Miss Universe 2006

Miss Universe 2006
Zuleyka Rivera
DateJuly 23, 2006
Presenters
Entertainment
VenueShrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, United States
Broadcaster
Entrants86
Placements20
Debuts
  • Kazakhstan
Withdrawals
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • Curaçao
  • Italy
  • Kenya
  • Netherlands
  • Vietnam
Returns
  • Argentina
  • Cayman Islands
  • Estonia
  • Ghana
  • Iceland
  • New Zealand
  • Northern Marianas
  • Saint Lucia
  • Saint Martin
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Sweden
WinnerZuleyka Rivera
 Puerto Rico
CongenialityAngela Asare
 Ghana
Best National CostumeKurara Chibana
 Japan
PhotogenicLia Andrea Ramos
 Philippines
← 2005
2007 →

Miss Universe 2006 was the 55th Miss Universe pageant, held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, United States on July 23, 2006.[1]

At the end of the event, Natalie Glebova of Canada crowned Zuleyka Rivera of Puerto Rico as Miss Universe 2006.[2][3] It is Puerto Rico's fifth victory in the pageant's history. After the show, Rivera passed out due to the weight of her dress but quickly recovered.[4][5][6]

Contestants from eighty-six countries and territories competed in this year's pageant, surpassing the previous record of 84 contestants in 1999. The pageant was hosted by Carlos Ponce and Nancy O'Dell, with Queer Eye's Carson Kressley and Miss USA 2004 Shandi Finnessey providing commentary and analysis throughout the event.[7] American singer-rapper Chelo and Italian operatic tenor Vittorio Grigolo performed in this year's pageant.[8]

  1. ^ "Si! Miss Puerto Rico crowned Miss Universe". Today. 24 July 2006. Archived from the original on 21 July 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  2. ^ "Miss Universe 2006". CBS News. 24 July 2006. Archived from the original on 20 July 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  3. ^ Hall, Carla (24 July 2006). "Puerto Rican Is Miss Universe". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 21 July 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  4. ^ "Miss Universe Faints As Reign Begins". CBS News. 24 July 2006. Archived from the original on 5 July 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  5. ^ "Miss Universe: 'Why I Fainted'". CBS News. 27 July 2006. Archived from the original on 5 July 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  6. ^ "Newly crowned Miss Universe collapses". Taipei Times. 25 July 2006. Archived from the original on 5 July 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  7. ^ "Nancy O'Dell Hosts Miss Universe Pageant". Access Hollywood. 18 July 2006. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  8. ^ "Todo preparado para el certamen de Miss Universo". 20 minutos (in Spanish). 17 July 2006. Archived from the original on 21 July 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.