14 DAY TRIAL // For the third time in the last 6 editions of the Miss Universe pageant, Miss Venezuela is taking home the much coveted title and diamond tiara: Miss Venezuela Gabriela Isler is officially Miss Universe 2013.
In the ceremony that took place last night in Moscow, Russia, the 25-year-old beauty queen, television personality and accomplished flamenco dancer, was crowned by the holder of the 2012 title, Miss USA Olivia Culpo.
A video of the crowning moment is available below, though in rather poor quality. As you can see, Miss Spain Patricia Rodrigues was named runnerup and, for the shortest amount of time, a visibly overwhelmed Gabriela thought that Patricia was actually the winner.
It wasn’t until she was about to have the tiara placed on her head that she realized she had actually won. You can see her mouthing “Oh me?!” before allowing herself to express the joy she was feeling.
Another potentially embarrassing moment came when Culpo knocked the tiara off her head with the Miss Universe band, but Gabriela caught it in mid-air and laughed off the faux pas with absolute grace.
The new Miss Universe is described in her profile on the pageant’s page as an accomplished woman professionally, but who believes motherhood is the most challenging “career” for a woman.
“Gabriela Isler started taking flamenco dancing lessons when she was a child, but says that her ‘real training’ began when her niece was born. After finishing her thesis three years ago, Gabriela has regularly helped her sister take care of her daughter, and even considers herself a second mother to the child,” the profile reads.
“Gabriela currently works as a talent on the Venevision TV Network, but considers motherhood the hardest profession in life. Above all else, she values being at home, surrounded by the people she loves,” it is further said.
After her win, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro himself congratulated Gabriela on Twitter, calling her a “triumph.”
