And the winner is: After beating out stiff competition from USA, Netherlands, Jamaica and Ukraine, Miss Colombia Paulina Vega became Miss Universe 2015, but some seemed to think it was Jamaica who deserved the crown
Robbed? Miss Jamaica's striking good looks and unmistakable poise have left Miss Universe pageant viewers saying the 22-year-old was robbed after being named fourth runner-up
It's renowned for its swimwear round, stunning dresses and a seemingly never-ending array of beautiful women.
However,
last night's Miss Universe final in Miami got hotter than ever - after
Miss Colombia, Paulina Vega, 22, was controversially crowned the winner
of the beauty pageant.
Instead
of the usual cheering, the audience erupted into boos of disapproval as
favourite-to-win Miss Jamaica Kaci Fennell only made it to fifth place.
Shortly
after Miss Fennell, 22, left the stage in the 63rd annual contest, her
name began trending on Twitter along with the hashtag
#MissJamaicaShouldHaveWon.
Unlike Miss Vega, who looks every-inch the beauty queen, Miss Fennell gained a large following due to her striking beauty, confidence intelligence and unconventional style - wearing her hair in a Halle Berry-esque pixie cut instead of the traditional long pageant waves.
Fans claim Miss Fennell was denied the title after she proudly called Usain Bolt, the world's fastest short-distance runner, and reggae-king Bob Marley her country's greatest contributions to the world.
'I don't have long tresses like everyone else, I'm just representing myself and that's what beauty pageants are all about,' said Fennell, who wore a long, red beaded evening gown. 'You don't have to look a certain way ... and I feel like I represent that.'
Her non-traditional answers along with her pixie cut and Caribbean confidence, likely contributed to her not placing higher in the final, according to her fans.
Miss Jamaica Kaci Fennell (left) and Miss Colombia Paulina Vega (right) compete during the swimsuit competition before the controversial decision was announced
Too honest: Kaci Fennell called Bob Marley and Usain Bolt the greatest contributions her country has given the world--an unlikely answer in the minds of some, but others saw honesty in her answer that other contestants would be afraid to show
Booed in support: Fennell, at right in the national costume competition and in her evening wear at left, received a major compliment from the Florida audience when they booed her being named fourth runner-up
Winning competitor Miss Vega is from Barranquilla, Colombia and is studying business administration. She said that she isn't planning to enter any more Miss Universe beauty competitions as she's eager to return to her studies. The 22-year-old is the granddaughter of a legendary tenor, Gastón Vega.
Earlier she said, 'It will be a dream come true to represent the woman of today. A woman that not only cares about being beautiful and being glamorous, but also cares about being a professional, intelligent, hard-working person.'
Hot topic: Fans of Miss Jamaica took to Twitter and helped to make her a trending topic even more popular than Miss Universe herself
Miss Fennell gained a large following due to her striking beauty, confidence, and unconventional style
The five finalists awaiting to hear their fate at the final on Sunday. Miss Jamaica had to leave the stage after coming in fifth in the contest
Previous winners: Miss Colombia Paulina Vega was crowned Miss Universe 2014 by Miss Universe 2013 Gabriela Isler at the 63rd Annual pageant
Miss Colombia Paulina Vega (left and right) competes onstage during the evening gown competition in which she wore an eye-catching sequined hip-hugging gown
Here she is...: Meet Miss Universe 2015, the beautiful brunette from Colombia, Pauline Vega dressed here in her national costume
First runner-up was Nevada resident Miss USA, Nia Sanchez. Coming in third was second runner-up Miss Ukraine, Diana Harkusha. Miss Netherlands took the fourth spot as third runner-up.
The first beauty eliminated from the top 5 was Miss Jamaica, whose departure brought loud and unmistakable boos from the international audience.
All top five finalists had been individually serenaded with a song by singer Gavin DeGraw in the moments leading up to the big reveal in the competition, which had 88 contestants and was held in Miami.
Miss Jamaica Kaci Fennell (right) with fellow contestants (left to right) Miss Australia Tegan Martin, Miss Netherlands Yasmin Verheijen, Miss Brazil Melissa Gurgel and Miss Ukraine Diana Harkush
Beauty with brains: Vega is from Barranquilla, Colombia and is studying business administration. She said the contests leading to Miss Universe were the first she'd participated in and will be her last as she's eager to return to her studies in business administration
First runner-up: Miss USA Nia Sanchez strutted her stuff to become one of the top five finalists at the 2015 Miss Universe competition held in Florida on Sunday
Evening look: Miss Ukraine Diana Harkusha, right, one of the top 5 finalists, flaunts her evening gown expertise in the 63rd Annual Miss Universe pageant at Florida International University on Sunday. On the left is MIss Netherlands, Yasmin Verheijen
Miss USA Nia Sanchez, 24, said she had been looking forward to the often-dreaded interview portion. In the week leading up to the final she had been practising answering questions with her roommate Miss Australia, Tegan Martin, who made it to the top ten.
Sanchez, a Nevada resident, has a fourth-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and has traveled the country teaching others. She spoke about equipping women to defend themselves against crime.
'It's just something that's so prevalent in our society and why not empower women to take control of a dangerous situation into their own hand,' she said.
Big show: Today Show personality Natalie Morales was hosting the show. And before Miss Universe, Gabriela Isler of Venezuela, crowned the next winner, viewers were to hear performances from singers Nick Jonas and Prince Royce
Strike a pose: Contestants including Miss India, Nigeria, Lebanon and Lithuania pose on stage during the 63rd Annual MISS UNIVERSE Pageant at Florida International University on January 25
Nick Jonas performs onstage among contestants during the evening gown competition
Jonas was among many celebrity guest performers, including singer Gaven Degraw
'Today Show' personality Natalie Morales hosted the show, Miss Universe 2014, Gabriela Isler of Venezuela passed the crown along to Miss Colombia and viewers heard performances from singers Nick Jonas and Prince Royce.
In another moment of controversy, crowd favorite Miss Venezuela Migbelis Lynette Castellanos was cut after the top ten She had tremendous support both locally and back home.
The Miami suburb of Doral, which is hosting the women during their stay, is also known as 'Doralzuela' for its many Venezuelan residents. Three of the last six Miss Universe titles have gone to Venezuela, where beauty pageants are big business.
DID A MISS UNIVERSE COMPETITION SPARK AN INTERNATIONAL INCIDENT? ISRAEL + LEBANON = OUTRAGE
Explosive confrontations are nothing new for Israel and Lebanon, but the latest spat between the longtime foes is perhaps the first to have been caused by an alleged photo-bomb.
A seemingly innocuous selfie at the Miss Universe pageant in Miami has sparked criticism in Lebanon because it featured a smiling Miss Lebanon alongside Miss Israel. The Israeli beauty queen, Doron Matalon, posted a picture of herself with colleagues from Japan, Slovenia and Lebanon on her Instagram account. The result? A formal Lebanese investigation into the scandal.
Lebanese Tourism Minister Michel Pharon told The Associated Press that 'if there was bad intentions' from Saly Greige, measures could be taken against her. In her defense, Miss Lebanon says she was photo-bombed.
Matalon said the joint photo was genuine and was saddened that Greige was under fire at home.
'I hope for change and I hope for peace between us, and even just for three weeks, just between me and her,' she told NBC News. 'We need to remember that we represent the country and the people, not the government and not the political issues.'
Under fire from critics angered by her fraternizing with the enemy, Greige took to Facebook to defend herself.
'The truth behind the photo: Since the first day of my arrival to participate to Miss Universe, I was very cautious to avoid being in any photo or communication with Miss Israel (that tried several times to have a photo with me),' she wrote. 'Suddenly Miss Israel jumped in, took a selfie, and put it on her social media.'
In a statement, the Miss Universe Organization said 'it is unfortunate to know a photo of four smiling women from different parts of the world, working together at an event, could be misconstrued as anything other than what it is, a celebration of universal friendship.'
Neither Miss Israel nor Miss Lebanon made it to the competition's final round