Miss Colombia Paulina Vega has been crowned Miss Universe, beating out first runner-up Miss USA Nia Sanchez and contestants from more than 80 other countries at Monday’s pageant in Miami.
Vega, a 22-year-old student of business administration from Barranquilla, Colombia, said she would wear the crown with “pride and excitement” as she heard the news that fans in Colombia had taken to the streets to celebrate.
Vega’s win keeps the title in the hands of another Latina — reigning Miss Universe Gabriela Isler is from Venezuela. Beauty pageants are big business in Latin America, where girls are groomed for the contests from a young age and where Vega said women find “a lot of pride” in representing their country.
Pageants and performance run in Vega’s family. Her grandmother, Elvira Castillo, was Miss Atlántico 1953 (Colombia) and her grandfather is legendary tenor Gastón Vega.
Nigeria’s representative, Miss Celestine Queen, was voted Miss Congeniality (friendliest person) by other contestants.
Miss Colombia Paulina Vega was crowned Miss Universe 2014 by Miss Universe 2013 Gabriela Isler during the 63rd Annual MISS UNIVERSE Pageant
Meet Miss Universe 2015, the beautiful brunette from Colombia, Pauline Vega dressed here in her national costume
The top five finalists: Miss Colombia Paulina Vega; Miss Jamaica Kaci Fennell;Miss Ukraine Diana Harkusha; Miss Netherlands Yasmin Verheijen; and Miss USA Nia Sanchez
Nigeria’s rep to the 2014 Miss Universe pageant, Celestine Queen was voted Miss Congeniality (friendliest person) by other contestants at the 2014 Miss Universe pageant
