Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza Goes Nearly Nude, Keeps Title

It looks like the outgoing Miss Universe, Dayana Mendoza of Venezuela, just can't wait to get out of her sash and into... un escándalo?

Nearly, but not quite.  Mendoza, who will pass su corona to the new Miss Universe on August 23rd, posed for a spicy spread in an upcoming issue of men's mag Maxim.  Although the beauty queen didn't go full frontal para la revista, she did pose topless, with her arms covering up any XXX body parts.

The move is unusual for a Miss Universe title holder still in the public eye, pero she did not break any rules.  Pageant officials like Donald Trump gave the Venezuelan beauty their blessing to publish las fotos.  This isn't the first time that the Caracas model has had a run-in with the pageant committee.  Early on in her reign it was discovered she had taken provocative photos for a jewelry ad when she was fifteen.  The photos were deemed passable and she held onto her title.

The president of the Miss Universe organization, Paula Shugart, was content with Dayana's choice to bare herself, saying that the pics contained “nothing salacious" and were "just beautiful."

Looks like Mendoza will keep her record clean, rather than taking on a tarnished rep like troublesome reinas of beauty pageant past Tara Conner and Carrie Prejean. [MSNBC.com]

In other good looking news, this year's roster of Latinas for the Miss Universe pageant is looking fierce!  Check a few of the contestants below, and scope out the complete line-up on MissUniverse.com to see who would get your vote!

Mayella Mena, El Salvador

Karla Carillo, Mexico

Michelle Rouillard, Columbia

Images via Maxim Magazine and MissUniverse.com

Tags contestants, Dayana Mendoza, donald trump, ganadora, karla carillo, Latina, line-up, list, lista, mayella mena, michelle rouillard, Miss Universe, model, modela