A 20-year-old dancer from Japan was crowned Miss Universe 2007 on Monday night, marking only the second time her country has won the world beauty title.
Dressed in a black, red and purple Japanese-style gown, Riyo Mori nervously grabbed 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.
But she gathered herself together enough to catch the diamond-and-pearl-studded headpiece valued at $250,000 as it slipped off her head when Miss Universe 2006 Zuleyka Rivera of Puerto Rico crowned her. Mori immediately placed it back on her head.
The last time Japan won the pageant was in 1959 when Akiko Kojima became the first Miss Universe from Asia.
“She is an amazing champion, an amazing woman and I hear that they go totally insane in Japan, so that’s good,” said Donald Trump , who co-owns the pageant with NBC.
(Source AOL)
i thought korea was sexier
Miss Korea and Miss Brazil were my two favorite. I actually can’t believe that Miss Japan beat the two of them. :(
good choice heartofjosh
kurara chibana got the shaft last year
this is to make up for last year haha
~_~
someone fell last night too LOL
haha.. yeah. Miss USA Rachel Smith fell down, but she got right back up like a champ and smiled through it all. I give her props for handling it so well!
Sadly to say, Miss USA fell (and boo’d), I think to say thats her downfall of the night. Last’s year winner was purrrttty.
Ohhhhh Miss Universe doesnt look half bad in the picture, and i heard about how Miss USA and Miss Korean fell, that would be a bit embarrassing
i love to see the clip of these falls
other asians won awards too. miss philippines bagged the miss photogenic award, while miss china won the miss congeniality award.
kudos to asian beauty!!
she looks mixed japanese… or she? Not that I care, but I think it’s interesting if most of the asian models are mixed.
…meant to say “is she?” :)
I still prefer last year’s Miss Japan :P
I go for Miss Brazil.
I would say korea, but im not complaining about Miss Japan at all.
miss japan was my fav, didnt know she was gonna win. Sweet!
she’s so nice! by the way, i got a picture of Ms. Mori with her autograph recently.
[...] That makes 2007 the official year of the Asian beauties with Zi Lin Zhang of China as Miss World 2007, and Miss Riyo Mori of Japan as Miss Universe. [...]
[...] That makes 2007 the official year of the Asian beauties with Zi Lin Zhang of China as Miss World 2007, and Miss Riyo Mori of Japan as Miss Universe. [...]
[...] definitely pretty, but I don’t think she’s quite up their with Riyo Mori (Miss Universe Japan 2007) who was able to take the Miss Universe 2007 title last [...]