Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2008, The annual competition was held at the Centro de Bellas Artes in Santurce

Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Santurce is a district of San Juan, Puerto Rico.-Summary:Santurce is one of the top ten most populated areas of the island holding Miramar, Loíza, Isla Grande, Barrio Obrero, and Condado as main cultural hot spots for art, music, cuisine, fashion, hotels, technology, multimedia, film, textile and...

, televised live by Telemundo

Telemundo

Telemundo is an American television network that broadcasts in Spanish. The network is the second-largest Spanish-language content producer in the world, and the second-largest Spanish-language network in the United States, behind Univision....

 Puerto Rico. It was presented by Desirée Lowry and Osvaldo Ríos. Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2007, Uma Blasini

Uma Blasini

Wilmadilis Blasini Pérez, best known as Uma Blasini is a Puerto Rican beauty queen who has represented her country at the Miss Universe 2007 beauty pageant....

 of Guayanilla was succeeded by Ingrid Marie Rivera, from Dorado

Dorado, Puerto Rico

Dorado is a small tourist town in the northern coast of Puerto Rico, west of San Juan and is located in the northern region of the island, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of Toa Alta, east of Vega Alta, and west of Toa Baja. Dorado is spread over five barrios and Dorado Pueblo...

 who won the Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2008 title on November 23, 2007. Music was performed by Puerto Rican singer Kany García

Kany García

Encarnita "Kany" García De Jesus is a Puerto Rican singer-songwriter. Born in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, García first appeared on television in 2004 as a contestant on Objetivo Fama...

. Rivera represented Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...

 at the Miss Universe 2008

Miss Universe 2008

Miss Universe 2008, the 57th Miss Universe pageant, was held at the Crown Convention Center in the Diamond Bay Resort, Nha Trang, Vietnam on July 14, 2008...

 contest in Nha Trang

Nha Trang

Nha Trang is a coastal city and capital of Khanh Hoa province, on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is bounded on the North by Ninh Hoà district, on the East by the South China Sea, on the South by Cam Ranh town and on the West by Diên Khánh district...

, Vietnam

Vietnam

Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...

, but did not reach the semifinals.

Placements

Final Results	Contestant
Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2008	Dorado Dorado, Puerto Rico Dorado is a small tourist town in the northern coast of Puerto Rico, west of San Juan and is located in the northern region of the island, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of Toa Alta, east of Vega Alta, and west of Toa Baja. Dorado is spread over five barrios and Dorado Pueblo...  - Ingrid Marie Rivera Santos Ingrid Rivera Ingrid Marie Rivera Santos to Elba Santos and John Rivera. Ingrid was Miss Puerto Rico in 2008 and is a former Miss Mundo de Puerto Rico who obtained the title of Miss Caribbean when she placed 2nd Runner-up at the 2005 Miss World pageant...
1st Runner-up	Santurce Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico Santurce is a district of San Juan, Puerto Rico.-Summary:Santurce is one of the top ten most populated areas of the island holding Miramar, Loíza, Isla Grande, Barrio Obrero, and Condado as main cultural hot spots for art, music, cuisine, fashion, hotels, technology, multimedia, film, textile and...  - Claudia Alejandra Cruz
2nd Runner-up	Trujillo Alto Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico -Barrios :*Carraízo*Las Cuevas*Dos Bocas*La Gloria*Quebrada Grande*Quebrada Negrito*Saint Just*Trujillo Alto Pueblo*Cooperativa Jardines de Trujillo Alto-Geo/Topography:*Carraízo dam...  - Kristina Ruisánchez Torreszayas Kristina Ruisánchez Kristina Ruisánchez Torreszayas is a beauty pageant titleholder from Puerto Rico. Kristina placed 2nd Runner-up at the Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2008 pageant where she competed as Miss Trujillo Alto. She placed 1st Runner-up at the Miss Continente Americano 2008 pageant.-References:...
3rd Runner-up	Utuado Utuado, Puerto Rico Utuado is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the central-western mountainous region of the island known as La Cordillera Central. It is located north of Adjuntas and Ponce; south of Hatillo and Arecibo; east of Lares; and west of Ciales and Jayuya. In land area it is the third-largest...  - Maribel Montalvo
4th Runner-up	Isabela Isabela, Puerto Rico Isabela is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the north-western region of the island, north of San Sebastián; west of Quebradillas; and east of Aguadilla and Moca. Isabela is spread over 13 wards and Isabela Pueblo...  - Amanda Díaz Torres Amanda Díaz Amanda Díaz is a Puerto Rican beauty pageant titleholder from Puerto Rico-Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2008:Díaz represented Isabela at the Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2008 pageant where she placed as one of the five finalists.-Miss World Puerto Rico 2009:...
5th Runner-up	Bayamón Bayamón, Puerto Rico Bayamón is a municipality of Puerto Rico located on the northern coastal valley, north of Aguas Buenas and Comerío; south of Toa Baja and Cataño; west of Guaynabo; and east of Toa Alta and Naranjito. Bayamón is spread over 11 wards and Bayamón Pueblo...  - Ivelisse Del Valle
Top 13	Caguas Caguas, Puerto Rico Caguas , founded in 1775, is a city and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the Central Mountain Range of Puerto Rico, south of San Juan and Trujillo Alto, west of Gurabo and San Lorenzo, east of Aguas Buenas, Cidra, and Cayey....  - Melissa Marty Melissa Marty Melissa Marty is a beauty pageant titleholder from Puerto Rico. Marty placed as a semi-finalist in Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2008, competing as "Miss Caguas." She then became a contestant on the reality show/beauty contest Nuestra Belleza Latina, and after weeks of competition and eliminations,... Comerio Comerío, Puerto Rico Comerío is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the center-eastern region of island, north of Aibonito; south of Naranjito and Bayamón; east of Barranquitas; and west of Cidra and Aguas Buenas. Comerío is spread over 7 wards and Comerío Pueblo...  - Cristina Torres Guayama Guayama, Puerto Rico Guayama is a municipality of Puerto Rico founded on January 29, 1736 and located on the Southern Coastal Valley region, bordering the Caribbean, south of Cayey; east of Salinas; and west of Patillas and Arroyo. Guayama is spread over 9 wards and Guayama Pueblo...  - María Noelis Rosario Guaynabo Guaynabo, Puerto Rico Guaynabo is a municipality in the northern part of Puerto Rico, located in the northern coast of the island, north of Aguas Buenas; south of Cataño; east of Bayamón; and west of San Juan...  - Francoise Mugnano Rosado Ponce Ponce, Puerto Rico Ponce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...  - Mónica Alvarado San Sebastián San Sebastián, Puerto Rico San Sebastián is a municipality of Puerto Rico located northwest of the island south of Isabela and Quebradillas; north of Las Marías; east of Moca and Añasco; and west of Lares. San Sebastián is spread over twenty-four wards and San Sebastián Pueblo...  - Cristina Mariel Larregui Vega Alta Vega Alta, Puerto Rico Vega Alta is a municipality of Puerto Rico. Vega Alta is located on the northern coast of the island, north of Morovis and Corozal; east of Vega Baja; and west of Dorado with an area of . Vega Alta is spread over seven wards and Vega Alta Pueblo...  - Elisa Acevedo

Awards

• Miss Photogenic: Ingrid Rivera
  Ingrid Rivera
  Ingrid Marie Rivera Santos to Elba Santos and John Rivera. Ingrid was Miss Puerto Rico in 2008 and is a former Miss Mundo de Puerto Rico who obtained the title of Miss Caribbean when she placed 2nd Runner-up at the 2005 Miss World pageant...
  
   (Dorado
  Dorado, Puerto Rico
  Dorado is a small tourist town in the northern coast of Puerto Rico, west of San Juan and is located in the northern region of the island, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of Toa Alta, east of Vega Alta, and west of Toa Baja. Dorado is spread over five barrios and Dorado Pueblo...
  
  )
• Most Beautiful Face: Ingrid Rivera
  Ingrid Rivera
  Ingrid Marie Rivera Santos to Elba Santos and John Rivera. Ingrid was Miss Puerto Rico in 2008 and is a former Miss Mundo de Puerto Rico who obtained the title of Miss Caribbean when she placed 2nd Runner-up at the 2005 Miss World pageant...
  
   (Dorado
  Dorado, Puerto Rico
  Dorado is a small tourist town in the northern coast of Puerto Rico, west of San Juan and is located in the northern region of the island, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of Toa Alta, east of Vega Alta, and west of Toa Baja. Dorado is spread over five barrios and Dorado Pueblo...
  
  )
• Inner Beauty: Ingrid Rivera
  Ingrid Rivera
  Ingrid Marie Rivera Santos to Elba Santos and John Rivera. Ingrid was Miss Puerto Rico in 2008 and is a former Miss Mundo de Puerto Rico who obtained the title of Miss Caribbean when she placed 2nd Runner-up at the 2005 Miss World pageant...
  
   (Dorado
  Dorado, Puerto Rico
  Dorado is a small tourist town in the northern coast of Puerto Rico, west of San Juan and is located in the northern region of the island, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of Toa Alta, east of Vega Alta, and west of Toa Baja. Dorado is spread over five barrios and Dorado Pueblo...
  
  )
• Miss Congeniality: Letty Perez (Canóvanas
  Canóvanas, Puerto Rico
  Canóvanas is a municipality in Puerto Rico, located in the northeastern region, north of Juncos and Las Piedras; south of Loíza; east of Carolina; and west of Río Grande. Canóvanas is spread over 7 wards and Canóvanas Pueblo...
  
  )
• Best National Costume: Lees Darian (Com. Puertoriqueña EU)
• Best Legs: Maribel Montalvo (Utuado
  Utuado, Puerto Rico
  Utuado is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the central-western mountainous region of the island known as La Cordillera Central. It is located north of Adjuntas and Ponce; south of Hatillo and Arecibo; east of Lares; and west of Ciales and Jayuya. In land area it is the third-largest...
  
  )
• Best Skin: Melissa Marty
  Melissa Marty
  Melissa Marty is a beauty pageant titleholder from Puerto Rico. Marty placed as a semi-finalist in Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2008, competing as "Miss Caguas." She then became a contestant on the reality show/beauty contest Nuestra Belleza Latina, and after weeks of competition and eliminations,...
  
   (Caguas
  Caguas, Puerto Rico
  Caguas , founded in 1775, is a city and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the Central Mountain Range of Puerto Rico, south of San Juan and Trujillo Alto, west of Gurabo and San Lorenzo, east of Aguas Buenas, Cidra, and Cayey....
  
  )
• Best Hair: Kristina Ruisánchez
  Kristina Ruisánchez
  Kristina Ruisánchez Torreszayas is a beauty pageant titleholder from Puerto Rico. Kristina placed 2nd Runner-up at the Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2008 pageant where she competed as Miss Trujillo Alto. She placed 1st Runner-up at the Miss Continente Americano 2008 pageant.-References:...
  
   (Trujillo Alto
  Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico
  -Barrios :*Carraízo*Las Cuevas*Dos Bocas*La Gloria*Quebrada Grande*Quebrada Negrito*Saint Just*Trujillo Alto Pueblo*Cooperativa Jardines de Trujillo Alto-Geo/Topography:*Carraízo dam...
  
  )
• Miss Sprint (People's Choice): Ivelisse Del Valle (Bayamón
  Bayamón, Puerto Rico
  Bayamón is a municipality of Puerto Rico located on the northern coastal valley, north of Aguas Buenas and Comerío; south of Toa Baja and Cataño; west of Guaynabo; and east of Toa Alta and Naranjito. Bayamón is spread over 11 wards and Bayamón Pueblo...
  
  

Contestants

The 30 contestants who participated in the pageant in alphabetical order by city.

• Aguadilla
  Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
  Aguadilla , founded in 1775 by Luis de Córdova, is a city located in the northwestern tip of Puerto Rico bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, north of Aguada, and Moca and west of Isabela. Aguadilla is spread over 15 wards and Aguadilla Pueblo...
  
   - Elisabeth Rivera
• Arecibo
  Arecibo, Puerto Rico
  Arecibo is a municipality in the northern midwest coast of Puerto Rico and located by the Atlantic Ocean, north of Utuado and Ciales; east of Hatillo; and west of Barceloneta, and Florida. Arecibo is spread over 18 wards and Arecibo Pueblo...
  
   - Delorean Torres
• Barceloneta
  Barceloneta
  Barceloneta may refer to:*Barceloneta, Puerto Rico, municipality in Puerto Rico.*Barceloneta, Barcelona, beach and a neighborhood in the Ciutat Vella district of Barcelona, Spain**Barceloneta...
  
   - Jedith Marie Crespo
• Barranquitas
  Barranquitas, Puerto Rico
  Barranquitas is a small mountain town located in the central region of Puerto Rico, south of Corozal and Naranjito; north of Coamo and Aibonito; west of Comerío and Cidra; and east of Orocovis. Barranquitas is spread over 6 wards and Barranquitas Pueblo...
  
   - Celia Colón
• Bayamón
  Bayamón, Puerto Rico
  Bayamón is a municipality of Puerto Rico located on the northern coastal valley, north of Aguas Buenas and Comerío; south of Toa Baja and Cataño; west of Guaynabo; and east of Toa Alta and Naranjito. Bayamón is spread over 11 wards and Bayamón Pueblo...
  
   - Ivelisse Del Valle
• Caguas
  Caguas, Puerto Rico
  Caguas , founded in 1775, is a city and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the Central Mountain Range of Puerto Rico, south of San Juan and Trujillo Alto, west of Gurabo and San Lorenzo, east of Aguas Buenas, Cidra, and Cayey....
  
   - Melissa Marty
  Melissa Marty
  Melissa Marty is a beauty pageant titleholder from Puerto Rico. Marty placed as a semi-finalist in Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2008, competing as "Miss Caguas." She then became a contestant on the reality show/beauty contest Nuestra Belleza Latina, and after weeks of competition and eliminations,...
  
  
• Canóvanas
  Canóvanas, Puerto Rico
  Canóvanas is a municipality in Puerto Rico, located in the northeastern region, north of Juncos and Las Piedras; south of Loíza; east of Carolina; and west of Río Grande. Canóvanas is spread over 7 wards and Canóvanas Pueblo...
  
   - Letty Pérez
• Carolina
  Carolina, Puerto Rico
  Carolina is a city located in the northern part of Puerto Rico, bordering the Atlantic Ocean; it lies north of Gurabo and Juncos; east of Trujillo Alto and San Juan; and west of Canóvanas and Loíza. Carolina is spread over 12 wards plus Carolina Pueblo...
  
   - Yaritza Montalvo
• Comerio
  Comerío, Puerto Rico
  Comerío is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the center-eastern region of island, north of Aibonito; south of Naranjito and Bayamón; east of Barranquitas; and west of Cidra and Aguas Buenas. Comerío is spread over 7 wards and Comerío Pueblo...
  
   - Cristina Paola Torres
• Comunidad PR En Estados Unidos - Lees Darian García
• Corozal
  Corozal, Puerto Rico
  Corozal is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the central-eastern region, north of Orocovis and Barranquitas; south Vega Alta; southwest of Toa Alta; east of Morovis and Orocovis; and west of Naranjito. Corozal is spread over 12 wards and Corozal Pueblo...
  
   - Sandybell de Jesús Agosto
• Dorado
  Dorado, Puerto Rico
  Dorado is a small tourist town in the northern coast of Puerto Rico, west of San Juan and is located in the northern region of the island, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of Toa Alta, east of Vega Alta, and west of Toa Baja. Dorado is spread over five barrios and Dorado Pueblo...
  
   - Ingrid Marie Rivera
• Fajardo
  Fajardo, Puerto Rico
  Fajardo is a small city in Puerto Rico located in the east region of the island, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of Ceiba and east of Luquillo.Fajardo is spread over 7 wards and Downtown Fajardo , which serves as the administrative center of the city...
  
   - Bianca Castro
• Guayama
  Guayama, Puerto Rico
  Guayama is a municipality of Puerto Rico founded on January 29, 1736 and located on the Southern Coastal Valley region, bordering the Caribbean, south of Cayey; east of Salinas; and west of Patillas and Arroyo. Guayama is spread over 9 wards and Guayama Pueblo...
  
   - María Noelis Rosario
• Guaynabo
  Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
  Guaynabo is a municipality in the northern part of Puerto Rico, located in the northern coast of the island, north of Aguas Buenas; south of Cataño; east of Bayamón; and west of San Juan...
  
   - Francoise Mugnano

• Gurabo
  Gurabo, Puerto Rico
  Gurabo is a municipality in eastern Puerto Rico located in the central eastern region, north of San Lorenzo; south of Trujillo Alto; east of Caguas; and west of Carolina and Juncos. Gurabo is spread over 9 wards and Gurabo Pueblo...
  
   - Nicole Vega
• Hatillo
  Hatillo, Puerto Rico
  Hatillo is a municipality located on Puerto Rico's north coast, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north, Lares and Utuado to the south, Camuy to the west, and Arecibo to the east. According to the 2000 US Census Hatillo is spread over 9 wards and Hatillo Pueblo...
  
   - Jennifer M. Sánchez
• Isabela
  Isabela, Puerto Rico
  Isabela is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the north-western region of the island, north of San Sebastián; west of Quebradillas; and east of Aguadilla and Moca. Isabela is spread over 13 wards and Isabela Pueblo...
  
   - Amanda Díaz
  Amanda Díaz
  Amanda Díaz is a Puerto Rican beauty pageant titleholder from Puerto Rico-Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2008:Díaz represented Isabela at the Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2008 pageant where she placed as one of the five finalists.-Miss World Puerto Rico 2009:...
  
  
• Juana Díaz
  Juana Díaz, Puerto Rico
  Juana Díaz is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the southern coast of the island, south of Jayuya, Ciales, Orocovis and Villalba; east of Ponce; and west of Coamo and Santa Isabel and the Caribbean Sea to the south. Juana Díaz is spread over 12 wards and Juana Diaz Pueblo...
  
   - Vanessa Méndez
• Lares
  Lares, Puerto Rico
  Lares is a small mountain municipality of Puerto Rico's central-western area located north of Maricao and Yauco; south of Camuy, east of San Sebastián and Las Marias; and west of Hatillo, Utuado and Adjuntas. Lares is spread over 10 wards and Lares Pueblo...
  
   - Luz Iraida Morales
• Ponce
  Ponce, Puerto Rico
  Ponce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...
  
   - Mónica Alvarado
• Salinas
  Salinas, Puerto Rico
  Salinas is a small municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico located in the southern coast of the island, south of Aibonito and Cayey; southeast of Coamo, east of Santa Isabel; and west of Guayama...
  
   - Nathalie Cuevas
• San Juan
  San Juan, Puerto Rico
  San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
  
   - Mayra Griselle Iglesias
• San Sebastián
  San Sebastián, Puerto Rico
  San Sebastián is a municipality of Puerto Rico located northwest of the island south of Isabela and Quebradillas; north of Las Marías; east of Moca and Añasco; and west of Lares. San Sebastián is spread over twenty-four wards and San Sebastián Pueblo...
  
   - Cristina Mariel Larregui
• Santurce
  Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico
  Santurce is a district of San Juan, Puerto Rico.-Summary:Santurce is one of the top ten most populated areas of the island holding Miramar, Loíza, Isla Grande, Barrio Obrero, and Condado as main cultural hot spots for art, music, cuisine, fashion, hotels, technology, multimedia, film, textile and...
  
   - Claudia Alejandra Cruz
• Trujillo Alto
  Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico
  -Barrios :*Carraízo*Las Cuevas*Dos Bocas*La Gloria*Quebrada Grande*Quebrada Negrito*Saint Just*Trujillo Alto Pueblo*Cooperativa Jardines de Trujillo Alto-Geo/Topography:*Carraízo dam...
  
   - Kristina Ruisánchez
  Kristina Ruisánchez
  Kristina Ruisánchez Torreszayas is a beauty pageant titleholder from Puerto Rico. Kristina placed 2nd Runner-up at the Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2008 pageant where she competed as Miss Trujillo Alto. She placed 1st Runner-up at the Miss Continente Americano 2008 pageant.-References:...
  
  
• Utuado
  Utuado, Puerto Rico
  Utuado is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the central-western mountainous region of the island known as La Cordillera Central. It is located north of Adjuntas and Ponce; south of Hatillo and Arecibo; east of Lares; and west of Ciales and Jayuya. In land area it is the third-largest...
  
   - Maribel Montalvo
• Vega Alta
  Vega Alta, Puerto Rico
  Vega Alta is a municipality of Puerto Rico. Vega Alta is located on the northern coast of the island, north of Morovis and Corozal; east of Vega Baja; and west of Dorado with an area of . Vega Alta is spread over seven wards and Vega Alta Pueblo...
  
   - Elisa Acevedo
• Villalba
  Villalba, Puerto Rico
  Villalba is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the central region, northeast of Juana Díaz; south of Orocovis; and west of Coamo. Villalba is spread over 6 wards and Villalba Pueblo...
  
   - Marjorie Crystal Castillo
• Yauco
  Yauco, Puerto Rico
  Yauco is a city and municipality in southwestern Puerto Rico located in the southern coast of the island by the Caribbean, south of Maricao, Lares and Adjuntas; east of Sabana Grande and Guánica; and west of Guayanilla. Yauco is spread over 20 wards and Yauco Pueblo...
  
   - 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

Miss World

The Miss World pageant is the oldest surviving major international beauty pageant. It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951...

 pageant placing 2nd runner-up and obtained the title of Miss Caribbean World

Miss World

The Miss World pageant is the oldest surviving major international beauty pageant. It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951...

. 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

Uma Blasini

Wilmadilis Blasini Pérez, best known as Uma Blasini is a Puerto Rican beauty queen who has represented her country at the Miss Universe 2007 beauty pageant....

. 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

Capsicum

Capsicum is a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family, Solanaceae. Its species are native to the Americas where they have been cultivated for thousands of years, but they are now also cultivated worldwide, used as spices, vegetables, and medicines - and have become are a key element in...

, 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

Magali Febles

Magali Esperanza Febles Moretta is a beautician and beauty pageant circuit personality. She was the former owner of two salons, Magali Febles Salon and Spa in San Juan, Puerto Rico, which she later sold in order to concentrate her energy on running Miss Puerto Rico Universe and Miss Dominican...

 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

Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Santurce is a district of San Juan, Puerto Rico.-Summary:Santurce is one of the top ten most populated areas of the island holding Miramar, Loíza, Isla Grande, Barrio Obrero, and Condado as main cultural hot spots for art, music, cuisine, fashion, hotels, technology, multimedia, film, textile and...

, Guaynabo

Guaynabo, Puerto Rico

Guaynabo is a municipality in the northern part of Puerto Rico, located in the northern coast of the island, north of Aguas Buenas; south of Cataño; east of Bayamón; and west of San Juan...

, Bayamón

Bayamón, Puerto Rico

Bayamón is a municipality of Puerto Rico located on the northern coastal valley, north of Aguas Buenas and Comerío; south of Toa Baja and Cataño; west of Guaynabo; and east of Toa Alta and Naranjito. Bayamón is spread over 11 wards and Bayamón Pueblo...

, Salinas

Salinas, Puerto Rico

Salinas is a small municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico located in the southern coast of the island, south of Aibonito and Cayey; southeast of Coamo, east of Santa Isabel; and west of Guayama...

, Fajardo

Fajardo, Puerto Rico

Fajardo is a small city in Puerto Rico located in the east region of the island, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of Ceiba and east of Luquillo.Fajardo is spread over 7 wards and Downtown Fajardo , which serves as the administrative center of the city...

 and Utuado

Utuado, Puerto Rico

Utuado is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the central-western mountainous region of the island known as La Cordillera Central. It is located north of Adjuntas and Ponce; south of Hatillo and Arecibo; east of Lares; and west of Ciales and Jayuya. In land area it is the third-largest...

 appeared on national television, on shows like "The Tyra Banks Show

The Tyra Banks Show

The Tyra Banks Show, also known as and shortened to Tyra or The Tyra Show, is an American talk show hosted by Tyra Banks. The last new episode aired on Friday, May 28, 2010.-2005-2009: Syndication:...

" and "The Today Show

The Today Show

Today is an iconic American morning news and talk show airing every morning on NBC. Debuting on January 14, 1952, it was the first of its genre on American television and in the world. The show is also the fourth-longest running American television series...

" 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.