On Sunday night, in the Bahamas, Miss Universe 2008, Venezuelan Dayana Mendoza, was so excited she couldn't even place the crown on the new beauty queen's head; it actually fell to the floor. That's because the new winner, Stefanía Fernández, is also from Venezuela.
It's the first time in the history of the Miss Universe pageant that the same country wins for two consecutive years. Prior to Dayana Mendoza's victory last year, the last Miss Venezuela winner had been Alicia Machado, back in 1996. This is the sixth Miss Universe title for Venezuela, the country with most Miss Universe winners. In the past 52 years of Miss Universe, 21 winners have come from Latin countries.
In her farewell message, Miss Universe 2008, Venezuelan Dayana Mendoza, said her greatest satisfaction after winning the contest was to be able to bring the crown back to her country after 12 years. On Sunday night, she was in charge of placing the crown on the new Miss Universe, Stefanía Fernández, and was in such an emotional state, that she couldn't place the crown on Ms. Fernandez's head properly and the crown fell to the floor.
For the second consecutive year - and the for the first time in pageant history - a country repeated as Miss Universe. Miss Venezuela, Stefanía Fernández, won the title of most beautiful woman in the universe.
Miss Universe
Miss Universe 2008, Dayana Mendoza, was so excited, that when placing the crown on her fellow countrywoman, Stefanía Fernández, it fell to the floor.
Brennan Linsley, AP
Dayana Mendoza, Miss Universe 2008, said goobye with an emotional recorded speech, while she wore the crown for the last time.
Orlando, Barría, EFE
She didn't win the crown, but Miss Puerto Rico, Mayra Matos, looked very confident and comfortable on stage when answering the final question.
Orlando Barría, EFE
For the final challenge, Dominican Republic, Australia, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Kosovo were the five finalists. They answered questions from the judges.
Miss Universe
Venezuela's Stefanía Fernández looked stunning in a red dress she selected for her big night.
Andres Leighton, AP
Singer Kelly Rowland was one of the performers at the Miss Universe 2009 event.
Miss Universe
Miss Thailand, Chutima Durongdej, was selected as Miss Photogenic by voters on the Miss Universe website.
Andres Leighton, AP
Miss Dominican Republic, Ada Aimee de la Cruz was one of the favorites in the competition. She was the runner-up.
Timothy A. Clary, AFP / Getty Images
During the event and preliminary competitions, Stefanía Fernández, the new Miss Universe, looked happy and confident.
Timothy A. Clary, AFP / Getty Images
In an interview transmitted via Telemundo prior to the event, this year's winner, Stefanía Fernández, said that she would make history when Venezuela became the first country to win a second consecutive Miss Universe crown. Most of us didn't believe her. But that's exactly what happened.
Three Latinas made it to the Top 15, and all three of them made it through the Top 5: Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and Venezuela. The other two finalists were Miss Kosovo and Miss Australia.
Miss Dominican Republic, Ada Aimee de la Cruz, was the runner-up.
The Top 15 finalists (in the order in which they were called) were: Puerto Rico, Iceland, Albania, Czech Republic, Belgium, Dominican Republic, Sweden, Kosovo, Australia, France, Switzerland, South Africa, USA, Croatia and Venezuela.
"I think this is the most beautiful group of women I've ever seen," pageant co-owner Donald Trump told reporters.
The top 15 finalists appeared in bathing suits before the final 10 were chosen for the evening gown segment.
Miss Dominican Republic stunned judges with her shimmering silver gown, earning her the highest score of 9.4. Miss Kosovo followed with a close 9.2. Miss Venezuela's classically red gown garnered her a surprising 8.86 and Miss Puerto Rico's sexy and elegant pink gown earned her a solid 9.0.
After that, the final five were selected. Four of them answered questions from the judges. One of them, Miss Puerto Rico, answered a question that came from 2007's Miss Universe, Japan's Riyo Mori, through Skype.
The final question round was quite tame this time around, and Spanish reigned. From mandatory AIDS testing to whether women are occupying higher positions of authority in the corporate world, answers were 'en español' in the live event, which is broadcast in 150 countries throughout the world. It was Miss Venezuela, who answered whether women are occupying positions of authority in the corporate world by responding "We've already reached the same level as men."
Asian contestants collectively earned high marks in the event. 'Miss Congeniality,' went to Wang Jinyao, Miss China, and Thailand's Chutima Durongdej flashed a winning smile when she picked up 'Miss Photogenic.'
The event included performances by Flo Rida, Heidi Montag, David Guetta and Kelly Rowland.
Montag gave her first live performance, singing 'Body Language' from her performance but half of it couldn't be watched because the television screen it was covered by images of the top 15 finalists.
The bathing suit competition was accompanied by the hip-hop rhythms of Miami's own Flo Rida, who first ushered in a confident Miss Puerto Rico. Next came was a slew of European beauties, followed by none other than Miss Venezuela, who closed out the competition. The highest-ranking contestants were Miss Dominican Republic with a 9.18, Miss Australia with 9.26 and Miss Kosovo with an 8.79.
Name: Gladys Zender Country: Peru * Gladys Zender was the first Latina winner of the Miss Universe contest, which began in 1952.
Leonard Mccombe, Getty Images
1958
Name: Luz Marina Zuluaga Country: Colombia
Corbis
1962
Name: Norma Nolan Country: Argentina
Miss Universe L.P., LLLP
1963
Name: Ieda María Vargas Country: Brazil
Bettmann, Corbis
1968
Name: Martha Vasconcellos Country: Brazil * Before Martha Vasconcellos, the last Latina Miss Universe also represented Brazil, in 1963.
Lynn Pelham, Getty Images
1970
Name: Marisol Malaret Country: Puerto Rico
Miss Universe L.P., LLLP
1974
Name: Amparo Muñoz Country: Spain
AP
1979
Name: Maritza Sayalero Country: Venezuela
NamasteProductions.com
1981
Name: Mona Irene Lailan Sáez Conde Country: Venezuela * Prior to this year, the most recent Latina winner was also from Venezuela, in 1979.
Miss Universe L.P., LLLP
1985
Name: Deborah Carthy-Deu Country: Puerto Rico * With this win, both Venezuela and Puerto Rico had two Miss Universe crowns.
Miss Universe L.P., LLLP
Hosts were Billy Bush, co-anchor of 'Access Hollywood,' and Claudia Jordan, who has appeared on several TV shows like 'Celebrity Apprentice' and 'Deal or No Deal.'
Actor Dean Cain and supermodel Valeria Mazza were among the judges.
I wanted Australia to win. The photo shoots and the girls seem to be more like models posing for Playboy or Sports Illustrated, and they are all way too skinny!! I'm disappointed in the Miss Universe pageant anymore.
Personalmente, La joven de la Republica Dominicana tenia que llevarse esa Corona. Comparada a la Chica de Venezuela, Miss Republica Dominicana era mas amistosa, coqueta, glamorosa, bellisima y sobre todo inteligente. Miss Republica es una belleza de mujer.
Esa corona es para ti. Trabajo buen ello, representaste a tu honor.
Eso fue trampa. Yo veo el certamen desde que era pequena , y siempre me deje llevar por las estadisticas y las puntuacioners dadas a traves del certamen , por eso nada mas ,la Corona le correspondia a Miss Republica Dominicana y como primera finalista Miss PR . Miss Venezuela se supone hubiera sido 3ra finalista , despues de Miss Australia . La firma de contadores que contrataron cometieron un error garrafal y ya no se pueden echar para atras pero tambien se puede aducir que algo habia a puerta cerrada que favorecio a Miss Venezuela , a pesar de ser la que tenia el traje mas feo , y la contestacion a la pregunta final menos acertada de las cinco . Ya le perdi el respeto al Certamen .
Escojeron las latinas mas feas, la de rep.dom. es una mujer fea, comun y qualquiera, las europeas eran mejores pero el jurado quasi no las tomaran en cuenta. El senor Trump es quien escoje la que va a ganar!
Yo no vi el concurso pero no me sorprende en lo absoluto. Bravo! a nuestras bellas mujeres de Venezuela. Eso es lo que se obtiene con la mezcla de las razas.
On Sunday night, in the Bahamas, Miss Universe 2008, Venezuelan Dayana Mendoza, was so excited she couldn't even place the crown on the new beauty queen's head; it actually fell to the floor. That's because the new winner, Stefanía Fernández, is also from Venezuela.
Comments
(262)Add a comment
1 24 08
By ajraval
I would vote for the Australian one.
Reply
1 24 08
By Diane
I wanted Australia to win. The photo shoots and the girls seem to be more like models posing for Playboy or Sports Illustrated, and they are all way too skinny!! I'm disappointed in the Miss Universe pageant anymore.
Reply
1 24 08
By Isabel
Personalmente, La joven de la Republica Dominicana tenia que llevarse esa Corona.
Comparada a la Chica de Venezuela, Miss Republica Dominicana era mas amistosa, coqueta, glamorosa, bellisima y sobre todo inteligente. Miss Republica es una belleza de mujer.
Esa corona es para ti.
Trabajo buen ello, representaste a tu honor.
Reply
1 24 08
By Fred
It's now a 'fixed' event....
Reply
1 24 08
By ajraval
I had the previlege to view the Bahama Miss Universe 2009 competition.
My vote goes to Ms. Australia, Kosovo and Costa-rica
Reply
1 24 08
By jose cruz
hugo sticks it to america again
Reply
1 24 08
By wanda ivette Balines
Eso fue trampa. Yo veo el certamen desde que era pequena , y siempre me deje llevar por las estadisticas y las puntuacioners dadas a traves del certamen , por eso nada mas ,la Corona le correspondia a Miss Republica Dominicana y como primera finalista Miss PR . Miss Venezuela se supone hubiera sido 3ra finalista , despues de Miss Australia . La firma de contadores que contrataron cometieron un error garrafal y ya no se pueden echar para atras pero tambien se puede aducir que algo habia a puerta cerrada que favorecio a Miss Venezuela , a pesar de ser la que tenia el traje mas feo , y la contestacion a la pregunta final menos acertada de las cinco . Ya le perdi el respeto al Certamen .
Reply
1 24 08
By ann
I rooted for Ms. Dominica...very disappointing result. De la Cruz is beautiful sexy and intelligent...just a pity she doesn't speak English.
Reply
1 24 08
By gege
Escojeron las latinas mas feas, la de rep.dom. es una mujer fea, comun y qualquiera, las europeas eran mejores pero el jurado quasi no las tomaran en cuenta.
El senor Trump es quien escoje la que va a ganar!
Reply
1 24 08
By Margarita
Yo no vi el concurso pero no me sorprende en lo absoluto.
Bravo! a nuestras bellas mujeres de Venezuela. Eso es lo que se obtiene con la mezcla de las razas.
Reply