On Friday 25 September, I went to Caracas, Venezuela, to present official Guinness World Records™ certificates to the current and previous winners of the Miss Universe contest. I had been invited there by Venevision, one of Venezuela's most popular TV stations, as it is the first time in history that any country has ever won the Miss Universe contest two years running. As soon as I arrived and met with the producers, I understood what a massive event this was going to be for Venezuela. The Miss Universe and Miss World contests are like a national sport for them, in many ways as important and popular as football is in the UK!

The next day, I was picked up from the hotel for the evening show, which was to go out live to the whole of Latin America. Backstage at the television studios, I was introduced to a range of previous Miss Universes and Miss Venezuelas. Everyone was very excited and made me feel very welcome. A little later, I was invited down to the studio and stood behind a screen, waiting for my section to begin. After a massive introduction and with dramatic music playing, the screen was raised and I approached the podium to give my presentation. Standing to my left were Dayana Mendoza and Stefania Fernandez, the previous and current Miss Universes, and representatives from the organisations supporting them, The Miss Venezuela Organization and The Cisneros Group of Companies.

After the show, I was introduced to Stefania and Dayana and photographed with them in their dressing room. It had been a truly memorable moment for Guinness World Records and for Venezuela. Here is the picture and a video of my section of the show:

By Jack Brockbank

Wednesday 30 September 2009