Gabriela Isler of Venezuela (left), Ariella Arida of the Philippines, Patricia Yurena Rodriguez of Spain, Jakelyne Oliveira of Brazil and Constanza Baez of Ecuador wait for the judges’ decision in Moscow on Saturday (Sunday in Manila). Isler was crowned Miss Universe. AFP PHOTO
Gabriela Isler of Venezuela (left), Ariella Arida of the Philippines, Patricia Yurena Rodriguez of Spain, Jakelyne Oliveira of Brazil and Constanza Baez of Ecuador wait for the judges’ decision in Moscow on Saturday (Sunday in Manila). Isler was crowned Miss Universe. AFP PHOTO

MOSCOW: A 25-year-old Venezuelan television presenter, Gabriela Isler, on Saturday was crowned Miss Universe in Moscow in a glittering ceremony.

Judges, including rock star Steven Tyler from Aerosmith, picked the winner from a total of 86 contestants at the show, watched by millions of viewers around the world.

Last year’s winner Olivia Culpo of the United States placed a diamond crown on the head of Isler, who wore a silver rhine-stone studded evening dress.

Isler’s triumph was the seventh Miss Universe win for Venezuela, where beauty

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pageants are a source of national pride.

Miss Philippines, Ariella Arida, was the third runner-up. The Filipina beauty stood out in a yellow strapless gown.

Miss Spain was 1st runner-up, Miss Ecuador 2nd, and Miss Brazil, 4th.

Arida was asked by Olympic figure skating gold medalist Tara Lipinski, “What can be done about the lack of jobs for young people starting their career around the world?”

“I do believe we should invest in education – and that is my primary advocacy . . . education is a primary source and a ticket for a better future,” Arida replied.

For the fourth straight year, a Filipina made the Final 5 in the pageant. Janine Tugonon was 1st runner-up in 2012, Shamcey Supsup 3rd runner-up in 2011, and Venus Raj, who was popular for her “tsunami walk,” 4th runner-up in 2010.

After the show, Isler beamed and waved to journalists, wearing the Miss Universe sash and standing next to the show’s owner, US tycoon Donald Trump.

“I have a lot of emotions. I can’t describe all the things that I feel at this moment because I’m shaking,” she said. “I’m still in shock. I feel so blessed, so happy to be here.”

“It’s been a lot of fun and a great success,” said Trump, estimating that the television audience was “way over a billion people.”

In the decisive interview round that concludes the competition, Tyler asked Isler, who won Miss Venezuela last year, what her greatest fear was.

She did not give any details, but said: “I believe we should overcome all our fears and this in turn will make us stronger,” speaking in Spanish through an interpreter.

Isler, whose full name is Maria Gabriela de Jesus Isler Morales, appears on Venezuela’s Venevision television.

Isler is now set to pose on Sunday in a specially created jewelled swimsuit that the organizers said was worth $1 million.

The previous Miss Universe, Culpo, earlier appeared on stage wearing the white cutaway swimsuit studded with diamonds, rubies and emeralds.

“That swimsuit travels with an armed security guard 24/7,” commented co-host Thomas Roberts, an American television presenter.

Roberts, who co-hosted the final with ex-Spice Girl Melanie Brown, dedicated the show to the people suffering from the typhoon in the Philippines.

“We send our very best, our thoughts. We dedicate tonight’s show to you” he said.

The show included a performance by Tyler, who sang “Dream on, dream until your dream comes true,” while standing on top of a white grand piano.

All 86 contestants initially appeared on stage in red and black cocktail dresses. They then changed into red and black bikinis.

The judges then whittled down the contestants to a final 16, who faced off in a bikini round, carrying white fur stoles.

Then a final 10 women strutted on the stage in elaborate sequinned evening gowns, before the final five answered questions in the interview round.

Host country Russia was eliminated immediately, prompting boos in the audience.

The contest, whose slogan is “confidently beautiful,” was first held in 1952 in Palm Beach in the United States. It still requires the women not to be married or pregnant.

Russia won Miss Universe in 2002, but the policewoman Oksana Fyodorova was dethroned after US shock jock Howard Stern provoked her into chatting about her sex life. She now presents a children’s television show.

AFP, Sheila Mañalac and Euden Valdez