Live from Los Angeles: Miss Universe 2006!

On Sunday, July 23, live from the world-famous Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, in one of the year's most exciting and glamorous live television events, 18-year old Zuleyka Rivera from Puerto Rico was officially crowned Miss Universe 2006. Broadcast live on NBC and simulcast en español on Telemundo, the popular show – now in its 55th edition – was hosted by Nancy O'Dell (from Access Hollywood) and Carlos Ponce (actor/singer, most recently seen on 7th Heaven), featuring performances by Sony BMG artist Chelo and by young opera sensation Vittorio Grigolo.

Throughout the three-hour event, which is viewed by an estimated 600 million people across the world, the stunning 86 international contestants competed in three categories; swimsuit, evening gown and interview. Not surprisingly, Latin talent featured prominently in the pageant: five of the ten beauties who made it to the "Top Ten" were from Latin-American countries: Desiree Duran (Bolivia), Valerie Dominguez (Colombia), Priscila Perales (Mexico), Lourdes Arevalos (Paraguay), and the winner herself – Zuleyka Rivera from Puerto Rico.

As the new Miss Universe 2006, Rivera has succeeded Canadian Natalia Glebova, who won the title last year in Bangkok.


Photo: from left to right: Hanz Meza, Mexican agent who developed Misses for Nuestra Belleza; Rosalba Rojas Chávez, Puebla candidate in the Nuestra Belleza Mexico 2006 pageant; Franz Eibl, international Mexican Model and the Image of Puebla de Los Angeles; and Jorge Garcia, Casting Director of Patricia Sturla Studios, Inc., with the Mexican delegation supporting Priscila Perales Elizondo, Nuestra Belleza Mexico 2005.