Miss Venezuela, Stefania Fernandez, was crowned Miss Universe 2009 on Sunday, giving her country its sixth title in the international beauty pageant.Fernandez, an 18-year-old brunette, became the 58th winner of the title in a show broadcast live around the world from the Atlantis, Paradise Island resort in the Bahamas.
It was the second consecutive year that a contestant from the oil-producing South American country, which is famous for its beauty queens, won the Miss Universe title.
Venezuela had produced five previous winners.
Fernandez was selected out of five finalists chosen from the total field of 83 contestants.
Miss Dominican Republic Ada de la Cruz was crowned the first runner up, while Miss Kosovo Marigona Dragusha was declared the second runner up.
Miss Universe 2008 Dayana Mendoza of Venezuela placed the glittering $120,000 crown on 18-year-old Fernandez who looked pretty in a red evening gown.
The televised event includes musical performances by Flo Rida, Heidi Montag, David Guetta and Kelly Rowland.
Montag gave her first live performance, singing "Body Language" from her debut album.
Top 5 beauties:
Miss Dominican Republic, Ada
Miss Australia, Rachael Finch
Miss Puerto Rico, Mayra Matos Perez
Miss Venezuela, Stefania Fernandez
Miss Kosovo, Gona Dragusha
Sub-title winners:
Miss Congeniality: Miss China, Wang Jingyao
Miss Photogenic: Miss Thailand, Chutima Durongdej