1997 Brook Mahealani Lee USA

Miami Beach, Florida USA

1st runner-up     Marena Jpsefina Bencomo   VENEZUELA 2nd runner-up     Margot Rita Bourgeois                  TRINIDAD/TOBAGO FINALISTS: Verna Angela Maria Vasquez   CURACAO Denny Mendez   ITALY Lia Victoria Borrero González   PANAMA SEMI-FINALISTS: Kristiina Heinmets   ESTONIA Nafisa Joseph   INDIA Ana Rosa Brito Suárez   PUERTO RICO Victoria Lagerstrom   SWEDEN

It was thought that this year a record number of pageant delegates would be reached but unfortunate drop outs blew away the record breaking feat. The pageant ended up with 74 delegates.  At the end of the night, preliminary favorites Marena Bencomo of Venezuela, Verna Vasquez of Curacao and Panama's Lia Victoria Borrero nor controversial Miss Italy, Denny Mendez (the first Miss Italy of color) were shut out by the wit and intelligence of USA's Brook Mahealani Lee.

Brooks's official photograph as Miss Universe 1997

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