From Sao Paulo, Brazil: The best moments of Miss Universe 2011

By Rafael Abreu Posted Sep 13th 2011 11:00AM

On Monday night, Sao Paulo was all dressed up to say goodbye to the reign of Mexican Ximena Navarrete and welcome the newly crowned Leila Lopes, the Angolan "miss," as the most beautiful woman in the Universe.

Two hours packed with emotions, in which moment by moment the dream of 89 candidates who aspired to this year's title, dwindled to just a few, who gave their best to show that they were worthy of the 2011 Miss Universe crown.

And now that we have our new queen, we can't help but return to relive some of the best moments of the 60th Miss Universe competition. And tell us what you think of the new Miss Universe.

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The best of Miss Universe 2011

View photos of the grand finale of the most important beauty competition in the world: Miss Universe 2011
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Miss Universe L.P., LLLP

The best of Miss Universe 2011

Hosts Andy Cohen and Natalie Morales share the runners-up with the world at the Credicard Hall in Sao, Paulo.

The best of Miss Universe 2011

One of the first emotional moments of the night was the selection of the 16 semifinalists: Laury Thilleman, France; Aferdita Dreshaj, Kosovo; Catalina Robayo, Colombia; Luo ZiLin, China; Leila Lopes, Angola; Scherri-Lee Biggs, Australia; Viviana Ortiz, Puerto Rico; Priscila Machado, Brazil; Kelly Weekers, Netherlands; Alyssa Campanella, USA; Olesia Stefanko, Ukraine; Sheldry Saez, Panama; Johanna Solano, Costa Rica; Laura Goncalves, Portugal; Shamcey Supsup, Philippines; and Vanessa Goncalves, Venezuela.

The best of Miss Universe 2011

Viviana Ortiz, Miss Puerto Rico, among the 16 semifinalists.

The best of Miss Universe 2011

Alyssa Campanella, Miss USA, among the top 16.

The best of Miss Universe 2011

Alyssa Campanella, Miss USA, among the top 16.

The best of Miss Universe 2011

Miss Colombia, Catalina Robayo, selected among the 16 semifinalists.

The best of Miss Universe 2011

Brazilian pop singer Claudia Leitte serenades the crowd in her own gorgeous costume, during the opening swimsuit competition.

The best of Miss Universe 2011

Vanessa Goncalves of Venezuela only got as far as the top 16 finalists, despite being a huge fan favorite.

The best of Miss Universe 2011

Scherri-Lee Biggs of Australia was the first to hear her name among the top 10 finalists.

The best of Miss Universe 2011

Johanna Solano, Miss Costa Rica, was among the top 10 finalists.

The best of Miss Universe 2011

READ OUR SHOW RECAP HERE, WITH ALL THE DETAILS STEP BY STEP

>> TO SEE EVERYTHING ABOUT MISS UNIVERSE 2011, CLICK ON THE PHOTO GALLERY BELOW

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Miss Universe 2011

Check out everything that happened during this year's Miss Universe 2010 beauty pageant, in Las Vegas, onstage, behind the scenes and on the red carpet.

Miss Universe 2011

The top ten finalists stand together during the Miss Universe pageant in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Monday Sept. 12, 2011. From left to right are Miss Australia Scherri-lee Biggs Miss Costa Rica Johanna Solano, Miss France Laury Thilleman, Miss Ukraine Olesia Stefanko, Miss Portugal Laura Goncalves, Miss Panama Sheldry Saez, Miss Philippines Shamcey Supsup, Miss Angola Leila Lopes, Miss China Luo Zilin and Miss Brazil Priscila Machado. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

Miss Universe 2011

** ADDS NAMES AND COUNTRIES ** The sixteen finalists stand in line during the Miss Universe pageant in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Monday Sept. 12, 2011. A group of 89 beauty queens from six continents are competing for the Miss Universe crown. From right to left are Miss France Laury Thilleman, Miss Kosovo Aferdita Dreshaj, Miss Colombia Catalina Robayo, Miss China Luo Zilin, Miss Angola Leila Lopes, Miss Australia Scherri-lee Biggs, Miss Puerto Rico Viviana Ortiz, Miss Brazil Priscila Machado, Miss Netherlands Kelly Weekers, Miss USA Alyssa Campanella, Miss Ukraine Olesia Stefanko, Miss Panama Sheldry Saez, Miss Costa Rica Johanna Solano, Miss Portugal Laura Goncalves, Miss Philippines Shamcey Supsup, Miss Venezuela Vanessa Goncalves. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

Miss Universe 2011

The sixteen finalists stand in line during the Miss Universe pageant in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Monday Sept. 12, 2011. A group of 89 beauty queens from six continents are competing for the Miss Universe crown. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

Miss Universe 2011

In this image released by Miss Universe Organization, L.P. LLLP, Miss Universe 2010, Ximena Navarrete, center, teases contestants, from left, Miss Vietnam 2011 Hoang My Vu, Miss USA 2011 Alyssa Campanella, Miss Sweden 2011 Ronnia Fornstedt, and Miss Russia 2011 Natalia Gantimurova, with the crown onstage during dress rehearsal of the 2011 Miss Universe Competition at Credicard Hall in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Monday Sept. 12, 2011. (AP Photo/Miss Universe Organization, L.P. LLLP)

Miss Universe 2011

TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 11: Athlete Drew Taylor (L) and Miss Universe Canada 2010 Elena Semikina attend Sony Pictures Classics 20th Anniversary Party at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, 2011 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Sonia Recchia/Getty Images for Sony Pictures Classics)

Miss Universe 2011

In this Friday, Sept. 9, 2011 photo, Paula Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization, smiles during a interview in Sao Paulo, Brazil. "It's our 60th anniversary, it's a very big show, we're anticipating close to a billion viewers from around the world," Shugart said. The 60th anniversary of the Miss Universe pageant is scheduled to be broadcast from Sao Paolo on Sept. 12. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

Miss Universe 2011

FILE - In this Aug. 29, 2011 file photo, Miss Brazil Priscila Machado kicks the ball during a soccer match in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The Miss Universe pageant will be held in Sao Paulo on Sept. 12. Miss Universe contestants from six continents spent the last three weeks in South America's largest city, trying to learn samba dance steps, visiting impoverished kids and kicking a football around for cameras as the globe's biggest beauty contest is held in Brazil for the first time. The 60th anniversary of the Miss Universe pageant will be broadcast on Sept. 12. Last year's winner was Mexico's Jimena Navarrete. (AP Photo/Andre Penner, File)

Miss Universe 2011

FILE- In this Aug. 26, 2011 file photo, beauty pageant contestants; Miss Argentina, Natalia Rodriquez, center, Miss Chile, Vanessa Ceruti, left, and Miss Cyprus Andriani Karantoni, right, dance during their visit to a samba school in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Contestants from six continents spent the last three weeks in South America's largest city, trying to learn samba dance steps, visiting impoverished kids and kicking a football around for cameras as the globe's biggest beauty contest is held in Brazil for the first time. The 60th anniversary of the Miss Universe pageant is scheduled to be broadcast from Sao Paolo on Sept. 12. (AP Photo/Andre Penner, File)

Miss Universe 2011