Miss Universe 2009
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Date August 23, 2009
Presenters Billy Bush, Claudia Jordan
Entertainment Flo Rida, David Guetta, Kelly Rowland, and Heidi Montag
Venue Imperial Ballroom, Atlantis Paradise Island, Nassau, Bahamas
Broadcaster NBC, Telemundo
Entrants 84
Placements 15
Withdraws Antigua & Barbuda, Denmark, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, Trinidad & Tobago
Returns Bulgaria, Ethiopia, Guyana, Iceland, Lebanon, Namibia, Romania, Sweden, Zambia
Winner Stefania Fernandez
Represented Venezuela
Congeniality Wang Jingyao China
Best National Costume Diana Broce Panama
Photogenic Chutima Durongdej Thailand

Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas.
Participating nations and territories and results.Miss Universe 2009, the 58th Miss Universe pageant, was held at the Atlantis Paradise Island, in Nassau, Bahamas on August 23, 2009. It was the first time back to back victories in Miss Universe history: Stefania Fernandez of Venezuela, was crowned Miss Universe 2009 by outgoing titleholder Dayana Mendoza. 84 countries and territories competed for the title and the pageant was broadcasted live on NBC and Telemundo. On August 22, Jewel Selver representing Turks & Caicos withdrew from the pageant due to illness (dehydration). Only 83 contestants competed in the final on August 23.

The presentation show, rehearsals, dress rehearsal and the grand final took place at Imperial Ballroom, the main 3,650 seats convention ballroom, at the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort.

Final results Contestant
Miss Universe 2009 Venezuela - Stefanía Fernández

1st Runner-up Dominican Republic - Ada de la Cruz

2nd Runner-up Kosovo - Marigona Dragusha

3rd Runner-up Australia - Rachael Finch

4th Runner-up Puerto Rico - Mayra Matos

Top 10 France - Chloé Mortaud
South Africa - Tatum Keshwar
Czech Republic - Iveta Lutovská
Switzerland - Whitney Toyloy
USA - Kristen Dalton

Top 15 Albania - Hasna Xhukiçi
Belgium - Zeynep Sever
Sweden - Renate Cerljen
Croatia - Sarah Ćosić
Iceland - Ingibjörg Egilsdóttir

Final competition scores
[Country Swimsuit Evening Gown
Venezuela 8.760 (4) 8.869 (5)
Dominican Republic 9.189 (2) 9.428 (1)
Kosovo 8.790 (3) 9.250 (2)
Australia 9.264 (1) 9.039 (4)
Puerto Rico 8.533 (7) 9.050 (3)
France 8.640 (5) 8.650 (6)
South Africa 8.460 (8) 8.040 (7)
Czech Republic 8.350 (9) 8.010 (8)
Switzerland 8.611 (6) 7.890 (9)
United States 8.060 (10) 7.550 (10)
Albania 7.900 (11)
Belgium 7.870 (12)
Sweden 7.830 (13)
Croatia 7.811 (14)
Iceland 7.730 (15)

Top 15

1. Puerto Rico
2. Iceland
3. Albania
4. Czech Republic
5. Belgium
6. Dominican Republic
7. Sweden
8. Kosovo
9. Australia
10. France
11. Switzerland
12. South Africa
13. USA
14. Croatia
15. Venezuela

Top 10
1. Australia
2. Venezuela
3. South Africa
4. Dominican Republic
5. Kosovo
6. Czech Republic
7. Switzerland
8. Puerto Rico
9. USA
10. France

Top 5
1. Dominican Republic
2. Australia
3. Puerto Rico
4. Venezuela
5. Kosovo

Special awards
Award Contestant
Miss Congeniality China - Wang Jingyao

Miss Photogenic Thailand - Chutima Durongdej

Best National Costume Panama - Diana Broce

Background music
Opening Number: "I Gotta Feeling" by Black Eyed Peas, "Fire Burning" by Sean Kingston
Fashion Shoot Presentation: "Body Language" by Heidi Montag (Live performance)
Swimsuit Competition: "Right Round" and "Jump" by Flo Rida (Live performance)
Evening Gown Competition: "When Love Takes Over" by David Guetta featuring Kelly Rowland (Live performance)
Presentation show
This marks the first time the Miss Universe preliminary competition was streamed online to a worldwide audience.

At the Preliminary Competition all contestants competed in the Swimsuit and Evening Gown categories as part of the selection for the top 15 finalists who will be revealed during the beginning of the two-hour live telecast of the 2009 Miss Universe Pageant live on NBC and Telemundo on Sunday, August 23 at 0100 GMT.

The Preliminary Competition was hosted by Miss Universe 2008, Dayana Mendoza and Local Bahamas radio personality Ed Fields. London based singer Anthoney Wright performed his hit song "Wud if I Cud" during the competition.

Final show
This marked the first time the Miss Universe live telecast was introduced by Donald Trump.

84 contestants pre-taped the national costume introduction including Turks & Caicos – Jewel Selver. Top 15 were announced, followed by Dayana Mendoza sharing about her experiences as Miss Universe 2008. The Top 15 semi-finalists competed in the Swimsuit competition which Top 10 finalists completed in the Evening Gown competition. The televised audiences could see the judges' average combined scores. Before announcing the finalists, there were two special awards – Miss Congeniality and Miss Photogenic were given. Both two Asian claimed all the special awards - Wang Jingyao of China and Chutima Durongdej of Thailand. Dayana Mendoza revealed that the new Miss Universe crown was the “Peace” model. The Top 5 finalists completed in the though final question round. The 4 runner-ups announced first, followed by the new Miss Universe 2009 – Stefanía Fernández.

The live telecast was hosted by Access Hollywood, Billy Bush and Celebrity Apprentice Claudia Jordan. For the first time, special guest – Heidi Montag performed her first official single Body Language during the Top 15 fashion shoot presentation. When Flo Rida performed during the Top 15 swimsuit competition, and David Guetta featuring Kelly Rowland performed during the Top 10 evening gown competition.

The pageant was also historically significant, using Skype for the first time for the final question. Mayra Matos representing Puerto Rico was asked by Miss Universe 2007 Riyo Mori from Japan via Skype.

Judges
Telecast Judges
Keisha Whitaker – Fashion Maven and Founder of the Kissable Couture Lip Gloss line.
Tamara Tunie – Actress, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit".
George Maloof Jr. – Professional Sports Mogul and Hotelier.
Farouk – Founder and Chairman of CHI Hair Care.
Richard LeFrak – Chairman, President and CEO LeFrak Organization.
Heather Kerzner – Philanthropist and Ambassador for Kerzner International and Resorts.
Matthew Rolston – Leading Photographer and Director.
Dean Cain – Actor and Producer.
Colin Cowie – Author, Television Personality and Designer to the Stars.
Valeria Mazza – International Supermodel.
Andre Leon Talley – Award-winning Writer and Editor.
Gerry DeVeaux – Award-winning Producer, Songwriter and Style Guru.

Preliminary Judges
Mark Wylie – Best Buddies Talent Executive.
Adriana Ching – Licensed attorney and a former real estate developer avid philanthropist.
Todd Winston – Veteran of the hospitality industry and Vice President of Sales at Creative Promotional.
Rosalina Lydster – Fashion designer for celebrities.
Tiza Tjokroadisumarto – Director of Retail Operations for Michael Kors.
Corinne Nicolas – President of Trump Model Management.
David Friedman – Last Call with Carson Daly Executive Producer.
Steven Schillaci – Talent Producer for many hit shows including American Idol.
Mario Mosley – Hollywood Choreographer of Oxygen’s Dance Your Ass Off.
Sarah Markantonis – Ambassador of Kerzner International Bahamas.

Venezuela won Miss Universe back to back 2008 and 2009.
Countries who also entered the top 15 previous year were Australia, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Kosovo, South Africa, USA, and Venezuela.
Croatia placed for the first time.
Puerto Rico, Switzerland and Sweden last placed in 2006. Zuleyka Rivera (who eventually won the crown), Lauriane Gillieron (who placed 2nd runner-up), and Josephine Alhanko (who placed among the Top 20 semifinalists), were the last placers for these countries, respectively.
Albania last placed in 2002, the last being Anisa Kospiri who placed among the Top 10 semi-finalists.
France last placed 2001, the last being Élodie Gossuin who placed among the Top 10 semi-finalists.
Belgium last placed in 1992, the last being Anke Van dermeersch who placed among the Top 6 finalists.
Iceland last placed in 1980, the last being Guðbjörg Sigurdardóttir who placed among the Top 12 semi-finalists.
China won Miss Congeniality for the second time, the last being Zhang Ningning in 2007.
Thailand won Miss Photogenic for the second time, the last being Pasaraporn Chaimongkol in 1990.
Panama won Best National Costume for the third time, the last being Jessica Rodriguez in 2004.
Dominican Republic scored its first back-to-back placement ever in pageant history.
Australia scored its first back-to-back placement since 1992-1993 and its highest since the victory of Jennifer Hawkins.
The host delegate, Kiara Sherman of the Bahamas, failed to place in the semifinals. The last time the host delegate failed to place was in 2005 - Chananporn Rosjan of Thailand.
Billy Bush hosted the pageant for the fourth time, while Claudia Jordan hosted the pageant for the first time. Jordan sat as one of the judges during 2006 and Miss USA 2009.
For the first time, there was a "live" performance during the Fashion Shoot Presentation.