The New Miss Universe 2009

August 24, 2009 — Ada Aimee De La Cruz, Dayana Mendoza, Gona Dragusha, Mayra Matos Perez, Miss Australia, Miss Domincan Republic, Miss Kosovo, Miss Puerto Rico, Miss Universe, Miss Universe 2009, Miss Universe 2009 Top 10, Miss Universe 2009 Top 15, Miss Universe 2009 Top 5, Miss Universe 2009 winner, Miss Universe finalists, Miss Universe Q&A, Miss Universe semifinalists, Rachael Finch, Riyo Mori, Stefania Fernandez, Venezuela

Another pageant is over.

Miss Universe 2008, Dayana Mendoza (Venezuela)

Sadly, 83 contestants go back home empty handed. Only consolation is that they can now relax their facial and arm muscles after the month-long smiling and waving.

The following made it to the Top 15 but competed only for swimsuit as they didn’t make it to the next round.

15. Iceland (7.730)

14. Croatia (7.811)

13. Sweden (7.830)

12. Belgium (7.870)

11. Albania (7.900)

The following made it to the evening gown competition. Score for such round in parenthesis.

Top 10

10. USA (7.550)

9. Switzerland (7.890)

8. Czech Republic (8.010)

7. South Africa (8.040)

6. France (8.650)

Top 5

4th runner up : Puerto Rico (#7 in swimsuit, #3 in evening gown)

Mayra Matos Perez (Photo courtesy of Miss Universe website)

3rd runner up : Australia (#1 in swimsuit, #4 in evening gown) – my favorite

Rachael Finch (Photo courtesy of Miss Universe website). #1 in swimsuit so thought I'd better have the right photo here.

2nd runner up: Kosovo (#3 in swimsuit, #2 in evening gown)

Gona Dragusha (Photo courtesy of Miss Universe website)

Announcement of the 1st runner up… this is the time when each contestant secretly hopes the other one will be called!

1st runner up: Dominican Republic (#2 in swimsuit, #1 in evening gown)

Ada Aimee De La Cruz - important role as 1st runner up hehe (Photo courtesy of Miss Universe website)

Miss Universe 2009

Venezuela (#4 in swimsuit, #5 in evening gown)

I've never seen the same country winning two consecutive years. See how ecstatic Miss Universe 2008 (also from Venezuela) is...

Also my first time to see the new crown falling all the way down to the stage!! At least, no one slipped during the evening gown competition this year.

Congratulations to Stefania Fernandez!

Useless info:

• Only 0.16 separated the score of Albania (#11) and USA (#10) during the swimsuit competition. Had Albania flirted a little bit more onstage, she could have gone to round 2.  :p
• 0.19 difference between Venezuela (#5) and France (#6) during the evening gown competition. Venezuela almost didn’t make it to the Top 5
• All of the Top 10 contestants (except 2, Venezuela and USA) were 5’9″ and above!

This year, they wanted to be techie by using Skype for one of the final questions. Riyo Mori, Miss Universe 2007 was on it. Not so glam looking though.

Riyo Mori from Japan

Contestants from Venezuela train for one year before they are fielded into a pageant. Stefania seems to have been well trained even in knowing when to pause for her Q&A response to be interpreted. I think it’s a clever move as typically the response gets lost in translation (have seen that happen too many times).

This is her cue for the interpreter to begin translating. Notice the look?

I was hoping Miss Philippines would enter the semifinals. All the best, Bianca Manalo. Maybe you have a showbiz career ahead of you back in Manila.

Miss Singapore's National Costume. This is better than last. Not sure what's in store for 2010 (Photo courtesy of Miss Universe website)

This section is for women who are both “beauty & brains”. Remember to place your right hand on your right hip while answering the following questions asked during the final round. I’ve indicated Miss Venezuela’s answer for your reference.

1) According to the World Health Organisation, there is an urgent need to do HIV testing around the world. Do you believe that HIV testing should be made mandatory?

2) Tonight you were judged on how you looked in bathing suit. In some countries, women are not allowed to wear swimsuit. How does that make you feel?

3) Has being a beautiful woman made your life easier or has it prevented people from talking you seriously in business situations?

4) In many parts of the world, obstacles still exist that inhibit women from achieving their goals in some corporations. What can women do to overcome this?

Venezuela’s answer (translated) : “I believe that nowadays, we women have overcome many obstacles. And I do believe we have reached the same level as men have. We must realise that there are no longer any barriers among us.”

5) Pop superstar Justin Timberlake once said, “The worst thing about being famous is invasion of your privacy.” What is it about fame that makes many people including you, want to be famous?