ALBANIA - Hasna Xhukuci
ANGOLA - Nelsa Alves
ARGENTINA - Johanna Lasic
ARUBA - Dianne Croes
AUSTRALIA - Rachael Finch
BAHAMAS - Kiara Sherman
BELGIUM - Zeynep Sever
BOLIVIA - Dominique Peltier
BRAZIL - Larissa Costa
BULGARIA - Elitsa Lubenova
CANADA - Mariana Valente
CAYMAN ISLANDS - Nicosia Lawson
CHINA - Jing Yao Wang
COLOMBIA - Michelle Rouillard
COSTA RICA - Jessica Umaña
CROATIA - Sarah Cosic
CURACAO - Angie Simon
CYPRUS - Klelia Yiasemidou
CZECH REPUBLIC - Iveta Lutovska
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - Ada de la Cruz
ECUADOR - Sandra Vinces
EGYPT - Elham Wagdi
EL SALVADOR - Mayella Mena
ESTONIA - Diana Arno
ETHIOPIA - Melat Yante
FINLAND - Essi Poysti
FRANCE - Chloe Mortaud
GEORGIA - Lika Orzhonikidze
GERMANY - Martina Lee
GHANA - Jennifer Koranteng
GREAT BRITAIN - Clair Cooper
GREECE - Viviana Kampanile
GUAM - Racine Manley
GUATEMALA - Lourdes Figueroa
GUYANA - Jenel Cox
HONDURAS - Belgica Suarez
HUNGARY - Zsuzsa Budai
ICELAND - Ingibjörg Egilsdóttir
INDIA - Ekta Chowdhry
INDONESIA - Zivanna Siregar
IRELAND - Diana Donnelly
ISRAEL - Yulia Liubianitzki
ITALY - Laura Valenti
JAMAICA - Carolyn Yapp
JAPAN - Emiri Miyasaka
KOREA - Seon Na Ri
KOSOVO - Marigona Dragusha
LEBANON - Martine Andraos
MALAYSIA - Joanne Belle Ng Li Vun
MAURITIUS - Anais Veerapatren
MEXICO - Karla Carrillo
MONTENEGRO - Anja Jovanovic
NAMIBIA - Happie Ntelamo
NETHERLANDS - Avalon Chanel Weyzig
NEW ZEALAND - Katie Taylor
NICARAGUA - Indiana Sanchez
NIGERIA - Sandra Otohwo
NORWAY - Eli Landa
PANAMA - Diana Broce
PARAGUAY - Mareike Baumgarten
PERU - Karen Schwarz
PHILIPPINES - Pamela Bianca Manalo
POLAND - Angelika Jakubowska
PUERTO RICO - Mayra Matos
ROMANIA - Bianca Constantin
RUSSIA - Sofia Rudieva
SERBIA - Dragana Atlija
SINGAPORE - Rachel Kum
SLOVAK REPUBLIC - Denisa Mendrejova
SLOVENIA - Mirela Korac
SOUTH AFRICA - Tatum Keshwar
SPAIN - Estibaliz Pereira
SWEDEN - Renate Cerljen
SWITZERLAND - Whitney Toyloy
TANZANIA - Illuminata James
THAILAND - Chutima Durongdej
TURKEY - Senem Kuyucuoglu
TURKS & CAICOS - Jewel Selver
UKRAINE - Kristina Kotz-Gotlib
URUGUAY - Cinthia D'Ottone
USA - Kristen Dalton
VENEZUELA - Stefania Fernandez
VIETNAM - Vo Hoang Yen
ZAMBIA - Andella Chileshe

New York, NY – July 23, 2009 – Paula M. Shugart, President of the Miss Universe Organization, announced today that superstar artists Flo Rida, Heidi Montag, David Guetta and Kelly Rowland will perform at the 2009 Miss Universe Pageant. Billy Bush, co-anchor of “Access Hollywood” and Claudia Jordan of “Celebrity Apprentice” and “Deal or No Deal,” will host the competition live from Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas on August 23rd at 9 PM ET on NBC and Telemundo.

International superstar Flo Rida will perform his hugely successful hit, “Right Round” and “Jump” as part of a two song medley during the Swimsuit Competition of the telecast. The rapper burst onto the scene in 2008 with his blockbuster debut album, “Mail on Sunday.”
Flo Rida’s single “Right Round,” from his new album “R.O.O.T.S.,” became the fastest million-selling digital song ever, reaching platinum status in just two weeks.

Included in the show will also be a performance by reality star Heidi Montag featuring her single “Turn Ya Head.” The song comes from Montag’s debut album, “Unleashed,” which was released in July. Along with her music career, Montag is a cast member on the hit MTV show “The Hills.”

David Guetta and Kelly Rowland will set the tone for the Evening Gown portion of the pageant. The popular duo will combine their talents as they perform their hit single, “When Love Takes Over.” Guetta, a world-renowned French DJ and producer, will release his fourth studio album in August, “One Love,” with Rowland, an accomplished R & B solo artist and former member of the band Destiny’s Child, providing the vocals for its lead single. “When Love Takes Over” is already number one on the UK Singles Chart and is quickly climbing in the US, having already been downloaded over 120,000 times on iTunes.

Venezuelan native Dayana Mendoza, Miss Universe 2008, will crown her successor at the conclusion of the 2009 Miss Universe telecast. During her reign, she has traveled the globe as an advocate for HIV/AIDS education, research and legislation. The newly crowned Miss Universe will go on to do the same.

Each contestant from more than 80 countries around the world will be judged in three categories: swimsuit, evening gown and interview as they vie for the coveted title of Miss Universe 2009. In recent years, the pageant has been viewed before an estimated worldwide viewing audience of approximately 1 billion viewers.

Donald J. Trump and Phil Gurin will again serve as Executive Producers for MISS UNIVERSE® 2009.

August 1 - 3 Arrivals and Registration
August 5 Location Filming
August 6 Reception at the Governor’s House
August 7 Visit to a shopping mall
Welcome Dinner
August 8 Location Filming
Exuma & Bimini Concert
August 9 Bikini Fashion Show
August 10 National Costume Competition, Rainforest Theater, Wyndham Hotel
August 11 Tour of the Islands
August 12 Miss Universe 2009 Fashion Show with local designers
August 13 National Gift Charity Auction
August 16 Miss Universe 2009 Presentation Show
August 17 - 18 One on one interviews with panel of preliminary judges
August 19 - 20 Rehearsals
August 21 Rehearsals
National Director Meeting
August 22 Rehearsals
August 23 Dress Rehearsal (noon)
Live Telecast (Time TBA) Coronation Ball
August 24 Departures

What started as her grandmother's premonition became a reality for Riyo Mori on May 28th, 2007. At the Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City, the Japanese beauty was crowned Miss Universe 2007 at the age of 20.

A self-described "modern-day female samurai," Riyo prides herself on having a great sense of independence and self, "the traditional samurai spirit prizes composure, patience and a sense of justice. It is someone who fearlessly faces challenges with a strong will." Riyo definitely embodies an independent woman. By the age of 16, she left her home in Shizuoka, Japan to study abroad in Canada, eventually reaching New York at 19 years old. Through her travels and studies, Riyo has been able to master adapting to different environments, the importance of learning foreign languages and the need for intercultural understanding. When her host guardian in Canada was suffering from hearing loss, Riyo learned American Sign Language to communicate. This experience eventually led her to volunteer with Deaf children, working on art activities.

A dancer and performer since the age of four, Riyo has spent most of her life focused on her craft. Her mother runs a dance school in their hometown, where Riyo first discovered her passion. She was literally surrounded by dance, where classes were held on the bottom level of their house. It wasn't long before she was traveling the world in pursuit of her career. Riyo studied at the Quinte Ballet School of Canada, the Radio City Rockettes' Summer Intensive and was also accepted to the Broadway Dance Center in New York, but ultimately turned down the offer when she realized she made it to the finals of Miss Japan. "Everything was prepared; I even had an apartment in New York. But having the chance to become Miss Universe was beyond any dream. I had to do it."

With the title of Miss Universe now under her belt, Riyo is as determined as ever. She aspires to become the first Japanese Radio City Rockette and will eventually open an international dance school in Tokyo, Japan. "My mother taught me that women can have it all. You donít have to choose between having a family or career, you can do both." Riyo intends on spreading this message of empowerment and independence to women all over the world, just as her mother has for her.

Riyo is also excited to start championing the official causes of MISS UNIVERSE®, which include increasing HIV/AIDS awareness by focusing on womenís health and reproductive issues and forging relationships with organizations committed to research and education, including the Latino Commission on AIDS, Global Health Council and Godís Love We Deliver.

We all know to drink lots of water for beautiful skin and we've practiced the fine art of applying lip gloss enough to know how to maximize a "pouty" look. But what about beauty tips from the real experts! Well shimmy on up and take notes girls!!!

Use Visine on your acne before applying makeup. It truly “gets the red out!”

If you run out of shaving cream, use conditioner instead. It softens the hair making it easier to shave.

To reduce puffiness, place the back of a chilled spoon on your eyes.

Use Vaseline as and under-eye moisturizer.

Rub a dry body brush in circular motions on your stomach and legs everyday before you shower. This increases the circulation in you body and helps reduce the appearance of cellulite.

Use lip pumice or a toothbrush to remove dead skin from your lips and then apply lip balm before going to bed for softer lips.

When applying eye shadow, use a lighter color on the inside corner of the eyelid and darker colors as you work toward the outer sides. White is always great on the inside corners. This will draw more attention to your eyes.

Always be true to your inner voice. It’s your personality, strength, accomplishments, intelligence, and self-confidence that will radiate from within and make the world notice the extraordinary you!