More photos from Miss Universe 2011 pageant held at the Credicard Hall in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on September 12, 2011

MISS UNIVERSE 2011

Miss Angola, Leila Luliana da Costa Vieira Lopes (25; 1.78m; Benguela, Angola) is the 60th Miss Universe. She was crowned by Mexico's Ximena Navarrete at the Credicard Hall in São Paulo, Brazil. 89 contestants competed for the title.

Olesya Stefanko (Ukraine) was the first runner-up, Priscila Machado (Brazil) was the second runner-up, Shamcey Gurrea Supsup (Philippines) was the third runner-up and Luo Zi Lin (China) was the fourth runner-up.

Scherri-Lee Biggs (Australia), Johanna Solano (Costa Rica), Laury Thilleman (France), Laura Gonçalves (Portugal) and Sheldry Sáez (Panama) completed the group of semi-finalists.

Catalina Robayo (Colombia), Afërdita Dreshaj (Kosovo), Kelly Weekers (Netherlands), Viviana Ortiz (Puerto Rico), Alyssa Campanella (United States) and Vanessa Gonçalves (Venezuela) were the quarter-finalists.

Portugal won the fan voting and obtained a position in the Top 16. Nikolina Lončar (Montenegro) won Miss Congeniality, Sheldry Sáez (Panama) won Best National Costume and Ronnia Fornstedt (Sweden) won Miss Photogenic.

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Photos from the 60th Miss Universe finals held at the Credicard Hall in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on September 12th. The crown returns to Africa with the victory of Angola’s Leila Lopes.

Do click here for more photos from Miss Universe 2011 pageant

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Miss Universe 2011 Top 5 Contestants

          Miss Universe 2011 Winner Is Leila Lopes {miss angola}

1 st Runner-up Is Miss Ukraine-olesya stefanko

2 nd Runner-up Is Miss Brail-Priscila Machado

3 rd Runner-up Is Miss philippines-Shamcey Supsup

4 th Runner-up Is Miss China-Zilin Luo

Miss Universe 2011 Winner Is Leila Lopes

Pageant Minute: Miss Universe 2011 National Costumes--Latin America!!!

Viva Las Latinas!!!

Miss Colombia Universe 2011 Catalina Robayo: I highlighted this costume of Catalina's in my "What Will the Miss Universe 2011 Contestants Wear as their National Costumes" last month before they even arrived in São Paulo. I thought it was FABULOUS then and I love still now!! Taking the striped sombrero vueltiao and creating a fantastic costume out of it: Genius!!!

Miss Mexico Universe 2011 Karin Ontiveros: Her colorful costume looked like a Colonial Sequined Diva celebrating El Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). The colors are outstanding; I love the feathers, the fit-to-flare fuchsia paillette gown, the eery skull mask, all topped off with a late 19th Century/early 20th Century wide-brimmed hat. It's like she's ready for the Races in a Mexico City Country Club--and later a Day of The Dead Party!!!

Miss Nicaragua Universe 2011 Adriana Dorn: You gotta hand it to the Latinas--they do not skimp on their national costumes!!! Adriana looks very festive in this blue & white (colors of the flag of Nicaragua, of course) costume featuring multi-colored ribbons and bows as well as tassels. She also has this Chiquita Banana aspect which naturally, I adore!!!

Miss Venezuela Universe 2011 Vanessa Goncalves: As I described it in my "Miss Universe 2011 Preview of National Costumes" post last month, this costume was inspired by "Diosa Yara" María Lionza --or Goddess Yara, who guards and protects the jungle; represents religious mysticism and the strained ecology of Planet Earth. Designed by Venezuelan designer from the State of Zulia, Nidal Nouaihed. From head to toe, it is perfection!!!

Miss Chile Universe 2011 Vanessa Ceruti: Yes, kids, her costume represents the Chilean Miners. Well, the sexy I-am-about-to-do-a-Strip-Show-200-feet-below version... Enough said!

Miss Bolivia Universe 2011 Olivia Pinheiro: I have a feeling that these South American beauties had to "step it up", just a little bit, when it came to their "National Costumes" since...HELLO, they were in BRAZIL, the Home of over-the-top Carnival Fabulocity!!! Miss Bolivia is no exception. This winged, feathered and be-jewelled Fantasy Bird-like Creature/Mythical Indian God combination of a costume is a show-stopper. Bolivia is famous for the pollera and bowler hat costume that the indigenous women in Bolivia wear, so it's nice to see a different representation for this Andean South American nation.

Miss Ecuador Universe 2011 Claudia Schiess: Another South American who went the "Fantasy Indian Goddess" route is Miss Ecuador. This costume is truly one of the most imaginative and eye-catching of the bunch (and trust me, there were A LOT!). Ecuador is famous for it's BANANAS...so I'm just glad she didn't come as one for her Miss Universe 2011 National Costume!

Miss Brazil Universe 2011 Priscila Machado: Finally, the "hometown girl", Miss Brazil in her "Carnival in Brazil" costume. The feathers in the colors of the national flag, the silver crown, silver sequined bra-top, bottom, THOSE silver stiletto boots!!!! She's very "Vintage 1975 Carnival in Rio". Being that the Miss Universe 2011 Pageant is in her home country, I'm a bit surprised the costume wasn't even more GRAND and more OUT of Control...or that she wasn't flanked by four HOT barely-dressed Brazilian boys next to her!!!

MISS UNIVERSE 2011 RESULTS - Leila Lopes, Miss Angola 2011 is the winner of Miss Unvierse 2011 held on September 2011 - Photos of the winners

Miss Angola Leila Lopes, left, is crowned Miss Universe 2011 by Miss Universe 2010 Ximena Navarrete, of Mexico, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sept. 12, 2011. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

Leila Lopes from Angola was crowned Miss Universe Monday night. She became Africa’s 4th Miss Universe, and the 1st black woman to win the crown since 1999.

Lopes beat out 88 other competitors to win the title during the 60th anniversary of Miss Universe. She replaces last year’s winner, Ximena Navarrete of Mexico.

“Thank God I’m very satisfied with the way God created me and I wouldn’t change a thing,” Lopes said when asked her interview question. “I consider myself a woman endowed with inner beauty. I have acquired many wonderful principals from my family and I intend to follow these for the rest of my life.”

The first runner-up was 23-year-old Olesia Stefanko of Ukraine and the second runner-up was Priscila Machado of Brazil. The third was Miss Philippines, and the fourth Miss China.

In the top 10, were the representatives of Australia, France, Costa Rica, Panama, and Portugal.

Completing the group of 15 quarter-finalists, we had the candidates of Puerto Rico, USA, Kosovo, Netherlands, Colombia and Venezuela.

Miss Panama was the winner of the Best National Costume Award; Miss Montenegro was voted Miss Congeniality; and Miss Sweden was elected Miss Photogenic.

The biggest shock of the night was the early elimination of Miss Malaysia, Deborah Henry, considered by many one of the top favorites for the crown. Other favorites left out, were Misses Greece, Trinidad & Tobago, Nicaragua, Spain, and Aruba.

Among those who made it, the main surprises were Misses Panama and Portugal. It was the first time in 60 years of history that Portugal advances to Miss Universe’s semi-finals.

The pageant was hosted by NBC “Today” anchor Natalie Morales and the Bravo network’s Andy Cohen. Among the celebrities in the jury, Connie Chung, supermodel Isabeli Fontana and Indy race car driver Helio Castroneves.

Brazilian pop stars Claudia Leitte and Bebel Gilberto performed during the event.

Miss Angola, Leila Lopes, was a favorite since she arrived in Brazil. She was actually prepared for the pageant in Brazil. It’s a well-deserved title for Angola and the African continent!

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Final results:







Winner - Angola
1st runner-up - Ukraine


2nd runner-up - Brazil


3rd runner-up - Philippines


4th runner-up - China

MISS UNIVERSE 2011: Miss Angola, Leila Lopes

1st Runner-up: Miss Ukraine, Olesya Stefanko

2nd Runner-up: Miss Brazil, Priscila Machado

3rd Runner-up: Miss Philippines, Shamcey Supsup

4th Runner-up: Miss China, Luo Zilin

TOP 5 FINALISTS
& FAN VOTE

1. Miss Philippines - Shamcey Supsup - 7.5
2. Miss Angola - Leila Lopes - 7.0
3. Miss Ukraine - Olesya Stefanko - 6.0
4..Miss China - Luo Zilin - 4.8
5. Miss Brazil - Priscila Machado - 4.1

Top 10
& FAN VOTE for Evening Gown

Miss Australia - Scherri-Lee Biggs - 3.8
Miss Costa Rica - Johanna Solano - 6.3
Miss France - Laury Thilleman - 3.9
Miss Ukraine - Olesya Stefanko - 4.2
Miss Portugal - Laura Gonçalves - 3.9
Miss Panama - Sheldry Sáez - 2.3
Miss Philippines - Shamcey Supsup - 6.7
Miss Angola - Leila Lopes - 7.2
Miss China - Luo Zilin - 2.8
Miss Brazil - Priscila Machado - 6.0

TOP 16:

Miss France - Laury Thilleman - 3.9
Miss Kosovo - Aferdita Dreshaj - 4.2
Miss Colombia - Catalina Robayo - 5.6
Miss China - Luo Zilin - 3.8
Miss Angola - Leila Lopes - 3.6
Miss Australia - Scherri-Lee Biggs - 4.3
Miss Puerto Rico - Viviana Ortiz - 4.6
Miss Brazil - Priscila Machado - 4.0
Miss Netherlands - Kelly Weekers - 3.6
Miss USA - Alyssa Campanella - 4.7
Miss Ukraine - Olesya Stefanko - 5.0
Miss Panama - Sheldry Sáez - 2.2
Miss Costa Rica - Johanna Solano - 5.8
Miss Portugal - Laura Gonçalves - 4.5
Miss Philippines - Shamcey Supsup - 7.0
Miss Venezuela - Vanessa Gonçalves - 9.1

SPECIAL AWARDS:

Miss Photogenic: Miss Universe Sweden 2011 Ronnia Fornstedt
Miss Congeniality: Miss Montenegro Universe 2011 Nikolina Lončar
Best Swimsuit Presentation (Fans Votes): Miss Venezuela, Vanessa Gonçalves
Best Evening Gown Presentation (Fan Votes): Miss Angola, Leila Lopes

Miss Congeniality : Montenegro
Miss Photogenic: Miss Sweden

Questions & Answers

Ukraine: If you could trade lives with anyone in your life, who could this be?

Philippines: Will you change your religious belief for your loved one?

China: Nude beaches are common in most parts of the world, is this appropriate and why, if no, why not?

Brazil: What would you do to avoid fightings in the world?

Angola: If you could change one of your physical characteristics, what would this be and why?

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More photos from Miss Universe 2011 pageant






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Pageant Minute: Miss Universe 2011 National Costumes--The Islands!!!

Spread Them Wings Huney!!!!

Miss Universe 2011 is TONIGHT, and I am "celebrating" this--and the fact that it is the 60th Anniversary of the international beauty pageant--by doing as many Miss Universe 2011 Posts as I can muster right here on my little ol' NICKVERREOS.COM Blog. I am "done" with my Review of the Preliminary Gowns and now it's time to highlight the National Costumes. Since there is no National Costume Competition any more (sadly), I want to showcase here my FAVORITES in terms of the Miss Universe 2011 contestant's Costumes...
Oh, and PS: How the HECK do these women pack these things??? Inquiring minds want to know!!! You get charged like $50 per suitcase now when you fly (in Coach of course), so I wonder how much does it cost to ship one of these below...and who pays for it???

Lets Begin With "The Islands":

Miss Bahamas Universe 2011 Anastagia Pierre: Wow!! The colors of those wings are UNBELIEVABLE!!! It certainly makes a statement. I've been to The Bahamas TWICE now for the FAB Island of The World Fashion Week and I have never seen a bird like this but maybe I wasn't looking!!! And I give Anastagia MAJOR "Nick V." Points for wearing a barely-there sequined bodysuit. You have got to have a SLAMMING body to pull that off...and she does!!!

Miss Aruba Universe 2011 Gillain Berry: Very "Carnival", silver/metallic costume featuring a feathered headress and strong-shouldered sequin top. I can see her on top of a big float in Aruba just shakin' her thang! I can hear the samba music now!!!

Miss British Virgin Islands Universe 2011 Sheroma Hodge: Love. Love. Love. First, I love that she didn't go the "Carnival" route and have an oversized winged costume. There were enough of those--albeit all very FAB!! The colors, shape and overall effect of this costume says "Happy Times Everyone!!" And BTW: Is there a miniature toy person on top of her head being encircled by hat headgear? Who is that and why are they up there???

Miss Curacao Universe 2011 Eva Van Putten: This is the MOST FABULOUS beaked Bird of Paradise I have ever seen!!!! Whoever designed and created this must be GAY!!!! There are Drag Queens in NYC right NOW copying this Costume! No reason why, but only because it is so Fierce! The colors, the oversized paillettes mimicking feathers-down to the pumps!!! So many of these girls put their costumes on and just wore them with some regular pair of heels--but not for Eva. She goes ALL or nothing!

Miss Haiti Universe 2011 Anedie Azael: This costume is one of my favorites in the Caribbean Section. It's Traditional and Folkloric yet still has touches of Fantasy. The green sequined palm tree in the middle torso: Fantastique!!! And so is that headdress. I can see a Haitian DIVA walking around in Port-au-Prince wearing this, and people just bowing to her and saying in Creole "You Go Girl!"

Miss Trinidad and Tobago Universe 2011 Gabrielle Walcott: Do not mess with Gabrielle kids! This is one of the most outstanding of these "Carnival COUTURE Birds of Fantasy" costumes. Unbelievable really! All those GORGEOUS feathers and look at her body in that teeny-tiny sequined bikini!! She is giving ALL those Victoria's Secret Supermodels a run for their money in this!!! If only she would have finished it all with red sequined feathered pumps, then it would have been PERFECTION!!!

Miss Guam Universe 2011 Shayna Jo Afaisen: I thought this was just "Darlin'"!! The costume represents "Sirena", a Mermaid legend from Guam. She certainly is a gorgeous little Mermaid in this green oversized paillette (that micks the fish scales) costume. She's even featuring a crown and "Guam" shield. Definitely, the "Empress of the Guam Seas"!!!

Pageant Minute: Miss Universe 2011--Preliminary Evening Gowns--The "Oh No You Didn't!" Group!!!

A Universal HOT MESS...

Well, with "The Good" and "The Transparent" , must also come the "Hot Messes", or as I like to say the "Oh No She Didn't" Group. As you know, it's Miss Universe Time!!! The Final Miss Universe 2011 Telecast is TONIGHT--LIVE from the Brazilian MEGAcity São Paulo and in my last two posts I have given my "Nick V" Reviews on my Top Picks as well as the Transparent/Over-Embroidered Trend from seeing the photos and video of last Thursday night's Miss Universe Preliminary Competition.
All right kids, I hate to do this...but here are the Girls Who Should Have Known Better--Evening Gown-wise--I will Section them off by Continental Regions. Let's begin with...

Europe:

Miss Belgium Universe 2011 Justine De Jonckheere: Oh Lordy! She wore this same tacky-licious gown for the "Official Evening Gown Portraits" and ended up in my "Hot Mess" List then. Why would she wear this gown again is beyond me. It looks like a First Semester Fashion School Class Project.

For some reason, Europe had A LOT of messes. What is up with that? Are they having a lack of evening gown designers? Why is the European "Taste Level" for choosing and wearing Evening Gowns--when it comes to Beauty Pageants--just a little bit left of "What Is She Thinking?" After watching so many of these international beauty pageants, I am used to seeing a lot of those "Kooky" Eastern European girls choose gowns that look as if they were made in a one-bedroom apartment with little electricity...but for some reason, this year, this "Kooky" trend has spread throughout the continent--from East to West.

Miss Russia Universe 2011 Natalia Gantimurova: Here's the good part: I love the bustier/top portion and how it's draped; very Dior Haute Couture. But then it all goes Bad Prom Quinceañera from the waist down. It's just such a mess, I don't even know where to begin, other than taking that whole bottom gown section off and replacing it with a clean, fitted section. The garish colors of BLOOD red and muted olive did not help her either.

Miss Spain Universe 2011 Paula Guillo: Oh HUNEY! What is this dress? It's a strapless short mini but...with an iridescent chiffon over-lay being held up by a piece of embroidered applique'. I DO NOT get it. She's such a pretty girl. Why she wanted to look like a "Real Housewives of (fill in the blank)" at a tacky wedding in Atlantic City, is beyond me. No Señorita. Think of what Crown Princess Letizia would have worn...now go change!

Miss Kazakhstan Universe 2011 Valeriya Aleinikova: Yes, I know the Big/Strong Shoulders Trend is very NOW, but not in this manner. While the bias-cut slinky gown portion does flatter her figure, those inset Leg-o-Mutton sleeves, DO NOT. One thing's for sure, "Dynasty" Designer Nolan Miller as well as actresses Joan Collins and Linda Evans...they would be proud!

Miss Portugal Universe 2011 Laura Goncalves: Laura is such a pretty girl. She should have chosen a simpler, more elegant gown. Because this one, just didn't work for me--or for her! The top portion is fine with its criss-cross draped ruching, but then the bottom portion!? WHAT. Is. That. Fabric? And WHY is it on her? It looks like a throw-rug from Walmart's bathroom towels-and-mats section.

Miss Romania Universe 2011 Larisa Popa: Well, well, well, what have we got here? When she came out in this gown, the first thing I noticed was the bright bubblegum pink and apple-green fabrication, and I exclaimed an "All righty then!" Besides the over-abundance of Candy Colors, this one shoulder A-line shaped gown makes her look like a Bridesmaid from 1984 who is heading straight to the Open Bar!

Miss Hungary Universe 2011 Betta Lipcsei: OK, here's another example of the top portion being OK but then it went to Nuclear Wrinkled Taffeta Explosion! How, in the name of the Pageant Gods, did she think--as it was "presented to her" as THE gown she would wear to the Miss Universe Pageant--that this is even cute, elegant and worthy of having a crown being put on her head. It's so big at the bottom, she could hide ten Hungarian 4 year old's under there!

Miss Greece Universe 2011 Iliana Papageorgiou: Iliana is on a lot of pageant-watchers "Favorites" List as a possible contender for tonight's crown. But, not in this gown! It is a cheap polyester satin mess! And are those organza rosettes framing the high-low hem of the gown? No!!! And oh, should I even begin to discuss the turquoise blue pumps? OK, I will. They are FABULOUS! I give her that. And they're perfect when worn with a sexy Herve Leger--or NIKOLAKI mini dress (wink wink!), but NOT, EVER...with this gown.

South America:

Miss Guyana Universe 2011 Kara Lord: OK, this gown is perplexing. She's a Mermaid, I think. There are also design suggestions in this gown of that famous Boticelli painting "The Birth of Venus" (the seashell-looking bust sections, the flora-and-fauna sequined skirt). But then what's in the back? Is she "pooping" (sorry but I had to!), iridescent organza? WHY????? Maybe this is considered an evening gown trend in Guyana but not anywhere else I've been to!

North and Central America:

Miss Canada Universe 2011 Chelsae Durocher: Now, we're onto the "North American Fashion Victims" beginning with Canada. I love the Mermaid shape, but there's something about the fabric and that shoulder-exposing sleeve detail that makes it look cheap, dated and almost home-made. And really, was there a need to place a swirly applique' RIGHT ON HER BUST???!!!

Miss Guatemala 2011 Alejandra Barillas: Oh, Alejandra! At least you are consistent. She wore a mess of a gown for the "Official Evening Gown Portraits" and here she goes again, but this time a different mess of a gown! She's "on trend" with the Transparency thing as well as the strong shoulders, yet the overall effect makes her look like a 50-something year-old wife of a Mobster at a New Jersey Wedding. The side cut-outs, the too-short front, the tacky stretch lace at the THIGH and lower arms...Pobrecita, is what my abuelita would have said!

Miss Costa Rica 2011 Johanna Solano: Finally, last but not least in my "Miss Universe 2011 Hall of Shame Evening Gowns" was this one from the very pretty Johanna, Miss Costa Rica. Is she doing Bizet's "Carmen" in San Jose? The tiered ruffles on the gown are falling FLAT and look like the window drapes of an old lady's house; the rosettes on the torso/bustier are so "Happy Hands at Home"; the middle parted-yet-poufed in the back hairstyle is so 1992 Prom Photo. I wonder if these girls are forced to wear these things or they actually pick them and therefore (I am so scared) have no taste when it comes to wearing gowns...Maybe next time Miss Costa Rica. I know you can make me proud...