miss puerto rico

Associated Press - November 25, 2007 11:43 PM ET

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - A mystery at a Puerto Rico beauty pageant.

Organizers are trying to figure out who laced a contestant's evening gowns and makeup with pepper spray.

Ingrid Marie Rivera was composed while in front of the judges. Backstage however, she was breaking out in hives. A pageant spokeswoman says the first time Rivera had a reaction, they thought it may be allergies or even nerves. The second time, he says, they knew it wasn't a coincidence.

Rivera's clothing and makeup later tested positive for pepper spray.

Even though she was swelling up and covered in hives, Rivera snagged the crown. She will represent Puerto Rico next year in Miss Universe.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

2007, 16:44 GMT

Beauty contests get downright ugly at times.

Organizers of a beauty pageant in Puerto Rico are investigating a case of sabotage after a contestant's dress and make-up were coated with pepper spray.

CNN reports that Ingrid Marie Rivera beat 29 pageant rivals to become the 2008 Miss Universe contestant, despite a red swollen rash and face.

Rivera remained composed in front of the cameras, yet backstage she applied ice packs to her face and body.

Her clothing and make-up later tested positive for pepper spray.

"We thought at first it was an allergic reaction, or maybe nerves," said pageant spokesman Harold Rosario.

"But the second time, we knew it couldn't have been a coincidence."

The organizers are conducting an investigation to find out who was responsible for the mean spirited stunt.

Also reported during the pageant was the theft of Rivera's purse containing her dresses, make-up and credit cards, and on the last day of the competition a bomb threat postponed the event.

Rivera considered dropping out of the contest. "At one point I said, 'Am I a masochist?'"

"But I said: 'I am with God and this is my goal, regardless of the results.'"

Rivera was the nod of local media who had predicted she would win the Puerto Rican pageant.

Miss Puerto Rico
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Miss Puerto Rico and Miss Mundo de Puerto Rico are the official national preliminaries to the Miss Universe and Miss World international pageants respectively. Each year both events are held to select the representatives from the island to both contests. The two national pageants are the most important beauty contests in Puerto Rico.

Contents
1 Miss Puerto Rico
1.1 History
1.2 Titleholders
1.2.1 Miss Puerto Rico
1.3 Miss Puerto Rico 2008
2 Miss Mundo de Puerto Rico
2.1 Titleholders
2.1.1 Miss Mundo de Puerto Rico
3 External links

[edit] Miss Puerto Rico

[edit] History
In its various forms, the "Miss Puerto Rico" beauty pageant has been almost held every year since the 1950s. The winner of the contest represents Puerto Rico at the Miss Universe pageant each year.

The selection of Miss Puerto Rico commences the year before the winner goes on to participate in the Miss Universe pageant. Each Puerto Rican city may choose a representative who then enters the Miss Puerto Rico finals, traditionally held at a San Juan area hotel. The winner is crowned at the conclusion of the final competition.

There have been three changes in the organization that led to modifications in the pageant's name. Miss Puerto Rico was held from 1952 until 1998, in 1996 the pageant lost the franchise for Miss Universe. From 1996 to 1998 Telemundo organized the event, under the name "Miss Universe Puerto Rico". From 1999 to 2000 TeleOnce (now Univision Puerto Rico) obtained the franchise and renamed it "Miss Puerto Rico Universe" from 1999 to 2002. Magali Febles has organised the pageant since 2003 and the pageant title has remained "Miss Puerto Rico Universe".

The Miss Puerto Rico beauty pageant has now turned to technology to reach more people through the use of podcasting. Starting with the 2006 pageant, Miss Puerto Rico Universe became the first pageant of the Miss Universe franchise to have a podcast.[citation needed] In this, Wilton Vargas, an international multi-media and technology personality, interviews all contestants with the goal of helping people get to know them better so that they can participate in the voting process using cell phones. This podcast is published as a section in technology news and information website Tecnetico.com and various podcast directories, including iTunes.

Delegates are allowed to compete more than once at the Miss Puerto Rico Universe pageant, the caveat being that they are not allowed to compete again after they have won. For example, Cynthia Olavarria placed first runner-up Carla Tricoli in 2003 and returned in 2005, winning the title and placing first runner-up at Miss Universe. A number of delegates and winners have competed in the "Miss Mundo de Puerto Rico" (Miss World Puerto Rico) pageant, a preliminary to the Miss World pageant. There are frequently crossovers between the two pageants: for example Joyce Giraud was crowned Miss Puerto Rico twice by Ana Rosa Brito, first in 1994 as Miss Mundo de Puerto Rico, then in 1998 as Miss Universe Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico is one of the most successful competitors in the history of the Miss Universe pageant, having won five times. Marisol Malaret, Miss Puerto Rico 1970, was first Puerto Rican to win the Miss Universe title. The four other Puerto Rican delegates who have won the Miss Universe title are Deborah Carthy-Deu 1985), Dayanara Torres (1993), Denise Quinones (2001), and Zuleyka Rivera (2006).

[edit] Titleholders