PANAMA CITY, Panama (AP) — Miss Dominican Republic, Amelia Vega, won the 2003 Miss Universe title Tuesday night, topping 70 other contestants.
Outgoing titleholder Justine Pasek of Panama slipped the crown on the head of the winner, who smiled widely and waved to the crowd.
Vega, 18, is niece of famed merengue singer Juan Luis Guerra and the daughter of her country's representative in the 1980 Miss Universe pageant.
The first runner up was Miss Venezuela, the Cinderella of the contest: The 22-year-old almost couldn't come to the competition because of financial problems in her home country. A donor finally turned up to meet the costs of her trip.
Second runner-up was South Africa's Cindy Nell, 21, a tourism promoter.
Miss Serbia and Montenegro, Sanja Papic, was third runner-up.