Ingrid Marie Rivera, the beauty who was crowned Puerto Rico’s 2008 Miss Universe, said yesterday a series of vicious pranks nearly made her quit the pageant.
“At one point, I said, ‘Am I a masochist?’ ” she revealed. “But I said, ‘I am with God and this is my goal, regardless of the results.’ ”
Rivera’s gown and makeup were sabotaged with pepper spray – causing hives that burned her so badly, she had to go backstage to put ice on her face and body.
Later, her clothing bag, makeup kit and credit cards were stolen.
And, to make matters worse, rumors were flying that the competition had been rigged in her favor.
All of this, she said, “hurt me, because I am a very human and genuine person.”
Rivera was particularly upset about the charges she did not win fairly.
“My conscience is clear,” she said.
“If there was a fix, let them prove it, because those who are with God are not scared,” she said.
, Rivera won Miss World Caribbean in 2005 and critics claimed she was too experienced to qualify for the local pageant.
“They say my victory comes from my experience, but I know if one wants something, one has to prepare because things just don’t fall from the sky,” she said.
“They can’t penalize me for being ambitious and wanting to represent a new Puerto Rico.”
With Post Wire Services