Michelle McLean

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Michelle McLean was crowned Miss Universe in 1992. She represented Namibia, and became the first contestant from Namibia to win the crown.

Before she became Miss Universe, McLean compete in Miss World 1991, where was she finished in the top 5. In the 1992 Miss Universe pageant, she finished second in the preliminary, right behind Carolina Izsak of Venezuela, who won all three preliminary competitions. During the night of the finals, Izsak maintained her lead and it seems assured that the crown was hers.

The field was narrowed down to six finalists, which included Izsak, McLean, and the delegates from Colombia (Paola Turbay), India (Madhusri Sapre), Belgium (Anke van Dermeersch), and the Netherlands (Vivian Janssen). Each delegate randomly selected a judge and answer the question posed by the judge. The ladies with the top 3 scores moved onto the final round. As it happened, Izsak faltered in this round of competition. McLean, Sapre and Turbay became the final three contestants whereas Izsak placed fourth.

With the frontrunner of the crown all of a sudden knocked out of the running, victory is now up for grabs between the last three candidates. Many people believed McLean's answer to the final question (as well as her statuesque and regal beauty) help clinched her the crown over rivals Paola Turbay and Madhu Sapre.

In 1992, Michelle founded the Michelle McLean Children's Trust in Namibia which focuses on the education and care of underprivileged children. Michelle was also instrumental in bringing the Miss Universe pageant to her country in 1995. Michelle have since married her longtime boyfriend, Neil Birnbaum. In 1998 Michelle became the second titleholder to receive the Miss Universe Achievement Award; the first being Irene Saez of Venezuela in 1997.

Preceded by Lupita Jones

Miss Universe 1992

Succeeded by Dayanara Torres

Miss Universe Organization Titleholders 1992
Miss Universe Michelle McLean	Miss USA Shannon Marketic	Miss Teen USA Jamie Solinger