Newly crowned Miss Universe faints

FORTY minutes into her reign as Miss Universe, Miss Puerto Rico Zuleyka Rivera Mendoza collapsed during a post-pageant news conference and was rushed off-stage on Sunday night.

Pageant officials immediately said the 5-foot-9, 18-year-old was all right and had simply fainted.

“She’s OK. She’s fine,” said pageant representative Lark Anton. “She got dizzy. It’s very hot up here. Her dress is tight — as you could see it was beaded and heavy. She passed out.”