Miss Universe Winner 2013, Gabriela Isler
Flowing evening gowns, colorful national costumes
and beauty from across the globe reigned Saturday night in Russia as the
country’s capital hosted Miss Universe 2013 with an evening fit for a queen.
For the seventh time in Miss Universe
history, Venezuela took the crown as 25-year-old Gabriela Isler was
given the title of most beautiful woman in the universe in Moscow’s Crocus City
Hall on Saturday night.
As the evening came to a close, the United States'
Olivia Culpo relinquished the Miss Universe crown and placed it upon Miss
Venezuela. Isler, who was born in Maracay, is an accomplished flamenco
dancer who also works on Venezuelan television.
The big night began with 87 contestants
looking for the title, but quickly only 16 were chosen to move forward: Costa
Rica, Ukraine, China, Ecuador, the United Kingdom, Indonesia, Venezuela,
Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Spain, the United States, Nicaragua,
Switzerland, India, Brazil and the Philippines.
Best national costume went to Miss Nicaragua,
Nastassja Bolívar, who is known as the 2011 winner of Univision’s “Nuestra
Belleza Latina” beauty contest.
Only Spain, the Philippines, the United Kingdom,
India, Brazil, the United States, Ukraine, Ecuador, Venezuela and the Dominican
Republic made it to the top 10. From there only Ecuador, Brazil, Spain,
Venezuela and the Philippines remained in the running for the crown.
Tyler then gave a stripped down performance of
“Dream On” as the final five beauties awaited to know who would take home the
crown. With a beautiful blue gown, Olivia Culpo arrived on stage and thanked
business magnate Donald Trump and her family for a wonderful experience as Miss
Universe.
The night came to close with Brazil as the fourth
runner-up, Philippines taking third runner-up, Ecuador as second runner-up, and
Spain being named first runner-up. With that, Gabriela Isler won Venezuela’s
seventh Miss Universe crown and the first since Stefanía Fernández took the
title in 2009.
