Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2008 was the 53rd Miss Puerto Rico Universe pageant, held at the Centro de Bellas Artes in Santurce, Puerto Rico, on November 23, 2007.
Uma Blasini of Guayanilla crowned Ingrid Marie Rivera of Dorado at the end of the event. Rivera represented Puerto Rico at the Miss Universe 2008 contest in Nha Trang, Vietnam, but did not reach the semifinals.
| Placement | Contestant | |
|---|---|---|
| Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2008 | ||
| 1st Runner-Up |
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| 2nd Runner-Up |
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| 3rd Runner-Up |
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| 4th Runner-Up |
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| 5th Runner-Up |
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| Top 13 |
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| Award | Contestant | |
|---|---|---|
| Miss Photogenic | ||
| Most Beautiful Face | ||
| Inner Beauty | ||
| Miss Congeniality |
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| Best National Costume | ||
| Best Legs |
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| Best Skin | ||
| Best Hair |
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| Miss Spirit |
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Thirty contestants competed for the title.
| Municipality | Contestant | |
|---|---|---|
| Aguadilla | Elisabeth Rivera | |
| Arecibo | Delorean Torres | |
| Barceloneta | Jedith Marie Crespo | |
| Barranquitas | Celia Colón | |
| Bayamón | Ivelisse del Valle | |
| Caguas | Melissa Marty Caro | |
| Canóvanas | Letty Pérez | |
| Carolina | Yaritza Montalvo | |
| Comerío | Cristina Paola Torres | |
| Corozal | Sandybell de Jesús Agosto | |
| Dorado | Ingrid Marie Rivera | |
| Fajardo | Bianca Castro | |
| Guayama | María Noelis Rosario | |
| Guaynabo | Francoise Mugnano | |
| Gurabo | Nicole Vega | |
| Hatillo | Jennifer M. Sánchez | |
| Isabela | Amanda Díaz | |
| Juana Díaz | Vanessa Méndez | |
| Lares | Luz Iraida Morales | |
| Ponce | Mónica Alvarado | |
| Salinas | Nathalie Cuevas | |
| San Juan | Mayra Griselle Iglesias | |
| San Sebastián | Cristina Mariel Larregui | |
| Santurce | Claudia Alejandra Cruz | |
| Trujillo Alto | Kristina Ruisánchez | |
| United States | Lees Darian García | |
| Utuado | Maribel Montalvo | |
| Vega Alta | Elisa Acevedo | |
| Villalba | Marjorie Crystal Castillo | |
| Yauco | Dayline Caraballo |
Conflict between the candidates and Pageant officials began when it was revealed that Ingrid Marie Rivera would be a candidate at this year's pageant. Prior to the Miss Puerto Rico Universe competition, Rivera had participated in several major beauty pageants. In 2005 she won the title of Miss Mundo de Puerto Rico (Miss Puerto Rico World) following her win she competed at the Miss World pageant placing 2nd runner-up and obtained the title of Miss Caribbean World. In 2003, she also held the title of Miss Global Queen. Rivera was also a judge at last year's Miss Puerto Rico Universe pageant won by Uma Blasini. Candidates were concerned about Rivera, they felt as if she should not be allowed to compete and feared that Rivera's previous pageant experience would favor her in the competition and help her win the pageant.
Rivera was booed by some members of the crowd in her swimsuit, evening gown and final question competitions. Despite it all Rivera won the title, although her victory is portrayed as an unfair win. Three days after the pageant was over an even bigger controversy arouse when it was revealed Rivera's belongings had been stolen while the competition was undergoing. Also Rivera's gown and makeup had been coated with pepper spray, causing redness and itchiness in her skin during the pageant. This incident has made headlines nationwide and is now being investigated by officers to determine who is responsible for this.
At first police said tests showed no traces of capsicum, the pepper spray's active ingredient, disproving the alleged sabotage of Rivera's clothing during the competition. Police are now investigating and questioning if the alleged sabotage against Rivera is a true story or a publicity stunt. Rivera, pageant officials, and even Magali Febles who is the owner of the Miss Puerto Rico Universe organization could possibly be submitted to a lie detector test. The investigation continued for the next couple of weeks.None of the participants have publicly admitted seeing Rivera with any type of reaction during the competition nor seeing anyone with a suspicious behavior that could lead to a suspect. The delegates from the towns of Santurce, Guaynabo, Bayamón, Salinas, Fajardo and Utuado appeared on national television, on shows like "The Tyra Banks Show" and "The Today Show" saying they were skeptical about the veracity of this incident since none of them knew anything about it until days after the pageant was over.After a few weeks during the investigation, a swimsuit and a second gown were tested, and pepper spray was found.