Miss Universe 2009

Miss Venezuela Stefania Fernandez, center, reacts as she is named Miss Universe 2009. As the beauty queen dances with joy, the sparkling tiara falls to the floor at the end of the pageant, held at Atlantis on Paradise Island in Nassau, Bahamas, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2009.

Miss Venezuela Stefania Fernandez, left, takes the title of Miss Universe 2009. Fernandez, 18, makes history, as her country takes the crown for the second consecutive year. She is crowned by 2008 Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza from Venezuela, right. Venezuela has won the crown six times.

Miss Dominican Republic Ada Aimee De la Cruz, left, Miss Venezuela Stefania Fernandez and Miss Kosovo Gona Dragusha, right, wait for the decision. In the end, Miss Kosovo is second runner-up, Miss Dominican Republic is first runner-up and Miss Venezuela is crowned Miss Universe 2009.

Ada Aimee De la Cruz, 23, representing the Dominican Republic, looks up nervously as she chooses a judge's name from a bowl for the question-and-answer session. De la Cruz is asked whether she believes HIV testing should be made mandatory, and she answers that it should, saying, "By just not being careful, in just one minute, we may lose our own lives."

Miss Switzerland Whitney Toyloy, center, reacts to feeling ill as Miss USA Kristen Dalton comforts her during the beauty pageant. At left is Miss Czech Republic Iveta Lutovska and back right Miss Puerto Rico Mayra Matos Perez.

Miss Universe contestants dance to Sean Kingston's "Fire Burning on the Dance Floor" at the beginning of the beauty pageant.

Miss Kosovo Gona Dragusha,18, poses in her purple Grecian-style gown. "I tried many dresses," she said. "This is the one I loved the most." Dragusha finished as second runner-up in the competition.

Pageant co-hosts Billy Bush, left, of "Access Hollywood," and "Celebrity Apprentice" star Claudia Jordan stand on stage at the Miss Universe 2009 pageant. Bush, hoping for some drama at the live televised event, opens the show by asking, "What kind of scandal will be created here tonight?" Unfortunately for Bush, no real scandals occur.

Miss Universe 2008, Dayana Mendoza of Venezuela, greets the audience during the annual pageant. When asked what her most memorable moment was as Miss Universe, she answers that it was breaking her country's 12-year losing streak in the international competition.

Miss USA Kristen Dalton, of North Carolina, made it as a top 10 finalist during the Miss Universe beauty pageant, but did not advance after the evening gown competition.

Miss Australia Rachael Finch shows off her bikini body during the swimsuit competition. Finch finished as the third runner-up, after being asked by a judge how she feels about women in some countries being banned from wearing bathing suits. Swimsuits, she said, give women the chance to "show our figures ... and everything we've worked so hard for."

Rapper Flo Rida, right, performs his hit songs "Jump" and "Low" during the swimsuit competition.

Reality TV star Heidi Montag gives her first live musical performance, singing "Body Language" from her debut album. Montag is best known as a star of MTV's "The Hills." Although fans cheer her on, more than half of her performance is blocked out as hosts introduce the 15 pageant finalists.

Miss Czech Republic 2009 Iveta Lutovska, 26, gets dolled up in preparation for the pageant. She is a top 10 finalist, but was cut after the evening gown competition.

Twenty-three-year-old Johanna Lasic, Miss Argentina 2009, sets her hair backstage moments before competing in the Miss Universe pageant. Lasic is not chosen as a finalist.

Miss Argentina Joy Lasic, left, Miss Colombia Michelle Rouillard and Miss Bolivia Dominique Peltier, right, rehearse their dance moves prior to the Miss Universe competition.

Miss Netherlands Avalon-Chanel Weyzig, right, naps in her seat as she and other candidates wait to rehearse for the competition.

Miss Peru Karen Schwarz pre-tapes her opening number wearing an intricate costume. Bolivia protested against Miss Peru using a costume from Andean dance Diablada as the outfit in the national costume section of the pageant.

Singer Anthoney Wright performs with dancer Cassie Dzienny during the 2009 Miss Universe preliminary competition in the Bahamas, a week before the final competition.

Miss Montenegro Anja Jovanovic walks on the runway during the swimsuit event of the 2009 Miss Universe preliminary competition.