Intro- Miss Universe 2006, Zuleyka Rivera Mendoza’s rendezvous with Shilpi Dubey Pathak
Among grand fanfare and adulation, she walked in beauty; she walked in style…all heads turned as she entered the lobby. Men, old and young gaped at her sheer sensuous personality. Women admired her pristine beauty with wide eyes and a tinge of jealousy. “How can God make some one so pretty?” whispered a woman. I have never seen such a sensuous body, gushed another young man. “Can you believe she is all 19 and yet the most beautiful woman in this whole universe?” exclaimed his friend. It was then when Zuleyka Rivera Mendoza flashed her million dollar smile and folded her hands to say Namaste. A loud shy was followed and everyone smiled including Zuleyka. The frenzy she had created was so much that even the media guys looked over excited and vying for her attention. “Zuleyka, Zuleyka, Zuleyka…” called the cameramen from all corners. She obliged all of them by looking left right and centre. A Television anchor kept saying,” I am drooling over her. I don’t know how I am going to ask any question to her.” If this is not fame, then what is?

Tracing her roots
Zuleyka is from the small island of Puerto Rico. The people of Puerto Rico represent a cultural and racial mix. During the early 18-century, the Spaniard in order to populate the country took Taino Indian women as brides. Later people from various races joined too. May be, that is where Zuleyka took her beautiful looks from. Not only she is beautiful, she has her head on her shoulders too. “I am a very honest person. I don’t demonstrate fake smiles, if I don’t want to because I am not like the typical beauty queens,” she tells me in a very matter of fact tone. But one can’t ignore the romantic and seductive element in her persona. She bursts into laughter, “Don’t you know where I come from?” A land where couples exchange vows on a white sandy beach at sunset while small waves lap in the background and family and friends look on in their favourite beach attire. If sounds like your dream come true, then Puerto Rico is for you.

She was raised in Salinas, a small, beautiful coastal town that collides with the Caribbean Sea. “I had a beautiful childhood with both my mother and father and two brothers whom I adore,” she says. She is the eldest of the three children and the only female, and she adores her brothers. “Even though my parents provided both my brothers and me with all the necessities in life, we were not - nor are we now - what would be considered rich, but we have so much more - a united family where respect and honesty prevails,” Zuleyka explains.

Her interests & likings
At a young age of 19, Zuleyka likes to do multi-tasking. She believes in the mantra of live life to the fullest. “My interests vary; they range from sports (I like jogging, spinning and weightlifting) to watching the Latino version of “American Idol” and a few of Telemundo’s dramatic series,” she had said before she won the crown. She also enjoys listening to all sorts of music from Spanish Rock to Bolero to Reggaeton. Not only that, whenever possible she enjoys taking dance lessons, “If I have a busy day I try to meditate and evaluate the things that I can improve; I call this my particular brand of yoga,” she had revealed.

Her man & mentor
Zuleyka’s friend, mentor and advisor is one man and his name is Ismael Rios. “As a young impressionable teenage girl, the presence of Mr. Rios in my life has been one of tremendous prioritization and encouragement geared to achieving my goals. Through his example I was able to balance a hectic life as a model, high school student and work to the point where I was able to enter college at the age of seventeen,” as she was quoted in the official website of Miss Universe. Through all her hard work and dedication, she won the Miss Puerto Rico crown and followed to win the Miss Universe crown at the age of eighteen. Both her parents and she considers Rios a member of their family. “It makes it even more remarkable considering that Mr. Rios is not a blood relative and he has offered me the genuineness of his advice, his love and understanding without ever asking anything in return, said Zuleyka in reverence.

Bollywood Calling
Nobody will say no to a Bollywood film. I think, doing an Indian film is going to be an excellent starting point in my acting career. Though, I haven’t seen a complete Bollywood film, I have seen parts of them and I absolutely loved them. They are very happy and colourful, something you would enjoy to do, so yes, let an offer come!I met Salman Khan when I was in India for my Aids awareness tour with designer Sanjana Jhon, and I was really impressed with him . So,of course I would like to work with him in a Hindi film… (Roars into laughter) Zuleyka with Designer Sanjana Jhon

Her take on Indian women
Currently, in India, on an Aids awareness tour with celebrated designer and social activist Sanjana Jon, Zuleyka is amazed by the Indian colour and culture. “The response is way beyond what I had expected. I am glad, the Indian people want to listen to me as I am here for a good cause,” she continues to explain. Zuleyka is surprised seeing the state of the red light areas and slums in Mumbai and Delhi, which she visited as a part of her tour. “I saw the women in a pathetic condition. They were bare footed and poorly dressed but still full of self-esteem and dignity. They are very hard-working and I have full respect for them but they should fight for their rights,” she says in a serious tone.

The sweet tooth and the sour grapes
The mood by now has become sombre so I try and turn it light. “So, how many gulab jamuns you have had so far?” I ask her. The colour of her face turns red suddenly and in a child like voice, she complains, “Just one and I loved it so much. I want to have more but my manager is not letting me have more.” She points at him, gives him a glare and laughs. I prod him to let her have more but he refuses. I then suggest the option of sugar free gulab jamuns. Zuleyka’s face lights up immediately and everyone laughs again. What I must mention here that she was initially sceptic in talking to me. The problem being her mother tongue in Spanish, she wasn’t too comfortable to sit for an interview without a translator. I prodded that her English was fine and I would not grill her with difficult questions. She gave me a you-dare–me look and almost chided me, “I don’t care whether you ask me easy questions or difficult ones. I have won the crown of Miss Universe and they ask you the most difficult questions.” This girl sure knows what she wants in life and how she wants it…in short, she has everything it takes to be our cover girl!
Picture Credit: Shilpi D pathak