Stunning Ingrid Marie Rivera, a runner-up from Miss World, had her clothes and make-up spiked with the spray in an attempt to force her to quit the competition.
The 24-year-old broke out in series of ugly blotches and a rash after coming into contact with the contaminated evening dress.
But she shrugged off the sabotage attempt to be chosen as Puerto Rico's entrant for the Miss Universe contest ahead of her 29 pageant rivals.
The part-time model triumphed in the contest despite being targeted by jealous rivals
In scenes that could have been taken from the Sandra Bullock film "Miss Congeniality", Rivera was targeted by jealous rivals from the beginning of the contest.
Other contestants had complained from the start to the local media that Rivera was too experienced to take part.
Her handbag, containing personalised make-up and credit cards was stolen, shortly before the competition in Puerto Rico began.
And when she took to the stage the former runner up of the 2005 Miss World contest experienced a burning sensation on her face and body.
Miss Rivera came out in a rash after her dress was contaminated with pepper spray
She remained composed in front of the judges, but backstage organisers were applying ice packs to her face and body.
The part time model had to strip off her clothes while assistants applied the treatment.
Tests on her dress later showed it had been contaminated with pepper spray causing an allergic reaction.
Pageant spokesman Harold Rosario said Ingrid was a victim of sabotage.
He said: "We thought at first it was an allergic reaction, or maybe nerves, but the second time, we knew if couldn't have been a coincidence."
In the film Miss Congeniality, Sandra Bullock plays a police officer who goes undercover to find out who is sabotaging a beauty pageant
Organisers have not contacted the police as they try to find out who was responsible.
Ms Rivera admitted that she had considered dropping out of the contest.
She said: "At one point I said, 'Am I a masochist?'"
"But I said: 'I am with God and this is my goal, regardless of the results.'"
The 5ft 9in brown hair beauty is currently studying marketing & finance at the university of Puerto Rico, and a part time model.
She holds eight beauty titles, including Miss World Caribbean 2005, and will now compete in the Miss Universe competition in Vietnam in 2008.
In the film "Miss Congeniality", Sandra Bullock plays a police officer who goes undercover to find out who is sabotaging a beauty pageant.
Miss Rivera will now go on to contest the Miss Universe competition
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/n next year
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