Beauty queen Ingrid Marie Rivera beat 29 rivals to become the island's 2008 Miss Universe contestant, despite applying makeup and wearing evening gowns that had been coated with pepper spray.
Someone poured pepper spray all over her clothes and her make-up. Rivera had to continue with the competition even though she was breaking out into hives, and her body started to swell throughout the show. Rivera had to keep ice on her body backstage as much as possible in an attempt to keep down the swelling.
Rivera also had clothes, credit cards, bags, and some other items stolen. Pageant officials are now conducting an investigation and have suspected foul play. One of her competitors will probably turn out to be the culprit.
Rivera said, “It was a lot of sacrifice, and my tears were genuine. At one point, I asked, ‘Am I a masochist?’ But I said regardless of the results, this is my goal. The more rocks there are in my path, the more thanks I will give to God for sustaining me.”
Ingrid is currently studying Marketing & Finance at The University of Puerto Rico, and a part time model. It is her ambition to create her own family business and hopefully become a recognised actress. Hobbies are: watching movies, acting, reading, socialising, listening to music and writing poetry. Sporting Interests include: Horse riding, Pilates, volleyball, karate, and dancing especially salsa, merengue, bachata, Tahitian & Hawaiian, and belly dance.
Someone poured pepper spray all over her clothes and her make-up. Rivera had to continue with the competition even though she was breaking out into hives, and her body started to swell throughout the show. Rivera had to keep ice on her body backstage as much as possible in an attempt to keep down the swelling.
Rivera also had clothes, credit cards, bags, and some other items stolen. Pageant officials are now conducting an investigation and have suspected foul play. One of her competitors will probably turn out to be the culprit.
Rivera said, “It was a lot of sacrifice, and my tears were genuine. At one point, I asked, ‘Am I a masochist?’ But I said regardless of the results, this is my goal. The more rocks there are in my path, the more thanks I will give to God for sustaining me.”
Ingrid is currently studying Marketing & Finance at The University of Puerto Rico, and a part time model. It is her ambition to create her own family business and hopefully become a recognised actress. Hobbies are: watching movies, acting, reading, socialising, listening to music and writing poetry. Sporting Interests include: Horse riding, Pilates, volleyball, karate, and dancing especially salsa, merengue, bachata, Tahitian & Hawaiian, and belly dance.
