| The decade 2000's started with the 49th pageant held at Eleftheria Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus on May 12, 2000. Lara Dutta of India was the winner that year. In 2001 & 2002, Puerto Rico hosted the event and produced winners Denise Quiñones, the hometown girl and Russian Oxana Fedorova who was dethroned 4 months later and was replaced by her first runner-up Justine Pasek of Panama. Just a mere coincidence that the next year's pageant would be held in Panama. Amelia Vega of the Dominican Republic was crowned Miss Universe there. In 2004. Jennifer Hawkins won the crown in Quito, Ecuador. From South America, the pageant moved to Asia the following year. Bangkok, Thailand was the host in 2005. Canada's Natalie Glebova was crowned Miss Universe. Her reign was the longest ever in Miss Universe history. The 55th Miss Universe Pageant was back in American soil in 2006 with Puerto Rico's Zuleyka Rivera as the winner. 2007 marked the triumphed of Riyo Mori who became Japan's second Miss Universe since 1959. The last two years of the decade proved to be charms for the country of Venezuela. Dayana Mendoza won it in Nha Trang, Vietnam in 2008 and Stefania Fernandez won it again in Nassau, Bahamas. The first time that a country won the title back to back. ( Wikipedia ) |
