Panama City, June 04: There were no tears of joy, just the confident smile of someone who was prepared to win when 18-year-old Miss Dominican Republic, Amelia Vega, was crowned Miss Universe 2003. A 6-foot-1 (1.80-meter) tall aspiring singer - the niece of Merengue Master Juan Luis Guerra - Vega accepted the crown from outgoing titleholder Justine Pasek of Panama. "God has been my strength all along," the brunette told a news conference immediately after her triumph at a us military base-turned-convention center. Asked if she was nervous when she stood alone with co-finalist Mariangel Ruiz of Venezuela after 70 other contestants were eliminated, Vegas said, "No, I just said, `god, whatever is going to be, let it be.`"

Vega`s mother competed for the Miss World title in 1980. Cindy Nell, a South African tourism promoter, was the second runner up, followed by Miss Serbia and Montenegro Sanja Papic and Miss Japan Miyako Miyazaki.

Vega said she is ready to help the Miss Universe in its campaign against aids and to help those who suffer it.

"I do not know what is going to happen in my life, but I am ready to do work with the miss universe organization," she said.

Dropping out after reaching the top 10 were representatives from Trinidad and Tobago, the Czech Republic, Namibia, Canada and Brazil. An earlier cut took out misses USA, Greece, Panama, Angola and Peru.

Kai Davis of Antigua and Barbuda was named Miss Congeniality. Miss Puerto Rico, Carla Tricoli, was named Miss Photogenic.

Bureau Report