Miss Universe

Photo credit: AFP

Miss Universe took place last Wednesday at the Planet Hollywood casino in Las Vegas. I was able to watch the first half of the pageant live. I had to stop watching it half way through because my DVR started to record a program on the main TV. If I wanted to keep watching Miss Universe, I would have had to go down into the basement. Sitting in a cold basement wasn't appealing. So I decided that I would watch the rest of it the morning off the DVR.

Besides rooting for Miss USA, Olivia Culpo, to win. I was also cheering for Miss South Africa, Melinda Bam, to win. Both ladies, Culpo and Bam made the Top 16. After the swimsuit competition, Culpo and Bam were named to the Top 10. In the evening gown competition, Culpo went on to the Top 5, while Bam did not.

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In the Top 5 with Culpo was Miss Philippines: Janine Tugonon, Miss Venezuela: Irene Sofia Esser, Miss Australia: Renae Ayris and Miss Brazil; Gabriela Markus.

The final question was the only thing left that stood in the way of finding out who would win the title. Culpo's final question was whether if she had ever done something she regretted. Her answer was, "I'd like to start off by saying that every experience no matter what it is, good or bad, you'll learn from it. That's just life. But something I've done I've regretted is probably picking on my siblings growing up, because you appreciate them so much more as you grow older."

After the judges scores were talled, the 4th runner-up was Miss Brazil: Gabriela Markus; 3rd runner-up was Miss Australia: Renae Ayris; 2nd runner-up was Miss Venezuela: Irene Esser. The final two ladies were Philippines and USA. Miss Universe 2012 went to Miss USA: Olivia Culpo with 1st runner-up Miss Philippines: Janie Tugonon.

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Culpo was the first American to win the Miss Universe title since Brook Lee in 1997. Culpo begins her year of traveling the world working for her charitable alliances of HIV/AIDS awareness. With Culpo winning the Miss Universe title, the Miss USA title went to 1st runner-up Miss Maryland: Nana Meriwether.