Jimena Navarrete, a 22-year-old brunette from Mexico, was named Miss Universe in Las Vegas on Monday.

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

Navarrete, a nature enthusiast from Guadalajara, defeated favorites from Ireland, the Philippines and Venezuela to become the 59th winner of the crown in a show broadcast live around the world.

She received the crown from reigning Miss Universe Stefania Fernandez, Venezuela’s second winner in as many years. In a major shock, this year’s Miss Venezuela failed to make it past the first cut, when the 83 contestants were whittled down to 15. Miss USA, another favored contender, was also eliminated at the outset.

World’s Oldest Woman, Maria de Jesus, dies in Portugal

World’s oldest woman, Maria de Jesus (b. 10 September 1893), has passed away in her native Portugal at the age of 115.

Maria was crowned the world’s Oldest Living Woman by Guinness World Records on 28th December upon the death of Edna Parker (USA, 20 April 1893 – 26 November 2008).

114-year old Gertrude Baines of Los Angeles, California (b. 6 April, 1894) is likely to become Maria’s successor to the title. However, an official announcement will not be made until Guinness World Records has completed its investigation of the category.

source: http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2009/01/090102_worlds_oldest_woman_dies.aspx

Latest Sport Records

This week sees the closing stages of the final tennis Grand Slam of the year, the US Open, with Roger Federer (Switzerland) looking for his fifth title which would leave him two more titles behind Bill Tilden, Richard Sears and William Larned (all USA) who have the most US Open Singles tennis titles won by a man.

In Rugby Union the final fixture of the 2008 Tri-Nations is on Saturday with New Zealand hoping to win their ninth title the most rugby union Tri-Nations titles. Last Saturday saw South African left-winger Jongi Nokwe set the new record for most tries in a rugby union Tri-Nations match by an individual when he ran in four against rivals Australia.

The Paralympics are about to kick off in Beijing, China  and you will be able to keep up to date with all the records as they get broken.

Other sports records approved by Guinness World Records this week:

Youngest player to score 1,000 runs in one day international cricket (female)
The youngest player to score 1,000 runs in women’s one day international cricket is Sarah Taylor (United Kingdom) (b. 20 May 1989) who scored her 1,000th run aged 19 years 104 days, for England against India, at the County Ground, Taunton, Somerset, United Kingdom on 1 September 2008.

Most wins of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup
The record for the most Beach Soccer World Cup wins is 3 and was achieved by Brazil in Marseille, France on 27 July 2008.

Most goals scored in a FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup career by an individual
The most goals scored by an individual player in Beach Soccer World Cups is 54 by Madjer (Portugal) from 2005 – 2008.

source : http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2008/09/080905.aspx