![Miss Dominican Republic, Mia Taveras, shows off a costume related to her home country during the preliminary competition for Miss Universe 2006 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles,Tuesday, July 18, 2006. ( Miss Dominican Republic, Mia Taveras, shows off a costume related to her home country during the preliminary competition for Miss Universe 2006 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles,Tuesday, July 18, 2006. (](https://l450v.alamy.com/450v/2pdge16/mia-taveras-is-congratulated-by-other-contestants-after-being-crowned-miss-dominican-republic-at-the-olimpic-center-in-santo-domingo-dominican-republic-sunday-dec-18-2005-mia-taveras-will-compete-in-the-miss-universe-contest-next-year-ap-photoramon-espinosa-2pdge16.jpg)
Miss Dominican Republic, Mia Taveras, shows off a costume related to her home country during the preliminary competition for Miss Universe 2006 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles,Tuesday, July 18, 2006. (
![Miss Dominican Republic, Mia Taveras, shows off a costume related to her home country during the preliminary competition for Miss Universe 2006 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles,Tuesday, July 18, 2006. ( Miss Dominican Republic, Mia Taveras, shows off a costume related to her home country during the preliminary competition for Miss Universe 2006 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles,Tuesday, July 18, 2006. (](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2PDGEBT/new-miss-dominican-republic-mia-taveras-second-left-poses-for-a-picture-with-miss-puerto-rico-zuleyka-rivera-left-miss-universe-natalie-glebova-second-right-and-former-miss-dominican-republic-renata-soe-at-the-olimpic-center-in-santo-domingo-dominican-republic-sunday-dec-18-2005-mia-taveras-will-compete-in-the-miss-universe-contest-next-year-ap-photoramon-espinosa-2PDGEBT.jpg)
Miss Dominican Republic, Mia Taveras, shows off a costume related to her home country during the preliminary competition for Miss Universe 2006 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles,Tuesday, July 18, 2006. (
![Mia Taveras on X: "Counting down: -6 ! (And yes, that's him in the picture, right next to my ribs! ) 😊 http://t.co/8eCe9tUKzr" / X Mia Taveras on X: "Counting down: -6 ! (And yes, that's him in the picture, right next to my ribs! ) 😊 http://t.co/8eCe9tUKzr" / X](https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/2849455532/709815c5e95f838ed2cb69ddf1dd19b3_200x200.jpeg)
Mia Taveras on X: "Counting down: -6 ! (And yes, that's him in the picture, right next to my ribs! ) 😊 http://t.co/8eCe9tUKzr" / X
![Miss Dominican Republic, Mia Taveras, shows off a costume related to her home country during the preliminary competition for Miss Universe 2006 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles,Tuesday, July 18, 2006. ( Miss Dominican Republic, Mia Taveras, shows off a costume related to her home country during the preliminary competition for Miss Universe 2006 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles,Tuesday, July 18, 2006. (](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2PDGEAT/miss-dominican-republic-mia-taveras-left-poses-for-a-picture-with-miss-universe-natalie-glebova-of-canada-after-being-crowned-miss-dominican-republic-at-the-olimpic-center-in-santo-domingo-dominican-republic-sunday-dec-18-2005-mia-taveras-will-compete-in-the-miss-universe-contest-next-year-ap-photoramon-espinosa-2PDGEAT.jpg)
Miss Dominican Republic, Mia Taveras, shows off a costume related to her home country during the preliminary competition for Miss Universe 2006 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles,Tuesday, July 18, 2006. (
![Miss Dominican Republic, Mia Taveras, shows off a costume related to her home country during the preliminary competition for Miss Universe 2006 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles,Tuesday, July 18, 2006. ( Miss Dominican Republic, Mia Taveras, shows off a costume related to her home country during the preliminary competition for Miss Universe 2006 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles,Tuesday, July 18, 2006. (](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2PCRT9P/miss-dominican-republic-mia-taveras-shows-off-a-costume-related-to-her-home-country-during-the-preliminary-competition-for-miss-universe-2006-at-the-shrine-auditorium-in-los-angelestuesday-july-18-2006-ap-photolucas-jackson-2PCRT9P.jpg)
Miss Dominican Republic, Mia Taveras, shows off a costume related to her home country during the preliminary competition for Miss Universe 2006 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles,Tuesday, July 18, 2006. (
![Miss Dominican Republic, Mia Taveras, shows off a costume related to her home country during the preliminary competition for Miss Universe 2006 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles,Tuesday, July 18, 2006. ( Miss Dominican Republic, Mia Taveras, shows off a costume related to her home country during the preliminary competition for Miss Universe 2006 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles,Tuesday, July 18, 2006. (](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2PDGDHT/mia-taveras-holds-her-crown-after-being-crowned-miss-dominican-republic-at-the-olimpic-center-in-santo-domingo-dominican-republic-sunday-dec-18-2005-mia-taveras-will-compete-in-the-miss-universe-contest-next-yearap-photoramon-espinosa-2PDGDHT.jpg)