Victoria Amelia Vega Polanco (born November 7, 1984 in Santiago de los Caballeros, Santiago, Dominican Republic), known simply as Amelia Vega, is a Dominican woman who won the Miss Universe contest held in Panama City, Panama on June 3, 2003, becoming the first Dominican woman ever to win the Miss Universe title. November 7 is the 311th day of the year (312th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 54 days remaining. ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Founded in 1495 during the first wave of European colonization of the New World, today Santiago de los Caballeros (the first Santiago of America) is the second most important city in the Dominican Republic on the island of Hispaniola. ... For other places with the same name, see Santiago. ... Logo of the Miss Universe event. ... Panama City (Spanish: Ciudad de Panamá), population 708,738, with a total metro population of 1,063,000 is the capital of Panama, located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, at . ... June 3 is the 154th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (155th in leap years), with 211 days remaining. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

She had been mentioned by many in the press as one of the favorite candidates to win the crown before the big event.^{[citation needed]}

Amelia's father is a general medical practitioner with offices in New York City and Miami. Her mother, Patricia Polanco, was a previous national titleholder who represented the Dominican Republic at the 1980 Miss World pageant.

Miss Universe

After winning the Miss Dominican Republic Universe title, Vega represented the Domincan Republic in the Miss Universe 2003 pageant held in Panama. She became the first titleholder from this country to win the title. Miss Dominican Republic Universe 2007 Massiel Indira Taveras Henríquez Miss Dominican Republic Universe is a pageant where women ranging in age from 17-27 each represent one of the many Dominican provinces, cities, and communities. ... Miss Universe 2003 Amelia Vega The Miss Universe 2003 Pageant was held in Figali Convention Center, Panama City, Panama on June 3, 2003. ...

Vega taking her "first walk" after being crowned Miss Universe 2003.

Vega was crowned by outgoing titleholder Justine Pasek of Panama. She wore a white evening gown during the competition, which featured strings of beads on the sleeves. Image File history File links Ameliav. ... Image File history File links Ameliav. ... Logo of the Miss Universe event. ... Justine Pasek (born August 27, 1979) is a Panamanian model, goodwill ambassador, and former Miss Universe. ...

As Miss Universe 2003, Vega traveled extensively working with internationally recognized HIV/AIDS organizations including the Global Health Council, Cable Positive, amfAR, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, and God's Love We Deliver. As a celebrity spokesperson, she was responsible for working with the international media to generate a better understanding and acceptance of AIDS/HIV epidemics and its prevention while helping to increase awareness, funding and resources for these key organizations. The American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) is an organization dedicated to the support of AIDS research, AIDS prevention, treatment education, and the advocacy of sound AIDS-related public policy. ... The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation was founded in 1988 by Elizabeth Glaser, Susan DeLaurentis, and Susie Zeegen, after Glaser and husband Paul Michael Glaser learned that Mrs. ... Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS or Aids) is a collection of symptoms and infections resulting from the specific damage to the immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). ... Species Human immunodeficiency virus 1 Human immunodeficiency virus 2 Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS, a condition in humans in which the immune system begins to fail, leading to life-threatening opportunistic infections. ...

After moving to an apartment in New York provided by Donald Trump which as part of her overall prize package as the new Miss Universe titleholder , Amelia visited many countries around the world including: Canada, China, Indonesia, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Thailand, and Vietnam. Amelia returned to her home country several times, and was awarded an honorary medal in the 2003 Pan American Games, held in Santo Domingo. Later that year, Amelia co-hosted the Festival Presidente de Música Latina, a Latin American music concert lasting three days and held every two years in the Dominican Republic. New York, NY redirects here. ... Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American business executive, entrepreneur, television personality and author. ... The Pan American Games are a multi-sport event, held every four years between competitors from all nations of the Americas. ... Santo Domingo de Guzmán, population 2,061,200 (Metro) (2003), estimated 2,253,437 (Metro) in 2006, is the capital and the largest city of the Dominican Republic. ... The Festival Presidente de la Música Latina is an event of latin music celebrated each two years for three days in October in the Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. ... Latin America consists of the countries of South America and some of North America (including Central America and some the islands of the Caribbean) whose inhabitants mostly speak Romance languages, although Native American languages are also spoken. ...

As Miss Universe, Vega represented the Miss Universe Organization. Her "sister" 2003 titleholders were Tami Farrell (Miss Teen USA, of Oregon) and Susie Castillo (Miss USA, of Massachusetts). The Miss Universe Organization is the organization that currently owns and runs the Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA beauty contests. ... Tami Farrell, Miss Teen USA 2003 Tami Nichole Farrell (born 1985) was Miss Teen USA 2003, representing her home city of Phoenix and the state of Oregon. ... Miss Teen USA is a beauty pageant run by the Miss Universe Organization for girls aged 15-19. ... Official language(s) None Capital Salem Largest city Portland Area  Ranked 9th  - Total 98,466 sq mi (255,026 km²)  - Width 260 miles (420 km)  - Length 360 miles (580 km)  - % water 2. ... Susie Castillo Susie Cintron Castillo (born January 6, 1980 in Methuen, Massachusetts), is the first person of Puerto Rican-Dominican descent to win the title of Miss USA. // Castillos parents were divorced when she was only a child. ... [[Image:MissUSA2007Crowned. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ...

Career

Amelia has appeared in the cover of several magazines, from her local country's Mujer Unica and Oh! Magazine, up to internationally known Cosmopolitan, Caras, and Vanidades. She also was the lead image for campaigns made by the beauty cosmetics company Cover Girl. Cosmopolitan, or simply Cosmo, is a magazine published monthly from New York by the Hearst Corporation. ... Caraş is a river in Southeastern Europe that rises in the Aninei Mountains, Romania and flows into the Danube in Serbia. ... Vanidades (Spanish for vanities) is a Spanish language magazine published by Editorial Televisa. ... A cover girl is a female model or entertainer whose photograph appears on the front cover of a magazine to attract attention on the shelf, usually a magazine devoted to womens interests (such as Redbook or Seventeen) or mens interests (such as Gentlemens Quarterly, Maxim or Esquire). ...

Amelia debuted as a singer during the Miss Dominican Republic 2004 pageant, where she crowned Larimar Fiallo as her national successor. The night of June 1, 2004, Amelia crowned Miss Universe 2004, Jennifer Hawkins from Australia. June 1, 2004 RoC Premier Yu Shyi-kun is prevented for six hours from delivering a key government report on the floor of the Legislative Yuan when opposition lawmakers, refusing to recognize President Chen Shui-bians narrow re-election on March 20, tore up his report and unfurled banners... Logo of the Miss Universe event. ... Jennifer Hawkins (born 22 December 1984) is a beauty queen and television presenter from Newcastle, Australia who held the Miss Universe 2004 title. ...

After stepping off her throne, Vega worked temporarily at the Hispanic network Telemundo, as the host of a reality show named Voces de América. She also has steady work as an actress on television and motion pictures. Amelia made her screen debut in the film The Lost City directed by Andy Garcia. She will soon appear in Homie Spumoni, a motion picture starring Donald Faison and scheduled to be released in summer 2007. Since it first took to the airwaves on March 28, 1954, Telemundo has always occupied a position at televisions vanguard. ... The Lost City is a 2005 film directed by Andy García. ... Andy Garcia at the Incirlik hospital, Incirlik Air Base, December 7, 2001 Andy García (born April 12, 1956) is a Cuban-American actor. ... Donald Adeosun Faison (born June 22, 1974 in New York City, New York) is a television and movie actor, best known for his role as Dr. Christopher Turk in the NBC television series Scrubs. ...

Trivia

• Amelia Vega's mother, Patricia Polanco, is also a former Miss Dominican Republic contestant and was Miss Dominican Republic World 1980.

• Vega holds the record of the longest Miss Dominican Republic reign, lasting almost two years: starting on July 29, 2002, and ending on April 3, 2004.

• Vega is the 3rd among Miss Universe winners who also won the National Costume competition. Thailand's Porntip Nakhirunkanok won the award in 1988 and eventually won the crown then, Wendy Fitzwilliam of Trinidad & Tobago also won the Best National Costume and went on to win the 1998 Miss Universe crown.

• Amelia is the niece of the Dominican merengue singer and Grammy award winner Juan Luis Guerra.

• Standing 1.84 m (6'1"), Vega is 2^nd the tallest Miss Dominican Republic Universe pageant winner, also among the tallest Miss Universe contest winners ever.

• At the age of 18, she was the youngest winner of Miss Universe since 1994.

See also: April 2, 2004 - April 2004 - April 4, 2004 NASA announces that the Gravity Probe B is ready for launch on April 17. ... Porntip Nakhirunkanok (born February 7, 1968 in Chachoengsao Province, Thailand; Thai ภรทิพย์ นาคหิรัญกนก) was the 1988 winner of the Miss Universe beauty contest. ... Wendy Rachelle Fitzwilliamthe 61 Statuesque Stunner, born October 4, 1972, is Trinidad and Tobagos second Miss Universe. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Merengue is a type of lively, joyful music and dance that comes from the Dominican Republic. ... Juan Luis Guerra (born June 7, 1957 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) is one of the most internationally recognized Dominican singer/songwriters. ... Miss Dominican Republic Universe 2007 Massiel Indira Taveras Henríquez Miss Dominican Republic Universe is a pageant where women ranging in age from 17-27 each represent one of the many Dominican provinces, cities, and communities. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ...

External links

• (English) Amelia Vega on the Internet Movie Database
• (Spanish) Miss Universe 2003-related Website