20-year-old brunette wins Miss Venezuela

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-09-25 17:00

Miss Miranda, Marelisa Gibson Villegas turns on the runway during the swimsuit event of the Miss Venezuela 2009 a beauty pageant in Caracas, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009.[Agencies]

CARACAS, Venezuela – Marelisa Gibson, a 20-year-old brunette, has been crowned Miss Venezuela and will represent the beauty-obsessed South American country at next year's Miss Universe pageant.

The annual Miss Venezuela pageant is the one of Venezuela's most watched programs and a source of national pride.

Venezuela has won six Miss Universe, five Miss World and four Miss International crowns — more than any other country.

Stefania Fernandez, a Venezuelan, was selected Miss Universe last month at the pageant in the Bahamas.

Fernandez gave the Miss Venezuela crown to Gibson at the conclusion of Thursday's four-hour pageant.

Second place went to 22-year-old Adriana Visini, who will represent Venezuela in the Miss World pageant.