Dayana Mendoza

On January 6, 2018, Mendoza returned to the Crown Convention Center in Nha Trang, Vietnam, where she was crowned Miss Universe 2008, as a judge on Miss Universe Vietnam 2017.

Mendoza was a contestant in the 2012 season of the NBC reality competition series The Celebrity Apprentice. In episode 3, "How Much is That Celebrity in the Window?", she was the winning project manager of her team on a task to create two themed living window displays for Ivanka Trump's clothing and accessory line, winning $20,000 for her charity, the Latino Commission on AIDS. Mendoza notes in Episode 11, "Winning by a Nose" that she holds the record for being brought back to the final boardroom, having done so six times by that episode. She came in sixth place after being eliminated in the 12th episode, "Jingle All the Way Home" (her seventh time in the boardroom), in which she was project manager of the losing team on a task to create a jingle and presentation for Good Sam Club.

On June 3, 2012, Mendoza served as one of the panel of judges for the Miss USA 2012 competition.

As of June 2009, Mendoza as Miss Universe has traveled to Indonesia, Singapore, Italy, Vatican City, Spain, France, Nicaragua, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Bahamas, Russia, El Salvador, the United Arab Emirates, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Bolivia, Argentina, Romania, and Vietnam, in addition to numerous trips around the United States and her homecoming in Venezuela. Together with Miss Universe 1969 Gloria Diaz, Mendoza was the goodwill ambassador of Venezuela-based technology firm Smartmatic to thank the Philippines for entrusting the company the success of their 2010 presidential elections.

After Elite, she signed with the Trump Model Management since 2009, and in Milan with Names Model Agency.

On March 27, 2009, Mendoza documented a visit to the Guantanamo Bay detention camp on her Internet blog. In it, she was quoted as saying, "[Guantanamo] was such a relaxing place, so calm and beautiful". She also stated that when she visited the detainees camps, "...we saw the jails, where they shower, how they recreate themselves with movies, classes of art, books. It was very interesting." In her home country, Venezuela, the issue became the talk of the town, with the president, Hugo Chávez, reconsidering the praise he had previously given her. The Miss Universe Organization has replied that "...[her] comments on her blog were in reference to the hospitality she received while meeting the members of the U.S. Military and their families who are stationed in Guantánamo". On April 1, 2009, the entry vanished from her blog.

Mendoza beat out 27 other candidates to win Miss Venezuela 2007 on September 13, 2007, and became only the second woman representing the Amazonas state to win, following Carolina Izsak in 1991. She was crowned Miss Universe 2008 at the pageant at the Crown Convention Center, Nha Trang, Vietnam, on July 13, 2008. Mendoza became the first winner of the pageant from Venezuela since Miss Universe 1996's winner Alicia Machado, thus making her the first Venezuelan Miss Universe in the 21st century.

Miss Universe 2007 Riyo Mori crowned her with a tiara worth US$120,000 . Her prize package includes cash, a year contract promoting Miss Universe, world travel, a rent-free prestigious New York City apartment, a luxury apartment, and a gift bag stuffed with designer shoes, dresses and beauty products, a US$100,000 stipend for a two-year course at the New York Film Academy and free access to famous fashion houses and beauty parlors. Mendoza will spend her year-long reign traveling the world to lecture on humanitarian issues and to promote education regarding HIV/AIDS.

Mendoza was once kidnapped in Venezuela, and stated that its psychological trauma taught her to remain poised under pressure. In 2001, she signed with Elite Model Management after beining Top 15 semifinalist at the Elite Model Look International 2001 held in Nice, France. She has worked with the companies Max Mara and Costume National, where she modeled in New York City, Italy, Germany, France, Greece, and Spain for Versace, Roberto Cavalli and other fashion designers over eight years. She speaks Spanish, English, and Italian fluently.

Dayana Sabrina Mendoza Moncada (born June 1, 1986) is a Venezuelan model, actress and former beauty pageant contestant, who won Miss Universe 2008. She previously won Miss Venezuela 2007 on September 13, 2007 in Caracas.