Miss Universe wants be a hero

Less than a month after being crowned Japan’s first Miss Universe in nearly half a century, Riyo Mori is hoping to land another job -- with the popular TV show “Heroes.”

Back in her home country after winning the Miss Universe 2007 contest in Mexico City last month, Mori said Monday she has been swarmed by cameras and has been doing interviews and appearances “nonstop.”

Mori said she is hoping to devote herself to her new role, which includes acting as a spokeswoman for AIDS issues, and is also looking for a possible part on the TV series “Heroes,” broadcast by NBC, which has rights to the Miss Universe pageant.

“As soon as I won Miss Universe, I had this big chance,” she said. “I’ve never acted before. I went to the casting audition and read a script in English and Japanese, and they said it was really good. So I hope I can be in the show.”