Female Beauty

Zuleyka Rivera Mendoza, an 18-year-old from Puerto Rico who hopes to someday star in U.S. and Latin American films was crowned Sunday night as Miss Universe 2006. Zuleyka Rivera Mendoza shared a nervous emotional hug with first runner-up, Kurara Chibana of Japan, moments before the winner was announced, then clasped her hands to her mouth in amazement as her name was called. She beamed as the crown was placed on her head but briefly fainted after a post-pageant news conference. She quickly recovered after being given liquids, said Miss Universe spokeswoman Esther Swan.

Rivera, who was wearing a dress made entirely of metal chains, had been standing under hot stage lights for some time when she began to topple over. Someone caught her as she fell.  “I always had faith and confidence in myself, but I never knew I was going to win,” Rivera, speaking in Spanish from the stage, said in her first remarks as Miss Universe.

Last year’s winner, Natalie Glebova of Canada crowned Rivera with a diamond-and-pearl-studded headpiece valued at $250,000.
“My year as Miss Universe has meant more to me than I can express,” said Glebova, who began her reign with a trip to South Africa where she publicly took an HIV test.

The winner, who is from coastal town of Salinas, said she would continue the pageant’s mission of promoting awareness and education about AIDS and HIV.
“I want to tell those people there’s always problems in life, but there’s always possibilities to improve things,” she said. The winner travels the world for a year on behalf of charities and pageant sponsors.

Zuleyka Rivera Mendoza explained in her pageant biography, what made her different from the other contestants.  “Physically, I have been told by modeling agencies and friends that I represent the consummate Latino look,” she said. “Everything in my face expresses our heritage, our music and the wonderful mixes of races that we are.”
Rivera is the first winner from Puerto Rico since Denise Quinones in 2001, and the fifth overall in the pageant’s 55-year history.

Throughout the two-hour event, the delegates competed in three categories; swimsuit, evening gown and interview. During these competitions the “Top Five” finalists were selected before the crowning. Natalie Glebova, Miss Universe 2005, crowned her successor at the conclusion of the two-hour primetime telecast, before an estimated worldwide viewing audience of more than 600 hundred million in over 180 countries.

Here is the complete results of Miss Universe 2006 Beauty Pageant Contest:

Miss Universe 2006: Miss Puerto Rico, Zuleyka Rivera Mendoza
First Runner Up: Miss Japan, Kurara Chibana will assume the duties of Miss Universe 2006 if the titleholder for some reason cannot fulfill her responsibilities.
Second Runner Up: Miss Switzerland, Lauriane Gillieron

Rest of Top Five:
Miss Switzerland, Lauriane Gillieron
Miss Paraguay, Lourdes Arevalos
Miss Japan, Kurara Chibana
Miss United States, Tara Conner
Miss Puerto Rico, Zuleyka Rivera

Rest of Top Ten:
Miss Canada, Alice Panikian
Miss Trinidad/Tobago, Kenisha Thom
Miss Bolivia, Desiree Duran
Miss Japan, Kurara Chibana
Miss Puerto Rico, Zuleyka Rivera
Miss United States, Tara Conner
Miss Switzerland, Lauriane Gillieron
Miss Mexico, Priscila Perales
Miss Colombia, Valerie Dominguez
Miss Paraguay, Lourdes Arevalos

National Costume Award: Miss Japan, Kurara Chibana.
Chosen by a local panel of judges during a two-hour telecast in Los Angeles, California for the delegate who displayed her country’s pride and spirit best in costume.

Congeniality Award: Miss Ghana, Angela Asare.
The award reflects the respect and admiration of the delegate’s peers, who voted for her as the most congenial, charismatic and inspirational participant.

Photogenic Award: Miss Philippines, Lia Andrea Ramos.
The general public voted on Nbc.com for the delegate who exemplifies beauty through the lens of a camera.

Miss Universe 2006 was chosen by an international judging panel which included NBC’s Las Vegas star James Lesure; NBC’s latest winner from The Apprentice, Sean Yazbeck; renowned fashion photographer Patrick McMullan; Project Runway’s Santino Rice; NBC’s Deal or No Deal briefcase model Claudia Jordan; Telemundo’s Al Rojo Vivo anchor Maria Celeste Arraras; former Miss Universe Amelia Vega; television writer/creator Marc Cherry; former Miss Teen USA and actress, Bridgette Wilson Sampras; comedian Tom Green and former Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 25th, 2006 at 9:14 am and is filed under Career, Fashion, Beauty, Lifestyle. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.