Miss Universe 2007

MISS UNIVERSE 2007

By Alejandro Guevara Onofre

MISS UNIVERSE 2000

SITE: Nicosia, Cyprus.

HISTORY. Representatives from 79 countries, territories and dependencies attended the Miss Universe contest. Certainly, India became the most powerful country in the Beauty World. Miss India, Lara Dutta, has all the qualities to be a Miss Universe-intelligence, beauty, personality, charisma and determination. Finally, Ms. Dutta was the new Miss Universe. It was one of her lifelong dreams to become Miss Universe. Few misses have had careers as long and varied as Lara Dutta.

In a career of more than seven years, she has been professional model, ambassador and actress. Lara once said, "Winning the Miss Universe title is the culmination of a dream".

Like Miss Universe 2000, she went to Saint Marteen, Puerto Rico, USA, Colombia, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, Switzerland, Venezuela, Mexico, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates. Ms. Dutta became well-known to millions as a women's rights activist in India. Lara Dutta was one of the best known misses of the 21st century.

MISS UNIVERSE 2001

SITE: Bayamon, Puerto Rico.

HISTORY. Representatives from 77 countries and dependencies attended the Miss Universe. Osmel Sousa, president of Miss Venezuela Organization, wanted to win the Miss Universe title. People who have worked with him say he's a perfectionist preparing carefully for each project. He is a very private man, who rarely gives interviews.

At the onset, Venezuela's Eva Monica Ekvall Johnson was the favorite by experts and journalists. Miss Venezuela reached the finals, but surprisingly, she only came in fourth place. Many people felt that the decision was unfair.

A Puerto Rican won the Miss Universe contest again. Like Margarita Moran (Miss Philippines and Miss Universe 1973) and Janelle Penny Commissiong (Miss Trinidad Tobago and Miss Universe), Miss Puerto Rico, Denisse Quiñones, was crowned also Miss Photogenic Universe.Denisse's ambition was to become a professional singer.

MISS UNIVERSE 2002

SITE: San Juan de Puerto Rico.

HISTORY. San Juan de Puerto Rico hosted the pageant.

The favorites were Colombia (Vanesa Alexandra Mendoza Bustos), India (Neha Dhupia), Panama (Justine Paseak), China (Zhuo Ling), and Russia (Oksana Federova).All made the semi-finalists except for Colombia. Ms.Mendoza became the first black woman to be named Miss Colombia. Miss Colombia will always be remembered as the first black woman representing her country in this contest.

For the first time since 1990, communist bloc sent a Miss China to compete in the Miss Universe. Ironically, Miss Cuba pageant has been forbidden since 1960 by Cuban dictatorship.

At the onset, China's Zhuo Ling was one of the most popular delegates. Finally, Miss China was the 1st runner-up.

Russia´s Oxana Federova was elected Miss Universe. However, she was obligated to give back the title of Miss Universe. Ms. Federova was a controversial woman. Certainly, her popularity declined in her own country.

During the next months in New York City, Miss Panama, Justine Lissette Pasek Patiño, was crowned Miss Universe 2002. Ms. Pasek was long considered one of the most intelligent women in the Miss Universe history. Panama's Justine Paseak was born in Kharkov, Ukrania. She had a very happy childhood there with her parents. Next years, her family moved to Panama City. Justine had several years experience as professional model.

MISS UNIVERSE 2003

SITE: Panama City, Panama.

HISTORY. For the second time, Panama City hosted the pageant. One of the most enthusiastic fans was Panamanian president Mireya Elisa Moscoso Rodriguez. On September1, 1999, Mireya Moscoso became Panama's first female head of state.

The favorites were Miss Dominican Republic (Amelia Vega), Miss Japan (Miyako Miyazaki), Miss Brazil (Gislaine Rodrigues Ferreira) and the Miss USA (Susie Castillo Cintrom). Ms. Castillo has Puerto Rican descent. Miss Japan was undoubtedly one of the great beauties of the 2000s.

Under the leadership of two Venezuelans, Miss Dominican Republic became Miss Universe. Amelia Vega became Dominican Republic's first Miss Universe. For the first time since 1992, Miss India did not qualify for the semi-finals.

Like Miss Universe 2003, she went to Indonesia, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Ecuador, Thailand, Vietnam, Guyana, USA, India, Saint Maarten and the People's Republic of China.

MISS UNIVERSE 2004

SITE: Quito, Ecuador.

HISTORY. Ecuadorian newspapers reported that misses Ukraine (Okelsandra Nikolayenko), Venezuela (Ana Karina Añez Delgado), Australia (Jennifer Hawkins), USA (Shandi Ren Finnessey), Paraguay (Yanina Alicia Gonzalez Jorgge), and Ecuador(Susana Rivadeneira Simbal) were the most favored to win the contest.

Surprisingly, Miss Ukraine did not enter the semi-finals. Before she went to Ecuador, Okelsandra Nikolayenko competed in Miss World 2001, where she was semi-finalist. Venezuela's Ana Añez admired Mahatma Gandhi. "Mahatma Gandhi has been a big influence in my life thanks to his political and religious influence he gave to the world", she said.

For the first time since 1982, Miss Venezuela did not qualify for the semi-finals. It was sadness for Venezuela's Osmel Sousa. He once said: "If Venezuela does not make it in the finals, I will have a heart attack!"

Miss Australia was elected Miss Universe. She became Australia's second Miss Universe. The next day her photo was see all over the world and from that moment the name Jennifer Hawkins was known everywhere. Ms. Hawkins is perhaps the most beautiful woman in Miss Australia history.

The judges were Petra Nemcova (Czech fashion model), Monique Menniken (German fashion model), Elsa Benitez (Mexican super-model), Bo Derek (American actress), Bill Rancic (American entrepreneur), Anne Martin (vice-president of Global Cosmetics and Marketing of Proctor & Gamble Cosmetics), Emilio Estefan (music producer), Jon Tutolo (president of Trump Model Management), and Jefferson Perez ( 1996 Ecuadorian Olympic gold medalist).

MISS UNIVERSE 2005

SITE: Bangkok, Thailand.

HISTORY. Among the most popular delegates in the pageant were Canada's Natalie Glebova, Dominican Republic´s Renata de Jesus Soñe Savery, Mexico's Laura Elizondo Erhard, Venezuela's Monica Spear, India's Amrita Thapar, South Africa´s Claudia Henkel, and Switzerland's Fiona Hefti.

A naturalized Canadian citizen who was born in Russia and came to Canada, Natalie Glebova was elected Miss Canada and Miss Universe 2005.Her beauty was loved by millions of people. She became well-known to millions as an anti-AIDS activist in the Third World.

The judges were Carson Kressley(American designer), Cassie Lewis (American model), Bryan Dattilo (American actor), Jean Georges Vongerichten (French chef), Okelsandra Nikolayenko (actress and former Miss Ukraine), Porntip "Bui" Nakhirunkanok (former Miss Thailand and Miss Universe 1988), Mario Cimarro (Mexican actor), Anne Martin (vice-president of Global Cosmetics and Marketing of Proctor & Gamble Cosmetics) Kevin S. Bright (American television executive producer), Heidi Albertsen (Danish model), and Khun Rom Pakdi (Thai actor).

Like Miss Universe 2005, she went to Greece, Canada, India, USA, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Ecuador and Brazil.

MISS UNIVERSE 2006

SITE: Los Angeles, California (USA).

HISTORY. At the onset, Japan's Kurara Chibana was the favorite. Like Miss Japan 2003, Miyako Miyazaki, she was a beautiful exotic girl from Okinawa, the birthplace of the karate. Certainly, Miss Japan had several fans. However, Miss Puerto Rico,Zuleyka Rivera, made history by becoming the fifth Puerto Rican winner of the contest. She was one of the most famous models in her country. During the Miss Universe, Miss Puerto Rico was bilingual in English and Spanish.

Miss Universe 2006 was dominated by Latin America: Puerto Rico, Paraguay, Bolivia, Colombia, Mexico and Trinidad-Tobago.

The judges were Amelia Vega (former Miss Dominican Republic and Miss Universe), Marc Cherry (American writer), Claudia Jordan (Miss Rhode Island 1997), Tom Green (Canadian sock comic), Emmitt Smith (former American football player), James Lesure (American actor), Maria Celeste Arrras (Puerto Rican journalist), Patrick McMullan (American designer), Santino Rice (American fashion designer), Bridgette Wilson-Sampras (actress and former Miss Teen USA) and Sean Yazbeck (British actor).

MISS UNIVERSE 2007

SITE: Mexico City, Mexico

HISTORY: Representatives from 77 countries attended the Miss Universe pageant.

The favorites are Venezuela´s Ly Jonaites, Tanzania´s Flavia Matata, South Korea's Honey Lee, Japan's Riyo Mori, and Philippines's Ana Therese Licaros.

Miss Venezuela is a fashion model. She has gorgeous brown hair, kind brown eyes and beautiful smile which lights up her whole face. Furthermore, she speaks three languages. She admires Princess Diana Spencer. Her dream is to become fashion designer. She once said, "I plan to be a fashion designer and have my own boutique expressing my personality through my art". Certainly, Ly Jonaites is one of the best delegates in the Miss Universe history.

The judges are Nave Navarro (singer/American-Mexican), Tony Romo (Professional football player/American-Mexican), James Kyson Lee (actor/American-Korean), Justine Pasek (former Miss Panama and Miss Universe), Adel Chabbi (stylist/French-Tunisie), Dimitris Margetas (American-Greek/ charge of Consumer Marketing for Proctor & Gamble´s Prestige Products Inc), Marc Bouwer (American fashion designer), Dayanara Torrres (former Miss Puerto Rico and Miss Universe), Fred Howard (American-African fashion designer), Thuy Than (American-Vietnamese fashion photographer), Michelle Kwan (American-Chinese sportswoman), Nina Garcia (American-Colombian journalist), Leigh Rossini (American publicist) and Lindsay Clubine (American fashion model).