Time constraint had prevented the announcement of the traditional winners of the special awards at the recently concluded 65th Miss Universe pageant, held in Manila yesterday.
“Honestly, we didn’t have time… There was so much that we wanted to fit into the show,” Miss Universe Organization president Paula Shugart said.
A $1000 special cash award was given to Miss Albania Lindita Idrizi as the recipient of Miss Photogenic. Meanwhile, the same amount of cash prize was also given to Jenny Kim, Miss Korea, who was voted by fellow candidates as Miss Congeniality.
At the end of the spectacular show, which also featured live performances by Flo Rida and Boyz II Men, France’s Iris Mittenaere was declared as the new Miss Universe, beating 85 other delegates from around the world. Haiti’s Raquel Pelissier and Colombia’s Andrea Tovar finished as first and second runners-up, respectively. /Stephen I. Diaz
