Miss Universe 2006 Contestants by Country
Albania: Eralda Itaj
Angola: Ismenia Junior
Antigua & Barbuda: Shari McEwan
Argentina: Magali Romitelli
Aruba: Melissa Lacle
Australia: Erin McNaught
Bahamas: Samatha Carter
Belgium: Tatiana Silva
Bolivia: Desiree Duran
Brazil: Rafeala Zanella
Bulgaria: Galena Dimova
Canada: Alice Panikian
Cayman Islands: Ambuyah Ebanks
Chile: Belen Montilla
China: Ying Hui Gao
Colombia: Valerie Dominguez
Costa Rica: Fabriella Quesada
Croatia: Biljana Mancic
Cyprus: Eleni Ierodiakonoy
Czech Republic: Renata Langmannova
Denmark: Betina Faurbye
Dominican Republic: Mia Taveras
Ecuador: Katty Lopez
Egypt: Fawzia Mohamed
El Salvador: Rebecca Iraheta
Estonia: Kirke Klemmer
Ethiopia: Dina Fekadu
Finland: Ninni Laaksonen
France: Alexandra Rosenfeld
Georgia: Ekaterine Buadze
Germany: Natalie Ackermann
Ghana: Angela Asare
Greece: Olympia Hopsonidou
Guatemala: Jackelinne Piccinini
Guyana: Alana Ernest
Hungary: Adrienn Bende
Iceland: Sif Aradottir
India” Neha Kapur
Indonesia: Nadine Chandrawinata
Ireland: Melanie Boreham
Israel: Anastacia Entin
Jamaica: Cindy Wright
Japan: Kurara Chibana
Kazakhstan: Dina Nuraliyeva
Korea: Joo Hee Kim
Latvia: Sanita Kublina
Lebanon: Gabrielle Bou Rached
Malaysia: Melissa Ann Tan
Mauritius: Isabelle Antoo
Mexico: Priscila Perales
Nabibia: Anna Nashandi
New Zealand: Elizabeth Gray
Nicaragua: Christina Frixione Mendoza
Nigeria: Tienepre Oki
Northern Marianas: Shequita Dlg Bennett
Norway: Martine Jonassen
Panama: Alessandra Mezquita
Paraguay: Lourdes Arevalos
Peru: Fiorella Vinas
Philippines: Lia Andrea Ramos
Poland: Francys Sudnicka
Puerto Rico: Zuleyka Rivera
Russia: Anna Litvinova
Serbia & Montenegro: Nada Milinic
Singapore: Carol Cheong Yim Foom
Slovak Republic: Judita Hrubyova
Slovenia: Natasa Pinoza
South Africa: Thuli Sithole
Spain: Elisabeth Reyes
Sri Lanka: Jacqueline Fernandez
St. Lucia: Sascha Andrew-Rose
St. Martin: Gisella Hilliman
St. Vincent/Grenadine: Shivern Peters
Sweden: Josephine Alhanko
Switzerland: Lauriane Gillieron
Thaliand: Charm Onwarin Osathanond
Trinidad/Tobago: Kenisha Thom
Turkey: Ceyla Kirazli
Turks & Caicos: Shaveena Been
Ukraine: Inna Tsymbaliuk
United Kingdom: Julie Doherty
Uruguay: Fatimih Davila
USA: Tara Conner
US Virgin Islands: JeTaime Cerge
Venezuela: Jictzad Vina
Zambia: Mofya Chisenga
Miss UsaTara Conner and 19 other hopefuls made the first cut Sunday night in their bids to reign Miss Universe 206
Conner was vying to become the first American winner since Brook Lee in 1997. The Kentucky native wore a red-white-and-blue jockey outfit and cracked a whip during the opening parade of nations. Several of the contestants sported costumes featuring colorful native dress, including feathers, sequins, fur, massive headpieces and, in the case of Miss Japan, a Samurai sword.
The rest of the top 20: Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Ethiopia, Hungary, India, Japan, Mexico, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago and Ukraine.
The finalists' names were announced early in Sunday's show. Then their scores were discarded and competition began again, with the field gradually narrowed throughout the night.
As soon as the final 20 had been selected, they immediately began to parade across the stage in skimpy two-piece bathing suits for the bikini competition.
The field of 86 was actually narrowed last week during preliminary judging in the contest's swimsuit, evening gown and interview categories, but finalists weren't announced until Sunday's show was under way, allowing all 86 to be introduced to the television audience.
"Access Hollywood" host Nancy O'Dell and actor-singer Carlos Ponce were emcees of the 55th annual pageant, broadcast live on NBC.
The winner travels the world for a year on behalf of charities and pageant sponsors.
Natalie Glebova of Canada was to crown her successor at the end of the two-hour telecast with a diamond-and-pearl-studded headpiece valued at $250,000.
"My year as Miss Universe has meant more to me than I can express," said Glebova, who began her reign with a trip to South Africa where she publicly took an The pageant was last held in the United States in 1998, when the show originated from Honolulu.The pageant was last held in the United States in 1998, when the show originated from Honolulu.
Carson Kressley of TV's "Queer Eye" and 2004 Miss USA Shandi Finnessey provided commentary during the program, with musical performances by Latin singer Chelo and opera singer Vittorio Grigolo.
The celebrity judging panel included actor James Lesure of "Las Vegas"; "Desperate Housewives" creator Marc Cherry; actress
