Stephania Fernandez is Miss Miss Universe 2009: Miss Venezuela is Miss Universe 2009

Miss Venezuela Stephanie (Stefania) Fernandez is Miss Universe 2009. She succeeds another Venezuelan beauty as Miss Universe 2008, Dayana Mendoza. See video below. Updates when available.

Stephania Fernandez Miss Universe 2009

Venezuela has the honor of holding the Miss Universe title two years in a row. As the 58th Miss Universe, 18-year-old Stefania Fernandez was crowned at the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort in Nassau, Bahamas. This is the first time in the history of the Miss Universe pageant that the same country won the crown two years in a row. This is the 6th time Venezuela has taken the Miss Universe crown.

Stephania Fernandez (photo)

Runners-up are:

1st: Miss Dominican Republic Ada de la Cruz 2nd: Miss Kosovo Marigona Dragusha 3rd Miss Australia Rachael Finch 4th Miss Pureto Rico, Mayra Matos 5th: Miss France Chloe Mortaud 6th: Miss South Africa Tatum Keshwar 7th: Miss Czech Republic Iveta Lutovska 8th: Miss Switzerland Whitney Toyloy 9th: Miss USA Kristen Dalton

Miss Australia won the Swimsuit Competition and 1st runner-up Miss Dominican Republic won Evening Gown. Miss China is Miss Congeniality and Miss Thailand Miss Photogenic. Miss USA placed 10th in both events. This report, which "dishes" a bit about the beauties, says that pageant favorites were Dominican Republic and Australia. Fernandez was a not considered a favorite:

18-year old Fernandez, who had been criticized for her “off” styling during the 3 weeks of the contest, struggled to maintain the legacy of Venezuelan beauty queens worldwide. Her confidence, added to a very confident answer to the final question, sealed the deal for her crowning.

A new "crown" was presented this year, "Peace" by Diamond Nexus Labs. Venezuela has held the Miss Universe title in years 1979, 1981, 1986, 1996, 2008 and 2009. Stefania Fernandez (video)