MANILA -- Miss Mexico Jimena Navarrete was crowned Miss Universe 2010 Tuesday (RP time) at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada while Philippines' pride Maria Venus Raj finished fourth place.
The pageant named Jamaica’s Yendi Phillipps as first runner-up, Jesita Campbell of Australia settled in the second place, and Anna Pslavska of Ukraine grabbed third runner-up.
Other awards were also handed to Miss Thailand Fonthip Watcharatrakul for National Costume Award and Miss Photogenic, and Miss Australia Campbell for Miss Congeniality.
Venus competed with more than 80 stunning ladies and received overwhelming support not just from the Philippines but also from the Filipino community in Las Vegas.
To recall, the 21-year-old Bicolana was briefly dethroned after Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Incorporated (BPCI) discovered inconsistencies with the information she disclosed to the organizers and the papers she submitted for the competition.
The decision of BPCI was later on retracted for "humanitarian reasons" and Venus was reinstalled as the Philippines' representative to Miss Universe after she also obtained her Philippine Passport.
Venus is dedicating her win not only to her family and the Filipino people but also for co-beauty queen, Melody Gersbach, who died Saturday morning in a road mishap in Camarines Sur.
She said Melody, also a Bicolana, pushed her to make it to the Miss Universe and was there during the controversy with her papers. (Glaiza Jarloc/Sunnex)