Dayana Mendoza

At the old age of 23, Dayana Mendoza is about to retire.

She has reigned as Miss Venezuela and Miss Universe, gone to interior design school, traveled the world and fulfilled her duties as the most beautiful woman alive.

Not a bad career. But now that the sultry South American’s reign is coming to an end, she’s ready to do something wonderful she hasn't been allowed to yet ...

Posed naked for a trashy men's magazine. Woo hoo!

Here's Mendoza baring it all (or close) in Maxim ..

By waiting to pose nude until she gives up her crown (a new Miss Universe will be named Sunday night), Dayana Mendoza hopes to avoid negative backlash.

Beauty queens always seem to catch heat for their racy pictures, as we know. Because pageants are quite conservative and respectful of women, after all.

This is light years better than the Heidi Montag nude Playboy shoot. For one, Dayana Mendoza is actually hot. Second, Heidi's pics were less revealing. Finally, Dayana's Maxim interview doesn't include quotes about Spencer Pratt giving her orgasms.

Click to enlarge lots more photos of the retiring Miss Universe ...

[Photos: Maxim]

Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza, who relinquishes her crown August 23 at the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas, is preparing to leave her post with a bang!

The Venezuelan stunner will appear topless in Maxim's September issue, according to the New York Post. This comes after the minor uproar last year surrounding a controversial Dayana Mendoza nude jewelry ad that was discovered (below).

That's a no-no for Miss Universe contestants, as beauty queens are clearly the most upstanding, straight-arrow citizens on this planet, as we all know.

But Dayana Mendoza will be free of her Miss Universe shackles soon.

Word is she got pageant owner Donald Trump's permission before posing naked for Maxim. A good move, but maybe not totally necessary. The Donald didn't fire Carrie Prejean over her topless pictures ... just breaking her contract.

For those of you unfamiliar with the beautiful Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza, here's a sneak preview of what her Maxim photo spread might look like ...

Is this Dayana Mendoza nude ad a preview of things to come?

Sorry, Elyse Umemoto. A beauty pageant contestant who hasn't posed in racy photos is taking over the news.

Miss Venezuela Dayana Mendoza - a 22-year old, green-eyed beauty - was crowned the winner of the 2008 Miss Universe Pageant this weekend.

Mendoza was actually once kidnapped in her homeland, leading her to say "I want to raise my voice and tell the world that violence is not the answer" following her victory.

A moving story and difficult competition for Miss USA Crystle Stewart to compete with... especially after she tripped over her evening gown during her entrance. Sadly, amazingly, this was the second consecutive year the American representative in the competition fell to the ground during the evening gown portion of the event.

It's not just the Iraq war giving us am embarrassing reputation around the world.

Dayana Mendoza celebrates her Miss Universe crown.