MAIN Art & Culture Pop Culture Miss Universe

The 58th annual Miss Universe beauty pageant took place on August 23, 2009 in Nassau, Bahamas, airing live in the US on NBC Television and Telemundo.

2009 marked the first time the Bahamas was chosen to host the event. The main venue was the glittering Imperial Ballroom, in the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort, where 85 contestants from around the world competed in this year's pageant

The 2009 winner? Miss Venezuela, Stefania Fernandez, was crowned Miss Universe 2009 -- giving her country its sixth title in the international competition. She was officially crowned by Miss Venezuela Dayana Mendoza, who was named the new Miss Universe at the 57th annual 2008 pageant.

About Miss Universe

What began in 1952 - as a local bathing beauty competition in Long Beach, CA - has since grown to be a Donald Trump organization showcase that puts the spotlight directly on the world's most beautiful women.

Following the evening gown competition, judges pick the Top 10 who go on to show off their best assets in the traditional and very popular swimsuit competition, from which the Top 5 are chosen... culminating in the crowning of Miss Universe 2008.

Miss Universe Around The Web

Check out more information on the universe's most famous beauty pageant in video clips, pictures, interviews and contestant profiles, along with past winners, judges, and bit of related history and trivia at top sites devoted to Miss Universe 2009 ...

Miss Universe 2009 - Check out the pageant's official site with videos, photos, close-up interviews and profiles of all the contestants.

Global Beauties.com - Photos of all delegates along with their pick for Most Photogenic, the complete schedule, information on the telecast, and a virtual backstage pass for news tidbits and fun facts leading up to the pageant.

Miss Universe - Wikipedia - The online encyclopedia offering extensive information on the selection process, pageant history, a complete list of winners from 1952 to the present, related links.

Pageant Almanac - Miss Universe - Everything you ever wanted to know including current vital stats and photos, predicted rankings, past winners, along with an archive of Miss Photogenic, Congeniality and swimsuit competition winners, plus past judges, performers, venues and locations.

Pageant News Bureau - Miss Universe - An archive of pageants the recent past including picture galleries, lists of winners, and historic photos.

Also see Miss Earth | Miss World | Miss USA

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue | Victoria's Secret Models

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