Following lots of important questions, crucial bikini poses and a dreadful live singing performance by Heidi Montag, Dayana Mendoza will formally cede her crown as the 2009 winner of the Miss Universe pageant is named on Sunday night.

Representing America will be Miss USA Kristen Dalton.

Contrary to popular belief, Carrie Prejean did not win the Miss USA pageant, Kristen Dalton did. Prejean finished second, then was later stripped of her crown as Miss California after flaking on her contract (and being stripped of her top).

Therefore it is Kristen Dalton, 22, hailing from the great state of North Carolina, who will be competing Sunday night at the Atlantis in the Bahamas.

She's a worthy competitor, to say the least ...

Can she become the first American winner of the Miss Universe title since 1997? The odds are slim, if only because more than 90 girls competing, as Donald Trump (who bought the Miss Universe Organization in 1996) mentioned on The Late Show.

Either way, she'll give it a good run. Click to enlarge more photos of the beautiful Miss USA title-holder and Carrie Prejean conqueror, Kristen Dalton ...