The Winner is ….. Miss Venezuela Dayana Mendoza

Once again the Latin American beauties showed that they are the ones to beat in Miss Universe pageant competition. Miss Venezuela Dayana Mendoza was crowned Miss Universe 2008 at the pageant in Nha Trang, Vietnam on July 13, 2008. Too bad Miss USA, Crystle Stewart, 26, tripped and fell during during the evening gown section, which organisers claim was watched by almost a billion viewers.

Miss Universe 2007 Riyo Mori crowned her with a tiara worth 120,000 U.S. dollars. Her prize package included cash, a year contract promoting Miss Universe, world travel, a rent-free, prestigious New York City flat, luxury apartment and a gift bag stuffed with designer shoes, dresses and beauty products, a $100,000 stipend for a 2-year course at the New York Film Academy and free access to famous fashion houses and beauty parlors. Mendoza will spend her year-long reign traveling the world to lecture on humanitarian issues and to promote education regarding HIV/AIDS.

The 22-year-old beauty queen burst into tears when she was declared the winner. She said “I am excited. I cried a lot. I am really glad I made it,” said the 57th winner of the title, who was the victim off an “express kidnapping” in Venezuela 18 months ago. “It’s something that happens in my country. You don’t even have to have money to be kidnapped … That’s why I wanted to raise my voice and tell the world that violence is not the answer.”

Final Results:

First Runner Up: Miss Colombia, Taliana Vargas; will assume the duties of MISS UNIVERSE 2008 if the titleholder for some reason cannot fulfill her responsibilities.

Second Runner Up: Miss Dominican Republic, Marianne Cruz Gonzale.

Rest of Top Five: Miss Mexico, Elisa Najera; and Miss Russia, Vera Krasova.

Rest of Top Ten: Miss Kosovo, Zana Krasniqi; Miss Australia, Laura Dundovic; Miss Spain, Claudia Moro; Miss USA, Crystle Stewart; and Miss Italy, Claudia Ferraris.

Rest of Top Fifteen: Miss Vietnam, Lam Thuy Nguyen; Miss South Africa, Tansey Coetzee; Miss Japan, Hiroko Mima;; Miss Hungary, Jazmin Dammak; and Miss Czech Republic, Eliska Buckova.

National Costume Award: Miss Thailand, Gavintra Photijak. The general public voted on www.nbc.com for the international delegate whose national costume best reflected her country’s culture, originality in preparation and the delegate’s personal demeanor. She received a $1,000 cash prize and a trophy from Rogaska Crystal.

Miss Congeniality Universe Award: Miss El Salvador, Rebeca Moreno. This award reflects the respect and admiration of the delegate’s peers, who voted for her as the most congenial, charismatic and inspirational participant. She also received a $1,000 cash prize and a trophy from Rogaska Crystal