Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2008

Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2008

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Ingrid Marie Rivera, Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2008
Date November 23, 2007
Presenters Desiree Lowry, Osvaldo Ríos
Venue Centro de Bellas Artes, Santurce, San Juan
Broadcaster Telemundo
Entrants 30
Placements 13
Winner Ingrid Marie Rivera Santos
Dorado
Congeniality Letty Perez
Canóvanas
Photogenic Ingrid Marie Rivera Santos
Dorado

The 53rd Annual Miss Puerto Rico Universe pageant was held at the Centro de Bellas Artes on November 23, 2007 in the Santurce district of San Juan, Puerto Rico, televised live by Telemundo Puerto Rico. It was presented by Desiree Lowry and Osvaldo Ríos with performances by Puerto Rican singer Kany García.

Uma Blasini, who won the title of Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2007, crowned her successor Ingrid Marie Rivera of Dorado as Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2008, who represented Puerto Rico at Miss Universe 2008 in Nha Trang, Vietnam.

Results

Placements

Final results Contestant
Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2008
1st runner-up
  • Santurce - Claudia Alejandra Cruz Bosch
2nd runner-up
3rd runner-up
4th runner-up
5th runner-up
Top 13

Special awards

Awards Contestant
Miss Photogenic
Most Beautiful Face
Inner Beauty
Miss Congeniality
Best National Costume
Best Legs
Best Skin
Best Hair
Miss Spirit (People's Choice)

Contestants

Municipality Contestant
Aguadilla Elisabeth Rivera
Arecibo Delorean Torres
Barceloneta Jedith Marie Crespo
Barranquitas Celia Colón
Bayamón Ivelisse Del Valle
Caguas Melissa Marty
Canóvanas Letty Pérez
Carolina Yaritza Montalvo
Comerío Cristina Paola Torres
 Comunidad Puertorriqueña en Estados Unidos Lees Darian Garcia
Corozal Sandybell de Jesús Agosto
Dorado Ingrid Marie Rivera Santos
Fajardo Bianca Castro
Guayama María Noelis Rosario
Guaynabo Francoise Mugnano
Gurabo Nicole Vega
Hatillo Jennifer M. Sánchez
Isabela Amanda Díaz
Juana Díaz Vanessa Méndez
Lares Luz Iraida Morales
Ponce Mónica Alvarado
Salinas Nathalie Cuevas
San Juan Mayra Griselle Iglesias
San Sebastián Cristina Mariel Larregui
Santurce Claudia Alejandra Cruz
Trujillo Alto Kristina Ruisánchez
Utuado Maribel Montalvo
Vega Alta Elisa Acevedo
Villalba Marjorie Crystal Castillo
Yauco Dayline Caraballo

Controversy

Conflict between the candidates and Pageant officials began when it was revealed that Ingrid Marie Rivera would be a candidate at this year's pageant. Prior to the Miss Puerto Rico Universe competition, Rivera had participated in several major beauty pageants. In 2005 she won the title of Miss Mundo de Puerto Rico (Miss Puerto Rico World) following her win she competed at the Miss World pageant placing 2nd runner-up and obtained the title of Miss Caribbean World. In 2003, she also held the title of Miss Global Queen. Rivera was also a judge at last year's Miss Puerto Rico Universe pageant won by Uma Blasini. Candidates were concerned about Rivera, they felt as if she should not be allowed to compete and feared that Rivera's previous pageant experience would favor her in the competition and help her win the pageant.

Pageant night

Rivera was booed by some members of the crowd in her swimsuit, evening gown, and final question competitions. Despite it all Rivera won the title, although her victory is portrayed as an unfair win. Three days after the pageant was over an even bigger controversy arouse when it was revealed Rivera's belongings had been stolen while the competition was undergoing. Also Rivera's gown and makeup had been coated with pepper spray, causing redness and itchiness in her skin during the pageant. This incident has made headlines nationwide and is now being investigated by officers to determine who is responsible for this.

Evidence

At first police said tests showed no traces of capsicum, the pepper spray's active ingredient, disproving the alleged sabotage of Rivera's clothing during the competition. Police are now investigating and questioning if the alleged sabotage against Rivera is a true story or a publicity stunt. Rivera, pageant officials, and even Magali Febles who is the owner of the Miss Puerto Rico Universe organization could possibly be submitted to a lie detector test. The investigation continued for the next couple of weeks.

None of the participants have publicly admitted seeing Rivera with any type of reaction during the competition nor seeing anyone with a suspicious behavior that could lead to a suspect. The delegates from the towns of Santurce, Guaynabo, Bayamón, Salinas, Fajardo and Utuado appeared on national television, on shows like "The Tyra Banks Show" and "The Today Show" saying they were skeptical about the veracity of this incident since none of them knew anything about it until days after the pageant was over. After a few weeks during the investigation, a swimsuit and a second gown were tested, and pepper spray was found.

Notes

External links