Miss Australia Jennifer Hawkins (pictured) celebrates as she was crowned Miss Universe. Photo by WN
A 20-year-old Australian surf-lover won the Miss Universe title in Ecuador.
Jennifer Hawkins was chosen from among 80 beauty queens. It is the second time an Australian has won the pageant since it began in 1952. The other Australian victory belonged to Kerry Anne Wells in 1972.
Miss USA Shandi Finnessey was named first runnerup, while Miss Puerto Rico Alba Reyes, 22, an aspiring doctor, came in third.
A celebrity panel that included singer Paula Abdul, and blonde bombshell Bo Derek crowned Miss Universe 2004. The glitzy pageant was hosted by celebrity news reporter Billy Bush and model Daisy Fuentes.
Presenters had said more than 600 million people around the world would watch the pageant, which is produced jointly by U.S. tycoon Donald Trump and NBC Television.