Height: 5′11″

Marianne Cruz Gonsalez, the Miss Dominican Republic Universe 2008, was the second runner-up of the Miss Dominican Republic Universe 2007 contest. Marianne was a crowd favorite but did not win the Miss Dominican Republic 2007 contest. She was pipped to the post by Massiel Taveras from Santiago.

Marianne then took part in the Miss Continente Americano 2007 beauty pageant, and was declared the winner. There was a bit of controversy because the Dominican beauties, Marianne and Massiel has won the Miss Continente Americano contest, three times in a row. Massiel Taveras won two times in a row in 2006, and Marianne Cruz won in 2007.

Marianne was born in Salcedo, the Dominican Republic. Marianne says she is an outgoing person who loves to go to the beach and dance the Meringue. She says she had to start working early to support her family. Marianne enjoys volunteer work and wants to become a fashion designer.

Dayana was tipped to win by the bookies this year, with odds of 600+.

Dayana Mendoza is a professional model who was a finalist at the Elite Model Look International 2001.

She had already won the Miss Universe Best Ao Dai 2008 title, at the start of the contest.

Dayana has traveled extensively to Italy, France, United States, England, Greece, Spain, Germany, Mexico and Peru for Versace, and Roberto Cavalli.

Dayana loves photography, interior design and advertising, and says that the most interesting thing that has happened to her was when she was kidnapped.

The 80 contestants in the Miss Universe 2008 contest, were whittled down to 15. The top 10 comprised Miss USA, Miss Kosovo, Miss Australia, Miss Spain, Miss Mexico, Miss Colombia, Miss USA, Miss Dominican Republic, Miss Russia, Miss Italy and Miss Venezuela.

The top five were: first runner-up, Miss Columbia Taliana Vargas, second runner-up Miss Dominica Marianne Cruz, third runner-up Miss Russian Vera Krasova, and the fourth Miss Mexico Elisa Najera.

The top five were all latino contestants. The Miss Universe 2008 show was hosted by Jerry Springer and Spice Girl Melanie Brown.

Crystle Stewart, Miss USA 2008, ripped on the tail of her gown just as she was about to enter. In the Miss Universe 2007 pageant, Miss USA Rachel Smith also took a fall.

Age: 21

Height: 5′9″

Alizee Poulicek, the Miss Universe Belgium 2008 candidate, is 21 years old. Alizee is 5′9″ inches tall and has blonde hair and black eyes. Alizee, the winner of the Miss Belgium 2008 contest, would like to work in television, or as a model or an actress.

During the Miss Belgium 2008 contest, Alizee Poulicek was embroiled in a controvery owing to the fact that she could not speak Dutch at all.  Alizee is a native speaker of French and Czech, and can also speak English. At the Miss Belgium 2008 pageant held in Antwerp, Alizee was booed by the crowd for not speaking Dutch. Alizee is the daughter of a Czech father and Belgian mother. She has grown up in the Czech Republic.

The first runner-up of the Miss Belgium 2008 contest was Fabienne Kabeya, while the second runner-up was Jade van de Walle Anais Konde-Lengo and Charlotte van de Vijver stood third and fourth.

Ellen Rollin, Davina Pinkers, Veronique Boubane, Olivia Ledoux and Maud Neuprez were the 10 finalists of the Miss Belgium 2008 pageant.

Age: 23
Occupation: Professional model
Height: 5′9″

Tansey Coetzee is the 23-year-old Miss Universe South Africa 2008 candidate from Johannesburg. Tansey, the winner of the Miss South Africa 2007 contest, was crowned by Miss South Africa 2006, Megan Coleman.

The first  princess of the Miss South Africa contest was Avumile Qongqo of Queenstown, and the second princess was Manisha Pillay of Kwa Zulu Natal.

At the Miss South Africa pageant, Coetzee wore an evening gown designed by South African designer Gerrit Pienaar.

The 2007 Miss Universe contest was the 50th year of the Miss Universe pageant.

Tansey Coetzee is a professional dancer, who has studied at the former Allen Glen High School. Tansey has completed her BA in Corporate Communications in 2003, at the former Rand Afrikaans University (RAU), now the University of Johannesburg.

Tansey is the winner of many titles, such as Miss Tinkerbell Sandton, Miss Allen Glen High School, Miss Eastgate Face of Fashion and Miss South Africa Unity.

Tansey enjoys outdoor activities like safaris, bunjee jumping, sky diving, and white river rafting. She also likes working with charity organizations and popularizing them.

Tansey says she wants to complete a degree in branding, and launch her own fashion label. She also wants to open a modeling school and a dance school for disadvantaged children.

Tansey is 5′9″ tall and has black hair and brown eyes.

The preliminary rounds that will be held on July 8, 2008, will include one-on-one interviews, and a swimsuit and pageant wear round. The top 15 contestants will receive $500 and a Rogaska crystal trophy.The judges for the preliminary night rounds are:

1. Adel Chabbi, French Hair Stylist

2. Leigh Rossini, PR specialist

3. Dean McFliker, NBC’s vice chairman
Three Vietnamese judges will also be part of the jury. They are:

1. Nguyen Cong Khe, Editor-in-chief of Thanh Nien Newspaper
2. Thuy Tran, a Vietnamese-American fashion and art expert
3. Rosalina Tran Lydster, Miss Universe 2008 crown designer

The judges will shortlist the top 15 contestants who will take part in the grand finale on July 13, 2008. However, the top 15 list will not be revealed until the final round.

The judges for the final round are:

1. Jennifer Hawkins, Miss Universe Australia 2004
2. Nadine Velazquez, American actress and model
3. Donald Trump Jr., EVP of Trump Organization
4. Roberto Cavalli, Italian Fashion Designer
5. Louis Licari, hair designer

Some other Vietnamese judges are also expected to join the judges for the final round.

Meanwhile, the perliminary pre-competitions are also taking place. The best Bikini Body contest was won by Elisa Najera Miss Universe Mexico 2008, while the best Au Dai winner was Miss Universe Venezuela 2008, Dayana Mendoza.

The best traditional costume will be decided through an online poll, which will start on July 9 on NBC TV channel. The winners of the best traditional costume 2008 and Miss Friendly 2008 will be announced on the grand finale. The best contestant in traditional costume winner and Miss Friendly will recieve $1,000 and a trophy each.

Age: 19
Occupation: law student, model, TV host, entrepreneur
Height: 5′9″

Carolina Dementiev Justavino, is the Miss Universe Panama 2008 contestant. Carolina Dementiev is 19 years old and comes from Panama city.  Carolina, who is 5′9″ tall,  has brown hair and hazel eyes. She is a professional model, student, and an avid swimmer, and TV host. She loves all outdoor sports, and is the winner of a Silver Medal in a Regional Swimming competition, where she represented Panama.

Carolina also owns a real estate business, which she wants to expand.

Carolina is the winner of the Señorita Panamá Realmente Bella 2008 title. The contest, a reality TV show that lasted 8 weeks, saw the participation of 10 women. The first runner-up was a former Elite Model titleholder, Karina Pinilla. The second runner-up was Ginelle Saldaña Gonzalez who will represent Panama in the Miss Earth2008 Beauty Pageant that will be held in the Philippines, in 2008. Estefania Varela was the third runner-up who will represent Panama in the Miss Tourism Queen International 2009 Beauty Pageant.

The producers of Senorita Panama had changed the format of the Miss Panama contest to that of a reality TV show, where 10 girls would live together for 8 weeks and participants would get knocked out during the 8 weeks. The format was changed because of the low ratings of the Miss Panama pageant.

Age: 20
Occupation: student of Journalism
Height: 5′11″

Taliana Vargas, 20, is the winner  of the Miss Colombia 2007 contest and is the Miss Universe Colombia 2008 contestant. In the Miss Colombia 2007 contest Taliana represented Magdalena State.  The 1st runner-up of the Miss Colombia 2007 contest was Maria Cristina Diaz-Granados, the 2nd runner-up was Cristina Lucía Camargo, the third was Catalina Giraldo Flórez.

Taliana was born in Santa Marta City, the capital of the State of Magdalena, and lives in Alexandra, Virginia. Taliana is the youngest woman in Colombia to win the Miss Colombia 2007 contest. Taliana was in the news in 2007 when she was denied a visa to Canada by the Canadian Embassy in Bogota. Taliana had planned to go to spend Christmas in Toronto along with her boyfriend.

Taliana loves latin music and dance, and speaks English, Spanish, and Italian.

Taliana studies social communication and languages in the Northern Virginia Community College in Alexandria, Virginia.

Taliana wants to do a PhD in Communications for development. Taliana says she wants to build a career in Communications for the advancement of Economic and Social development focusing on marginalized populations.

Age: 25
Occupation: Marketing student
Height: 5′9″

Ingrid Rivera, 25, the Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2008 candidate, is the winner of the Miss Puerto Rico 2008 title. Ingrid Rivera is the winner of many  beauty contests.

Ingrid was the winner of Miss Global Queen in 2003. She is the winner of the 2005 Miss Mundo de Puerto Rico and  has also won the title of Miss Caribbean at the 2005

Miss World pageant where she was the 2nd runner up.

Ingrid Rivera is also the winner of the Miss Barranquitas World 2002, Miss Puerto Rico Hawaiian Tropic 2002, Miss Global Queen 2004, and Miss Dorado World 2005.

Two days after she won the Miss Puerto Rico 2008 pageant, Ingrid was involved in a controversy when she alleged that her gown and makeup items had been sprayed with pepper which caused her to break out in a rash.

Puerto Rico’s Forensic Science Institute said that they had not found any traces of pepper spray on her gown or make up items. Puerto Rico’s Police Superitendent

Pedro Toledo came out and said that he would not allow false allegations to be made for publicity purposes.

Later, the Forensic Science Institute officials said that the allegations were true and that Ingrid’s personal items had been sprayed with pepper.

Ingrid Rivera has received $25000 to prepare for the Miss Universe 2008 pageant. Ingrid’s gowns will be designed by various Caribean fashion designers.

Ingrid wants to be a professional model and and entrepreneur and loves music and dancing.

Ingrid Rivera says that she has been involved in the fundraising for Hogar El Consuelo and for El Hogar Ruth. She adds that during the Hogar Crea Crusade that start in

August 2008, to recruit and rehabilitate homeless addicts.

Name: Elisa Nájera Gualito

Age: 21

Occupation: Student of Engineering in Food Industries

Elisa Nájera Gualito, 21, belongs Celaya, Guanajuato, and is the Nuestra Belleza Mexico, Miss Universe, winner. The Nuestra Belleza Mexico Mundo, Miss Mexico World winner was Ana Gabriela Espinoza, 19, of Nuevo Leon.

Elisa has already won the Miss Universe Best Bikini Body 2008 title in the preliminary Miss Universe 2008 mini-competitions.

Elisa, who is 6′0″ tall has brown hair and brown eyes.

Elisa has studied food chemistry and enjoys trying different recipes, especially for desserts. Elisa says she taken gastronomy courses and wants to pursue the subject further. Elisa is currenty studying Engineering in Food Industries, and wants to start her own line of food products along with her mother who is also a chef.

She wants to start restaurants that serve her product line that has nutritious, economic and delicious food, and not over processed food.

Elisa loves dancing and wants to open a dancing school for kids. She and her troupe have taken part in national dance competitions and won awards.

Dayana Mendoza, 22, Miss Universe Venezuela 2008, is the winner of the Miss Venezuela 2007.

Age: 22
Occupation: Student
Height: 5′10″

Dayana Mendoza, 22, Miss Universe Venezuela 2008, is the winner of the Miss Venezuela 2007 contest held on September 13, 2007. Dayana Mendoza is the second woman from the Amazonas state to win the Miss Venezuela contest. The Miss World Venezuela title winner was Hannelys Quintero, Miss Cojedes, who is studying

Psychology, and will take part in the Miss World 2008 contest. Dayana belongs to Caracas.

In the Miss Venezuela 2008 contest, Dayan Colmenares was the winner of the Miss Venezuela International contest, and will represent Venezuela in the Miss International 2008 contest in China.

Dayana Mendoza is a professional model who was a finalist at the Elite Model Look International 2001. Dayana has traveled to Italy, France, United States, England, Greece, Spain, Germany, Mexico and Peru for Versace, and Roberto Cavalli.

Dayana enjoys photography, interior design and advertising, and wants to be an interior designer.

Dayana has already won the Miss Universe Best Ao Dai title, in the preliminary contest. All the 80 Miss Universe contestants had to to wear the Ao Dai, a traditional Vietnamese costume.

The other four contestants in the top five were Miss Viet Nam, Miss India, Miss Thailand, and Miss Kazakhstan.