Miss USA is Miss Universe 2012 | Miss Philippines is first runner-up

Out of 89 candidates around the world, 20-year-old cellist Miss USA Olivia Culpo was crowned as Miss Universe 2012 during the coronation night held in Las Vegas on Wednesday, December 19, 2012 (December 20, Thursday in the Philippines). 

Andy Cohen, Gulliana Rancic and Jeannie Mai hosted the event.

This was USA's 8th time to win the Miss Universe title. It took 15 years for USA to win again since 1997. Coincidentally, USA won on host country in both years. The last time a contestant (Miss Puerto Rico Denise Quiñones) won on host country was in 2001 held in Boyoman, Puerto Rico.

Standing at 5'7", Olivia Culpo is the shortest contestant to win since Apasra Hongsakula won in 1965.

This was the first time in history that the coronation day was moved a few times because of difficulty finding a venue. Also, the broadcaster NBC could not broadcast the pageant at the same time as the 2012 Summer Olympics and the United States Presidential Election. It was the fourth time the Miss Universe pageant was held in Las Vegas; the other three times were in 1991, 1996 and 2010.

Miss Philippines Janine Tugonon, the only Asian candidate who made it to the Top 10, was named first runner-up. Philippines placed in the Top 5 for 3 consecutive years since 2010.

Wearing a powder blue gown by Alfredo Barraza, Janine answered fashion photographer judge Nigel Barker question from Twitter during the Q&A portion
: "Should speaking English be a prerequisite to being Miss Universe as an international ambassador?" 

Janine's reply was: “For me, being Miss Universe is not just about knowing how to speak a specific language. It’s being able to influence and inspire other people. So whatever language you have, as long as your heart is to serve and you have a strong mind to show to people, then you can be Miss Universe.”

Other winners in the Top 5:

Miss Venezuela Irene Sofia Esser Quintero (second runner-up)

Miss Australia Renae Ayris (third runner-up)

Miss Brazil Gabriela Markus (fourth runner-up).

The other finalists in the Top 10:

Miss France Marie Payet

Miss Hungary Agnes Konkoly

Miss Mexico Karina González

Miss Russia Elizaveta Golovanova

Miss South Africa Melinda Bam.

The other semi-finalists in the Top 16:

Miss Croatia Elizabeta Burg

Miss Kosovo Diana Avdiu

Miss India Shilpa Singh

Miss Peru Nicole Faveron

Miss Poland Marcelina Zawadzka

Miss Turkey Çağıl Özge Özkul

Special Awards:
1.   Ms. Congeniality - Guatemala (Laura Godoy)
2.   Ms. Photogenic - Kosovo (Diana Avdiu)

3.   Best in National Costume - China (Ji Dan Xu)

To view the list of all the 89 Miss Universe 2012 contestants around the world, click here.

The following were two (2) countries who joined the Miss Universe for the first time: Gabon, and Lithuania.

The following were four (4) countries who returned to participate in Miss Universe 2012 competition: (since 2009) Bulgaria, Euthiopia, and Namibia; (since 2010) Norway.

The following were six (6) countries who withdrew participation from Miss Universe 2012 competition: Egypt, Kasakhtan, Portugal, Slovenia, Turks & Caicos, and U.S. Virgin Islands.

Judges during the final telecast were: Pablo Sandoval of the World Series champion Giants, “Iron Chef” host Masaharu Morimoto, celebrity stylist Brad Goreski, Miss Universe 2010 Ximena Navarrete, fashion photographer Nigel Barker, Diego Boneta, Scott Disick, Brad Goreski, Claudia Jordan, Lisa Vanderpump, and Kerri Walsh Jennings.

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