Miss Spain 1999 could not go do Miss Universe beacause she was 17 years old. A Miss Universe contestant has to be at least 18. The first runner-up could not replace the winner due to "family problems". The second runner-up was already signed up to go to Lebanon and compete for Miss Europe. So Diana Nogueira, a finalist, was invited to represent Spain in Miss Universe. She gladly accepted the invitation and had only a few days to pack and leave for the experience of a life time.
She never expected much from the pageant. Happy just for the fact of being in Trinidad, DIana relaxed and had a great time. She was never a favorite, which means that the pressure some of her fellow contestants had to deal with, never existed for her.
The semi-finals started with the interview competition. Diana talked about Taiwan and enchanted everyone when showing a few steps of a Taiwanese traditional dance. In swimsuit she made the the millions of people watching the pageant forget that she was a " surprise". Diana Nogueira displayed the most perfect body in the universe, winning that competition! She was now a favorite, which would soon be confirmed with another victory: the evening gown competition.
Miss Spain entered the select group of 5 finalists. Another interview would decide who the three finalists were, and as co-hostess Julie Moran said, she nailed it! She was asked what was the most significant part of a dress, the front or the back. Before answering it, she was asked to turn around... WOW! What a sexy move! She gained the hearts of the globe's male population!! "The front", she answered, "people should always look at other people face on". A great answer, seasoned with a great accent, and let's face it... a great back ! Once again, she won this portion of the competition.
She was called as one of the top three women in the Universe. The last time Spain had accomplished something similar in Miss Universe, was in 1985, when Teresa Sanchez finished second. A final question, and this time her answer was not the most convencing one. It did not matter. She finished third and was very happy with the results. "I did not expected it. They called me as one of the 10, the 5, the 3, and finally as the second runner-up, and I could not believe it! My heart beated more and more as I advanced from a round to the other", she reported to HOLA magazine. "I didn't even cry, and only when I woke up the next day I realized what had happened".
She did not win the crown, but the she definetely gained the admiration and hearts of many new fans around the planet. Her beautiful smile, vibrant eyes, sincere answers, and unmatchable sensuality made her the Sexiest Woman Alive. Can anyone desagree?
