Olivia Culpo is now the 8th Miss Universe titleholder from the USA
New York, NY – December 19, 2012 – In front of a worldwide audience of approximately 1 billion viewers, Miss USA, Olivia Culpo was crowned Miss Universe 2012 live from Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. The 61st Annual “MISS UNIVERSE® Competition” was broadcast live on NBC with a Spanish simulcast on Telemundo.
Miss USA, Olivia Culpo, grew up in Cranston, Rhode Island as the middle child of five. The 20 year-old comes from a family of avid musicians. Culpo and her siblings each play different instruments and she is an accomplished cellist. Her other interests include watching movies, visiting museums, attending concerts, and making people laugh. The last time Miss USA won the title of Miss Universe was in 1997.
Andy Cohen, host of Bravo’s “Watch What Happens: Live,” and Giuliana Rancic, co-anchor of “E! News,” hosted the “2012 MISS UNIVERSE Competition.” Jeannie Mai of Style Network’s “How Do I Look?” provided behind-the-scenes commentary throughout the LIVE telecast. Three-time Grammy-Award winning band, Train, and Australian Singing and Dancing Sensation, Timomatic performed.
Final Moment: Miss Philippines and Miss USA hug to find out who is the winner
The judges who sealed the fate of this year’s winner included: Pablo Sandoval, Two-Time World Series Champion and MVP with the San Francisco Giants; Nigel Barker, Photographer and host of Oxygen’s new series The Face; Diego Boneta, Singer and Actor best known for starring role in “Rock of Ages” film; Scott Disick, TV Personality from the E! Network; Brad Goreski, Celebrity Stylist and Star of Bravo’s It’s a Brad, Brad World; Chef Masaharu Morimoto, Star of Iron Chef and Award-Winning Chef; Ximena Navarrete, Miss Universe 2010 and Face of L’Oreal; Claudia Jordan, TV & Radio Personality and competitor on the upcoming series All-Star Celebrity Apprentice; Kerri Walsh Jennings, three-time US Olympic Gold Medalist in Beach Volleyball; Lisa Vanderpump, Star on Bravo’s hit series The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and new series Vanderpump Rules.
Throughout the two-hour event, contestants from nearly 90 countries and territories around the world competed in three categories: swimsuit, evening gown and personality interview. Miss Universe 2011, Leila Lopes of Angola, crowned her successor at the conclusion of the two-hour primetime telecast.
The Top 16
Final Results:
First Runner-Up: Miss Universe Philippines, Janine Tugonon will assume the duties of Miss Universe 2012 if the titleholder for some reason cannot fulfill her responsibilities.
Second Runner-Up: Miss Universe Venezuela, Irene Sofiá Esser Quintero.
Rest of Top Five: Miss Universe Australia, Renae Ayris and Miss Universe Brazil, Gabriela Markus.
Rest of Top Ten: Miss Russia, Elizabeth Golonova; Miss Universe France, Marie Payet; Miss Universe Hungary, Agnes Konkoly; Miss Universe South Africa, Melinda Bam; and Miss Universe Mexico, Karina Gonzalez.
Rest of Top Sixteen: Miss Universe Turkey, Cagil Ozge Özkul; Miss Universe Peru, Nicole Faveron; Miss Universe Poland, Marcelina Zawadzka; Miss Universe Croatia, Elizabeta Burg; Miss Universe Kosovo, Diana Avdiu; and Miss Universe India, Shilpa Singh.
Miss Photogenic Universe™ Award: Miss Universe Kosovo, Diana Avdiu. An expert panel chose the delegate they thought best exemplifies beauty through the lens of a camera. She was awarded a $1,000 cash prize and a gift from pageant sponsor Diamond Nexus Labs.
Miss Congeniality Universe™ Award: Miss Universe Guatemala, Laura Godoy Calle. This award reflects the respect and admiration of the delegate’s peers who voted for her as the most congenial, charismatic and inspirational participant. She was awarded a $1,000 cash prize and a gift from Diamond Nexus Labs.
Best National Costume Award: Miss Universe China, Ji Dan Xu
Miss China Ji Dan Xu receives her Best National Costume Award
The Miss Universe® 2012 prize package includes: a year’s supply of hair care products and tools from Farouk Systems; a custom diamond tiara and jewelry designed by Diamond Nexus; a shoe wardrobe from Chinese Laundry; eveningwear wardrobe by Sherri Hill; swimwear wardrobe by Kooey Australia; a year’s supply of makeup products from MAC; a year’s supply of sun care products from Australian Gold; a one-year scholarship (including housing) from the New York Film Academy; luxury accommodations in a New York City apartment for the duration of her reign, including living expenses; a year-long salary as Miss Universe; personal services including membership to Gravity Fitness and hair services from John Barrett Salon; modeling portfolio by leading fashion photographer Fadil Berisha; dermatology and skincare services provided by Dr. Cheryl Thellman-Karcher; professional health and nutrition consultation by Tanya Zuckerbrot, MS, RD and dental services by Dr. Jan Linhart, D.D.S.; casting opportunities and professional representation by the Miss Universe Organization; extensive travel opportunities representing sponsors and charitable partners; access to various New York City events including movie premiers and screenings, Broadway shows and launch parties; year-long consultation with a fashion stylist; and access to a personal appearance wardrobe.
ABOUT THE MISS UNIVERSE®PAGEANT
The Miss Universe Organization, a Donald J. Trump and NBC Universal joint venture, is a global community empowering role models of beauty, health and leadership for young women of today. As part of the Miss Universe Organization, Miss Universe is dedicated to partnering with charities around the world, and to increasing awareness for HIV/Aids prevention. For more information, visit: www.missuniverse.com.
dissapointing to say the least. With all due respect, this selection feels wrong. Olivia is pretty, but there were at least 20 other girls more deservig. Miss Universe always gives preferential treatment to their candidates. They have the most crowns, make the top 15 99% of the time and more often than not find themselves in the top 5. This pageant is rigged.
so so so bad. Olivia got nothing special to be crowned. i think miss universe Orginisation is making a big mistake again . VENEZUELA is the best. judges were absolutely OK that the real MISS is irene esser from venezuela.
AS MISS PH JANINE said during one of her TV interviews, BASHERS ARE BASHERS, JUST IGNORE WHAT THEY SAY. AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE DONT GET AFFECTED BY NEGATIVE COMMENTS, INSTEAD LOOK FOR THE GOOD ONES THAT UPLIFT THE SPIRIT. IF THEY ATTACK YOU OF YOUR PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES, IT’S THEIRS ALONE, IT’S SUBJECTIVE.. ——-. SO TO ALL BASHERS, baSH….
my top five:
Georgia
Phillipines
South Africa
Australia
Poland
Thailand and Malaysia will be forever clappers.
Miss USA deserves the crown.
Miss Philippines will win their crown in the future.
I am a Filipino but it appears that people like u are so greedy. I would love to see Malaysia, Indonesia make it good in Miss U. Baka makarma na kau niyan.
a bas choice again. venezuela is always top in all beauty pageant
What do Thailand care? They have two Miss Universes already,
It seems the only thing that MU 2012 didn’t generate any complaints was Miss China winning Best National Costume.
My top 5 of this “little weird” top 16 selection: France (I adore her), South Africa, Russia, Croacia, Australia or Mexico most beautifuls girls of this year!!! A miss SO BAD in the top 10 to Puerto Rico, Malasya, Sri Lanka and Finland!!!! Culpo is cute and Charm but I prefer a Miss Universe from USA like Campanella!!! The last year Campanella deserved the crown for SURE!!!
For someone who was there and witnessed the preliminary competition and the final show that certain candidates were removed from the list. These delegates had a great showing in the preliminaries: Curacao, Georgia, El Salvador, Malaysia, Paraguay and Puerto Rico.
I can tell you that Miss USA was hanging low… She refused to have her picture taken with some delegates…You couldn’t find her in any crowd – she dissapeared amongst the glamazons. She seemed bored and emoted a feeling as she didn’t want to be there. And Oh Miss Venezuela – georgeous girl but often times she seemed like the clown of the group.
When the top 16 was announced I just knew USA was going to win… Even though Venezuela had a great chance but we all know what happened.
Miss USA is a pretty girl but next to Australia, Brazil and Venezuela – not much to say.
In my opinion the crown should have gone to any of the other 4 but USA. That dress — can we say BEWITCHED!
Marie Payet is not Miss Universe France but 2nd runner-up Miss France’12
The correct name of Miss Russia is Yelizaveta Golovanova (Elizabeth Golonova is too far from original)
Miss Australia – she looked stunning in her gown, it also matches with her blond curls. Her answer to the Q & A was the second best for me. In my opinion, she should have been the 1st runner up.
my top 5 would have been (in no particular order):
> Miss Venezuela
> Miss Philippines
> Miss South Africa
> Miss France
> Miss Puerto Rico / Miss Mexico
i’m confused. you think Australia should have been 1st runner up but she doesn’t appear in your top 5. Venezuela & Philippines do. so at best you’ve got her 3rd out of the women who made the top 5
Miss Brazil – the best gown among the five ladies. She looked kinda old/mature on TV. Her answer to the Q & A was way better than Miss USA. She has a nice body but she lacks energy during the final round. She should have been 3rd rather than in the 4th place.
Miss Venezuela – The most beautiful among the five ladies. I can’t take my eyes off of her. I can see through her eyes that she’s enjoying that night. I really love her stage presence. Her only fault that night is during the Q & A. She should have answered it in her language. She’s a Hottie!
Miss Philippines – loved the way how she carries her gown. Personally, I don’t like her gown. It’s like an ordinary prom dress, nothing fancy about it. but it’s not the gown, its the girl who wears it. She’s witty, very elegant and nice catwalk (especially during the evening gown competiton)and also best answer during the Q & A.
Miss USA looked like Madonna/Diana Agron during the evening gown. She’s pretty but not beautiful. I kinda like her gown. It’s very unique for an evening gown for a beauty pageant.
This year, China won her Miss World, then Japan said they also had that ability, and later USA got the crown of MU. Lol what can i say? The politics has affected our beauty contests? Btw, I think Miss Venezuela Universe deserves the champoin most if she had a better answer.