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.”

Anton said Mendoza “had plenty to eat today,” when pressed for the beauty queen’s condition before she fainted at the centre of the stage at the Shrine Auditorium, California, where she became the 55th Miss Universe before an international television audience.

Mendoza attended the pageant’s Coronation Ball after recovering from her collapse, according to guests including Donald Trump, co-owner of the Miss Universe Organisation.

The Puerto Rican beauty queen was named Miss Universe 2006 over runner-up Miss Japan, Kurara Chibana. The second runner-up was Miss Switzerland Lauriane Gillieron. Rounding out the top five were Miss Paraguay Lourdes Arevalos, and Miss United States, Tara Conner.

The youngest of the five finalists, Mendoza appeared radiant as she waved to photographers several minutes before collapsing.

Tottering on high, spiky heels, she appeared to lean on some pageant assistants for about 10 seconds and then collapsed.

She was rushed offstage while the organiser of a post-pageant press conference called for aid.

During her news conference, Mendoza said she would carry out the work of the Miss Universe Organisation, working to help those with HIV/AIDS.