|
 Miss
Universe 2005, the 54th Miss Universe pageant, was held in
Bangkok, Thailand on May 31, 2005.
Glebova is crowned Miss Universe 2005 by outgoing titleholder
Jennifer HawkinsAt the conclusion of the final telecast, Miss
Universe Canada, Natalie Glebova was crowned Miss Universe
2005 by outgoing titleholder Jennifer Hawkins of Australia.
She was the second Canadian to win the title, following Karen
Dianne Baldwin who was Miss Universe 1982.
The top fifteen was dominated by contestants from the Americas
and Caribbean, whilst the top five consisted entirely of women
from these regions.
Host City
| Thailand publicized its bid to host the pageant 10 July 2004,
during a visit by Jennifer Hawkins, Miss Universe 2004, to the
country.[1] At the time, Chile, China and Greece were also being
considered to host the event.[1]. One month later, it was announced
that Bangkok, Thailand had been informally selected to host
the competition, at a cost of US$6.5 million.[2] The cost was
to be funded by the Thai government in an attempt to boost tourism.[3]
In October the proposal faced difficulties when the Thai government
were slow to provide the promised funds, which discouraged prospective
sponsors.[4], leading Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to become
personally involved to make sure that plans were not derailed.[5]
The organization awarded official hosting rights to the Matching
Entertainment company in December 2004, after an unsuccessful
attempt by a different company, Showcase Thailand 2005.[6]
In February 2005, after the Thai government confirmed plans
to back the pageant, the Deputy Prime Minister refuted claims
that the event would be held in Khao Lak, a resort town devasted
by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, but confirmed that Southern
Thailand would host events prior to the final competition.[7]
2005 was the second time the pageant was held in Bangkok.[8]
The city also hosted the Miss Universe 1992 competiton, won
by Michelle McLean of Namibia.
Results
The Miss Universe was won by Natalie Glebova of Canada.
The runners-up were:
1st runner-up - Cynthia Olavarria (Puerto Rico)
2nd runner-up - Renata Sone (Dominican Republic)
3rd runner-up - Laura Elizondo (Mexico)
4th runner-up - Monica Spear (Venezuela)
Countries and territories which sent delegates and
results.The Top 10 (in order of final placement after competing
in evening gown and swimsuit):
6th - Debora Sulca (Peru)
7th - Ieva Kokorevica (Latvia)
8th - Fiona Hefti (Switzerland)
9th - Chelsea Cooley (USA)
10th - Elena Ralph (Israel)
The Top 15 (in order of final placement after competing
in evening gown):
11th - Evagelia Aravani (Greece)
12th - Claudia Henkel (South Africa)
13th - Helene Traasavik (Norway)
14th - Magdalene Walcott (Trinidad and Tobago)
15th - Artika Sari Devi (Indonesia)
Special Awards to:
Photogenic: Gionna Cabrera (Philippines)
Congeniality: Tricia Homer (US Virgin Islands)
National Costume: Chananporn Rosjan (Thailand)
Records
- Of the Top 15, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Switzerland, USA,
Norway, and Trinidad & Tobago were also called to the
Top 15 the year before.
- As well as having debuted in this year's edition, Latvia
was also called out to the semi-finals (and finals) for
the first time. Latvia ultimately placed 7th overall.
- Indonesia was also called out to the semi-finals for the
first time, the only Asian country who made it to the Top
15 (Indonesia placed 15th overall).
- Israel was last called out in 2001. South Africa was last
called out in 2003. Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Canada,
Peru, and Greece were all last called out in 2003.
- Venezuela was called back to the semi-finals after its
failure to place in 2004 (the last time Venezuela failed
to place was in 1982).
Delegates
- Sharlita Millington (British Virgin Islands), Jana Kuvaitseva
(Estonia) and Shivern Peters (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)
were expected to compete in the pageant but did not appear.
Peters went on to compete at Miss Universe 2006 in Los Angeles,
California the following year.
- Luisana Nikulay Cicilia (Aruba), Asli Bayram (Germany),
Roseline Amusu (Nigeria) and Magdalene “Maggie” Walcott
(Trinidad & Tobago) were not the original representatives
for their country but replaced dethroned titleholders.
- The following countries returned after some years of absence:
United Kingdom (last participated in 2000 as Great Britain),
US Virgin Islands (last participated in 2002), Sri Lanka
(last participated in 1996), Indonesia (last participated
in 1996), Zambia (last participated in 1999), Namibia (last
participated in 2003), and Albania (last participated in
2003).
- For the first time in the history of the pageant, Sweden
did not send a representative to Miss Universe, although
they returned for the 2006 pageant.
- Cheryl Ankrah was originally crowned Miss Trinidad &
Tobago but was dethroned after she was accused of not fulfilling
her duties and becoming overweight.[24] Although Ankrah
initially got an injunction to prevent another pageant being
held, a Judge overturned that and a second Miss Trinidad
and Tobago pageant was held.[24] The winner of the second
pageant, who represented Trinidad & Tobago at Miss Universe,
was Magdalene Walcott. Walcott was earlier a semi-finalist
at the 53rd Miss World held in China.
Titleholder
Natalie Glebova is a Canadian citizen who was born
in Russia and moved to Canada when she was twelve. After competing
in Bangkok she retained a special affinity with Thailand,
making numerous appearances in the country during her reign.
She appeared on cups of Mama's instant noodles during her
reign[25] and in May 2006 became an ambassador for Singha
beer.[26] In August 2006 it was announced that she would be
appointed an ambassador for the international promotion of
Thai fruits.[27] Glebova moved to Thailand permanently in
September 2006[28] and began a relationship with Thai tennis
star Paradorn Srichaphan, another Singha ambassador.[29] The
two announced their engagement in Bangkok on April 2007.[30].
They are expected to marry on November 28, 2007.[30]
|
