Jimena Navarrete of Mexico crowned Miss Universe 2010
A 22-year-old Mexico woman won the Miss Universe pageant Monday night after donning a flowing red gown and telling an audience it's important to teach kids family values.
Jimena Navarrete of Guadalajara was first to answer an interview question Monday night and the last of 83 contestants standing in the headline-grabbing pageant on the Las Vegas Strip.
Her one-strap gown flowed behind her like a sheet as she walked. Earlier, she smiled in a violet bikini as she confidently strutted across the stage.
Asked by Olympic gold-medal figure skater Evan Lysacek how she felt about unsupervised Internet use, Navarrete said the Internet is important but parents need to be careful and watch over their kids.
"I do believe that Internet is an indispensable, necessary tool for the present time," she said through an interpreter. "We must be sure to teach them the values that we learned as a family."
First runner-up was Miss Jamaica Yendi Phillipps, while second runner-up was Miss Australia Jesinta Campbell.
Navarrete — who's been modeling since she was 15 — is Mexico's second Miss Universe. Lupita Jones of Mexico won the title in 1991. Navarrete replaces Miss Universe 2009 Stefania Fernandez of Venezuela.
Navarrete's win thwarted Miss Venezuela Marelisa Gibson from giving the South American country a third consecutive win. Neither Gibson nor Miss USA Rima Fakih made the top 15 finalists.
With fans in some 190 countries watching on television and keeping tabs on Twitter, Navarrete and her competitors introduced themselves while wearing over-the-top national costumes. They then danced in silver and black dresses for the show's opening number before the top 15 finalists were announced.
The final 15 walked in swimsuits while Cirque du Soleil musicians played Elvis Presley songs including "Viva Las Vegas." The last 10 impressed in their gowns while John Legend and the Roots played a soulful medley including "Save Room."
By the end of the show, seven of the top 10 trending topics on Twitter had to do with the pageant, its contestants, its judges or owner Donald Trump. The mogul co-owns the pageant with TV network NBC.
Navarrete won a package of prizes including an undisclosed salary, a luxury New York apartment with living expenses, a one-year scholarship to the New York Film Academy with housing after her reign, plus jewelry, clothes and shoes fit for a beauty champion.
Campbell won the Miss Congeniality Universe award. Miss Thailand Fonthip Watcharatrakul won Miss Photogenic Universe and a second award for having the best national costume.
5 remain in Miss Universe after donning gowns
The Miss Universe pageant has been whittled to its final five contestants after swimsuit and evening gown competitions.
Now, it's all about their interview skills.
Contestants from Ireland, Albania, South Africa, Guatemala and Puerto Rico were ousted Monday night after walking a Las Vegas stage in long, flowing gowns. Earlier they strutted the stage in violet bikinis.
The five finalists are: 22-year-old Miss Mexico Jimena Navarrete, 19-year-old Miss Australia Jesinta Campbell, 24-year-old Miss Jamaica Yendi Phillipps, 23-year-old Miss Ukraine Anna Poslavska and 22-year-old Miss Philippines Venus Raj.
Campbell won the Miss Congeniality Universe award. Miss Thailand Fonthip Watcharatrakul won Miss Photogenic Universe and a second award for having the best national costume.
10 contestants remain in the hunt after swimsuit competition
Contestants from Belgium, France, Russia, Colombia and the Czech Republic were eliminated Monday night after modeling purple bikinis for judges, a Las Vegas Strip audience and a worldwide TV broadcast.
The finalists include: 20-year-old Miss Ireland Rozanna Purcell, 24-year-old Miss Albania Angela Martini, 22-year-old Miss Philippines Venus Raj, 24-year-old Miss Jamaica Yendi Phillipps and 22-year-old Miss Mexico Jimena Navarrete.
Also in are: 22-year-old Miss South Africa Nicole Flint, 20-year-old Miss Guatemala Jessica Scheel, 19-year-old Miss Australia Jesinta Campbell, 23-year-old Miss Ukraine Anna Poslavska and 21-year-old Miss Puerto Rico Mariana Paola Vicente.
Ireland, Philippines in final 15 in Miss Universe
A panel of judges has narrowed the field of beauty queens competing for the Miss Universe title in Las Vegas to 15.
The final contestants Monday night were: 21-year-old Miss Puerto Rico Mariana Paola Vicente, 23-year-old Miss Ukraine Anna Poslavska, 22-year-old Miss Mexico Jimena Navarrete, 19-year-old Miss Belgium Cilou Annys, 20-year-old Miss Ireland Rozanna Purcell and 22-year-old Miss South Africa Nicole Flint.
Also chosen were 23-year-old Miss France Malika Menard, 19-year-old Miss Australia Jesinta Campbell, 24-year-old Miss Jamaica Yendi Phillipps, 18-year-old Miss Russia Irina Antonenko, 24-year-old Miss Albania Angela Martini, 23-year-old Miss Colombia Natalia Navarro, 20-year-old Miss Guatemala Jessica Scheel, 18-year-old Miss Czech Republic Jitka Valkova and 22-year-old Miss Philippines Venus Raj, 22.
83 global beauty queens seek Miss Universe title
A set of 83 beauty queens plans to show off swimsuits, evening gowns and quick-thinking interview skills in hopes of impressing a panel of celebrity judges and winning the 2010 Miss Universe crown.
From Albania to Zambia, contestants from six continents were expected to strut across a stage Monday night at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip.
The winner will replace Miss Universe 2009 Stefania Fernandez, who gave Venezuela a second consecutive win by taking the title at age 18 last year. The South American country has won six titles since the pageant started in 1952.
Fernandez says it's clear in her mind who is contending in this year's contest — but she won't give her picks until after the telecast.
Her successor will receive a package of prizes including an undisclosed salary, a luxury New York apartment with living expenses, a one-year scholarship to the New York Film Academy with housing after her reign, plus jewelry, clothes and shoes fit for a beauty champion.
Online voters will pick Miss Photogenic Universe, while contestants themselves will select Miss Congeniality Universe. Each award comes with a $1,000 cash prize.
Fans of Miss Universe gave high ratings to Miss Philippines Venus Raj, Miss Bolivia Claudia Arce Lemaitre and Miss Venezuela Marelisa Gibson in an online vote.
The headline-grabbing pageant hosted by rocker Bret Michaels and NBC correspondent Natalie Morales will air live on NBC and Telemundo and be distributed in some 190 countries and territories. The contest, co-owned by Donald Trump and NBC, will be judged by celebrities including 2010 Olympic gold medalist Evan Lysacek and actress Jane Seymour.
If Gibson wins, it would give Venezuela an unprecedented third consecutive win.
The pageant started as a local bathing revue in Long Beach, Calif., organized by a swimwear company. It now skips over the world; it was held last year in the Bahamas and in Vietnam in 2008.
Representing the United States is Miss USA Rima Fakih, a 24-year-old Lebanese immigrant from Dearborn, Mich., whose win spurred celebrations among Arab-Americans. Pageant records aren't detailed enough to show whether Fakih is the first Arab-American, Muslim or immigrant to win Miss USA.
Miss USA has not been named Miss Universe since Brook Lee won the title in 1997.
