Miss Universe to keep crown despite photos

Pageant president says Mendoza's near-topless pics have ‘artistic beauty’

	Venezuela's Dayana Mendoza, 22, was crowned Miss Universe 2008 in July.
Richard Drew / AP

Access Hollywood video

Jackson’s dermatologist speaks out
Following an interview with Larry King at CNN's studios in L.A., Dr. Arnold Klein, Michael Jackson's dermatologist, speaks out about Jackson's tragic death.

Danny Gokey on loss of his wife

Ken Ehrlich on Jackson memorial

Nick Cannon on directorial debut

Nick Cannon on Michael Jackson

Young Hollywood reacts to memorial

Access style page

Access Hollywood blogs

Access photo page

Access video vault

Access Hollywood

updated 11:40 a.m. ET Aug. 6, 2008

LOS ANGELES - Miss Universe 2008 Dayana Mendoza will retain her crown despite a host of nearly topless modeling photos of the pageant queen that surfaced this week.

“Dayana Mendoza is not in jeopardy of losing the title of Miss Universe,” Paula M. Shugart, President of the Miss Universe organization told Access Hollywood in an exclusive statement.

In fact, the Miss Universe president said that Mendoza’s photographs had artistic merit.

Story continues below ↓

advertisement | your ad here

“We embrace and respect her success as a model and the artistic beauty captured in these photographs,” the statement concluded.

The photos in question show Mendoza topless with her arms covering most of chest.

This is not the first time scandal has rocked the Donald Trump-owned pageant world. In December 2006, Miss USA Tara Conner caused a stir in the pageant world after she entered rehab for drug and alcohol use. Trump allowed her to keep the crown after receiving treatment.