“Sometimes you fall in life, not just in the pageant but financially or emotionally. It’s not about the fall but how you pick yourself up.”

- Miss USA 2008 Crystle Stewart on her so-called “fall from grace” during the evening gown competition of the recently concluded Miss Universe 2008 pageant

Stewart, who’s a motivational speaker and has developed a character education program which she teaches in a New York City school, says she actually wants to make something positive out of the “accident.” She may have tripped during the pageant (she was wearing an ultra bejeweled gown that also had a small train) and she may have just landed a top 10 position but she’s really determined to (quite figuratively) pick the pieces up in her life and move on.

“Things happen. I’m perfectly fine. I’m going to move back to New York and get on with my life.”

“My dress has beautiful beads on the bottom of it, and I stepped on my gown and they made me slip. It was like I was on Rollerblades. There was no conspiracy or anything. Nobody left marbles on the floor. It was just me.”

Judging by how strong and confident Stewart still is after the embarrassing ordeal, I’d say she’s a winner!

Kudos to you, Miss USA!