Miss Universe 2010: Mexican beauty defeats curse and wins crown

Yendi Phillipps, Miss Jamaica, was the runner up, followed by Miss Australia - Jesinta Campbell, Miss Ukraine - Ana Poslavska, and Miss Philippines - Venus Raj.

The evening's hosts, rocker and reality-TV star Bret Michaels and NBC correspondent Natalie Morales, displayed genuine chemistry as they kept the action flowing. Ms. Morales kept pace with the contestants, changing dresses three times, while Mr. Michaels remained the rock star in a black leather and velvet suit and his trademark bandana across his brow.


The broadcast began with the parade of typical dresses, as the contestants shared their pride in their heritage and traditions. At this early moment, Miss Mexico's dramatic ensemble, inspired by the Aztec calendar, drew gasps from the live audience and placed her on the road to victory. Others who shone brightly in this stage of the competition were Miss USA, Miss Panama, and Miss Poland, who some felt may have been a bit too eccentric in her costume.

Soon after, the first big surprise of the night came as the 15 semifinalists were announced, having previously been selected by the judges and pageant co-owner, Donald Trump. Miss Venezuela, looking to follow in the footsteps of the previous two Miss Universe winners, did not make the cut.

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The 15 semifinalists then took over stage and screen in the bathing suit competition, sashaying to the music of Elvis Presley and a troupe of Elvis impersonators from Cirque de Soleil's 'Viva Elvis' extravaganza. Not missing a beat, Miss Mexico came in second, with 9.40, to Miss Jamaica, Yendi Phillipss, who scored a 9.42. Miss Ireland, Miss Puerto Rico and Miss Albania rounded out the remaining three top scorers in this classic competition.

The 10 Finalists:
- Miss Ireland (Rozanna Purcell)
- Miss Albania (Angela Martini)
- Miss Philippines (Venus Raj)
- Miss Jamaica (Yendi Phillipps)
- Miss Mexico (Jimena Navarrete)
- Miss Ukraine (Anna Poslavska)
- Miss Puerto Rico (Mariana Vicente)
- Miss South Africa (Nicole Flint)
- Miss Guatemala (Jessica Scheel)
- Miss Australia (Jesinta Campbell)

Evening Gowns
Accompanied by Grammy-winner John Legend, who added a touch of romance to the ambience, the contestants lit up the night in their evening gowns. Continuing in her winning ways, Miss Mexico shone brightest in a ruby-red gown which she explained had special significance in this year of Mexico's bicentennial; she scored highest with an 8.913. Miss Ireland was another high scorer in this competition, in a stirring silver dress that had won over many observers in the preliminaries. Miss Puerto Rico's soft lilac gown drew strong response from the crowd as did Miss Philippines, who also wore a silver gown with long, bowed train, and was rewarded with the loudest cheers of the night.

The 5 Finalists:
- Miss Mexico (Jimena Navarrete)
- Miss Australia (Jesinta Campbell)
- Miss Jamaica (Yendi Phillipps)
- Miss Ukraine (Anna Poslavska)
- Miss Phillipines (Venus Raj)

The Judges' Question
Miss Mexico, Jimena Navarrete, was first to test the waters of the final competition in the Miss Universe pageant. Evan Lysacek, Olympic gold medal winner, asked her thoughts regarding the unsupervised use of the internet to which she responded through an interpreter that the solution is found by inculcating family values in children and adolescents. Jesinta Campbel, Miss Australia, answered her question about whether governments should dictate the clothes people can wear by citing the experience of iranian designer Tala Raani, who's government had censured her when young but who had emigrated to the U.S. and had designed the swimsuits worn by the Miss Universe contestants.

Miss Jamaica, Yendi Phillipps, gave a simple yet firm response against the death penalty, and Miss Ukraine weighed in on the importance of scanners in airports for the security of travelers. Finally, Miss Philippines failed to directly reply to judge William Baldwin's question to "mention an error you've committed and its consequences", stating that at 22 years of age, she'd not yet committed and serious errors thanks to her loving family.

The Winner
As the responses all sunk in, Miss Mexico's composure and high scores throughout the evening seemed to indicate the crown was hers to lose. As hosts Brett Michaels and Natalie Morales gathered the finalists to read out the names of the runner ups and winner, it increasingly became clear that Jimena Navarrete, Miss Mexico, was on her way to becoming the third Latina in a row and the first Miss Universe from Mexico since 1991. A supposed curse was broken and a young woman of poise, character and self-depreciating humor was crowned Miss Universe 2010.

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