Amelia Vega

Amelia Victoria Vega Polanco (born November 7, 1984 in Santiago de los Caballeros, Santiago, Dominican Republic) became the first Dominican woman to be named Miss Universe, in 2003. At the age of 18, she was the youngest winner since 1994.Vega's father is a general medical practitioner with offices in New York City and Miami. Her mother, Patricia Polanco Alvarez, also born in Santiago de los Caballeros, was a previous national titleholder who represented the Dominican Republic at the 1980 Miss World pageant. Vega is the niece of the Grammy Award–winning singer Juan Luis Guerra.

Birth name:	Amelia Victoria Vega Polanco
Birthdate:	November 7, 1984 (1984-11-07) (age 24)
Birth location:	Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic
Height:	6 ft 0.9 in (1.85 m)
Eye color:	Brown
Hair color:	Brown
Title(s):	Miss Dominican Republic 2002 Miss Universe 2003

Miss Universe

The competition

After winning the Miss Dominican Republic Universe title, Vega represented the Dominican Republic in the Miss Universe 2003 pageant held in Panama City, Panama on June 3, 2003. She became the only titleholder from this country to win the title.Vega was crowned in Panama. She wore a white evening gown during the competition, which featured strings of beads on the sleeves.As Miss Universe 2003, Vega traveled extensively working with internationally recognized HIV/AIDS organizations including the Global Health Council, Cable Positive, amfAR, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, and God's Love We Deliver. As a celebrity spokesperson, she was responsible for working with the international media to generate a better understanding and acceptance of AIDS/HIV epidemics and its prevention while helping to increase awareness, funding and resources for these key organizations.As Miss Universe, Vega represented the Miss Universe Organization. Her "sister" 2003 titleholders were Tami Farrell (Miss Teen USA, of Oregon) and Susie Castillo (Miss USA, of Massachusetts).Vega is the third among Miss Universe winners who also won the National Costume competition. Thailand's Porntip Nakhirunkanok won the award in 1988 and eventually won the crown then, Wendy Fitzwilliam of Trinidad & Tobago also won the Best National Costume and went on to win the 1998 Miss Universe crown.

Filmography

• Homie Spumoni (2006) .... Chanice (as Amelia Vega Polanco)
• The Lost City (2005) .... Minerva Eros

Notable TV Guest Appearances

• El Show de Cristina (1 episode, Los machos, 2007) .... Herself as Judge
• Suegras (TV series) (unknown episodes, 2007) .... Herself as Host
• Premios Fox Sports 4ta (2006) (TV) .... Herself
• ¡Despierta América! (2 episodes, 18 March 2004 and 12 October 2004, 2004) .... Herself
• El escándalo del mediodía (1 episode, 1 October 2004, 2004) .... Herself
• Premios juventud 2004: Acceso total (2004) (TV) .... Herself
• Noche de estrellas: Premios juventud 2004 (2004) (TV) .... Herself
• Premios juventud 2004 (2004) (TV) .... Herself
• Don Francisco presenta (3 episodes, 9 October 2003, 16 June 2004 and 13 April 2005, 2003-2004) .... Herself
• Miss Universe 2004 (2004) (TV) .... Herself (Miss Universe 2003)
• Cristina: El 15 aniversario (2004) (TV) .... Herself
• Late Show with David Letterman (1 episode, 8 July 2003, 2003) .... Herself
• Miss Universe Pageant (2003) (TV) .... Miss Dominican Republic Universe 2003 (winner)/Miss Universe 2003 (winner)

• Various TV shows in her own country like Hola Gente, Los Duenos Del Circo, Formalmente Informal and others