Miss Universe: 13 Title Holders Who Wore The Prestigious MU Crown From 2000-2013
The 62nd Miss Universe Pageant is less a month away and the countdown starts today where the new queen will be crowned in Moscow, Russia on November 9, 2013. Founded in 1952, Miss Universe is the most prestigious beauty pageant in the world, along with Miss Earth and Miss World contests.
Since it started, Miss Universe Organization has crowned 61 beauty queens who represented the beauty and responsibility of women around the universe. So here are the 13 lucky women from 2000 to 2013 who wore the elusive Miss Universe crown.
Miss Universe 2000 - Miss India Lara Dutta
An Indian Bollywood actress, Lara Dutta won the crown in May 12, 2000 in Cyprus and bested 79 contestants around the world. She got the highest score in the swimsuit competition and interview score was the highest individual score in any category in the history of the pageant.
Miss Universe 2001 - Miss Puerto Rico Denise Quiñones
Denise Quiñones is the fourth Panamanian beauty to win Miss Universe contest, she won the prestigious crown in Puerto Rico in 2001 at the age of 20. She lived in New York on her entire reign and enjoyed perks of being the most beautiful woman in the universe.
Miss Universe 2002 - Miss Russia Oxana Fedorova
This Russian beauty made history when she won the title as the first woman in her country to bring home the Miss Universe crown. She travelled in Italy, Kenya, Canada, Puerto Rico, Greece, Panama, Indonesia and France during her reign. She gave up her reign to her second runner-up Miss Panama Justin Pasek.
Miss Universe 2003 - Miss Dominican Republic Amelia Vega
The first Dominican woman to be crowned as Miss Universe and the youngest winner of the pageant. By the age of 18, Vega bested 71 contestants from all parts of the world.
Miss Universe 2004 - Miss Australia Jennifer Hawkins
She was described by Donald Trump as "the most beautiful Miss Universe I have seen in many, many years." The pageant's host Billy Bush famously announced Hawkins as the "thunder from down under."
Miss Universe 2005 - Miss Canada Natalie Glebova
She is a Russian Canadian beauty queen and was crowned as Miss Universe in Bangkok, Thailand in June 2005. She is the second Canadian to win the crown.
Miss Universe 2006 - Miss Puerto Rico Zuleyka Rivera
The fifth Puerto Rican to win the title, Rivera was the third consecutive candidate from her country to make the top five at the pageant.
Miss Universe 2007 - Miss Japan Riyo Mori
She is the second Japanese to hold the prestigious title after Akiko Kojima in 1959. Mori is the eleventh Asian woman to win the pageant.
Miss Universe 2008 - Miss Venezuela Dayana Mendoza
She bested 27 candidates to win Miss Venezuela I 2007 and became the second woman to represent the Amazonas state to win. She is the first Venezuelan beauty to win the crown in the 21st century.
Miss Universe 2009 - Miss Venezuela Stefania Fernandez
Fernandez earned a Guinness record by being the first Miss Universe winner who was crowned by a compatriot. Venezuela won the MU crown for two consecutive years.
Miss Universe 2010 - Miss Mexico Ximena Navarrete
Crowned as Nuestra Belleza Jalisco on July 16, 2009, Navarrete subsequently won the national title of Nuestra Belleza Mexico, bested 33 other contestants during the 16th edition of the event.
Miss Universe 2011 - Miss Angola Leila Lopes
The 60th title holder of the pageant, Lopes is the first Angolan to hold the position and the sixth woman with African descent to win the title. She is also the first woman in Angola to win a "Big Four" beauty pageant.
Miss Universe 2012 - Miss USA Olivia Culpo
Born May 8, 1992, Olivia Culpo is the reigning Miss Universe from Rhode Island, USA. She won the title on December 19 in Las Vegas, Nevada and became the 8th American to win the title, the first since 1997.
