Miss Venezuela Stefania Fernandez won the Miss Universe 2009 beauty pageant held in Nassau, Bahamas. The 18 year old Fernandez who is of Russian, Ukrainian, Galician and Polish origin bested young women from 83 countries. Miss Australia Rachael Finch and Miss Puerto Rico Mayra Matos Perez shared the first runners up title with the the title of second runner-up went to Miss Kosovo Gona Dragusha.

Fernandez who enjoys tennis and swimming inherited the coveted Miss Universe crown from fellow Venezuelan Dayana Mendoza who won the competition in 2008. The Latin American nation of 20 million people could very well become the beauty capital of the world. Venezuela has won five Miss Universe titles, five Miss World and four Miss International crowns more than any other country in the world.