Stefania Fernandez, Miss Venezuela 2009 crowned Miss UNIVERSE 2009

(Paradise Island, Bahamas) 18-year-old Stefania Fernandez, Miss Venezuela 2009 was crowned Miss UNIVERSE 2009 over the other 83 contestants from around the world at the 58th annual Miss Universe Competition which aired live from Atlantis, Paradise Island on August 23 on NBC and Telemundo. For the first time ever,  it was the second consecutive year that a contestant from Venezuela, has won the Miss Universe title.

The Top 10 included two other regional participants;  Ada Aimee De la Cruz, Miss Dominican Republic 2009 the eventual first runner up  and  Mayra Matos, Miss Puerto Rico 2009 fourth runner up.

Australia and Kosovo were the other two nations in the top 10 to make it through to the top five.

Eleutherans with sharp eyes would have seen Elizabeth Bryan, the Editor of The Eleutheran, on screen briefly in the Out Island Clip featuring Harbour Island.

Vying for the coveted 2009 Miss Universe Crown created by Diamond Nexus Labs, the top 10 contestants competing in their BSC Swimwear from left are Rachael Finch, Miss Australia 2009; Stefania Fernandez, Miss Venezuela 2009; Tatum Keshwar, Miss South Africa 2009; Ada Aimee De la Cruz, Miss Dominican Republic 2009; Gona Dragusha, Miss Kosovo 2009; Iveta Lutovska, Miss Czech Republic 2009; Whitney Toyloy, Miss Switzerland 2009; Mayra Matos, Miss Puerto Rico 2009; Kristen Dalton, Miss USA 2009, and Chloe Mortaud, Miss France 2009. The winner will be crowned Miss Universe 2009 during the Live Broadcast of the 58th Miss Universe competition on Sunday, August 23, 2009 at 9:00 P.M. (ET) on the NBC Television Network from Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas.
ho/Miss Universe L.P., LLLP

Reacting to the cheering Bahamian crowd, 18 year old Stefania Fernandez, Miss Venezuela 2009, of Mérida, is crowned Miss UNIVERSE 2009, and becomes the 58th MISS UNIVERSE.  Her spectacular year long reign will include traveling making special appearances on behalf of the Miss Universe Organization, its sponsors and affiliated charities.

ho/MISS UNIVERSE Organization