So it has been a year since Dayana Mendoza was crowned Miss Universe 2008 back in Vietnam... Wow! And what a remarkable and wonderful Miss Universe she is... and now it's time to find her successor... right here in The Bahamas...
Unlike last year, this time I will not predict on who's going to win the pageant since it's so tricky and misleading when u make a prediction based only on internet photos and articles alone... so here are the ladies who I think SHOULD make it into the Top 5, Top 10 and Top 15 plus 5 more alternates...
TOP 5
Russia - Sofia Rudyeva
Wow! I think this girl has what it takes to win... great body, great presentation and a very marketable face (something that Donald Trump really likes)... will she able to repeat Oxana Fedorova's magical moment back in 2002? We shall see...
France - Chloe Mortaud
Viva la France! France's only Miss Universe is Christiane Martel who won the coveted crown back in 1953... and Chloe could repeat the feat this year... with that to-die-for shimmering silver evening gown
Czech Republic - Iveta Lutovska
Great gown and very beautiful face... a very convincing lady... really nice to be seen in the Top 5... but to me she looks a bit like Paris Hilton... hehehe
Kosovo - Marigona Dragusha
Kosovo started participating in the competition only last year... and is building up to become a powerhouse... and after looking at this girl's picture during the preliminary evening gown competition, only one word popped into my mind... Regal!
Australia - Rachel Anne FinchAnother polished and well-trained supermodel from down-under... Jennifer Hawkins kind of material... will be favoured by Donald Trump of course...TOP 10
Venezuela - Stefania FernandezSomething tells me that Venezuela will never win the crown two years in a row... although she has a beautiful feature... her choice of evening gown is not so convincing...
Netherlands - Avalon-Chanel WeyzigNetherlands always sends pretty ladies to the pageant but often get snubbed... but I think not this year... this girl seems so prepared and ready for the pageant... hopefully she can repeat Angela Visser's success in 1989
USA - Kristen DaltonSome say USA will advance to the semifinals no matter what... but this girl is beautiful and deserves to be in the Top 10... great choice of gown... the same colour she wore during the Miss USA finals...
Hungary - Zsuzsa BudaiWho can ever forget Agnes Nagy, Miss Hungary Universe 1998... so beautiful but was snubbed from advancing into the semifinals... and this year's Miss Hungary is very beautiful but her choice of evening gown might stop her chance of advancing into the Top 5
South Africa - Tatum KeshwarFacially she is not the prettiest but her interview and runway skills will certainly put her through... she should change the gown if she wants to advance further... South Africa really needs another winner since Margaret Gardiner back in 1978
TOP 15
Guatemala - Lourdes Elisa Figueroa
Guatemala has never won the pageant... and I just like this girl... so pretty... and what a beautiful gown... nice colour... I hope she can advance further during the finals...
Vietnam - Vo Hoang YenMany pundits praise this girl for her skills and beauty... and I think she deserves it... To me she is the best from Asia... and Vietnam might likely to surpass Thailand and The Philippines as the powerhouse of South East Asia very soon
Ukraine - Kristina Koz-GotlibThis blonde girl has a bubbly personality... some say that she resembles Kristiina Heinmets back in 1997... But I say she can never win in that yellow gown... Dayana just did it last year honey...
Mexico - Karla Maria CarrilloThe crowd must love this girl... she is beautiful and Mexico is looking for it's second Miss Universe since Lupita Jones... but I don't think this girl has what it takes to win... and she should change her gown for the finals... so Lupita you are save for one more year...
Sweden - Renate CerljenIf you are from Sweden, you don't have to be the prettiest girl to make the cut... remember Josephine Alhanko back in 2006? Although Renate's gown is ugly... this girl is sweet and has a charming personality
5 Alternates
Dominican Republic - Ada Aimee de la Cruz The semifinal from Miss World 2007 is here to try her luck in the Miss Universe pageant... will she be successful? I'm not so confident... much have been talked about her but I think she is overhyped... just like Ruth Ocumarez back in 2002 or Ingrid Sanchez of Puerto Rico during last year's pageant... all that glitters is just rhinestones honey
Japan - Emiri MiyasakaAnother girl from Japan tries to make the cut this year... she is beautiful and early front-runner but I thinks she lacks skills during presentation... and her choice of gown is questionable... if she ever made it to the Semifinals, it must be because of the strong relations between Ines Ligron (national director of Miss Universe Japan) and the Trump & Co.
Honduras - Belgica Nataly Suarez
It's always nice to see little country with not so good history in Miss Universe to qualify... and Belgica has all it takes to make history this year
Canada - Mariana Valente
She has a great toned body... and she is so mature with her skills answering the web interviews... and her choice of gown compliments her skin tone
Spain - Estibaliz Pereira
This girl knows how to work it... not the prettiest face but perhaps one of the best skills in the competition... will she able to be the 2nd Miss Universe from Spain, to repeat Amparo Munoz's success back in 1974? Hmm... not quite to me
Miss Universe 2009, Stefania Fernandez of Venezuela
Being crowned by the outgoing Miss Universe, fellow countrywoman Dayana Mendoza 
The final moment for Ada Aimee de la Cruz (Miss Dominican Republic) and Stefania Fernandez (Miss Venezuela)
Stefania Fernandez of Venezuela answering the final question from one of the judges
The Top 5 (from left to right) : Ada Aimee de la Cruz (Miss Dominican Republic), Rachael Finch (Miss Australia), Mayra Matos Perez (Miss Puerto Rico), Stefania Fernandez (Miss Venezuela) and Marigona Dragusha (Miss Kosovo)
