Miss Russia Named 2002 Miss Universe (And I Picked Her From The Get-Go)

Associated Press ^ | May 29, 2002 | Katy Daigle

[PJ-Comix]

Oxana Fedorova of Russia won the 2002 Miss Universe crown Wednesday night, wearing a white evening gown and telling a roaring audience that she blushes when she says the wrong thing.

All of the final five contestants were asked the last interview question, "What makes you blush?"

Miss Panama, 22-year-old Justine Pasek, was first runner-up; Miss China, 19-year-old Ling Zhuo, took second runner-up; Miss South Africa, 22-year-old Vanessa Carreira, won third runner-up; and Miss Venezuela, 19-year-old Cynthia Lander Zamora, took fourth place.

Anisa Kospiri of Albania, Neha Dhupia of India, Natascha Borger of Germany, Demetra Eleftheriou of Cyprus and Neelam Verma of Canada rounded out the top 10.

Miss Puerto Rico, 21-year-old Isis Marie Casalduc, won the Miss Photogenic award, but she and Miss USA, 23-year-old Shauntay Hinton, failed to make the top 10.

Contestants are judged in three categories – swimsuit, evening gown and the interview.

With acrobats dangling from a rope and fountains gushing streams of water on stage, Latin crooner Marc Anthony performed two numbers in English. The New Yorker born to Puerto Rican parents had wanted to perform a salsa number in Spanish but CBS wanted him to do two of his best-known hits, which are in English.

Former National Football League player Phil Simms and actress-model Daisy Fuentes hosted the contest at San Juan's Roberto Clemente Coliseum. Contestants from 75 countries and territories competed.

Denise Quinones of Puerto Rico crowned her successor with a new $250,000 crown of diamonds and pearls.

Miss Russia gets prizes worth about $250,000 in addition to promotional contracts and a two-year scholarship to The School for Film and Television in New York. She also gets to spend a year in New York on a salary and is provided with a luxury riverside apartment.

The show was broadcast live by CBS to more than 176 countries and territories.

Miss U.S. Virgin Islands, Merlisa Rhonda George, won the Miss Congeniality award. The costume prize went to Miss Colombia, 20-year-old Vanessa Mendoza.

Among the judges were Guess model Tyrese, women's fashion designer Nicole Miller, "Baywatch" actress Gena Lee Nolin, and the winner of "Survivor Africa," Ethan Zohn.

Organizers said they hoped the glitzy contest will take people's minds off the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the world's political woes.

"I think we all need a diversion," said organizer Mary Hilliard. "At the end of the day, it's a beauty pageant and it's a television show."

This year's pageant has been devoid of controversy, unlike last year when an Internet rumor accused Miss France of being a man.

[MadelineZapeezda]

She certainly is the opposite of the old-fashioned stereotype Russian woman from the USSR days.

Nothing like the old Wendy's ( I believe) commercial "Savimmmm vear, eeeevening vear"!

She's gorgeous...was my early pick as well. She scored a 9.88 in the swimwear portion with the audience. She owned the stage!

[alethia]

"I knew from the very moment I saw her in this broadcast that Miss Russia was going to win. She is possibly the best looking beauty contestant ever."

"Same here. I usually do not watch such contests. It was only by accident that I tuned in and thought that Miss Russia was going to win. I then tuned out and didn't learn until now on these threads that she had won."

Me three -- and she's extremely intelligent as well. Great choice.

[PJ-Comix]

I picked her as the winner on the Miss Universe thread BEFORE the finalists were chosen. My choice came at the very beginning of the broadcast when they introduced all the contestants. Miss Russia really stood out.

[Tolik]

[nomoreheroes]

My Pick would be Miss Russia's Head on Miss Cyprus's body!

[Tolik]

Miss Russia 2001 Oksana Fedorova

[PJ-Comix]

Isn't that a framed photo of Putin next to her desk? BTW, the Ministry of the Interior that she works for---Isn't that some sort of police agency over in Russia? If so would that make her a cop? I would love for Miss Russia to do a full body search on me. Pat me down, baby!

[MadRobotArtist]

Seriously, Women need to be womanly in my book to garner any attention from me. That means, plenty of feminine attributes. I don't want some boney woman with fake implant boobs, give me all natural imperfect woman anyday. Skinny cute model type women are not the kind of woman a real man wants. A real man want's an attainable woman. Attainable women generally aren't models, nor are they perfect, but every woman has some beauty despite their flaws an imprefections. Men want women for biological reasons just like women wnat men for the same. Men want women with curves and breasts, because skinny, boney women aren't going to be able to nourish or bear their young. That's the most primal basis for the attraction of men to women. Frankly, my reasoning is it's aesthetically pleasing to see a women who happens to be average.

I lucked out with my wife. When I first met her, I didn't even know she liked me. The rest I say is history. She's not perfect, but you know, She's better than average in my book, and I'm happy. Sure it's nice to look at women, but if you have someone already, that person should always be Miss Universe.

[LibertyGirl77]

Milla isn't in her thirties! I believe she is 26. And she IS gorgeous. I'd kill to look like her.

[wardaddy]

I don't know but I'm grateful...LOL

[Tony in Hawaii]

I just saw the model Vendela on the Craig Kilborn show. She got married, had a kid or two, and generally settled down. She looked positively gorgeous. I also think Cindy Crawford never looked better since she had two kids. That "too skinny" problem is easily cureable. :)

[wardaddy]

I have noticed as I've gotten older that I prefer a bit more padding on a gal than when I was young. Perhaps it's compensation from viewing my own added padding.

You have been trained well. That comment about all our wives being Miss Universe everyday to us was astute.

I do know Miss Russia must be a real winner if my wife was awed. She knew right away that her and Panama were the picks.

[NautiNurse]

She scored a 9.88 in the swimwear portion

Was this a different segment from the bra and panty event?

[phasma proeliator]

pIng pIng

[FreeperinRATcage]

PR is not part of the US; it's a US possession.

And that makes it NOT part of the U.S. how?

[blackbart.223]

"Milla isn't in her thirties! I believe she is 26. And she IS gorgeous. I'd kill to look like her."

I don't know for certain about her age but she doesn't fit the stereo type of eastern block females who become fat at an early age. Hillary Clinton fills that bill. And Hillary is ugly to boot.