Amelia Victoria Vega Polanco de Guerra (born November 7, 1984 in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic) became the first Dominican woman to be named Miss Universe, in 2003. At the age of 18, she was the youngest winner since 1994.
Vega’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. Vega is the niece of the Grammy Award–winning singer Juan Luis Guerra.
After winning the Miss Dominican Republic Universe title, Vega represented the Dominican Republic in the Miss Universe 2003 pageant held in Panama City, Panama on June 3, 2003. She became the first and only titleholder from this country to win the title. Vega was crowned in Panama. She wore a white evening gown during the competition, which featured strings of beads on the sleeves.
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.
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).
Vega is the third 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.
After moving to an apartment in New York provided by Donald Trump which was part of her overall prize package as the new Miss Universe titleholder, Vega visited many countries around the world including: Germany,Switzerland, Ecuador, Canada,Chile, China, Indonesia, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Thailand, Vietnam and Russia. Vega 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, Vega 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.
Vega has appeared in the cover of several magazines, from her local country’s Mujer Unica and Oh! Magazine, up to internationally known Cosmopolitan, Caras, Vanidades, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Selecta. She also has been the lead image for campaigns made by the beauty cosmetics company Cover Girl, for the past 4 years.
Vega debuted as a singer with her uncle “Juan Luis Guerra” in Maddison Square Garden and American Airline’s Arena. After her reign as Miss Universe came to an end, Vega worked as the host of the reality show Voces de América, that aired on the Telemundo network. She also hosted several editions of “Festival Presidente” where more then 60,000 people attend, Later she hosted “Suegras”, a reality show broadcasted in “USA” and Latin America. Her film debut was in 2005, co-starring in the film The Lost City directed by Andy Garcia. She had a special in Homie Spumoni, a motion picture starring Donald Faison. and Whoopi Goldberg, among others and was scheduled and released in summer 2008.
Amelia is now concentrated on the development of her business career. Amelia owns boutiques in Miami, Florida, Named Essence by Amelia Vega and prepares to be involved on developing her career and stores. She actually lives in Los Angeles, California. She cooperates to several charity foundations.
Amelia Vega – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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