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DEBORAH CARTHY-DEU

1985 was another year for controversy.  South Africa was supposed to have sent a delegate but she did not arrive as anti-apartheid groups theatened to stage demonstrations if she did.  This was the start of a long absence of South Africa in the pageant, only to resurface in 1995.  On the lighter side, a sensation that year was Zaire's Benita Mureka who became the first black African finalist and runener-up.  The eventual winner, Deborah Carthy-Deu was not an early favorite as were Mises Colombia, Holland, and Canada.  Pageant night proved to be her shining moment as she flew past the favorites to win the crown. She was the Second Puerto Rican to win after 1970's Marisol Malaret.

Reference:  http://www.geocities.com/pageantmania2000a/1985Deborah.html

Reference:  http://www.geocities.com/pageantmania2000a/1985Deborah.html

DAYANARA TORRES DELGADO

Dayanara Torres Delgado was born in Toa Alta, Puerto Rico.  She was the Third Puerto Rican to be crowded Miss Universe.

The life of Dayanara Torres reads like a modern-day fairy tale . . . From her modest upbringing in Puerto Rico; to being discovered on the streets of her hometown; becoming Miss Universe at the tender age of 18 and, soon-after, a movie star in the Philippines and Puerto Rico; marrying and divorcing; raising two beautiful princes; and bravely striving to rebuild her career . . . while Dayanara's story is what dreams, or novelas, are made of it is very much her reality, one that she manages with her signature grace, dignity, beauty and style.  In Mexico City on May 21st, 1993, Dayanara became the youngest woman ever to be chosen to be Miss Universe .
   Reference:  http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0868514/bio

Reference:  http://mysite.verizon.net/vze1svnu/dayanaratorres/index.html

DENISE MARIE QUIÑONES

She was born on September 9, 1980 and was the Fourth Puerto Rican winner of the Miss Universe contest.  She represented Lares when she won the right to represent Puerto Rico in the Miss Puerto Rico pegeant.  Quiñones won the contest in her own backyard              - Puerto Rico -    in 2001.  her win, over Greek supermodel Evelina Papantoniou, was the first time a woman outside of the US mainland had taken the Miss Universe crown in her own homeland.  The victory came on the Miss Universe pegeant's 50th anniversary.  There was a bit of controversy regarding Quiñones's win, which came on the heels of massive audicence support during the telecast, the placement of Dayanara Torres (Former Miss Universe from Puerto Rico) and her then-husband Marc Anthony of the Judging panel, and the early preparations f or the 2002 pageant to also be held in Puerto Rico.  Papantoniou, who remains legendary in the pegeant world for her stunning looks and revolutionary catwalk, arguably gave the better answer in an interview and was cut off by host Noemi Campbell, while Quiñones did not have such a disadvantage but also delivered impeccable presentations.  Officialy, the eight judges on the final duty deadlocked, with the final scores tallied  equally between Papantoniou and Quiñones and Quiñones's higher semifinal scores were used as the ti-breaker, which was also done in 1998.
Reference:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denise_Qui%C3%B1ones

Reference:  http://imdb.com/name/nm1070113/

ZULEYKA RIVERA MENDOZA

Was born on October 3, 1987 in Cayey, Puerto Rico.  Is a beauty queen who has held the titles Miss Puerto Rico Universe and Miss Universe 2006.  Rivera won the title, during the Miss Universe 2006 pageant.  She is the Fifth Puerto Rican to win the title, and makes the Miss Puerto Rico Organization the second most successful in the pageant (behind the United States).  Rivera was crowned by Natalie Glebova of Canada, Miss Universe 2005.  Later that evening, Rivera fainted briefly during a press appearance.  The incident was reportedly attributed to the heat exhaustion (from the stage lights) coupled with the weight of the heavy, chained dress she was wearing.  She is also the first winner from Puerto Rico of mixed racial heritage, as her four predecessors (Marisol Malaret, Deborah Carthy-Deu, Dayanara Torres and Denise Quiñones) all have distinctly European features.
Reference:  Wikipedia:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zuleyka_Rivera_Mendoza

Reference:  Wikipedia:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zuleyka_Rivera_Mendoza