MISS JAPAN NAMED MISS UNIVERSE 2007

Miss Japan named Miss Universe 2007
From Peter Mitchell in Los Angeles
May 29, 2007 01:36pm
Article from: AAP

MISS Japan Riyo Mori has been chosen as Miss Universe 2007.

Mori, 20, was overwhelmed when the Miss Universe crown valued at $305,604 was placed on her head by last year's winner Zuleyka Rivera Mendoza of Puerto Rico.

First runner-up was Natalia Guimaraes of Brazil, second runner-up was Ly Jonaitis of Venezuela and third, Honey Lee of Korea.Miss USA Rachel Smith was among the top 10 but, her chances dimmed after she slipped and fell during the evening gown competition. As well as Smith, the other finalists were Micaela Reis of Angola; Puja Gupta of India; Rosa Maria Ojeda of Mexico; Xiomara Blandino of Nicaragua and Flaviana Matata of Tanzania. Miss Universe 2007, crowned in Mexico City, will travel the world for a year on behalf of charities and pageant sponsors. Busteed out earlyAustralia's Miss Universe entrant Kimberley Busteed and her controversial surf life-saving costume were a bust.

The blonde 18-year-old from Queensland had an early night at the pageant after failing to make the first cut.

In the first half hour of the show, when the top 15 list was announced, Busteed was not among them.

Busteed, from Gladstone, appeared on stage in her red one-piece swimsuit and life-saver cap in the national costume section at the top of the show, but it did not impress the judges.
Her quick trip was identical to Australia's Miss Universe entrant last year, Erin McNaught, who was one of the favourites heading into the competition, but she was also booted in the first round.

Jennifer Hawkins set the bar high for Australia's entrants after winning the Miss Universe crown in 2004.