The winner of the Miss Universe 2009 contest is Miss Venezuela 2009 Stefania Fernandez. She was crowned by Miss Universe 2008 Dayana Mendoza, also from Venezuela.

18-year-old Stefania Fernandez is of Russian, Ukrainian, Galician and Polish origin. She is the winner of the 2008 Miss Venezuela Universe contest as well as the winner of the Miss Elegance, Best Body, Best
Face titles.

Photo: Miss Universe 2009 Stefania Fernandez

The 58th Miss Universe contest was held on August 23, 2009, in  Atlantis, Paradise Island, the Bahamas.

The first runner-up in the Miss Universe 2009 contest was Miss Dominican Republic Ada Aimee De la Cruz.

The second runner-up was Miss Kosovo 2009, Marigona Dragusha.

This year, the 2009 Miss Indonesia Universe, Zivanna Letisha Siregar was considered to be a favorite to be the 2008 Miss Universe contest winner.

Photo: Zivanna Letisha, 2009 Miss Indonesia Universe winner

The Miss Universe organisation listed the top 15 contestants, among 85 contestants, in the 2009 Miss Universe contest, based on viewer ratings.

They are:

1. 2009 Miss Indonesia Universe, Zivanna Letisha Siregar: 39255 votes

Zivanna was the winner of the 2008 Indonesian beauty Pageant held in Yogjakarta. The Indonesian
cutie was born in Jakarta on February 16, 1989 and is known by the nick name Zizi. Modeling has been her passion ever since she was a kid. She also won the title of Elite Model Look in 2006.

2. 2009 Miss Brazil Universe, Larissa Costa: 22419 votes

Larissa Costa Silva de Oliveira is the winner of the Miss Brazil 2008 title  and has been in the news ever since she won the Miss Rio Grande do Norte in 2009.
Born on March 9, 1984, Larissa is a graduate in Pedology and works in the Secretariat of Education of Natal. The green-eyed beauty has been riding high on success and is confident of winning the 2009 Miss Universe contest.

3. 2009 Miss Vietnam Universe, Hoang Yen Vo: 39007 votes

The Vietnamese supermodel believes that her beauty and her  abilities should win her the crown. “Fans have transmitted their strength and belief to me for this pageant, so I believe in my ability
to succeed,” she confidently said in an interview. She has a number of titles to her name. She was one of the top 10 contestants in the Miss Vietnam Photogenic 2008 and was the runner-up in the Miss Universe 2008 contest.

4. 2008 Miss Peru Universe, Karen Schwarz: 5267 votes

Karen Schwarz, 2009 Miss Peru Universe contest winner photo

Like most of her fellow contestants, Karen too has a title to her name. She was crowned the Miss Perú Universo 2009. The South American beauty has sharp features and an athletic build.

5.  2008 Miss Philippines Universe, Bianca Manalo: 14793 votes

Aged 22, this gorgeous lady was crowned Miss Philippines in 2009. She is a graduate in the field of advertising and has worked as a flight attendant. She hails from Manila.

6. 2008 Miss Mexico Universe, Karla Carrillo: 6049 votes

Karla Carillo, 2009 Miss Mexico Universe photo

Born on January 24, 1988, Karla Carrillo hails from Jalisco and is the winner of the Nuestra Belleza Mexico 2008. She is the first Jaliscan to win the Miss Mexico title since Jacqueline Bracamontes in 2000.

7. 2009 Miss El Salvador Universe:  Mayella Mena, 3324 votes

Photo: Mayella Mena, 2009 Miss El Salvador Universe

20-year-old Mayella Mena is the winner of the 2009 Miss El Salvador Universe contest. She hails from San Salvador.
8. Miss Colombia, Michelle Rouillard: 6186 votes

This Colombian beauty won the Miss Colombia 2008 contest and has acquired a lot of fame in her country. She was born on October 28, 1986 and speaks three languages, English, French and Spanish.

She is a student of international business in Canada and amused everyone when she completely changed her looks, cutting her hair up to her neck in January 2009. She believes the change would give her a sense of freshness ahead of the major contest.

9. 2009 Miss Thailand Universe, Chutima Durongdej: 3753 votes

Chutima Durongdej is the winner of the Miss Thailand Universe 2009 contest. She is 23 years old and hails from London.

10. 2009 Miss Egypt Universe,  Elham Wagdi, 3261 votes

2009 Miss Egypt Universe title winner, Elham Wagdi is 26 years old and hails from Cairo.

11. 2009 Miss Dominican Republic Universe, Ada De La Cruz: 1998 votes

This beauty from Dominic Republic boasts of an international experience on a similar stage. She represented her country in the Miss World 2007 contest and was one of the semi finalists. She was also crowned the 2009 Miss Dominican Republic Universe, and has been in the field of modeling since the age of 14.

12.  2009 Miss Puerto Rico Universe, Mayra Matos Perez: 5642 votes

Mayra Matos, the 2009 Miss Puerto Rico Universe winner, is a professional model. She won the Miss Teen International title in 2006 and has also won an award for Most Beautiful Face.

13. 2009 Miss Ecuador Universe, Sandra Vinces: 6191 votes

Sandra Vinces was born in Portoviejo in 1991. She is a professional model and is placed eighth in the Top Model of the World held in China. She has a love for art and has been a student of painting, singing, theater and professional modeling.

14. 2008 Miss Venezuela Universe, Stefania Fernandez: 5591 votes

Stefania Fernandez, 2009 Miss Venezuela Universe photo

Stefania Fernandez, age 18, is of Russian, Ukrainian, Galician and Polish origin. She is the winner of the 2008 Miss Venezuela Universe contest as well as the winner of the Miss Elegance, Best Body, Best Face titles.

15. 2009 Miss Romania Universe, Elena Bianca Constantin: 1255 votes

Elena Bianca Constantin is the 20-year-old winner of the 2009 Miss Romania Universe title.

The first runner-up of the Miss USA 2009 pageant was Miss California USA Carrie Prejean, of San Diego, and the second runner-up was Miss Arizona USA Alicia-Monique Blanco, of Phoenix.

Miss USA 2009 winner Kristen Dalton photo

The remaining contestants in the top five were Miss Utah USA, Laura Kirilova Chukanov and Miss Kentucky USA, Maria Elizabeth Montgomery.

The anchors for the Miss USA 2009 finale were Nadine Velazquez the star of ‘My name is Earl’ and Billy Bush of “Access Hollywood.”

NBC broadcast the Miss USA 2009 pageant live.

Miss USA 2009 Kristen Dalton bikini photo

The 22-year, blue-eyed Kristen Dalton was born in Wilmington, North Carolina. She comes from a family of pageant winners. Her mother Jeannie Boger was crowned Miss North Carolina USA in 1982.

Kristen’s younger sister Julia Dalton had won the Miss North Carolina Teen USA 2008 contest. She was also the second runner-up at the Miss Teen USA 2008 pageant.

Kristen Dalton’s other sister Kenzie Dalton was the first runner-up in the Miss North Carolina Teen USA pageant.

Photo: Kristen Dalton, Miss USA 2009 winner photo courtesy:missuniverse.com

Kristen beat 50 other contestants to be the Miss USA 2009 winner. Dalton won both the swimsuit and evening gown competitions during the finals on her way to being named Miss USA 2009, at the end of the night.

Miss USA 2009 Kristen Dalton is a motivational speaker, dancer and singer who graduated in psychology and Spanish at East Carolina University.

With the Miss USA 2009 title, Kristen gets to live in a New York apartment for a year. She will have her own public relations team along with a two-year scholarship at the New York Film Academy.

Kristen Dalton’s family is proud of her, as winning the Miss USA pageant has been her life-time goal.

Kristen Dalton will represent USA at the Miss Universe 2009 pageant, that will be held in the Atlantis Resort, in the Bahamas, in August 2009.

Femina Miss India World 2009 Pooja Chopra photo

The 2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss India World winner is Pooja Chopra.

2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss IndiaWorld Pooja Chopra photo

Pooja Chopra was also the 2009 Femina Miss India East contest winner.

2009 Femina Miss India World Pooja Chopra photo

She was also the co-winner of the 2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss India Talented title, and the winner of the 2009 Femina Miss Beautiful Smile title.

Photo: Pooja Chopra Miss India World 2009 with the two runner ups

Pooja Chopra was the 2009 Femina Miss Beautiful Body winner as well.

2009 Femina Miss India World Pooja Chopra photo

The 2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss India Universe winner is Ekta Chaudhry.

2009 Femina Miss India Universe Ekta Chaudhry photo

The 2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss India Earth winner is Shriya Kishore.

2009 Femina Miss India Earth Shriya Kishore photo

Shriya kishore is also the winner of the 2009 Femina Miss India Hospitality title.

The 2008 Pantaloons Femina Miss India contest winners were Miss World Parvathi Omannakuttan, Miss Universe Simran Kaur Mundi, and Miss India Earth Tanvi Vyas.

The 2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss India contest grand finale was hosted by actor R. Madhavan and Malaika Arora Khan.

The judges for the 2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss India contest comprised Deepika Padukone, Ajay Devgan, Sushmita Sen, Madhur Bhandarkar, and Asin.

The 2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss India sub-contest winners were:

2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss India Miss fresh face winner: Deeksha Seth

 

Photo: 2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss India Fresh Face Deeksha Seth

2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss India Agile Femina Miss 10 winner: Harshita Saxena

2009 Pantaloons Femina Jealous 21Miss Sexy Legs winner: Sonakshi Sajnani

2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss Golden Heart: Ishita Sarkar

2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss 58888: Aarohi Kadam

2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss Talented: Ekta Chaudhry and Pooja Chopra

2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss India beautiful hair: Ragini Dwivedi

2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss India beautiful eyes: niharika naganda

2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss India Hospitality: Shreya kishore

2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss India Beautiful skin: Tulip Bhattacharya

2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss India Beautiful Body : Pooja Chopra

2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss India Beautiful Body: Pooja Chopra

The top ten 2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss India contestants were:

Deeksha Seth
Shreya Kishore
Ekta Chaudhry
Ragini Dwivedi
Faith Pandey
Pooja Chopra
Harshita Saxena
Niharika Naganda
Ishita Sarkar
Nandini Vaid

The Top 20 2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss India contestants were:

Akanksha Yadav
Aparajita Sharma
Dimple Patel
Ekta Chowdhry
Faith Pandey – 2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss India South contest winner
Hanika Paryani
harshita Saxena
Ishita Sarkar
Karishma Karnik
Nandini Vaid
Niharika Nag
Nishtha Khadiwala
Pooja Chopra – 2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss India East contest winner
Pooja Hegde
Ragini Dwivedi
Shriya Kishore
Sonakshi Sajnani
Tulip Bhattacharya

The top 20 finalists of the 2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss India contest were trained by experts like Marc Robinson, Fashion Director & Contestant Director, Alicia Raut, Ramp Walk Trainer, Sabira Merchant, Diction Expert, and Dr. Rekha Sheth, Nivea Visage Skin Care Expert.

The other experts involved in training the contestants in the run-up to the grand finale were Smile & Dental expert Dr. Dilip Deshpande, Makeover expert Dr. Abhijit Desai, Hair Care experts Dr. Apoorva & Sonal Shah, Fashion Stylist for photoshoot for Ashley Rebello, Contestand Advisor Prasad Bidapa, and Fashion Photograper Zakia Shakir.

Update: Pooja Chopra is Miss India World 2009

Femina Miss India World 2009 Pooja Chopra photo

Pooja Chopra is also the 2009 Femina Miss India East contest winner, that gave her a direct entry into the semi-final round of the contest.

Pooja Chopra is the co-winner of the 2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss India Talented title, and the winner of the 2009 Femina Miss Beautiful Smile title.

She has also won the 2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss India Beautiful Body title.

The Pantaloons Femina Miss India Universe 2009 is Ekta Chaudhry.

2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss India Universe Ekta Chaudhry photo

The Pantaloons Femina Miss India Earth 2009 is Shriya Kishore.

2009 Femina Miss India Earth Shriya Kishore photo

Photo: 2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss India finalists

The grand finale of the 2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss India contest will take place on April 5, 2009.

The 20 finalists walked the ramp in a show choreographed by Marc Robinson. They wore cocktail dresses designed by Haasya Chandna, cutsomised for each contestant, according to their personality.

The 20 2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss India finalists are:

• Aarohi Kadam
  

  2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss India contestant Aarohi Kadam

• Akanksha Yadav
• Aparajita Sharma
• Dimple Patel
• Ekta Chowdhry
• Faith Pandey – 2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss India South contest winner
• Hanika Paryani
• harshita Saxena
• Ishita Sarkar
• Karishma Karnik
• Nandini Vaid
• Niharika Nag
• Nishtha Khadiwala
• Pooja Chopra – 2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss India East contest winner
• Pooja Hegde
• Ragini Dwivedi
• Shriya Kishore
• Sonakshi Sajnani
• Tulip Bhattacharya

At the event, the three Collection G crowns designed for the three winners of the 2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss India contest, were unveiled.

Photo: One of the 2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss India top 20 finalists

The 20 finalists will go through rigorous training in the run-up to the grand finale, devised by experts like Marc Robinson, Fashion Director & Contestant Director, Alicia Raut, Ramp Walk Trainer, Sabira Merchant, Diction Expert, and Dr. Rekha Sheth, Nivea Visage Skin Care Expert.

The other experts will include Smile & Dental expert Dr. Dilip Deshpande, Makeover expert Dr. Abhijit Desai, Hair Care experts Dr. Apoorva & Sonal Shah, Fashion Stylist for photoshoot for Ashley Rebello, Contestand Advisor Prasad Bidapa, and Fashion Photograper Zakia Shakir.

Photo: One 2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss India finalist

Najeeb Ur Rehman will be the Chief Colour and Styling Consultant from Schwarzkopf Professional, Anuja Katara, the Make up Expert from Make up Forever, Latif Mohammed, the Head Fitness & Training Expert from Talwalkars, Neesha Bukht and Avantika Shah , Diet & Nutrition Experts from Talwalkars, Sandeep Soparkar & Jesse Randhawa, Dance Experts and Anjanna Kuthiala, Art appreciation expert.

Photo: 2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss India top 20 finalist

In the 2008 Pantaloons Femina Miss India contest, the Pantaloons Femina Miss India South contest was launched. This year too the Pantaloons Femina Miss India South contest was a big hit. Miss Faith Pandey was crowned the final winner for Pantaloons Femina Miss India South 2009.

Photo:Faith Pandey (center) 2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss India South winner

In 2009, the Pantaloons Femina Miss India East contest has been introduced for the first time. Ms. Pooja Chopra was chosen as the 2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss India East contest winner.

Photo: Pooja Chopra, 2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss India East winner

Both Faith Pandey and Pooja Chopra has got a a direct entry into the top 10 finalists of the 2009 Pantaloons Femina Miss India 2009 grand finale.

In the 2008 Pantaloons Femina Miss India contest, the winners were Miss World Parvathi Omannakuttan, Miss Universe Simran Kaur Mundi, and Tanvi Vyas Miss India Earth.

Katie Stam Miss America 2009 winner

The Miss America 2009 contest was held at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, on January 24, 2009.

The first runner-up was Miss Georgia America 2009 Chastity Hardman. Chastity was tipped to be the favorite to be the Miss America 2009 winner. Chastity has won a $25,000 scholarship. Her talent performance was the song, “Home” for the musical, The Wiz and her personal platform is Boys and Girls Club of America: DREAMing Through Music.

Katie Stam crowned as Miss America 2009

The second runner-up was Miss Iowa America 2009, Olivia Myers. Olivia took home a $20,000 scholarship. Her talent was a tap dance to “Fever”, and her personal platform is Teaching Tolerance: Fostering a Just and Caring Culture from the Classroom Out.”

Along with the Miss America 2009 title, Katie Stam will take home a $50,000 scholarship.

The new Miss America 2009 title winner, Katie Stam had a good run in the preliminaries of the contest as well. Katie was the winner of the preliminary swimsuit round and the Miss Lifestyle and Fitness winner. The stunning Katie Stam wore a black bikini and later an off-the-shoulder white lace gown, during the Miss America 2009 pageant.

Katie has won a $1000 scholarship along with the Miss America 2009 title.

Katie Stam is the Miss Indiana 2008 winner

For the talent round, Katie sang Via Dolorosa despite having a throat infection, and impressed the audience with her rendition.

Katie did her schooling from Seymour High School and is now studying communications at the University of Indianapolis.

Katie Stam wants to work in the electronic media, and become an television reporter and anchor.

Before being chosen as the Miss America 2009 winner, and the Miss Indiana 2009 winner, Katie Holmes had won the Miss Duneland local title.

Miss Indiana America 2009 Katie Stam has, in the past, secured the following awards:

1. Indiana Association of Broadcasters (IASB) News Anchor contest winner
2. First in IASB News Reporter contest
3. Elisa Bowen Outstanding Student in Television Award
4. National Broadcast Education Association Hard News Story runner-up
5. Winner of Senator Richard Lugar Scholarship
6. Included University of Indianapolis Dean’s List and Academic Honor Roll
7. University of Indianapolis Outstanding Television Performance Award 2007 and 2008.

Katie has worked as Operations Manager, UIndy TV; News Director, UIndy TV; Hostess/Take Out, Buca di Beppo, Greenwood; Intern, WTHR-TV Channel 13 (NBC); Intern, WISH-TV Channel 8 (CBS).

Katie Stam has also won the Community Spirit Award (United Way), the Indianapolis Student Government 2008 “Best Chair” Award, second place in America’s Junior Miss 2005, Miss Central Indiana 2008 People’s Choice Award, Indiana’s Junior Miss 2005, and Jackson County Junior Miss 2005.

Katie Stam at the Miss Indiana 2008 contest

During the pageant, judges has pared down the contestants to 15 finalists. They were Miss Michigan America 2009 Ashlee Baracy, Miss Delaware America 2009 Galen Giaccone, Miss Arkansas America 2009 Ashlen Batson, Miss Hawaii America 2009 Nicole Fox, Miss District of Columbia America 2009 Kate Marie Grinold, Miss Iowa America 2009 Olivia Myers, Miss New York America 2009 Leigh-Taylor Smith, Miss California America 2009 Jackie Geist, Miss Florida America 2009 Sierra Minott, Miss Kentucky America 2009 Emily Cox and Miss Tennessee America 2009 Ellen Carrington.

Katie Stam was also one of the People’s choice participants chosen by viewers of the TLC reality series, Miss America: Countdown to the Crown. The other contestants that were voted were Miss South Dakota America 2009 Alexandra Hoffman, Miss Georgia America 2009 Chastity Hoffman, and Miss Alabama America 2009 Amanda Tapley.

In her role as a National Goodwill Ambassador for Children’s Miracle Network, she will travel to help raise funds for children’s hospitals. She will also promote her platform of Passion for Service: Promoting Community Service and Involvement.

Age: 18
Height: 180 cm
Occupation: student

Alexandra Helga Ivarsdottir Miss Iceland World 2008

Alexandra Helga Ivarsdottir, Miss Iceland 2008 winner, was born and raised in Reykjavik, the capital city of Iceland.

Alexandra Helga Ivarsdottir is a major in Psychology, and is currently in her third year in college. Her aim is to become a psychologist.

Alexandra’s favorite food is reindeer steak and chicken salad. She is very much into fitness and loves outdoor activities.

Alexandra Helga Ivarsdottir Miss Iceland World 2008 contestant

She likes spending time with family and friends, and her German shorthaired pointer dog.

Alexandra likes to listen to all types of music, except for heavy metal. She loves dancing and has studied ballet dance for seven years and jazz ballet for four years.

Her favorite songs are February Song by Josh Groban, Bliss, by Muse, and New Born, by Muse.

Alexandra’s motto is: To be the change you wish to see in the World.

Alexandra Helga Ivarsdottir Miss World Sports 2008 winner

Alexandra Helga Ivarsdottir is the Miss World Sports 2008 award winner. In the Miss World Sports 2008 contest, the 1st runner-up was Adaeze Chinenye Igwe of Nigeria and the 2nd runner-up was Andreia Rodrigues Condesso of Portugal.

Alexandra Helga Ivarsdottir speaks Icelandic, English and Danish languages.

Miss Iceland 2008 winner Alexandra’s favorite designer is Italian designer Valentino.

Alexandra helps elderly people of her country and foreigners who are new to Iceland to settle comfortably.

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.

The winner of the preliminary Miss Universe award for Best Bikini is  Miss Universe Mexico 2008, Elisa Najera. The special Best Bikini Body competition was held on July 2, 2008 at the Vinpearland resort in Nha Trang, Vietnam.

Elisa Najera will take  home $2,000 along with the award.

The other contestants that rounded up the top 5 in the Miss Universe Best Bikini contest were:

2) Taliana Vargas, Miss Universe Colombia 2008

3) Simran Kaur Mundi, Miss Universe India 2008

4) Claudia Moro, Miss Universe Spain 2008

5) Crystle Stewart, Miss Universe USA 2008

The Bikini show featured all the 81 Miss Universe candidates in swimsuits in a grand show with performances by local artists.

Hiroko Mima, the Miss Universe 2008 contestant from Japan, studies at Nihon University where her major is physical education. Hiroko Mima says she loves sports, especially basketball, and was a high jumper in school. When Hiroko was 13 years old, she was diagnosed with a bone marrow disease that made it impossible for her to play basketball so she focused on high jumping and participated 7 times at the Japan National Track and Field Competition.

Hiroko says she would like to work as a sports reporter. She says, If she were to be Miss Universe 2008, she would use the money and fame to spread awareness about alternative methods of treatment for children. Hiroko says she particularly favors the therapeutic model of treatment recommended by Patch Adams and the Gesundheit Institute, which is focused on the connection between the environment and wellness.