Barbara Clara

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Barbara Clara Pereira, a native of Monagas, Venezuela, was crowned "Miss Italia Nel Mondo" 2000 or the most beautiful Italian "Miss Italy" in the world.

After studying at the University of San Francisco, she returned to her home country of Venezuela, where she was specially invited by beauty empressario Osmel Sousa, to represent the state of Amazonas in the prestigious Miss Venezuela contest. It was her third attempt to enter the contest since 2000 and she was a favorite to win the title, after previously being eliminated in 2000 when Victoria Lopez-Pando bested her for the Miss Anzoategui title. Ironically, the reigning Miss World Venezuela at the time Barbara Clara competed was Valentina Patruno, whom Clara had crowned as her successor in the "Miss Italia Nel Mondo" 2001 pageant, and the reigning first runner-up (from Miss Venezuela 2003) was Silvana Santaella, who had just won the "Miss Italia Nel Mondo" 2004 title.

On September 23, 2004, Barbara placed among the semi-finals and eventually earned the title of "Segunda Finalista" or 2nd Runner-Up. Despite being a favorite for the Miss Venezuela title, her heavily (Italian) accented Spanish was disliked by the judges. She was easily the most spirited and carefree of the delegates on stage, displaying a spontaneity comparable to that of Alicia Machado, but the judges may have preferred the more regal bearing of the candidates who placed ahead of her.

The top three winners, Monica Spear (Miss Venezuela 2004), Andrea Milroy (Miss World Venezuela), and Andrea Gomez (Miss Venezuela Internacional) who represented Venezuela at Miss Universe, Miss World, and Miss International respectively.

Clara was said to be preparing for the Miss Earth 2005 competition, to be held in Manila, Philippines. She was officially replaced by Miss Venezuela 2005 First Runner-Up and eventual Miss Earth 2005 winner Alexandra Braun.

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