Canada is celebrating today! Their home country beauty Natalie Glebova was crowned Miss Universe last night in Bangkok, Thailand. Glebova, known previously as Miss Canada, beat eighty other contestants from around the world including four finalists from Latin America.

Puerto Rico's Cynthia Olavarria was the Super Bowl of Beauty Pageant's first runner-up.

The other finalists included Renata Sone of the Dominican Republic, Mexico's Laura Elizondo and Venezuela's Monica Spear.

Gionna Cabrera of the Philippines was awarded the Most Photogenic award. The public selected Ms. Cabrera online.

Miss Congeniality 2005 was Miss U.S. Virgin Islands. Tricia Homer was selected by her fellow contestants.

National Costume Competition

Our favorite costume -- from the few we could see and before learning which won this competition -- was Miss Thailand's gown and ceremonial headdress.

Miss Thailand

The national costume parade competition was won by Thailand's Chanaporn Rosjan.

An estimated one billion people in 180 countries were expected to tune into NBC on Sunday night in America for this year's Miss Universe competition.

Natalie Glebova is a 23-year-old model and motivational speaker to grade school and high school students who was born in Russia.

At the age of eleven, the brown-haired and blue-eyed girl immigrated from Russia to Toronto.

Glebova told reporters as she waved a Canadian flag:

I feel like this is all happening too fast and it's unreal.

When we came 11 years ago, we came with nothing, and now we've got so much.

Upon winning, Glebova looked more stunned than thrilled.

Twelve judges made Natalie Glebova's life brighter today and for the rest of her life.

Miss Universe 2004 Jennifer Hawkins of Australia was one of those judges. Hawkins was also responsible for crowning Glebova Miss Universe 2005.

The international judging panel also included: Queer Eye for the Straight Guy's Carson Kressley; Executive Producer of NBC hit shows including "Friends" and "Joey," Kevin Bright; "Days of Our Lives" star, Bryan Dattilo; Vice President, Global Cosmetics and Marketing, Procter & Gamble, Anne Martin; Hair Stylist to the stars, Louis Licari; World-Renowned Chef and former Bangkok resident, Jean Georges Vongerichten; Danish Model & Elite's Look of the Year Winner Heidi Albertsen, Supermodel Cassie Lewis; Telemundo Latin Superstar, Mario Cimarro; Model and Former Miss Ukraine Universe, Alexandra Nikolayenko; Executive Vice President, Director, Boon Rawd Brewery Co., Ltd, Chutinant "Nidnoi" Bhirombhakdi and Miss Universe 1988 from Thailand, Porntip "Bui" Nakhirunkanok Simon.

Access Hollywood's, the beautiful Ms. Nancy O'Dell and the charming "straight guy" Billy Bush, hosted the worldwide event.

Our favorites included: Miss Australia, Miss Czech Republic, Miss Dominican Republic, Miss Greece, Miss Ireland, Miss Japan, Miss Latvia, Miss Mexico, Miss Puerto Rico, Miss Singapore, Miss Slovak Republic, Miss Srilanka, Miss Trinidad / Tobago, Miss USA, Miss Venezuela and Miss Universe 2004, Jennifer Hawkins.

Where Miss Sweden has previously won three times, she was noticeably missing from the competition for the first time ever. Sweden failed to send a representative. "Harassment from feminist organizations" forced the Scandinavian swimwear firm Panos Emporio, the main sponsor, to cancel the competition.

At first blush, we were not as wowed by Miss Canada as we were with many of the others.

Fortunately, there is more that goes into the judging process than purely one's physical presence.

The top fifteen contestants out of eighty-one were:

Miss Mexico, Laura Elizondo
Miss Latvia, Ieva Kokorevica
Miss Dominican Republic, Renata Sone
Miss Canada, Natalie Glebova
Miss South Africa, Claudia Henkel
Miss Venezuela, Monica Spear
Miss Norway (who is half Thai), Helene Traasavik
Miss Switzerland, Fiona Hefti
Miss USA, Chelsea Cooley
Miss Indonesia, Artika Sari Devi
Miss Trinidad / Tobago, Magdalene Walcott
Miss Israel, Elena Ralph
Miss Peru, Debora Sulca Cravero
Miss Greece, Evangelia Aravani
Miss Puerto Rico, Cynthia Olavarria

Miss Canada, Miss Israel, Miss Peru, Miss Switzerland and Miss USA showed genuine enthusiasm when their names were called as one of the Top Fifteen in the Universe.

The woman who demonstrated the most grace, poise and elegance in her evening gown was

Of the top fifteen contestants our favorite gowns were silver and gold

Miss Mexico and Miss Israel wore gorgeous gold gowns. Miss Dominican Republic wore a stunning silver gown.

The Top Ten

Miss Puerto Rico, Cynthia Olavarria
Miss Canada, Natalie Glebova
Miss Peru, Debora Sulca Cravero
Miss Switzerland, Fiona Hefti
Miss Latvia, Ieva Kokorevica
Miss Dominican Republic, Renata Sone
Miss USA, Chelsea Cooley
Miss Mexico, Laura Elizondo
Miss Venezuela, Monica Spear
Miss Israel, Elena Ralph

Natalie Glebova's life passion is composing music and playing the piano. She has a B.A. in IT Management and Marketing. Her interests include: being outdoors, fitness and nutrition, yoga. Her favorite season is summer.

She was asked during the competition, "What is the biggest challenge in your life?" Glebova's response:

The biggest challenge in my life is to always stay positive.

I consider myself the kind of person who always looks at the glass half-full instead of half-empty. Even though, sometimes in difficult times, it is difficult to look at life this way, I always try to maintain a positive outlook on life.

She then said, "Khob Khun Kha" (pronounced 'Kapunka') - which means "thank you" in Thai.

Natalie clearly had the best answer of the night out of those Top Five Contestants who were asked an on-the-spot, challenging question.

Today, the 5'11" twenty-three year-old has more than a half-full glass and much for which she has to be thankful.

Miss Universe 2005 Blows Kisses To The Press

As the winner of the Miss Universe 2005 competition Natalie Glebova will take home many tangible gifts and memories that will last a lifetime.

A few of these gifts include:

A Mikimoto cultured-pearl and diamond crown

A Mikimoto cultured-pearl and diamond tiara

A luxury New York City apartment at Trump Place

A personal appearance wardrobe

A custom-designed personal appearance wardrobe by Tanashi

Professional representation by the Miss Universe Organization

A crystal chandelier, a winner's trophy, an assortment of figurines and a $3,000 cash prize from Preciosa (worth $10,000 in total)

A year of exclusive modeling representation from Trump Model Management

A year's supply of Cover Girl make-up and a $5,000 cash prize

A $2,000 cash prize and a year's supply of BioSilk haircare products and CHI tools

A shoe wardrobe from Nina footwear

A $60,000 scholarship at The School for Film & Television

A seven-day, six-night stay at Thailand's Santiburi Resort

Natalie Glebova will spend the year travelling the world as a spokesperson for women everywhere.

The pageant is co-owned by U.S. broadcaster NBC and New York real-estate tycoon Donald Trump.

The Miss Universe Organization, producers of the MISS UNIVERSE, MISS USA and MISS TEEN USA competitions, is a Donald J. Trump and NBC partnership. Utilizing its global grass roots infrastructure, the Miss Universe Organization is committed to increasing HIV/AIDS Awareness by focusing on women's health and reproductive issues. By forging relationships with organizations committed to research and education, such as the Global Health Council, Gods Love We Deliver and the United Nations Population Fund's Face-to-Face Campaign, Miss Universe is armed to impact women today.

The United States has had the greatest number of winners with seven.

Puerto Rico and Venezuela each have four crowns and Sweden three.

The Philippines, Thailand and India each have two titles.

Congratulations to all eighty-one contestants, especially Natalie.

Inspire & Be Inspired.

Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful, "motivational" living!

~ Jennifer Carolyn King, Rugged Elegance, LLC

Canada Flag Women's T-Shirt

Embroidered Canada Flag T-Shirt

Canada Window Decal Set

Top 2005 Miss Universe Costume Goes to Miss Thailand's Chanaporn Rosjan

Australia's Jennifer Hawkins Crowned The 2004 Miss Universe in Quito Ecuador

Jennifer Hawkins Receives A "10" For Modeling Red Thong