Heather Kerzner – Philanthropist and Ambassador for Kerzner International and Resorts
Farouk Shami – Founder and Chairman of CHI Hair Care
Keisha Whitaker – Fashion Maven and Founder of the Kissable Couture Lip Gloss line
Gerry DeVeaux – Award-winning Producer, Songwriter and Style Guru
George J. Maloof, Jr. – Professional Sports Mogul and Hotelier
Returns
Last competed in 1998:
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Last competed in 2006:
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Last competed in 2007:
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Designations
' – Elham Wagdy was appointed to represent Egypt. She was the 1st runner-up in Miss Egypt 2005 national pageant. She also represented Egypt in Miss Earth 2005, Miss International 2006 and Miss Intercontinental 2007.
' – Jewel Selver withdrew from the competition 24 hours before the final claiming she was suffering from dehydration.
;Before the contest
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' – Olga Nikitina did not compete in Miss Universe 2009 for lack of sponsoring from her country.
' – Faith Landers did not participate in Miss Universe 2009 despite being announced that she would.
' – Peter Elias, the franchise holder for Trinidad and Tobago has confirmed that the Caribbean nation did not send a delegate to Miss Universe 2009 due to lack of sponsorship. The Government of Trinidad and Tobago was informed by Peter Elias in 2008 that it was difficult for him to find sponsorship and that he would no longer be able to fund the girls. The Government aware of this announced that this competition is for private investment and not Government investment.
Host selection
Donald Trump had intentions on holding the 2009 pageant in Dubai, but backed out due to the political instability regarding relations between the United Arab Emirates and Israel and also for religious reasons. Croatia was interested in hosting Miss Universe 2009 but they backed out of the project due to economic problems related to the current global economic crisis. In July, investor Jonathan Westbrook tried to get Australia to host Miss Universe 2009 but his efforts were in vain as the possible venues were not interested. Eventually, and for the first time, Bahamas became the official host of the Miss Universe pageant. The presentation show, rehearsals, dress rehearsal and the grand finale took place at the main convention ballroom of Atlantis Paradise Island, the Imperial Ballroom.
Presentation show
This marks the first time the Miss Universe preliminary competition was streamed online to a worldwide audience via Ustream and the Miss Universe website. At the Preliminary Competition all contestants competed in the Swimsuit and Evening Gown categories as part of the selection for the top 15 finalists who will be revealed during the beginning of the two-hour live telecast of the 2009 Miss Universe Pageant live on NBC and Telemundo on Sunday, 23 August. The Preliminary Competition was hosted by Miss Universe 2008, Dayana Mendoza and Local Bahamas radio personality Ed Fields. London based singer Anthoney Wright performed his hit song "Wud if I Cud" during the competition.
Final show
This marked the first time the Miss Universe live telecast was introduced by Donald Trump. 84 contestants pre-taped the national costume introduction including Turks & Caicos – Jewel Selver. Top 15 were announced, followed by Dayana Mendoza sharing about her experiences as Miss Universe 2008. The Top 15 semi-finalists competed in the Swimsuit competition which Top 10 finalists completed in the Evening Gown competition. The televised audiences could see the judges' average combined scores. Before announcing the finalists, there were two special awards – Miss Congeniality and Miss Photogenic were given. Both were claimed by candidates from Asia – Wang Jingyao of China and Chutima Durongdej of Thailand. Dayana Mendoza revealed that the new Miss Universe crown was the "Peace" model. The Top 5 finalists competed in the final question round. The 4 runners-up were announced first, followed by the new Miss Universe 2009 – Stefanía Fernández. The live telecast was hosted by Access Hollywood, Billy Bush and Celebrity Apprentice Claudia Jordan. For the first time, special guest – Heidi Montag performed her first official single Body Language during the Top 15 fashion shoot presentation. Flo Rida performed during the Top 15 swimsuit competition, and David Guetta featuring Kelly Rowland performed during the Top 10 evening gown competition. The pageant was also historically significant, using Skype for the first time for the final question. Mayra Matos representing Puerto Rico was asked by Miss Universe 2007 Riyo Mori from Japan via Skype. When Miss Universe 2008 Dayana Mendoza was crowning Miss Universe 2009 Stefanía Fernández, the crown fell to the floor, but did not break.
Bolivia – Peru dispute
On 1 August 2009 Bolivian officials stated that it could present a legal challenge to the organizers of Miss Universe due to the planned use of a typical Diablada costume by the Peruvian candidate Karen Schwarz. Pablo Groux, Bolivian minister of Culture, said that any use of the costume by Schwarz in the contest would be an unlawful appropriation of Bolivian heritage and threatened to bring the case to the International Court of Justice. El Comercio, a Peruvian newspaper, mentioned that this is not the first time the diablada costume is shown in the contest and that it was María Josefa Isensee, a Chilean, that first used it in the Miss Universe contest. The Peruvian foreign minister José Antonio García Belaúnde said that since the diablada dress is of indigenous Aymara origin it can not be considered exclusive of any of the countries where Aymaras lives.
