At the Miss Universe, 2007 held at Mexico City, Riyo Mori of Japan was crowned the Miss Universe. This is the second time that Japan has won the World Beauty Title. The last time Japan won the pageant was almost half a century ago in 1959 when Akiko Kojima became the first Miss Universe from Asia. Riyo is followed by Miss Brazil, Natalia Guimaraes, and Miss Venezuela, Ly Jonaitis, in the second and third place respectively.

Riyo Mori aged 20 is from Shizouka, a small town at the base of Mount Fuji, Japan. The daughter of a dance school operator, Mori said her grandmother told her as a child that she wanted her to be Miss Japan before she turned 20. Dressed in a black, red and purple Japanese-style gown, Riyo Mori was seen nervously grabbing the hands of first runner-up, Natalia Guimaraes of Brazil, just before the winner was announced. Then she threw her hands up and covered her mouth, overcome with emotion.

During the evening gown parade, Miss USA, Rachel Smith, slipped on the runway and landed on her bottom, although the slip didn’t stop her earning fifth place. The fourth place was taken by Honey Lee of Korea.

Erstwhile Miss Universe, Zuleyka Rivera Mendoza of Puerto Rico, crowned Riyo with the crown valued at $250,000. The winner travels the world for a year on behalf of charities and pageant sponsors. As winner of the Miss Universe contest, Riyo is given an apartment in New York which she may use for one year, an undisclosed salary, a complete wardrobe including a luxury watch and a scholarship for two years of film study in New York.

The Top 15 were Venezuela, Thailand, Denmark, Nicaragua, Angola, Slovenia, USA, Brazil, India, Mexico, Japan, Ukraine, Tanzania, Korea, Czech Republic.

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