Miss Colombia 2014 Wins Miss Universe

Abena Akuaba Appiah
Miss Colombia, Paulina Vega, has been crowned winner of this year's edition of the Miss Universe, beating out first runner-up, Miss USA, Nia Sanchez and contestants from more than 80 other countries at last Sunday's pageant held in Miami, United States.

Miss USA, Nia Sanchez, from Las Vegas, was named a runner-up, along with Miss Ukraine, Diana Harkusha.

As Miss Universe, Vega would receive an undisclosed salary, a luxury apartment in New York, a wardrobe and oodles of beauty products, and a one-year scholarship from the New York Film Academy.

Vega, a 22-year-old student of Business Administration from Barranquilla, Colombia, said she would wear the crown with 'pride and excitement' as she heard the news that fans in Colombia had taken to the streets to celebrate.

Abena Akuaba Appiah, Ghana's representative at this year's Miss Universe failed to make Ghana proud at the event.

She and other contestants from Africa could not make it to the semi-finals.

Real estate mogul and reality TV star, Donald Trump, who owns the pageant, said many predicted Vega would take the crown a few weeks ago when contestants first arrived in Miami for the festivities.

“From the minute she walked in the building, people said, 'she's a star,” Trump said.

A total of 88 countries participated in the contest, of which 15 contestants were narrowed down after a gruelling selection process. The event allowed participants to spend two weeks sharing experiences like golfing and learning Zumba together.