Miss Puerto Rico, Ingrid Marie Rivera, is at last feeling vindicated following the recent arrest of two beauty pageant employees, who police say pepper-sprayed her clothes prior to her crowning appearance last November.
The police have identified the joint culprits as the pageant’s security director and a catwalk co-ordinator in a case that has suffered more plot twists than your average Agatha Christie murder mystery thriller.
During the pageant Rivera said she suffered hives as a result of having her garments covered with pepper spray. The swimsuit and black evening gown also brought the 24 year-old to tears, which she bravely fought back each time she took the stage. However, despite her discomfort the steely contestant still won the pageant and will now represent Puerto Rico at the Miss Universe contest to be held in Vietnam later in the year.
Once the story of the attempted sabotage emerged Miss Puerto Rico became an instant celebrity in the USA appearing first on Good Morning America, then on countless other high-profile shows. However, despite her clothes being forensically identified as containing pepper spray some gossips suggested that she had made the entire story up in order to get more publicity.
During the show which took place in the theater of a top hotel in Puerto Rico, Miss Rivera competed against 29 other contestants, some of whom have openly questioned how she managed to retain her composure when on stage if she was in as much discomfort as she alleged. At first, police were also suspicious of Miss Rivera’s claims until forensics backed up her story, but that didn’t stop the whispering campaign from jealous rivals.
As well as the interference with her gowns Miss Rivera also suffered the theft of her bag which contained all her gowns, make up and credit cards prior to the competition. However, none of the dirty tricks came as a surprise to fellow contestant Bianco Morales who acknowledged that Rivera’s success in previous competitions caused resentment amongst the girls.
“We know girls who were very mad with the situation, but I’m not mentioning any names. Sooner or later we’ll know, the investigation will uncover them and then everyone will know.”
Puerto Rico has produced five Miss Universe winners and Ingrid Marie Rivera is likely to be installed as one of the favourites, as she attempts to become the island’s sixth winner. Hopefully, in the Miss Universe final she won’t have to suffer the indignity of pepper spray sabotage!
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