# Riyo Mori (森理世)
**Riyo Mori** (森理世) is a Japanese model, dancer, and dance instructor from [Shizuoka Prefecture](https://www.edgepedia.org/shizuoka-prefecture) who won the [Miss Universe](https://www.edgepedia.org/miss-universe) 2007 pageant in Mexico City on May 28, 2007, becoming the second Japanese winner of the title, 48 years after Akiko Kojima won the 1959 pageant.[1](https://imidas.jp/hotkeyperson/detail/P-00-206-07-06-H050.html) • [2](https://sdbb.co.jp/model/riyo-mori) Born in 1986, she trained as a dancer from childhood, entered the pageant on her producer's urging, and afterwards built a career in modeling, charity work, and dance education in Japan and the United States.[1](https://imidas.jp/hotkeyperson/detail/P-00-206-07-06-H050.html) • [3](https://www.toyotsu-unifashion.com/assets/img/pdf_riyotiara2024.pdf)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1986, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan[2](https://sdbb.co.jp/model/riyo-mori) |
| Pageant win | Miss Universe 2007, Mexico City, May 28, 2007; second Japanese winner after Akiko Kojima (1959)[1](https://imidas.jp/hotkeyperson/detail/P-00-206-07-06-H050.html) |
| Victory margin | All 10 judges voted for her among representatives of 77 countries and regions[1](https://imidas.jp/hotkeyperson/detail/P-00-206-07-06-H050.html) |
| Reign | About 14 months based in New York, visiting 15 countries for charity and volunteer work; not the record reign length among Miss Universe titleholders, which Zozibini Tunzi holds at 525 days[4](https://www.speakers.jp/speaker/mori-riyo/) • [12](https://www.missuniverse.com/the-legacy/) |
| Later roles | Lexus ambassador from 2009; artistic director of the I.R.M. Academy in Shizuoka; chair of 5 Crowns Japan from May 2021[3](https://www.toyotsu-unifashion.com/assets/img/pdf_riyotiara2024.pdf) |
| Family | Married an American man; her first child was born in the United States in 2021[5](https://kosodate.mynavi.jp/articles/30636) |
## Early life and dance training
Mori began jazz dance at age four under her mother, who ran a dance studio in Shizuoka.[1](https://imidas.jp/hotkeyperson/detail/P-00-206-07-06-H050.html) Aiming for a career on Broadway, she left high school in Japan at 16 and moved to Canada, where she attended a local high school while studying at the Quinte Ballet School, completing its teacher-training course.[1](https://imidas.jp/hotkeyperson/detail/P-00-206-07-06-H050.html) • [6](https://kotobank.jp/word/%E6%A3%AE%E7%90%86%E4%B8%96-1122616) She graduated from Centennial High School in 2006.[2](https://sdbb.co.jp/model/riyo-mori)
That year she moved to New York and was accepted into the Rockettes Summer Intensive Program, a training course for dancers aiming at Broadway, as the first Japanese, and per one source the first Asian, applicant to pass its audition.[2](https://sdbb.co.jp/model/riyo-mori) • [7](https://mantan-web.jp/article/20141003dog00m200004000c.html) After completing the program she returned to Japan and worked as an instructor at her mother's dance studio while preparing to move back to the United States.[1](https://imidas.jp/hotkeyperson/detail/P-00-206-07-06-H050.html)
## Miss Universe 2007
A French producer for Miss Universe Japan urged her to enter the Japanese national competition, and she applied; she was chosen as Japan's representative in March 2007 and prepared for the world pageant with coaching in walking and speaking from several specialist staff.[1](https://imidas.jp/hotkeyperson/detail/P-00-206-07-06-H050.html)
The final was held in Mexico City on May 28, 2007, with 77 countries and regions represented. All ten judges voted for Mori, and she took the title unanimously.[1](https://imidas.jp/hotkeyperson/detail/P-00-206-07-06-H050.html) She was the first Japanese winner since Akiko Kojima in 1959 and the second overall; the year before, Kurara Chibana of Okinawa had finished as runner-up at the 2006 pageant.[1](https://imidas.jp/hotkeyperson/detail/P-00-206-07-06-H050.html) • [8](https://www.aobakikaku.jp/pdf/2014MUJ_shiryou.pdf)
## Reign and handover
As Miss Universe 2007, Mori was based in New York for her roughly 14-month term, a reign shorter than the record 525-day reign of [Zozibini Tunzi](https://www.edgepedia.org/zozibini-tunzi), the longest among Miss Universe titleholders, during which she worked as a global spokeswoman, took part in charity and volunteer activities, and traveled to 15 countries.[4](https://www.speakers.jp/speaker/mori-riyo/) • [2](https://sdbb.co.jp/model/riyo-mori) • [12](https://www.missuniverse.com/the-legacy/)
## Work after the title
After returning to Japan in 2008, Mori worked in media, modeling, and charity activities.[3](https://www.toyotsu-unifashion.com/assets/img/pdf_riyotiara2024.pdf) From 2009 she served as an ambassador for Lexus, Toyota's luxury car brand.[7](https://mantan-web.jp/article/20141003dog00m200004000c.html) Also in 2009 she and her mother founded the I.R.M. Academy, a dance school in her hometown of Shizuoka, where she works as artistic director, teaching under the banner of dance and beauty; the school's programs cover children's development, body-balance care for women, and health instruction for older students.[3](https://www.toyotsu-unifashion.com/assets/img/pdf_riyotiara2024.pdf) • [2](https://sdbb.co.jp/model/riyo-mori) In 2010 she published her first book, *Simple Life*, covering her favorite items, exercises, and her account of the substance of the Miss Universe role as she saw it.[3](https://www.toyotsu-unifashion.com/assets/img/pdf_riyotiara2024.pdf)
In May 2021 she became chair of 5 Crowns Japan, an organization that carries out social-contribution activities in Japan and abroad based on the SDGs, drawing on her pageant experience and her ties with delegates from other countries.[3](https://www.toyotsu-unifashion.com/assets/img/pdf_riyotiara2024.pdf) She has also served as a Dream Supporter for Special Olympics Japan.[9](https://www.son.or.jp/event/reports/20220331-athlete-ambassador/)
## Family life
Mori married an American man she met through her charity work; one interview places the marriage in 2018,[5](https://kosodate.mynavi.jp/articles/30636) while a Miss Universe Japan news item states the international marriage was announced in May 2019.[10](https://miss-japan.net/universe/riyomori) Her husband Brent has a son from a previous marriage, and the family lives as a stepfamily.[10](https://miss-japan.net/universe/riyomori) • [5](https://kosodate.mynavi.jp/articles/30636) Her first child, a daughter, was born in the United States in 2021, with the birth reported in November.[5](https://kosodate.mynavi.jp/articles/30636) • [10](https://miss-japan.net/universe/riyomori) She has described experiencing postpartum depression after the birth, saying the period was harder than winning Miss Universe.[11](https://chanto.jp.net/articles/-/1003269?display=b) The family's base is in San Francisco, and in the November following a birth she published the first photos with her baby on Instagram at Christmas.[10](https://miss-japan.net/universe/riyomori)
## References
1. [森理世 ミス・ユニバース世界大会で優勝, 時事用語事典 imidas](https://imidas.jp/hotkeyperson/detail/P-00-206-07-06-H050.html)
2. [森理世 – S.d.B.B. profile](https://sdbb.co.jp/model/riyo-mori)
3. [ミス ユニバース2007 森理世さん, Toyotsu UniFashion (PDF)](https://www.toyotsu-unifashion.com/assets/img/pdf_riyotiara2024.pdf)
4. [森理世 プロフィール, スピーカーズ.jp](https://www.speakers.jp/speaker/mori-riyo/)
5. [国際結婚でステップファミリーに／森理世さんインタビュー【1】, マイナビ子育て](https://kosodate.mynavi.jp/articles/30636)
6. [森理世とは, コトバンク（デジタル版 日本人名大辞典+Plus）](https://kotobank.jp/word/%E6%A3%AE%E7%90%86%E4%B8%96-1122616)
7. [森理世：ミス・ユニバース世界一 洗練された美へのこだわり明かす, MANTANWEB](https://mantan-web.jp/article/20141003dog00m200004000c.html)
8. [ミス・ユニバース・ジャパンとは？, 青 バ企画 (PDF)](https://www.aobakikaku.jp/pdf/2014MUJ_shiryou.pdf)
9. [アスリートアンバサダー インタビュー企画 第5弾, スペシャルオリンピックス日本](https://www.son.or.jp/event/reports/20220331-athlete-ambassador/)
10. [森理世、クリスマスに赤ちゃん初顔出し親子ショット, ミス・ユニバース・ジャパン](https://miss-japan.net/universe/riyomori)
11. [森理世が「ミス・ユニバースより辛かった」と振り返る産後の日々, CHANTO WEB](https://chanto.jp.net/articles/-/1003269?display=b)
12. [The Legacy](https://www.missuniverse.com/the-legacy/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Food, customs, and everyday culture › Beauty pageants and titleholders › Beauty pageant titleholders › Miss World and other international titleholders*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license