Miss Venezuela takes Miss Universe crown

NHA TRANG, Vietnam – A former kidnap victim crowned Miss Universe and Miss USA falling down for the second straight year marked the 2008 beauty pageant.

Miss Venezuela Dayana Mendoza was crowned Miss Universe 2008 yesterday in a contest marked by the spectacle of a Miss USA contestant falling down again during the evening gown competition.

Mendoza, 22, who had been the favorite of many pageant watchers and online bookmakers, received the diamond-studded gold crown from predecessor Riyo Mori of Japan after answering a question on who she thought has it easier in life, women or men.

“God made us to share and have differences,” she replied, then highlighted what she regards as the different thought processes of men and women.

“Men think that the faster way to go to a point is to go straight,” explained the trilingual beauty from Amazonas state. “Women know that the faster way to go to a point is to go to the curves.”

Wearing a yellow evening gown, she burst into tears when the presenter, US talkshow host Jerry Springer, announced she had won, beating runners-up from Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Russia and Mexico.

Her prize package includes cash, a year-long contract promoting Miss Universe, world travel, a rent-free New York City luxury apartment and a giftbag stuffed with free designer shoes, dresses and beauty products.

Miss Venezuela was once kidnapped in her homeland and says the experience taught her to remain poised under pressure.

She declined to discuss her kidnapping, which occurred a year and a half ago, but took advantage of the occasion to call for global peace.

“I want to raise my voice and tell the world that violence is not the answer,” she said.

Tension got under the skin of Crystle Stewart 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 made her entrance.

During the 2007 Miss Universe contest in Mexico City, Miss USA Rachel Smith also tumbled during the evening gown competition and became an unintended star on YouTube, where the video was shown over and over again.

Like Smith, Stewart quickly stood up after her fall and continued on as if nothing had happened.

Stewart, 26, is a motivational speaker and former track and filed star who is working on a book called “Waiting to Win.” The Houston native plans to open a character-development school for young children and has worked with autism victims in the Texas schools.

Venezuelans are celebrating their fifth victory in the Miss Universe pageant.

In the world of beauty contests, Venezuela – where beauty contests are held in schools, villages and even prisons – is considered a “pageant superpower” with four previous Miss Universe and five Miss World winners.

Some Venezuelans in Caracas shouted and cheered while watching the pageant on television when Mendoza was crowned.

Longtime Miss Venezuela pageant president Osmel Sousa said he’s proud Venezuela has won its fifth Miss Universe crown.

Sousa told the TV channel Venevision Sunday night from Vietnam that Mendoza “was very sure of herself” and that “she knew how to win over the people here.”

Venezuela last won Miss Universe in 1996, when Alicia Machado took the crown.

Publicity bonanza for Vietnam

The NBC show hosted by Springer and Spice Girl Melanie Brown was broadcast live to hundreds of millions of viewers in 170 countries.

Eighty contestants gathered in the seaside city of Nha Trang, including Miss Philippines Jennifer Barrientos.

Miss Thailand won the prize for best national costume and Miss El Salvador was chosen by her peers as Miss Congeniality.

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.

They performed in front of a panel of judges that included international fashion experts and Donald Trump Jr., whose father, the real estate magnate and TV star, co-owns the pageant with NBC.

This year’s contestants spanned a wide range of experiences and aspirations.

Miss Albania was a professional basketball player. Miss Argentina says she has paranormal experiences. Miss Antigua & Barbuda is fascinated by snakes. Miss Angola was in a plane crash while trying to escape a conflict during her country’s civil war.

The show has been a publicity bonanza for Vietnam, where beauty contests are very 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.

The program set has been dominated by iconic Vietnamese images, such as bamboo trees, conical hats and lotus flowers.

The tuxedoed 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. – AP