Miss Universe 2008
Encyclopedia
Miss Universe
Miss Universe is an annual international beauty contest that is run by the Miss Universe Organization. The pageant is the most publicized beauty contest in the world with 600 million viewers....
pageant, was held at the Crown Convention Center
Crown Convention Center
Crown Convention Center is an indoor arena in Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa, Vietnam. It is the biggest stage in the Southeast Asian nation, with an arena of 1,500 square meters, and was built in 2008. The Diamond Bay or the Nha Trang Tourism and Entertainment Area is 14 km away from the centre of the...
in the Diamond Bay Resort, Nha Trang
Nha Trang
Nha Trang is a coastal city and capital of Khanh Hoa province, on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is bounded on the North by Ninh Hoà district, on the East by the South China Sea, on the South by Cam Ranh town and on the West by Diên Khánh district...
, Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
on July 14, 2008. Dayana Mendoza
Dayana Mendoza
Dayana Sabrina Mendoza Moncada is a model and beauty pageant titleholder who won the titles of Miss Venezuela 2007 and Miss Universe 2008.-Personal life:...
, Miss Venezuela
Miss Venezuela
The Miss Venezuela contest is the national beauty pageant of Venezuela and has been held since 1952. It is responsible for selecting the country's representatives to the Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss Earth and Miss International pageants .Under the direction of Osmel Sousa, Venezuela has...
, was crowned Miss Universe 2008 by outgoing titleholder Riyo Mori
Riyo Mori
is a Japanese dance instructor and model who won the Miss Universe 2007 title in May 2007.-Early life:...
of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
Eighty contestants competed in the event which was broadcast and distributed globally via NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and Telemundo
Telemundo
Telemundo is an American television network that broadcasts in Spanish. The network is the second-largest Spanish-language content producer in the world, and the second-largest Spanish-language network in the United States, behind Univision....
in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
to TV outlets in more than 180 countries. The pageant was watched by a live audience of 7,500 and nearly a billion television viewers worldwide.
This is the first major USA-based television production to take place in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
since the end of the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. This is also the first time that the Miss Universe pageant was broadcast in 1080i High-definition
High-definition television
High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
. And this pageant was held in a contemporary Communist state
Communist state
A communist state is a state with a form of government characterized by single-party rule or dominant-party rule of a communist party and a professed allegiance to a Leninist or Marxist-Leninist communist ideology as the guiding principle of the state...
for the first time.
The final presentation show was on July 8, the dress rehearsal on July 13 and the live telecast on July 14. Most activities were held successively in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
(formerly Sai Gon), Ha Noi, Da Nang
Da Nang
Đà Nẵng , occasionally Danang, is a major port city in the South Central Coast of Vietnam, on the coast of the South China Sea at the mouth of the Han River. It is the commercial and educational center of Central Vietnam; its well-sheltered, easily accessible port and its location on the path of...
, Hoi An
Hoi An
Hội An , or rarely Faifo, is a city of Vietnam, on the coast of the South China Sea in the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is located in Quang Nam province and is home to approximately 120,000 inhabitants...
, Ha Long
Ha Long
Hạ Long also known as Hong Gai, Hon Gai and Hongay, is the capital city of Quang Ninh province, Vietnam. The city mainly lies on Bai Tu Long Bay, which is part of the Hạ Long Bay. It is located at about 160 km northeast of Hanoi...
and finally Nha Trang
Nha Trang
Nha Trang is a coastal city and capital of Khanh Hoa province, on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is bounded on the North by Ninh Hoà district, on the East by the South China Sea, on the South by Cam Ranh town and on the West by Diên Khánh district...
.
Jerry Springer, tabloid talk show host and host of NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's America's Got Talent
America's Got Talent
America's Got Talent is an American reality television series on the NBC television network, and part of the global British Got Talent franchise. It is a talent show that features singers, dancers, magicians, comedians, and other performers of all ages competing for the advertised top prize of...
, and Melanie Brown
Melanie Brown
Melanie Janine "Scary Spice" Brown , often better known as Mel B, is an English pop singer-songwriter, actress, author and television presenter...
, a.k.a. "Scary Spice", member of the UK pop group Spice Girls
Spice Girls
The Spice Girls were a British pop girl group formed in 1994. The group consisted of Victoria Beckham , Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm and Geri Halliwell. They were signed to Virgin Records and released their debut single, "Wannabe" in 1996, which hit number-one in more than 30...
and host of TLC
TLC (TV channel)
TLC is an American cable TV specialty channel which initially focused on educational content. Since 1991 TLC has been owned by Discovery Communications, the same company that operates the Discovery Channel, Animal Planet and The Science Channel, as well as other learning-themed networks...
's The Singing Office, presented this year's competition. Lady Gaga
Lady GaGa
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta , better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in New York City, she primarily studied at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and briefly attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts before withdrawing to...
, performed her hit single Just Dance for the first time in television.
Placements
| Final results | Contestant |
|---|---|
| Miss Universe 2008 |
|
| 1st runner-up |
 Colombia - Taliana VargasTaliana Vargas Taliana María Vargas Carrillo is a Colombian actress, fashion model, television personality, Miss Colombia 2007 and Miss Universe 2008 first runner-up. Vargas is a Colombian student of Journalism at the Northern Virginia Community College in Alexandria, Virginia.Vargas is of Greek descent... |
| 2nd runner-up |
 Dominican Republic - Marianne CruzMarianne Cruz Marianne Cruz González is the 2008 Miss Dominican Republic and was the second runner-up in the Miss Universe 2008. She was born in Salcedo, Dominican Republic.- Personal life :... |
| 3rd runner-up |
 Russia - Vera KrasovaVera Krasova Vera Krasova was born 1987 in Moscow, Russia is a Russian model and a beauty queen. She competed in the 2007 Miss Russia pageant on December 14 where she represented the capital of Russia, Moscow. Vera made it to the top-3 contestants and placed as the 2nd runner-up to the eventual winner Ksenia... |
| 4th runner-up |
 Mexico - Elisa NájeraElisa Nájera Elisa Nájera Gualito was crowned Nuestra Belleza Mexico on October 5, 2007 in Manzanillo, Colima.-Biography:... |
| Top 10 |
 Republic of Kosovo - Zana KrasniqiZana Krasniqi Zana Krasniqi is a Beauty Queen, fashion model, and Miss Universe Kosovo. She represented Kosovo for the first time in Miss Universe and placed in the Top 10 of the Miss Universe 2008.-Personal life:...  Spain - Claudia MoroClaudia Moro Claudia Moro Fernández is a beauty queen from Spain who competed in the 2008 Miss Universe pageant, placing seventh overall.-Miss Spain:...  United States - Crystle StewartCrystle Stewart Crystle Danae Stewart , from Missouri City, Texas, is an American beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss USA 2008. She was born to Robert & Cynthia Franklin Stewart...  Italy - Claudia FerrarisClaudia Ferraris Claudia Ferraris is the winner of the Miss Universo Italia 2008 pageant that was held at the Palazzo dei Congressi in Riccione, Emilia-Romagna on May 31, 2008. She represented Italy at the Miss Universe 2008 pageant in Nha Trang, Vietnam on July 14. She placed in the top 10, ranking 9th at the end...  Australia - Laura DundovicLaura Dundovic Laura Dundovic was born in 16 September 1987 in Sydney, Australia, of Croatian parents. She is a beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss Australia 2008 and represented Australia in the Miss Universe 2008 competition, in which she placed in the top ten.... |
| Top 15 |
 Czech Republic - Eliška BučkováEliška Bucková Eliška Bučková is a pageant titleholder from the Czech Republic who won the title of Czech Miss 2008 as a 19-year-old. Eliška represented the Czech Republic at the Miss Universe 2008 pageant in Nha Trang, Vietnam on July 14, 2008 where Elisa placed as one of semi-finalists in the Top 15 and...  Hungary - Jázmin Dammak South Africa - Tansey CoetzeeTansey Coetzee Tansey Coetzee is a beauty queen who won the title of Miss South Africa 2007, and later represented South Africa in Miss Universe 2008 in Nha Trang, Vietnam, where she placed among the top 15 semifinalists...  Japan - Hiroko MimaHiroko Mima is a fashion model, athlete, beauty queen,and Miss Universe Japan 2008.-Biography:Mima currently attends Nihon University and her major is physical education. Mima suffers from a bone marrow disease that left the right side of her body incapacitated for three months at 13 years old and a nerve...  Vietnam - Nguyễn Thùy Lâm |
Final competition scores
| Delegate | Swimsuit | Evening Gown |
|---|---|---|
| 9.433 (1) | 9.829 (1) | |
| 9.327 (2) | 9.697 (2) | |
| 9.071 (5) | 9.429 (3) | |
| 8.983 (6) | 9.036 (4) | |
| 8.414 (7) | 8.471 (5) | |
| Republic of Kosovo |
8.120 (8) | 8.264 (6) |
| 9.150 (4) | 8.200 (7) | |
| United States |
9.207 (3) | 8.050 (8) |
| 7.671 (10) | 7.729 (9) | |
| 7.814 (9) | 7.557 (10) | |
| 7.386 (11) | ||
| 7.229 (12) | ||
| 7.133 (13) | ||
| 7.100 (14) | ||
| 7.050 (15) |
- Winner
- First Runner-up
- Second Runner-up
- Third Runner-up
- Fourth Runner-up
- Top 10 Finalist
- Top 15 Semifinalist Rank in each round of competition
Special awards
| Award | Contestant |
|---|---|
| Miss Congeniality |
|
| Best National Costume |
 Thailand - Gavintra PhotijakGavintra Photijak Gavintra Photijak , nicknamed Gam Gavintra Photijak , nicknamed Gam Gavintra Photijak , nicknamed Gam (born 24 December 1986 in Nongkhai, Thailand is a student, and pageant titleholder who has competed in the Miss Universe pageant.... |
Telecast judges
- Donald Trump, Jr.Donald Trump, Jr.Donald "Don" John Trump, Jr. is an American businessman who is the first child of real estate developer Donald J. Trump and Ivana Trump. He currently works along with his sister Ivanka Trump and brother Eric Trump in the position of Executive Vice President at The Trump Organization...
- Executive Vice President of the Trump OrganizationTrump OrganizationThe Trump Organization is a limited liability corporation conglomerate based in Trump Tower in Manhattan, New York. The organization owns, operates, and develops hotels, resorts, residential towers, and golf courses in different countries, as well as owning several pieces of high-end real estate in...
; eldest son of Miss UniverseMiss UniverseMiss Universe is an annual international beauty contest that is run by the Miss Universe Organization. The pageant is the most publicized beauty contest in the world with 600 million viewers....
co-owner Donald TrumpDonald TrumpDonald John Trump, Sr. is an American business magnate, television personality and author. He is the chairman and president of The Trump Organization and the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts. Trump's extravagant lifestyle, outspoken manner and role on the NBC reality show The Apprentice have...
. - Nadine VelazquezNadine VelazquezNadine Velazquez is an American actress and model known for her role as Catalina Aruca on My Name Is Earl.-Early life:...
- actress on NBCNBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's My Name Is EarlMy Name Is EarlMy Name Is Earl is an American television comedy series created by Greg Garcia that was originally broadcast on the NBC television network from September 20, 2005, to May 14, 2009, in the United States...
. - Roberto CavalliRoberto CavalliRoberto Cavalli is an Italian fashion designer from Florence.-Biography:Roberto Cavalli was born in Florence, Tuscany. His grandfather, Giuseppe Rossi, was a member of the Macchiaioli Movement, whose work is exhibited in the Uffizi Gallery. Cavalli decided to enroll at the local Art Institute,...
- Italian fashion designer. - Jennifer HawkinsJennifer HawkinsJennifer Hawkins is an Australian beauty queen, model and television presenter best known as Miss Universe 2004 and the face of Australian department store Myer.-Early life:...
- Miss Universe 2004Miss Universe 2004Miss Universe 2004, the 53rd Miss Universe pageant, was held in Centro de Convenciones CEMEXPO, Quito, Ecuador on June 1, 2004. It was won by Jennifer Hawkins of Australia....
. - Joseph Cinque - President of the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences.
- Ishaa KoppikarIshaa KoppikarEesha Koppikhar , born Isha Koppikar, is an Indian actress and model who has appeared in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil and Hindi films. Koppikhar married her longtime boyfriend Rohit Narang on 29 November 2009.-Background:Koppikhar was born in Mumbai, India, hailing from the Konkani speaking Chitrapur...
- BollywoodBollywoodBollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
actress. - Louis Licari - Celebrity Hairstylist.
- Taryn Rose - Footwear designer.
- Nguyễn Công Khế - Editor-in-Chief of VietnamVietnamVietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
ese newspaper Thanh NienThanh NienThanh Nien News is a Ho Chi Minh city-based newspaper in Vietnam. It is one of the most circulated newspapers in Vietnam. Thanh Nien News is released in Vietnamese and English. Thanh Nien News is an official organ of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth League and mainly focuses on social affairs....
.
Areas of competition
Prior to the final telecast, all contestants competed in swimsuit and evening gown during the preliminary competition. They also participated in interviews with the judges.During the final competition, the top fifteen contestants (based on their preliminary scores) competed in the swimsuit competition, and the top ten (based upon individual swimsuit scores) competed in evening gown. The final five contestants (based upon individual score from evening gown) participated in a final round of on-stage interviews, before the runners-up were announced and the new Miss Universe named.
This was the second year since 2002 that the judges' average scores were shown on television.
Official Special Awards
The Miss Universe Organization awarded two special prizes for the activities of Miss Universe 2008: Miss Congeniality the traditional and the award for Best National Costume. This year there was no Miss Photogenic award, which in recent years was decided by a free vote on the Internet, and had been won continuously for Puerto Rico and the Philippines.Unofficial Special Awards
The organization and Vietnamese sponsors awarded three other awards within the activities of Miss Universe 2008: the first given to the ten best national costume, the second the candidate who looked best Vietnamese traditional dress called ao dai, and the third the candidate that his approach was the best in a swimsuit during a show made for that purpose.Note that these awards are external to the Miss Universe Organization, but delivered in activities approved by it. Not recorded in the historical record of the event, as they are unique and exclusive prizes for this edition.
Best in Swimsuit
This special award was granted on July 2 to the candidate who looked better in a swimsuit during a show made for this purpose. The 80 candidates paraded in their swimsuits divided into different groups.| Final results | Contestant |
|---|---|
| Winner |
|
| Finalist |
Colombia - Taliana Vargas Taliana Vargas Taliana María Vargas Carrillo is a Colombian actress, fashion model, television personality, Miss Colombia 2007 and Miss Universe 2008 first runner-up. Vargas is a Colombian student of Journalism at the Northern Virginia Community College in Alexandria, Virginia.Vargas is of Greek descent... Spain - Claudia MoroClaudia Moro Claudia Moro Fernández is a beauty queen from Spain who competed in the 2008 Miss Universe pageant, placing seventh overall.-Miss Spain:... Republic of Kosovo - Zana KrasniqiZana Krasniqi Zana Krasniqi is a Beauty Queen, fashion model, and Miss Universe Kosovo. She represented Kosovo for the first time in Miss Universe and placed in the Top 10 of the Miss Universe 2008.-Personal life:... United States - Crystle StewartCrystle Stewart Crystle Danae Stewart , from Missouri City, Texas, is an American beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss USA 2008. She was born to Robert & Cynthia Franklin Stewart...  India - Simran Kaur MundiSimran Kaur Mundi Simran Mundi was crowned Pantaloons Femina Miss India Universe 2008 in Mumbai on 5 April 2008. She then represented India at Miss Universe 2008, held in Diamond Bay Resort in Nha Trang, Vietnam on July 13, 2008.-Biography:... |
Charming Áo dài
This special award was granted on June 24, the candidate who looked best in ao dai, the Vietnamese National Costume. The 80 candidates paraded in ao dai's designed for 8 Vietnamese designers recognized the costumes concocted especially for this night.| Final results | Contestant |
|---|---|
| Winner |
|
| Finalist |
India - Simran Kaur Mundi Simran Kaur Mundi Simran Mundi was crowned Pantaloons Femina Miss India Universe 2008 in Mumbai on 5 April 2008. She then represented India at Miss Universe 2008, held in Diamond Bay Resort in Nha Trang, Vietnam on July 13, 2008.-Biography:...  Kazakhstan - Alfina NassyrovaAlfina Nassyrova Alfina Nasyrova is a Kazakhstani beauty queen who won the national pageant Miss Kazakhstan in 2007 held at the Abai State Kazakh National Opera & Ballet Theatre in Almaty. She then went on to represent Kazakhstan in Miss Universe 2008 in Nha Trang, Vietnam on 14 July 2008, and Miss World 2008 in... Thailand - Gavintra PhotijakGavintra Photijak Gavintra Photijak , nicknamed Gam Gavintra Photijak , nicknamed Gam Gavintra Photijak , nicknamed Gam (born 24 December 1986 in Nongkhai, Thailand is a student, and pageant titleholder who has competed in the Miss Universe pageant.... Vietnam - Nguyễn Thùy Lâm |
Awards national costumes
On 22 June, 80 candidates showed attire representative of their nation, either a costume or a representative of fantasy creation. They paraded before a panel of judges headed by the Miss Universe 2007, Riyo Mori and directors of the company Uni Corp, and the sponsoring companies and organizations in Vietnam.The candidates filed into nine groups of nine candidates in alphabetical order by the name of your country (in English). The best national costume of each group was named as a semifinalist, adding the group costume of the host country, leaving the following as winners:
| Final results | Contestant |
|---|---|
| Winner |
|
| Finalist |
 Albania - Matilda MeciniMatilda Mecini Matilda Mecini is a beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Albania 2008 on April 4, 2008. Mecini then represented Albania in the Miss Universe 2008 pageant in Nha Trang, Vietnam on July 14, 2008.... Colombia - Taliana VargasTaliana Vargas Taliana María Vargas Carrillo is a Colombian actress, fashion model, television personality, Miss Colombia 2007 and Miss Universe 2008 first runner-up. Vargas is a Colombian student of Journalism at the Northern Virginia Community College in Alexandria, Virginia.Vargas is of Greek descent... Dominican Republic - Marianne CruzMarianne Cruz Marianne Cruz González is the 2008 Miss Dominican Republic and was the second runner-up in the Miss Universe 2008. She was born in Salcedo, Dominican Republic.- Personal life :... India - Simran Kaur MundiSimran Kaur Mundi Simran Mundi was crowned Pantaloons Femina Miss India Universe 2008 in Mumbai on 5 April 2008. She then represented India at Miss Universe 2008, held in Diamond Bay Resort in Nha Trang, Vietnam on July 13, 2008.-Biography:... Republic of Kosovo - Zana KrasniqiZana Krasniqi Zana Krasniqi is a Beauty Queen, fashion model, and Miss Universe Kosovo. She represented Kosovo for the first time in Miss Universe and placed in the Top 10 of the Miss Universe 2008.-Personal life:... Mexico - Elisa NájeraElisa Nájera Elisa Nájera Gualito was crowned Nuestra Belleza Mexico on October 5, 2007 in Manzanillo, Colima.-Biography:...  Peru - Karol Castillo South Africa - Tansey CoetzeeTansey Coetzee Tansey Coetzee is a beauty queen who won the title of Miss South Africa 2007, and later represented South Africa in Miss Universe 2008 in Nha Trang, Vietnam, where she placed among the top 15 semifinalists...  Venezuela - Dayana MendozaDayana Mendoza Dayana Sabrina Mendoza Moncada is a model and beauty pageant titleholder who won the titles of Miss Venezuela 2007 and Miss Universe 2008.-Personal life:... Vietnam - Nguyễn Thùy Lâm |
Background music
- MikaMika (singer)Mika is a British singer-songwriter.After recording his first extended play, Dodgy Holiday EP, Mika released his first full-length studio album, Life in Cartoon Motion, on Island Records in 2007. Life in Cartoon Motion sold more than 5.6 million copies worldwide and helped Mika win a Brit...
, "Love TodayLove Today"Love Today" is the Grammy-nominated third single released by London-based singer Mika, taken from his album Life in Cartoon Motion. The song was produced by Greg Wells at Rocket Carousel studios and engineered by Drew Pearson. It was released in the United Kingdom on 16 April 2007 as a digital...
" — background music used for the Opening and Presentation of National Costumes - Lady GaGaLady GaGaStefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta , better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in New York City, she primarily studied at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and briefly attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts before withdrawing to...
, "Just Dance" — performed live during the Swimsuit Competition - Robin ThickeRobin ThickeRobin Charles Thicke is an Award-winning American R&B singer-songwriter, musician, composer, and actor. Thicke's albums, which he previously released under the moniker Thicke, are noted for their feature of a predominantly R&B sound. Robin Thicke has penned hits for popular artists such as...
, "MagicMagic (Robin Thicke song)"Magic" is a song by American R&B singer Robin Thicke. The R&B jazz-inspired song was produced in 2008 for Robin Thicke's third studio album, Something Else. "Magic" is a R&B uptempo song, with its live instrumentation varied; including conga, horn, violin, and piano. The song's lyrics refer to a...
" — background music used during the Evening Gown Competition
Delegates
| Country/Territory | Contestant | Age | Height | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albania |
Matilda Mecini Matilda Mecini Matilda Mecini is a beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Albania 2008 on April 4, 2008. Mecini then represented Albania in the Miss Universe 2008 pageant in Nha Trang, Vietnam on July 14, 2008.... |
19 | Tirana Tirana Tirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over... |
|
 AngolaMiss Angola -External links:*... |
Lesliana Pereira | 20 | M'banza-Kongo M'banza-Kongo M'banza-Kongo , is the capital of Angola's northwestern Zaire Province. M'banza Kongo was founded some time before the arrival of the Portuguese and was the capital of the dynasty ruling at that time... |
|
| ' | Athina James Athina James Athina James is a beauty pageant contestant who represented Antigua and Barbuda in Miss Universe 2008 in Vietnam, and Miss World 2008 in South Africa.-References:* *... |
18 | 1.8 metre | St. John's St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda St John's is the capital and largest city of Antigua and Barbuda, a country located in the West Indies in the Caribbean Sea. St John's is located at... |
 ArgentinaMiss Universe Argentina Miss Argentina is an annual national beauty pageant that selects Argentina's representative to the Miss Universe pageant.-History:The Miss Argentina contest is the national beauty pageant of Argentina and has been held since 1954 It is responsible for selecting the country's representatives to the... |
Silvana Belli | 19 | 1.75 metre | Rawson Villa Krause Villa Krause is the city of the Argentine of San Juan in the Cuyo region, located in the Tulúm Valley, west of the San Juan River, at 640 m above mean sea level, with a population of around 107,000 as per the .... |
 ArubaMiss Aruba Miss Aruba is the annual national beauty pageant of Aruba, responsible for selecting representatives to Miss Universe, Miss World, and Miss International since 1964.-History:... |
Tracey Nicolaas Tracey Nicolaas Tracey Marion Jeniree Nicolaas, born in 1987, won the Miss Aruba pageant in 2007 and represented her country in Miss Universe 2008.-External links:**... |
20 | 1.7 metre | Oranjestad Oranjestad, Aruba Oranjestad is the capital and largest city of Aruba, which is in the Caribbean north of Venezuela. Oranjestad is located on the southern coast near the western end of the island country... |
| Australia Miss Universe Australia Miss Universe Australia is an annual national beauty pageant that has selected Australia's representative to the Miss Universe pageant since 2004.-Titleholders:-Preliminary divisions:... |
Laura Dundovic Laura Dundovic Laura Dundovic was born in 16 September 1987 in Sydney, Australia, of Croatian parents. She is a beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss Australia 2008 and represented Australia in the Miss Universe 2008 competition, in which she placed in the top ten.... |
21 | Sydney Sydney Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people... |
|
| Sacha Scott | 19 | 1.65 metre | Nassau Nassau, Bahamas Nassau is the capital, largest city, and commercial centre of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The city has a population of 248,948 , 70 percent of the entire population of The Bahamas... |
|
 BelgiumMiss Belgium Miss Belgium is the largest national beauty pageant in Belgium, responsible for selecting the country's representatives to Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss International pageants.-Winners since 1969:-2008 controversy:... |
Alizée Poulicek Alizée Poulicek Alizée Poulicek is a beauty pageant contestant who won the title of Miss Belgium 2008 and represented her country in Miss Universe 2008 in Nha Trang, Vietnam. She went unplaced at the latter pageant. She also represented Belgium in Miss World 2008 in Johannesburg, South Africa.She can speak... |
21 | Huy Huy Huy is a municipality of Belgium. It lies in the country's Walloon Region and Province of Liege. Huy lies along the river Meuse, at the mouth of the small river Hoyoux. It is in the sillon industriel, the former industrial backbone of Wallonia, home to about two-thirds of the Walloon population... |
|
 BoliviaMiss Bolivia Miss Bolivia is an annual Bolivian beauty pageant responsible for selecting the country's representative to the Miss Universe pageant since 1959. Runner-up goes to Miss World.The current titleholder is Yessica Mouton Gianella from Señorita Litoral... |
Katherine David Céspedes Katherine David Céspedes Katherine “Kate” David Céspedes born October 22, 1988 in Bolivia in the town of San Ignacio de Velasco won the 2007 Miss Bolivia pageant. She was represented her country in the Miss Tourism Queen International 2008 and Miss Universe 2008 pageants but unplaced at all.-External links:*... |
19 | 1.73 metre | San Ignacio de Velasco San Ignacio de Velasco San Ignacio de Velasco, San Ignacio, or SIV is the capital of the José Miguel de Velasco Province and the San Ignacio de Velasco Municipality in the Santa Cruz Department of Bolivia.-People:... |
 BrazilMiss Brasil The Miss Brasil Pageant is a beauty contest that has been held almost every year since 1954 between winners of the Brazilian state pageants.It is one of the most important beauty contest of the world, with USA and Venezuela... |
Natália Anderle Natália Anderle Natália Anderle, natural from Roca Sales, Rio Grande do Sul, is Miss Brazil 2008, representing her state. She was crowned Miss Brazil 2008 at the Sunday night, April 13 on Citibank Hall, in São Paulo... |
22 | 1.75 metre | Encantado Encantado, Rio Grande do Sul -See also:*List of municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul... |
 CanadaMiss Universe Canada -External links:*... |
Samantha Tajik Samantha Tajik Samantha Tajik is a Canadian-Iranian model and beauty queen who was crowned Miss Universe Canada 2008.She competed in the Miss Universe Canada 2008 pageant, and on April 28, 2008 was crowned the winner by outgoing titleholder, Inga Skaya.... |
26 | 1.78 metre | Toronto Toronto Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from... |
| Rebecca Parchment Rebecca Parchment - External links :*... |
26 | 1.78 metre | West Bay West Bay, Cayman Islands West Bay is a district located on Grand Cayman Island in the British West Indies.-Politics:West Bay is one of the two largest electoral districts on Grand Cayman, along with George Town... |
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 ChinaMiss China Universe -External links:*... |
Wei Ziya Wei Ziya Wei Ziya , 24, is a Chinese beauty contestant and winner of Miss China Universe 2007. Wei represented the People's Republic of China in Miss Universe 2008 in Vietnam, but was unplaced.-Source:*... |
25 | 1.75 metre | Chongqing Chongqing Chongqing is a major city in Southwest China and one of the five national central cities of China. Administratively, it is one of the PRC's four direct-controlled municipalities , and the only such municipality in inland China.The municipality was created on 14 March 1997, succeeding the... |
| Colombia Miss Colombia 2007 Miss Colombia 2007, the 73rd Miss Colombia pageant, was held in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, on November 12, 2007. The pageant was broadcast live on RCN TV from the Centro de Convenciones Cartagena de Indias in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia... |
Taliana Vargas Taliana Vargas Taliana María Vargas Carrillo is a Colombian actress, fashion model, television personality, Miss Colombia 2007 and Miss Universe 2008 first runner-up. Vargas is a Colombian student of Journalism at the Northern Virginia Community College in Alexandria, Virginia.Vargas is of Greek descent... |
20 | 1.78 metre | Santa Marta Santa Marta Santa Marta is the capital city of the Colombian department of Magdalena in the Caribbean Region. It was founded in July 29, 1525 by the Spanish conqueror Rodrigo de Bastidas, which makes it the oldest remaining city in Colombia... |
 Costa RicaMiss Costa Rica Miss Costa Rica is an annual national beauty pageant that selects Costa Rica's representative to the Miss Universe pageant since 1954.The current titleholder is Johanna Solano from Heredia... |
María Teresa Rodríguez | 21 | 1.68 metre | Alajuela Alajuela Alajuela is the second largest city in Costa Rica after the capital, San José. It is also the capital of the namesake province. Because of its location in the Costa Rican Central Valley, Alajuela is nowadays englobed in the conurbation of Great Metropolitan Area... |
 CroatiaMiss Universe Croatia Miss Universe Croatia is a beauty pageant which decides Croatia's contestant at the Miss Universe finals. It has been held annually since 1997.-Winners:-External links:*... |
Snježana Lončarević | 24 | 1.75 metre | Zagreb Zagreb Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city... |
| Jenyfeer Mercelina | 19 | 1.68 metre | Willemstad Willemstad Willemstad can refer to:*Willemstad, the capital of Curaçao*Willemstad , a town in Moerdijk, the Netherlands*Willemstad , a hamlet near Marum, the Netherlands*Willemstad , a hamlet in the Netherlands... |
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 CyprusMiss Cyprus Miss Cyprus, , is the annual national Pancyprian beauty competition in Cyprus. The current competition's official name is Star Kypros .-Legend of Aphrodite:... |
Dimitra Sergiou | 23 | 1.83 metre | Limassol Limassol Limassol is the second-largest city in Cyprus, with a population of 228,000 . It is the largest city in geographical size, and the biggest municipality on the island. The city is located on Akrotiri Bay, on the island's southern coast and it is the capital of Limassol District.Limassol is the... |
| Czech Republic Czech Miss -External links:*... |
Eliška Bučková Eliška Bucková Eliška Bučková is a pageant titleholder from the Czech Republic who won the title of Czech Miss 2008 as a 19-year-old. Eliška represented the Czech Republic at the Miss Universe 2008 pageant in Nha Trang, Vietnam on July 14, 2008 where Elisa placed as one of semi-finalists in the Top 15 and... |
18 | Strážnice Strážnice (Hodonín District) Strážnice is a town in Hodonín District, South Moravian Region, Czech Republic. It has a population of 5,829 . It is located in Slovácko microregion.... |
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| Marie-Sten Knudsen | 18 | Copenhagen Copenhagen Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region... |
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| Dominican Republic |
Marianne Cruz Marianne Cruz Marianne Cruz González is the 2008 Miss Dominican Republic and was the second runner-up in the Miss Universe 2008. She was born in Salcedo, Dominican Republic.- Personal life :... |
23 | Salcedo | |
 EcuadorMiss Ecuador 2008 The Miss Ecuador 2008 was on March 18, 2008. There were 19 candidates for the national title. The Miss Ecuador 2008 would represent Ecuador at Miss Universe 2008 and Miss Continente Americano 2008. The Miss World Ecuador would enter Miss World 2008. The Miss Internacional Ecuador would enter Miss... |
Domenica Saporitti Domenica Saporitti Domenica Saporitti Hinojosa is a fashion model and TV host in Ecuador, and she is also the winner of Miss Ecuador 2008. She represented her country in the Miss Universe 2008 competition. - Biography :... |
19 | 1.73 metre | Guayaquil Guayaquil Guayaquil , officially Santiago de Guayaquil , is the largest and the most populous city in Ecuador,with about 2.3 million inhabitants in the city and nearly 3.1 million in the metropolitan area, as well as that nation's main port... |
 EgyptMiss Egypt Miss Egypt, is an Egyptian beauty pageant that qualifies delegates to international beauty contests. The first Miss Egypt contest was held in 1929. The only winner that held the title of Miss World was Antigone Costanda in 1954. The pageant has been sponsored by the hair care company, Pantene... |
Yara Naoum | 20 | Cairo Cairo Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life... |
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 El SalvadorNuestra Belleza El Salvador Nuestra Belleza El Salvador is a national beauty pageant for women in El Salvador. The winner of Nuestra Belleza Universo represents El Salvador at Miss Universe, while the winner of Nuestra Belleza Mundo represents El Salvador at Miss World... |
Rebeca Moreno Rebeca Moreno Rebeca Moreno is a Salvadoran beauty queen who won the Nuestra Belleza Universo El Salvador pageant in 2008.She is studying for her bachelors in Mathematics. She was born June 17, 1982. Her hobbies include dance, listening to music, going to the cinema and going out with her cousins and friends... |
22 | San Salvador San Salvador The city of San Salvador the capital and largest city of El Salvador, which has been designated a Gamma World City. Its complete name is La Ciudad de Gran San Salvador... |
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 EstoniaMiss Estonia Eesti Miss Estonia is an annual beauty pageant held in Estonia. The winner goes on to represent Estonia at Miss Universe, Miss Europe and Miss Baltic Sea pageants.-History:... |
Julia Kovaljova | 22 | Tallinn Tallinn Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list... |
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 Finland |
Satu Tuomisto | 21 | 1.75 metre | Akaa Akaa Akaa is a town and a municipality in Pirkanmaa, Finland. It was created on January 1, 2007 when the town of Toijala and the municipality of Viiala were united into a single town. The municipality of Kylmäkoski was consolidated with Akaa on 1 January 2011.... |
 FranceMiss France Miss France is the trademark of an annual beauty pageant. Rights to the trademark were obtained in 2002 by the Dutch television production company Endemol through its subsidiary Miss France SAS, whose director general is Sylvie Tellier, Miss France 2002. Endemol also holds the rights in France to... |
Laura Tanguy Laura Tanguy Laura Tanguy is a French beauty pageant contestant who was elected second runner-up of Miss France 2008. She is the back of the Miss France 2008 under Valérie Bègue for all official representations alongside Genevieve de Fontenay, as well as for the regional elections qualifiers Miss France 2009,... |
20 | Angers Angers Angers is the main city in the Maine-et-Loire department in western France about south-west of Paris. Angers is located in the French region known by its pre-revolutionary, provincial name, Anjou, and its inhabitants are called Angevins.... |
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 GeorgiaMiss Georgia (country) -External links:*... |
Gvantsa Daraselia | 18 | Tbilisi Tbilisi Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936... |
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| Madina Taher | 21 | 1.73 metre | Elmshorn Elmshorn Elmshorn is a town in the district of Pinneberg in Schleswig-Holstein in Germany. It is located 32 km north of Hamburg at the small river Krückau, close to the Elbe river, is the sixth-largest city in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany... |
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 GhanaMiss Universe Ghana Miss Universe Ghana is a national pageant that sends representatives to Miss Universe pageant.- Winners :... |
Yvette Nsiah | 21 | 1.7 metre | Accra Accra Accra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous... |
 GreeceStar Hellas Star Hellas-Miss Hellas-Miss Young is the longest-running beauty pageant in Greece. The winner of the contest is crowned Star Hellas and goes on to represent Greece in Miss Universe, B Star Hellas goes to Miss International while Miss Hellas goes to Miss World... |
Dionissia Koukiou | 22 | 1.78 metre | Athens Athens Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state... |
 GuamMiss Guam Universe Miss Guam Universe is a national pageant that sends representatives to Miss Universe and 1st runner-up sends representatives to Miss International Pageant.- Winners :NOTES:*1974 Miss Guam Elizabeth Tenorio also held the title of Miss Guam World 1978.... |
Siera Robertson | 18 | 1.78 metre | Yona Yona, Guam - History :The village was historically a farming community but today is mostly residential. During World War II, the Japanese forced the indigenous Chamorros to march from camps in northern Guam to prison camps in the Manenggon area in Yona shortly before the Americans liberated the island... |
| Jennifer Chiong | 25 | 1.68 metre | Quetzaltenango Quetzaltenango Quetzaltenango, also commonly known by its indigenous name, Xelajú , or more commonly, Xela , is the second largest city of Guatemala. It is both the capital of Quetzaltenango Department and the municipal seat of Quetzaltenango municipality.... |
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| Diana Barrasa | 22 | Tegucigalpa Tegucigalpa Tegucigalpa , and commonly referred as Tegus , is the capital of Honduras and seat of government of the Republic, along with its twin sister Comayagüela. Founded on September 29, 1578 by the Spanish, it became the country's capital on October 30, 1880 under President Marco Aurelio Soto... |
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| Hungary Miss Universe Hungary Miss Universe Hungary is a national beauty contest for Miss Universe. The pageant under the new management of Magyarorszag Szepe Kft. started to choose three equal winners in 2008 to represent Hungary in Miss Universe, Miss Earth, and Miss World competitions under the name of The Queen.-History:*... |
Jázmin Dammak | 24 | 1.73 metre | Budapest Budapest Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter... |
| Simran Kaur Mundi Simran Kaur Mundi Simran Mundi was crowned Pantaloons Femina Miss India Universe 2008 in Mumbai on 5 April 2008. She then represented India at Miss Universe 2008, held in Diamond Bay Resort in Nha Trang, Vietnam on July 13, 2008.-Biography:... |
22 | 1.75 metre | Mumbai Mumbai Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million... |
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 IndonesiaPuteri Indonesia 2008 Puteri Indonesia 2008 is the 13th Indonesian beauty pageant. The night grand final election Puteri Indonesia 2008 was held in the Plenary Hall, Jakarta Convention Center, Jakarta, on 15 August 2008.... |
Putri Raemawasti Putri Raemawasti Gracia Putri Raemawasti, born December 5, 1986 in Blitar, East Java. She was the winner of Puteri Indonesia 2007 from East Java. She has attended the Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, majoring in industrial engineering.... |
21 | 1.7 metre | Blitar Blitar Blitar is a city which is the capital of a regency with the same name in East Java, Indonesia, about 73 kilometers from Malang and 167 kilometers from Surabaya. The area lies within longitude 111° 40' - 112° 09' East and its latitude is 8° 06' South... |
 IrelandMiss Universe Ireland Miss Universe Ireland is an annual national beauty pageant that selects Ireland's representative to the Miss Universe pageant since 2002.The reigning Miss Ireland Universe is Rozanna Purcell who was crowned on July 9, 2010 in Dublin by Diana Donnelly, Miss Universe Ireland 2009... |
Lynn Kelly Lynn Kelly Lynn Kelly is an Irish model, and former Miss Universe Ireland.In 2008, Dublin-born Kelly was crowned Miss Universe Ireland, narrowly beating rival Lorraine Turner in the finals... |
20 | 1.73 metre | Dublin |
 IsraelMiss Israel -Winners:... |
Shunit Faragi | 21 | 1.73 metre | Kiryat Tiv'on |
| Italy Miss Universo Italia 2008 The Miss Universo Italia 2008 pageant will be held on May 31, 2008. The chosen winner will represent the Italy at Miss Universe 2008.-External links:# http://missuniverse.notizie.alice.it/index.html?pmk=notmuinav... |
Claudia Ferraris Claudia Ferraris Claudia Ferraris is the winner of the Miss Universo Italia 2008 pageant that was held at the Palazzo dei Congressi in Riccione, Emilia-Romagna on May 31, 2008. She represented Italy at the Miss Universe 2008 pageant in Nha Trang, Vietnam on July 14. She placed in the top 10, ranking 9th at the end... |
19 | Bergamo Bergamo Bergamo is a town and comune in Lombardy, Italy, about 40 km northeast of Milan. The comune is home to over 120,000 inhabitants. It is served by the Orio al Serio Airport, which also serves the Province of Bergamo, and to a lesser extent the metropolitan area of Milan... |
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 JamaicaMiss Jamaica Universe The Miss Jamaica Universe is a beauty pageant that selects the contestant to represent Jamaica at the Miss Universe beauty pageant.-Miss Jamaica Universe winners:-Official website:*... |
April Jackson April Jackson April Jackson is Miss Jamaica Universe for 2008. She represented Jamaica at the Miss Universe 2008 beauty pageant in Nha Trang, Vietnam. She is a former Miss Jamaica UK.April Also graduated head of her school and won the most honorable Hillel award... |
19 | 1.83 metre | Ocho Ríos Ocho Rios Ocho Ríos is a town in the parish of Saint Ann on the north coast of Jamaica. Although he landed in many spots along the Jamaican coast, many believe that Christopher Columbus first set foot on land in Ocho Rios... |
| Japan |
Hiroko Mima Hiroko Mima is a fashion model, athlete, beauty queen,and Miss Universe Japan 2008.-Biography:Mima currently attends Nihon University and her major is physical education. Mima suffers from a bone marrow disease that left the right side of her body incapacitated for three months at 13 years old and a nerve... |
21 | 1.73 metre | Tokushima |
| Alfina Nassyrova Alfina Nassyrova Alfina Nasyrova is a Kazakhstani beauty queen who won the national pageant Miss Kazakhstan in 2007 held at the Abai State Kazakh National Opera & Ballet Theatre in Almaty. She then went on to represent Kazakhstan in Miss Universe 2008 in Nha Trang, Vietnam on 14 July 2008, and Miss World 2008 in... |
20 | Almaty Almaty Almaty , also known by its former names Verny and Alma-Ata , is the former capital of Kazakhstan and the nation's largest city, with a population of 1,348,500... |
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 KoreaMiss Korea Miss Korea is an annual national beauty pageant responsible for selecting Korea's representative to the Miss Universe pageant.The current titleholder is Lee Seong-hye. She won the title on August 3, 2011 in Seoul.-History:... |
Sun Lee Sun Lee Lee Ji-sun , also known as Sun Lee in the Western media, is a South Korean who attended Parsons The New School for Design. She is the reigning Miss Korea 2007 and represented her country at the Miss Universe 2008 pageant held in Nha Trang, Vietnam with 79 other delegates.-Miss Korea 2007:Lee... |
25 | 1.7 metre | Seoul Seoul Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world... |
| Kosovo Miss Universe Kosovo Miss Universe Kosova is a national beauty pageant that sends representatives from Kosovo to the Miss Universe pageant since 2008.-History:On April 4, 2008, Fadil Berisha, the photographer of Miss Universe’s official photos, hosted the inaugural "Miss Universe Kosova" pageant where Zana Krasniqi... |
Zana Krasniqi Zana Krasniqi Zana Krasniqi is a Beauty Queen, fashion model, and Miss Universe Kosovo. She represented Kosovo for the first time in Miss Universe and placed in the Top 10 of the Miss Universe 2008.-Personal life:... |
19 | 1.7 metre | Prishtina |
| Levy Li Levy Li Levy Li Su Lin a Malaysian of mixed Chinese and Thai descent, is the winner of Miss Malaysia Universe 2008 and represented Malaysia in the Miss Universe beauty pageant held in Vietnam, in June 2008... |
20 | 1.7 metre | Terengganu Terengganu Terengganu is a sultanate and constitutive state of federal Malaysia. The state is also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Iman... |
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| Olivia Carey Olivia Carey Marie-Anne Olivia Carey is a beauty pageant contestant born in 1988 who won the title of Miss Mauritius 2007, and represented Mauritius in Miss World 2008 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Previously, she had competed in Miss Tourism Queen International 2008 in Zhengzhou, China; and Miss Universe... |
19 | Vacoas | ||
| Mexico Nuestra Belleza Mexico 2007 The 14th Nuestra Belleza México pageant, was held at the Auditorio "Profr. Manuel Bonilla Valle", Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico on October 6, 2007. Thirty-three contestants competed for the national title, which was won by Elisa Nájera of Guanajuato, who later competed in Miss Universe 2008 where she... |
Elisa Nájera Elisa Nájera Elisa Nájera Gualito was crowned Nuestra Belleza Mexico on October 5, 2007 in Manzanillo, Colima.-Biography:... |
21 | Celaya Celaya Celaya is a city and its surrounding municipality in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico, located in the southeast quadrant of the state. It is the third most populous city in the state, with a 2005 census population of 310,413. The municipality for which the city serves as municipal seat, had a... |
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 MontenegroMiss Montenegro - External links :*... |
Daša Živković Daša Živkovic -External links:*... |
19 | Nikšić Nikšić Nikšić is a city in Montenegro . In 2003 the city had a total population about 75,000.Nikšić is located in Nikšić plain, at the foot of Mount Trebjesa. It is the center of the municipality , which is the largest in Montenegro by area... |
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 Netherlands |
Charlotte Labee | 22 | 1.8 metre | Den Haag |
 New ZealandNew Zealand at Miss Universe Miss Universe New Zealand is the New Zealand national beauty pageant which feeds into the international Miss Universe competition. Qualification for Miss Universe New Zealand is based on regional pageants and/or personal interviews .New Zealanders have contested 44 Miss Universe pageants since its... |
Samantha Powell | 21 | 1.78 metre | Paraparaumu Paraparaumu Paraparaumu is a town in the south-western North Island of New Zealand. It lies in the Kapiti Coast, 50 kilometres north of the nation's capital city, Wellington.... |
 NicaraguaMiss Nicaragua The Miss Nicaragua contest is the national beauty pageant of Nicaragua and is a franchise of SILHUETAS, a modeling agency. Each Nicaraguan department may choose a representative who then enters the Miss Nicaragua finals, traditionally held at the Rubén Darío National Theater. The winner is crowned... |
Thelma Rodríguez Thelma Rodríguez Thelma Guisselle Rodríguez Flores is a beauty queen from Chinandega, Nicaragua. Rodríguez was crowned Miss Nicaragua 2008, which was held in the Rubén Darío National Theater in Managua and was crowned by the former Miss Nicaragua, Xiomara Blandino. She represented Nicaragua at the Miss Universe... |
19 | 1.75 metre | Chinandega Chinandega Chinandega is a town and the departmental seat of Chinandega department in Nicaragua. It is also the administrative centre of the surrounding municipality of the same name. The city has a population of 121,793 inhabitants with 151,000 in the municipality... |
| Stephanie Oforka | 20 | 1.8 metre | Port Harcourt | |
| Mariann Birkedal Mariann Birkedal -External links:*... |
21 | 1.73 metre | Stavanger Stavanger Stavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway... |
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| Carolina Dementiev Carolina Dementiev Carolina Dementiev Justavino, born 1 February 1989, is a Panamanian model and beauty pageant contestant winner of the Realmente Bella Señorita Panamá 2008 contest also represented Panama in the 57th Miss Universe 2008 will be held at the Diamond Bay Resort in Nha Trang, Vietnam.Her start in the... |
19 | Panama City Panama City Panama is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Panama. It has a population of 880,691, with a total metro population of 1,272,672, and it is located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, in the province of the same name. The city is the political and administrative center of the... |
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 Paraguay |
Giannina Rufinelli Giannina Rufinelli Giannina Ruffinelli Rojas is a beauty queen that represented Paraguay in the Miss Universe 2008 pageant, held in the Diamond Bay Resort, Nha Trang, Vietnam on July 14, 2008 but she did not get a place.-References:... |
22 | Luque Luque Luque is a city in Central Department, Paraguay, part of the Gran Asunción metropolitan area. It is located at around . It is the location of the Silvio Pettirossi International Airport for Asunción and the headquarters of CONMEBOL... |
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| Peru Miss Peru Peru has been competing in the Miss Universe pageants for over 50 years. Their first representative was Ada Gabriela Bueno in 1952. Five years later, It became the first Latin American and Spanish-speaking country to win the Miss Universe crown when Gladys Zender became Miss Universe 1957. As of... |
Karol Castillo | 18 | Trujillo Trujillo, Peru Trujillo, in northwestern Peru, is the capital of the La Libertad Region, and the third largest city in Peru. The urban area has 811,979 inhabitants and is an economic hub in northern Peru... |
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 PhilippinesBinibining Pilipinas 2008 Binibining Pilipinas 2008, the 44th Binibining Pilipinas beauty pageant, was held at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on March 8, 2008. Twenty-four candidates competed in the event, which was broadcast by GMA Network in the Philippines, and by GMA Pinoy TV internationally on March 9th. The event... |
Jennifer Barrientos Jennifer Barrientos Jennifer Tarol Barrientos was born in San Mateo, Rizal. She was the Binibining Pilipinas-Universe titleholder for 2008. She was the official representative of the Philippines to the Miss Universe pageant which took place in Nha Trang, Vietnam on July 14, 2008. She did not place in the top fifteen... |
22 | San Mateo San Mateo, Rizal San Mateo, Rizal is a first class urban municipality of Rizal Province. Located on the island of Luzon, San Mateo is one of 13 municipalities and a capital city that make up the Province of Rizal, Region 4-A of the Philippines. San Mateo is part of the Metro Luzon Urban Beltway... |
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 PolandMiss Polonia Miss Polonia is an annual, national beauty pageant held in Poland. Winner and runners-up represent Poland in Miss Universe, Miss Europe, Miss Earth, Miss International and Miss Baltic Sea. The pageant is not related to Miss Polski.- Winners :... |
Barbara Tatara | 24 | 1.75 metre | Lodz Lódz Łódź is the third-largest city in Poland. Located in the central part of the country, it had a population of 742,387 in December 2009. It is the capital of Łódź Voivodeship, and is approximately south-west of Warsaw... |
 Puerto RicoMiss Puerto Rico Universe 2007 The annual Miss Puerto Rico Universe competition was held in the fall of 2006 in Puerto Rico. Zuleyka Rivera, the reigning Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2006 who then became Miss Universe 2006, crowned her successor in this event... |
Ingrid Rivera Ingrid Rivera Ingrid Marie Rivera Santos to Elba Santos and John Rivera. Ingrid was Miss Puerto Rico in 2008 and is a former Miss Mundo de Puerto Rico who obtained the title of Miss Caribbean when she placed 2nd Runner-up at the 2005 Miss World pageant... |
24 | Dorado Dorado, Puerto Rico Dorado is a small tourist town in the northern coast of Puerto Rico, west of San Juan and is located in the northern region of the island, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of Toa Alta, east of Vega Alta, and west of Toa Baja. Dorado is spread over five barrios and Dorado Pueblo... |
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| Russia Miss Russia Miss Russia is the annual national beauty pageant of Russia, responsible for selecting representatives to Miss Universe and Miss World.-History:The pageant has been running since 1992, however there was no Miss Russia 1994, 2000 or 2008.... |
Vera Krasova Vera Krasova Vera Krasova was born 1987 in Moscow, Russia is a Russian model and a beauty queen. She competed in the 2007 Miss Russia pageant on December 14 where she represented the capital of Russia, Moscow. Vera made it to the top-3 contestants and placed as the 2nd runner-up to the eventual winner Ksenia... |
20 | Moscow Moscow Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent... |
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 SerbiaMiss Serbia - External links :*... |
Bojana Borić | 21 | 1.78 metre | Sremska Mitrovica Sremska Mitrovica Sremska Mitrovica is a city and municipality located in the Vojvodina province of Serbia, on the left bank of the Sava river. As of 2002 the town had a total population of 39,041, while Sremska Mitrovica municipality had a population of 85,605... |
 SingaporeMiss Singapore Universe Miss Singapore Universe is an annual beauty contest held in Singapore and organised by Derrol Stepenny Promotions to select the country's representative to the Miss Universe pageant. Between 2001 and 2007, the contest was telecast 'live' by the local television station Mediacorp's Channel 5... |
Shenise Wong | 26 | 1.73 metre | Singapore Singapore Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the... |
 Slovak RepublicMiss Universe Slovenskej Republiky -External links:*... |
Sandra Manáková | 20 | 1.8 metre | Bratislava Bratislava Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava... |
 SloveniaMiss Universe Slovenia 2008 Miss Universe Slovenia 2008, the 8th Miss Universe Slovenia pageant held at Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre in Ljubljana, Slovenia on May 17, 2008. Miss Universe Slovenia, Tjaša Kokalj, will crown her successorat the end of this event... |
Anamarija Avbelj | 20 | Lukovica Lukovica Lukovica pri Domžalah is a settlement and municipality in the eastern part of the Upper Carniola region in Slovenia. It lies on the main road from Ljubljana to Celje and has been an independent municipality since 1995.-External links:*... |
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| South Africa Miss South Africa Miss South Africa is an annual beauty pageant in South Africa that began in 1956. The winner of the pageant represents her country at the Miss Universe and Miss World pageants.... |
Tansey Coetzee Tansey Coetzee Tansey Coetzee is a beauty queen who won the title of Miss South Africa 2007, and later represented South Africa in Miss Universe 2008 in Nha Trang, Vietnam, where she placed among the top 15 semifinalists... |
23 | Johannesburg Johannesburg Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa... |
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| Spain Miss Spain 2008 The Miss Spain 2008 pageant was held on March 29, 2008. It was the 68th edition of Miss Spain. There were 52 candidates for the national title. The winner will represent Spain at Miss World 2008. The First Runner Up would enter Miss Universe 2008. The Second Runner Up would enter Miss International... |
Claudia Moro Claudia Moro Claudia Moro Fernández is a beauty queen from Spain who competed in the 2008 Miss Universe pageant, placing seventh overall.-Miss Spain:... |
22 | 1.8 metre | Madrid Madrid Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan... |
| Aruni Rajapaksha | 24 | 1.7 metre | Kandy Kandy Kandy is a city in the center of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka; it is both an... |
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 SwitzerlandMiss Switzerland Miss Switzerland is a Swiss beauty pageant for young women. Candidates are selected by television viewers and a jury. The winner is awarded the title Miss Switzerland... |
Amanda Ammann | 21 | 1.68 metre | Abtwil |
 TanzaniaMiss Universe Tanzania Miss Universe Tanzania is a beauty pageant that was first held in 2007. The winner will go on and represent Tanzania at the Miss Universe and the runner-ups go to Miss Earth and Miss International... |
Amanda Ole Sulul | 21 | Arusha Arusha Arusha is a city in northern Tanzania. It is the capital of the Arusha Region, which claims a population of 1,288,088, including 281,608 for the Arusha District . Arusha is surrounded by some of Africa's most famous landscapes and national parks... |
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| Thailand Miss Thailand Universe 2008 Miss Thailand Universe 2008, the 9th Miss Thailand Universe pageant held at the Aksra Theatre, King Power Complex, in Bangkok, Thailand on May 24, 2008... |
Gavintra Photijak Gavintra Photijak Gavintra Photijak , nicknamed Gam Gavintra Photijak , nicknamed Gam Gavintra Photijak , nicknamed Gam (born 24 December 1986 in Nongkhai, Thailand is a student, and pageant titleholder who has competed in the Miss Universe pageant.... |
21 | Nongkhai | |
 Trinidad & TobagoMiss Trinidad and Tobago Universe The Miss Trinidad and Tobago Universe beauty pageant has been held annually since 1963 a year after its independence from the United Kingdom. The contest is meant to select a suitable delegate from both islands to compete in the Miss Universe pageant.... |
Anya Ayoung-Chee Anya Ayoung-Chee Anya Ayoung-Chee is Miss Trinidad and Tobago Universe 2008 and was a contestant in the Miss Universe 2008 pageant, and also the winner of Project Runway's ninth season in 2011.- Early life :... |
26 | 1.73 metre | Maraval Maraval Maraval is one of the northern suburbs of Trinidad's capital, Port of Spain a valley in northern Trinidad in Trinidad and Tobago. It is situated at the bottom of the hills of Paramin and located east of the Diego Martin valley to which it is connected directly by Morne Coco Road, and west of Santa... |
 TurkeyMiss Turkey Miss Turkey ® is a national beauty pageant for unmarried women in Turkey, who personify beauty with intelligence. The first beauty contest was held on September 2, 1929 with the backing of the government, and the title holder was Feriha Tevfik.... |
Sinem Sülün | 19 | 1.73 metre | Istanbul Istanbul Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and... |
 Turks and CaicosMiss Turks and Caicos Miss Turks and Caicos is an annual national beauty pageant that selects Turks & Caicos' representative to the Miss Universe pageant.The current Miss Turks and Caicos is Easher Parker.... |
Angelica Lightbourne | 19 | 1.63 metre | Providenciales Providenciales Providenciales is an island in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The island has an area of and an approximate population of 15,542, making it the largest island in population and the third largest in area. It is served by the Providenciales International Airport... |
| UK Miss Universe UK 2008 The Miss Universe UK 2008 pageant was held on May 4, 2008. That year only 50 candidates competed for the national crown. The chosen winner represents the United Kingdom at Miss Universe 2008... |
Lisa Lazarus Lisa Lazarus -Biography:Lazarus was born in Llanelli, Wales in 1987, the daughter of psychic journalist Diane Lazarus. Lazarus attended the University of Hertfordshire where she studied her degree in Diagnostic Radiography... |
20 | 1.78 metre | Swansea Swansea Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands... |
 UkraineMiss Ukraine Universe -External links:*... |
Eleonora Masalab Eleonora Masalab Eleonora Masalab is a Ukrainian beauty pageant contestant and winner of Miss Ukraine Universe 2008.She represented Ukraine in Miss Universe 2008, which took place in Vietnam, on July 14, 2008. She did not place in the top 15. She was previously the runner-up in Miss Model of the World 2005-2006,... |
19 | 1.78 metre | Kharkiv Kharkiv Kharkiv or Kharkov is the second-largest city in Ukraine.The city was founded in 1654 and was a major centre of Ukrainian culture in the Russian Empire. Kharkiv became the first city in Ukraine where the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic was proclaimed in December 1917 and Soviet government was... |
 UruguayMiss Universo Uruguay 2008 The Miss Universo Uruguay 2008 will be on March 29, 2008. There were 14 candidates for the national title. The winner will represent Uruguay at Miss Universe 2008, Reina Hispanoamericana 2008 and Miss Continente Americano 2008. The first runner up will enter Reinado Internacional del Café 2008... |
Paula Díaz Paula Díaz Paula Andrea Díaz is a Uruguayan beauty pageant titleholder crowned Miss Universe Uruguay 2008. Díaz represented Uruguay in Miss Universe 2008.... |
19 | 1.75 metre | Ciudad de la Costa Canelones Canelones is the capital of the department of Canelones in Uruguay.-Population:In 2004, it had a population of 19,631. While Canelones is the capital of the department of the same name, it has a considerably smaller population compared with two other cities in the department, Ciudad de la Costa and... |
| USA Miss USA 2008 Miss USA 2008, the 57th Miss USA beauty pageant, was held in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 11, 2008. At the conclusion of the final night of competition, Crystle Stewart, Miss Texas USA, was crowned the winner by outgoing titleholder, Rachel Smith of Tennessee... |
Crystle Stewart Crystle Stewart Crystle Danae Stewart , from Missouri City, Texas, is an American beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss USA 2008. She was born to Robert & Cynthia Franklin Stewart... |
26 | 1.75 metre | Missouri City Missouri City, Texas Missouri City is a city located in the U.S. state of Texas within the metropolitan area. The city is mostly in Fort Bend County with a small portion within Harris County. As of the 2000 U.S... |
| Venezuela Miss Venezuela 2007 Miss Venezuela 2007, the 54th Miss Venezuela pageant, was held in Caracas, on September 13, 2007, after four weeks of events. The winner of the pageant was Dayana Mendoza, Miss Amazonas, who went on to win Miss Universe 2008.... |
Dayana Mendoza Dayana Mendoza Dayana Sabrina Mendoza Moncada is a model and beauty pageant titleholder who won the titles of Miss Venezuela 2007 and Miss Universe 2008.-Personal life:... |
22 | 1.78 metre | Caracas Caracas Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range... |
| Vietnam Miss Universe Vietnam Miss Universe Vietnam is a beauty contest held in Vietnam to select the country's representative to the Miss Universe pageant.This pageant is unrelated to Miss Vietnam or Miss World Vietnamese pageants.-History:... |
Nguyễn Thùy Lâm | 20 | 1.7 metre | Thái Bình Thai Binh Province Thái Bình is a coastal eastern province in the Red River Delta region of northern Vietnam, named after the Vietnamese name for the Pacific Ocean: Thái Bình Dương... |
Debut
- Republic of Kosovo In February 2008, Miss Universe organization president Paula Shugart announced that a Miss Kosovo would compete in Miss Universe 2008 in Vietnam. MontenegroMontenegroMontenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
and SerbiaSerbiaSerbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
had already announced that they would boycott the pageant if Kosovo participated. As Vietnam and Kosovo do not have diplomatic relations, the Vietnam government considered disallowing such participation since it opposes Kosovo's independence. In the end, Kosovo, Serbia, and Montenegro competed without incident. Kosovo's Zana Krasniqi made it to the finals, finishing sixth place.
Withdrawals
Returning countries and territories
- Last competed in 2006Miss Universe 2006Miss Universe 2006, the 55th Miss Universe pageant, took place at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, USA. Unlike past events, it was broadcast live on NBC on a Sunday, July 23, 2006, almost two months later than usual....
.- '
- '
- Last competed in 2000Miss Universe 2000Miss Universe 2000, the 49th Miss Universe pageant was held at Eleftheria Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus on May 12, 2000. 79 delegates from around the universe competed for the crown. At the conclusion of the final night, Lara Dutta of India was crowned as the new Miss Universe 2000 by Miss Universe...
: - Last competed in 2005Miss Universe 2005Miss Universe 2005, the 54th Miss Universe pageant, was held at the Impact Arena, Bangkok, Thailand on May 31, 2005.At the conclusion of the final telecast, Miss Universe Canada, Natalie Glebova was crowned Miss Universe 2005 by outgoing titleholder Jennifer Hawkins of Australia...
:
Replacements
- Laura TanguyLaura Tanguy
Laura Tanguy is a French beauty pageant contestant who was elected second runner-up of Miss France 2008. She is the back of the Miss France 2008 under Valérie Bègue for all official representations alongside Genevieve de Fontenay, as well as for the regional elections qualifiers Miss France 2009,...
, Miss Pays de Loire and second runner up to Miss France
Miss France
Miss France is the trademark of an annual beauty pageant. Rights to the trademark were obtained in 2002 by the Dutch television production company Endemol through its subsidiary Miss France SAS, whose director general is Sylvie Tellier, Miss France 2002. Endemol also holds the rights in France to...
2008, replaced Valérie Bègue
Valérie Bègue
Valérie Bègue, born 26 September 1985, in St Pierre, was elected Miss France 2008. She is currently TV host. The pageant was held in Dunkerque, in northern France. She represents the Réunion island, an overseas department of France located in the Indian Ocean...
, who was banned by Miss France organization after suggestive photos appeared in the media shortly after her crowning. Her first runner-up, Miss New Caledonia Vahinerii Requillart, decided to not compete in Miss Universe because she wanted to continue studying. - Vera Krasova
Vera Krasova
Vera Krasova was born 1987 in Moscow, Russia is a Russian model and a beauty queen. She competed in the 2007 Miss Russia pageant on December 14 where she represented the capital of Russia, Moscow. Vera made it to the top-3 contestants and placed as the 2nd runner-up to the eventual winner Ksenia...
, 2nd runner-up to Miss Russia 2007, replaced Ksenia Sukhinova
Ksenia Sukhinova
Ksenia Vladimirovna Sukhinova is a Russian beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss Russia 2007 and Miss World 2008. She also appeared in all of the postcards that introduced every participating song in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest.- Personal :...
, who didn't compete due to her studies. - Claudia Moro
Claudia Moro
Claudia Moro Fernández is a beauty queen from Spain who competed in the 2008 Miss Universe pageant, placing seventh overall.-Miss Spain:...
was appointed as the representative of her country after Patricia Rodriguez, Miss Spain 2008, couldn't participate because she did not meet the minimum age requirement by the Miss Universe Organization.
Crossovers
Contestants who competed at other beauty pageants:Miss World 2011
Miss World 2011
Miss World 2011, the 61st edition of the Miss World pageant took place at the Earls Court Two on November 6, 2011 in London. As part of the events, the contestants also traveled to Edinburgh, Scotland between October 23 and October 27.. Alexandria Mills of the United States crowned her successor...
- Guam: Siera Robertson
Miss World 2010
Miss World 2010
Miss World 2010, the 60th Miss World pageant was held on October 30, 2010, in Sanya, People's Republic of China; after Vietnam backed out of the hosting contract. Kaiane Aldorino of Gibraltar crowned her successor Alexandria Mills of the United States as Miss World 2010.-Vietnam backed out:On June...
- : Mariann BirkedalMariann Birkedal-External links:*...
(Top 7)
Miss World 2008
Miss World 2008
Miss World 2008, the 58th Miss World pageant was held at Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa on December 13, 2008. Originally, the pageant was going to take place in Kiev, Ukraine, but because of the ongoing crisis between Georgia and Russia in neighboring South Ossetia, the...
- : Tansey CoetzeeTansey CoetzeeTansey Coetzee is a beauty queen who won the title of Miss South Africa 2007, and later represented South Africa in Miss Universe 2008 in Nha Trang, Vietnam, where she placed among the top 15 semifinalists...
(Top 5) - : Alfina Nasyrova (Top 15)
- ': Athina JamesAthina JamesAthina James is a beauty pageant contestant who represented Antigua and Barbuda in Miss Universe 2008 in Vietnam, and Miss World 2008 in South Africa.-References:* *...
- : Alizée PoulicekAlizée PoulicekAlizée Poulicek is a beauty pageant contestant who won the title of Miss Belgium 2008 and represented her country in Miss Universe 2008 in Nha Trang, Vietnam. She went unplaced at the latter pageant. She also represented Belgium in Miss World 2008 in Johannesburg, South Africa.She can speak...
- : Laura TanguyLaura TanguyLaura Tanguy is a French beauty pageant contestant who was elected second runner-up of Miss France 2008. She is the back of the Miss France 2008 under Valérie Bègue for all official representations alongside Genevieve de Fontenay, as well as for the regional elections qualifiers Miss France 2009,...
- : Olivia Carey
Miss World 2007
Miss World 2007
Miss World 2007, the 57th Miss World pageant was held at the Crown of Beauty Theatre, Sanya, People's Republic of China on December 1, 2007. It was hosted by Fernando Allende and Angela Chow. Zhang Zilin of the People's Republic of China won the crown and succeeded Miss World 2006, Taťána Kuchařová...
- : Rebecca ParchmentRebecca Parchment- External links :*...
Miss World 2005
Miss World 2005
Miss World 2005, the 55th Miss World pageant was held at the Crown of Beauty Theatre in Sanya, People's Republic of China on December 10, 2005. Nine former Miss World titleholders and chairwoman of Miss World Organization Julia Morley judged the pageant. Miss World 2004 María Julia Mantilla of Peru...
- : Ingrid RiveraIngrid RiveraIngrid Marie Rivera Santos to Elba Santos and John Rivera. Ingrid was Miss Puerto Rico in 2008 and is a former Miss Mundo de Puerto Rico who obtained the title of Miss Caribbean when she placed 2nd Runner-up at the 2005 Miss World pageant...
(2nd runner-up) - : Shenise Wong
Elite Model Look International 2001
Elite Model Look
Elite Model Look is a yearly fashion modeling event held by Elite Model Management, an international model management group. It is the premiere and most prestigious modeling contest used to discover and launch fashion models in the international fashion marketplace...
- : Dayana MendozaDayana MendozaDayana Sabrina Mendoza Moncada is a model and beauty pageant titleholder who won the titles of Miss Venezuela 2007 and Miss Universe 2008.-Personal life:...
Miss International 2007
Miss International 2007
Miss International 2007, the 47th Miss International pageant was held at The Hotel Prince Park Tower, Tokyo, Japan on October 15, 2007. 61 contestants from all over the world competed for the crown marking at that time, the biggest turnout in the pageants 47 year history. That record was held until...
- : Aruni Madusha Rajapakse (Top 15)
Miss International 2002
Miss International 2002
Miss International 2002, the 42nd Miss International pageant, was won by Christina Sawaya of Lebanon. It took place on 30 September 2002 at the Century Hyatt, Tokyo, Japan.-Placements:-Special awards:*Friendship: '*Photogenic: '...
- : Shenise Wong
Top Model of The World 2010
Top Model of The World 2010
The 17th Top Model Of The World Pageant was held in the Hohensyburg Casino in Dortmund, Germany from 10-21 February 2010. Forty three contestants competed in the event in which Carolina Rodriguez who represented Colombia walked away with the first Top Model of the World title for her...
- : Eliška BučkováEliška BuckováEliška Bučková is a pageant titleholder from the Czech Republic who won the title of Czech Miss 2008 as a 19-year-old. Eliška represented the Czech Republic at the Miss Universe 2008 pageant in Nha Trang, Vietnam on July 14, 2008 where Elisa placed as one of semi-finalists in the Top 15 and...
(Top 15)
Miss Earth 2007
Miss Earth 2007
Miss Earth 2007, the seventh Miss Earth beauty pageant, was held on November 11, 2007 at the UP Theater in Quezon City, Philippines. The delegates also visited Nha Trang, Vietnam. 88 delegates competed for the title, making 2007 the largest edition of delegates for Miss Earth. The pageant was...
- : Barbara Tatara
Miss Tourism Queen International 2008
- : Daša ŽivkovićDaša Živkovic-External links:*...
(3rd runner-up)
Miss Asia Pacific 1999
Miss Asia Pacific International
The Miss Asia Pacific International is the first and oldest beauty pageant in Asia. It began as a regional pageant in 1968, known as the Miss Asia Quest...
- : Shenise Wong
Miss Continente Americano 2007
Miss Continente Americano 2007
Miss Continente Americano 2007, the 2nd Miss Continente Americano pageant, was held in Guayaquil, Ecuador on June 30, 2007. Mía Taveras, Miss Continente Americano 2006 from the Dominican Republic, crowned Marianne Cruz, also from the Dominican Republic, as the brand new Miss Continente...
- : Marianne CruzMarianne CruzMarianne Cruz González is the 2008 Miss Dominican Republic and was the second runner-up in the Miss Universe 2008. She was born in Salcedo, Dominican Republic.- Personal life :...
(Winner)
International Model Of The Year 2007
- : Samantha TajikSamantha TajikSamantha Tajik is a Canadian-Iranian model and beauty queen who was crowned Miss Universe Canada 2008.She competed in the Miss Universe Canada 2008 pageant, and on April 28, 2008 was crowned the winner by outgoing titleholder, Inga Skaya....
(Winner)
Historical significance
- Venezuela won the Miss Universe crown after a 12 year drought.
- Countries who also made into the top 15 the previous year were Venezuela, Mexico, USA, Czech Republic and Japan.
- Mexico placed for the fifth consecutive year. Japan placed for the third straight year. Venezuela placed for the second consecutive year.
- Kosovo and Vietnam placed for the first time. This was also the first year that Kosovo competed.
- Colombia, Hungary and Russia last placed in 2006. Valerie Dominguez, Adrienne Bende, and Anna Litvinova were the last placers for these countries, respectively.
- Dominican Republic and South Africa last placed in 2005. Renata Soñe and Claudia Henkel were the last placers for these countries.
- Australia placed for the first time since 2004, when Jennifer HawkinsJennifer HawkinsJennifer Hawkins is an Australian beauty queen, model and television presenter best known as Miss Universe 2004 and the face of Australian department store Myer.-Early life:...
won the title. - Spain last placed in 2001, the last being Eva Sisó Casals.
- Italy last placed in 1997, the last being Denny MéndezDenny MendezDenny Andreina Méndez de la Rosa is a former beauty queen turned model and actress who represented Italy in the 1997 Miss Universe pageant.-Early life:...
. - El Salvador won Miss Congeniality for the second time.
- Thailand won its fourth Best National Costume Award, its first via internet voting.
- Venezuela won its fifth crown, now the second most successful country to compete in the pageant tied with Puerto Rico after USA.
- Russia scored its highest placement since Oxana Fedorova won in 2002 (later dethroned).
- Colombia reaches its highest position since 1994 (Carolina Gomez 1st runner-up)
- This is the 45th (out of a total of 57) editions that the host delegate made the semifinals.
- This is the first time since 2003 that the venue (Crown Convention Center) was specifically made for the pageant.
- A European Mel B. co-hosted the pageant only for the second time this decade, the first being Naomi Campbell in 2001. Interestingly, both are Black British celebrities.
- For the first time since 2001, Europeans outnumbered those from the Americas in the semifinals.
- This is the first time no Miss Photogenic award was given since the inception of the award.
New crown
For Miss Universe 2008 a new crown was unveiled. The 18k white and yellow gold crown was designed by CAO Fine Jewelry specifically for the event. With over 1,000 precious stones, including 44 carats (8.8 g) of diamonds, the crown has a value of $120,000 (USD). The design of the crown is highly symbolic. Vietnam is symbolized in the yellow gold, representative of the country's healthy economy, and in the crane, with represents the spirit and culture of Vietnam. Other colors stand for inspiration and feeling, while the depicted heart is meant to reflect faith, hope and unity. The curving patterns of the stones are a tribute to every country, reflecting growth. The crown will only be awarded as part of the contest this year, the original Mikimoto design was to be awarded again next year but Diamond Nexus Labs designed the crown instead.Miss USA falls again
Miss USAMiss USA
The Miss USA beauty contest has been held annually since 1952 to select the United States entrant in the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Organization operates both pageants, as well as Miss Teen USA...
, Crystle Stewart
Crystle Stewart
Crystle Danae Stewart , from Missouri City, Texas, is an American beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss USA 2008. She was born to Robert & Cynthia Franklin Stewart...
, slipped and fell down the stairs during the Evening Gown competition. This was the second year in a row that a Miss USA
Miss USA
The Miss USA beauty contest has been held annually since 1952 to select the United States entrant in the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Organization operates both pageants, as well as Miss Teen USA...
delegate fell during Evening Gown. This is also the first time in pageant history a contestant fell down during the Evening Gown competition in two consecutive pageants, from the same country, or from any country. Miss USA 2007
Miss USA 2007
Miss USA 2007, the 56th Miss USA pageant, was held in Hollywood, California, on March 23, 2007, after two weeks of events and preliminary competition. The winner of the pageant was Rachel Smith, of Tennessee....
, Rachel Smith
Rachel Smith
Rachel Renee Smith is an American beauty queen and television personality from Clarksville, Tennessee, who won the Miss USA pageant in 2007 and who previously had competed in the Miss Teen USA pageant.-Early life:...
, fell during Miss Universe 2007
Miss Universe 2007
Miss Universe 2007, the 56th Miss Universe pageant, took place on May 28, 2007 at the National Auditorium in Mexico City, Mexico. 77 delegates competed for the title. Riyo Mori of Japan was crowned the winner of the title by Zuleyka Rivera of Puerto Rico....
in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, and received boos after she made the Top Five contestants. After Stewart
Crystle Stewart
Crystle Danae Stewart , from Missouri City, Texas, is an American beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss USA 2008. She was born to Robert & Cynthia Franklin Stewart...
fell, she encouraged the audience to applaud by clapping her hands. She was eliminated after the Evening Gown Competition, finishing in eighth place.
Prizes
Dayana MendozaDayana Mendoza
Dayana Sabrina Mendoza Moncada is a model and beauty pageant titleholder who won the titles of Miss Venezuela 2007 and Miss Universe 2008.-Personal life:...
receives a prize package which includes cash, a one-year contract promoting Miss Universe, world travel, a rent-free, prestigious New York City apartment, a gift bag stuffed with free designer shoes, dresses and beauty products, a stipend
Stipend
A stipend is a form of salary, such as for an internship or apprenticeship. It is often distinct from a wage or a salary because it does not necessarily represent payment for work performed, instead it represents a payment that enables somebody to be exempt partly or wholly from waged or salaried...
for a 2-year course at the New York Film Academy
New York Film Academy
New York Film Academy - School of Film and Acting is a film school andacting school based in New York City, Universal City, California, USA and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. NYFA offers short-term film-making and acting courses, as well as one- and two-year conservatory and Master of Fine Arts...
. Mendoza will spend her year-long reign traveling the world to lecture on humanitarian issues and promote education regarding HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
/AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
, the official platform of the Miss Universe Organization
Miss Universe Organization
The Miss Universe Organization is the organization that currently owns and runs the Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA beauty contests. Based in New York, it is owned jointly by NBC Universal and Donald Trump. The current president is Paula Shugart...
.
International broadcasting
These are some of the networks outside the United States (telecasted on NBC and Telemundo) that showed the 2008 Miss Universe pageant live (or recorded earlier) in their respective countries and territories:: TNT
Turner Network Television
Turner Network Television is an American cable television channel created by media mogul Ted Turner and currently owned by the Turner Broadcasting System division of Time Warner...
: Unitel
Unitel Bolivia
UNITEL is a Bolivian television network headquartered in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. It was founded in 1987. It is owned by businessman Osvaldo Monasterio Nieme. The station is well known for its political bias towards Bolivia's right-wing opposition parties....
: Rede Bandeirantes
Rede Bandeirantes
Rede Bandeirantes , officially nicknamed Band or Band Network, is a television network from Brazil, based in São Paulo. Part of the Grupo Bandeirantes de Comunicação , it aired for the first time in 1967...
and TNT: CCTV
China Central Television
China Central Television or Chinese Central Television, commonly abbreviated as CCTV, is the major state television broadcaster in mainland China. CCTV has a network of 19 channels broadcasting different programmes and is accessible to more than one billion viewers...
: Caracol TV
Caracol TV
Caracol Televisión is a Colombian private national television network, owned by Julio Mario Santo Domingo.- History :Caracol Televisión started in 1954 when Organización de Radiodifusora Caracol offered to afford national television costs, then state-run, through commercial spots...
: Teletica: Telemundo
Telemundo
Telemundo is an American television network that broadcasts in Spanish. The network is the second-largest Spanish-language content producer in the world, and the second-largest Spanish-language network in the United States, behind Univision....
, TNT and NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
: Gamavisión, TNT: TCS: ATV
Asia Television Limited
Asia Television Limited is one of the two free-to-air television broadcasters in Hong Kong, the other being rival Television Broadcasts Limited . It launched in 1957 under the name Rediffusion Television as the first television station in Hong Kong...
: Indosiar
Indosiar
Indosiar is a publicly owned national television station in Indonesia, and has been operating from West Jakarta since 1994. It was listed on the Indonesian Stock Exchange in 2004. Citibank Singapore has an 8.5 percent shareholding...
: LBCI
: TV3
TV3 (Malaysia)
Sistem Televisyen Malaysia Berhad or TV3 began broadcasting on 1 June 1984 as Malaysia’s first commercial television station. It is part of Media Prima Berhad group of companies. It now transmits opened broadcasting business private 24-hours a day, 7 days a week since 1 January 2010...
: Televisa
Televisa
Televisa is a Mexican multimedia conglomerate, the largest mass media company in Latin America and in the Spanish-speaking world. It is a major international entertainment business, with much of its programming airing in the United States on Univision, with which it has an exclusive contract...
and TNT: Televicentro
Televicentro (Canal 2)
Televicentro is a nationwide terrestrial television channel from Nicaragua owned by Televicentro de Nicaragua, S.A.- History :Televicentro de Nicaragua, S.A. was founded in December 1965 by Octavio Sacasa Sarria, first broadcast in March, 1966. It was the second television channel in Nicaragua,...
: Telemetro: ABS-CBN
ABS-CBN
ABS–CBN Corporation is a Philippine-based media conglomerate. It is the Philippines' largest media and entertainment conglomerate. The corporation was the merger of Alto Broadcasting System which at that time owned by James Lindenberg and Antonio Quirino, and the Chronicle Broadcasting Network ...
: Telewizja Polska
Telewizja Polska
Telewizja Polska Spółka Akcyjna is Poland's public broadcasting corporation...
: Telemundo: Channel 5
MediaCorp TV Channel 5
MediaCorp Channel 5 or Channel 5 is a 24-hour free-to-air English and Malay language television channel based in Singapore....
: NonStop Television
NonStop Television
NonStop Television is a Scandinavian television company, part of Turner Broadcasting System, packaging and distributing a number of specialty channels, mostly to the Nordic region. The company is a part of Millennium Media Group...
: Formosa Television
Formosa TV
Formosa TV is a television station based in Taipei, Taiwan. Established on March 27, 1996, FTV began broadcasting on June 11, 1997.The station was wholly owned and operated by the Democratic Progressive Party. Due to this, its news programs are often of a Pan-Green perspective...
: Venevision
Venevisión
Venevisión is one of Venezuela's largest television networks and a Venezuelan cable and terrestrial television network, which is owned and presided over by Gustavo Cisneros...
, TNT: VTV
Vietnam Television
Vietnam Television, or VTV, is the national television broadcaster for Vietnam. Like all media of Vietnam, its programming is directly controlled by the government.-History:...
- Southeast AsiaSoutheast AsiaSoutheast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
: Hallmark Channel