The parade given for contestants, Aug. 20, 2009.

A parade given for contestants of the 2009 Miss Universe Competition in Nassau, Bahamas, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked from among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23, 2009

Miss USA Kristen Dalton waves from atop a moving float during a parade given for contestants of the 2009 Miss Universe Competition, in Nassau, Bahamas, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked from among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23,2009



Bahamaians waves to contestants of the 2009 Miss Universe Competition during a parade in their honor, in Nassau, Bahamas, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked from among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 2,2009.


Miss Universe 2008 Dayana Mendoza, of Venezuela, waves during a parade given for contestants of the 2009 Miss Universe Competition, in Nassau, Bahamas, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked from among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 2,2009.

Miss Uruguay Cinthia D'Ottone, left, and Miss USA Kristen Dalton wave, as Miss Sweden Renate Cerljen sits near them atop a moving float during a parade given for contestants of the 2009 Miss Universe Competition in Nassau, Bahamas, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked from among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23, 2009.

Miss Guatemala Lourdes Figueroa sits atop a moving float during a parade given for contestants of the 2009 Miss Universe Competition, in Nassau, Bahamas, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked from among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23.2009



Miss Montenegro Anja Jovanovic, left, and Miss Norway Eli Landa sit atop a moving float during a parade given for contestants of the 2009 Miss Universe Competition, in Nassau, Bahamas, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked from among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23.2009



Miss Egypt Elham Wagdi, right, and Miss Cyprus Klelia Yiasemidou sit atop a moving float during a parade given for contestants of the 2009 Miss Universe Competition, in Nassau, Bahamas, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked from among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 232009


Miss Albania Hasna Xhukici sits atop a moving float during a parade given for contestants of the 2009 Miss Universe Competition, in Nassau, Bahamas, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked from among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23,2009



Miss Panama Diana Broce sits atop a moving float during a parade given for contestants of the 2009 Miss Universe Competition, in Nassau, Bahamas, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked from among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23.2009



Miss Colombia Michelle Rouillard, right, waves her nation's flag atop a moving float during a parade given for contestants of the 2009 Miss Universe Competition, in Nassau, Bahamas, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked from among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23,2009


Miss Peru Karen Schwarz shakes hands with a boy, as Miss Russia Sofia Rudyeva adjusts her hair atop a moving float during a parade given for contestants of the 2009 Miss Universe Competition in Nassau, Bahamas, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked from among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23.2009


Miss Russia Sofia Rudyeva adjusts her hair atop a moving float during a parade given for contestants of the 2009 Miss Universe Competition in Nassau, Bahamas, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked from among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23.2009

credit photo : AP Photo.

Read more »

Contestants rehearse a dance number, August 19, 2009.(more..)

Contestants rehearse for the Miss Universe 2009 competition at Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas August 19, 2009.

Kristen Dalton, Miss USA 2009, rehearses for the Miss Universe 2009 competition at Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas August 19, 2009.



Larissa Costa, Miss Brazil 2009, rehearses for the Miss Universe 2009 competition at Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas August 19, 2009.



Avalon-Chanel Weyzig, Miss Netherlands 2009, rehearses for the Miss Universe 2009 competition at Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas August 19, 2009.



Whitney Toyloy, Miss Switzerland 2009, rehearses for the Miss Universe 2009 competition at Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas August 19, 2009.




Essi Poysti, Miss Finland 2009, rehearses for the Miss Universe 2009 competition at Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas August 19, 2009.



Sofia Rudyeva (L), Miss Russia 2009, and Julia Dyment, Miss Israel 2009, take a break during rehearsals for the Miss Universe 2009 competition at Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas August 19, 2009.



Lourdes Figueroa, Miss Guatemala 2009, rehearses for the Miss Universe 2009 competition at Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas August 19, 2009.



Mayella Mena, Miss El Salvador 2009, rehearses for the Miss Universe 2009 competition at Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas August 19, 2009.



Mayra Matos, Miss Puerto Rico 2009, rehearses for the Miss Universe 2009 competition at Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas August 19, 2009.




Sofia Rudyeva (L), Miss Russia 2009 and Michelle Rouillard, Miss Colombia 2009, rehearse for the Miss Universe 2009 competition at Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas August 19, 2009.



Joy Lasic (L), Miss Argentina 2009, Michelle Rouillard, Miss Colombia 2009, and Dominique Peltier (R), Miss Bolivia 2009, rehearse for the Miss Universe 2009 competition at Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas August 19, 2009.



Joy Lasic (L), Miss Argentina 2009, Carolyn Yapp (2nd L), Miss Jamaica 2009, Kristen Dalton, Miss USA 2009; Lourdes Figueroa (2nd R), Miss Guatemala 2009, and Whitney Toyloy (R), Miss Switzerland 2009, rehearse for the Miss Universe 2009 competition at Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas August 19, 2009.

credit photo : Reuters Pictures

Read more »

Contestants talk with television reporters, August 19, 2009

Miss Colombia Michelle Rouillard speaks with a reporter during Miss Universe events at the Atlantis in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23.

Miss Australia Rachael Finch laughs as she talks with a television reporter during Miss Universe events at Atlantis in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23.

Miss Universe 2008 Dayana Mendoza, right, poses for snapshots with reporters during Miss Universe events in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked from among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23.



Miss Venezuela Stefania Fernandez speaks with members of the media during Miss Universe events at the Atlantis in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23.



Miss Russia Sofia Rudyeva speaks with members of the media during Miss Universe events at the Atlantis in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23.

Miss Venezuela Stefania Fernandez, left, and Miss Australia Rachael Finch, right, talk with television reporters as Miss Brazil Larissa Costa walks by during Miss Universe events at Atlantis in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked from among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23.

Miss Mexico Karla Carrillo, left, Miss Guatemala Lourdes Figueroa, center, and Miss South Africa Tatum Keshwar speak with television reporters, during Miss Universe events in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked from among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23.

Miss Dominican Republic Ada Aimee De la Cruz, left, Miss Honduras Belgica Suarez, second left, Miss Bolivia Dominique Peltier, third left, Miss Nicaragua Indiana Sanchez, fourth left, and Miss South Africa Tatum Keshwar, fifth left, stand together as Miss Venezuela Stefania Fernandez, far right, talks with a television reporter during Miss Universe events at the Atlantis in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23.

Miss Canada Mariana Valente poses for a photograph during Miss Universe events at the Atlantis in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23.

Miss Canada Mariana Valente, left, talks with a television reporter as Miss Argentina Johanna Lasic gives an interview, behind, during Miss Universe events at the Atlantis in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23.

Miss USA Kristen Dalton talks with a television reporter during Miss Universe events at Atlantis in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23.

Miss Czech Republic Iveta Lutovska, right, and Miss France Chloe Mortaud pose for a photo for a member of the press during Miss Universe events at the Atlantis in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23.

Miss Czech Republic Iveta Lutovska talks with a television reporter as Miss Venezuela Stefania Fernandez walks behind during Miss Universe events at the Atlantis in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23.

Miss Colombia Michelle Rouillard, left, and Miss Kosovo Gona Dragusha talk with television reporters during Miss Universe events at the Atlantis in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23

Miss Argentina Johanna Lasic strains to understand a question in English as she speaks with a Bahamian television reporter during Miss Universe Events in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked from among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23.

Miss India Ekta Chowdhry, left, talks with a television reporter as Miss Dominican Republic Ada Aimee De la Cruz gives an intervew during Miss Universe events at Atlantis in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23.

Miss Venezuela Stefania Fernandez laughs as she talks with a television reporter as Miss Australia Rachael Finch speaks to the press, behind right, during Miss Universe events at the Atlantis in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23.

Miss Panama Diana Broce talks with a television reporter as Miss Indonesia Zivanna Letisha Siregar walks by at right during Miss Universe events in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked from among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23.

Miss Australia Rachael Finch laughs as she talks with a television reporter during Miss Universe events in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked from among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23.

Miss Puerto Rico Mayra Matos Perez speaks with a television reporter during Miss Universe events in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked from among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23.

Miss Universe 2008 Dayana Mendoza talks to reporters during Miss Universe events in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked from among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23.

Miss Universe 2008 Dayana Mendoza, left, jokes with reporters during Miss Universe events in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked from among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23.

Credit photo: AP photo.

Read more »

Contestants rehearse a dance number, August 19, 2009.

Miss Netherlands Avalon-Chanel Weyzig, right, naps in her seat as she and other candidates wait to rehearse for the 2009 Miss Universe Competition in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked from among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23.

Contestants from around the world rehearse a dance number with a choreographer in preparation for the 2009 Miss Universe Competition in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked from among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23.

Miss Great Britain Clair Cooper stands on stage during a rehearsal of a dance number for the 2009 Miss Universe Competition in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked from among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23.




Contestants from around the world rehearse a dance number with a choreographer in preparation for the 2009 Miss Universe Competition in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked from among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23, 2009


Left to right, Miss USA Kristen Dalton, Miss Spain Estibaliz Pereira Rabade, Miss Great Britain Clair Cooper, Miss Turks & Caicos Jewel Selver, Miss France Chloe Mortaud and Miss Ecuador Sandra Vinces rehearse a dance number in preparation for the 2009 Miss Universe Competition, in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked from among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23



Miss Universe 2008 Dayana Mendoza, of Venezuela, left, and co-host Claudia Jordan, right, work with a production assistant who serves as a stand-in for host Billy Bush, as they rehearse for the 2009 Miss Universe Competition in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked from among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23.




Miss Curacao Angenie Simon, center, Miss Japan Emiri Miyasaka, and Miss Ukraine Kristina Kots-Gotlib listen to a choreographer as they rehearse for the 2009 Miss Universe Competition in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked from among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23. Miss Universe 2008 Dayana Mendoza, of Venezuela, left, and co-host Claudia Jordan, right, work with a production assistant who serves as a stand-in for host Billy Bush, as they rehearse for the 2009 Miss Universe Competition in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked from among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23.




Left to right, Miss Indonesia Zivanna Letisha Siregar, Miss Cyprus Klelia Yiasemidou, Miss Vietnam Hoang Yen Vo, and Miss New Zealand Katie Taylor prepare themselves before rehearsing a dance number in preparation for the 2009 Miss Universe Competition in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked from among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23.




Miss Peru Karen Schwarz, center, sits with Miss Uruguay Cinthia D'Ottone, left, and Miss Argentina Johanna Lasic, right, as Miss Great Britain Clair Cooper naps in her seat behind them, as they wait to rehearse for the 2009 Miss Universe Competition, in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked from among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23.



Miss Greece Viviana Campanile Zagorianakou, center, Miss Albania Hasna Xhukici, far left, and behind left to right, Miss Paraguay Mareike Baumgarten Oroa and Miss Switzerland Whitney Toyloy listen to a choreographer as they rehearse for the 2009 Miss Universe Competition in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked from among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23.

Miss Uruguay Cinthia D'Ottone, left, blows a kiss to members of the media, as Miss Peru Karen Schwarz makes a "V" sign, center, next to Miss Argentina Johanna Lasic, right, during a rehearsal for the 2009 Miss Universe Competition in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked from among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23.

Left to right, Miss Curacao Angenie Simon, Miss Japan Emiri Miyasaka, and Miss Bulgaria Elitsa Lyubenova rehearse a dance number with a choreographer in preparation for the 2009 Miss Universe Competition in Nassau, Bahamas, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. Miss Universe 2009 will be picked from among participants from 84 countries on Aug. 23.

Credit photo : AP photo

Read more »