Colombia’s Paulina Vega wins Miss Universe 2014 title

Miami, Jan 26:

Colombian beauty Paulina Vega Sunday night beat 87 contestants, including India’s Noyonita Lodh, to win the Miss Universe 2014 crown here Sunday night.

Bangalore girl Noyonita, 21, failed to reach the Top 10, but she had managed to pave her way into the Top 15 at the 63rd edition of the pageant. India has not won the Miss Universe crown since 2000, when now Bollywood actress Lara Dutta had walked away with the accolades.

At the 2014 pageant, contestants from 88 countries were participating.

Miss USA Nia Sanchez was crowned first runner-up, while Diana Harkusha from Ukraine was named the second runner-up at the glitzy event, which was held at the FIU Arena at Florida International University here.

The judges included actor William Levy, Grammy winner musician and producer Emilio Estefan, footballer Desean Jackson, baseball player Giancarlos Cruz-Michael Stanton and boxer Manny Pacquiao.

Colombian fashion-journalist Nina Garcia, “The Hills” star Kristin Cavallari, fashion guru Louise Roe and “Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills” star Lisa Vanderpump were part of the panel too.

Vega was crowned by her predecessor Miss Universe 2013 Gabriela Isler from Venezuela at the end of the pageant.

Some of the highpoints of this year’s Miss Universe was the new crown, created by Diamonds International Corporation (D.I.C), given to the winner along with an audience question that was asked in addition to the judges round.

The event also witnessed a flashback showing former Miss Universe winners from past several years along with a special showcasing of Isler and her contribution in the year after winning the crown. IANS