Meet Miss Earth 2009, Miss Brazil

The Miss Earth 2009 pageant was held on November 22 at the Boracay beach resort in Aklan province, central Philippines. Here's a first look at the beauties who made the cut!

Nineteen-year-old Brazilian beauty Larissa Ramos defeated contestants from as many as eighty countries to take home the crown. A biology student, she will now and become the spokesperson for the Miss Earth Foundation, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and other environmental groups. She is seen here at a swimwear photoshoot post winning the crown.

Ramos and all other contenders had to go through three rounds to make it to the finals -- one in swimsuits, another in evening gowns and a third where they were made to answer questions pertaining to environmental destruction. And while the teenage stunner is revelling in her win, she is already thinking beyond the glam factor and wants to take up issues like air and water pollution, recycling and land erosion.

Philippines contestant Sandra Seifert did her country proud again this year, grabbing the first runner-up position and the title of Miss Earth Air.

Twenty five-year-old Seifert is of mixed Filipino and German descent and studied to become a nurse in New York. She is also an international model.

Twenty two-year-old Jessica Barboza from Venezuela was crowned second runner up, with the title of Miss Earth Water.

Jessica is a lawyer and holds a post-graduate degree. She speaks both Spanish and English.

And third place, along with the title of Miss Earth Fire went to Spanish contestant Alejandra Echevarria.

Alejandra is 19 and already has a lot on her plate -- besides being a model and now a pageant winner, she is also a singer.

Miss India contestant Shriya Kishore, 22, made it as far as the semi-final round. Considering she was a wild card entrant to the Miss India pageant 2009, she got pretty far -- just not quite all the way!