Dayana Mendoza, Miss Venezuela was crowned Miss Universe 2008 on Monday.
NHA TRANG, Vietnam (AP) — An elated Dayana Mendoza received the crown from her predecessor, Riyo Mori of Japan, then prepared to meet a gaggle of reporters.
Miss Venezuela was crowned Miss Universe 2008 on Monday.
Mendoza, 22, was once kidnapped in her homeland and says the experience taught her to remain poised under pressure.
Tension got under the skin of Crystle Steward of Texas, the second Miss USA in a row to fall down during the Miss Universe pageant.
She tripped on the train of her bejeweled evening gown as she entered.
During the 2007 pageant in Mexico City, Miss USA Rachel Smith also tumbled during the evening gown competition and became an unintended star on You Tube.
Like Smith, Stewart quickly stood up after her fall and continued on as if nothing happened.
The final five contestants included four from Latin America: Miss Mexico, Miss Dominican Republic, Miss Colombia and Miss Venezuela. Rounding out the final five was Miss Russia.
Miss Colombia finished second behind Mendoza.
During her interview with the judges, Mendoza was asked who she thought has it easier in life, women or men.
“God made us to share and have differences,” she said.
“Men think that the faster way to go to a point is to go straight,” she said.
“Women know that the faster way to go to a point is to go to the curves.”
The NBC show was hosted by talk show star Jerry Springer and Spice Girl Melanie Brown and broadcast live to hundreds of millions of viewers in more than 170 countries.
The tuxedo wearing Springer made a grand entrance on a motorbike — the vehicle of choice in Vietnam where the streets are teeming with millions of the speeding two-wheelers.
Eighty contestants gathered in the seaside city of Nha Trang, Vietnam, vying to succeed reigning Miss Universe Riyo Mori of Japan.
Sporting yellow, green and orange bikinis, the 15 semifinalists strutted across the stage during the swimsuit competition to the sounds of Lady Gaga, who belted out the pulsating “Just Dance” in a platinum blond wig.
Miss Vietnam, Lam Thuy Nguyen, was greeted with a roar from the Vietnamese audience.
The final 10 then competed in the evening gown event.
The show has been a publicity bonanza for Vietnam, where beauty contests are popular.
The contest featured segments on many of the nation’s most popular tourist destinations, such as Hue, Hoi An, Sapa and Ha Long Bay.
Iconic Vietnamese images, such as bamboo trees, conical hats and lotus flowers dominated the program sets.
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