Dayana Mendoza, a 22-year-old Venezuelan native, was crowned Miss Universe 2008 Monday, July 14, in Nha Trang, Vietnam, before the fascinated eyes of over a billion viewers.

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.

During a post-pageant press conference, the trilingual pageant contestant said kidnaps are something frequent in her country, regardless of a person’s wealth, and that she wished to use this occasion to raise her voice against violence.

“… I wanted to raise my voice and tell the world that violence is not the answer,” Mendoza said, as quoted by the Associated Press.

Asked what she wished to do next, the young woman quipped she wanted to go home and take off her shoes. She wishes to become an interior designer, enjoys photography and is interested in advertising, according to her biography.

Mendoza will make a quick stop in New York after which she will be reunited with her family. “When I go back to Venezuela I will jump on my family and they will jump on me,” she happily said.

The year ahead will take Mendoza around the world, in a whirlwind adventure. Her coveted prize package includes the Miss Universe tiara she was adorned with Monday morning, valued at more than $30,000; a 2-year scholarship from the New York Film Academy worth more than $100,000; a New York City apartment for the year of her reign among other goodies.

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.

Talk show star Jerry Springer and Spice Girl Melanie Brown hosted the NBC show. Around 1 billion viewers in 170 countries tuned in to share the excitement, the glamour and the beauty.

Last year’s Miss Universe was Riyo Mori of Japan. Business mogul Donald Trump is a co-owner of the Miss Universe beauty pageant. Donald Trump Junior was a judge.