As the national titleholder and official representative of the United States at the international Miss Universe competition, Finnessey proceeded to the contest in Quito, Ecuador. She was chosen as the First Runner-up, placing second to Jennifer Hawkins of Australia. During her reign, she became an advocate for breast cancer and ovarian cancer awareness and research. Finnessey resided in a luxury riverside apartment in New York City provided by the Miss Universe Organization and pageant co-owner Donald Trump. Prior to Miss USA and Miss Universe, she won the titles of Miss St. Louis Metro in 2002 and Miss Missouri (for Miss America) in 2002.

--Wikipedia