The hockey scoreboard costume!
This year the contestants’ national costumes were certainly colorful but Miss Canada won the award for the craziest. Chanel Beckenlehner wore an amazing red and white number the featured an actual working electronic ice hockey scoreboard and a fan made of hockey sticks!
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2/8
Is she a weightlifter too?!
The fans voted for Miss Indonesia Elvira Devinamira to win the “Best National Costume” award for her 44 pound grey, silver and gold dress that represented a Buddhist temple.
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3/8
Crowd favorite is out!
A big crowd favorite was definitely Miss Venezuela, Migbelis Lynette Castellanos as the contest was hosted in the Miami suburb of Doral, also known as Doralzuela for its many Venezuelan residents. Three of the last six Miss Universe titles have gone to Venezuela, where beauty pageants are big business, but to the crowd’s disappointment, Migbelis got cut after the top ten.
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4/8
Miss Jamaica wins hearts
As soon as Miss Jamaica Kaci Fennell took to the stage she became a clear audience favorite with her feisty personality and declaration about her individual hairstyle. “I don't have long tresses like everyone else, I'm just representing myself and that's what beauty pageants are all about,” said Kaci who wore a long, red beaded evening gown. “You don't have to look a certain way ... and I feel like I represent that.”
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5/8
Gavin DeGraw serenades the finalists
What better way to celebrate getting to the top five than being individually serenaded with a song by singer Gavin DeGraw, just before the big reveal. The top five who beat out the 83 others and enjoyed the treat were Miss Jamaica Kaci Fennell, Miss Ukraine Diana Harkusha, Miss Netherlands Yasmin Verheijen, Miss USA, Nia Sanchez and of course Miss Colombia, Paulina Vega.
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6/8
Social media speaks out
The audience was disappointed their favorite Miss Jamaica Kaci Fennell didn’t go further in the competition and erupted into boos when she only made it to fifth place. Shortly after Miss Jamaica left the stage her name began trending on Twitter along with the hashtag #MissJamaicaShouldHaveWon.
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7/8
The emotional speeches
Former Miss Universe winners came back to tell the audience how winning the crown had changed their lives by allowing them to start new careers and start charities. Miss Philippines Mary Jean Lastimosa’s story about her uncle who took her in as a child and had just passed away from cancer was particularly touching.
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8/8
The crowning moment!
And of course the highlight of the competition was the dramatic moment Miss Colombia, Paulina Vega, was crowned Miss Universe, while Miss USA Nia Sanchez came in as first runner up.
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