Miss Angola becomes first from her country to be crowned Miss Universe

Leila Lopes made history for her country yesterday, after becoming the very first Miss Angola to be crowned Miss Universe.The 25-year-old laughed and smiled as she hugged runner-up Miss Ukraine, Olesia Stefanko, before having her crown firmly placed on her head at the pageant held in Sao Paulo, Brazil.The business student from Angola’s seaside city of Beguela, dazzled the panel of judges with both her beauty and brains.

Taking the crown: Miss Angola, Leila Lopes, was crowned Miss Universe by the 2010 winner Miss Mexico, Ximena Navarrete in Sao Paulo, Brazil

A winning combination: Miss Angola's evening wear and swimsuit parade won her Miss Universe, as well as her intelligent answered

When she had been asked earlier what she might change about her physical characteristics, Leila replied that she was satisfied with who she was.'I consider myself a woman endowed with inner beauty,' she told the judges and the audience.'I have acquired many wonderful principles from my family, and I plan to follow those through the rest of my life.'Her down-to-earth nature was complemented with immense outer beauty too though, which she showed off in a bright yellow bikini during the swimsuit parade.

The moment of glory: Leila Lopes can't stop smiling and laughing as she is crowned Miss Universe in front of the other contestants

Congratulations: Former Miss Universe, Ximena Navarrete of Mexico gives Leila a kiss on the cheek

After displaying her bikini body to millions of fans watching the pageant on TV around the world, Lopes paraded around the stage with poise in a form-fitting gold and silver sequinned evening gown.Miss Angola bet 88 competitors in the 60th annual Miss Universe pageant.Finalists accompanying Lopes into the top five were Miss Ukraine Olesia Stefanko, Miss Philippines Shamcey Supsup, Miss China Luo Zilin and Miss Brazil Priscila Machado.While the other countries that made the top ten were Miss Australia Scherri-lee Biggs, Miss Costa Rica Johanna Solano, Miss France Laury Thilleman, Miss Portugal Laura Goncalves and Miss Panama Sheldry Saez.

Top ten: The finalists making the top ten were Miss Australia, Miss Costa Rica, Miss France, Miss Ukraine, Miss Portugal, Miss Panama, Miss Philippines, Miss China and Miss Brazil

Finalist: Miss Brazil, Priscila Machado, made it into the top five in her home country, where the competition was held

Pretty in pink: Miss France, Laury Thlleman paraded in a pink bikini and a coral evening gown, but it wasn't enough to wow the judges

As well as competing in categories ranging from swimsuits to evening gowns, the women also had to answer the critical question that tells the judges a bit about them.In fan voting, Lopes tallied only a 3.6 score for the swimsuit but earned a 7.2 for her evening gown.Fan voting, however, did not count in the final tallies from nine judges.The panelists, who ranged from race car driver Helio Castroneves to actress Vivica A. Fox and journalist Connie Chung, scored the women on each contest, narrowing from a group of 16 down to a final five.

Top five: Miss Universe, Ukraine's Olesya Stefanko, the Philippines' Shamcey Supsup, China's Luo Zilin, Brazil's Priscila Machado and Angola's Leila Lopes pose during the ceremony of coronation of Miss Universe 2011

Australia to America: Miss Australia Scherri-lee Biggs (left) models a silver gown, while Miss USA, Alyssa Campanella, dazzled in a canary yellow gown (right)

Colourful crowd: The 89 contestants display an array of colourful dresses on stage in the pageant in Sao Paulo

The show was hosted by U.S. television personalities Andy Cohen and Natalie Morales.Out of the past 13 pageants held in the past decade, seven have been won by Latina contestants, making Miss Angola’s win even more exciting for her home country.Miss Angola started competing in the Miss Universe competitions in 1998, with the first ever contestant from the African nation being Emilia Guardado.Since 1997, two Miss Angolas have been semi-finalists in the top 15 and one made it into the top 10, but Leila Lopes is the first to be crowned with the title.

Stage show: Millions of fans around the world watch the 60th annual Miss Universe competition on television

Who will it be? Miss Ukraine, Olesia Stefanko, and Miss Angola hold each other's hands and wait to find out who is the winner, before Leila Lopes' name was called

Lost for words: Miss Angola Leila Lopes was greeted by the other participants after being crowned Miss Universe

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Mexican Ximena Navarrete visits India

MUMBAI: Miss Universe Ximena Navarrete Rosete of Mexico is on her first visit to India for promoting designer Sanjana Jon's Celebrate The Girl Child Campaign.

She has been on a 10-day tour. She said that this is her first trip which is mostly time bound with prior commitments for work but soon she will visit India again on a leisure trip.

She also mentioned that she is meeting people and collecting few tips for her next trip, like where to go, what to do, so that she can come to India with all prior preparations done.

Anna Poslavskaya became the Third Vice-Miss Universe - 2010 "

August 23 at the famous entertainment complex "Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas hosted the final of the beauty contest" Miss Universe ". This year for the title of the first ladies fought 83 girls from all over the world. Judging talent beauties trusted authoritative and famous people: actors Alec Baldwin, Jane Seymour and Chazu Palminteri, as well as Olympic champion in figure skating Evan Lysacek.

The winner of Miss Universe - 2010 "the judge recognized the charming 22-year Jimena Navarrete of Mexico. In addition to the prestigious title she received a diamond crown, a two-year scholarship to study in the New York Film Academy, an apartment and a lot of gifts from sponsors. In general, the bright future she has already achieved.

Corona's First Vice-Miss "went to the Jamaican beauty Yenda Phillips. A third place and the title of "Miss Congeniality" the jury awarded the participant from Australia Dzhesinte Campbell.

Yenda Phillips from Jamaica

Dzhesinta Campbell of Australia 

Representative of Ukraine Anna Poslavskuyu judges also appreciated the - it became the Third Vice-Miss Universe - 2010 ". This is the best result of our country for all years of participation in this contest, and Plitkar this indescribably happy!

"The result of Anna Poslavskoy - a breakthrough in Ukraine in beauty contests. And this victory - a gift for the whole country the Day of Independence - share the joy owner of the contest "Miss Ukraine-Universe" Alexander Nikolaenko. "

Miss Universe 2010 crowned in Las Vegas

Jimena Navarrete of Mexico has been crowned Miss Universe 2010.

The 22-year-old from Guadalajara scooped the title over 82 other contestants at the ceremony in Las Vegas last night, reports The AP.

"I imagine that they're all going crazy in Mexico right now. I'm extremely proud and I'm sure they're very proud, too," she said.

Navarrete was crowned by last year's winner Stefania Fernandez of Venezuela. Yendi Phillipps of Jamaica was named first runner-up and Miss Australia's Jesinta Campbell nabbed second runner-up.

The event - broadcast on NBC - was hosted by Bret Michaels and Natalie Morales, while celebrity judges included Olympic gold medallist Evan Lysacek, illusionist Criss Angel, supermodel Niki Taylor and actresses Jane Seymour and Chynna Phillips.

Things you might not know about Miss Universe 2010

1. Bolivia, Croatia, Aruba and Argentina presented formal bids to host the competition. Argentina and Aruba stepped down due to financial costs; Bolivia was a sure bet but at the last minute, the Minister of Culture’s response was negative; Aruba decided to push the bid to 2011 or 2012. In May, Las Vegas was announced as official host city.

2. Bret Michaels, lead singer of popular 80′s band Poison, will be the emcee of the live telecast. As the winner of Celebrity Apprentice 2010, Michaels made headlines due to his health problems. He was also featured in VH1′s reality show “Rock of Love”, and has a new show called “Life as I know it”.

3. The combined total of excess baggage fees paid by the 82 contestants can buy you a brand new Mercedes Benz M-Class.

4. Miss Australia Jesinta Campbell was blacklisted by PETA as she will wear a costume made of sheep skin and wool. She defended her costume and say she is proud to wear it.

5. Miss Bolivia Claudia Arce made national headlines in her country due to her inability to reach her goal weight. News shows featured a fight between her and her gym trainer in a case of exaggerated sensationalism.

6. Botswana returns to the Miss Universe stage for the first time since 2004.

7. Miss Brazil, Debora Lyra, won the Top Model of the World contest in 2009.

8. Miss Colombia made headlines in her country due to her nose. She even declared once that “My nose is more famous than I am”.

9. The original winner of Miss Guatemala, Alejandra Barillas, was replaced by Jessica Schell, her 2nd runner-up. No official reasons of her dismissal were given. Although some outlets published that she had broken a foot, Barilla said that this information was false.

10. Haiti returns to the pageant for the first time since 1989. Sarodj Bertin is the daughter of the late Mireille Durocher, a political activist who was murdered during the regime of Jean Bertrand Aristide.

11. A new national director took the Miss Universe license in India: She is Sushmita Sen, Miss Universe 1994. Her winner, Ushoshi Sengupta, is the first delegate that she sends to the pageant.

Credit: Global Beauties.