Miss Venezuela Stefania Fernandez was crowned the winner of the 2009 Miss Universe

Miss Venezuela Stefania Fernandez was crowned the winner of the 2009 Miss Universe pageant last night. Check out gorgeous pictures of her below...
Dressed in a flowing red gown, 18-year-old Stefania Fernandez hugged the runner-up from the Dominican Republic and danced in joy as her victory was announced Sunday.
Last year's winner Dayana Mendoza (click for pics) whispered in her ear that she must have worked hard for Venezuela to win consecutively - the first time in the 57 year-old competition that a country has had back-to-back Miss Universe winners.
When asked during the questions-and-answers phase of the competition, Fernandez said she believed women have overcome obstacles such as hitting the proverbial glass ceiling. "I feel we have reached the level that men are at."
When asked later how she thought beauty contests promoted equality between men and women, Fernandez said they provided exposure to strong role models for the younger generation of girls to follow.
Stefania Fernandez is from the city of Merida, a city in western Venezuela - a South American country where hard-fought pageants are something of a national sport, with contestants widely dissected by the public and the media.
The President of her country, Hugo Chavez, did not meet last year's winner when she took home the crown, but Fernandez hopes he will change his mind in light of the historical back-to-back wins for the country.

Miss Universe 2009

Global beauties prepare for Miss Universe

Miss Poland 2009 Angelika Jakubowska, Miss Netherlands 2009 Avalon-Chanel Weyzig, Miss Curacao 2009 Angenie Simon, Miss Philippines 2009 Bianca Manalo, Miss Germany 2009 Martina Lee, Miss France 2009 Chole Mortaud (top row, L-R), Miss Slovenia 2009 Mirela Korac, Miss Romania 2009 Bianca Elena Constantin, Miss Serbia 2009 Dragana Atlija, Miss Russia 2009 Sofia Rudyeva and Miss Estonia 2009 Diana Arno (bottom row, L-R) pose for a photo at Dolphin Cay Atlantis on Paradise Island, ahead of the Miss Universe 2009 pageant in the Bahamas

Diana Donnelly, Miss Ireland 2009, and Andella Chileshe-Matthews, Miss Zambia 2009, ride horses at Coral Sands Hotel in Harbour Island, ahead of the Miss Universe 2009 pageant in the Bahamas

Miss Puerto Rico Mayra Matos, Miss Spain Estibaliz Pereira Rabade, Miss Romania Bianca Elena Constantin, and Miss Russia Sofia Rudyeva (L-R) pose by the poolside at Bimini Bay Resort and Marina in Bimini, the Bahamas August 8, 2009.

Miss Venezuela Wins 2009 Miss Universe Contest

Miss Venezuela Wins 2009 Miss Universe Contest Miss Venezuela Stefania Fernandez (L) is named Miss Universe 2009 while 2008 Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza of Venezuela prepares to place the crown on her head during the annual pageant at Atlantis on Paradise Island in the Bahamas August 23, 2009. [Agencies] HAVANA: Miss Venezuela was crowned the 2009 Miss Universe in Sunday night's pageant held in Bahamas, according to reports reaching here. Stefania Fernandez, 18-year-old, became the 58th winner of the title in the show broadcast live around the world from the Atlantis, Paradise Island resort in the Bahamas. Miss Dominican Republic, Ada Aimee de la Cruz, was the runner up. Miss China, Wang Jingyao, was named Miss Congeniality and Miss Thailand, Chutima Durongdej, won Miss Photogenic. It was the second consecutive year that a Miss Venezuela won the title. Venezuela have won the title five times. Reigning Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza (L) of Venezuela hugs Miss Venezuela Stefania Fernandez, winner of the Miss Universe 2009 annual pageant, at Atlantis on Paradise Island in the Bahamas August 23, 2009. [Agencies] Miss Venezuela Stefania Fernandez (C) celebrates onstage with other contestants after being crowned Miss Universe 2009 at the annual pageant at Atlantis on Paradise Island in the Bahamas August 23, 2009. [Agencies] Winner of Miss Universe 2009, Miss Venezuela Stefania Fernandez, takes part in the swimsuit competition at the annual pageant held at Atlantis on Paradise Island in the Bahamas

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