Beauty queen's gown tests negative for pepper spray

Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2007 beauty pageant winner Ingrid Marie Rivera. Photo / Reuters

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - The evening gown and makeup of a Puerto Rican beauty queen tested negative for pepper spray, forensic experts said today, casting doubt on claims that her belongings had been doused with the chemical in a bid to sabotage her pageant bid.

An at least four-day delay in submitting the items for testing could have affected the outcome, said Abigail Marrero, spokeswoman of the island's Forensic Science Institute.

Pageant officials could not be reached for comment, or to explain why the items had not been turned over to forensic experts sooner.

Miss Puerto Rico Universe winner Ingrid Marie Rivera was composed while strutting before pageant judges last week, but backstage stripped off her clothes and applied ice bags to her face and body as she swelled and broke out in hives. She beat 29 rivals to win the crown nonetheless.

"We noted that when she finished applying makeup and went to get on stage, she began to get red in the face, on the back and shoulders - everywhere she had applied makeup,"

Pageant spokesman Harold Rosario told The Associated Press on Monday that when Rivera finished applying makeup she had a reaction on her face, back and shoulders - everywhere she put on makeup.

"We thought at first it was an allergic reaction, or maybe nerves. But the second time, we knew it couldn't have been a coincidence," Rosario said.

Pageant director Magali Febles also said the substance appeared to be pepper spray, and pageant security agents, some of whom are former police officers, later identified stains on Rivera's clothing as originating from the chemical, Romero said.

He suggested rival contestants' own make-up artists and promoters might have been behind the sabotage, but he did not give names.

Puerto Rico's forensic institute will not test the items for any other chemicals unless it is specifically requested to do so, Marrero said.

- AP