GREEN BEAUTY. A jubilant Larissa Ramos of Brazil, a 20-year-old biology student, celebrates after winning the Miss Earth beauty pageant on Boracay Island, Aklan, Sunday night.

A 20-year-old biology major from Brazil was crowned 2009 Miss Earth in a televised beauty pageant held at the Boracay Ecovillage Resort and Convention Center on Boracay Island in Aklan last Sunday night.

Larissa Ramos was emotional when she was crowned by 2008 Miss Earth Paula Henry of the Philippines.

Ramos wore the new Miss Earth crown, a Ramona Haar masterpiece adorned with different natural gemstones donated by each participating country in the pageant that focused on campaign and efforts to protect Mother Nature.

It was the second win for Brazil in the nine-year-old pageant, the first in 2004 when Priscilla Meirelles won the contest. Meirelles is also the chairwoman of this year's panel of judges.

Ramos will become the spokesperson for the Miss Earth Foundation, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and other environmental groups.

Other winners of the 2009 pageant were Miss Philippines Sandra Seifert, Miss Earth Air; Miss Venezuela Jessica Barboza, Miss Earth Water; and Miss Spain Alejandra Echevarria, Miss Earth Fire.

The winners were chosen following competitions in swimsuits, evening gown, and question and answer. During the last round of the contest, the question-and-answer portion, the eight remaining contestants were shown photos which depicted destructions of Mother Earth and asked about their impressions.

Miss Brazil tackled air pollution; Miss Philippines, water pollution; Miss Venezuela, garbage; and Miss Spain, land erosion.

The other four finalists in the Top 8 were Miss Colombia Alejandra Castillo Múnera, Miss Martinique Pascale Nelide, Miss Poland Izabela Wilczek and Miss Thailand Rujinan Phanseethum. A total of 80 contestants joined this year's contest.

Completing the Top 16 were Magalie Thierry (France), Nonna Diakonidze (Georgia), Shriya Kishore (India), Yeju Park (Korea), Kayleigh O'Reilly (Northern Ireland), Gabriela Rejala (Paraguay), Valerie Lim (Singapore)and Chanel Grantham (South Africa).

This year's winners won cash, jewelry, scholarships, and products from the pageant's sponsors. Miss Earth is the third largest international beauty pageant.

Winners of special awards were Miss Tanzania Evelyne Amasim (Best in National Costume); Miss Guam Maria Luisa Santos (Miss Pasigandahan); Miss Philippines Seifert (Best in Swimsuit and Best in Long Gown); Miss Switzerland Graziella Rogers; Miss Czech Republic Tereza Budkova (Miss Photogenic); and Miss Puerto Rico Dignelis Jimenez (Miss Psalmstre New Placenta), which was awarded by Psalmtre Inc. President and CEO Jaime Acosta.

Ramos said she is proud of her country's natural resources.

"Brazil is well-known for its culture that includes carnival party, sports like soccer and amazing nature.

It is an attractive and unique country. We are a very happy people, and I’m proud to embody this characteristic and show it to the world.

“I’m also proud to say that we have the longest river in the whole world. It is in the heart of the Amazon forest. It is composed of natural biodiversities admired by people.''

She also said she enjoyed wild animals. "I spent a week in a forest surrounded by wild animals. Because of it, I was able to learn self-control and overcome my fear.''

This year's theme is "Green Lifestyle'' in which the candidates got involved with environmental causes. The show was hosted by Marc Nelson, Sarah Meier, and Borgy Manotoc.