Miss Angola Leila Lopes is kissed by Miss Universe 2010 Ximena Navarrete of Mexico after being named Miss Universe 2011 during the Miss Universe pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



Miss Angola Leila Lopes (R) reacts as she hears the judges' decision choosing her as Miss Universe 2011 during the Miss Universe pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011. With Miss Angola is Miss Ukraine Olesia Stefanko, chosen as runner-up.



Miss Angola Leila Lopes is crowned by Miss Universe 2010 Ximena Navarrete of Mexico after being named Miss Universe 2011 during the Miss Universe pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



Miss Angola Leila Lopes is crowned by Miss Universe 2010 Ximena Navarrete of Mexico after being named Miss Universe 2011 during the Miss Universe pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



Miss Angola Leila Lopes (C, back to camera) is congratulated by the other contestants after being named Miss Universe 2011 during the Miss Universe pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



Miss Angola Leila Lopes is crowned by Miss Universe 2010 Ximena Navarrete of Mexico after being named Miss Universe 2011 during the Miss Universe pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



Miss Angola Leila Lopes is crowned by Miss Universe 2010 Ximena Navarrete of Mexico after being named Miss Universe 2011 during the Miss Universe pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



Miss Angola Leila Lopes (C, back to camera) is congratulated by the other contestants after being named Miss Universe 2011 during the Miss Universe pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



Miss Brazil Priscila Machado receives attention from a makeup artist as she and Miss China Luo Zilin stand among the final five contestants at the Miss Universe 2011 pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



Miss Angola Leila Lopes is crowned by Miss Universe 2010 Ximena Navarrete of Mexico after being named Miss Universe 2011 during the Miss Universe pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



Miss Angola Leila Lopes is crowned by Miss Universe 2010 Ximena Navarrete of Mexico after being named Miss Universe 2011 during the Miss Universe pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



Miss Angola Leila Lopes (C) is congratulated by the other contestants after being crowned Miss Universe 2011 during the Miss Universe pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



Miss Universe Philippines 2011 Shamcey Supsup participates in the evening gown segment of the Miss Universe 2011 pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



Miss Universe Angola 2011 Leila Lopes participates in the evening gown segment of the Miss Universe 2011 pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



Miss Universe Angola 2011 Leila Lopes participates in the evening gown segment of the Miss Universe 2011 pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



Miss Universe China 2011 Luo Zilin participates in the evening gown segment of the Miss Universe 2011 pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



Miss Angola Leila Lopes is crowned by Miss Universe 2010 Ximena Navarrete of Mexico after being named Miss Universe 2011 during the Miss Universe pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



Miss Angola Leila Lopes participates in the swimsuit segment of the Miss Universe 2011 pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



Miss Universe 2011 Leila Lopes from Angola poses for a photograph with fans in Sao Paulo September 13, 2011. Miss Angola Leila Lopes, a business student from the town of Benguela in her home country, was crowned Miss Universe on Monday after dazzling a panel of judges with her beauty and impressing them with her brain.



Brazilian model Isabeli Fontana (R) and Brazilian racecar driver Helio Castroneves pose on the red carpet as they arrive as judges for the Miss Universe 2011 pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



Miss Universe Philippines 2011 Shamcey Supsup participates in the evening gown segment of the Miss Universe 2011 pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



Miss Australia Scherri-Lee Biggs participates in the swimsuit segment of the Miss Universe 2011 pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



Miss Universe 2011 Leila Lopes from Angola gives an interview for Brazilian television broadcast in Sao Paulo September 13, 2011. Miss Angola Leila Lopes, a business student from the town of Benguela in her home country, was crowned Miss Universe on Monday after dazzling a panel of judges with her beauty and impressing them with her brain.



Miss Universe Angola 2011 Leila Lopes participates in the evening gown segment of the Miss Universe 2011 pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



Miss Philippines 2011 Shamcey Supsup participates in the swimsuit segment of the Miss Universe 2011 pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



Miss Universe China 2011 Luo Zilin participates in the evening gown segment of the Miss Universe 2011 pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



Miss Philippines Shamcey Supsup participates in the swimsuit segment of the Miss Universe 2011 pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



Miss Angola Leila Lopes (R), Miss Brazil Priscila Machado (C) and Miss Ukraine Olesia Stefanko await the judges' final decision during the Miss Universe pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011. Miss Angola won the title, with Miss Ukraine as first runner-up and Miss Brazil as second runner-up.



Miss Angola Leila Lopes appears on stage for a news conference after she was crowned Miss Universe 2011 in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



Miss Universe 2011 Leila Lopes from Angola gives an interview for Brazilian television broadcast in Sao Paulo September 13, 2011. Miss Angola Leila Lopes, a business student from the town of Benguela in her home country, was crowned Miss Universe on Monday after dazzling a panel of judges with her beauty and impressing them with her brain.



Miss Universe China 2011 Luo Zilin participates in the evening gown segment of the Miss Universe 2011 pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



Brazilian singer Claudia Leitte (C) performs with dancers during the Miss Universe 2011 pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



Brazilian singer Bebel Gilberto (C) performs with dancers during the Miss Universe 2011 pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



Brazilian singer Claudia Leitte (C) performs with dancers during the Miss Universe 2011 pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



Miss Universe Australia 2011 Scherri-Lee Biggs steps forward after being chosen among the final ten contestants of the Miss Universe 2011 pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



Miss Universe China 2011 Luo Zilin steps forward after being chosen among the final ten contestants of the Miss Universe 2011 pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



Miss Universe Philippines 2011 Shamcey Supsup walks on stage as she is chosen as a finalist in the Miss Universe 2011 pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



Miss Universe Australia 2011 Sherri-lee Biggs pauses on stage as she is chosen as a finalist in the Miss Universe 2011 pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



Miss Universe Angola 2011 Leila Lopes steps forward after being chosen among the final ten contestants of the Miss Universe 2011 pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



Miss Universe Angola 2011 Leila Lopes steps forward after being chosen among the final ten contestants of the Miss Universe 2011 pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



A stylist applies make up for Miss Universe Australia 2011 Scherri-Lee Biggs (R) backstage before the Miss Universe 2011 pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



Miss Universe Philippines 2011 Shamcey Supsup walks on stage as she is chosen as a finalist in the Miss Universe 2011 pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.




Miss Universe China 2011 Luo Zilin steps forward after being chosen among the final ten contestants of the Miss Universe 2011 pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



Miss Universe Philippines 2011 Shamcey Supsup steps forward after being chosen among the final ten contestants of the Miss Universe 2011 pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



Miss Universe China 2011 Luo Zilin walks on stage as she is chosen as a finalist in the Miss Universe 2011 pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



Miss Universe Philippines 2011 Shamcey Supsup steps forward after being chosen among the final ten contestants of the Miss Universe 2011 pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



A stylist works on Miss Universe Angola 2011 Leila Lopes (C) backstage before the Miss Universe 2011 pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.



A stylist applies make up on Miss Universe China 2011 Luo Zilin (L) on backstage before the Miss Universe 2011 pageant in Sao Paulo September 12, 2011.

source: daylife
photo: Reuters pictures

By JESSICA SATHERLEY

Taking the crown: Miss Angola, Leila Lopes, was crowned Miss Universe by the 2010 winner Miss Mexico, Ximena Navarrete in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Leila Lopes made history for her country yesterday, after becoming the very first Miss Angola to be crowned Miss Universe.

The 25-year-old laughed and smiled as she hugged runner-up Miss Ukraine, Olesia Stefanko, before having her crown firmly placed on her head at the pageant held in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The business student from Angola’s seaside city of Beguela, dazzled the panel of judges with both her beauty and brains.


A winning combination: Miss Angola's evening wear and swimsuit parade won her Miss Universe, as well as her intelligent answered

When she had been asked earlier what she might change about her physical characteristics, Leila replied that she was satisfied with who she was.

'I consider myself a woman endowed with inner beauty,' she told the judges and the audience.


The moment of glory: Leila Lopes can't stop smiling and laughing as she is crowned Miss Universe in front of the other contestants


'I have acquired many wonderful principles from my family, and I plan to follow those through the rest of my life.'

Her down-to-earth nature was complemented with immense outer beauty too though, which she showed off in a bright yellow bikini during the swimsuit parade.


Congratulations: Former Miss Universe, Ximena Navarrete of Mexico gives Leila a kiss on the cheek


After displaying her bikini body to millions of fans watching the pageant on TV around the world, Lopes paraded around the stage with poise in a form-fitting gold and silver sequinned evening gown.

Miss Angola bet 88 competitors in the 60th annual Miss Universe pageant.

Finalists accompanying Lopes into the top five were Miss Ukraine Olesia Stefanko, Miss Philippines Shamcey Supsup, Miss China Luo Zilin and Miss Brazil Priscila Machado.

While the other countries that made the top ten were Miss Australia Scherri-lee Biggs, Miss Costa Rica Johanna Solano, Miss France Laury Thilleman, Miss Portugal Laura Goncalves and Miss Panama Sheldry Saez.


Top ten: The finalists making the top ten were Miss Australia, Miss Costa Rica, Miss France, Miss Ukraine, Miss Portugal, Miss Panama, Miss Philippines, Miss China and Miss Brazil


Finalist: Miss Brazil, Priscila Machado, made it into the top five in her home country, where the competition was held


Pretty in pink: Miss France, Laury Thlleman paraded in a pink bikini and a coral evening gown, but it wasn't enough to wow the judges


As well as competing in categories ranging from swimsuits to evening gowns, the women also had to answer the critical question that tells the judges a bit about them.

In fan voting, Lopes tallied only a 3.6 score for the swimsuit but earned a 7.2 for her evening gown.

Fan voting, however, did not count in the final tallies from nine judges.

The panelists, who ranged from race car driver Helio Castroneves to actress Vivica A. Fox and journalist Connie Chung, scored the women on each contest, narrowing from a group of 16 down to a final five.


Top five: Miss Universe, Ukraine's Olesya Stefanko, the Philippines' Shamcey Supsup, China's Luo Zilin, Brazil's Priscila Machado and Angola's Leila Lopes pose during the ceremony of coronation of Miss Universe 2011


Australia to America: Miss Australia Scherri-lee Biggs (left) models a silver gown, while Miss USA, Alyssa Campanella, dazzled in a canary yellow gown (right)


Colourful crowd: The 89 contestants display an array of colourful dresses on stage in the pageant in Sao Paulo


The show was hosted by U.S. television personalities Andy Cohen and Natalie Morales.
Out of the past 13 pageants held in the past decade, seven have been won by Latina contestants, making Miss Angola’s win even more exciting for her home country.

Miss Angola started competing in the Miss Universe competitions in 1998, with the first ever contestant from the African nation being Emilia Guardado.

Since 1997, two Miss Angolas have been semi-finalists in the top 15 and one made it into the top 10, but Leila Lopes is the first to be crowned with the title.


Stage show: Millions of fans around the world watch the 60th annual Miss Universe competition on television


Who will it be? Miss Ukraine, Olesia Stefanko, and Miss Angola hold each other's hands and wait to find out who is the winner, before Leila Lopes' name was called


Lost for words: Miss Angola Leila Lopes was greeted by the other participants after being crowned Miss Universe


source: dailymail