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17-year-old is crowned Miss Venezuela

Stefania Fernandez will also be in next year's Miss Universe pageant

Image: Miss Trujillo, Stefania Fernandez
Susana Gonzalez / Reuters
Miss Trujillo, Stefania Fernandez, waves after she was crowned Miss Venezuela 2008 during the beauty pageant in Caracas on September 10, 2008. The annual Miss Venezuela pageant is the one of Venezuela's most watched programs and a source of national pride.
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updated 9:05 a.m. ET Sept. 11, 2008

Stefania Fernandez, a 17-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 five Miss Universe, five Miss World and four Miss International crowns — more than any other country.

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Dayana Mendoza, a Venezuelan, was selected Miss Universe in July at the pageant in Vietnam.

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

Second place went to 25-year-old Maria Veliz Pinto, who will represent Venezuela in the Miss World pageant.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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