Miss Universe-21st Century

">qualify for the semi-finals.
MISS UNIVERSE 2000Like Miss Universe 2003, she went to Indonesia, Puerto
SITE: Nicosia, Cyprus.Rico, Mexico, Ecuador, Thailand, Vietnam, Guyana,
HISTORY. Representatives from 79 countries,USA, India, Saint Maarten and the People´s
territories and dependencies attended the MissRepublic of China.
Universe contest. Certainly, India became the mostMISS UNIVERSE 2004
powerful country in the Beauty World.Miss India, LaraSITE:Quito, Ecuador.
Dutta, has all the qualities to be a MissHISTORY. Ecuadorian newspapers reported that
Universe-intelligence, beauty, personality, charisma andmisses Ukraine (Okelsandra Nikolayenko) , Venezuela
determination. Finally, Ms. Dutta was the new Miss(Ana Karina Añez Delgado), Australia (Jennifer
Universe. It was one of her lifelong dreams to becomeHawkins), USA (Shandi Ren Finnessey), Paraguay
Miss Universe. Few misses have had careers as long(Yanina Alicia Gonzalez Jorgge), and Ecuador(Susana
and varied as Lara Dutta.Rivadeneira Simbal) were the most favored to win the
In a career of more than seven years, she has beencontest.
professional model, ambassador and actress. LaraSurprisingly, Miss Ukraine did not enter the
once said, "Winning the Miss Universe title is thesemi-finals.Before she went to Ecuador, Okelsandra
culmination of a dream".Nikolayenko competed in Miss World 2001, where she
Like Miss Universe 2000, she went to Saint Marteen,was semi-finalist. Venezuela´s Ana Añez
Puerto Rico, USA, Colombia,Thailand, Malaysia, Japan,admired Mahatma Gandhi. "Mahatma Gandhi has been
Switzerland, Venezuela, Mexico, Indonesia and thea big influence in my life thanks to his political and
United Arab Emirates.religious influence he gave to the world", she said
Ms. Dutta became well-known to millions as aFor the first time since 1982, Miss Venezuela did not
women´s rights activist in India. Lara Dutta wasqualify for the semi-finals. It was sadness for
one of the best known misses of the 21st century.Venezuela´s Osmel Sousa. He once said: "If
MISS UNIVERSE 2001Venezuela does not make it in the finals, I will have a
SITE: Bayamon, Puerto Rico.heart attack!"
HISTORY. Representatives from 77 countries andMiss Australia was elected Miss Universe. She
dependencies attended the Miss Universe. Osmelbecame Australia´s second Miss Universe.The
Sousa, president of Miss Venezuela Organization,next day her photo was see all over the world and
wanted to win the Miss Universe title. People whofrom that moment the name Jennifer Hawkins was
have worked with him say he´s a perfectionistknown everywhere. Ms. Hawkins is perhaps the most
preparing carefully for each project. He is a verybeautiful woman in Miss Australia history.
private man, who rarely gives interviews.The judges were Petra Nemcova (Czech fashion
At the onset, Venezuela´s Eva Monica Ekvallmodel), Monique Menniken (German fashion model),
Johnson was the favourite by experts and journalists.Elsa Benitez (Mexican super-model), Bo Derek
Miss Venezuela reached the finals, but surprisingly, she(American actress), Bill Rancic (American
only came fourth place. Many people felt that theentrepreneur), Anne Martin (vice-president of Global
decision was unfair.Cosmetics and Marketing of Proctor & Gamble
A Puerto Rican won the Miss Universe contestCosmetics), Emilio Estefan (music producer), Jon Tutolo
again.Like Margarita Moran (Miss Philippines and Miss(president of Trump Model Management), and
Universe 1973) and Janelle Penny Commissiong (MissJefferson Perez ( 1996 Ecuadorian olympic gold
Trinidad Tobago and Miss Universe), Miss Puerto Rico,medalist).
Denisse Quiñones, was crowned also MissMISS UNIVERSE 2005
Photogenic Universe.Denisse´s ambition was toSITE: Bangkok, Thailand.
become a professional singer.HISTORY. Among the most popular delegates in the
MISS UNIVERSE 2002pageant were Canada`s Natalie Glebova, Dominican
SITE: San Juan de Puerto Rico.Republic´s Renata de Jesus Soñe Savery,
HISTORY.San Juan de Puerto Rico hosted theMexico´s Laura Elizondo Erhard,
pageant.Venezuela´s Monica Spear, India´s
The favorites were Colombia (Vanesa AlexandraAmrita Thapar, South Africa´s Claudia Henkel,
Mendoza Bustos), India (Neha Dhupia), Panama (Justineand Switzerland´s Fiona Hefti.
Paseak), China (Zhuo Ling), and Russia (OksanaA naturalized Canadian citizen who was born in Russia
Federova). All made the semi-finalists except forand came to Canada, Natalie Glebova was elected
Colombia. Ms. Mendoza became the first blackMiss Canada and Miss Universe 2005.Her beauty was
woman to be named Miss Colombia. Miss Colombialoved by millions of people.She became well-known to
will always be remembered as the first black womanmillions as an anti-AIDS activist in the Third World.
representing her country in this contest.The judges were Carson Kressley (American
For the first time since 1990, communist bloc sent adesigner), Cassie Lewis (American model), Bryan
Miss China to compete in the Miss Universe. Ironically,Dattilo (American actor), Jean Georges Vongerichten
Miss Cuba pageant has been forbidden since 1960 by(French chef), Okelsandra Nikolayenko (actress and
Cuban dictatorship.former Miss Ukraine), Porntip "Bui" Nakhirunkanok
At the onset, China´s Zhuo Ling was one of the(former Miss Thailand and Miss Universe 1988), Mario
most popular delegates. Finally, Miss China was the 1stCimarro (Mexican actor), Anne Martin (vice-president
runner-up.of Global Cosmetics and Marketing of Proctor &
Russia´s Oxana Federova was elected MissGamble Cosmetics) Kevin S.Bright (American television
Universe. However, she was obligated to give backexecutive producer),Heidi Albertsen (Danish model),
the title of Miss Universe. Ms. Federova was aand Khun Rom Pakdi (Thai actor).
controversial woman. Certainly, her popularity declinedLike Miss Universe 2005, she went to Greece, Canada,
in her own country.India, USA, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapoore, Ecuador
During the next months in New York City, Missand Brazil.
Panama, Justine Lissette Pasek Patiño, wasMISS UNIVERSE 2006
crowned Miss Universe 2002. Ms. Pasek was longSITE: Los Angeles, California (USA).
considered one of the most intelligent women in theHISTORY.At the onset, Japan´s Kurara
Miss Universe history. Panama´s Justine PaseakChibana was the favourite.Like Miss Japan
was born in Kharkov, Ukrania. She had a very happy2003,Miyako Miyazaki, she was a beautiful exotic girl
childhood there with her parents. Next years, her familyfrom Okinawa, the birthplace of the karate. Certainly,
moved to Panama City. Justine had several yearsMiss Japan had several fans. However, Miss Puerto
experience as professional model.Rico, Zuleyka Rivera, made history by becoming the
MISS UNIVERSE 2003fifth Puerto Rican winner of the contest.She was one
SITE:Panama City, Panama.of the most famous models in her country. During the
HISTORY.For the second time, Panama City hostedMiss Universe, Miss Puerto Rico was bilingual in English
the pageant. One of the most enthusiastic fans wasand Spanish.
Panamanian president Mireya Elisa MoscosoMiss Universe 2006 was dominated by Latin America:
Rodriguez. On September1, 1999, Mireya MoscosoPuerto Rico, Paraguay, Bolivia, Colombia, Mexico and
became Panama´s first female head of state.Trinidad-Tobago.
The favourites were Miss Dominican Republic (AmeliaThe judges were Amelia Vega (former Miss
Vega), Miss Japan (Miyako Miyazaki), Miss BrazilDominican Republic and Miss Universe), Marc Cherry
(Gislaine Rodrigues Ferreira) and the Miss USA (Susie(American writer), Claudia Jordan (Miss Rhode Island
Castillo Cintrom). Ms. Castillo has Puerto Rican descent.1997), Tom Green (Canadian sock comic), Emmitt
Miss Japan was undoubtedly one of the greatSmith (former American football player), James Lesure
beauties of the 2000s.(American actor), Maria Celeste Arrras (Puerto Rican
Under the leadership of two Venezuelans, Missjournalist), Patrick McMullan (American designer),
Dominican Republic became Miss Universe. AmeliaSantino Rice (American fashion designer), Bridgette
Vega became Dominican Republic´s first MissWilson-Sampras (actress and former Miss Teen USA)
Universe. For the first time since 1992, Miss India did notand Sean Yazbeck (British actor).