Venezuelan beauty queens

With Stefania Fernandez giving Venezuela a second consecutive win at Miss Universe contest, it comes as no surprise that Venezuela is the country with the biggest number of international beauty awards: five Miss Worlds and six Miss Universes, among dozens of other victories. Let's take a look at some Venezuela beauty queens. Miss Universe 2009 : Miss Venezuela Stefania Fernandez has beaten 84 of the world's most beautiful women to be crowned Miss Universe 2009. No doubt she makes Venezuela proud to have retained the crown.  (AP)

Miss Universe 2008 : Dayana Mendoza, with her triumph as Miss Universe 2008 gave her country the fifth crown of the highest international beauty paegant. Mendoza broke the dry run Venezuela was having at the contest since Miss Universe 1996 winner Alicia Machado.  (AFP)

Miss Universe 1998-1st Runners up : 1997 MIss Venezuela Veruska, Ramirez, a radiant beauty from Latin America, was announced second at 1998 Miss Universe contest.  (AFP)

Miss Universe 1997-1st Runner Up: Marena Bencomo is the Miss Venezuela titleholder for 1996 and was the official representative of Venezuela to the Miss Universe 1997. She won the 1st-runners Up title.  (AFP)

Miss Universe 1996 : Yoseph Alicia Machado represented Venezuela in Miss Universe 1996 pageant. All that training and hard work, and of course her beauty conntributed to sweep the crown and become the 4th woman from Venezuela to win the Miss Universe contest.  (AFP)

Miss Universe 1994-2nd Runners Up : Minorka Mercado is 1993 Miss Venezuela who represented Miss Universe pageant in 1994 in Manila. Being the tallest candidate in that year's competition at 6'1", she was one of the favourites to win the crown but she ended up as second-runner up to Miss India Sushmita Sen and Miss Colombia Carolina Gomez Correa. She was chosen Miss Photogenic 1994 at the contest.  (AFP)

Miss Universe-1986 : Barbara Palacios Teyde captivated the universe in 1986 by becoming Miss Universe in the city of Panama.  (AGENCIES)

Miss Universe 1981 : Venezuelen beauties' are also also present in politics. Miss Universe 1981, Irene Saez is famous as the beauty queen who found her place outside the beauty territory as well. She became a mayor, governor, and high-profile presidential candidate in 1998.  (AGENCIES)

Miss Universe 1979 : Maritza Sayalero is Venezuela's first Miss Universe in 1979. Onwards, Miss Venezuelas became the toughest competitors for the contestants around the world.  (AGENCIES)

Miss World 1995 : Venezuela's Jacqueline Maria Aguilera Marcano was crowned Miss World 1995. In addition to the main title, she won both Miss Photogenic award and Miss America. She became the fifth Venezuelan to win the Miss World title.  (AFP)

Miss World 1991 : Miss Venezuela, Ninibeth Beatriz Leal Jimenez, was crowned Miss World 1991.She became the fourth Miss Venezuela to win the Miss World contest. She was also the the third Jamaican to win the Miss World title.  (AGENCIES)

Miss World 1981 : Pilin Leon won the 1981 Miss World contest representing Venezuela. She was the 31st Miss World.  (AFP)

Miss World 1955 : Carmen Susana Duijm Zubillaga of Venezuela won the Miss World title for the year 1955. Carmen worked as model in her country and started a career in modeling and films after winning the title.  (AFP)

Miss Earth 2005 : The victory of Alexandra Braun Waldeck was the first that Venezuela received in the Miss Earth Contest. This win also made Venezuela the second country after Brazil to win all of the "Big Four" pageants. Alexandra Braun Waldeck was crowned Miss Earth 2005.  (AFP)