Miss Universe Describes Gitmo Tour as 'Fun' and 'Relaxing'

Reigning Miss Univers 2008, Venezuela's Dayana Mendoza shocked the  world when she described her recent visit at the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba as "lot of fun, beautiful, relaxing and calm".

I found out Dayana's blog written in the pages of the official website of Miss Universe. She wrote this on 20th of March before she embarked for the trip to Cuba and right after the Miami Fashion Week. Let's read this:

Miami Fashion Week & Guantanamo Bay

This week I did some paper work at the office, and on Wednesday I went to a Latin club, were Jorge Villamizar (the Bacilos's singer) was playing, so I got to meet all the guys from the band, and we took some great pictures! They were very nice. I had a great time it was fun to listen to Latin music for a while. The next day we were flying to Miami for Fashion Week, and so I did interviews for CNN en Espanol, and for some South American networks. I was soooo happy first of all because I saw my friends from Miami, and second of all cause I spoke Spanish the whole time :)!!!!. Patricia Manterola was also there, it was such an honor to meet her and see how humble and nice see is. We all walked on the runway for Nicolas Felizola, a great Venezuelan designer. I was wearing a Wedding dress! (I still hope to get married one day hahaha) It was gorgeous!!! Nicolas was amazing to us. We had fun doing it, thanks Nicolas :) !!!! On Friday, we left for Jacksonville for one night because the next day we were going to Guantanamo, Cuba!!!! Wow, my job is amazing!!!! I love it, I let you guys know next week how Guantanamo was .... Muah!

Posted by Dayana

"It was a loooot of fun!" Dayana said according to Reuters.

Mendoza wrote of her time at the camp, a prison surrounded by barbed-wire fence and minefields. She wrote that she went to a bar on the naval base and visited the "unbelievable" beach.

"We visited the Detainees camps and we saw the jails, where they shower, how the(y) recreate themselves with movies, classes of art, books. It was very interesting," Mendoza wrote of Gitmo. "I didn't want to leave, it was such a relaxing place, so calm and beautiful."

Along with Dayana is Miss USA 2008 Crystle Stewart.  

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A Meeting with Miss Universe 2008 Dayana Mendoza

Here is an article about our reigning Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza of Venezuela and Miss USA Universe 2008. This is lifted from the column of one of my favorite writers, Ricky Lo of the Philippine Star. But this particular story is send to him by his so-called "beauty expert", Felix Manuela.

Ricky says:

Felix Manuel, one of Funfare’s “beauty experts” now working (as a nurse) in New York, had a close encounter with 2008 Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza. Here’s his breathless account:

I met her and two other beauties two weeks ago at the NBC Experience Store in Manhattan. She was so nice. Interviews with them were not allowed due to time constraints. I was just so happy to see her in person. 2008 Miss USA Crystle Stewart and 2008 Miss Teen USA Stevi Perry were also there as well; an added bonus for a pageant aficionado like me.

I showed Dayana my collection of newspaper/magazine stories about her and she was impressed.

Incidentally, the Miss Universe Organization has not decided where this year’s Miss Universe pageant would be held; several countries are bidding to host the pageant. By the way, a new crown will be used this year.

Dayana, 22, was crowned Miss Universe 2008 in Nha Trang, Vietnam, in July last year. She was born in Caracas, Venezuela. She speaks three languages — Spanish, English and Italian. She was discovered at the age of 13 at a local bus stop. Since then, she has gained vast experience in catalogue modeling and has worked with prestigious companies like Max Mara and Costume Nacional. Modeling has allowed Dayana to travel the world, visiting places like New York, Italy, Germany, France, Athens and Spain. One of her most unforgettable experiences was when she was kidnapped, and incident which she said made her stronger.

She has proven to be a great champion for the official causes of Miss Universe, which include increasing HIV/AIDS awareness by focusing on women’s health and reproductive issues, and forging relationships with organizations committed to research and education including the Latino Commission on AIDS Global Health Council and God’s Love We Deliver.

Crystle (of Texas), 26, was crowned Miss USA 2008 after competing five times in the Miss Texas pageant. A B.S. Consumer Science & Merchandising graduate from the University of Houston, she is a fourth-generation educator and teacher. Crystle is not just a pretty face, she is also an entrepreneur with her own company, Inside/Out, which she uses as a platform for public speaking appearances, character development lessons and event planning. She will always be remembered for her tumble during the evening gown competition of last year’s Miss Universe pageant.

Stevi (from Hamburg, Arkansas), 18, was crowned Miss Teen USA 2008 on Aug. 16, 2008 at the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort in the Bahamas. Already established as a successful model, Stevi has modeled for a top national dance-apparel company and was chosen as a finalist in Cosmo Girl’s So You Want to be a Model contest, beating thousands of other entrants. She plans to attend the New York Film Academy to learn more about the entertainment industry and hone her acting skills.

Miss USA Crystle Stewart Takes Another Fall

In the picture is Miss USA-Universe 2008 Crystle Stewart. Last year in Vietnam, during the finals of the Miss Universe pageant, she fell onstage while parading in her evening gown.

Now, she's into another fall. But this time, it's a free fall or skydiving with the elite US Army parachuting team, the Golden Knights.

This is the first free fall for this 26 year-old beauty queen. She jumped out of the plane in a tandem skydive from 13,000 feet in Yuma, Arizona, on Monday. She was with instructor Sgt. 1st Class Mike Elliott and other members - Sgt. 1st Class Jeff Schafer, left of the pictures, Stf. Sgt. Joe Jones and Sgt. 1st Class Dallas Berentis at right.

Stewart just became the seventh Miss USA to jump with the Golden Knights.She says it was the most exciting and terrifying experience she's ever had — and something she will never forget.

Her big leap was part of a two-day tour of the Yuma area and its bases.