Miss Universe 2006

Miss Universe 2006
Miss Universe 2006 from Puerto Rico
Date	July 23, 2006 (2006-07-23)
Presenters	Nancy O'Dell, Carlos Ponce, Carson Kressley and Shandi Finnessey
Entertainment	Chelo, Vittorio Grigolo
Venue	Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, USA
Broadcaster	NBC, Telemundo
Entrants	86
Placements	20
Debuts	Kazakhstan
Withdraws	Barbados, Belize, Curaçao, Italy, Kenya, Netherlands, Vietnam
Returns	Argentina, Cayman Islands, Estonia, Ghana, Iceland, New Zealand, Northern Marianas, St. Lucia, St. Martin, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Sweden
Winner	Zuleyka Rivera  Puerto Rico[1]
Congeniality	Angela Asare[2]  Ghana
Best National Costume	Kurara Chibana[2]  Japan
Photogenic	Lia Andrea Ramos[2]  Philippines

Miss Universe 2006, the 55th Miss Universe pageant, took place at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, USA. Unlike past events, it was broadcast live on NBC on a Sunday, July 23, 2006, almost two months later than usual.

The 2006 pageant is the first time the United States has been a host since 1998, and the second time for Los Angeles, which last hosted the pageant in 1990. Kazakhstan was represented for the first time, while the following countries returned after some years of absence: St. Lucia (1977), Iceland (1997), St. Martin (2000), Northern Marianas (2002), Argentina (2003), New Zealand (2003), Estonia (2004), Ghana (2004), St. Vincent and Grenadines (2004), and Sweden (2004).

Natalie Glebova of Canada crowned her successor, Zuleyka Rivera of Puerto Rico, at the conclusion of the two-hour show. Glebova's reign would be the longest ever in Miss Universe history: one year and two months. Rivera's would be one of the shortest reigns of all, just 10 months.

Results

Placements

Countries and territories which sent delegates and results.

Top 5 at Miss Universe 2006

Special Awards

Judges

Telecast Judges

The following celebrities judged the final competition.

• James Lesure - Actor from NBC's Las Vegas.
• Claudia Jordan - Model for Deal or No Deal; former Miss Rhode Island USA (1997) and Miss Rhode Island Teen USA (1990).
• Sean Yazbeck - Winner of season 5 of The Apprentice.
• Amelia Vega - Miss Universe 2003.
• Emmitt Smith - Former Dallas Cowboys player and Dancing with the Stars winner.
• Marc Cherry - American writer and producer.
• Tom Green - Actor and comedian.
• María Celeste Arrarás - Telemundo host.
• Patrick McMullan - Fashion photographer.
• Bridgette Wilson-Sampras - Actress and Miss Teen USA 1990.
• Santino Rice - Project Runway finalist.

Note: Actress Bo Derek was scheduled to be a judge but was later replaced.

Background Music

• Swimsuit Competition: "Cha Cha" by Chelo (Live Performance)
• Evening Gown Competition: "Bedshaped (Cosi)" by Vittorio Grigolo (Live Performance)

Contestants

National competitions

Debut

•  Kazakhstan

Returns

Withdraws

Did not compete

Crossovers

Historical significance

• A top 20 was selected, rather than the usual top 15.
• Countries that placed for the first time were: Ukraine, Hungary and Ethiopia.
• Countries that got called out to the semi-finals after a long period without placement were: Denmark (39 years), Argentina (27 years), Thailand (18 years), Bolivia (16 years) and Sweden (9 years). This was the longest absence in history for these countries without placements.
• Lauriane Gilliéron, 2nd runner-up became Switzerland's highest placement in Miss Universe, surpassing Lolita Morena's 1983 record of 3rd runner-up.
• Venezuela did not place for only the second time in the past 24 years.
• Ethiopia was the only African country to place in the top 20.
• Puerto Rico, with their fifth win, became the second most successful territory/state (behind the USA with 7 wins) to compete at Miss Universe, followed by Venezuela with four wins. In 2008 Venezuela tied Puerto Rico with their fifth win, then moved into second place with their sixth win in 2009, dropping Puerto Rico into third place.
• Philippines won via internet voting five Miss Photogenic awards. This is its fourth.
• Japan won the Best National Costume award for the first time.

International broadcasting

These are some of the networks outside the United States (telecasted on NBC and Telemundo) that showed the 2006 Miss Universe pageant live (or recorded earlier) in their respective countries and territories:

References

External links

• Official site of Miss Universe Organization