www.ambiente.us JULY / JULIO 2008
Miss Venezuela is crowned Miss Universe 2008
Vietnam, July 13, 2008.- Dayana Mendoza was crowned Miss Universe,
in a pageant dominated by Latin beauties. The 22-year-old girl was one
of the favorites early on in the beauty contest, held in Vietnam. Her
excellent body and impeccable night gown gained her a high score in
the swimsuit and formal wear competition, but her spontaneity in
impressing the judges was perhaps the winning factor.
Dayana proved her sense of humor while answering gracefully to her
question regarding men having it easier in life. She replied that "men
think that the best way to reach a point is a straight line, but we
women take some curves and detours to fix everything right".
Meet them here!
The svelte Venezuelan, who had been working successfully as an
international model, imposed herself among the other three Hispanic
beauties, other strong rivals. Despite some major ovations, Elisa Nájera, Miss Mexico, was named the fourth
runner-up, followed by Miss Russia in third place. Marianne Cruz González, from Dominican Republic, came
in as second runner-up and finally, Colombia's Taliana Vargas was named the first runner-up.
The Latin beauties made a never before seen impact in the Miss Universe pageant, placing four Hispanic
girls among the five finalists. The question round would decide who would be the winner. Taliana Vargas
(Colombia) noted that her family has been the key to her happiness and that there’s no moment in her past
that she would change.
Marianne Cruz González (Dominican Republic) confided that one her biggest sacrifices were that "since I
was very young, when my parents divorced, I've had to work. It's quite difficult to stop doing kids stuff. And
everything that I've sacrificed is worth it because I see my mother here crying for me". Designer Roberto
Cavalli asked Elisa Nájera (Mexico) when a woman feels completely satisfied, to which she answered:
"When there's balance in her life, when there's a balance between mind and soul. It's important to find a
balance between your community and your work". The question round ended after Vera Krasova (Russia),
indicated that she didn't feel that today's women are still discriminated.
Miss Universe from Venezuela
22-year-old Dayana Mendoza, from Caracas, became the fifth Miss Universe from Venezuela. She was
crowned during the 57th edition of the pageant, held in Vietnam on July 14th, 2008.
The last time that Venezuela won Miss Universe had been in 1996, when Alicia Machado took the honors.
After her reign, she's been involved in several scandals, including having posed naked for Playboy.
Bárbara Palacios became the third Venezuelan Miss Universe in 1986. After that, she had her own talk show
and now manages her own clothing and design companies.
In 1981, Irene Sáez was crowned Miss Venezuela in New York. Afterwards, she studied Political Sciences
and embarked on a very successful political career, even running for the presidency of Venezuela (which she
lost to Hugo Chávez).
Finally, the first Miss Venezuela to be granted the title of Miss Universe was back in 1979, with Maritza
Sayalero.
More of the same
The opening of the Miss Universe 2008 pageant was as many before it: all the contestants performing a
simple choreography, this time permeated by Asian elements, honoring the city hosting this year, Nha Trang
in Vietnam. Jerry Springer and Spice Girl Melanie Brown were the hosts of the evening and quickly proceeded
to individually present each of the 80 candidates in their regional gowns. Equally predictable was the video
highlighting the reign of Japan's Riyo Mori, Miss Universe 2007, who looked flawless.
15 Semi-Finalists
Oh So Lucky!
Sports Stars & Queens
The parade of international beauties marked the quick pacing of the show, trying to avoid the trend of many
pageants ago, which ran for over three hours. It wasn't even half hour into the show when the 15
semi-finalists were named: Dayana Mendoza (Venezuela), Elisa Nájera (Mexico), Marianne Cruz González
(Dominican Republic), Taliana Vargas (Colombia), Claudia Moro (Spain), Zana Krasniqi (Kosovo), Lam Thy
Nguyen (Vietnam), Tansey Coetzee (South Africa), Laura Dundovic (Australia), Hiroko Mima (Japan), Claudia
Ferraris (Italy), Vera Krasova (Russia), Jazmin Dammak (Hungry), Eliska Buckova (Checz Republic) and
Crystle Stewart (USA). The international juror was formed by Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., fashion
designer Roberto Cavalli, Puerto Rican actress Nadine Velazquez, stylist Louis Licari, Miss Universe 2004
Jennifer Hawkins and make over expert John Nguyen.
Bikinis
During the swimsuit competition, the Latinas were also the highlights, earning top marks and receiving
grades above 9. With Lady Gaga performing on stage with them, the finalists that had the highest scores
were Miss Colombia with 9.433; Miss Venezuela with 9.327; Miss Spain had 9.150; Miss Mexico (who had
won a preliminary swimsuit competition), with 9.071 and Miss Dominican Republic had 8.983. Miss USA,
Crystle Stewart, also placed in this exclusive group with a score of 9.207. They all made it to the Top 10,
along Kosovo, Australia, Russia and Italy.
A Curse?
Halle Berry and more...
The déjà-vu of the pageant occurred when Miss USA fell during the night gown competition, just as it
happened to last year’s contestant, Rachel Smith, during the 2007 Miss Universe pageant held in Mexico
City. Crystle Stewart quickly stood up, applauded along with the audience and with a smile, continued to
model as it nothing had happened. Some of the candidates had some interesting dress choices, such as
Dominican Republic, wearing a tight gown adorned with crystals, Miss Mexico, with a white skirt and a
see-through top that looked like a bra and Miss Colombia, with an interesting metallic design that was highly
praised.
Other remarkable mentions are the winners of Miss Congeniality, an honor rewarded to yet another Latina:
Miss El Salvador, Rebeca Moreno. And finally, the winner of the best regional gown was given to Miss
Thailand, Gavintra Photijak.
Copyright © AOL Latino & AMBIENTE MAGAZINE. Do not reproduce without citing this source.
Miss Venezuela is crowned Miss Universe 2008
Vietnam, July 13, 2008.- Dayana Mendoza was crowned Miss Universe,
in a pageant dominated by Latin beauties. The 22-year-old girl was one
of the favorites early on in the beauty contest, held in Vietnam. Her
excellent body and impeccable night gown gained her a high score in
the swimsuit and formal wear competition, but her spontaneity in
impressing the judges was perhaps the winning factor.
Dayana proved her sense of humor while answering gracefully to her
question regarding men having it easier in life. She replied that "men
think that the best way to reach a point is a straight line, but we
women take some curves and detours to fix everything right".
Meet them here!
The svelte Venezuelan, who had been working successfully as an
international model, imposed herself among the other three Hispanic
beauties, other strong rivals. Despite some major ovations, Elisa Nájera, Miss Mexico, was named the fourth
runner-up, followed by Miss Russia in third place. Marianne Cruz González, from Dominican Republic, came
in as second runner-up and finally, Colombia's Taliana Vargas was named the first runner-up.
The Latin beauties made a never before seen impact in the Miss Universe pageant, placing four Hispanic
girls among the five finalists. The question round would decide who would be the winner. Taliana Vargas
(Colombia) noted that her family has been the key to her happiness and that there’s no moment in her past
that she would change.
Marianne Cruz González (Dominican Republic) confided that one her biggest sacrifices were that "since I
was very young, when my parents divorced, I've had to work. It's quite difficult to stop doing kids stuff. And
everything that I've sacrificed is worth it because I see my mother here crying for me". Designer Roberto
Cavalli asked Elisa Nájera (Mexico) when a woman feels completely satisfied, to which she answered:
"When there's balance in her life, when there's a balance between mind and soul. It's important to find a
balance between your community and your work". The question round ended after Vera Krasova (Russia),
indicated that she didn't feel that today's women are still discriminated.
Miss Universe from Venezuela
22-year-old Dayana Mendoza, from Caracas, became the fifth Miss Universe from Venezuela. She was
crowned during the 57th edition of the pageant, held in Vietnam on July 14th, 2008.
The last time that Venezuela won Miss Universe had been in 1996, when Alicia Machado took the honors.
After her reign, she's been involved in several scandals, including having posed naked for Playboy.
Bárbara Palacios became the third Venezuelan Miss Universe in 1986. After that, she had her own talk show
and now manages her own clothing and design companies.
In 1981, Irene Sáez was crowned Miss Venezuela in New York. Afterwards, she studied Political Sciences
and embarked on a very successful political career, even running for the presidency of Venezuela (which she
lost to Hugo Chávez).
Finally, the first Miss Venezuela to be granted the title of Miss Universe was back in 1979, with Maritza
Sayalero.
More of the same
The opening of the Miss Universe 2008 pageant was as many before it: all the contestants performing a
simple choreography, this time permeated by Asian elements, honoring the city hosting this year, Nha Trang
in Vietnam. Jerry Springer and Spice Girl Melanie Brown were the hosts of the evening and quickly proceeded
to individually present each of the 80 candidates in their regional gowns. Equally predictable was the video
highlighting the reign of Japan's Riyo Mori, Miss Universe 2007, who looked flawless.
15 Semi-Finalists
Oh So Lucky!
Sports Stars & Queens
The parade of international beauties marked the quick pacing of the show, trying to avoid the trend of many
pageants ago, which ran for over three hours. It wasn't even half hour into the show when the 15
semi-finalists were named: Dayana Mendoza (Venezuela), Elisa Nájera (Mexico), Marianne Cruz González
(Dominican Republic), Taliana Vargas (Colombia), Claudia Moro (Spain), Zana Krasniqi (Kosovo), Lam Thy
Nguyen (Vietnam), Tansey Coetzee (South Africa), Laura Dundovic (Australia), Hiroko Mima (Japan), Claudia
Ferraris (Italy), Vera Krasova (Russia), Jazmin Dammak (Hungry), Eliska Buckova (Checz Republic) and
Crystle Stewart (USA). The international juror was formed by Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., fashion
designer Roberto Cavalli, Puerto Rican actress Nadine Velazquez, stylist Louis Licari, Miss Universe 2004
Jennifer Hawkins and make over expert John Nguyen.
Bikinis
During the swimsuit competition, the Latinas were also the highlights, earning top marks and receiving
grades above 9. With Lady Gaga performing on stage with them, the finalists that had the highest scores
were Miss Colombia with 9.433; Miss Venezuela with 9.327; Miss Spain had 9.150; Miss Mexico (who had
won a preliminary swimsuit competition), with 9.071 and Miss Dominican Republic had 8.983. Miss USA,
Crystle Stewart, also placed in this exclusive group with a score of 9.207. They all made it to the Top 10,
along Kosovo, Australia, Russia and Italy.
A Curse?
Halle Berry and more...
The déjà-vu of the pageant occurred when Miss USA fell during the night gown competition, just as it
happened to last year’s contestant, Rachel Smith, during the 2007 Miss Universe pageant held in Mexico
City. Crystle Stewart quickly stood up, applauded along with the audience and with a smile, continued to
model as it nothing had happened. Some of the candidates had some interesting dress choices, such as
Dominican Republic, wearing a tight gown adorned with crystals, Miss Mexico, with a white skirt and a
see-through top that looked like a bra and Miss Colombia, with an interesting metallic design that was highly
praised.
Other remarkable mentions are the winners of Miss Congeniality, an honor rewarded to yet another Latina:
Miss El Salvador, Rebeca Moreno. And finally, the winner of the best regional gown was given to Miss
Thailand, Gavintra Photijak.
Copyright © AOL Latino & AMBIENTE MAGAZINE. Do not reproduce without citing this source.
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