BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – FROM a field of 89 contestants 25 year-old Miss Angola, Leila Lopes walked away with the 2011 Miss Universe crown on Monday night (Sep. 12) at the Credicard Hall, in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Making it to the top ten were Australia, Costa Rica, France, Ukraine, Portugal, Panama, Philippines, Angola, China and Brazil.
However, the world’s biggest pageant then saw China's Luo Zilin in fourth, Philippines' Shamcey Supsup was third while Brazil's Priscila Machado placed second and Ukraine's Olesia Stefanko was First Runners-up.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the pageant that has always picked out the most beautiful of women, matching brains with poise and grace.
Lopes describes herself as being satisfied with the way God created her and would not change a thing. She said she considers herself a woman endowed with inner beauty.
“I have acquired many wonderful principles from my family and I intend to follow these for the rest of my life." These were her responses to her interview question “What would you change about your physical characteristics if you could?”
Lopes became the first Angolan woman to win the pageant, and the fourth African woman to take top honors.
The celebrities who judged the competition were Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Adrienne Maloof, journalist Connie Chung and actress Vivica Fox.
The event was hosted by Today anchor Natalie Morales and Bravo producer Andy Cohen. A heavily smiling Lopes was crowned by the 2010 Miss Universe, Ximena Navarrete of Mexico.
