Police Doubt Miss Puerto Rico Pepper Spray Tale

Sigh.

What has this world come to when we can't even trust beauty pageant contestants?

It's a moral crisis.

Investigators poured a little salt on the wounds Miss Puerto Rico Universe claims she suffered at the hands of an alleged pepper-spray attacker.

Police probing the alleged sabotage of Miss Puerto Rico Universe Ingrid Marie Rivera's clothing during the Nov. 23 competition said tests showed no traces of capsicum, the pepper spray's active ingredient, Reuters reported.

The 24-year-old Rivera said she broke out in hives and swelling during the pageant and was forced to ice down her face and body between events.

"I guess she has a lot of explaining to do," police spokesman Stephen Alvarez said on Saturday.

Police Superintendent Pedro Toledo said his department now would focus its investigation on whether anyone lied to his detectives, which would be a felony.

The original complaint was filed by the pageant's security director, Alvarez told Reuters. Rivera has not given any statements to police investigators.

Magali Febles, the director of the beauty pageant, insisted that the sabotage took place and said she would ask authorities to test for other substances.

Organizers also said Rivera's bags, containing clothing and credit cards, were stolen during the event, and that a bomb threat was called in the day before the final competition, forcing the cancellation of some events.

Previously.

Ugly Netherworld of Beauty Pageants

Boy, these contests can get really nasty. Check out what happened to Miss Puerto Rico, Ingrid Marie Rivera.

PR pageant officials probe pepper spray

Beauty pageant organizers were investigating Sunday who doused a contestant's evening gowns with pepper spray and spiked her makeup, causing her to break out in hives.

Beauty queen Ingrid Marie Rivera beat 29 rivals to become the island's 2008 Miss Universe contestant, despite applying makeup and wearing evening gowns that had been coated with pepper spray, pageant spokesman Harold Rosario said.

Rivera was composed while appearing before cameras and judges throughout the competition. But once backstage, she had to strip off her clothes and apply ice bags to her face and body, which swelled and broke out in hives twice.

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

Rivera's clothing and makeup later tested positive for pepper spray.

Someone also stole Rivera's bag containing her gowns, makeup and credit cards. And a bomb threat forced pageant officials to postpone the last day of competition on Thursday, said Magali Febles, director of the Miss Puerto Rico Universe pageant.

Pageant organizers said the hoped to catch and expose whoever was responsible for the pranks. They said, however, they were handling the investigation themselves and police are not involved.

Beauty competitions in the U.S. Caribbean territory — which boasts five Miss Universe titles, second only to the U.S. — are fierce, drawing boisterous audiences and accusations of rigged results.

But the pranks under investigation this year are a first, Rosario said.

Rivera, who won Miss World Caribbean in 2005, had been a target of controversy from the start of competition, as rivals complained she was too experienced and should be disqualified.

Local media touted her as the likely winner, stoking jealousy among contestants, Rosario said