Miss Universe 2002

Miss Universe 2002 was the 51st Miss Universe pageant, held at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico on 29 May 2002.
At the end of the event, Denise Quiñones of Puerto Rico crowned Oxana Fedorova of Russia as Miss Universe 2002. This was the first time that Russia had been crowned Miss Universe.
Fedorova was dethroned four months later as she could not travel to fulfill her duties, and first runner-up Justine Pasek of Panama took over the Miss Universe title. To date, the 2002 pageant is the only time that the 1st runner-up assumed the title when the reigning Miss Universe could not fulfill her duties.
Contestants from seventy-fove countries competed in this pageant. The competition was hosted by Phil Simms and Daisy Fuentes, while Miss Universe 1997 Brook Lee acted as backstage correspondent. Marc Anthony performed in this year's pageant. This was also the last Miss Universe edition to be aired on CBS.
Background
Location and date
In December 2001, Jorge Santini, then-mayor of San Juan and Miss Universe 2001 Denise Quiñones attended at a news conference in San Juan where it was announced that the 2002 pageant will be held in Puerto Rico for the second consecutive year. The city of San Juan was chosen as the venue of the pageant from eight other cities.
Selection of participants
Contestants from seventy-five countries and territories were selected to compete in the pageant. One candidate was appointed to her position to replace the original dethroned winner.
Replacements
Lorena Ayala, the winner of Miss España 2001 pageant, cut all ties with the Miss España organization and lost the right to representing Spain in any international pageant after a threat of lawsuit against the Miss España Organization by her family due to breaching her contract with the organization. Ayala was replaced with the new Miss España 2002, Vania Millán by the request of the Miss Universe Organization.
Debuts and withdrawals
The 2002 edition saw the debuts of Albania and China, and the returns of Kenya who last competed in 1995, Guyana who last competed in 1999, and Australia. Mauritius. and Namibia who last competed in 2000. Karen Russell of Belize and Yana Booth of Great Britain withdrew due to a change of the local franchise holder. Christina Sawaya, Miss Lebanon 2001, withdrew because she supported the Second Intifada and stated that she couldn't compete with Miss Israel 2002, Yamit Har-Noy at the pageant. Euwonka Selver of the Turks and Caicos Islands was dethroned a few weeks before leaving for the pageant and the organization didn't replace her. Shirley Yeung of Hong Kong, Loredana Zammit of Malta, and Gabriela Riquelme of Paraguay withdrew after their respective organizations lost their lincenses. Hong Kong began sending their candidates to Miss China in 2003. Argentina, Barbados, Botswana, New Zealand, and Taiwan withdrew after their respective organizations failed to hold a national competition or appoint a delegate.
Results
Placements
Special awards
Best National Costume
Pageant
Selection committee
Final telecast
Ethan Zohn – American television personality
Marshall Faulk – American football player
Tyrese Gibson – American singer, actor, and model
Nicole Miller – American fashion designer and businesswoman
Gena Lee Nolin – American actress and model
Contestants
Seventy-five contestants competed for the title.
Notes
References
External links
Miss Universe official website
2002
2002 in Puerto Rico
2002 beauty pageants
Beauty pageants in Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico
May 2002 events in North America