AP
pics: Reuters
Los Angeles, Jul 24: Miss Puerto Rico, Zuleyka Rivera Mendoza, was crowned Miss Universe 2006 on Monday morning in a glittering ceremony in Los Angeles.
Mendoza is the first winner from Puerto Rico since Denise Quinones in 2001, and the fifth overall in the pageant's 55-year history.
However, it was disappointment galore for the Indian contingent at the Miss Universe pageant in Los Angeles. Miss India Delhi girl Neha Kapur said goodbye to her crown dreams when she failed to make it to the top 20.
More on Miss Universe
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.
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.
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.
Miss USA Tara Conner was the contest's fourth runner-up. Also finishing in the top five were second runner-up Lauriane Gillieron of Switzerland and third runner-up Lourdes Arevalos of Paraguay.
In her pageant biography, Rivera explained 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.
Conner was vying to become the first U.S. winner since Brook Lee in 1997. The Kentucky native wore a red-white-and-blue jockey outfit and cracked a whip during the opening parade of nations. Several of the contestants sported costumes featuring colorful native dress, including feathers, sequins, fur, massive headpieces and, in the case of Miss Japan, a Samurai sword.
New Miss Universe collapses, rushed off stage
Reuters
The newly crowned Miss Universe, Puerto Rico's Zuleyka Rivera Mendoza, collapsed during a post-pageant news conference and was rushed off stage Sunday night.
Pageant officials said shortly afterward she had passed out.
"She's OK. She's fine," said pageant representative Lark Anton. "She got dizzy. Its very hot up here. Her dress is tight as you could see it was beaded and heavy. ... She passed out."
Earlier pageant officials had called "Is there a nurse in the house?" after Mendoza slumped during the media appearance.
The 55th Miss Universe contest was held at the fabled Shrine Auditorium near downtown Los Angeles. It was a homecoming of sorts. The first Miss Universe pageant was held about 25 miles away in Long Beach, California, in 1952.
India Fails to Sizzle
HT
Miss India-Universe Neha Kapur disappointed her fans back in India when she failed to enter the top 10 at the Miss Universe 2006 pageant taking place in Los Angeles.
Neha was a strong contender at the beauty pageant. She even made it to the semi-finals where top 20 women were selected by the jury. But after the swimsuit round, Miss India's magic failed to work, it seems.
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