14 DAY TRIAL // Venezuela is second only to the United States in terms of the number of pageant titles it holds in the Miss Universe competition, counting six, while the US have seven. The sixth for Venezuela went on Sunday to 18-year-old beauty Stefania Fernandez, who was handed the bejeweled crown by fellow Venezuelan Dayana Mendoza, the holder of last year’s title, as Reuters can confirm.
Although Fernandez was seemingly very composed when the winner of the five finalists was announced, it was Mendoza who was overwhelmed with emotion, even dropping the much-coveted tiara before placing it on head of the reigning Miss Universe. In winning the title, Fernandez has made it so that Venezuela becomes the first country to ever hold on to it two years in a row in the long history of the pageant.
“The svelte Venezuelan model defeated favorites from Australia and Dominican Republic to became [sic.] the 58th winner of the crown in a show broadcast live around the world from the Atlantis, Paradise Island resort in the Bahamas. The first runner-up was Miss Dominican Republic, Ada Aimee de la Cruz, while Miss Kosovo, Gona Dragusha, was second runner-up.” Reuters says of the ceremony that took place this Sunday. The other finalists included beauties from Australia and Puerto Rico, aside from the three already mentioned.
The judges steered from controversial questions, perhaps taking a lesson from the Miss USA book, when favorite Carrie Prejean came under attack for what she called expressing her belief openly. Fernandez was asked what she believed were the obstacles women came across when trying to become leaders of business corporations. “We’ve already reached the same level as men.” she said.
As for what such a pageant does to a woman, the beauty added it only meant more exposure and definitely not any kind of objectification. “We have quite a following worldwide. We are models to follow.” Fernandez answered.