Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2008

Last updated
Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2008
Ingrid.JPG
Ingrid Marie Rivera, Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2008
DateNovember 23, 2007
Presenters Desiree Lowry, Osvaldo Ríos
Entertainment Kany García
Venue Centro de Bellas Artes, Santurce, San Juan
Broadcaster Telemundo
Entrants30
Placements13
Winner Ingrid Marie Rivera
DoradoFlag.svg Dorado
CongenialityLetty Perez
Flag of Canovanas.jpg Canóvanas
PhotogenicIngrid Marie Rivera
DoradoFlag.svg Dorado
  2007
2009  

Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2008 was the 53rd Miss Puerto Rico Universe pageant, held at the Centro de Bellas Artes in Santurce, Puerto Rico, on November 23, 2007.

Contents

Uma Blasini of Guayanilla crowned Ingrid Marie Rivera of Dorado at the end of the event. Rivera represented Puerto Rico at the Miss Universe 2008 contest in Nha Trang, Vietnam, but did not reach the semifinals.

Results

Placements

PlacementContestant
Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2008
1st Runner-Up
2nd Runner-Up
3rd Runner-Up
4th Runner-Up
5th Runner-Up
Top 13

Special Awards

AwardContestant
Miss Photogenic
Most Beautiful Face
Inner Beauty
Miss Congeniality
Best National Costume
Best Legs
  • UtuadoFlag.svg Utuado  – Maribel Montalvo
Best Skin
Best Hair
Miss Spirit (People's Choice

Contestants

Here is a list of the official 30 contestants.

MunicipalitiesContestant
Bandera de Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.svg Aguadilla Elisabeth Rivera
Bandera de Arecibo, Puerto Rico.svg Arecibo Delorean Torres
Flag of Barceloneta, Puerto Rico.svg Barceloneta Jedith Marie Crespo
Flag of Barranquitas.svg Barranquitas Celia Colón
Flag of Bayamon.svg Bayamón Ivelisse Del Valle
Bandera de Caguas, Puerto Rico.svg Caguas Melissa Marty
Bandera de Canovanas, Puerto Rico.svg Canóvanas Letty Pérez
Flag of Carolina, Puerto Rico.svg Carolina Yaritza Montalvo
Flag of Comerio.svg Comerío Cristina Paola Torres
Flag of the United States.svg Comunidad Puertorriqueña en Estados Unidos Lees Darian García
Corozal.svg Corozal Sandybell de Jesús Agosto
DoradoFlag.svg Dorado Ingrid Marie Rivera
Flag of Fajardo.svg Fajardo Bianca Castro
Flag of Guayama, Puerto Rico.svg Guayama María Noelis Rosario
Flag of Guaynabo.svg Guaynabo Francoise Mugnano
Flag of Gurabo.svg Gurabo Nicole Vega
Flag of Hatillo, Puerto Rico.svg Hatillo Jennifer M. Sánchez
Flag of Isabela.svg Isabela Amanda Díaz
Juana Diaz Flag.jpg Juana Díaz Vanessa Méndez
1868 Lares Revolutionay Flag.svg Lares Luz Iraida Morales
Bandera de Ponce, Puerto Rico.svg Ponce Mónica Alvarado
Flag of Salinas, Puerto Rico.svg Salinas Nathalie Cuevas
Flag of San Juan, Puerto Rico.svg San Juan Mayra Griselle Iglesias
Flag of San Sebastian, Puerto Rico.svg San Sebastián Cristina Mariel Larregui
Flag of San Juan, Puerto Rico.svg Santurce Claudia Alejandra Cruz
Flag of Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico.svg Trujillo Alto Kristina Ruisánchez
UtuadoFlag.svg Utuado Maribel Montalvo
Vega Alta Flag.svg Vega Alta Elisa Acevedo
Flag of Villalba.svg Villalba Marjorie Crystal Castillo
Bandera de Yauco, Puerto Rico.svg 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

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References