NHA TRANG -- Miss Venezuela Dayana Mendoza, 22, won the Miss Universe pageant held in southern Vietnam on Monday.

"Miss Universe 2008 is Miss Venezuela Dayana Mendoza," US talk show host Jerry Springer announced as she beat runners-up from Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Russia and Mexico to clinch the diamond-studded golden crown.

Mendoza, who had been the favorite of many pageant watchers and online bookmakers, clinched the diamond-studded gold crown after answering a question on the difference between men and women.

"Men think that the fastest way to go to a point is to go straight," explained the trilingual beauty from Amazonas state. "Women know that the faster way to go to a point is to go to the curves."

Wearing a yellow evening gown, she burst into tears of joy when Springer announced she had won.

Her prize package includes cash, a year-long contract promoting Miss Universe, world travel, a rent-free New York City luxury apartment and a gift bag stuffed with free designer shoes, dresses and beauty products.

In the world of beauty contests, Venezuela -- where beauty contests are held in schools, villages and even prisons -- is considered a "pageant superpower" with four previous Miss Universe and five Miss World winners.