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African Wins Miss Universe 2011 Title (NEWS BRIEF)
Monday, September 12, 2011 at 10:17PM 
Miss Universe 2011, Leila Lopes of Angola CREDIT: Leila Lopes(HN, September 13, 2011 - UPDATED 1940GMT WITH MISS UKRAINE CONTROVERSY) - In a stunning boost to Africa, Miss Angola, Leila Lopes, was crowned Miss Universe 2011 in Brazil Monday.
Lopes beat out 88 other competitors in São Paulo to win the title during the 60th anniversary of the world's biggest beauty pageant. The business management student replaces the 2010 winner, Ximena Navarrete of Mexico.
Lopes was born in Benguela, Angola, the daughter of Cape Verdean immigrants. She was recently crowned “Queen of Angolan beauty" in the United Kingdom, where she has been undertaking her studies.
It would appear that Lopes wooed the Miss Universe judges - which included American journalist Connie Chung, supermodel Isabeli Fontana and Indy race car driver Helio Castroneves - with her savvy answer to a question about what physical change she would wish for.
"Thank God I'm very satisfied with the way God created me and I wouldn't change a thing," Lopes said. "I consider myself a woman endowed with inner beauty. I have acquired many wonderful principals from my family and I intend to follow these for the rest of my life."
The first runner-up was Olesia Stefanko (Олеся Стефанко), 23, of Ukraine, followed by Priscila Machado of Brazil. The third was Miss Philippines and the fourth Miss China.
(Separately, a petition to revoke Miss Ukraine Universe's title began circulating on social networking sites Tuesday, on the basis that Stefanko allegedly spoke Russian - and not Ukrainian, the official language of Ukraine. It said petition participants are "appalled and disgusted" that Stefanko "represented our people and our homeland in a language that not only is not ours, but the language of our former oppressors.")
First runner-up, Miss Ukraine Universe Olesia Stefanko. The law student has been criticized for allegedly replying to questions in Russian, and not Ukrainian. CREDIT: O. Stefanko(Stefanko comes from western Ukraine, but is studying public prosecutor and investigation law in the mostly-Russian speaking city of Odesa).
As the results were announced, social media sites exploded with emotional comments from Africans. "I'm proud to be an African," tweeted Musuline.
Lopes of Angola, a former Portuguese colony, is only the second African to win the title. In 1992 Michelle McClean, who now resides in South Africa, became Miss Universe.
In a phone interview, Mariama Mounir Petrolawicz, a West African from Guinea and the founder of There Is No Limit Foundation, said she was extremely proud of the win.
"By the time I tuned in I saw that she was the only African girl representing, and I thought she would never make it," Petrolawicz said.
Asked how Africans would react, she said: "This will be one of the biggest gifts we can ever have...we are so proud...she will be such an inspiration. We feels as one tonight."
Miss Lopes is only the second African to win the Miss Universe title, and only the second national from Angola to reach the rank of Top Ten finalists.
In 2001, Agbani Darego of Nigeria was crowned Miss World.
On social media sites, many Filipinos expressed profound disappointment that their compatriot, Shamcey Supsup, did not win the Number One spot - especially after answering her question in flawless English.
This years Miss Universe was hosted by NBC "Today" anchor Natalie Morales and the Bravo network's Andy Cohen, and is co-owned by Donald Trump and NBC.
- HUM News staff
First runner-up, Miss Ukraine Universe Olesia Stefanko. The law student has been criticized for allegedly replying to questions in Russian, and not Ukrainian. CREDIT: O. Stefanko(Stefanko comes from western Ukraine, but is studying public prosecutor and investigation law in the mostly-Russian speaking city of Odesa).