Miss Colombia Paulina Vega crowned Miss Universe

(Image credit: Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images)

last updated 26 January 2015

On Sunday night, Miss Colombia Paulina Vega beat out 87 other contestants in Miami to win the Miss Universe crown. Miss USA, Nia Sanchez, was first runner-up. Vega, 22, is a business student who's pretty new to beauty pageants and says she wants to own her own business, because "it gives me independence." She takes over from last year's Miss Universe, Gabriela Isler from neighboring Venezuela. Her yearlong reign will include a luxury apartment in New York, a new wardrobe, a salary, and a scholarship to the New York Film Academy. Below, you can watch the moment Vega learns she won. —Peter Weber

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.

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