy Hong Kong elite, the
veracity of which has not yet been
proven until today.

MISS UNIVERSE 1975

2008-09-24T19:47:00.000-07:00

1975
Anne-Marie Pohtamo
FINLAND
San Salvador,
El Salvador

1st runner-up Gerthie David HAITI
2nd runner-up Summer Bartholomew USA
3rd runner-up Catharina Sjodahl SWEDEN
4th runner-up Rosemarie Brosas
PHILIPPINES
SEMI-FINALISTS
Ingrid Budag BRAZIL
Martha Lucia Echeverry Trujillo COLOMBIA
Carmen Elena Figueroa EL SALVADOR
Vicki Harris ENGLAND
Julie Ann Farnham IRELAND
Orit Cooper ISRAEL
Sachiko Nakayama JAPAN

A test run on a computer involved inputting all the facts about this year's 71 Miss Universe delegates and determined that Miss Bolivia, Jacqueline Gamarra, would win. She did not even make the semi-finals. "It seems so small today. Last night it seemed too big," she remarked about the crown she had only won the night before. History repeats itself as Haiti's Gerthie David is the second black to place as 1st runner-up. She was the second Finn to win the title. Armi Kuusela, Miss Universe 1952 was also from Finland.

MISS UNIVERSE 1974

2008-09-24T19:43:00.000-07:00

1974
Amparo Munoz
SPAIN
Manila, Philippines

1st runner-up Helen Morgan WALES
2nd runner-up Johanna Raunio FINLAND
3rd runner-up Ella Cecilia Escaldon
COLOMBIA
4th runner-up Maureen Ava Vieira ARUBA
SEMI-FINALISTS
Yasmin May Nagy AUSTRALIA
Kathleen Ann Celeste Anders ENGLAND
Shailini Bhavnath Dholakia INDIA
Jasmine Nereida Panay PANAMA
Guadalupe Cuerva Sanchez PHILIPPINES
Sonia Maria Stege Chardon PUERTO RICO
Karen Jean Morrison USA

The pageant in Manila was unaffected by a typhoon which had ravaged the island nation only days before. Spain's Amparo Muñoz won in 1974. During her champagne victory breakfast, the new Miss Universe joked to reporters: "With the way I am living like a queen, I might get used to it. In one year, I will have to look for a rich boyfriend." Unfortunately, Amparo did not finish her reign and became a soft porn star and made one movie in the Philippines. Today, Amparo is still a film star in Spain and in 1996 filmed three
movies. Runner-up Helen Morgan of Wales would later that year win the Miss World title only to be stripped of it as she was found to be an unwed mother.

MISS UNIVERSE 1973

2008-09-24T19:37:00.000-07:00

1973
Margarita Moran
PHILIPPINES
Athens, Greece

1st runner-up Amanda Jones USA
2nd runner-up Aina Walle NORWAY
3rd runner-up Maria Martin Madrigal SPAIN
4th runner-up Limor Schreibman ISRAEL
SEMI-FINALISTS
Susana Romero ARGENTINA
Sandra Mara Ferreira BRAZIL
Ana Lucia Agudelo Correa COLOMBIA
Sicta Vana Papadaki GREECE
Farzana Habib INDIA
Miyoko Sometani JAPAN
Marcelle Herro LEBANON

Miss Universe 1973 Margarita Moran, the pageant's second winner from the Philippines, admitted she didn't even want to enter Miss Philippines, much less Miss Universe. She was encouraged by her friends to do so and look where that got her. In
one of her interviews, she had praised Mr. Richard Nixon, 'then US president, and said that he was the greatest man on Earth. She promptly received a letter from the president thanking her for her "thoughtful comment on my efforts to bring peace in the world." This year, the sound-proof booth used for the final round of interviews disappears for the next decade.

MISS UNIVERSE 1972

2008-09-24T19:23:00.000-07:00

1972
Kerry Anne Wells
AUSTRALIA
Dorado, Puerto Rico

1st runner-up Rejane Vieira Costa BRAZIL
2nd runner-up Ma.Antonieta Campoli
VENEZUELA
3rd runner-up Ilana Goren ISRAEL
4th runner-up Jenny McAdam ENGLAND
SEMI-FINALISTS
Anne Marie Roger BELGIUM
Heidi-Marie Weber GERMANY
Roopa Satyan INDIA
Harumi Maeda JAPAN
Carmen Amelia Mosquetti PERU
Armi Barbara Crespo PHILIPPINES
Tanya Wilson USA

Miss Universe 1971 Georgina Rizk announced prior to the crowning of Miss Universe 1972 that she would not attend the pageant in Puerto Rico as she feared for herself after the killing of Puerto Rican pilgrims in Israel earlier that year. The killers were alleged to have been trained in Lebanese camps. Miss Universe 1970 and a native of Puerto Rico,Marisol Malaret substituted for Georgina. This year brought many innovations as the pageant is held out of the United States for the the first time. The 1972 pageant was held in Dorado, Puerto Rico. It is also this year that the ceremonial robe is no longer used as part of the coronation and the videotaped swimsuit segment is introduced.

MISS UNIVERSE 1971

2008-09-24T18:25:00.000-07:00

1971
Georgina Rizk
LEBANON
Miami Beach, Florida, USA

1st runner-up Toni Rayward AUSTRALIA
2nd runner-up Pirjo Laitila FINLAND
3rd runner-up Beba Franco PUERTO RICO
4th runner-up Elaine Parreira Guimaraes
BRAZIL
SEMI-FINALISTS
Marilyn Ann Ward ENGLAND
Myriam Stocco FRANCE
Esther Orgad ISRAEL
Shigeko Taketomi JAPAN
Josefina Roman Gutierrez SPAIN
Michele McDonald USA
Cherri Raphaelia Creque US VIRGIN ISLANDS

Prior to coming to Miami Beach to compete in the Pageant, Georgina was told by a local fortune teller that she would be travelling to a far land and become successful. That she was as she ran away with the title of Miss Universe 1971. Semi-finalist Miss US Virgin Islands, Cherri Creque said, "I began to believe blacks have a chance in beauty contests when a black girl won Miss World last year." (Miss World 1970 was Grenada's Jennifer Hosten) This year, only 12 semi-finalists were chosen instead

MISS UNIVERSE 1970

2008-09-24T18:18:00.000-07:00

1970
Marisol Malaret
PUERTO RICO
Miami Beach, Florida
USA

1st runner-up Debbie Shelton USA
2nd runner-up Joan Zealand AUSTRALIA
3rd runner-up Jun Shimada JAPAN
4th runner-up Beatriz Gros ARGENTINA
SEMI-FINALISTS
Eliane Fialho Thompson BRAZIL
Kristina Hanazalova CZECHOSLOVAKIA
Angelique Bourlessa GREECE
Hilary Ann Best GUAM
Mabel Hawkett HONG KONG
Anna Zamboni ITALY
Josephine Lena Wong Jaw Leng MALAYSIA
Britt-Inger Johansson SWEDEN
Diane Jane Roth SWITZERLAND
Bella Mercedes La Rosa de la Rosa
VENEZUELA

Miami Beach revelled at the 64 contestants gracing the pageant that year, the most number in the history of the pageant to date. On the day of Miss Universe 1970's homecoming, Puerto Rico's governor, Luis A. Ferre, proclaimed a half-holiday for all government workers. At her first press conference at Miss Universe headquarters in New York, defined beauty: "There are two kinds of beauty - inside and outside. A woman can be beautiful on the outside with nothing else, but a woman with beauty on the inside - that's perfect." When asked to compare older men and younger men, Marisol coyly replied, "It depends on what kind you prefer, and for what."

MISS UNIVERSE 1969

2008-09-24T18:10:00.000-07:00

1969
Gloria Diaz
PHILIPPINES
Miami Beach, Florida
USA

1st runner-up Harriet Eriksson FINLAND
2nd runner-up Joanne Barrett AUSTRALIA
3rd runner-up Chava Levy ISRAEL
4th runner-up Kikuyo Ohsuka JAPAN
SEMI-FINALISTS
Eva von Reuber-Staier AUSTRIA
Vera Lucia Fischer BRAZIL
Monica Larson Teuber CHILE
Margarita Ma.Reyes Zawadsky COLOMBIA
Patricia Ingrid Walker NORWAY
Maria Julia Mantilla Mayer PERU
Brigitta Lindloff SWEDEN
Patrice Sollner SWITZERLAND
Wendy Jane Dascomb USA
Natasa Kosir YUGOSLAVIA

Gloria Diaz's ambition in life was to make as many friends as possible, and joining Miss Universe made her able to meet people, and foster better relationships with the delegates from other nations. Austria's Eva von Rueber-Staier, a semi-finalist, created a stir with her political judgment. She has called Mao Tse-tung the greatest historical figure in the world in her written interview quiestionnare. Eva would compete in Miss World that same year and win the title. This year, pageant organizers introduced the sound-proof booth and the final question for the 5 finalists

MISS UNIVERSE 1968

2008-09-24T18:06:00.000-07:00

1968
Martha Vasconcellos
BRAZIL
Miami Beach, Florida
USA

Martha's official photograph as Miss Universe 1968

1st runner-up Anne Marie Braafheid
CURACAO
2nd runner-up Leena Marketa Brusiin
FINLAND
3rd runner-up Peggy Kopp Arenas
VENEZUELA
4th runner-up Dorothy Ansett USA
SEMI-FINALISTS
Nancy Wilson CANADA
Danae Montserrat Sala Sarradell CHILE
Jennifer Lowe Summers ENGLAND
Elizabeth Cadren FRANCE
Miranta Zafiropoulou GREECE
Miriam Fridman ISRAEL
Tone Knaran NORWAY
Anne Marie Hellqvist SWEDEN
Apantree Prayutsenee THAILAND
Daliborka Stojsic YUGOSLAVIA

Martha Vasconcellos is Brazil's second Miss Universe. This was another homesick winner.The morning after winning the title, Martha Vasconcellos cried for her family and boyfriend. She had been supposedly engaged with her boyfriend since she was 12 and she
had missed him so much While other contestants protested against being chaperoned all the time, Ireland's
Tiffany Scales said she understood:
“Can you imagine the chaos if you
had 66 beauty queens running around Miami getting plastered and picking up men?” Runner-up Anne Marie
Braafheid of Curacao makes history
as the highest placing black delegate
as of 1968 in Miss Universe history.

MISS UNIVERSE 1967

2008-09-24T18:02:00.000-07:00

1967
Sylvia Louise Hitchcock
USA
Miami Beach, Florida
USA
Sylvia Hitchcock and her Miss USA court

1st runner-up Mariela Perez Branger
VENEZUELA
2nd runner-up Jennifer Lewis ENGLAND
3rd runner-up Ritva Helena Lehto FINLAND
4th runner-up Batya Kabiri ISRAEL
SEMI-FINALISTS
Carmen Silvia de Barros Ramasco BRAZIL
Margrethe Rhein Knudsen DENMARK
Elia Kalogeraki GREECE
Irene van Campenhout HOLLAND
Laura Arminda da Costa Roque HONG KONG
Patricia Armstrong IRELAND
Paoli Rossi ITALY
Paquita Delgado Sanchez SPAIN
Eva-Lisa Svensson SWEDEN
Denise Elizabeth Page WALES

Sylvia Louise Hitchcock who hails from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is the 4th American to win Miss UniversePageant. During this year, fficials advised the panel of judges that “a beauty today must not only have a beautiful face, in perfect contour, but her torso must be be well-formed with the bustline not accentuated, and the back lines of the shoulder almost flat...” Pageant officials allowed contestants to wear false hairpieces and falls for the first time. Padded bras were still banned, though.

MISS UNIVERSE 1966

2008-09-24T17:56:00.000-07:00

1966
Margareta Arvidsson
SWEDEN
Miami Beach, Florida
USA

1st runner-up Charlotta Ostring FINLAND
2nd runner-up Cheranand Savetanand
THAILAND
3rd runner-up Yasmin Daji INDIA
4th runner-up Aviva Israeli ISRAEL
SEMI-FINALISTS
Edna Margarita Rudd Lucena COLOMBIA
Gitte Fleinert DENMARK
Janice Carol Whiteman ENGLAND
Marion Heinrich GERMANY
Marge Domen HOLLAND
Siri Gro Nilsson NORWAY
Madeline Hartog Bel PERU
Ma.Clarinda Garces Soriano PHILIPPINES
Paquita Torres Perez SPAIN
Maria Judith Remenyi USA

Margarita was homesick. Minutes after Miss Sweden, Margarita Arvidsson, was crowned Miss Universe, she told the newsmen on hand that she wanted "to go home.I can never be myself or be what I want to be as Miss Universe," she said. "I can’t go nowhere without a chaperone," she cried. And controversy was still alive and well in the pageant. Five South American contestants, Misses Argentina, Ecuador, Paraguay, Venezuela and Brazil complained that they "are the nothings of the contest" and claimed that European girls got preferential treatment wherever they went. Peru's Madeline Hartog Bel would go on to win the 1967 Miss World title.

MISS UNIVERSE 1965

2008-09-24T17:26:00.000-07:00

1st runner-up Virpi Meittinen FINLAND
2nd runner-up Sue Ann Downey USA
3rd runner-up Ingrid Norman SWEDEN
4th runner-up Anja Schuit HOLLAND
SEMI-FINALISTS
Pauline Verey AUSTRALIA
Maria Raquel Helena de Andrade BRAZIL
Carol Ann Tidey CANADA
Maria Victoria Ocampo Gomez COLOMBIA
Jeanette Christjansen DENMARK
Aspa Theologitou GREECE
Aliza Panfil Sedeh ISRAEL
Freida Holler Figallo PERU
Louise Vail Aurielo PHILIPPINES
Veronika Edelgarda Hilda Prigge S. AFRICA

Apasra Hongsakula was the first Thai and second Asian woman to win the prestigious Miss Universe title. She was the shortest at 5'4" and the only brunette among the five finalists at the Miami pageant. She spoke no English but captivated the judges nonetheless with her charm, poise and regal bearing. Apasra later married a first cousin of Queen Sirikit, and like the Royal Thai family, is still a much revered social figure in her country. This year, the semi-finalists were announced during pageant night,
not one day before as done in previous pageants

MISS UNIVERSE 1964

2008-09-24T17:21:00.000-07:00

1964
Kiriaki Corinna Tsopei
GREECE Miami Beach, Florida
USA

1st runner-up Brenda Blackler ENGLAND
2nd runner-up Ronit Rinat ISRAEL
3rd runner-up Siv Marta Aberg SWEDEN
4th runner-up Lana Yi Yu REP.OF CHINA
SEMI-FINALISTS
Maria Amelia Ramirez ARGENTINA
Olga Monica Carpio Oropeza BOLIVIA
Angela Teresa Pereira de Vasconcellos BRAZIL
Sirpa Wallenius FINLAND
Edith Noel FRANCE
Emanuela Stramana ITALY
Jorunn Nystedt Barun NORWAY
Miriam Riart Brugada PARAGUAY
Bobbi Johnson USA
Mercedes Revenga de la Rosa VENEZUELA

Miss Universe 1964 Corinne Tsopei was an incessant eater and it was claimed that she ate potatoes three times a day. Her appetite a constant topic of conversation. Again, controversy colored the pageant. Edna Park, Nigeria's first delegate to Miss Universe, had written in her diary that she entered the contest to "win the crown." She collapsed after not hearing her name in the semi-finalists roster. Scotland's Doreen Swan walked out of the contest, charging that pageant rules and activities made her feel like she was in prison" It was said that the real root of the problem was that Doreen wished to go home to her boyfriend and tie the knot. It was during this pageant that the 15 semi-finalists were cut to 10.

MISS UNIVERSE 1963

2008-09-24T17:18:00.000-07:00

1963
Ieda Maria Vargas
BRAZIL
Miami Beach, Florida
USA

1st runner-up Aino Korwa DENMARK
2nd runner-up Marlene McKeown
IRELAND
3rd runner-up Lalaine Benett PHILIPPINES
4th runner-up Kim Myung-Ja KOREA
SEMI-FINALISTS
Olga Galuzi ARGENTINA
Gertrude Bergner AUSTRIA
Maria Cristina Alvarez COLOMBIA
Riitta Anja Hellevi Kautainen FINLAND
Monique Lemaire FRANCE
Helga Karla Ziesemar GERMANY
Gianna Serra ITALY
Noriko Ando JAPAN
Ellen Liebenberg SOUTH AFRICA
Marite Ozers USA

Brazil wins the first of her two Miss Universe crowns with Ieda Maria Vargas. After finishing in the runner-up position, Miss Korea, Kim Myung-Ja nixes a
movie career offer in Hollywood
retorting, "I?m not interested in being a movie star. In Korea, we don?t think
being a movie star is very good. We
think they are bad girls." This year,
Ieda wore a crown that most closely resembles the crown that graces our winners to date. Presently, Ieda is reported to be recovering from serious illness but is doing fine.

MISS UNIVERSE 1962

2008-09-24T17:14:00.000-07:00

1962
Norma Nolan
ARGENTINA
Miami Beach, Florida
USA

1st runner-up Anna Geirsdottir ICELAND
2nd runner-up Anja Aulikki Jarvinen
FINLAND
3rd runner-up Helen Liu REPUBLIC OF
CHINA
4th runner-up Ma.Olivia Cavalcanti BRAZIL
SEMI-FINALISTS
Christa Linder AUSTRIA
Marilyn McFatridge CANADA
Olga Lucia Botero Orozco COLOMBIA
Kim Carlton ENGLAND
Evelyn Miot HAITI
Yehudit Mazor Rounik ISRAEL
Seo Bunjoo KOREA
Nouhad Cabbabe LEBANON
Leslie Margaret Nichols NEW ZEALAND
Macel Leilani Wilson USA

Argentina wins it's only Miss Universe title so far in the person of Norma Nolan and Miss Universe history is made as Evelyn Miot of Haiti becomes the first black semi-finalist.

MISS UNIVERSE 1961

2008-09-24T17:00:00.000-07:00

1961
Marlene Schmidt
GERMANY
Miami Beach, Florida
USA

1st runner-up Rosemarie Frankland WALES
2nd runner-up Adriana Gardiazabal
ARGENTINA
3rd runner-up Arlette Dobson AUSTRIA
4th runner-up Sharon Renee Brown USA
SEMI-FINALISTS
Maria Gloria Silva CHILE
Simone Darot FRANCE
Kristjana Magnusdottir ICELAND
Atida Pisanti ISRAEL
Seo Yang-hee KOREA
Carmela Stein Bedoya PERU
Wang Li-Ling TAIWAN (R.O.C.)
Susan Jones SCOTLAND
Gunilla Knutsson SWEDEN
Liliane Burnier SWITZERLAND

After placing consistently in the semi-finals and finals since 1952, Germany finally ran away with the Miss Universe title. The closest they got before this was in 1956 with Marina Orschel who was first runner-up to Carol Morris of the USA. Germany had no comment over the news that their delegate, Marlene Schmidt, had won the coveted Miss Universe crown. Rosemarie Frankland of Wales, Marlene's runner-up, goes on to win Miss World 1961.

MISS UNIVERSE 1960

2008-09-24T09:27:00.000-07:00

1960
Linda Bement
USA
Miami Beach, Florida
USA

Linda Bement in a recent photo

1st runner-up Daniela Bianchi ITALY
2nd runner-up Elizabeth Hodacs AUSTRIA
3rd runner-up Nicolette Caras S. AFRICA
4th runner-up Ma.Teresa del Rio SPAIN
SEMI-FINALISTS
Jean MacPherson BRAZIL
Maria Stella Marquez COLOMBIA
Joan Ellinor Boardman ENGLAND
Ingrun Helgard Moeckel GERMANY
Magda Passaloglou GREECE
Aliza Gur ISRAEL
Yayoi Furuno JAPAN
Sohn Miheeja KOREA
Ragnhild Aass NORWAY
Elaine Maurath SWITZERLAND

The third American in 9 years to win Miss Universe came from Salt Lake City, Utah.
Ma. Stella Marquez of Colombia, a semi-finalist, went on to win the first Miss International title later that year, then known as the International Beauty Congress, after Miss Universe and Long Beach split after 8 years. The Miss Universe contest is moved to Miami Beach. This is the first year that the pageant is telecast live on television and the Miss Universe creed was read for the first time.

Linda Bement in a recent photo

MISS UNIVERSE 1959

2008-09-24T09:16:00.000-07:00

1959
Akiko Kojima
JAPAN
Long Beach, California
USA

1st runner-up Jorunn Kristiansen NORWAY
2nd runner-up Terry Lynn Hungtington USA
3rd runner-up Pamela Anne Searle
ENGLAND
4th runner-up Vera Ribeiro BRAZIL
SEMI-FINALISTS
Hélène Savigny BELGIUM
Olga Pumarejo Korkor COLOMBIA
Françoise Saint-Laurent FRANCE
Carmela Künzel GERMANY
Zoidsa Kouroukli GREECE
Sigridur Thorvaldsdottir ICELAND
Rina Issacov ISRAEL
Oh Hyun-joo KOREA
Zuzanna Cembrowska POLAND
Marie-Louise Ekstrom SWEDEN

The first Miss Universe to originate from the Asiat, Akiko was a 22-year-old model from Tokyo, Japan when she bested four other finalists from Norway, the USA, England, and Brazil for the 1959 Miss Universe crown in Long Beach, California. At 5'7", Akiko measured 37-23-38 inches, which many believed as "incredible dimensions" for an Asian. She denied having undergone breast surgery. Akiko settled into a quiet married life after her reign.

MISS UNIVERSE 1958

2008-09-24T09:07:00.000-07:00

1958
Luz Marina Zuluaga
COLOMBIA
Long Beach, California
USA

1st runner-up Adalgisa Colombo BRAZIL
2nd runner-up Geri Hoo HAWAII
3rd runner-up Eurlyne Howell USA
4th runner-up Alicja Bobrowska POLAND
SEMI-FINALISTS
Raquela Molina Urrutia CHILE
Evy Norlund DENMARK
Marlies Jung Behrens GERMANY
Marily Kalimopoulou GREECE
Corine Rottschafer HOLLAND
Miriam Hadar ISRAEL
Tomoko Moritake JAPAN
Beatriz Boluarte PERU
Gertrud Gummels SURINAME
Birgitta Elisabet Gardman SWEDEN

When Luz Marina Zuluaga won Colombia's first (and only) Miss Universe title in 1958, the entire nation rejoiced and Zuluaga came home a national hero. Postage stamps were issued in her honor, she was given a mansion and was declared tax-exempt for life. Corinne Rottschafer of Holland, a semi-finalist, went on to win the Miss World title
a year later.

MISS UNIVERSE 1957

2008-09-24T09:02:00.000-07:00

1957
Gladys Zender
PERU
Long Beach, California
USA

1st runner-up Terezinha Morango BRAZIL
2nd runner-up Sonia Hamilton ENGLAND
3rd runner-up Ma. Rosa Gamio CUBA
4th runner-up Gerti Daub GERMANY
SEMI-FINALISTS
Martha Lehmann ALASKA
Hannerl Melcher AUSTRIA
Gloria Noakes CANADA
Ligia Karavia GREECE
Valeria Fabrizzi ITALY
Kyoko Otani JAPAN
Jacqueline Doreilla Bonilla MOROCCO
Inger Jonsson SWEDEN
Gabriela Pascal URUGUAY
Leona Gage USA (disqualified)
Monica Lamas ARGENTINA (enters the semi-finals after Miss USA is dusqualified)

Miss USA 1957, Leona Gage qualified for the semi-finals of Miss Universe 1957. But, it was discovered that she was married and had two children. She was stripped of her crown and Charlotte Sheffield was awarded the title. She did not make the semi-finals. Argentina, Monica Lamas, who was 16th in the preliminary judging took the last semi-finals slot vacated by Gage.

MISS UNIVERSE 1956

2008-09-24T08:58:00.000-07:00

1956
Carol Morris
USA
Long Beach, California
USA

1st runner-up Marina Orschel GERMANY
2nd runner-up Ingrid Goude SWEDEN
3rd runner-up Iris Waller ENGLAND
4th runner-up Rosanna Galli ITALY
SEMI-FINALISTS
Ileana Carre ARGENTINA
Lucienne Auquier BELGIUM
Maria Jose Cardoso BRAZIL
Marcia Rodriguez CUBA
Anita Treyens FRANCE
Rita Gouma GREECE
Sara Tal ISRAEL
Erna Marta Bauman MEXICO
Lola Sabogal Morzan PERU
Blanquita Heredia Osio VENEZUELA

Carol is the second American in only 5 years in the history of the Miss Universe pageant to win the title. She hails from Ottumwa, Iowa. She has made several films in Hollywood. Presently, she travels around the world and is a dance instructor. She is the proud mother of 4 and grandmother of 3.

MISS UNIVERSE 1955

2008-09-24T08:50:00.000-07:00

1955
Hillevi Rombin
SWEDEN
Long Beach, California USA

1st runner-up Maribel Arrieta EL SALVADOR
2nd runner-up Maureen Hingert CEYLON
3rd runner-up Margut Nunke GERMANY
4th runner-up Keiko Takahashi JAPAN
SEMI-FINALISTS
Hilda Isabel Sarli Gorrindo ARGENTINA
Nicole De Mayer BELGIUM
Emilia Barreto Correa Lima BRAZILl
Cathy Diggles CANADA
Margaret Rowe ENGLAND
Maria del Rosario Molina Chacon GUATEMALA
Pastera Pagan Valenzuela HONDURAS
Solveig Borstad NORWAY
Carlene King Johnson USA
Carmen Susana Duijm Zubillaga VENEZUELA

The second Scandinavian delegate to win the title, Hillevi was a very athletic individual. After her reign as Miss Universe, she went on with a movie career in Hollywood and eventually married a movie produced. Unfortunately, she met a tragic death along with her second husband, former US Senator David Schine and her eldest son when their private plane crashed in Los Angeles in 1996. Venezuela's Carmen Zubillaga, a semi-finalist, went on to win the Miss World 1955 crown later on in the year.

Hillevi Rombin's official photograph as
Miss Universe 1955

MISS UNIVERSE 1954

2008-09-24T08:05:00.000-07:00

1954
Miriam Stevenson
USA
Long Beach, California USA

1st runner-up Martha Ma. Rocha BRAZIL
2nd runner-up Virginia June Lee HONG KONG
3rd runner-up Regina Ernst GERMANY
4th runner-up Ragnhild Olafsson SWEDEN
SEMI-FINALISTS
Ivana Olga Kislinger ARGENTINA
Gloria Legisos CHILE
Marian Esquivel McKeown COSTA RICA
Jacqueline Beer FRANCE
Rika Dialina GREECE
Maria Teresa Paliani ITALY
Mona Stornes NORWAY
Liliana Torre PANAMA
Isabella Leon Velarde Dancuart PERU
Blesilda Ocampo PHILIPPINES
Ana Moreno URUGUAY

The first of 7 Americans to win the Miss Universe crown hails from Winnsboro, South Carolina. She bested 34 other delegates and survived a triple tie breaker with runner-up Martha Rocha of Brazil. One of the judges disclosed that it was Miss Brazil's "bulging hips" which cost her the crown although her face was said to have been "the most gorgeous in the contest". Still residing in Columbia, South Carolina, the ever popular Miriam remains on the go with her various activities as real estate agent and a fashion, bridal, and wedding consultant. She is married to Donald Upton and together they have two sons.

MISS UNIVERSE 1953

2008-09-24T01:56:00.000-07:00

1953
Christiane Martel
FRANCE
Long Beach, California
USA

Australia's Maxine Morgan
Christiane Martel with 4th runner-up

1st runner-up Myrna Hansen USA
2nd runner-up Kinuko Ito JAPAN
3rd runner-up Anne Bertha Lopez MEXICO
4th runner-up Maxine Morgan AUSTRALIA
SEMI-FINALISTS
Lore Felger AUSTRIA
Thelma Elizabeth Brewis CANADA
Jytte Olsen DENMARK
Christal Schaack GERMANY
Rita Stazzi ITALY
Synnoeve Gulbrandsen NORWAY
Emita Arosemena Zubieta PANAMA
Mary Ann Sarmiento PERU
Ingrid Rita Mills SOUTH AFRICA
Ayten Akyol TURKEY
Ada Alicia Ibáñez Amengual URUGUAY

Twenty six delegates participated in the Miss Universe 1953 pageant won by Miss France, Christiane Martel.. After her reign, Christiane went on to become a popular film actress in her native France as well as in the USA and Mexico. She later married Miguel Aleman, Jr., the son of a former Mexican president. She presently resides in Mexico and is a very popular social figure and is the first lady of the state of Veracruz.

MISS UNIVERSE 1952

2008-09-24T01:39:00.000-07:00

Long Beach, California
USA
1952
Armi Kuusela
FINLAND

1st runner-up Elza Kananionapua HAWAII
2nd runner-up Daisy Mavrali GREECE
3rd runner-up Judy Dan HONG KONG
4th runner-up Renate Roy GERMANY
SEMI FINALISTS:
Olga Llorens Perez Castillo MEXICO
Catherine Edwina Higgins SOUTH AFRICA
Anne Marie Tistler SWEDEN
Gladys Rubio URUGUAY
Jackie Loughery USA

Twenty-nine contestants participated in the first Miss Universe pageant in 1952 held in Long Beach, California.. Though only 18 years old, Armi still captured the Universe.. The pageant, even at its onset was not without controversy as many accused favoritism as the 1952 Olympic Games were held in Helsinki, Finland that same year. A year after her reign, Armi married Filipino businessman Virgilio Hilario and brought up a family of 5 children. She remarried upon Hilario's death in 1977 and has moved to La Jolla, California. She is still active in her community as she involves herself in Cancer research.