The 20-year-old ballet dancer from Shizuoka Prefecture, Riyo Mori wins the now acclaimed Miss Universe title beating out Miss Brazil, Venezuela, Korea, and USA. She’s the second Japanese Miss Universe in 48 years to win the crown.
She usually works as a ballet dancer and is the first Japanese ever to pass the audition for The Rockette Summer Intensive. She has studied at Quinte Ballet School of Canada and also is a graduate of Centennial Secondary School in Belleville, Ontario, Canada.
If you’re interested in listening to her speak, or just want to see more of her, check out this video interview or these photos of her here and here. She says that she would like to become a world class dancer and run her own studio someday. Guess she will have to put those plans on hold for now.
IMHO, I would have place my bet on Miss Korea, Honey Lee to take the crown.
Her question got lost in translation and that cost her the title. Overall, she had more points than Japan I think. Still, she carried herself great and from nothing to top 5 is still an amazing achievement.
Update: Apparently the odds were not on Miss Japan to win this year, and it was a huge upset for online gambling sites, many of which had given her 22 to 1 odds of winning.
Whoops, looks like Miss Universe 2006 is horrible at the simple act of placing a crown on the winner’s head:
As Miss Universe 2006 Zuleyka Rivera was crowning Riyo Mori with the official Mikimoto crown, it slipped from her grasp and nearly fell to the floor. Mori was able to catch the crown, which is made of diamonds and pearls and is valued at over $250,000.
Miss USA Rachel Smith had it rough during the competition. Not only did she fell during her evening gown segment,
but was booed during and loudly jeered during her final interview.
Check out the wiki for more details on the pageant.
May 29, 2007 at 2:46 pm |
it must have been a bad year for irish girls… we didn’t even have an entrant.
May 29, 2007 at 3:17 pm |
Ireland did not compete in Miss Universe 2007 as the competition was held two months early and most of their contestants have not yet been chosen.
May 29, 2007 at 8:47 pm |
Wow, those girls are gorgeous. I think either is great for Miss Universe
June 2, 2007 at 11:37 pm |
[...] people out there who do care about the Miss Universe pageant as my visitor count skyrocketed since posting the pageant’s results. Majority of them came looking for Miss Korea, Honey Lee. So, I decided that it would be [...]
June 8, 2007 at 5:23 am |
I really thought Brazil would win…but it turned out to be Ms. Japan. Well, I guess she won because of her personality and on the way she handles the crowd. I must admit she’s the best in catwalk, not that photogenic though. Still I’m very grateful to learn that an asian have won…I really hope in the next MU, Asians would take the lead in the top 5…Example: Ms. Japan, Ms. Korea, Ms. China, Ms. Philippines, Ms. Thailand…whoever wins will bring the greatest glory in their own respective countries. Go Asians!!
June 12, 2007 at 4:59 am |
[...] Heroes might be getting a much hotter Japanese cast member than Masi Oka for it’s sophomore year. Riyo Mori, the current Miss Universe, told the AP in an interview today that she just went to NY to audition for a role and is optimistic [...]
September 28, 2007 at 1:54 pm |
Ms. Korea is so gorgeous
She’s so much more beautiful than Japan
She deserved to win
October 22, 2007 at 9:33 pm |
[...] what Riyo Mori did on the reality TV show, Pageant Place. She might be hot enough to be Miss Universe, but she’s also dumb enough to not bring valid ID to an [...]
July 2, 2008 at 5:30 pm |
wow O_O
i agree.
miss korea looks more beautiful imo.
July 9, 2008 at 12:24 am |
debió ganar Vnezuela o brasil esa japonesa estaba orrible ziertamente ganó porque era la favorita de la organizadora del concurso de resto debió haber ganado la venezolana o la brasileña la verdad miss estados unidos no debió haber quedado entre las 5 después de resbalar y no tener actitudes ni belleza para este concurso
es mi opinión aunque esta sea una página en inglés jajaja
July 17, 2008 at 4:16 am |
riyomori is much more beautiful than miss korea
July 17, 2008 at 4:38 am |
Completamente de acuerdo con larissa, debio haber ganado Venezuela o Brasil, aunque la soltura y naturalidad de la japonesa fue clave a la hora de la toma de desiciones de los jueces…
La Estadounidense… sin comentarios!
September 27, 2008 at 5:06 am |
“akm” IM japanese, but i know how to distinguish between two people the more beautiful. and truly believe it is miss HONEY LEE
the translator screwed up BIG TIME, i have korean friends and i myself can understand korean well enough to know what the translator said had the same outline as to what miss korea said, but the WAY she PRONOUNCED just made miss korea look like some gold digger.
PLUS if you look at riyo mori and honey lee’s achievements etc, HELLOOOOO
honey lee released four cds, played in CARNEGIE HALL, is a “kumho prodigy” went to korea’s top national university!
yeah and japan is a dancer…great…
i don’t think korea can produce another miss korea as pretty as honey lee for a while now. just LOOK at this year’s. NARI – even plastic surgery couldnt help her.
ALSO
riyo mori also did not show the right etiquette when talking to the japanese press back home.
October 7, 2008 at 11:05 am |
i love you riyo mory u r the best for ever
je t’aime riyo mori
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April 13, 2009 at 3:47 am |
The winner is ugly.
I watched the contest and I think the Top 5 should be:
1. Brazil
2. Venezuela
3. India
4. Korea
5. Mexico
May 8, 2009 at 2:47 am |
Hi there…
Gotta love yahoo, very neat website. Thanks alot….
July 16, 2009 at 11:09 am |
Miss Korea should have won… she’s so much HOTTER!
August 4, 2009 at 6:25 am |
mm… really like it.
August 24, 2009 at 2:46 am |
eres muy linda pero tenia que ganar venezuela;)
August 26, 2009 at 3:48 am |
SERIOUSLY DERES NO OTHA MISS UNIVERSE LIKE ZULEYKA RIVERA(MISS UNIVERSE 2006) SHE MAD BEAUTIFUL! ND SHE HAS EVERYTHiNG A MiSS UNiVERSE NEEDS! ND IM A MODEL COACH ND NO OTHER LIKE ZULEYKA!