17-year-old Stefania Fernandez was crowned Miss Venezuela and will also be in next year's Miss Universe pageant.
Stefania Fernandez, a 17-year-old brunette, has been crowned Miss Venezuela — and will represent the beauty-obsessed South American country at next year's Miss Universe pageant.
The annual Miss Venezuela pageant is the one of Venezuela's most watched programs and a source of national pride.
Venezuela has won five Miss Universe, five Miss World and four Miss International crowns — more than any other country.Dayana Mendoza, a Venezuelan, was selected Miss Universe in July at the pageant in Vietnam.
Mendoza gave the Miss Venezuela crown to Fernandez at the conclusion of Wednesday's four-hour pageant.
Second place went to 25-year-old Maria Veliz Pinto, who will represent Venezuela in the Miss World pageant.
crowned by Dayana Mendoza
ESTEFANIA FERNANDEZ, MISS VENEZUELA UNIVERSE 2009 en la telenovela La Vida Entera junto a OSMEL SOUSA