Miss Mexico is crowned Miss Universe

By Laura Roberts

Miss Navarrete, from Guadalajara, won over the judges in Las Vegas after telling them it was vital to teach children family values.

"I want to give my parents a big hug," she said. "There was a lot of effort and a lot of sacrifice."

She wore a long red dress for the evening gown competition after previously modelling a violet bikini.

When asked how she felt about unsupervised Internet use, Miss Navarrete said the internet is important but parents need to be careful.

"I do believe that internet is an indispensable, necessary tool for the present time," she said through an interpreter. "We must be sure to teach them the values that we learned as a family."

First runner-up was Miss Jamaica Yendi Phillipps, while second runner-up was Miss Australia Jesinta Campbell.

Miss Navarrete, who has been modeling since she was 15, is Mexico's second Miss Universe.

Lupita Jones of Mexico won the title in 1991. Miss Navarrete replaces Miss Universe 2009 Stefania Fernandez of Venezuela.

Her win thwarted Miss Venezuela Marelisa Gibson from giving the South American country a third consecutive victory.

She was immediately congratulated on Twitter by Mexican President Felipe Calderon and his wife, Margarita Zavala.

"Congratulations to Jimena Navarrete for her deserved victory as Miss Universe," Calderon said. "This will serve Mexico, [and] our image as a country."

Miss Navarrete won prizes which include an undisclosed salary, a luxury New York apartment with living expenses, a one-year scholarship to the New York Film Academy with housing after her reign, as well as jewelry, clothes and shoes.

Miss USA has not been named Miss Universe since Brook Lee won the title in 1997.

The pageant started as a local bathing suit competition in Long Beach, California in 1952.

Miss Universe is owned by Donald Trump and broadcast on NBC.