Russia wins Universe contest for first time

Miss India Neha Dhupia made it to the top 10 but was eliminated in the final with Miss Albania Anisa Kospiri, Miss Germany Natascha Borger, Miss Cyprus Demetra Eleftheriou and Miss Canada Neelam Verma. All take home a cash prize of $500 each.

Miss Panama, Justine Pasek, won first runner-up. Wearing a white off-the-shoulder gown with fringe, the 22-year-old said she wants to be an environmental engineer. She takes home $3,000 and a trophy. Miss China, 19-year-old Ling Zhuo won second place. Wearing a sleek Asian-styled satin gown, she said she wants to be a fashion designer. It was the first time China has sent a contestant. She wins $2,000 and a trophy.

Miss South Africa, 22-year-old Vanessa Carreira, took third place. She wore a sparking white gown with a glittering bustier. The budding novelist said she wants to own an advertising agency. She wins $1,000 and a trophy.

The 5-foot-11 Fedorova, with black hair and green eyes, wore a toga-like dress for the evening gown competition. She is a university lecturer and doing post-graduation in civil law. She wants to become an attorney and a mother, and has a 38-year-old boyfriend Vladimir.

She will take home prizes worth about $250,000 in addition to promotional contracts and a two-year scholarship to the School for Film and Television in New York. She also gets to spend a year in New York on a salary and is provided with a luxury riverside apartment. She didn’t say what would become of Vladimir.

‘‘I feel good. I haven’t been this happy in a long time,’’ she said in Russian at a press meet after winning the crown. ‘‘I am completely shocked. This is the first time my country has ever won.’’