The Miss Universe winner is ...

After beating out stiff competition from USA, Netherlands, Jamaica and Ukraine, Miss Colombia Paulina Vega (right) became Miss Universe 2015, but some seemed to think it was Miss Jamaica Kaci Fennel (left) who deserved the crown. Her family have now publicly criticised the decision and called on the pageant judges to be more transparent about their criteria.

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Story highlights

Audience members booed when fourth place was announced
Some had theories as to why Miss Jamaica didn't win
Miss USA was first runner-up



(CNN)At this year's Miss Universe pageant, a loss may have overshadowed the win.

While Miss Colombia, 22-year-old student Paulina Vega, took home the crown in Miami on Sunday night, social media was more concerned with the fate of Miss Jamaica.

There were boos when 22-year-old model Kaci Fennell was announced as the fourth runner-up. Viewers immediately weighed in with why they felt Miss Jamaica had been robbed of the title, citing everything from her race to her short haircut amongst the flowing manes of other contestants.


The grandfather of the Jamaican beauty queen who lost out on the Miss Universe crown has hit out at the pageant judges for being unclear about the requirements needed to win the show.

Michael Fennell said that Kaci was the victim of ‘unwritten factors’ and that the judges should have stated if Miss Universe needed to have long hair.

He said: 'If short hair is a problem why didn’t they say so in the contest?'



Mr Fennell continued: ‘In my mind she was absolutely beautiful in her short hair.

'She was different but if the judges didn't want short hair then say so.

'I wish I knew how these contests were judged where there are other factors that are unwritten that have to be considered'.

He also criticised those who questioned his daughter’s claims that Jamaica’s contributions to the world are Usain Bolt and Bob Marley.

He said: ‘Of course it’s Bob Marley and Usain Bolt...the answers of the other contestants did not answer the question’.



It's renowned for its swimwear round, stunning dresses and a seemingly never-ending array of beautiful women.

However, last night's Miss Universe final in Miami got hotter than ever - after Miss Colombia, Paulina Vega, 22, was controversially crowned the winner of the beauty pageant.



Instead of the usual cheering, the audience erupted into boos of disapproval as favourite-to-win Miss Jamaica Kaci Fennell only made it to fifth place.

Shortly after Miss Fennell, 22, left the stage in the 63rd annual contest, her name began trending on Twitter along with the hashtag #MissJamaicaShouldHaveWon.


Robbed? Miss Jamaica's striking good looks and unmistakable poise have left Miss Universe pageant viewers saying the 22-year-old was robbed after being named fourth runner-up

Unlike Miss Vega, who looks every-inch the beauty queen, Miss Fennell gained a large following due to her striking beauty, confidence intelligence and unconventional style - wearing her hair in a Halle Berry-esque pixie cut instead of the traditional long pageant waves.

Fans claim Miss Fennell was denied the title after she proudly called Usain Bolt, the world's fastest short-distance runner, and reggae-king Bob Marley her country's greatest contributions to the world.