Venezuela beauty crowned Miss Universe

Miss Venezuela has been crowned Miss Universe 2008 in a contest marked by the spectacle of Miss USA falling over during the evening gown competition for the second year in a row.

Dayana Mendoza, 22, who received the crown in Nha Trang, Vietnam, at the show hosted by talk show star Jerry Springer and Spice Girl Melanie Brown, was once kidnapped in her homeland and said the experience taught her to remain poised under pressure.

However Crystle Steward, 26, from Texas, was not so chilled, tripping on the train of her bejewelled evening gown as she made her entrance, as did former Miss USA Rachel Smith during the 2007 Miss Universe contest in Mexico City, who became an unintentional YouTube star.