Kosovo, having declared independence a year and a half ago, and which only recently joined the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in June, rose once again to the international stage when the national representative was crowned amongst the world's top beauties. It is the biggest success of a Kosovo Albanian girl in a race with international character at this years Miss Universe held in the wonderful Atlantis on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. Last year, the first participant to represent Kosovo, Zana Krasniqi, was placed 6th in the competition held in Vietnam.

In the Miss Universe, the competition for the most beautiful girl in the world, Marigona Dragusha representing Kosovo was honored last night with 2nd place runner up in the world, among representatives from 84 different countries. The first runner up was Dominican Republic, while Miss Venezuela, 18-year-old Stefania Fernandez, was crowned Miss Universe 2009 on Sunday, giving her country its sixth title in the international beauty pageant.

Gona Dragusha was among competitors from 80 countries. Miss Kosovo was in New York for about a month training under the auspices of the famous Albanian-American photographer, Fadil Berisha. But other competitors in the Miss Universe, Miss Albania, Hasna Xhukici was selected among the 15 most beautiful girls in the world.

Marigona Dragusha dreams of the fashion world, and before the Miss Universe finals she lived in New York for a month and a half, where Fadil Berisha, a photographer of Albanian origins living in the US, introduced her into the fashion world she so loves.

"I spent six wonderful weeks in the US, working with photographer Fadil Berisha,'' Marigona said, quoted by Kosovo online press".

"My first encounter with the fashion and entertainment world happened when I was only 16, when I took part in the Super Model of the World pageant. That's where I met Berisha, with whom I kept in contact. Then, in April, I was crowned Miss Kosovo''.

"My dream is to become a famous top model," she added, "'I hope I will be able to go back to New York to sign contracts with the most prestigious fashion houses".

Among the five finalists were Miss Australia and Miss Puerto Rico.

Spectacle "Miss Universe" is organized every year and sponsored by American business icon billionaire Donald Trump. It is the biggest success of a Kosovar girl in a race with international character.