Miss Universe 2002 | |
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Date | 29 May 2002 |
Presenters | |
Entertainment | Marc Anthony |
Venue | Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico |
Broadcaster | CBS |
Entrants | 75 |
Placements | 10 |
Debuts |
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Withdrawals |
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Returns |
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Winner |
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Congeniality | Merlisa Rhonda George United States Virgin Islands |
Best National Costume | Vanessa Mendoza Colombia |
Photogenic | Isis Casalduc Puerto Rico |
Miss Universe 2002 was the 51st Miss Universe pageant, held at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico on 29 May 2002.
At the end of the event, Denise Quiñones of Puerto Rico crowned Oxana Fedorova of Russia as Miss Universe 2002.[1] This was the first time that Russia had been crowned Miss Universe.
Fedorova had her title removed four months later as she could not travel to fulfill her duties,[2] and first runner-up Justine Pasek of Panama took over the Miss Universe title.[3] To date, the 2002 pageant is the only time that the 1st runner-up assumed the title when the reigning Miss Universe could not fulfill her duties.
Contestants from seventy-five countries competed in this pageant. The competition was hosted by Phil Simms and Daisy Fuentes, and Miss Universe 1997 Brook Lee was the backstage correspondent. Marc Anthony performed at this pageant. This was also the last Miss Universe edition to be aired on CBS.
In December 2001, Jorge Santini, then-mayor of San Juan and Miss Universe 2001 Denise Quiñones attended at a news conference in San Juan where it was announced that the 2002 pageant will be held in Puerto Rico for the second consecutive year. The city of San Juan was chosen as the venue of the pageant from eight other cities.[4]
Seventy-five countries and territories competed in the pageant. One candidate was appointed to her position to replace the original winner.
Lorena Ayala, the winner of Miss España 2001 pageant, cut all ties with the Miss España organization and lost the right to represent Spain in any international pageant after a threat of a lawsuit against the Miss España Organization by her family, due to a contract breach with the organization. Ayala was replaced with the new Miss España 2002, Vania Millán at the request of the Miss Universe Organization.[5][6]
The 2002 edition saw the debuts of Albania and China, and the returns of Kenya who last competed in Miss Universe 1995, Guyana who last competed in Miss Universe 1999, and Australia. Mauritius. and Namibia who last competed in Miss Universe 2000. Karen Russell of Belize and Yana Booth of Great Britain withdrew due to a change of the local franchise holder.[7][8] Christina Sawaya, Miss Lebanon 2001, withdrew due to her support of the Second Intifada, stating that she couldn't compete with Miss Israel 2002, Yamit Har-Noy at the pageant.[9] Euwonka Selver of the Turks and Caicos Islands had her title removed a few weeks before leaving for the pageant, and the organization didn't replace her. Shirley Yeung of Hong Kong, Loredana Zammit of Malta, and Gabriela Riquelme of Paraguay withdrew after their respective organizations lost their licenses. Hong Kong began sending their candidates to Miss China in 2003. Argentina, Barbados, Botswana, New Zealand, and Taiwan withdrew after their respective organizations failed to hold a national competition or appoint a delegate.
Placement | Contestant |
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Miss Universe 2002 |
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1st runner-up |
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2nd runner-up | |
3rd runner-up |
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4th runner-up | |
Top 10 |
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Award | Winner |
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Miss Photogenic |
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Miss Congeniality |
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Placement | Contestant |
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Winner | |
1st runner-up |
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2nd runner-up |
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Seventy-five contestants competed for the title.