Perth's Scherri-Lee misses out on crown

Despite being an odds on favourite and being declared as "the most beautiful face in the pageant" 21-year-old Biggs failed to make is through the top 5 after the evening gown section.

Her biggest competitors Miss China and Miss USA also failed in their quests for crowning glory, with the 2011 title going to 25-year-old Miss Angola, Leila Lopes.

Out of the 89 women competing, Biggs made it through to the final 10 along with Miss France, Miss Portugal, Miss Panama and Miss Costa Rica.

Miss China came in fourth, Miss Philippines third, home town girl Priscila Machado from Brazil was second runner-up and Miss Ukraine was selected as the first runner-up.

It was expected more than one billion viewers worldwide tuned in to watch the pageant, which celebrated its 60th anniversary in Sao Paulo this year.

Biggs' support team in Brazil included her mother Liz and Kooey Swimwear director Nikki Silverthorne, who created the highly publicised and criticised national costume.

She also represented Perth by donning a gold Ruth Tarvydas dress, which was shown during the introduction of competition co-owned by Donald Trump.

Lopes in Angola's first Miss Universe.

In the all important Q&A segment Lopes was asked which physical trait she would change if she could.

"Thank God I'm very satisfied with the way God created me and I wouldn't change a thing," Lopes said.

"I consider myself a woman endowed with inner beauty. I have acquired many wonderful principles from my family and I intend to follow these for the rest of my life."

She is a business management student based in London and will now relocate to New York where she will live in Trump Towers for 12-months and carry out official Miss Universe duties.

This year's judges included Trump, journalist Connie Chung, supermodel Isabeli Fontana, Indy race car driver Helio Castroneves and actress Vivica A. Fox.

Follow Jenna Clarke on Twitter @jennamclarke