PROFILES OF THE CONTESTANTS #9

MISS TURKEY UNIVERSE 2009 - Miss Begum Kiziltug

Name: Begum Kiziltug
Age: 23
height(cm): 177
Height(ft): 5'9"

MISS TURKS & CAICOS UNIVERSE 2009 - Miss Jewel Selver

Name: Jewel Selver
Age:22
Height(cm): 155
Height(ft): 5'1"

MISS UKRAINE UNIVERSE - Miss Christina Kots-Gotlib

Name: Christina Kots-Gotlib
Age: 25
Height(cm): 175
Height(ft): 5'9"

Christina Kots-Gotlib, a 25-year-old model from Donetsk, won the Miss Ukraine Universe 2009 beauty pageant on Feb. 20.

The title of Vice Miss Ukraine Universe went to Anastasia Paperna, the daughter of the famous Ukrainian actress Olga Sumska. The winner, Kots-Gotlib, was the oldest and most experienced contestant, and her self-assured presence on stage conquered the judges.

The judges included Oleksandra Nikolaenko, owner of the pageant and an ex-winner herself, actors Sergey Zhygunov and Svetlana Svetlichnaya, and son of billionaire Donald Trump, Eric Trump.

MISS URUGUAY UNIVERSE 2009 - Miss Cintia Dottone

Name: Cintia Dottone
Age: 20
Height(cm): 179
Height(ft): 5'10"

Famous for its beautiful beaches, resorts and casinos, the city of Punta del Este hosted the 2009 Miss Universe Uruguay pageant, which was held at the Salón Montecarlo of the traditional Hotel Corad.

The winner was Cintia Dottone, 20, 1.79 m-tall, from Montevideo. She will represent her country in Miss Universe 2009, later this year.

Her court included Karen Gutiérrez (vice-queen and chosen as Miss Internet), Patricia Callero (first princess), Nadia Teoduloz (second princess), and Rocío Torres (third princess).

MISS USA UNIVERSE 2009 - MISS KRISTEN DALTON

Name: Kristen Dalton
Age: 21
Height(cm): 170
Height(ft): 5'7"

Miss North Carolina USA Kristen Dalton was crowned Miss USA 2009 on Saturday, beating out 50 other beauty queens in the live pageant televised from Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.

The 21-year-old aspiring motivational speaker from Wilmington edged out first runner-up Miss California USA Carrie Prejean, of San Diego, and second runner-up Miss Arizona USA Alicia-Monique Blanco, of Phoenix.

Contestants from all 50 states and the District of Columbia competed in the pageant, aired live on NBC. Contestants were judged by their performance in swimsuit and evening gown modeling contests and their responses to a question asked onstage; unlike the rival Miss America pageant, Miss USA contestants do not perform a talent.

The top 15 contestants worked the stage in white string bikinis designed by pop star Jessica Simpson's swimwear line. Rocker Kevin Rudolf performed his song "Let it Rock," followed by The Veronicas, who performed their single "Untouched" as the top 10 beauties showed off their choice of glittering evening gowns.

Dalton's title comes with a year's use of a New York apartment, a public relations team, a two-year scholarship at the New York Film Academy and an undisclosed salary.

She also will go to the Bahamas in August to compete in the Miss Universe pageant, where American beauties haven't been lucky in recent years. Both Miss USA 2008 Crystle Stewart and her predecessor, Rachel Smith, wiped out on stage during the evening gown competition, becoming accidental YouTube stars.

MISS VIETNAM UNIVERSE 2009 - VO HOANG YEN

Name: Võ Hoàng Yến
Age: 21
Height(cm): 179
Height(ft): 5'10"

Vo Hoang Yen (photo), a 21-year old model and student from Ho Chi Minh City -who stands 1.79 m in height- has been elected by the Hoan Vu Company to represent Vietnam at the Miss Universe 2009 pageant to take place in the Bahamas on August 23rd.

MISS VENEZUELA UNIVERSE 2009 - Miss Stefania Fernandez

Name: Stefania Fernandez
Age:18
Height(cm): 178
Height(ft): 5'10"

MISS ZAMBIA UNIVERSE 2009 - Miss Andella Chileshe Matthews

Name: Andella Chileshe Matthews
Age: 21
Height(cm): 178
Height(ft): 5'10"