Crystle Stewart, Miss USA, had the misfortune to slip while walking down the stage during the Miss Universe beauty pageant yet she managed to do so with grace – and now she manages to look back with amusement and a bit of wisdom.

Crystle Stewart became the second consecutive American contestant to take a tumble during the Miss Universe pageant but she is not letting this cast a shadow over the rest of her life.

She told the Associated Press overt a phone interview that she had actually thought prior to the event about the possibility of falling but had dismissed it: “I would never have thought in a million years that I would fall down at the Miss Universe pageant — right after Miss USA fell last year.”

She added that “things happen” and that she is “perfectly fine” now, ready to move back to New York and “get on with my life.”

It was indeed unfortunate that the 26-year-old followed in the stumbling footsteps of last year’s Miss USA, Rachel Smith, who tumbled during the evening gown competition of the 2007 Miss Universe contest in Mexico City.

Crystle Stewart explained that her evening gown had crystal beads attached to its bottom and that once she stepped on her dress, it was “like I was on rollerblades.”

“There was no conspiracy or anything. Nobody left marbles on the floor. It was just me.”

Dayana Mendoza became on Monday the fifth Venezuelan beauty to be named Miss Universe. The 22-year-old, who is 5 feet, 10 inches tall, has green almond-shaped eyes and long wavy auburn hair, confessed that she was once kidnapped in her country.

The other four final contestants were Miss Colombia Taliana Vargas, finishing second behind Dayana Mendoza; Miss Dominican Republic, Marianne Cruz Gonzale; Miss Mexico, Elisa Najera; and Miss Russia, Vera Krasova.

Miss Thailand, Gavintra Photijak, won the prize for best national costume and Miss El Salvador, Rebeca Moreno, was voted Miss Congeniality, as the most congenial, charismatic and inspirational participant.