New Miss Venezuela crowned

Venezuela, the world leader in Miss Universe titles, crowns new beauty queen in Caracas.


CARACAS, VENEZUELA (SEPTEMBER 25, 2009) VENEVISION - Venezuela, who has two consecutive Miss Universe titles, crowned a new beauty queen in Caracas on Thursday (September 24).
Even Venezuela's hugely successful beauty factory revealed it was feeling the global pinch and cut national competitors to 20 from 30. But the night hardly looked cut-rate, with contestants showing off their dancing skills, bathing suit bodies and elegance on massive, multi-tiered stage.

Local beauty czar Osmel Sousa kicked off another chapter in the local "Miss Venezuela" competition, which has landed the South American nation more international pageant titles than any other country.

Wildly popular, the annual pageant draws huge TV audiences that watch young women representing different Venezuelan provinces vie for the crown.

At the end of the night, Marelisa Gibson from the Miranda province was announced as the winner amidst camera flashes and hugs from fellow competitors. Gibson will represent Venezuela at the 2010 Miss Universe pageant.

Venezuela's Stefania Fernandez, an 18-year-old brunette, won the Miss Universe 2009 title last month in the Bahamas, giving her country its second win in a row and its sixth in that pageant's history.