In front of a worldwide audience of approximately 1 billion viewers, Miss Universe Colombia, Paulina Vega was crowned Miss Universe 2014 at the FIU Arena. Leading up to the pageant, the contestants were hosted in Doral, Florida. The 63rd Annual MISS UNIVERSE® Pageant was broadcast on NBC with a Spanish simulcast on Telemundo.
Miss Universe Colombia, Paulina Vega is the 2nd young woman to take home the Miss Universe crown from Colombia. Born in the town of Barranquilla, located in northern Colombia, the 22 year-old is a student at the Universidad Javeriana in Bogota and is majoring in business administration. She graduated from a German school in Colombia, and speaks English and a bit of French. Paulina has been a model since she was 8 years old and belongs to a big family with four sisters and three brothers.
Natalie Morales and Thomas Roberts joined forces to host this year’s show for the first time as co-hosts. Morales is the news anchor of NBC’s “TODAY” show, and co-anchor of the show’s third hour and Roberts hosts MSNBC’s “Way Too Early” and is a contributor to “Morning Joe.” Veteran MISS UNIVERSE commentator, Jeannie Mai, took viewers behind-the-scenes to engage with contestants, talent and fans throughout the telecast.
The evening’s musical performers included: multi-talented, platinum-selling solo artist, Nick Jonas who sang a three-song medley during the evening gown competition from his self-titled album that includes the first smash single and radio hit, “Jealous,” in addition to “Chains” and “Teacher;” American musician singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw performed his hit songs “Fire” and “Finest Hour” from his new album “Best of Gavin DeGraw,” during the pageant’s Final Look; and during the Swimsuit Competition, twenty-time Latin Billboard Award winner, multi-platinum singer-songwriter Prince Royce performed his new English-language single entitled “Stuck on a Feeling” as well as Spanish-language hit song “Darte un Beso.”
The judges who sealed the fate of this year’s winner included: Kristin Cavallari, TV host and shoe designer for Kristin Cavallari by Chinese Laundry; Rob Dyrdek, Dynamic serial entrepreneur and star of MTV’s Ridiculousness and Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory; Emilio Estefan, 19-time Grammy Award winning musician and producer; Nina Garcia, Creative Director of Marie Claire Magazine, Lifetime’s hit show “Project Runway” judge, and fashion industry expert; DeSean Jackson, Washington Redskins wide receiver and return specialist; three-time Pro Bowler; William Levy, TV and film actor who was previously named People En Espanol’s Sexiest Man Alive; Manny Pacquiao, Fighter of the Decade, eight-division world champion and Filipino Congressman; Louise Roe, Fashion journalist, author, host of “Plain Jane” on MTV International and the upcoming TLC fashion series, “Style By Jury;” Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins celebrated right fielder, two-time major league baseball All-star and recipient of the biggest contract in sports history; and Lisa Vanderpump, Star of hit show “Vanderpump Rules” and “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.”
Throughout the MISS UNIVERSE Competition, contestants representing 88 countries competed in three categories: swimsuit, evening gown and interview. The telecast concluded with Miss Universe 2013 Gabriela Isler from Venezuela crowning her successor.
Photo: http://www.missuniverse.com/
