Miss Japan Riyo Mori is Miss Universe 2007

Riyo Mori from Japan is crowned as Miss Universe 2007 in Mexico City on May 28.
Picture of Riyo Mori, Miss Universe 2007 from Japan
Excerpt from the Miss Universe website…

Ms. Mori is 20 years old and has been dancing since she was 4. She loves travelling the world and enjoys visiting museums and watching musicals.

The judging panel for the 2007 Miss Universe Pageant included NBC’s “Heroes” James Kyson Lee, NBC’s “Deal or No Deal” briefcase model Lindsay Clubine, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, rocker Dave Navarro, World and Olympic figure skating champion Michelle Kwan, fashion designer Marc Bouwer, Novela Star Mauricio Islas, “Project Runway” judge and Elle magazine fashion director Nina Garcia, and former Miss Universes Dayanara Torres (1993) and Christiane Martel (1953).

Throughout the two-hour event, contestants from 77 countries around the world competed in three categories: swimsuit; evening gown; and personality interview. Zuleyka Rivera, Miss Universe 2006, crowned her successor at the conclusion of the two-hour primetime telecast, before an estimated worldwide viewing audience of more than 1 billion in over 170 countries.

Riyo Mori is the second woman from Japan to hold the title; the first Miss Universe winner from Japan was Akiko Kojima, way back in 1959.

I didn’t think that Riyo Mori is the best looking girl or the most outstanding pageant in the contest; I guessed that Miss Korea Honey Lee would have a better chance to emerge as the winner prior to the finale (Honey ended up as 3rd runner-up).

Mori showed lots of confidence in the final stages though (evening gown and interview), that probably made a huge difference for her crowning.