Miss Venezuela was the fairest of them all, again. Venezuelan Stefania Fernandez won the 2009 Miss Univere pageant in the Bahamas on Sunday night.
Dressed in a flowing red gown, Fernandez embraced runner up Miss Dominican Republic as the announcement was made, and received the crown from last year’s winner, Dayana Mendoza, of Venezuela.
The other top-five finalists were Miss Kosovo, Miss Australia and Miss Puerto Rico. Venezuela, a beauty-obsessed South American country, has won the Miss Universe pageant six times.
Miss Venezuela Stefania Fernandez poses after being crowned Miss Universe 2009 at the Miss Universe beauty pageant in Nassau, Bahamas on Sunday. Photo: AP
Miss Universe contestants dance at the beginning of the Miss Universe beauty pageant in Nassau, Bahamas. Photo: AP
Miss Venezuela Stefania Fernandez (R) reacts as she is named Miss Universe 2009 during the Miss Universe beauty pageant in Nassau, Bahamas. Photo: AP
Miss Australia Rachael Finch walks to the front of the stage after being named a top 15 finalist during the Miss Universe beauty pageant in Nassau, Bahamas. Photo: AP
Miss Puerto Rico Mayra Matos Perez walks to the front of the stage after being named as a top 15 contestant as she competes in the Miss Universe beauty pageant in Nassau, Bahamas. Photo: AP
Miss Venezuela Stefania Fernandez (C), Miss Dominican Republic Ada Aimee De la Cruz (L) and Miss Kosovo Gona Dragusha hold hands as they wait to hear how they placed in the Miss Universe beauty pageant in Nassau, Bahamas. Photo: AP
Miss Venezuela Stefania Fernandez (L) reacts as Miss Universe 2008 Dayana Mendoza, also of Venezuela, places the Miss Universe 2009 sash on her at the Miss Universe beauty pageant in Nassau, Bahamas. Photo: AP
Miss Universe 2009 contestants line up after finishing in the top five at the the Miss Universe beauty pageant in Nassau, Bahamas. From left to right are Miss Dominican Republic Ada Aimee De la Cruz, Miss Australia Rachael Finch, Miss Puerto Rico Mayra Matos Perez, Miss Venezuela Stefania Fernandez and Miss Kosovo Gona Dragusha. Photo: AP
Miss Universe 2008 Dayana Mendoza (R) places the Miss Universe 2009 crown on Miss Venezuela Stefania Fernandez at the Miss Universe beauty pageant in Nassau, Bahamas. Photo: AP
Miss Sweden Renate Cerljen walks to the front of the stage after being named a top 15 finalist during the Miss Universe beauty pageant in Nassau, Bahamas. Photo: AP