Miss Universe 2009

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Miss Universe 2009, the 58th Miss Universe pageant was held at the Atlantis Paradise Island, in Nassau, Bahamas on August 23, 2009. It was the first time an outgoing queen crowned her successor from the same country:
Stefanía Fernández, Miss Venezuela, was crowned Miss Universe 2009 by outgoing titleholder Dayana Mendoza. 83 countries and territories competed for the title and the pageant was broadcasted live on NBC and Telemundo.

Fernández also won the "Miss Elegance", "Best Body" and "Best Face", titles.She became the second Miss Trujillo to win that title since the Miss Venezuela pageant first began in 1952. The first was Bárbara Palacios, Miss Venezuela 1986 and Miss Universe 1986.

This marks the first time in Miss Universe history the same country won the crown in consecutive years.Her prize package includes cash, a year contract promoting Miss Universe, world travel, a rent-free, prestigious New York City luxury apartment and a gift bag stuffed with designer shoes, dresses and beauty products, a US$100,000 stipend for a two-year course at the New York Film Academy and free access to famous fashion houses and beauty parlors. Fernández intends to spend her year-long reign traveling the world to lecture on humanitarian issues and to promote education regarding HIV/AIDS

Fernández is of Ukrainian, Russian, Polish, and Galician origin. Her hobbies include tennis and swimming. Her father José Luis Fernández was born in Galicia, Spain but emigrated to Venezuela 45 years ago. Her mother is Nadia Krupij Holojad, whose Ukrainian father immigrated from the Soviet Union during the period of communist rule. Stefania's father was kidnapped in 2005 in the Venezuelan state of Barinas for five days.

The presentation show, rehearsals, dress rehearsal and the grand final took place at the Imperial Ballroom, in the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort.

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Did you know?

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Stendhal syndrome

Stendhal syndrome, Stendhal's syndrome, Hyperkulturemia, or Florence syndrome, is a psychosomatic illness that causes rapid heartbeat, dizziness, confusion and even hallucinations when an individual is exposed to art, usually when the art is particularly beautiful or a large amount of art is in a single place.

The term can also be used to describe a similar reaction to a surfeit of choice in other circumstances, e.g. when confronted with immense beauty in the natural world.

It is named after the famous 19th century French author Stendhal (pseudonym of Henri-Marie Beyle), who described his experience with the phenomen during his 1817 visit to Florence , Italy in his book Naples and Florence: A Journey from Milan to Reggio.

Although there are many descriptions of people becoming dizzy and fainting while taking in Florentine art, especially at the Uffizi, dating from the early 19th century on, the syndrome was only named in 1979, when it was described by Italian psychiatrist Graziella Magherini, who observed and described more than 100 similar cases among tourists and visitors in Florence. The syndrome was first diagnosed in 1982.

The term is often used when describing the reactions of audiences to music of the Romantic period.

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