Miss Universe 2003

Background

Location and date

At the end of the Miss Universe 2002 pageant, hosts Phil Simms and Daisy Fuentes announced that the next years pageant would be held in Panama City, Panama. It is the second time that Panama hosted the pageant; the first being Miss Universe 1986.

Due to the ongoing SARS outbreak at the time, Juan Carlos Navarro, the mayor of Panama City, required the candidates to show medical certification that they were virus free.

Selection of participants

Contestants from seventy-one countries and territories were selected to compete in the pageant. Five delegates were appointees to their position to replace the original dethroned winner.

Replacements

The winner of Miss Czech Republic 2002, Kateřina Průšová was replaced by Kateřina Smržová due to her poor English skills. Miss Egypt 2003, Horreya Farghally gave up her title following rumors of her secret marriage by the press. Farghally was replaced by Nour El-Semary. The winner of Eesti Miss Estonia 2003, Maili Nomm was replaced by Katrin Susi as she was underage. The winner of Miss Poland 2002, Marta Matyjasik decided not to participate at the pageant for academic reasons. Matyjasik was replaced by Iwona Makuch.

Miss Russia 2002, Svetlana Koroleva won Miss Europe 2002 in Lebanon, making her ineligible to participate in the competition. The Miss Russia organization then held a pageant called Miss Russia Universe 2003 which was won by Julia Kova. Kova was also unable to compete due to her being underage. The Miss Russia organization then chose Maria Smirnova, a 22-year-old model from Nizhny Novgorod, as their candidate, but she was rejected for her nude pictures in Playboy Russia. Finally the Miss Universe organization announced that it would accept Oksana Bondarenko, runner-up of Miss Russia 2002.

Returns, and withdrawals

The 2003 edition saw the returns of Argentina, Barbados, Belize, New Zealand, and Chinese Taipei. Barbados last competed in Miss Universe 1999, Belize in Miss Universe 2000, while the others last competed in Miss Universe 2001. The British Virgin Islands, Chile, Ghana, Honduras, Kenya, the Northern Mariana Islands, Portugal, the United States Virgin Islands, and Uruguay withdrew. Bethsaida Smith of the British Virgin Islands and Kimberly Castro of the Northern Mariana Islands withdrew due to lack of sponsorship. Chile, Ghana, Honduras, Kenya, Portugal, the United States Virgin Islands, and Uruguay withdrew after their respective organizations failed to hold a national competition or appoint a delegate.

Miss Iceland 2002, Manuela Ósk Harðardóttir withdrew, when dehydration caused by the weather prevented her from competing in the preliminary competition. Donna Tuara of the Cook Islands and Joyce Ramarofahatra of Madagascar did not compete due to lack of sponsorship. Tiziana Mifsud of Malta did not compete after the Miss Malta pageant lost its Miss Universe franchise. Mounia Achlaf of Algeria and Melanie Putria Dewita Sari of Indonesia withdrew for undisclosed reasons.

Participation of Venezuela at Miss Universe

On 9 May 2003, the Miss Venezuela Organization announced that Mariángel Ruiz, Miss Venezuela 2002, would not be competing for the first time since Miss Universe 1959. This was due to the strict foreign exchange controls imposed by then-Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez to prevent capital flight. According to Osmel Sousa, president of the Miss Venezuela Organization, USD $80,000 was needed for the franchise fee to send Ruiz to the pageant. Venezuelan businessman Gustavo Cisneros, was able to fund Ruiz to Panama. This is after Mireya Moscoso, then-President of Panama, urged Cisneros to ensure that a Venezuelan candidate will compete at Miss Universe.

Results

Placements

Special awards

Pageant

Format

The number of semi-finalists at this contest was increased from ten to fifteen. The preliminary competition began with fifteen contestants, and consisted of swimsuit and evening gown competitions and closed-door interviews. After the evening gown competition these were reduced to ten. Then the swimsuit competition reduced them to five. The five finalists then competed in the question and answer round and the final look.

Selection committee

Final telecast

• Maria Celeste Arraras – Puerto Rican author and broadcaster journalist at Telemundo
• Deborah Carthy-Deu – Miss Universe 1985 from Puerto Rico
• Roberto Cavalli – Italian fashion designer
• Richard Johnson – American field artist and visual journalist at The Washington Post
• Amelia Marshall – American actress
• Audrey Quock – American model and actress
• Peter Reckell – American actor
• Mathew St. Patrick – American actor
• Fernanda Tavares – Brazilian supermodel

Contestants

Seventy-one contestants competed for the title.

Notes

References

References

1. (3 June 2003). "Panama gets ready to crown new Miss Universe".
2. (4 June 2003). "Dominican Republic clinches Miss Universe". [[ABC News (Australia).
3. (8 May 2003). "Miss Universe to require SARS checks". [[Manila Standard]].
4. Kizek, Marian. (8 April 2002). "Najkrajšou dievčinou ČR sa stala Kateřina Průšová z Chrastavy".
5. (5 February 2003). "Průšová nejede na Miss Universe".
6. (10 October 2002). "Miss Egypt forced to give up her crown as rumors of 'secret' marriage surface".
7. Kaupmees, Greta. (29 March 2003). "Miss Estoniaks valiti Maili Nõmm".
8. Kenk, Kaire. (2 June 2003). "Eesti neiu "Miss Universumil": "Siin on imetore!"".
9. (2 June 2003). "Polka kandyduje do tytułu Miss Universe".
10. "Lenta.Ru: В РОССИИ: "Мисс Россия" не поедет на конкурс "Мисс Вселенная-2003" из-за журнала Playboy".
11. (24 September 2002). "Acusan a Señorita Honduras 2001 de ser nicaragüense".
12. (1 June 2003). "Candidata de Islandia eliminada de Miss Universo". [[El Universo]].
13. (12 November 2002). "Student crowned Miss Malta".
14. Ankili, Houssam. (1 July 2013). "Miss Algérie couronnée après dix ans d'absence !".
15. (15 May 2003). "No Venezuela in Miss Universe Contest". [[Huron Daily Tribune]].
16. (21 May 2003). "Miss Venezuela hace realidad su sueño de competir en Miss Universo".
17. (20 May 2003). "Venezuela will not miss Miss Universe". [[BBC News]].
18. (24 June 2003). "Amelia Vega is Miss Universe".
19. (5 June 2003). "Miss U shows poise of a winner". [[Manila Standard]].
20. (June 2, 2003). "Miss Universe (2003)".
21. (22 December 2002). "Miss Angola 2003 Together With Homeless Children". [[Angola Press Agency]].
22. (31 May 2003). "Our culture distorted". Sun Weekend.
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24. (29 May 2003). "Wonder women".
25. (29 November 2022). "«Je réalise pas, je suis heureuse»: il y a 20 ans, Julie Taton était élue Miss Belgique 2003, l'animatrice repartage aujourd'hui son sacre".
26. (1 September 2002). "Economista de 23 años elegida Miss Bolivia".
27. (27 April 2003). "Miss Tocantins é a nova Miss Brasil".
28. (31 March 2003). "Santa Lucia Crowned Miss Bulgaria Universe 2003".
29. Lofaro, Tony. (14 May 2003). "Miss Universe pageant to test Canadian for SARS". The Ottawa Citizen.
30. (22 April 2003). "China's fairest". [[Philippine Daily Inquirer]].
31. (17 August 2002). "Revuelo por nueva reina".
32. (2 February 2003). "Estudiante de derecho fue elegida "Miss Costa Rica"".
33. (30 May 2003). "Smržová odlétá na Miss Universe".
34. (11 January 2023). "Este 2023 se cumplen 20 años de la coronación de Amelia Vega como Miss Universo".
35. (29 March 2003). "Andrea Jácome, nueva Miss Ecuador".
36. (1 March 2003). "Diana Reneé Valdivieso fue coronada anoche Miss El Salvador 2003".
37. (3 November 2018). "Vuoden 2003 Miss Suomi Anna Strömberg katosi yhtäkkiä julkisuudesta: takana avioero ja yrityksen karu romahtaminen – odottaa nyt neljättä lastaan".
38. (23 September 2008). "Những cú ngã của Hoa hậu trên sân khấu".
39. Zand, Bernhard. (22 February 2003). "Alexandra auf Friedensmission". [[Der Spiegel]].
40. (22 February 2022). "H Μαριέττα Χρουσαλά στο πρώτο της εξώφυλλο -Σε ηλικία 20 ετών, στην αρχή της καριέρας της".
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42. Alleyne, Samantha. (24 February 2003). "Damond sparkles as Miss Guyana/Universe 2003". [[Stabroek News]].
43. (2 February 2003). "When dreams come true". [[The Times of India]].
44. Hayes, Kathryn. (17 May 2003). "Lesley looks good for Universe crown".
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46. (22 July 2010). "Miss portafortuna per il nuovo corso della Riviera Berica".
47. Findlay-Laidley, Sophia. (7 April 2003). "Michelle Lecky is Miss Jamaica Universe 2003".
48. Tantuco, Vernise. (26 January 2017). "IN PHOTOS: 5 unconventional Miss Universe evening gowns".
49. Chalil, Melanie. (2 June 2020). "'What do you mean you're white?': Miss Universe Malaysia national director Elaine Daly ticks off former beauty queen".
50. (5 September 2003). "Touches de nouveauté pour Miss Mauritius 2003". [[L'Express (Mauritius).
51. (7 September 2002). "Nuestra Belleza México, orgullosamente lagunera".
52. (4 June 2002). "Miss Namibias ehemalige Lehrerin gewinnt".
53. (29 April 2003). "Crowning glory for United candidate".
54. (17 March 2003). "Claudia Salmerón, Miss Nicaragua 2003".
55. (16 May 2016). "MBGN 2003 & Actress Omotu Bissong releases New Photos".
56. Kristiansen, Marianne. (26 July 2013). "Frøken Norge-vinner ble bitt av 25 flått".
57. Cerrud, Rocio Rojas. (6 April 2003). "Stefanie, sencillamente lista para Miss Universo".
58. Marabotto, Ángela. (25 January 2023). "¿Qué fue de Claudia Ortiz de Zevallos, la modelo que clasificó al top 15 del Miss Universo 2003?".
59. Sto. Domingo, Joseph. (March 17, 2003). "Brains before beauty: In this year's Bb. Pilipinas, the smart ones win the titles". Manila Standard.
60. (5 April 2011). "Dedicada Carla Tricoli a su primogénito".
61. (23 May 2003). "Desfile de moda con las bellezas mundiales".
62. (4 June 2023). "Bila je Mis Srbije i Crne Gore, Kavalijeva muza, 3 pratilka Mis Sveta: Doživela veliki tragediju, a evo kako sad izgleda".
63. (19 May 2006). "Gorgeous Groomer, Bernice Wong".
64. (1 March 2003). "Miss Universe SR 2003 je 20-ročná študentka práva Petra Mokrošová".
65. Borsodi Zajac, Frances. (21 August 2003). "Polona Bas: That's no beauty queen; that's a good friend".
66. Morkel, Graye. (13 November 2020). "Cindy Nell shares childhood beauty pageant throwback".
67. (3 June 2022). "20년 전 미스코리아 금나나, 화려한 현재 근황 공개".
68. Suero, Enrique. (26 February 2023). "Eva González y sus 20 años desde que fue coronada Miss España: cómo pasó de reina de la belleza a estrella de la televisión".
69. Wirén, Anna-Sofia. (7 April 2003). "Helena från Piteå blev Fröken Sverige".
70. Petit-Pierre, Marie-Christine. (16 September 2002). "Mais pourquoi l'élection de Miss Suisse passionne-t-elle à nouveau le grand public?". [[Le Temps]].
71. (May 23, 2003). "Beauty queen renamed". [[Taipei Times]].
72. (27 May 2003). "Charmers". [[Philippine Daily Inquirer]].
73. Belix, Ceola. (5 October 2018). "8 times Miss Trinidad & Tobago shone at the Miss Universe pageant".
74. (2 January 2018). "Yıl 2003 göbek deliğim normal".
75. (25 March 2003). "Miss Massachusetts crowned Miss USA 2003".
76. (22 September 2002). "Mariángel Ruiz obtuvo la corona de Miss Venezuela".