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On July 23, 2006 the world welcomed yet another beauty queen in Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California: Zuleyka Jerris Rivera Mendoza, the beauty queen who has held the titles Miss Puerto Rico Universe and Miss Universe 2006.

Two features make Rivera different and unique from the earlier winners. She is one of the youngest women to win the title, just eighteen years old when she was crowned Miss Universe. She is also the first winner from Puerto Rico of mixed racial heritage, as her four predecessors (Marisol Malaret, Deborah Carthy-Deu, Dayanara Torres, and Denise Quinones) all have distinctly European features.

Zuleyka Rivera was crowned by Natalie Glebova of Canada, Miss Universe 2005. Later that evening, Rivera fainted briefly during a press appearance due to the heat exhaustion coupled with the weight of the heavy, chained dress she was wearing.

As Miss Universe, Zuleyka Rivera will represent the Miss Universe Organization, both in the United States and internationally. She will be based in New York City, where she will share an apartment with Tara Conner, Miss USA and Katie Blair, Miss Teen USA 2006.

Zuleyka Rivera was born on October 3, 1987 in Cayey, Puerto Rico to Jerry Rivera and Carmen Mendoza. She was raised in Salinas, a small coastal town that collides with the Caribbean Sea. She has a small family comprising of her mother and father and two brothers whom she adores. She is the eldest of the three children and the only female. She is really fond of her brothers, Jose Alberto and Jerry Rivera, Jr. Her family is not very rich but a united family where respect and honesty prevails.

Zuleyka Rivera was a success even before winning the Miss Puerto Rico title. She won the local pageant for her hometown of Salinas. She was also placed as the first runner-up in the Miss Teen Puerto Rico pageant. Rivera is a journalism major at the University of Puerto Rico.

Rivera was a success even before winning the Miss Puerto Rico title. She won the local pageant for her hometown of Salinas. She was also placed as the first runner-up in the Miss Teen Puerto Rico pageant. Rivera is a journalism major at the University of Puerto Rico.She owes her success to her friend, mentor and advisor: Ismael Rios. Rivera quotes, "As a young impressionable teenage girl, the presence of Mr. Rios in my life has been one of tremendous prioritization and encouragement geared to achieving my goals. Through his example I was able to balance a hectic life as a model, high school student and work to the point where I was able to enter college at the age of seventeen." Rivera likes jogging, spinning and weightlifting, watching the Latino version of "American Idol" and a few of Telemundo's dramatic series. She enjoys listening to all sorts of music from Spanish Rock to Bolero to Reggaeton. She has her dance lessons and spends her spare time in meditation and yoga.

Her ambition is to become a great actress of infinite range. She has already worked for several commercials and TV programs. As Miss Puerto Rico she has worked as an emcee. To sum up, Rivera is not just another beauty in the limelight. She is a wonderful combination of a face that expresses the heritage, the music and a wonderful mix of races, along with brains, determination, courage and self-confidence.

Zuleyka Rivera, the 19 year old Miss Universe from Puerto Rico, landed in Mumbai on Monday night. It didn't really get splashed in the newspapers. Speaks something about this pretty woman who chose to make such a low profile entry. She is in India as a part of an AIDS awareness campaign. There are twelve Indian cities that she is expected to visit. These include New Delhi, Bangalore, and Chennai. Zuleyka is certainly sending out the right messages, whether on AIDS or secularism. She visited the famous Siddhi Vinayak temple in Mumbai; it's another thing that her visit caused a major traffic snarl in the area around this landmark temple. Zuleyka intends to get the following message across to the people - 'Get tested for AIDS, it's in fashion'. This fashionista would know, she was tested in public for AIDS in New York. Zuleyka is excited about her stay in India and in an interview she singled out Indian hospitality for special mention. Zuleyka is scheduled to do a fashion show in India on November 6.