Miss Universe 1997
Encyclopedia
Miss Universe
1997 pageant was held in Miami Beach Convention Center
in Miami Beach, Florida
, USA, culminating in the final competition on May 16, 1997. This was the second consecutive year that the pageant had been held in the United States. Miss USA
, Brook Lee of Hawaii
was crowned Miss Universe 1997 by previous titleholder, Alicia Machado
of Venezuela
. Lee was the seventh delegate from the United States to win the pageant; more Miss USA's have won the title than delegates from any other country. There were seventy-four delegates who competed for the crown.
The pageant hosts were Marla Maples Trump
, wife of the then-new owner of the Miss Universe Organization
, Donald Trump
and George Hamilton
. Entertainment was provided by Enrique Iglesias
.
Miss Universe
Miss Universe is an annual international beauty contest that is run by the Miss Universe Organization. The pageant is the most publicized beauty contest in the world with 600 million viewers....
1997 pageant was held in Miami Beach Convention Center
Miami Beach Convention Center
Miami Beach Convention Center is an indoor arena in Miami Beach, Florida and it is currently the largest convention center in the Miami area. It now features 4 large rooms each holding about 12,000 people.- History :...
in Miami Beach, Florida
Miami Beach, Florida
Miami Beach is a coastal resort city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, incorporated on March 26, 1915. The municipality is located on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, the latter which separates the Beach from Miami city proper...
, USA, culminating in the final competition on May 16, 1997. This was the second consecutive year that the pageant had been held in the United States. Miss USA
Miss USA
The Miss USA beauty contest has been held annually since 1952 to select the United States entrant in the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Organization operates both pageants, as well as Miss Teen USA...
, Brook Lee of Hawaii
Miss Hawaii USA
The Miss Hawaii USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Hawaii in the Miss USA pageant.Hawaii is the most recent state to start competing at Miss USA, as it first competed in 1962. Prior to this delegates were sent to Miss Universe...
was crowned Miss Universe 1997 by previous titleholder, Alicia Machado
Alicia Machado
Yoseph Alicia Machado Fajardo is an actress, singer and former Miss Universe. She was the fourth woman from Venezuela to capture the Miss Universe crown.-Career:...
of Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
. Lee was the seventh delegate from the United States to win the pageant; more Miss USA's have won the title than delegates from any other country. There were seventy-four delegates who competed for the crown.
The pageant hosts were Marla Maples Trump
Marla Maples
Marla Maples is an American actress, television personality, and socialite, best known for her marriage to businessman celebrity Donald Trump.- Personal life :...
, wife of the then-new owner of the Miss Universe Organization
Miss Universe Organization
The Miss Universe Organization is the organization that currently owns and runs the Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA beauty contests. Based in New York, it is owned jointly by NBC Universal and Donald Trump. The current president is Paula Shugart...
, Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump, Sr. is an American business magnate, television personality and author. He is the chairman and president of The Trump Organization and the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts. Trump's extravagant lifestyle, outspoken manner and role on the NBC reality show The Apprentice have...
and George Hamilton
George Hamilton (actor)
George Stevens Hamilton is an American film and television actor.-Early life:Hamilton was the youngest son of bandleader George "Spike" Hamilton and his first wife, Ann Stevens . He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and lived in Blytheville, Arkansas...
. Entertainment was provided by Enrique Iglesias
Enrique Iglesias
Enrique Iglesias is a Spanish pop music singer, a son of singer Julio Iglesias.Enrique started his musical career on Mexican label Fonovisa...
.
Placements
| Final results | Contestant |
|---|---|
| Miss Universe 1997 |
|
| 1st runner-up |
 Venezuela - Marena BencomoMarena Bencomo Marena Josefina Bencomo Giménez is Miss Venezuela 1996 and first runner-up to Miss Universe 1997.-Miss Venezuela:... |
| 2nd runner-up |
|
| Top 6 |
 Curaçao - Verna Vasquez Italy - Denny MéndezDenny Mendez Denny Andreina Méndez de la Rosa is a former beauty queen turned model and actress who represented Italy in the 1997 Miss Universe pageant.-Early life:...  Panama - Lía Victoria BorreroLía Borrero Lía Victoria Borrero González is a beauty queen from Las Tablas, the first Panamanian delegate in history to win a major beauty pageant, the title of Miss International 1998.-Early life:... |
| Top 10 |
 Estonia - Kristiina Heinmets Puerto Rico - Ana Rosa Brito Sweden - Victoria LagerströmVictoria Lagerström Victoria Lagerström, born on 22 October 1972, in Stockholm, Sweden. Swedish singer and former Miss Universe contestant. She was Miss Sweden in 1997.Today, Victoria works in the People's Health Department in Stockholm....  India - Nafisa JosephNafisa Joseph Nafisa Joseph was an Indian model and MTV video jockey. She was the winner of Miss India Universe 1997 and was a semi-finalist in the Miss Universe pageant.- Biography :Nafisa Joseph was brought up in the city of Bangalore... |
Semifinal Scores
| Country | Interview | Swimsuit | Evening Gown | Average | Top 6 Finalists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.543 (2) | 9.614 (2) | 9.764 (2) | 9.640 (1) | 9.450 (5) | |
| 9.443 (3) | 9.623 (1) | 9.799 (1) | 9.621 (2) | 9.629 (4) | |
 United States |
9.614 (1) | 9.500 (3) | 9.683 (4) | 9.599 (3) | 9.881 (1) |
| Venezuela |
9.060 (10) | 9.471 (4) | 9.729 (3) | 9.420 (4) | 9.829 (2) |
| style="background-color:#ccff99;" | style="background-color:#ccff99;"| 9.343 (5) | 9.271 (6) | 9.600 (5) | 9.405 (5) | 9.643 (3) |
| 9.386 (4) | 9.229 (7) | 9.443 (7) | 9.352 (6) | 9.143 (6) | |
| 9.143 (9) | 9.357 (5) | 9.417 (8) | 9.306 (7) | ||
| 9.271 (6) | 9.043 (8) | 9.471 (6) | 9.262 (8) | ||
| 9.229 (7) | 8.929 (10) | 9.271 (9) | 9.143 (9) | ||
| 9.157 (8) | 9.043 (8) | 9.129 (10) | 9.110 (10) | ||
- Winner
- First Runner-up
- Second Runner-up
- Top 6 Finalist
- Top 10 Semifinalist Rank in each round of competition
Special Awards
| Award | Contestant |
|---|---|
| Best National Costume |
|
| Miss Congeniality |
 Australia - Laura CsortanLaura Csortan Laura Csortan is an Australian model and television presenter. Her national pageant titles include Miss Universe Australia 1997 and Miss World Australia 1998.... |
| Miss Photogenic |
 Philippines - Abbygale ArenasAbbygale Arenas Abbygale Williamson Arenas is a former model from the Philippines. She is 5'9" and is said to resemble Linda Evangelista. She is now a freelance make-up artist. She is married to photographer Jun de Leon-Pageantry:... |
| Jantzen Jantzen Jantzen is a brand of swimwear that was established in 1916 and first appeared in the city of Portland, Oregon, United States. The brand name later replaced the name of the parent company that manufactured the branded products... Best in Swimsuit |
|
Telecast Judges
- Cristina SaraleguiCristina SaraleguiCristina Saralegui is a Cuban American journalist, actress and talk show host of the Spanish-language eponymous show, Cristina. She also has her own fashion line of accessories and comforters for bed and bath....
– Cuban talk show host. - Tommy FordThomas Mikal FordThomas Mikal Ford , known and credited also as Tommy Ford, is an American actor who is best known for his character Tommy Strawn in the sitcom Martin...
– African-American actor. - Eva HerzigovaEva HerzigováEva Herzigová is a Czech model and actress.-Early life and career:Herzigová was born in Litvínov, Czechoslovakia . She began her modeling career after winning a modeling beauty contest in Prague in 1989, at the age of sixteen. After arriving in Paris, her popularity increased...
– Czech model and actress. - Pat O'BrienPat O'Brien (television)Pat O'Brien is currently a radio host with Fox Sports Radio as well as an author. He is best known for his time as a sportscaster with CBS Sports and as anchor/host of Access Hollywood and The Insider .O'Brien covered five Olympic Games, two for CBS...
– Sportscaster. - Monique Pillard – Modeling agent.
- James E. Billie – Former Seminole leader.
- Ingrid SeynhaeveIngrid SeynhaeveIngrid Seynhaeve is a Belgian model. In 1991, she won the Elite Look of the Year contest. Since then, she has appeared in advertisements for Guess?, Ralph Lauren, and Saks Fifth Avenue, in catalogs for Victoria's Secret, and on the covers of Elle, Amica, and Shape...
– Belgian model. - Mike LoveMike LoveMichael Edward "Mike" Love is an American singer/songwriter and musician with The Beach Boys. He was a founding member of the band along with his cousins Brian, Carl, and Dennis Wilson, and their friend Al Jardine, and continues to perform with the band to the present day...
– American singer/songwriter. - Carolina HerreraCarolina Herrera (fashion designer)Carolina Herrera Carolina Herrera Carolina Herrera (born María Carolina Josefina Pacanins y Niño (born January 8, 1939) is a Venezuelan and naturalized American fashion designer and entrepreneur who founded her eponymous company in 1980.-Early life:...
– Fashion designer.
Contestants
- - Nazarena Almada
- - Karen-Ann Peterson
- - Laura CsortanLaura CsortanLaura Csortan is an Australian model and television presenter. Her national pageant titles include Miss Universe Australia 1997 and Miss World Australia 1998....
- - Nestaea Sealy
- - Laurence BorremansLaurence BorremansLaurence Borremans was Miss Belgium 1996 and a semi-finalist at the Miss World pageant.-References:...
- - Sharon Dominguez
- - Naomi Darrell
- - Helga Bauer
Bonaire - Jhane Landwier- - Nayla Micherif
- - Melinda Penn
- - Krassmira Todorova
- - Carmen Kempt
- - Claudia Delpin
- - Claudia Vásquez
- - Gabriela Aguilar
- - Kristina Cherina
- - Verna Vasquez
- - Korina Nikolaou
- - Petra Minářová
- - Cesarina Mejia
- - María José López
- - Eiman Thakeb
- - Carmen Carrillo
- - Kristiina Heinmets
- - Karita Tuomola
- - Patricia Spehar
- - Agathe Neuner
- - Elina Zisi
- - Carol Aquino
- - Joselina GarcíaJoselina GarcíaMaría Joselina García Cobos is a Latin American beauty queen and business administrator who won Miss Honduras in 1997 and competed in Miss Universe the same year. There she placed second in the Best National Costume Award. Her costume was designed by the Colombian designer Alfredo Rueda.-...
- ' - Lee San-San
- - Ildikó Kecan
- - Solveig Guðmundsdóttir
- - Nafisa JosephNafisa JosephNafisa Joseph was an Indian model and MTV video jockey. She was the winner of Miss India Universe 1997 and was a semi-finalist in the Miss Universe pageant.- Biography :Nafisa Joseph was brought up in the city of Bangalore...
- - Fiona Mullally
- - Dikla Hamdy
- - Denny MéndezDenny MendezDenny Andreina Méndez de la Rosa is a former beauty queen turned model and actress who represented Italy in the 1997 Miss Universe pageant.-Early life:...
- - Nadine Thomas
- ' - Lee Eun-hee
- - Dalida Chammai
- - Trincy Lowe
- - Claire Grech
- - Cindy Cesar
- - Rebeca TamezRebeca TamezRebeca Lynn Tamez Jones is a former Miss Mexico Universe. The daughter of a Mexican father and an American mother, Rebeca represented her country in the 1997 Miss Universe pageant on May 16, 1997 in Miami Beach, Florida, U.S..-External links:...
- - Sheya Shipanga
- - Marina McCartney
- ' - Melanie Sibetang
- - Lía BorreroLía BorreroLía Victoria Borrero González is a beauty queen from Las Tablas, the first Panamanian delegate in history to win a major beauty pageant, the title of Miss International 1998.-Early life:...
- - Rosanna Giménez
- - Claudia Dopf
- - Abbygale ArenasAbbygale ArenasAbbygale Williamson Arenas is a former model from the Philippines. She is 5'9" and is said to resemble Linda Evangelista. She is now a freelance make-up artist. She is married to photographer Jun de Leon-Pageantry:...
- - Agnieszka Zielinska
- - Lara Antunes
- - Ana Rosa Brito
- - Diana Maria Urdareanu
- - Anna Baitchik
- - Tricia Tan
- - Lucia Povrazníková
- - Mbali Gasa
- - Inés Sáinz
- - Victoria LagerströmVictoria LagerströmVictoria Lagerström, born on 22 October 1972, in Stockholm, Sweden. Swedish singer and former Miss Universe contestant. She was Miss Sweden in 1997.Today, Victoria works in the People's Health Department in Stockholm....
- - Melanie WinigerMelanie WinigerMelanie Winiger, is a former Miss Switzerland winner and current film actress and model.-Early life:The daughter of a German speaking Swiss national and a Canadian of Indian origin, Melanie Winiger was brought up in Ticino, the Italian region of Switzerland.-Modelling career:After winning Miss...
- ' - Chio Hai Ta
- - Suangsuda Rodprasert
- ' - Margot Bourgeois
- - Yeşim Çetin
- ' - Keisha Delancy
- - Natalia Nadtochey
- - Adriana Cano
- United States - Brook Lee
- ' - Vania Thomas
- Venezuela - Marena BencomoMarena BencomoMarena Josefina Bencomo Giménez is Miss Venezuela 1996 and first runner-up to Miss Universe 1997.-Miss Venezuela:...
- - Lorraine Magwenzi
Preliminary scores
| Rank | Country | Swimsuit | Interview | Evening Gown | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Curacao | 9.36 | 9.37 | 9.53 | 9.420 |
| 02 | Panama | 8.98 | 9.62 | 9.40 | 9.333 |
| 03 | USA | 9.11 | 9.56 | 9.04 | 9.237 |
| 04 | Italy | 9.31 | 8.73 | 9.47 | 9.170 |
| 05 | Trinidad & Tobago | 8.61 | 9.59 | 9.19 | 9.130 |
| 06 | Venezuela | 8.44 | 9.50 | 9.31 | 9.083 |
| 07 | Estonia | 9.19 | 8.79 | 9.23 | 9.070 |
| 08 | Sweden | 8.59 | 9.26 | 9.10 | 8.983 |
| 09 | Puerto Rico | 8.44 | 9.42 | 9.05 | 8.970 |
| 10 | India | 8.86 | 9.25 | 8.79 | 8.967 |
| 11 | Philippines | 8.73 | 9.31 | 8.81 | 8.950 |
| 12 | Costa Rica | 8.76 | 9.06 | 9.01 | 8.943 |
| 13 | Australia | 8.58 | 9.29 | 8.85 | 8.907 |
| 14 | Czech Republic | 8.63 | 9.15 | 8.86 | 8.880 |
| 15 | New Zealand | 8.67 | 9.32 | 8.59 | 8.860 |
| 16 | Mexico | 8.26 | 9.26 | 9.04 | 8.853 |
| 17 | Switzerland | 8.68 | 9.29 | 8.59 | 8.853 |
| 18 | Finland | 8.75 | 8.82 | 8.98 | 8.850 |
| 19 | Iceland | 8.71 | 8.69 | 9.07 | 8.823 |
| 20 | Colombia | 8.18 | 9.45 | 8.81 | 8.813 |
| 21 | Israel | 8.81 | 8.74 | 8.85 | 8.800 |
| 22 | Poland | 8.40 | 8.83 | 8.77 | 8.667 |
| 23 | Ukraine | 8.08 | 8.95 | 8.88 | 8.637 |
| 24 | Thailand | 8.21 | 9.16 | 8.54 | 8.637 |
| 25 | South Africa | 7.97 | 9.29 | 8.62 | 8.627 |
| 26 | Ireland | 8.46 | 9.16 | 8.23 | 8.617 |
| 27 | Germany | 8.52 | 8.73 | 8.54 | 8.597 |
| 28 | Turkey | 8.23 | 8.83 | 8.67 | 8.577 |
| 29 | Hungary | 8.55 | 8.72 | 8.46 | 8.577 |
| 30 | Jamaica | 7.96 | 9.21 | 8.43 | 8.533 |
| 31 | Honduras | 8.05 | 8.88 | 8.66 | 8.530 |
| 32 | El Salvador | 8.00 | 9.22 | 8.31 | 8.510 |
| 33 | Spain | 8.09 | 8.93 | 8.46 | 8.493 |
| 34 | Malaysia | 8.00 | 8.96 | 8.39 | 8.450 |
| 35 | Zimbabwe | 8.09 | 9.03 | 8.23 | 8.450 |
| 36 | France | 8.36 | 8.57 | 8.39 | 8.440 |
| 37 | Portugal | 7.94 | 9.01 | 8.34 | 8.430 |
| 38 | Chile | 8.26 | 8.69 | 8.32 | 8.423 |
| 39 | Ecuador | 7.95 | 8.93 | 8.33 | 8.403 |
| 40 | Cyprus | 8.06 | 8.72 | 8.42 | 8.400 |
| 41 | US Virgin Islands | 7.73 | 9.23 | 8.24 | 8.400 |
| 42 | Dominican Republic | 7.66 | 9.40 | 8.12 | 8.393 |
| 43 | Slovak Republic | 8.40 | 8.04 | 8.72 | 8.387 |
| 44 | Lebanon | 7.86 | 8.70 | 8.49 | 8.350 |
| 45 | Hong Kong | 7.88 | 8.96 | 8.15 | 8.330 |
| 46 | Russia | 8.23 | 8.73 | 8.00 | 8.320 |
| 47 | Guatemala | 7.57 | 8.98 | 8.40 | 8.317 |
| 48 | Bolivia | 7.92 | 8.89 | 8.11 | 8.307 |
| 49 | Belgium | 8.34 | 8.23 | 8.19 | 8.253 |
| 50 | Singapore | 7.81 | 8.58 | 8.23 | 8.207 |
| 51 | Peru | 7.59 | 8.82 | 8.15 | 8.187 |
| 52 | Belize | 7.83 | 8.54 | 8.19 | 8.187 |
| 53 | Romania | 8.15 | 8.37 | 7.99 | 8.170 |
| 54 | Namibia | 7.78 | 8.74 | 7.98 | 8.167 |
| 55 | Taiwan ROC | 7.68 | 8.48 | 8.29 | 8.150 |
| 56 | Brazil | 7.67 | 8.81 | 7.95 | 8.143 |
| 57 | Paraguay | 7.29 | 9.04 | 7.98 | 8.103 |
| 58 | Uruguay | 7.45 | 8.53 | 8.31 | 8.097 |
| 59 | Croatia | 7.96 | 7.89 | 8.39 | 8.080 |
| 60 | Canada | 7.54 | 8.67 | 7.99 | 8.067 |
| 61 | Aruba | 7.57 | 8.56 | 8.05 | 8.060 |
| 62 | Korea | 7.67 | 8.26 | 8.23 | 8.053 |
| 63 | Argentina | 7.39 | 8.73 | 8.00 | 8.040 |
| 64 | Greece | 7.54 | 8.46 | 7.94 | 7.980 |
| 65 | Bulgaria | 8.19 | 7.39 | 8.15 | 7.910 |
| 66 | Egypt | 7.31 | 8.58 | 7.80 | 7.897 |
| 67 | Bahamas | 7.58 | 8.19 | 7.90 | 7.890 |
| 68 | Bonaire | 7.69 | 8.29 | 7.64 | 7.873 |
| 69 | British Virgin Islands | 7.36 | 8.33 | 7.64 | 7.777 |
| 70 | Malta | 7.19 | 8.28 | 7.83 | 7.767 |
| 71 | Northern Marianas | 7.08 | 8.61 | 7.57 | 7.753 |
| 72 | Turks & Caicos | 7.26 | 8.61 | 7.32 | 7.730 |
| 73 | Mauritius | 7.48 | 8.15 | 7.54 | 7.723 |
| 74 | Bermuda | 7.14 | 8.29 | 7.46 | 7.630 |
- Winner
- First Runner-up
- Second Runner-up
- Top 6 Finalist
- Top 10 Semifinalist
Records and Trivia
- Maryjane McKibbin representing Western Samoa dropped out of the pageant after only 2 days.
- EstoniaEstoniaEstonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
placed for the first time, having first competed in 1993. - Verna Vasquez's finalist placement was Curaçao's second highest (the island had placed first runner-up in 1968).
- George HamiltonGeorge Hamilton (actor)George Stevens Hamilton is an American film and television actor.-Early life:Hamilton was the youngest son of bandleader George "Spike" Hamilton and his first wife, Ann Stevens . He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and lived in Blytheville, Arkansas...
, when announcing the Top 10, accidentally said 1970 instead of 1997. - One of the top six, Lía BorreroLía BorreroLía Victoria Borrero González is a beauty queen from Las Tablas, the first Panamanian delegate in history to win a major beauty pageant, the title of Miss International 1998.-Early life:...
of PanamaPanamaPanama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
later competed in Miss InternationalMiss InternationalMiss International is an annual international beauty pageant held since 1960.The current Miss International is Fernanda Cornejo, from Ecuador...
in 1998 and won the crown. - One of the Semifinalists, Nafisa JosephNafisa JosephNafisa Joseph was an Indian model and MTV video jockey. She was the winner of Miss India Universe 1997 and was a semi-finalist in the Miss Universe pageant.- Biography :Nafisa Joseph was brought up in the city of Bangalore...
from IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, committed suicide in 2004. - Vania Thomas of the U.S. Virgin Islands also represented the islands in Miss World 1989Miss World 1989The 39th Miss World marked the very first staging of the Miss World pageant in a foreign location. The pageant was held at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. 78 contestants took part in the pageant...
and was a finalist. - An episode of The Nanny featured the Miss Universe episode in Miami. It featured Miss Universe '96 Alicia Machado and Miss Universe '97 Brooke Lee.