Miss Venezuela is Miss Universe... again
And the crown goes to...
As Miss Venezuela Stefania Fernandez takes home the Miss Universe 2009 crown, the first runner-up title is shared by Miss Australia Rachael Finch and Miss Puerto Rico Mayra Matos Perez, with the title of second runner-up going to Miss Kosovo Gona Dragusha.
Venezuela has won five Miss Universe titles, five Miss World and four Miss International crowns — more than any other country.
The new Miss Universe is of Russian, Ukrainian, Galician and Polish origin. Her mother is Nadia Krupij Holojad and her father Carlos Fernández. The 18-year-old Virgo enjoys tennis and swimming as her hobbies.
Top 5 contestants are...
Heartbeats pace up as the hosts of the evening Celebrity Apprentice star Claudia Jordan and Access Hollywood co-anchor Billy Bush, announce the contestants who made it to the top 5. The names are...
Miss Dominican Republic, Ada
Miss Australia, Rachael Finch
Miss Puerto Rico, Mayra Matos Perez
Miss Venezuela, Stefania Fernandez
Miss Kosovo, Gona Dragusha
Sub-title winners
Miss Congeniality: Miss China, Wang Jingyao
Miss Photogenic: Miss Thailand, Chutima Durongdej
Gowns galore...
Glitz and glamour takes charge as the top 10 contestants sizzle on the stage in gorgeous evening gowns.
Top 10 beauties
Competition gets tougher as the list narrows down to top 10, which includes:
Miss Australia, Rachael Finch
Miss Venezuela, Stefania Fernandez
Miss South Africa, Tatum Keshwar
Miss Dominican Republic, Ada
Miss Kosovo, Gona Dragusha
Miss Czech Republic, Iveta Lutovska
Miss Switzerland, Whitney Toyloy
Miss Puerto Rico, Mayra Matos Perez
Miss France Chloe Mortaud
Miss USA Kristen, Dalton
The swimsuit round
The temperatures on the stage soar high as the bikini clad contestants sashay down the ramp.
Top 15 announced
The top 15 contestants who will now vie for the crown are:
Miss Puerto Rico, Mayra Matos Perez
Miss Iceland, Ingibjorg Egilsdottir
Miss Albania, Hasna Xhukici
Miss Czech Republic, Iveta Lutovska
Miss Belgium, Zeynep Sever
Miss Sweden, Renate Cerljen
Miss Kosovo, Gona Dragusha
Miss Australia, Rachael Finch
Miss France, Chloe Mortaud
Miss Switzerland, Whitney Toyloy
Miss USA Kristen, Dalton
Miss Venezuela, Stefania Fernandez
Miss South Africa, Tatum Keshwar
Miss Dominican Republic, Ada Aimee De la Cruz
Miss Croatia, Sarah Cosic
The stage is set!
The stage is set in the hues of blue and the 84 contestants take the stage in white floral dresses for the introduction.
The pageant, being telecast live from 6.30 am IST on Star World, from Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas is being hosted by Access Hollywood co-anchor Billy Bush and model, actress and former Miss Rhode Island USA Claudia Jordan. In recent years, the contest has been watched in over 180 countries.
The girls will be judged in three categories — swimsuit, evening gown and interview as they vie for the coveted title.
Earlier, the confident and gorgeous beauty won a lot of compliments during her stay at the Bahamas, where the contest is being held. Ekta told us, “Somebody told me that I represent my country very well. Another compliment that touched my heart was — ‘though you look very Indian, yet your personality is very global’.” ( Watch Video )
Back home, designer Ritu Kumar, who has designed her national costume for the pageant, had commented, “Her height, I think, is her strongest point and then comes her classic face. I see amazing confidence in her.”
Designers Gauri-Nainika, who designed her evening gown, added, “Ekta is a very natural person. When we were working with her, she was not trying to be someone she is not.”
At the end of the show, Miss Universe 2008, Venezuelan Dayana Mendoza, will crown her successor.
