Dominican wins Miss Universe title

The Hindu Panama City, Panama, June 4. Miss Dominican Republic, Amelia Vega, won the 2003 Miss Universe title today, topping 70 other contestants, including India's Nikita Anand. Outgoing titleholder Justine Pasek of Panama slipped the crown on the head of the winner, who smiled widely and waved to the crowd.

Vega, 18, is the niece of famed merengue singer, Juan Luis Guerra, and the daughter of her country's representative in the 1980 Miss Universe pageant.

The first runner up was Miss Venezuela, and second-runner up South Africa's Cindy Nell, 21, a tourism promoter. Miss Serbia and Montenegro, Sanja Papic, was third runner up and Miss Japan, Miyako Miyzaki, was fourth runnerup.

Dropping out after reaching the top 10 were women from Trinidad and Tobago, the Czech Republic, Namibia, Canada and Brazil. An earlier cut took out Misses USA, Greece, Panama, Angola and Peru. However, India's Anand even failed to make it to the top ten.

Kai Davis of Antigua and Barbuda was named Miss Congeniality. Miss Puerto Rico, Carla Tricoli, was named Miss Photogenic.