Newly crowned Miss Universe 2009, Stefania Fernandez, clearly has her pageant wave down. Photo: AFP/Getty Images
The brunette beauty queen (in a red gown and red lips) was crowned by the reigning title holder, Dayana Mendoza -- there was so much excitement between the two that upon first attempt, the glittering crown toppled off of Fernandez's head of long loose waves and onto the floor.
Fernandez bested a top five including the Dominican Republic, Kosovo, Australia and Puerto Rico, and might have been helped along the way by drawing a question from guest judge Andre Leon Talley of Vogue.
Miss America 2009
Martina Lee, Miss Germany 2009, rehearses on August 19, 2009 for the the Miss Universe 2009 competition scheduled to air live on the NBC Television Network at 9:00 PM ET from ATLANTIS, Paradise Island, Bahamas on Sunday, August 23, 2009. AFP PHOTO / Miss Universe L.P., LLLP / Richard D. Salyer == RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE == (Photo credit should read Richard D. Salyer/AFP/Getty Images)
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Estibaliz Pereira Rabade, Miss Spain 2009, rehearses on August 19, 2009 for the the Miss Universe 2009 competition scheduled to air live on the NBC Television Network at 9:00 PM ET from ATLANTIS, Paradise Island, Bahamas on Sunday, August 23, 2009. AFP PHOTO / Miss Universe L.P., LLLP / Richard D. Salyer == RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE == (Photo credit should read Richard D. Salyer/AFP/Getty Images)
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Renate Cerljen, Miss Sweden 2009, rehearses on August 19, 2009 for the the Miss Universe 2009 competition scheduled to air live on the NBC Television Network at 9:00 PM ET from ATLANTIS, Paradise Island, Bahamas on Sunday, August 23, 2009. AFP PHOTO / Miss Universe L.P., LLLP / Richard D. Salyer == RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE == (Photo credit should read Richard D. Salyer/AFP/Getty Images)
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Bianca Manalo, Miss Philippines 2009, rehearses on August 19, 2009 for the the Miss Universe 2009 competition scheduled to air live on the NBC Television Network at 9:00 PM ET from ATLANTIS, Paradise Island, Bahamas on Sunday, August 23, 2009. AFP PHOTO / Miss Universe L.P., LLLP / Richard D. Salyer == RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE == (Photo credit should read Richard D. Salyer/AFP/Getty Images)
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Belgica Suarez, Miss Honduras 2009; Elham Wagdi, Miss Egypt 2009, and Hasna Xhukici, Miss Albania 2009, take a break during rehearsals on August 19, 2009 for the the Miss Universe 2009 competition scheduled to air live on the NBC Television Network at 9:00 PM ET from ATLANTIS, Paradise Island, Bahamas on Sunday, August 23, 2009. AFP PHOTO / Miss Universe L.P., LLLP / Richard D. Salyer == RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE == (Photo credit should read Richard D. Salyer/AFP/Getty Images)
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Clair Cooper, Miss Great Britain 2009, prepares for rehearsals on August 19, 2009 for the the Miss Universe 2009 competition scheduled to air live on the NBC Television Network at 9:00 PM ET from ATLANTIS, Paradise Island, Bahamas on Sunday, August 23, 2009. HO/Miss Universe L.P., LLLP AFP PHOTO / Miss Universe L.P., LLLP / Richard D. Salyer == RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE == (Photo credit should read Richard D. Salyer/AFP/Getty Images)
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Miss Universe 2009 contestants rehearse on August 19, 2009 for the the Miss Universe 2009 competition scheduled to air live on the NBC Television Network at 9:00 PM ET from ATLANTIS, Paradise Island, Bahamas on Sunday, August 23, 2009. AFP PHOTO / Miss Universe L.P., LLLP / Richard D. Salyer == RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE == (Photo credit should read Richard D. Salyer/AFP/Getty Images)
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Elitsa Lyubenova, Miss Bulgaria 2009; Laura Valenti, Miss Italy 2009, and Essi Poysti, Miss Finland 2009, rehearse on August 19, 2009 for the the Miss Universe 2009 competition scheduled to air live on the NBC Television Network at 9:00 PM ET from ATLANTIS, Paradise Island, Bahamas on Sunday, August 23, 2009. AFP PHOTO / Miss Universe L.P., LLLP / Richard D. Salyer == RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE == (Photo credit should read Richard D. Salyer/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Eli Landa, Miss Norway 2009, rehearses on August 19, 2009 for the the Miss Universe 2009 competition scheduled to air live on the NBC Television Network at 9:00 PM ET from ATLANTIS, Paradise Island, Bahamas on Sunday, August 23, 2009. AFP PHOTO / Miss Universe L.P., LLLP / Richard D. Salyer == RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE == (Photo credit should read Richard D. Salyer/AFP/Getty Images)
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Klelia Yiasemidou, Miss Cyprus 2009, rehearses on August 19, 2009 for the the Miss Universe 2009 competition scheduled to air live on the NBC Television Network at 9:00 PM ET from ATLANTIS, Paradise Island, Bahamas on Sunday, August 23, 2009. AFP PHOTO / Miss Universe L.P., LLLP / Richard D. Salyer == RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE == (Photo credit should read Richard D. Salyer/AFP/Getty Images)
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Talley, dressed in a festive sparkly black top over a collared white shirt, asked: "In many parts of the world many obstacles still exist that impede women from achieving their goals in some corporations. What can women do to overcome this?"
Stepping up to the mic in a blazing red off-the-shoulder evening gown with a tiered feathered skirt, Fernandez answered: "I believe nowadays us women have overcome many obstacles and that we have reached the same level as men. We must realize that there are no longer barriers amongst us."
The answer was met with a smile by Talley and, a few minutes later, the Miss Universe title.
And while Fernandez's heavily beaded and feathered Victorian-like "National Costume" was hardly scandalous, we did spy newsmakers Miss Universe Japan and Miss Universe Peru in their controversial getups as the show opened -- Japan in a little-less-risqué hemline and Peru not caving to pressue from Bolivia and rocking her horned headdress. Unfortunately, neither one made it past the first Top 15 cut.
And the worst costume of the night goes to Heidi Montag, who lip-synched her way through "Body Language" while sporting a sparkly nude bra top and matching pants (with an oddly droopy crotch) -- an obvious attempt to recreate Britney Spears' 2000 VMA performance).
