Sunday, August 16, 2009
History was again definitely made this year! Mpule ws the first black African to win the crown, the third Africa after Margaret Gardiner and Michelle McLean. Mpule and Wendy Fitzwilliam were the first set of "black-to-black" winners. USA didn't make the semifinals, not since Barbara Peterson failed to make the cut in 1975. This pageant had the most delegates to attend up to present. Mpule was also the first delegate from her country to ever join the Miss Universe pageant. What a stroke of luck. Mpule, however, was a non-finalist at the Miss World pageant 2 years earlier.
1st runner-up Miriam Quiambao
PHILIPPINES
2nd runner-up Diana Nogueria SPAIN
FINALISTS:
Sonia Raciti SOUTH AFRICA
Lucbel Carolina Indriago Pinto VENEZUELA
SEMI-FINALISTS:
Akuba Cudjoe GHANA
Gul Panag INDIA
Nicole Haughton JAMAICA
Silvia Salgado Cavazos MEXICO
Brenda Liz Lopez Ramos PUERTO RICO
