The contest was won by Denise Quiñones of Puerto Rico who was crowned by Lara Dutta of India.

The competition was hosted by Elle Macpherson and Naomi Campbell, Todd Newton acted as backstage correspondent, while Miss Universe 1997 provided commentary for the whole event.

Fedorova would go on to win the following year's Miss Universe pageant, only to be replaced with her runner-up four months later.

[citation needed] Miss Spain 2001, Lorena van Heerde Ayala, was unable to compete as she was underage (17 at the time).

[4] France, Élodie Gossuin was confirmed to be a woman by medical examination, when it was rumoured that she was a transsexual.