Miss Venezuela is crowned Miss Universe

NEW YORK, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Miss Venezuela, Stefania Fernandez, was crowned Miss Universe 2009 at the pageant in Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas.

The 18-year-old Fernandez is the sixth Venezuelan to win the title.

The first runner-up, Miss Dominican Republic, Ada Aimee De La Cruz, will assume the duties of Miss Universe if the titleholder for some reason cannot fulfill her responsibilities.

The pageant's second runner-up is Miss Kosovo, Gona Dragusha.

Rounding out the Top 10 are Miss Australia, Rachael Finch; Miss Puerto Rico, Mayra Matos Perez; Miss South Africa, Tatum Keshwar; Miss Czech Republic, Iveta Lutovska; Miss Switzerland, Whitney Toyloy; Miss USA, Kristen Dalton, and Miss France, Chloe Mortaud.

Throughout the two-hour event Sunday, contestants from more than 80 countries and territories around the world competed in three categories: swimsuit, evening gown and personality interview.

Dayana Mendoza, Miss Universe 2008 and also a former Miss Venezuela, crowned her successor at the conclusion of the 2-hour prime-time telecast before an estimated worldwide audience of 1 billion viewers, the Miss Universe Organization said.