A 25-year-old beauty beat out 88 other contestants to become Angola's first Miss Universe. She dazzled the audience and celebrity judges with her sparkling smile and confident answers.

Born in Angola's Benguela Province, Lopes is currently studying business management in Great Britain. She spoke to the judges in Portuguese, her country's official language. Already an activist, Lopes hopes her new title will enable her to help even more.

"I’ve worked with various social causes. I work with poor kids, I work in the fight against HIV. I work to protect the elderly and I have to do everything that my country needs," she said. "I think now as Miss Universe I will be able to do much more."

The contestants are always nervous about the questions portion of the competition, but Miss Angola answered with ease. When asked about her beauty routine, she offered up three simple beauty tips: get lots of sleep, use sunblock, and drink lots of water.

When asked which physical trait she would change if she could, Lopes replied, "Thank God I’m very satisfied with the way God created me and I wouldn’t change a thing. I consider myself a woman endowed with inner beauty. I have acquired many wonderful principles from my family and I intend to follow these for the rest of my life."

Miss Ukraine and Miss Brazil were the first and second runner ups, while Miss Phillipines and Miss China rounded out the top five.

Source: The Globe and Mail, Photos: Andre Penner, The Associated Press

Tags: miss universe 2011, miss angola, leila lopes, miss universe, beauty pageants
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