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Denise Marie Quiñones August (born November 9, 1980) was the 4th Puerto Rican winner of the Miss Universe contest. She won the contest in her own backyard - Puerto Rico - in 2001. Her win, over Greek supermodel Evelina Papantoniou, was the first time a woman outside of the US mainland had taken the Miss Universe crown in her own homeland. The victory came on the Miss Universe pageant's 50th anniversary.
Quiñones lived in New York City for a year, enjoying the benefits that all winners and former winners of the contest have. Among these privileges are: 5 year make up and hair care for free, a car, wardrobe, professional representation by the Miss Universe Organization, a $60,000 scholarship to a New York City film school, and travelling opportunities. During her reign, Quiñones traveled to, among others, Indonesia, Cuba, and Japan.
On the night of the Miss Universe 2002 contest, she gave her crown, in front of another hometown crowd, to the controversial Oxana Fedorova of Russia.
Since relinquishing the title, Quiñones attended the School for Film and Television's two-year Conservatory Acting Program. Rather unknown among her pupils, many of them were surprised to find out Quiñones was a former Miss Universe titleholder.
Now an actress, Quiñones starred in the Spanish version of Nilo Cruz's play ""Ana en el trópico" ("Anna in the Tropics") and continues to hone her talent in the United States.
See also
External links and references
- Miss Universe (http://www.missuniverse.com)