Miss Philippines 2010
Miss Universe 2010, the 59th edition of the pageant, will be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada,
USA on August 23, 2010.
Miss Universe 2009, Stefanía Fernández from Venezuela, will crown her successor at the end of this event.
Argentina: Yesica di Vincenzo is a half Italian. She represented Argentina at Miss Italia nel Mondo 2006 where she was a semifinalist. Later, she represented her country at Miss International 2008, but unplaced.
Brazil: Débora Lyra won the contest Top Model Of The World 2008 in Berlin, Germany .
Canada: Elena Semikina represented her country at Miss International 2008, but unplaced. She is half Russian, also the third Russian descent winner. The very first Russian winner was Natalie Glebova, Miss Universe 2005.
Costa Rica: Marva Wright is the first Afro-Carribean woman to win the national crown of Miss Costa Rica.
Great Britain: Tara Hoyos-Martinez is the first Hispanic woman (her parents are from Colombia) to represent Great Britain in Miss Universe.
Haiti: Sarodj Bertin is the daughter of Haitian lawyer Mireille Durocher Bertin, who was assassinated in 1994. After her mother was assassinated, Bertin's family moved to the Dominican Republic. Bertin is currently a lawyer practicing in the Dominican Republic, following the footsteps of her mother.
Jamaica: Yendi Phillips competed in Miss World 2007 and placed in the Top 16.
Korea: Kim Joo-ri competed in Miss World 2009 and placed in the top 16. She was also named Queen of Asia.
Nicaragua: Scharllette Allen is the first black woman to win the national crown of Miss Nicaragua.
Norway: Melinda Elvenes is half Batswana, as her mother is from Botswana and her father is from Norway. She was born Maun, Botswana as well and is the first woman of Black heritage to win Miss Norway.
Philippines: Maria Venus Raj was briefly dethroned after The Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) discovered inconsistencies in her birth records, in contrast to her personal account of her birth. The inconsistencies centered on her being born out of wedlock in Doha, Qatar of a Filipino mother and an Indian father. The BPCI later retracted its decision and announced that “for humanitarian reasons,” Raj would be allowed to reclaim her title if she is able to obtain a valid Philippine passport. Raj subsequently obtained a Philippine passport and was reinstated as the Philippines' Miss Universe 2010 candidate.
USA: Rima Fakih is the first Arab-American and the first Muslim to win the Miss USA title. She was born in Srifa, Lebanon as well.
US Virgin Islands : Janeisha John represented her territory at Miss America 2008, but was unplaced.
