Most Beautiful Miss Universe Winner

THE RUSSIAN GODDESS OF BEAUTY

Since Russia is hosting this year’s Miss Universe Pageant, I will be giving the spotlight to a Russian beauty who conquered the universe in 2002

She wasn’t in any pageant expert’s short list of probable contenders for the 2002 Miss Universe Pageant.

The pageant websites didn’t have her as a frontrunner.

The moment the Top Ten were called on pageant night, the breathtakingly beautiful Oxana Federova of Russia stood out.

She left the rest of the semi- finalists to slug it out for the runners up positions. 

It was all over the moment she stepped forward 

as a Top Ten Semi- Finalist

ALL- TIME HIGHEST MISS UNIVERSE SWIMSUIT SCORE

Such was the impact of Oxana Federova who mesmerized everyone and who earned the all- time highest swimsuit competition score ever since the pageant implemented the onscreen computer scores back in 1978

MOST BEAUTIFUL MISS UNIVERSE OF ALL TIME

In celebration of the 60th edition of the Miss Universe Pageant in 2011, an online poll conducted by a pageant website and voted by an international panel of pageant experts had Oxana declared as “The Most Beautiful Miss Universe of All Time” 

Her victory was received well and accepted by almost everyone around the world. Indeed, one of the few instances when everyone was in near unanimity with the judges' ultimate choice

WAS OXANA DETHRONED OR DID SHE RESIGN?

Ironically, she is also the first and only Miss Universe titleholder to have resigned or has been dethroned by the Miss Universe Org.

Oxana stated that she voluntarily gave up her crown for personal reasons, mainly because she wanted to finish her law degree.

At the time, she stated in an interview that she had declined to perform her duties because she was so insulted by her treatment on The Howard Stern Show.

She blamed the pageant organizers for not warning her of the sexual questions Stern frequently asks.

Her first runner up, Justine Pasek of Panama assumed the crown thus becoming her  country's first Miss Universe. 

DOCTORATE DEGREE HOLDER

A few months after she quit as Miss Universe, Oxana Fedorova successfully defended her doctoral thesis.

She officially obtained a Ph.D. in Civil Law from the Saint Petersburg University of the Ministry of Interior of Russia (MVD University)

After receiving her Ph.D., she continued to teach at the Saint Petersburg University of the Ministry of Interior of Russia. 

She also continued her career as a police officer, being promoted to Captain in September 2002 and Major in 2005.

VERY POPULAR FIGURE IN RUSSIA

Her Miss Universe triumph has made her a highly- revered celebrity. 

Public perception on her has been mainly positive as reflected in a poll conducted by the The All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion in 2012 where respondents named Oxana Fedorova the most beautiful woman in Russia.

Today, she is one of the highly recognized and very successful newsmakers in Russia

WILL SHE OR WON'T SHE?

Considering the circumstances behind Oxana's short reign as Miss Universe, I wonder if she will be attending the 2013 Miss Universe Pageant. 

That is something to look forward to

WHO IS OXANA FEDEROVA OFF THE MISS UNIVERSE STAGE?

Oxana Gennadyevna Fedorova is the embodiment of a multi- faceted and highly- accomplished contemporary woman

Aside from being a former Miss Universe winner, she is also a television presenter, singer, retired police officer, former university lecturer, actress, and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

Prior to becoming Miss Universe, she studied and graduated from the police academy with honors and then worked as an inspector in a Russian militia for six months. Immediately after, Fedorova moved to St. Petersburg to study at the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) University, where she worked as an investigator at the Pulkovo Transport Police while studying.

As a police inspector

Fedorova graduated from the MVD University with a gold medal in 2000. After that, she entered a post graduate program at the same university.

While Fedorova wrote her Ph.D. dissertation on "Regulation of Private Detective and Security Activity in the Russian Federation," she taught Civil Law to younger students.

As Miss Universe 2002, she traveled to different countries around the world such as Kenya, Indonesia, Italy, France, Greece, Panama, Canada and Puerto Rico where she spoke and promoted HIV/ AIDS Prevention, the main advocacy project of the Miss Universe Pageant 

Everything came to an abrupt halt when she voluntarily gave up her crown for very personal reasons 

Oxana Federova has moved and as time has revealed, she did make the right decision. 

Well done Oxana! Cheers!

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From Russia With Love

Moscow, Russia is the host city for the 
2013 Miss Universe Pageant

 The iconic St. Basil's Cathedral on Red Square 
Moscow's most famous tourist attraction

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE

The global spotlight is now focused on Moscow, Russia ever since Donald Trump, the billionaire owner of the Miss Universe Organization, revealed during the 2013 Miss USA telecast that the historic and magnificent city will be the venue for this year's Miss Universe Pageant.

Although I've heard that round trip airline tickets are quite steep, watching it live would still be worth it. It's going to be a cornucopia of gustatory and visual delights.

Aside from being synonymous with caviar and vodka, Russia has always been regarded as having some of the world's most stunning women.

Donald & 2012 Miss U Olivia Culpo

Now, going back to Moscow being the venue for the World Cup of beauty. The international pageant circuit has been abuzz with polarizing and ambivalent views on the choice of venue

Mum's the word if you'll ask me how I feel about this but I have two concerns about this year's pageant venue

1. WILL THERE BE A SWIMSUIT SPECTACLE?

Considering that November will usher in the season of winter, will there still be the obligatory swimsuit pictorials? 

How about the highly anticipated bikini poolside presentation and press conference? How will the extremely cold weather affect the candidates' disposition and performances?

Will the girls from the tropics and from the Pacific region be able to adjust and cope with the sudden drop in temperature?

2. WILL THERE BE A LIVE TELECAST FROM MOSCOW TO THE US AT 5:00 A.M.?  

Since Moscow is ahead of New York, USA by eight hours, does it mean that the pageant will be beamed live to the rest of the world at five in the morning in order to be seen live in New York at 9 PM ? ( TV primetime)

When Miss Universe was held in Cyprus back in 2000, pageant fans and candidates had to be at the venue before the break of dawn. 

Similarly, when Miss Universe was held in Manila back in 1994, the pageant finals kicked off at 9 a.m. so that American audiences can view the live telecast during TV primetime in the evening.  

For the meantime, let's give the Russian organizers a chance to showcase not only the beauty & culture of their country but also an opportunity to prove that they're capable of staging the world's most prestigious and most iconic beauty pageant 

ASIANS ARE LUCKY WHEN MISS UNIVERSE IS HELD IN EUROPE

It should be noted that only two European countries have hosted the pageant since it debuted in 1952.

It has been exactly forty years since Greece became the first European country to host the pageant back in 1973. 

Crowned Miss Universe that year was our very own Miss Philippines Margarita “Margie” Moran who was also voted by the international media converged in Greece that time as Miss Photogenic. 

Second Filipina to be crowned Miss Universe. The first was Gloria Diaz in 1969 

Cyprus hosted the 2000 edition of Miss Universe won by another Asian, the phenomenal Lara Dutta of India who was also selected Best in Swimsuit & Best in National Costume 1st RU

Lara Dutta reacts after pipping 
Venezuela's Claudia Moreno 
into second place

It’s interesting to note that aside from being Mediterranean countries, Greece and Cyprus also share (or is it dispute?) the distinction of being the place of birth for the Goddess of Beauty & Love, Aphrodite. 

Both countries also crowned Asian beauties as their winners.

Will it be another Asian beauty? Will it be a third Miss Universe crown for either the Philippines or India?

Here's hoping that our very own Ariella Ara Arida will be able to continue our three consecutive Top Five placements.   

The 90 beauties are expected to arrive in Russian soil around October 15th for the pre-pageant activities

A feature on the beauty and splendor of Russia is coming up!

Watch out for updates

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