Miss Universe 2011 contestants are a catty bunch

In an effort to let viewers get to know the 89 Miss Universe 2011 contestants a bit better, they each shot a web interview that was then posted online. Each clip consists of the same three questions: Do you believe in life on other planets? What advantage do women have over men? If you were an animal, what would you be and why?

The first question appeared to confuse several of the young women, although the ones who weren't gave some hilarious answers. (Hey, Miss Canada, you don't even have difficulties with English to fall back on for that "plantation" answer.) The second established that childbirth and the fairer sex's ability to multitask are unparalleled. But it was the third that the contestants really seemed to get into.

Korea (oyster) and Thailand (plankton) get points for originality, while the Bahamas (phoenix), Mexico (unicorn) and the US Virgin Islands (mermaid) didn't let themselves be limited to real animals.

"You didn't say it couldn't be a fictional sea creature," US Virgin Islands' Alexandrya Evans says.

Dolphins and birds were also popular choices (especially penguins seeing as how they mate for life), but nearly half said that they wanted to be some kind of cat, lions and tigers more specifically.

"If I was an animal, I would be a lion," says Egypt's Sara El Khouly. "For two reasons. Because of Simba in 'Lion King.' He was the cutest lion ever. And then because I would eat all the animals in the jungle and no one would eat me so I don't have to be scared of being eaten by other animals."

Really, though, it might have been so they show off their wildcat impressions since last we checked that's not one of the Miss Universe events.

One thing learned from watching all the videos: The folklore about cats having nine lives is not a worldwide thing. Some have to settle for six or seven.

Miss Angola Crowned Miss Universe in Brazil

Miss Angola has been named this year's Miss Universe.

Leila Lopes beat out 88 competitors to win the beauty pageant's top prize for the African nation after deftly answering a question over which physical characteristic she would change and why.

"Thank God I am very well satisfied with the way God made me – and I wouldn’t change a thing," the 25-year-old said, adding that she considered herself endowed with inner-beauty.

She replaces last year's winner, Ximena Navarrete of Mexico. 

In the final moments of NBC's telecast from Sao Paulo, Brazil, 23-year-old Olesia Stefanko of Ukraine was named first runner-up, and 25-year-old Priscila Machado of Brazil was second runner-up. The third was Samcey Supsup of the Philippines and the fourth was Luo Siln of China.

Miss USA, 21-year-old Alyssa Campanella from Los Angeles, did not make the top 10.

The top five candidates had faced a final questions round and stroll in their evening gown.

Miss Ukraine said the one person she would trade lives with from history was Cleopatra because, “she’s a very powerful and strong woman who is very much worthy of respect.”

“I think a woman can also be a leader like Cleopatra,” she said.

Miss Philippines asked whether she would change religious beliefs to marry the person she loved, said she would not.

"If someone loves me they should love my God too,” she said.

Miss China said she believed each country has “its own rules and regulations,” which she would keep in mind when judging whether public nudity was appropriate.

Home crowd favorite Miss Brazil and Miss Angola both said that people should “respect” one another.

The contestants had spent the past three weeks in Sao Paulo, trying to learn samba dance steps, visiting impoverished children and kicking a football around for cameras as the globe's biggest beauty contest is held in Brazil for the first time.

This year's contest generated headlines when Miss Colombia Catalina Robayo was told to wear panties.

Before the contest began, judges offered little insight into who they thought might win.

"I know my job and I'll be tough, but fair," said pageant judge and journalist Connie Chung. "You have to keep in mind that these women are not objects just to be looked at. They're to be taken seriously. I want to choose somebody I take seriously and the world takes seriously, too."

The pageant, hosted by NBC "Today" anchor Natalie Morales and the Bravo network's Andy Cohen, was distributed to about 170 countries. The contest is co-owned by Donald Trump and NBC, and was judged by celebrities including Connie Chung, supermodel Isabeli Fontana and Indy race car driver Helio Castroneves.

Morales, who is half Brazilian, said that "what's most important is for the women to be beautiful inside and out."