Raven-haired Miss Japan, Riyo Mori, was crowned Miss Universe 2007 on Monday as 600 million people viewed the emotional moment.
The 20-year-old dancer gasped in surprise as her name was read out at the Mexico ceremony as the 10,000-strong crowd cheered when a diamond-and-pearl-studded tiara worth a quarter of a million dollars was placed on her head by last year’s winner Zuleyka Rivera of Puerto Rico. Riyo Mori pipped Miss Brazil to the tiara, wearing a stunning black, red and purple Japanese gown.
It is only the second time Japan has won the contest since 1959 when Akiko Kojima became the first Miss Universe to come from Asia. The daughter of a dance school teacher, the new Miss Universe comes from a small town at the foot of Mount Fuji
“She’s an amazing champion, an amazing woman,” says the pageant’s co-owner, business tycoon Donald Trump.
A lifelong ballet dancer from a village near Mount Fuji, Mori wore a striking black gown with colored lapels for the final.
“My mind went blank,” she said of the winning moment. The win comes after months of hard preparation for Akiko, who was trained in France on how to handle interviews.
As winner of the contest, Akiko – who hopes to open an international dance school in Tokyo – will travel the world for a year, performing charity work and duties for pageant sponsors. “I’m really excited about what I’m going to be able to do… to benefit society,” she said, after beating 77 contestants to the title.
Miss Brazil, Natalia Guimaraes, came second while Miss Venezuela, Ly Jonaitis, took third place.
