Zuleyka Rivera

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Riyo Mori and her conquest of the Miss Universe 2007 crown in Mexico

Posted by Norman on April 13, 2020
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Miss Japan, Riyo Mori crowned Miss Universe 2007 (Photo by Victor Chavez/WireImage)

Miss Japan, Riyo Mori crowned Miss Universe 2007 (Photo by Victor Chavez/WireImage)

The victory of Riyo Mori during Miss Universe 2007 easily sticks out in the mind of followers of modern pageant history because: 1) an Asian delegate prevailed over the Latinas in their own turf which presumably led to 2) Zuleyka Rivera looking disenchanted when she crowned her successor especially that 3) Riyo wore the most non-pageant competition evening gown on the road to the crown, and 4) another Asian – Honey Lee of Korea – making it all the way to Top 5 (which happened again in 2011 when the Philippines and China emerged as runners-up).

Donald Trump gave his two thumbs up to the win of Riyo Mori regardless of his personal preferences. After all, pageantry is and will always be a business. And the Japanese beauty really delivered when it mattered. Never mind the pressure from the Latin American audience and watchers. Truth be told, I was secretly hoping then that Natalia Guimaraes of Brazil would be named winner. But 1st Runner-Up ain’t bad.

Photo by Marc Stamas/Getty Images

The life of Riyo took a 180-degree turn from the time she was named Miss Universe 2007. From being a ballet dancer and model/actress in Japan, she embraced the bigger limelight and made herself available for all the commitments and public demands of the title. As a result, she was one of the most well-traveled titleholders after visiting Indonesia, Spain, the Bahamas, St. Kitts and Nevis, China, Mexico, Canada, Germany, Vietnam, France, Monaco, San Marino, Russia and Italy throughout her reign.

Below is a video of Riyo being interviewed by Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray during Miss USA 2019.

Photo by Jun Sato/WireImage

Riyo eventually starred in the MTV reality TV show “Pageant Place” that ran for one season, as well as the VH1 program “The Price of Beauty”. She was last seen in the Philippines as judge during the 65th Miss Universe. Below is one of her photos in Atlanta, Georgia where she also served as judge during Miss Universe 2019.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 08: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Miss Universe 2007 Riyo Mori attends the 2019 Miss Universe Pageant at Tyler Perry Studios on December 08, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

Memories of Miss Universe 2006 courtesy of Zuleyka Rivera and Kurara Chibana

Posted by Norman on April 9, 2020
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , .

LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 23: Miss Puerto Rico Zuleyka Rivera Mendoza is named Miss universe during the Miss Universe 2006 pageant at the Shrine Auditorium on July 23, 2006 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 23: Miss Japan Kurara Chibana (L) and Miss Puerto Rico Zuleyka Rivera Mendoza wait to hear who will be named Miss Universe during the Miss Universe 2006 pageant at the Shrine Auditorium on July 23, 2006 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images)

Mere mention of Miss Universe 2006 and the names of two ladies immediately come to mind – Zuleyka Rivera and Kurara Chibana.

Zuleyka had one of the best reactions upon winning the Miss Universe crown, apart from the killer evening gown she wore. And for which she fainted backstage shortly after due to its sheer weight plus the pressure finally being lifted from her body.

Kurara Chibana, on the other hand, remains to be one of my all-time favorite Miss Universe Japan winners (along with Riyo Mori) that I was cheering for her till the announcement of winners. I knew that Zuleyka had it in the bag. But in my heart, I still wanted this Japanese beauty to win.

Share your memories of the two, dear readers.

Below are some highlight videos of the two from the edition held in Los Angeles, California.

Kurara Chibana, Miss Universe Japan 2006 and Zuleyka Rivera, Miss Universe 2006 (Photo by Jun Sato/WireImage)

Sunday Specials: whose Miss Universe year will it be?

Posted by Norman on November 3, 2013
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , .

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If we are to consult the list of Miss Universe titleholders, it’s not hard to tell which continent has not claimed the crown for the longest time now.

– North America is the most recent with Olivia Culpo winning last year in Vegas and Ximena Navarrete in 2010, also in Sin City.
– Africa is the next recent with Leila Lopes wresting the title back in 2011.
– South America’s last winner was Stefania Fernandez who was elected in the Bahamas last 2009, with her fellow Venezuelan Dayana Mendoza also topping the 2008 edition.
– Asia comes in next with Riyo Mori of Japan defeating all delegates during Miss Universe 2007.
– The Carribbean’s latest was 2006 in Los Angeles. That was the time Zuleyka Rivera captured top honors.
– As the world’s largest nation-continent, Australia grabbed their latest crown in 2004 with Jennifer Hawkins.
– Europe is the cellar-dweller when Oxana Fedorova of Russia was proclaimed winner in 2002. That victory wasn’t fully consummated, though, after she was dethroned and Justine Pasek took over. So in terms of full reign, Mona Grudt of Norway was the last European to complete one year.

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So what’s the sense in all this?

Simple. Continent-wise, it is high time for Europe to win Miss Universe once more. And with Moscow hosting the current competition (the last – and only other European host was in 1973 when Athens led and our Margarita Moran won), don’t you think they rightfully deserve to snatch the Diamond Nexus Lab diadem? Or are you of the leaning that Miss Philippines Ariella Arida should be the one, being that the country’s last win was also in Europe?

Monic Perez: in excellent fighting form

Posted by Norman on May 26, 2013
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , .

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monic1 You can never put a Miss Universe powerhouse participant down. When Puerto Rico got disappointed with the non-placement of much-heralded Bodine Koehler Pena in last year’s holiday edition of the pageant, they simply concentrated on the next lady-in-waiting. In comes the pride of Arecibo.

And 23 year-old Monic Marie Perez Diaz is more than willing to take the tough challenge of regaining Puerto Rico’s star status in Donald Trump’s eyes. She has set aside her Nursing studies at the University of Puerto Rico (Arecibo) in favor of fulfilling her mission of becoming the next Miss Universe. It’s been more than 6 years since Zuleyka Rivera won the title for the island-territory, and her countrymen are itching to have a new crown in their hands.

And boy, oh boy, is she in universe-class fighting form. And the big competition has not even been finalized yet. Watch the video below showing her latest photoshoot.


Courtesy of PRUniversalBeauty

Calling Marisol, Deborah, Dayanara, Denise and Zuleyka…..Mariana wants to join the list!

Posted by Norman on July 22, 2010
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, Blog Bites: Miss Universe 2010. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , .

Mariana Vicente: aiming for a 6th Miss Universe win for Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico holds the distinction of having five (5) Miss Universe titleholders to date. Starting with Marisol Malaret in 1970, she was followed by Deborah Carthy-Deu in 1985, Dayanara Torres in 1993, Denise Quinones in 2001 and Zuleyka Rivera in 2006. Aside from these achievements, several representatives placed in the Top 5, Top 10 and Top 15 through he years.

This year, the small Carribean island is placing its bets on Mariana Paola Vicente, a 21-year old beauty who is acknowledged as one of Puerto Rico’s top models. She won the prestigious “La Cara de Imagen L’Oreal” competition in 2005 and is a student at the University of Puerto Rico.

Sans heavy make-up and hairstyling, Mariana is actually a sweetly sensuous girl who looks younger than her actual age.

What kind of fate awaits Mariana in Las Vegas? Very bright, if you ask me. Her handlers know how to hype up her pre-arrival coverage. This early, she is doing a Dayana Mendoza by posing in her birthday suit in photos that are all over the net by now. The only difference is that Dayana did hers after winning the Miss Universe crown and shortly before relinquishing the same to fellow Venezuelan Stefania Fernandez last year. I’m sure Donald Trump must have already seen the same and hastily tagged the Puerto Rican as a favorite.

But will the ploy really work in Mariana’s favor? See for yourself below and state your opinion.

Mariana's controversial photos drumbeating her image as a Miss Universe pre-arrival favorite.