Miss USA trips on evening gown, again! _English

Miss USA Crystle Stewart falls during the evening gown competition of the Miss Universe 2008 annual pageant held this year in the central Vietnam resort city Nha Trang July 14, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Photo Gallery>>>

BEIJING, July 14 (Xinhuanet) -- For the second straight year Miss USA tripped on her evening gown and fell down while Miss Venezuela was crowned Miss Universe 2008 Monday in Vietnam.

Tension got under the skin of Crystle Stewart, 26, of Texas and she tripped on the train of her bejeweled evening gown as she made her entrance.

During the 2007 Miss Universe contest in Mexico City, Miss USA Rachel Smith also tumbled during the evening gown competition and became an unintended star on You Tube, where the video was shown over and over again.

An elated Dayana Mendoza received the crown from her predecessor, Riyo Mori of Japan. Miss Venezuela, 22, was once kidnapped in her homeland and says the experience taught her to remain poised under pressure.

The final five contestants included four from Latin America: Miss Mexico, Miss Dominican Republic, Miss Colombia and Miss Venezuela. Rounding out the final five was Miss Russia.

Miss Colombia finished second behind Mendoza.

Miss Thailand won the prize for best national costume and Miss El Salvador was chosen by her peers as Miss Congeniality.

Eighty contestants gathered in the seaside city of Nha Trang, Vietnam, vying to succeed reigning Miss Universe Riyo Mori of Japan.

(Agencies)

Miss Universe contestants (L-R) Elisa Najera of Mexico, Crystle Stewart of the U.S. and Samantha Tajik of Canada pose together in her swimwear in Nha Trang on July 4, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Photo Gallery>>>