Miss Venezuela Dayana Mendoza was crowned Miss Universe 2008 after gruelling rounds of strict judging and elimination in Vietnam's resort city of Nha Trang. The pageant drew contestants from 80 countries, reported Reuters.

The 22-year-old brunette became the 57th winner of the title in a show watched by a live audience of 7,500 and nearly a billion television viewers worldwide.

Miss Colombia Taliana Vargas was 1st runner-up, and Miss Dominican Republic Marianne Cruz Gonzalez came in as 2nd runner-up.

Mendoza, who had been the favourite of many pageant watchers and online bookmakers, clinched the diamond-studded gold crown after answering a question on the difference between men and women.

"Men think that the fastest way to go to a point is to go straight," explained the trilingual beauty from Amazonas state.

"Women know that the faster way to go to a point is to go to the curves."

Wearing a yellow evening gown, she burst into tears of joy when the presenter, US talkshow host Jerry Springer, announced she had won, beating runners-up up from Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Russia and Mexico.

Her prize package includes cash, a year-long contract promoting Miss Universe, world travel, a rent-free New York City luxury apartment and a gift bag stuffed with free designer shoes, dresses and beauty products.

In the world of beauty contests, Venezuela - where beauty contests are held in schools, villages and even prisons - is considered a "pageant superpower" with four previous Miss Universe and five Miss World winners.

Miss USA falls, again

But It was a nightmare for Miss USA Crystle Stewart. The Texan tripped on the train of her bejeweled evening gown as she made her entrance.

For the second year in a row, Miss USA fell down during the evening gown competition at the Miss Universe competition, reported Associated Press.

During the 2007 Miss Universe contest in Mexico City, Miss USA Rachel Smith also tumbled during the evening gown competition. She became infamous on YouTube, where the video was shown over and over again.

Like Ms Smith, Ms Stewart quickly stood up after her fall and continued on as if nothing had happened.