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Beauty Pageant Turns Ugly
Would-be Miss Universe overcomes pepper spray sabotage
By Colleen Barry
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Posted Nov 26, 07 11:35 AM CST
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(Newser)
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Ingrid Marie Rivera looked hot at the Miss Puerto Rico Universe pageant—but not in the good way. Pageant officials are investigating who doused the eventual winner's gowns and makeup with pepper spray, the AP reports. Rivera kept her composure before the judges, but once backstage she ripped off her clothes and applied ice packs to her face and body because her skin was swelling and breaking out in hives.
Worse, she was targeted twice. "We thought at first it was an allergic reaction, or maybe nerves," said a pageant official. "But the second time, we knew it couldn't have been a coincidence." Pageant officials say the probe doesn't involve police. Rivera, who won Miss World Caribbean in 2005, was heavily favored coming into the competition.