Zuleyka Rivera

Zuleyka Jerris Rivera Mendoza, representing Puerto Rico was crowned the Miss Universe 2006 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California on July 23, 2006. Zuleyka Rivera was born in Cayey, Puerto Rico on October 3, 1987 and was raised in Salinas. Ms Rivera was crowned the Miss Universe 2006 by the outgoing titleholder Natalie Glebova of Canada. She happens to be the fifth Puerto Rican beauty to win the coveted title. She reigned with the title for a year and passed the crown to her successor Riyo Mori of Japan, who became Miss Universe 2007.

Ms Zuleyka Rivera, prior to winning the Miss Puerto Rico title, had also won the local pageant for her hometown Salinas. She is one of the youngest title holders of the Miss Universe title as her crowning glory came when she was just 18 years in age. Zuleyka Rivera started early as she participated in the Miss Teen Puerto Rico and was adjudged the first runners up.

During her one year tenure as Miss Universe 2006, she traveled far and wide across the globe. As of April 2007, Ms Rivera visited Russia, Japan, New York, Puerto Rico, Czech Republic, France, Turkey, Greece, Thailand, India, Brazil, Kazakhstan and Indonesia. She has made her acting debut as telenovela actress in Telemundo’s soap opera Dame Chocolate. The Miss Universe 2006 once noted that her ambitions for the future included becoming a famous international model and to be a great actress.