The 22-year-old from Guadalajara, resplendent in a flowing ruby-red evening gown, has been modeling since she was 15, but nothing could quite prepare her for her moment of glory. “I did feel surprised, I just went blank,” the brunette beauty said of her crowning achievement. “There was nothing going through my mind. I was in a state of shock.”
Runner-up went to Miss Jamaica, Yendi Phillipps and Miss Australia, Jesinta Campbell came in third, while fourth and fifth spots went to Miss Ukraine and Miss Philippines respectively.
As winner of the pageant Navarrete receives a one-year scholarship to the New York Film Academy, a year’s supply of shoes, dresses and hair products and is expected to spend her year as Miss Universe drawing attention to the plight of people with HIV/AIDS and breast cancer, according to pageant officials.
Her coronation, which earned her a congratulatory message on Twitter from Mexican President Felipe Calderon, ends the reign of outgoing Miss Universe 2009 Stefania Fernandez of Venezuela. Had this year’s Miss Venezuela Marelisa Gibson, 21, taken the title, it would have been a three-year sweep for the South American nation. But Gibson was ousted in the early going, along with Miss USA Rima Fakih, 24, as the field of 83 were pared down to 15.
The two-hour finale was devoid of the political drama that has erupted in past years at this event, although there had been potential for controversy when Fakih, the first American Muslim to become Miss USA, disappointed many Islamic leaders on Saturday by saying she opposes construction of a proposed mosque near Ground Zero in New York city. However, the finalists were largely able to steer clear of controversy even as they each fielded a question.
Navarrete’s question, which came from Olympic gold medalist skater Evan Lysacek, asked her for her views on what to do about the problem of children using the Internet without proper supervision. She responded vaguely but, evidently, adequately. “I do believe that the Internet is an indispensable, necessary tool for the present time,” said Navarrete, the first Mexican winner of the contest since 1991. “We must be sure to teach them the values that we learned as a family.”
The judges, clearly, were satisfied. Former Miss USA judge Alicia Jacobs, seated in the Events Center a row ahead of Miss Universe owner Donald Trump, said Navarrete was a shoo-in once the final five were announced.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 25th, 2010.
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