Stefanía Fernández Krupij* (born September 4, 1990) is a Venezuelan beauty pageant titleholder, humanitarian and political activist who participated in the 2014 Venezuela Protests, and was awarded Miss Venezuela 2008 as well as Miss Universe 2009 titles. Fernández is also the face of Avon Products, and was listed among the 50 Most Beautiful People list by People en Español. She has participated in many humanitarian activities, including fighting for AIDs awareness and fighting against human rights violations. Fernández also earned a Guinness record by becoming the first Miss Universe winner who was crowned by a compatriot.

Biography 

Fernández  was born on Tuesday, September 4, 1990, in Mérida, Venezuela, to Nadia Krupij Holojad and José Luis Fernández. She is of Ukrainian, Spanish (Galician), Russian and Polish origin. Her Ukrainian maternal grandfather immigrated from the Soviet Union during the period of Communist rule.

Fernández lives in Bogota, Colombia with her husband, Bernardo Ausaje, an investor, who she wedded in Colombia on May 6, 2017.

Fernández has participated in political protest, and humane causes. During her time as Miss Universe, she traveled to many countries to spread AIDs awareness and participated in the 2014 Venezuela revolts.

Fernández won the Miss Venezuela 2008 title in a pageant held in Caracas on September 10, 2008. She was crowned by the outgoing titleholder, Dayana Mendoza, Miss Venezuela 2007 and Miss Universe 2008. She was also awarded "Miss Elegance", "Best Body", and "Best Face" titles. She became the second Miss Trujillo to win that title since the Miss Venezuela pageant first began in 1952 and also the second Miss Trujillo to win Miss Universe. The first was Bárbara Palacios, Miss Venezuela 1986 and Miss Universe 1986.

Miss Universe 2008, Dayana Mendoza (also from Venezuela) crowned her as Miss Universe 2009 on August 23, 2009, in Nassau, Bahamas. This marked the first time in Miss Universe history the same country won the crown two years in a row.

Fernández was also recognized as among the 50 Most Beautiful People list by People en Español and in March 2010, Fernández officially became the face of Avon Products.

Marriage, Divorce, Later Relationship & Child

Marriage and divorce 
Stefanía's husband was Bernardo Ausaje, an investor, who she wedded in Cartagena, Colombia, on May 6, 2017.

In June of 2020, however, Stefanía confirmed her decision to divorce Ausaje. Her manager, Luis Bascaran, released the following statement on social media:After three years of marriage, we want to inform you that by mutual agreement Bernardo and I have made the decision to separate (…) we have managed to make this decision from wisdom and maturity. We appreciate your respect and understanding. We will not be giving more statements on the subject.

Later relationship and child 
Fernández subsequently began a relationship with athlete Ender Inciarte, revealed in December 2020, and in May 2021, they had a son, named Liam.

Travelling Worldwide 

Fernández has traveled to several countries to spread AIDs Awareness.

In November, she traveled again to Indonesia, specifically to the Bali island, when she filmed a commercial of vitamins. On her return to New York, she was in a press conference about HIV, in which she appeared with Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and with recognised Venezuelan fashion designer Carolina Herrera. On 5 November 2009, she served as a presenter at the Latin Grammy Awards in Las Vegas, United States, sharing with Puerto Rican salsa singer Víctor Manuelle. At her second presentation in Venezuela, specifically in the Plaza de Toros Monumental de Maracaibo, where there was a crowd of 15,000 people, they gave a recognition (Orchid Award) to Fernández at Orchid Festival of Chinita Fair.

She also traveled to Cannes, France, on 9 December 2009, for the Five Star Diamond awards, with Miss USA Kristen Dalton, and to Willemstad, Curaçao and Barquisimeto, Venezuela, as well, in early January 2010, for the Procesión de la Divina Pastora (Procession of the Holy Shepherdess). Fernández traveled to Puerto Rico in February 2010 to host Levántate, a Telemundo TV show; then travelled to New York, where she appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Crowning Indonesian representative for Miss Universe 
In October 2020, Fernández traveled to Jakarta, Bandung and Medan, in Indonesia, where she crowned the Indonesian representative for the Miss Universe 2010 pageant.

Crowning other Representatives  
In September, March, and April 2010, she travelled to Moscow, Russia; São Paulo, Brazil; Mumbai, India; Nassau, Bahama; Caracas, Venezuela; and Prague, Czech Republic, where she crowned the respective representatives of those countries for the Miss Universe 2010 pageant. She then flew to Colombia (she was invited to promote the Kimberly-Clark brand), Panama (where she served as a presenter for Sony), and to Puerto Rico again, for the Puerto Rico Open.

AIDS awareness activism 
Stefanía promised to spend her year-long reign as Miss Universe traveling the world raising awareness on humanitarian issues and promoting education regarding HIV/AIDS. During her reign, Stefanía traveled to Indonesia, Curaçao, France, Puerto Rico, Russia, Colombia, Panama, the Czech Republic, the Bahamas, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Brazil, India, Spain, Rwanda, Venezuela, Argentina, and Ecuador for Aids Awareness Tour In 2010. Hugo Chávez, president of Venezuela, thanked her, giving her the support of both him and his government for this act.

Flag incident 
On August 23, 2010, Stefanía, still just a teenager, passed her crown to Ximena Navarrete (Miss Mexico). During her final catwalk, she opened a flag of Venezula with only seven stars. The Venezuelan parliament (the National Assembly) had voted a modification of the flag from seven to eight stars in 2006; former President Chávez had favored this decision. The display of the old flag was seen by Investor's Business Daily as a protest against the new policies of  Chávez.

Participation In 2014 Venezuelan Protests 
During the 2014 Venezuelan protests, Stefanía participated in the "Your Voice is Your Power" campaign, fighting against violence, human rights violations and the censorship of media in Venezuela.

AMMATERRE 
Currently, Fernández also runs a successful beauty line, AMMATERRE, for vegan skin care products.

Awards 
2009: Guinness record (for being the first Miss Universe winner who was crowned by a fellow member of her country).

Titles & Other Recognition 

Miss Trujilo (2008)
 Miss Venezuela (2008)
Miss Universe (2009)

Other representation 
Stefanía is the face of Avon Products. She was listed as among the 50 Most Beautiful People list by People en Español, a Spanish-language magazine.

References

Other websites

Footnote 
*please note that this article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Fernández and the second or maternal family name is Krupij.

1990 births
Living people
Venezuelan models
Miss Universe winners