By ANGELA BRUNO
Last updated: 5:28 am
August 6, 2008
Posted: 12:00 am
August 6, 2008
At 5'10" - and just about sky-high in heels - newly crowned Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza is living large. Since taking home the crown in July, her life has been a whirlwind of TV interviews and photo-shoots.
The Venezuelan beauty, who grew up sharing a bedroom with her grandmother and younger sister, is now living in a luxury Midtown crib with two fellow beauty queens, courtesy of Donald Trump (unsurprisingly, their lives are being filmed for a reality show).
Mendoza took some time out of her breakneck schedule to chat with us about everything from the new fall fashions to how she once missed a phone call from Hugo Chávez.
Has being Miss Universe hit you yet?
No, I haven't realized it. I'm having fun because the girls at the apartment are pretty nice. [Miss Teen USA] Hilary [Cruz] and [Miss USA] Crystle Stewart.
What's a day in the life of Miss Universe like?
Waking up early and doing makeup and hair for interviews and shows. I heard that these are the busiest weeks we have. But I don't know how it's going to be for the rest of the year. I think I'm going to have fun traveling all over the world.
How many hours of sleep would you say you've gotten since winning the title?
During the pageant, we slept like four hours each night. At the end of the month, you're exhausted. Even coffee doesn't work for you anymore. So, it's really something that you have to love because otherwise YOU WILL DIE!
Getting four hours of sleep - do you have any secrets on how to look well rested?
Makeup, baby! [Laughs.] Makeup is just perfect. My dad told me to put [crushed] aspirin on your dark [undereye] circles. You mix cold water and aspirin, mash it up. Take a little piece of [cotton] and you put it under your eye and let it rest a little bit until it gets warm and change it. It works, but you have to do it every morning or before sleeping.
Any beauty tips you can share?
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