QUITO, ECUADOR (Written by Fiona Henry) - Before now, Jennifer Hawkins' biggest claim to fame was as a cheerleader for the Newcastle Knights rugby team. But now, that has all changed. On June 2, Hawkins, a 20-year-old from Bondi, Australia, won the title of Miss Universe 2004. She received her crown from outgoing winner Amelia Vega of the Dominican Republic.

Hawkins impressed the judges with her answer to a question on what time period she would prefer to live in and which gender she would prefer to be. "I would have to say that this time period because we have as much freedom as we want, and I'd choose the sex of female because females have a lot of say in today's society," Hawkins said.

During the pageant, Hawkins, who has studied Office Administration, listed surfing, wakeboarding, and watching the Australian ballet as some of her hobbies.

Four intelligent and beautiful women accompanied Hawkins in the final five. Miss USA Shandi Finnessey, 25, was 1st Runner-Up. Shandi, an accomplished pianist and violinist, is pursuing a graduate degree in Counseling.

Miss Puerto Rico Alba Reyes, 22, was 2nd Runner-Up. Alba, a university student studying Natural Sciences and Chemistry, listed following world events and fashion trends as two of her hobbies. She was also named Miss Photogenic at the pageant.

Miss Paraguay Yanina Gonzalez, 24, was 3rd Runner-Up. Yanina, a university student studying Marketing and Publicity, listed tennis, volleyball, and watching movies as some of her hobbies.

Miss Trinidad and Tobago Danielle Jones, 26, was 4th Runner-Up. Danielle, who holds a degree in Communication and Culture, listed turtle watching and the outdoors among her many hobbies.

The five remaining delegates in the final ten were Catherine Daza Manchola, a 21-year-old Economics student from Colombia; Nancy Soto, a 23-year-old Costa Rican interested in different cultures and making new friends; Susana Rivadeneira, a 24-year-old from Ecuador who has studied Painting and Visual Arts in Milan; Tanushree Dutta, a 20-year-old university student in Commerce and Business from India; and Christine Straw, a 24-year-old from Jamaica who enjoys scuba diving, hiking, and playing dominos.

At the pageant this year, there was also a top fifteen. The five other ladies making it included 18-year-old Telma Sanhi of Angola, 23-year-old Gabriela Barros of Chile, 21-year-old Rosalva Luna of Mexico, 24-year-old Kathrine Sorland of Norway, and 25-year-old Bianca Sissing of Switzerland.

Two other outstanding young women won special awards at the pageant. Miss Italy Laia Manetti was named Miss Congeniality, and Jessica Rodriguez from Panama won the award for the Best National Costume.

The star-studded judges' panel in charge of selecting Hawkins as Miss Universe included international fashion models Petra Nemcova and Elsa Benitez, former Miss Universe Wendy Fitzwilliam, and Bill Rancic, star of the hit NBC show "The Apprentice."

The Miss Universe 2004 Pageant, hosted by Billy Bush and Daisy Fuentes, was held at the CEMEXPO (Conventions Center of the Middle of the World) in Quito.