Contestants hailing from 89 nations spent three weeks in Sao Paulo for the 60th anniversary of the beauty contest that had an anticipated worldwide audience of one billion. Mexico's Ximena Navarrete, last year's winner, was on hand to relinquish her crown to 25-year-old Lopes, who according to her Facebook page was crowned Miss Angola UK 2010, Miss Fotogenia 2011 and Miss Angola 2011.
"Thank God I'm very satisfied with the way God created me and I wouldn't change a thing," Lopes responded to her interview question of what she would change of her physical characteristics. "I consider myself a woman endowed with inner beauty. I have acquired many wonderful principles from my family and I intend to follow these for the rest of my life."
Lopes appeared before judges including race car driver Helio Castroneves to actress Vivica A. Fox and journalist Connie Chung in a bright yellow bikini and form-fitting gold and silver sequined evening gown.
Rounding out the top five at Monday's pageant were Miss Brazil, Miss China, Miss Philippines and 23-year-old Miss Ukraine Olesia Stefanko, who was the first runner-up.
The top ten included young women from Australia, Costa Rica, France, Ukraine, Portugal, Panama, Philippines, Angola, China and Brazil. The third place contestant was Miss Philippines and the fourth Miss China.
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