Zuleyka Rivera

The most recent is Zuleyka Rivera who was voted the most beautiful woman in the universe in 2006.  Barely having turned 18, this elegant and poised beauty was given the responsibility of traveling the world, making a statement and serving as a role model. This past June she gave up her crown and is now embarking in, what seems to be, a very bright future.  HOMBRE had the joy of interviewing and photographing her in Miami while she was a presenter at the recent Billboard Latin Music Awards. In a candid interview she discusses her future plans, and more importantly, the secrets to conquering the most beautiful woman in the world.

Let’s start with your childhood, where were you born?

I was born in Calle, Puerto Rico but grew up in the nearby town of Salinas since I was very young. I have 2 brothers

When did you enter your first beauty pageant?

I entered my first pageant when I was 14

How was it?  Did your mom want you to join?

A makeup artist friend of mine was doing my make up one day and asked me if I wanted to participate in a pageant and it caught my attention, so I decided to compete.

Did you join other pageants afterwards?

No, after that I made the cover of Imagen in 2002 which was my first cover. I was just fourteen and had made the cover of the most important magazine in Puerto Rico.

How did you decide to participate in Miss Puerto Rico?

It happened when I was 18. I already had my plans. After I participated in Miss Puerto Rico Teen when I was fourteen I knew I wanted to participate in Miss Puerto Rico Universe when I was of age.

How did you feel upon being selected, first Miss Puerto Rico?

I was happy, very proud of what I had accomplished. My family was also very happy with me having accomplished such an achievement because now I was going to represent all of Puerto Rico.

How about being selected Miss Universe?

The same, very happy. It’s a major accomplishment in the life of an individual.  It’s was a major challenge in my life. It was wonderful to live a year as Miss Universe and to be able to do the necessary things to get where I need to get.

Of all the places you’ve visited as Miss Universe, which has been your favorite place?

In terms of beauty my favorite place has to be Greece, the sea is so beautiful and there is such exquisite nature.

And favorite food?

Puertorican of course!

What is your favorite feature in yourself?

There are many things about myself that I like, but I think what I like most is my look.  With my look I can say so much; joy, anger. There are so many ways of expression.

What do you admire most in a man?

He definitely has to respect me, he has to love me; there are many things that one admires about a man. That he’s a gentleman, well educated; those are things one admires a great deal.

Now that you’ve given up your crown, what are your plans?

Well I’m starting my acting classes.  I’m going to finish my studies. I also want to study international business.  I was studying communications in the university, but I no longer want to study that.  I really want to delve deeply into acting.

And further down the line, what do you see yourself doing?

I see myself acting for a while and then having my own business. Distancing myself from everything that has to do with cameras, television, photography; basically stop being a public figure and dedicating myself to my family and my businesses. That’s why I want to study international business; it’s a foundation for the future.  I want to devote myself to acting now because I’m young; I have the notoriety of being Miss Universe.  I didn’t want to wait long and exit the industry so that people forget my face.

What roles do you see yourself doing?

The ones that offer the most challenge, the ones that have the least to do with my personality. Those are the roles that would attract me the most.

And now that you’re giving up the crown, where do you want to reside?

In New York.

What advice would you give to the reader of this magazine to conquer a woman like you?

The first thing is that he should be very detail oriented.  We appreciate details very much. For instance - not so much that he opens the car door - but that he tells you ‘put your seatbelt on.’ Those are things that you see and make you say ‘wow, he’s telling me to put on a seatbelt because he cares about me and is protecting me.’ Those are things that may be small but they have a lot of value, much more than flowers or anything like that, at least in my case.