The judges of Miss Ukraine Universe-2009 competition had a tough time selecting the country’s top beauty on Feb. 20. All 15 finalists were apparently gorgeous, but the title went to 25-year-old Christina Kots-Gotlib, the only contestant with traditional 90-60-90 measurements. The title of Vice Miss Ukraine Universe went to Anastasia Paperna, the daughter of the famous Ukrainian actress Olga Sumska. The winner, Kots-Hotlib, was the oldest and most experienced contestant, and her self-assured presence on stage conquered the judges. The judged included Oleksandra Nikolaenko, owner of the pageant and an ex-winner herself, actors Sergey Zhygunov and Svetlana Svetlichnaya, and son of billionaire Donald Trump, Eric Trump. Last year’s winner of Miss Ukraine Universe Eleonora Massalab and Miss Universe 2008, Venezuelan Diana Mendoza took part in the award ceremony, while Tina Karol, a Ukrainian singer, was one of many pop stars who entertained guests while contestants refreshed their make-up and changed for yet another stroll on the catwalk. Apart from the title and the crown, the winner of the pageant gets the right to represent Ukraine in Miss Universe, a worldwide pageant. She also received a Marcedes-Benz, an annual stipend of $5,000 and a trip to Paris. (Photos by Yaroslav Debelyi)
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