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Philippines wins Miss Globe 2015

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Ann Lorraine Colis of the Philippines was crowned Miss Globe 2015 at the Rose Theatre Brampton in Toronto, Canada on October 8th. She is the first representative from her country to win the title  (which is not to be confused with Miss Globe International produced by Turks). The pageant is organized by an Albanian group led by Petri Bozo.  


The court includes (from left to right) 4th runner-up Oceane Perdonet of France, 2nd runner-up Rajmonda Cukaj of Montenegro,1st runner-up Sara Karaj of Albania, and 3rd runner-up Yisha Chen of China. 



Miss Venezuela 2015

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Mariam Habach Santucci, a 19-old dental student representing the state of Lara, was crowned Miss Venezuela 2015 in Caracas on October 8th. She will compete in Miss Universe 2016 pageant. In the photo she is crowned by outgoing queen Mariana Jimenez who will compete in Miss Universe 2015 to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 20th.


Andrea Carolina Rosales, Miss Amazonas, was crowned Miss Earth Venezuela 2015 and will compete in Miss Earth 2015 pageant to be held in Vienna, Austria on December 5th.


Jessica Maria Duarte, Miss Trujillo, was crowned Miss Venezuela International 2015 and will compete in Miss International 2016 pageant. Completing the top five were 1st runner-up Gessica Nunzia Fiume, Miss Yaracuy, and 2nd runner-up Elizabeth Coello, Miss Vargas.


Watch Habach's coronation:


Miss Universe Germany 2015

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Sarah-Lorraine Riek, 22, was crowned Miss Universe Germany 2015 on October 11. She will represent Germany in Miss Universe 2015 to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 20th. The 1st runner-up is Anja-Vanessa Peter (left) and the 2nd runner-up is Vanessa Jouline Bartels (right).



Miss Lebanon 2015

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Valerie Abou Chacra was crowned Miss Lebanon 2015 on October 12. Josline Mosleh and Cynthia Samoeil were chosen first runners- up, Nour Nasrallah took the second place while Maria Tannous came third. Organized by LBCI television, the contest was held at Casino du Liban in Beirut. Chacra will compete in Miss World 2015 pageant to be held in Sanya, China on December 19.











Former Miss Tourism International succumbs to lung cancer at 25

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MANILA, Philippines – Filipino beauty queen, Miss Tourism International 2012 Rizzini Alexis Gomez, has died after a battle with lung cancer. She was 25 years old.
Rizzini's father, former PBA player Rhoel Gomez, confirmed the news to ABS-CBN. She died in the morning of Tuesday, October 13, at Cebu Doctors' University Hospital in Cebu City.
Rizzini won the Mutya ng Pilipinas Tourism title in 2012 and continued on to win the Miss Tourism International pageant later that year in Malaysia.
"She captured our hearts when she won the title Mutya ng Pilipinas - Tourism 2012. She made the whole country proud when she won the international crown of Miss Tourism International 2012 in Malaysia. A 25-year-old Cebuana who ruled the global pageantry scene. A great loss... Our deepest sympathy and prayers. Filipinos will always be proud of you. Rizzini Alexis Gomez (Birthdate: August 29, 1990)," posted the Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant on Facebook.
SOURCE: Rappler.com, 10/13/2015
CREDIT: SNIPVIEW.COM

Getting To Know DEBORAH LAMBIE - Miss World New Zealand 2015

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1. Tell us a little about yourself, your family background, education, and how you became Miss World New Zealand 2015.


I get my passion for health from my two parents, who both work as doctors.  Everyday their aim is to give others full healthy and vibrant lives.   Growing up they encouraged my two sisters and me that, ‘girls can do anything’ and to use our gifts to contribute to our communities as best we can, through living with a mantra of asking, "How can I help?"
I am fortunate to have received a diverse education.  I have a First Class Honours Degree in Bioethics and a Masters in Entrepreneurship with Distinction.  Over the last six years I have been studying medicine at the University of Otago and the day I leave for Miss World 2015 is the day I become a doctor!

 

2. How did you become interested in pageants?


The Miss World Organisation empowers individuals and communities.  I saw this as a wonderful opportunity to empower myself – through improving my confidence, public speaking and skills as an ambassador.  More importantly, I saw the Miss World Organisation as a way to spread a message of empowerment through the ‘Beauty with a Purpose’ aspect of the competition.

3. How does it feel to represent New Zealand  in Miss World 2015?


I am absolutely delighted and honoured to have the opportunity to share New Zealand’s story at Miss World; the story of a small country who 123 years ago changed the world by becoming the first country to give women the right to vote.  This led the way for the rest of the world for equal rights and a brighter future.  I am looking forward to bringing New Zealand’s spirit of empowerment to Miss World. 

4. Give three adjectives that your subconscious self would use to describe you.

Passionate, determined and caring.

 

5. Tell us about one life-changing experience in your life.

As a part of my medical degree, I spent ten weeks working at a hospice, a place where people spend the final days of their lives.  It was heartbreaking to meet families who were losing their loved ones, yet enriching to support people through this.  In this experience I witnessed the essence of what it is to be human – to live, to love and to create a legacy  – regardless of the circumstances.  

6. Mahatma Gandhi once said, "My life is my message.” Do you agree with this statement?

I believe that there is no more powerful way to see your vision fulfilled than by living it, and sharing the journey with others. I love this quote by Gandhi; it encourages people to live out their dreams, living from the heart and sharing from the heart.  


7. What do you like to do for fun?

I love learning and getting involved in projects in my community.  This led me to join Toastmasters International where I discovered my passion for public speaking and sharing my knowledge with others.  I am so grateful this has created the opportunity for me to speak nationally and internationally about causes I am passionate about, especially the empowerment of others through health and education.
  
8. Name one of your strengths and one of your weaknesses.

As the saying goes, my greatest strength is also my greatest weakness. I work really hard at the things I care about which allows me to make real progress for causes that I believe in.  However, the downside of this is that at times balancing my medical degree, LearnCoach (my social enterprise) and my other community involvements becomes a real challenge.  It can feel like the time I put aside for sleep gets shorter and shorter.  However, it is definitely worth it!

 

9. What is your opinion on same-sex marriage? 

Love is universal, and I believe that the commitment of two people is special and should be celebrated.  I am proud that New Zealand made same sex marriage legal in 2013, making steps towards a culture that is accepting all of people.

10. What makes New Zealand unique from the rest of the world?

New Zealand is a country of open spaces, open hearts and open minds. My beautiful hometown, Dunedin, is one of the only places in the world where you can surf at our beaches and ski on our mountains in the same day. I am grateful to have grown up in such a breathtaking and close-knit community.

 

11. If you could be featured on the cover of any magazine, what would it be and why?

I would love to be featured on the cover of Time magazine.  This is because if I had created enough of a global impact to be featured on the cover of this magazine, it would mean that I had started to realize my vision of the empowerment of others through health and education all around the globe.
 
12. If you were to come back as an animal in the next life, what would you be and why?

I love the emperor penguin. They are beautiful nurturing creatures. They huddle together to protect each other from the cold, taking turns to stand on the outermost part of the huddle.  They are loyal partners and family members, standing for months in a blizzard to ensure their partner is supported and their offspring grow up healthy and strong.

 

13. Tell us about your Beauty With A Purpose project and how does it relate to Miss World?

Three years ago I co-founded LearnCOACH a social enterprise that delivers free online tutorials to New Zealand students.  We aim to reach those in the poorest and most remote areas, and our vision is to change the statistic that every year over 10,000 students leave high school in New Zealand with no qualifications and few future prospects.
Over the last three years we have worked very hard and I am proud to say that we have delivered over 1.7million free tutorials, reaching over 10,000 students across 150 high schools.

14. Why do you want to be Miss World 2015?

As a doctor I am passionate about the empowerment of others through health.  As a lover of learning and co-founder of LearnCOACH I am passionate about the empowerment of others through education.  The Miss World Organisation is a very special organisation that is passionate about the empowerment of individuals and communities all around the globe.  I would love to have the opportunity, as Miss World, to share their message of empowerment and the spirit of New Zealand all around the globe.


Deborah's Favourites


Singer/Musician - Brooke Fraser is a talented New Zealand musician, who has stayed true to her values and I admire her for that.

Actor - Growing up I loved watching Sam Neil, a New Zealand actor, who featured in many blockbuster movies including Jurassic Park.  I was a little girl with big dreams and watching him, a New Zealander starring in these amazing films, made me feel like anything was possible. 

Actress - I love Sandra Bullock, especially in ‘The Blind Side’.  She plays a woman who see’s the best in a character and chooses to give him a different life through empowering him and giving him opportunities to realise his talents, gifts and abilities for a positive purpose.

Colour - My favourite colour is Roseate, a beautiful pink colour.  This means ‘new dawn’ and to me represents that each day is a fresh start and a new opportunity to move towards our vision for a better world

Fashion Designer - I love clothing that has a story behind it.  Dame Trelise Cooper is a proudly New Zealand designer who creates garments to empower women.  She uses beautiful strong prints and colours, with her motto being ‘afford generosity of spirit to those around you’.  She applies her motto by using her business to promote environmental sustainability and support many local charities.

Perfume - My favourite range of perfume is ‘Pacific Perfumes’.  These were created to reflect the essence of New Zealand and the Pacific.


Flower - I love flowers with a beautiful smell! Particularly beautiful is the ‘Orania Lily’ that has a wonderful fruity fragrance.

Writer - Sheryl Sandberg is the Chief Operating Officer of Facebook, an author, a speaker and a mother.  Reading her work has changed the way I view the world.  I love the way she describes leadership, saying, ‘Leadership is the expectation that you can use your voice for good.  That you can make the world a better place…' and goes onto encourage readers to utilise the gifts they have been given saying, ‘…I hope that you – yes you – have the ambition to lean in to your career and to run the world’

Book - Sheryl Sandberg’s book ‘Lean In:  Women, Work and the Will to Lead’ encourages women to ‘Lean In’ to their life and create a vision and a legacy in order to create a more equal world.  

Movie - Sandra Bullock, in my favourite movie, ‘The Blind Side’, gives a young man a different future and a better life by empowering him to use his talents and gifts in a positive way.  I love the message of this movie, that each of us can also use our gifts to empower others.

Quote - Walt Disney once said "All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to believe them."  This quote that I have used throughout my reign as Miss World New Zealand, with a vision to use this special title and the gifts given to me by grace to empower others through health and education. 



FOLLOW DEBORAH ON FACEBOOK & TWITTER


Special thanks to Rose Foulger, Director of Miss World New Zealand, for facilitating this interview!


Critical Beauty wishes the best of luck to Deborah 
at Miss World 2015!

India's representative to Miss Universe 2015 crowned

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Urvashi Rautela, a 21-year-old actress and model who appears in Bollywood films, was crowned Miss Diva Universe 2015 on October 14. She will now represent India in the Miss Universe 2015 pageant to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 20. The 1st runner-up is Natasha Assadhi and the 2nd runner-up is Naveli Deshmukh. Rautela actually won Miss Universe India 2012, but because of her young age of 17 she was not eligible to compete internationally. She is the first woman in Indian pageant history to have won the same title. 


Getting To Know BRITTANY ANN PAYNE - Miss Earth United States 2015

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1. Tell us a little about yourself, your family background, education, and how you became Miss Earth United States 2015. 
I grew up in Central California where I was involved in Competition Dance, Girl Scouts, Soccer, Riding Horses, Softball, Church Organizations, and so much more. I was home-schooled therefore I traveled with my family to dozens of National Parks across the United States.  After graduation I ventured off to pursue modeling where pageantry has truly helped me gain opportunities and guide me where I am today. It was a last minute decision, a decision I am extremely glad I made to compete for Miss Earth California title, but when I won state and then won at nationals every moment fell into place.  I had a feeling inside me that proved that it was my time. That fire is still inside me, burning even more fiercely, so best believe I am ready for Austria! 

2. How did you become interested in pageants? 
I competed in my first pageant when I was 18 when my focus was on the pretty crown and wearing a big dress. After I was able to attend Miss USA 2011 in Las Vegas and my heart fell in love with what pageantry has to offer beyond the crown and a big dress. I have worked extremely hard each year competing, becoming stronger, better and more focused within several different organizations and doing my research on every aspect of pageantry. It is not only a strong passion, but an important part of my life.
 

3. How does it feel to represent the United States in Miss Earth 2015? 
It is an absolute dream to be able to say into a microphone 'representing the USA, Brittany Ann Payne' I am representing MY country and every woman that continues to compete for their dream.  While I am fulfilling my dream,  a part of me feels I am  fulfilling the dreams of many others. I hope to encourage every woman who has that same, to never give up, to continue to dream and to seek out every opportunity. 

4. Give three adjectives that your friends would use to describe you. 
Goofy, Fierce, and Hilarious 
 

5. Tell us about one life-changing experience in your life. 
This past Spring I was in a very scary car accident. Had a few factors changed, I would not be here today. I am extremely blessed to be alive and live each day to the fullest with thankfulness and caution. 

6. Name three things that you would never do.
I would never smoke cigarettes, poach an animal, or give up on anything. 
NO MAKEUP! :)

7. What do you like to do for fun? 
I really love spending time outside being active whether it's hiking, running, surfing or riding horses. And when I'm not at the gym or spending time with friends, I truly love to sit in on Sunday's watching new released movies from bed.

8. What would constitute a "perfect" evening for you?
A perfect evening to me would be after spending an overcast and rainy afternoon hiking, to drift off on a sailboat watching the setting skies in the sunset over a romantic pizza dinner and merely listening to the waves of the ocean.



9. Tell us a little bit about the United States and what makes the country different from the rest of the world?
 The United States is a melting pot of all ethnicities and all cultures creating a nation that is not only a free nation but also hard working, striving to come together to represent the every walk of life  

10. What do you think is the biggest environmental problem facing the United States and what can you do about it? 
I believe that the biggest environmental problem facing the United States is the lack of drive and positive energy towards Eco Issues. While knowledge is out there that can illustrate the ill effects and how each of us can do our part, as a country we cannot even agree that Climate Change/Global Warming even exists.  Our politicians, scientists and environmentalists argue  the merit with one another, which in turn causes confusion and distracts the importance to take action now.  The best way to make a change is to be the change, live by example and continue to educate and ask questions.  A question I would like ask is what is the harm to reduce, reuse and recycle?  What is the harm to reduce carbon emissions & footprints, to remove litter or debris from  oceans, rivers, lakes, parks, streets and highways or to support more organic, eco-friendly products, companies and organizations?

11. How will you motivate others to practice sustainable living choices? 
Motivation comes from directly demonstrating and showing the positive possibilities that sustainable living can provide. Speaking out and being the voice for change will influence many people to make the right decisions. Showing them what can and will happen if we let the lack of concern continue.
 

12. If you were to make a time capsule to represent life today, what would you put in it? 
In a non- literal sense I would put in courage because our generation has shown that our opinions do matter, that we won't stop when someone tells us no and that we are a strong, determined generation. Our life today can be represented with bravery and strength! 

13. If you woke up tomorrow and gained any one ability or quality, what would you want it to be and why? 
Hands down teleportation so I could travel anywhere in the world instantly. Having the ability to teleport allows me to save others from devastation during disaster and provide for others across the world. 
 

14. How would you describe Mother Earth to a blind person? 
A positive note on losing one sense is gaining strength in the other four. You don't need to have sight to know what beauty is. I would encourage the blind to listen to all of natures' sounds from animal noises, the blowing wind,  the crashing waves and water;  to feel the texture of the ground, plants, warmth or cold. Mother Earth is full of beauty and full of life.

15. Why do you want to be Miss Earth 2015? 
Ultimately I want to make a difference. I want our Earth to be beautiful again where everyone's mindset is focused on appreciating the world God has given us. I believe I can be that voice to encourage every person to do so. 


Brittany's Favorites


Singer/Musician – too many to decide!

Actors – Robin Williams, Mark Wahlberg 

Actresses – Meryl Streep, Emma Stone, Jennifer Aniston 

Color – Pink, Black, Blue, White

Fashion Designer – Ellie Saab 

Perfume – Daisy by Marc Jacobs 

Flower – Orchids 

Writer – Shel Silverstein

Book – The Bible

Movie – I have a favorite TV show - "Friends" - but I'm not much of a movie person. However, I do watch "The Sound of Music" every time it is airing.  

Quote – "Until God opens the next door remember to praise Him in the hallway"



FOLLOW BRITTANY ON FACEBOOK TWITTER


Special thanks to Evan Skow, Executive Director of Miss Earth United States, for facilitating this interview!


Critical Beauty wishes the best of luck to Brittany at Miss Earth 2015!


Miss Iraq Beauty Pageant to Be Held for 1st Time Since 1972

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by 
Women are ignoring death threats from religious extremists for a chance to become the first internationally-recognized Miss Iraq in more than four decades.
More than 150 women have applied for the pageant, which organizers say is a chance to "create life in Iraq" and "revive our country" after years of bloodshed and internal chaos.
However, 15 hopefuls have already dropped out of the competition amid a barrage of criticism — and even death threats — from hardliners.

The controversy hasn't been enough to deter contestants such as Shaima Qassem Abdulrahman, a 20-year-old economics student from Kirkuk.

Shaima Qassem Abdulrahman
"Our people are badly in need of such cultural activities," the freshman told NBC News. "After all we have been through, we need to do something new that would reform our society."
Like many Iraqis, Abdulrahman has been directly affected by the violence brought to her country by ISIS. Two of her cousins were members of Iraq's federal police until they were killed while fighting the militants. (Photo left: Miss Iraq contestant Shaima Qassem Abdulrahman poses for a selfie at her home in Kirkuk, Iraq.)
Five of her fellow contestants were also forced to find new homes last year after ISIS overran the northern city of Mosul.
Explaining her decision to enter the contest, Abdulrahman said that "such activities can rebuild what has been destroyed."
Iraq has a long history of holding beauty pageants.
In the 1930s, women competed at monthly events including "Miss Baghdad" and "Baghdad's Queen of Beauty," according to an article published in Nina Iraq magazine.
Wijdan Burhan al-Deen, who won in 1972, was the last internationally-recognized Miss Iraq. She went on to represent her country at Miss Universe the same year.
Since then, pageants have been held under various monikers but none were in accordance with international standards — a prerequisite for having a shot at Miss Arab and then the global Miss World event.
With a televised final in December, Iraq will follow in the footsteps of other Muslim-majority countries including Turkey, Tunisia and Egypt, which are already participants in international pageants.
"In the past I heard that such contests used to be held in Baghdad — I dreamed of being a part of one of these contests," Abdulrahman said.

This year, the organizers hope the contest will offer the chance to show a calmer, more fun-loving side to their troubled country.

"Our message is to show the world that … we are a civilized country," said Humam Al-Obaidi, sales director of the Al-Mada media group which is organizing the competition. "We want to rebuild Iraq again according to modern basis."

A Miss Iraq contestant attends an interview for the competition in Baghdad. Al-Mada Media Group

Al-Obaidi hopes Miss Iraq could be far more than a beauty pageant; he said he is looking to find an "Iraqi ambassador to the world."
The winner, he said, should be "a woman who is going to carry the message to the world that we love life … She will talk about how great Iraq and Iraqis are, and how Iraqis are struggling to stay alive."
While a beauty contest won't be able to solve the country's security problems, Al-Obaidi said it could give Iraq a much needed PR overhaul, letting the world know that there is more to the country than strife.
"Everybody around the world thinks that Iraq is connected to wars and terrorism," he said. "We are trying to change this picture."
Not everyone agrees.
The backlash saw 15 contestants drop out of the competition, said Iraqi fashion designer Sinan Kamel, who is one of the judges. Reuters reported that least two of these women had received death threats.


Image: Miss Iraq contestant
More than 150 women have applied for the Miss Iraq pageant. Al-Mada Media Group


"Contestants came from different parts of Iraq and from all religions: Muslims and Christians, Sunnis and Shiites," Kamel said, explaining his frustration at the online and local media attacks. "We do not care what their religions are."

Organizers have made some concessions. Its swimwear round was dropped in favor of the women wearing evening dresses that would "show how perfect the body of the contestant is," according to Kamel.
In fact, this decision has brought Miss Iraq in line with Miss World, which removed the swimwear round from all of its competitions starting this year.
However, Miss Iraq has kept its ban on Muslim headscarves to comply with international regulations.
"We have to stick to these rules," Al-Obaidi explained, adding that he believed extremists would object to the competition whether the winner wore a headscarf or not.
The organizers have also taken precautions to try to protect the entrants. A relative had to accompany every contestant to the interviews in Baghdad and the Iraqi Kurdish city of Irbil, as well as signing a consent form.
"Therefore, we will put ourselves away from any trouble that could be caused by families if they do not know that their daughters joined the contest," Al-Obaidi said.

Shaima Qassem Abdulrahman

Abdulrahman, the 20-year-old contestant, said she had to convince her parents to let her enter after they initially banned her from participating.
Although she has had to keep her involvement quiet among some people in her neighborhood, she said she was "confident that I am doing the right thing for myself."
For her, the contest is far more significant than most beauty pageants; it could be a crucial part of modernizing Iraq.
"Miss Iraq could enlighten the thinking of Iraqis, especially those who live a life of hundreds of years ago, who do not want to witness a life that is developed and improved," she said.
"We are a conservative Muslim country — we respect this," Abdulrahman added. "At the same time, we are a country of a great history and culture … It is true that we live in a conservative Muslim country, but not a backward one." 


SOURCE: NBCNews.com, 10/17/2015

***NOTE TO READERS: This Miss Iraq pageant organized and produced by Al-Mada Media group is the officially recognized national pageant in Iraq and the only one officially recognized by Critical Beauty. Apparently, one Iraqi individual by the name of Ahmed Talat Kadret, who claims to co-own Talat Modeling Agency with his cousin, Rania Kadret, has been claiming that he is the rightful owner of the Miss Iraq pageant, even though he does not live in Iraq (he lives in Chile) and has not been able to produce any authentic documentation (photos, videos, news articles, etc.) of any of Miss Iraq pageants that he claims to have produced in the last 10 years. Kadret also goes by "Myra Adel" (who claims to be Miss Teen Iraq and Miss Iraq 2008) and "Randa Kandillo." The other individual suspected to be associated with Kadret is "Karissa Kaani Ali" who lives in Finland. Kadret has conjured up false information concerning Miss Iraq and is now making random Chilean women pose as one. He has been sending out this false information to various pageant websites and media outlets.


Miss World Philippines 2015

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Hillarie Danielle Parungao, 24, from the province of Nueva Vizcaya, was crowned Miss World Philippines 2015 on October 19 at The Theater of Solaire Resorts and Casino. She will now represent the Philippines at the 2015 Miss World finals in Sanya, China on December 19.



1st princess: Marita Cassandra Naidas
2nd princess: Mia Allyson Howell
3rd princess: Maria Vanessa Wright
4th princess: Emma Mary Tiglao

Getting To Know BRITTANY HAZELMAN - Miss World Fiji 2015

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1. Tell us a little about yourself, your family background, education, and how you became Miss World Fiji 2015.
I was born and raised in Suva, the capital of Fiji. I originally hail from Savusavu, which is another island north of Fiji and is Fiji’s hidden paradise. I come from a family of 6 - I have two brothers and one sister including my mum and dad. I attended Holy Trinity Primary School and Yat Sen Secondary School. I later furthered my studies at the University of the South Pacific pursuing a double degree in Political Science and Economics. I later completed my studies on a basketball scholarship at Brigham Young University - Hawaii (BYUH) and graduated with my Bachelor of Arts in Political science. I returned to Fiji and started work at the regional organisation, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) as an Information’s and communications assistant. I work in the Land Resources Division (LRD) under a European Union (EU) support programme, the Pacific Agriculture Policy Project (PAPP).  It was really not by choice signing up to be part of this Miss World Fiji journey. It just so happened that I was in the area where the castings were taking place to choose the top ten contenders for Miss World Fiji. I was later asked to try out and I thought to myself, "What have I got to lose" and went for it. I really didn’t expect to get far in this journey, but all I can say that it’s been a real blessing and was definitely God ordained. 

2. How did you become interested in pageants?
I will be completely honest and say that I was never into pageants and did not pay much attention to it, even our local pageants in Fiji. I am a very athletic and sporty person, so I lived my life according to my sporting dreams and career. However, in entering this incredible platform, I now see its significance and how I am now able to advocate for things that I am passionate about. I have a deep passion to work with children and also share my experiences on the true meaning of inner beauty to young women and this platform have provided me with this amazing opportunity. 

3. How does it feel to represent Fiji in Miss World 2015?
I am very privileged to be representing my home country at Miss World. I have represented Fiji on a number of occasions for basketball as part of the Fiji team, but representing Fiji on a beauty platform is a completely different feeling. It is overall a very humbling experience.

4. Give three adjectives that your best friend would use to describe you.
Funny, compassionate and supportive.

5. Tell us about one life-changing experience in your life.
A life-changing experience in my life would have had to be after I had knee surgery after a basketball injury. It really made me realize that things are not handed to anyone on a silver platter, if I wanted something, I needed to get out there and work for it myself. My rehabilitation was the most challenging journey of my life but because of my passion to get back on the court, I worked hard for what I wanted to achieve and after 3 months I was back on the court. 

6. French writer André Gide once said, “It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.” Do you agree with this statement?
Yes, I completely agree with this statement. I am all about being original and genuine and I believe that these aspects will make you stand out of the crowd. It is better for people to see who you really are and your originality than a mask covering your uniqueness. 

7. What do you like to do for fun?
I play basketball and love watching a whole season of TV series when I unwind. 

8. Name one of your strengths and one of your weaknesses.
My strength is team work. Given my experience of playing basketball and working and playing in a team has granted me the ability to build and encourage team members. I strongly believe that there is no "I" in TEAM, and being able to work together and lift each other up is the best way forward to progress and development - whether it be your work colleagues, family or sporting team. 

9. If you could change one thing in the world, what would you change and why?
Given the opportunity to change one thing in the world, I would change people’s approach to addressing poverty on an international scale. It saddens me to see poverty stricken families, especially children struggling to make ends meet. I believe that if we place more emphasis on addressing the issue of poverty rather than having numerous planning meetings and workshops, action should be initiated by national governments. Budget allocation should be increased for these social issues. I know it is easier said than done, but sky is the limit so why not take action now? 

10. What makes Fiji stand out from the other countries in Oceania?
Fiji's location is incredible - it located in the Pacific Ocean and consists of 332 islands in total. Fiji represents an array of cultures and ethnic groups and is known for its friendly isles. In addition, we have a booming tourism industry, and as a result of this, we Fijians have become so accustomed to working and living with people from different backgrounds and upbringings. 

11. If you could be featured on the cover of any magazine, what would it be and why?
I am not big on reading magazines unless it is work related - agriculture/forestry magazines. However, I would not mind being featured on a magazine with a write-up highlighting my advocacy on this platform in hopes of inspiring young people, particularly women. 

12. If you were on a TV talk show and could get one message across to the viewers, what subject would it be on?
My message would definitely be about inner beauty and how one can use their values and morals to serve others. People that truly matter will choose to see past your physical flaws and will begin to see you for who you really are because of attributes and standards. 
 

13. Tell us about your Beauty With A Purpose project and how does it relate to Miss World?
 In 2014, we recognized the need for a new Ventilator in The Children’s Ward at The Colonial War Memorial Hospital. Our 2014 title holder, Charlene Tafuna’i began fundraising efforts and raised awareness in Fiji about the importance of a Ventilator, a machine that assists new born babies that have difficulty with breathing and saving lives.Our Beauty with a Purpose efforts attracted corporate donations from our National Airline, Fiji Airways who generously donated $50,000. 
At our national finals on July 24th, 2015, our Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Mr. Faiyaz Koya pledged a further $20,000 towards our fundraising efforts towards the purchasing of a new Ventilator Machine. 
As Miss Fiji 2015, I am continuing with the fundraising efforts to raise the balance of $30,000 required to purchasing of the new machine. 
This year and as part of our Beauty with a Purpose platform, Miss World Fiji is working on various creative concepts to bring awareness and raise the much needed balance in the purchasing of a new ventilator and gift to The Children’s ward at The Colonial War Memorial Hospital. 
Fiji’s largest bakery chain, The Hot Bread Kitchen alongside our Miss World Fiji Family are creating cupcakes that will be sold throughout their stores nationwide and a dollar from each cupcake sold will be donated towards our Beauty with a Purpose campaign.As a former Basketball representative for Fiji, I am also working alongside Bulalicious, an innovative new active wear brand that provides clothing with a conscience. All of the garments are designed and made in Fiji. Bulalicious partnered with Miss World Fiji in order to create funds for our Beauty with a Purpose Fundraising efforts to purchasing of a new ventilator. Myself and Bulalicious took part in a children's "Art attack' afternoon in The Children’s ward at The Colonial War Memorial Hospital. This artwork will then inspire the new Bulalicious 'Miss World Fiji' line. I will work closely with the design team using my Basketball experience to influence the design and manufacturing process. Once the clothing line is developed, these will be sold and a percentage of profits from each garment will be donated towards Fiji’s BWAP project. 
This project relates to the platform of Miss World’s Beauty with a Purpose as it is a Humanitarian effort in that of identifying the need for a Ventilator to assist new born babies at our local hospital while in the process, saving precious lives.A life saved is a skilled gained as I believe, each and every Fijian is responsible to how far our country has developed, inspired and impacted our Pacific Island Community. Our children are our future – we are raising up future leaders and that in itself is the essence needed to make a unique Miss World.

14. Why do you want to be Miss World 2015?
I would like to be Miss World 2015 because I believe that this role is about serving, which has always been a deep passion of mine. Serving others and being able to put their needs before my own is the most satisfying thing I can achieve from being crowned Miss World 2015. It is having that position to make more of an impact with a wider outreach to communities that need that assistance and help. This is what is holding this title is all about and I am passionate and determined to fulfil this duty to my country and others on an international scale. 


Brittany's Favourites


Singer/Musician – Mariah Carey 

Actor – Johnny Depp

Actress – Cate Blanchett

Color – Purple 

Fashion Designer – Hupfeld Hoerder (local designer)

Perfume – Issey Miyaki

Flower – Frangipanis

Book – Lord of the Rings (trilogy)

Movie – Pink Panther 

Quote – "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and he shall lift you up - James 4:10" 



FOLLOW BRITTANY ON FACEBOOK TWITTER

Special thanks to Andhy Blake, Director of Miss World Fiji, for facilitating this interview!


Critical Beauty wishes the best of luck to Brittany at Miss World 2015!


Miss Ukraine Universe 2015

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 Anna Vergelskaya, 26, from Kiev, was crowned Miss Universe Ukraine 2015 on October 18, 2015. She will represent Ukraine at Miss Universe 2015 to be held on December 20, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
She was crowned by outgoing queen Diana Harkusha (2nd runner-up in Miss Universe 2015). Diana was actually the 1st runner-up in Miss Ukraine Universe 2014 which was won by Anna Andres, but Anna relinquished her title for personal reasons.



Last two standing: first runner-up Olesya Pravnyk and the new queen Anna Vergelskaya


The new queen is sandwiched between Diana Harkusha and Anna Andres

Miss Surrey renounces her crown after Miss England pageant judges hand awards to "out of shape" beauty contestants

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Jade McQueen is now representing Wales in the Miss Supranational pageant
Jade McQueen is now representing Wales in the Miss Supranational pageant

A Chessington beauty queen has renounced her Miss Surrey title slamming the pageant after "out of shape" girls placed ahead of her in the Miss England finals.
Your Local Guardian:
Jade McQueen came 20th in the Miss England finals 

Jade McQueen, who came 20th in the pageant in August, says she was also discriminated against because of her underprivileged background.
The 23-year-old Rihanna lookalike who has also appeared on the X Factor took the Miss Surrey title in March and was the first short-haired girl ever to win.
But this week the former Chessington Community College pupil said: "I handed back my Miss Surrey title as I felt the whole thing was corrupt after I placed 20th in Miss England.
"I didn't even come in the top 20 in the talent round despite being a professional singer.”
The model added a girl who sang “terribly out of tune” was put through instead.
This prompted the beauty queen to contact pageant organisers about her concerns which included the judging of the beach beauty round.
Miss McQueen said: "The next problem was the beach beauty round. I go to the gym four times a week and I am very sporty and toned.
"I had the most toned body, yet girls who were out of shape made the top 12.
"I didn't even get a response, they just took me off the website and Facebook group and blocked me. I never got any answers.
"I told them from day one I was from a poor background and had even been homeless. I think this is what went against me as the winners are always very wealthy."
Miss McQueen has since represented Port Talbort, Wales, in the Miss Supranational UK pageant, which she won. She will now go on to the finals in Krakow, Poland in December.
She said: "At Miss England I was told they judge you on fitness and I made sure I was as fit as I could be but I didn’t get anywhere.
“I entered the Miss Supranational because they had women of all different shapes and sizes and the only requirement is confidence.
“They don’t tell you have to look one way and then judge you on something else.
Since resigning from her Miss Surrey title Miss McQueen has continued with her charity work and has filmed a mobile phone advert in Greece.
The Miss England pageant crowned a new Miss Surrey queen on Wednesday after being approached by the Comet for a comment about the allegations.
The new Miss Surrey is secretary Charlotte Rudham from Surbiton.
Miss England national director Angie Beasley said: "Unfortunately Jade didn’t place and decided to step down once she had taken part.
"We decided to give Charlotte the news three months early as we don’t have a reigning Miss Surrey."

By Rachael Burford
Source: YourLocalGuardian.co.uk, Oct. 21, 2015

Miss World Singapore winner slammed for her Myanmar origin

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The crowning of Charity Maru as Miss World Singapore 2015
Yahoo Newsroom - The crowning of Charity Maru as Miss World Singapore 2015


Charity Maru has clinched the Miss World Singapore 2015 crown but some netizens were less charitable about the choice of the 24-year-old Myanmar-born winner.
Maru, also known as Charity Lu Lu Seng, received her Singapore pink IC in 2007 and is a freelance translator who comes from a Kachin family.
At her crowning on Wednesday (21 Oct), Maru told Yahoo Singapore, “I’m a minority here. I’m a Kachin, that means I came from the Kachin State from the northern part of Myanmar.
“But Singapore has given me this opportunity and trusted me with this responsibility so I’m very grateful for it. And I’m gonna try my best to win an award at the international Miss World pageant.”
Some netizens have gone to the official Miss World Singapore Facebook page and various online forums to slam the event organisers. They criticised the choice of a contestant who is not local-born to represent the country at the finals of the pageant in Sanya, China, in December.
A certain Raj Kumar Kapoor commented on the page, “This Miss Singapore World 2015 contest is a bloody joke !!! Stop this in 2016, unless you want to crown the Top 5 to FTs and flat pancake aunty looking face!!!”
But most people expressed support for Maru and extended their congratulations and best wishes to her for the upcoming finals.
The four runners-up in the local pageant were: Kuek Ziyi (1st RU), Charis Lin (2nd RU), Ashley Chin (3rd RU) and Sheen Cher (4th RU).

sg.news.yahoo.com, 10/24/2015


Getting To Know DAYANNA GRAGEDA - Miss Earth Australia 2015!

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1. Tell us a little about yourself, your family background, education, and how you became Miss Earth Australia 2015.

I was born in Bolivia and moved to Australia with my family when I was 2 years old, where I grew up in Sydney. Since I can remember I have loved nature and animals, I have been looking after orphaned and injured wildlife since I started school. When I was 14 I found out I could volunteer at animals shelters as a cadet from St John Ambulance and since then I began volunteering everywhere I could. Charity became a lifestyle for me. 
When I finished school it was inevitable for me to study animal and veterinary bioscience at university and travel around the country and overseas to study and volunteer with animal conservation groups.  After graduating I was offered a job at Taronga Conservation Society where I worked as a zoo keeper, taking care of all sorts of animals and educating children about them.
Today I still passionately volunteer for humanitarian and wildlife conservation charities such as Sydney Metropolitan Wildlife Services and Hands and Feet (feeding the homeless). I am a passionate bush care volunteer for my local city council and community and an ambassador for Operation Restore Hope who provide surgical care for the less fortunate children of the Philippines with cleft lip and palate deformities, and more recently for Take 3 for the sea, a clean beach initiative.
Basically my life’s passion and everything that I do is about taking care of our earth and the earthlings that share its land and oceans, so when I found out about Miss Earth it became my dream. So when I finished my first university degree I went for it, wholeheartedly, and never gave up.

2.     How did you become interested in pageants?

I became interested in pageants because of Miss Earth. I stumbled across a Miss Earth bio whilst doing some research on a science assignment. I was crazy actually! I was so inspired and in awe by the mission and purpose of Miss Earth because it resonated so deeply with me. I admired the Miss Earth and the projects she was involved in and affiliations with charities I admired, and looked up to her as role model for a young 14 year old child. I dreamed that one day I would become like her and be the voice for our animals and nature and initiate change for the better.

3.     How does it feel to represent Australia in Miss Earth 2015?

It feels like a dream come true! It feels like the I’ve been given the biggest privilege so far as I feel like an ambassador for a country that I love and admire with all my heart, the country that has shaped me into the woman I am today and taught me so much about life. I am so happy but at the same time I want to do so much more to help my people go in the right direction for the benefit of our planet.

4.     Give three adjectives that your friends would use to describe you.

Loving, kind, hardworking

5.     Tell us about one life-changing experience in your life.

Since it’s still fresh in my mind, I’d have to say being unfairly dethroned last year after I won Miss Earth 2014 has been the biggest life-changing experience for me. It was without a doubt the hardest challenge in my life that I had to cope with because I was robbed of something so special and so meaningful to me, which I had worked hard to achieve and was so happy to have accomplished. It really hurt. But I got through it with the support and love of my family and friends and of course my faith in God. I had to find inner strength I never knew I had. I learnt a lot about how strong I really am and how resilient we can be emotionally and mentally. I also had to grow a whole lot of courage to return again to Miss Earth Australia 2015. But I did it, and I am grateful that I never gave up. I’ve learnt that if you have a dream…It doesn’t matter what happen in the past, the past is like an anchor that holds us back, we have to let go of the past to become who we want to be.

6.     Name three things that you would never do.

I would never ride on an elephants back because it actually hurts them, I would never litter and I would never buy a fur coat.  

7. What do you like to do for fun? 

Go the beach, go shopping with friends, and visit the zoo or a nice botanical park. 

8. What would constitute a "perfect" evening for you?

A delicious dinner with great food, and great company with lots of laughs and shared stories followed by a walk on the beach listening to the ocean waves under the stars. 

9. Tell us a little bit about Australia and what makes the country different from the rest of the world?

Australia is the world’s largest island and the 6th largest country. With more than 500 national parks and 15 World Heritage-listed wonders it is a country abundant in natural beauty. We have some of the rarest and strangest flora and fauna too with 80% of our plants, mammals, reptiles and frogs being unique only to Australia. Some of these animals include the kangaroo, koala, echidna, dingo, platypus and wombat, 
The Aboriginal people of Australia have a rich, living culture stretching back at least 50,000 years. They believe in living with the land, not off it and teach one another to preserve not destroy the land. Land is fundamental to their wellbeing, it is not just soil or rocks or minerals, but a whole environment that sustains and is sustained by people and culture.
We are also home to the world’s largest reef system, the Great Barrier Reef which is so big that is visible from outer space! It is made up of over 900 islands stretching for over 2,600 kilometres and is composed of over 2,900 individual reefs, 1625 species of fish, 30 species of whales and dolphins and much more!
Every corner of Australia has something interestingly different and beautifully colourful to see. 

10. What do you think is the biggest environmental problem facing Australia and what can you do about it?

The biggest environmental problem Australia is facing today is climate change. Climate change is affecting our temperatures around the country as we have experienced an increase in flash flooding, bush fires and prolonged drought. We have had our hottest days ever recorded this year as our temperatures continue to rise. We are also still burning fossil fuels for our main source of energy leading to an increasing amount of carbon dioxide in out atmosphere which is being absorbed by our oceans and increasing the water’s acidity levels. This is causing a detrimental impact on our coral reef which plays a critical role in our Great Barrier Reef ecosystem, forming habitats and food sources for thousands of species.  
As Miss Earth Australia I want to bring about awareness and education amongst the people in my country so they are aware of the factors which contribute to climate change and provide them way and ideas on how we can reduce our carbon footprint (the amount of carbon dioxide we each produce) and ways to live more sustainably. This can be done through school visits, community gatherings and appearances on television and news prints, raising the issue of climate change. I also want to speak to environmental politicians to motivate them to push forward renewable energies into our homes, schools and businesses and replacing oil and goal generated energy all together. Within my community I can get more involved with organisations and campaigns that promote sustainable living and lead by example for others to follow and highlight the importance of climate change. It is no longer just an environmental issue it is a humanitarian and ethical issue. Droughts and drastic temperature fluctuations cause food shortage and bushfires and floods cause the loss of many lives and homes.
 

11. How will you motivate others to practice sustainable living choices?

I believe that to motivate others we first need to help them to understand the importance of a cause. Through educational campaigns I want people to realise the direct effect our way of life and our actions impact and damage our ecosystems from the accumulations of plastics in our oceans to the expelling of carbon dioxide from our homes and cars. But more importantly I want to focus on creating solutions and alternatives, to give them tools and ways to change their way of living and embracing a life of harmony with our earth. Starting simple and at home and eventually changing communities, governments and the world! I am sure that once people share the same vision and understanding they will feel so happy and grateful for our earth. They’ll realise the positive impact they are having and will encourage others to follow also. 
 12. If you were to make a time capsule to represent life today, what would you put in it?


I would put an iPad that contains images of the world as it is today, a mixture of our culture, music, arts and pictures of our landscapes.

13. If you woke up tomorrow and gained any one ability or quality, what would you want it to be and why?

I would definitely want to be able to fly! Then I would be able to fly to different countries to save animals all over the world that are being neglected or mistreated. I would also be able to take pictures from up in the sky to show people and governments of the effects of our actions are having on our environment, such as land clearing and pollution.

14. How would you describe Mother Earth to a blind person?

Mother Earth is more than just a visual experience. It is an experience of all our senses. You can feel the warmth of sun’s rays, breathe in the fresh ocean air, touch the textures of the forests, taste the fruits and listen to the songs of birds. There aren’t enough words to describe the wonders of Mother Earth so instead I would take the blind person to Mother Earth and let her do the talking.

15. Why do you want to be Miss Earth 2015?

I want to be Miss Earth because this title represents everything that I believe in, that I am passionate about, that I have lived up to and everything that I am. The mission of Miss Earth is my mission, with or without a crown. I have and always will be an earth warrior but with the crown I would be more influential. My heart is in this cause as I have always wanted to help those who are less fortunate than me especially those without a voice. I grew up rescuing animals and reading about the devastating circumstances our environment faces and every time my heart would break. I grew more determined to fight against the destruction, and now as a woman with a voice, I want to create change to stop the suffering, to stop the pouching, to stop the burning, to stop the destruction and to save our earth. Miss Earth is more than just a pageant. For me, it’s the honor and responsibility of being an ambassador, an educator, a role model and a protector of our earth for every creature on this earth. I want to share this passion with the world so that people everywhere can teach our future generations to also care for our earth, like crating ripples of change that go on forever.



Dayanna's Favourites

Singer/Musician – Ed Sheeran

Actor – Tom Hanks

Actress – Anne Hathaway

Color – Baby pink

Fashion Designer – Vera Wang

Perfume – Creed Spring Flower

Flower – Roses

Writer – Nicholas Sparks

Book – Awaken the giant within by Anthony Robbins

Movie – Interstellar

Quote – “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” – Walt Disney

 

FOLLOW DAYANNA ON FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM

Special thanks to Peter Sereno of Dear Pageant Girl for facilitating this interview!


Critical Beauty wishes the best of luck to Dayanna at Miss Earth 2015!

Miss Universe New Zealand 2015

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Samantha McClung, 20, from Christchurch was crowned Miss Universe New Zealand 2015 on October 24. The first runner-up is Hannah Henderson and second runner-up Gabrielle Manaloto. McClung will now represent New Zealand in Miss Universe 2015 pageant to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 20th.




Reina Hispanoamericana 2015

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Sofia Del Prado Prieto of Spain was crowned Reina Hispanoamericana 2015 in Santa Cruz, Bolivia on October 24. She is the first woman from her country to win the coveted regional title.

Official Results:

Reina Hispanoamerica 2015 - Spain - Sofia Del Prado Prieto
Virreina - Paraguay - Laura Garcete
1st runner-up - Aruba - Digene Zimmerman
2nd runner-up - Venezuela - Karielys Cuadros
3rd runner-up - Argentina - Yoana Yon
4th runner-up Curacao - Neyda Lithgow

The remaining 3 finalists were:

Panama - Carmen Jaramillo
Mexico - Sandra Ahumada
Dominican Republic - Sofinel Baez



Miss Universe Argentina 2015

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Claudia Barrionuevo, 24, from Salta, was crowned Miss Universe Argentina 2015 on October 23rd. She will compete in Miss Universe 2015 to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 20th.


Former Miss Rhode Island USA Anea Garcia wins Miss Grand International 2015

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Anea Garcia, 20, representing the Dominican Republic, was crowned Miss Grand International 2015 in Bangkok on October 25th. Garcia was a former Miss Rhode Island USA 2015 and placed 2nd runner-up in Miss USA 2015 last July. Garcia, as well as her two predecessors, Janelee Chaparro (Puerto Rico) and Lees Garcia (Cuba) are all Latinas and represented Caribbean countries while holding U.S. passports, which makes fans wonder if the pageant owner Nawat Itsaragrisil favors Latin women with U.S. background. The pageant debuted in 2013 and seeks to stop war and violence.


Garcia's court includes 1st runner-up Claire Elizabeth Parker (Australia), 2nd runner-up Vartika Singh (India), Parul Shah (Philippines), and Rattikorn Kunsom of Thailand. The rest of the top 10 included the delegates from Brazil, Sri Lanka, Spain, Japan and Costa Rica. Completing the top 20 were the candidates from Poland, United States, Angola, France, Ukraine, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Czech Republic, Netherlands and Mexico.


ANEA GARCIA AS MISS RHODE ISLAND USA 2015

Who Is George Buchis And Why You Should Avoid Him Like A Plague

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SEE UPDATES below: #Scam #Alert #UNFW #OvetteRicalde #LuisLavin

BUCHIS GEORGE / Photo credit: Facebook
    
     Buchis George (born Prince Buchi George) is a Nigerian national in his early 40s who has been promoting himself as the president of Face of  World Organization and founder of more than 30 international beauty pageant and fashion/model events. He also uses the names "Buchi George," "George Buchi Nwabueze," "Prince George Buchi Nwabueze," and "Honorable Nwabueze Buchi George." For the sake of brevity, we will refer to the subject simply as "Buchi" since he uses it more often than "Buchis." Buchi made the pageant headlines nearly two years ago when a Taiwanese woman named Yeh Hai Wei reported to a Taiwanese news outlet that the beauty pageant she had attended called "Face of World 2013" (FWO) in Johannesburg, South Africa was actually a scam used for human trafficking. With the help of her family, Yeh rushed to contact the South African Embassy in Taiwan. Authorities discovered that Buchis has been scamming gullible individuals (contestants as well as national directors) by persuading them to pay franchise or entry fees for pageants or modeling competitions that do not exist. Attempts to retrieve their money back from Buchi has proved to be fruitless. Wei's story was uploaded on YouTube over a year ago:


 

      I hate to sound like a broken record, but for years I have been warning directors to do thorough research about the organizer(s) before sending their contestants to a "new" pageant. The "Face Of  World 2013" scandal should serve as ample warning to naive individuals, but it seems that this warning is falling on deaf ears as we see that Buchi is back in business and reining in new victims. His latest international event: the United Nations Fashion Week  (UNFW) to be held in New York City's Waldorf Astoria Hotel and Resort from October 20 to 26, 2015.  Below is a screenshot of Buchi's Facebook "Public Figure" page (his old one - under "George Buchi Nwabueze" - had been deleted). Notice that the new one uses "Buchi George" instead of "Buchis George." Buchi's seems to suffer from delusions of grandeur, as suggested by his questionable "résumé" on his Page Info. For someone who is supposed to be well-educated ("a law graduate student"), he does not mention the educational institutions that he has attended (that is, if ever attended any). And for someone who claims to be a "reformed education advocate," he can't even spell the words "business" and "activist" correctly. 



     One national director took upon herself to do a thorough investigation of Buchi. Carolyn Baldwin Botha, the CEO at Pageants SA (South Africa). When I asked Carolyn if she had met Buchi in person, she recounted to me the following story via e-mail (March 10, 2015):

"He approached me in 2013 to help him with a competition he was going to do here is SA. After working on the event for quite a while I realized that he was a fraud. I contacted the venues he was advertising and none had any bookings from him, merely only inquiries, so I insisted that before I continue to help he pay me for my time already spent which, of course, I knew by then was not going to happen. Apparently he had gone to see Alex Liu in Singapore about being his Head Judge for the event. When I then exposed him, he blocked me on Facebook which suited me very well as I could then do a few more posts about him. I tried to contact all the contestants to warn them not to come to SA and that I believed it would be a scam, however a few did come. I received a frantic call from the contestants and some directors asking me to go and rescue the contestants as they were being held 'captive' in some grimy hotel in the worst possible area in SA - Hillbrow. I do not know of any South African that actually even ventures to drive within 500 meters of the area and it is crawling with illegal immigrants, drugs, prostitutes and everything that no right-minded person would be involved in. I gave the people the police telephone number and from what I can gather they managed to escape to the police station and George was arrested. I have no idea what happened after then as I believe that his Facebook page was silent for many months; however, I did notice that he has again started his con as someone emailed me to ask about him. Of course. I exposed him but more I cannot do."

     Carolyn had posted several warnings about Buchi on her Facebook page beginning in November 2013: 




     Besides Carolyn, other Facebook users also lambasted Buchi with scathing remarks of their own. This one from "Cindy James" warns readers of another fake event called "Global Fashion Week & Awards" that was supposed to take place in Abuja, Nigeria on August 2014. It never did. The poster also suggests that Buchi is a supplier of foreign female sex slaves to the Islamic Nigerian terrorist group, Boko Haram:

 
- - - - -

     Nigerian Bola Victoria Harpprecht (BVictoria BV), founder of Diversity Culture International pageant, rebukes her compatriot in this posting from September 2014 and shares the link to an exposé published by Missosology:

- - - - -
     A Filipino pageant fan, Marie Anne Ayala Michavez, posted a warning about Buchi's sinister intentions while referring to "Face of World 2014" that was supposed to take place in Manila, Philippines on December 2014 (which, of course, never did):


     Buchi promoted the Face of World 2014 pageant by posting this banner that only announced the title, year and location of the event. One could only assume that it dealt with a female pageant:



     But in the second one,  posted by Buchis's now former associate IPEN (International Professional Entertainment Network), run by Edgar Sulit in Toronto, Canada, it advertises the exact dates, the location (Manila), and that five Mister titles would be awarded. No indication of titles for females:


     How exactly did Edgar Sulit get involved with Buchi? Enter Ovette Ricalde (real name: Lamberto Ricalde) a Filipino who passes himself as the "managing director, international pageant director, and pageant consultant" at MegaStar Production based in the Philippines. Ovette himself had engaged in some shady business in the past (and continues to do so). He has a long history of "crowning" winners who can afford to pay their own way to their respective pageants. For example, he sent a young woman by the name of Princess Ramos to Miss Globe International 2014 in Azerbaijan, but it was Princess herself who paid for her own airfare and the franchise fee. However, the Philippine delegate to the 2014 Face of Beauty International pageant held in Taiwan last November - a deaf-mute teenage girl from a poor family named Princess Alanis Pura - could not compete because she could not afford the airfare. Rumor has it that the only reason Ovette had chosen her as the representative was to gain publicity by exploiting her handicap.  


On his Facebook page, Ovette Ricalde promotes himself as the "Mother Of All Pageants" because he believes he owns the most number of pageant franchises in the Philippines.
   
      Edgar had forwarded to me an exchange of e-mails between Buchi and Ovette (courtesy copies had been sent to Edgar by Buchi as well). Edgar also forwarded to me all pertinent documentation referencing his professional relationship with Buchi. The correspondence between the three men began in July 2014. Here's a summary of the content of each e-mail:

June 9, 2014 - Edgar sends Buchi a copy of a letter written by Edgar  - dated June 9, 2014 - and addressed to the Canadian Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria requesting the Embassy to secure a Canadian visitor’s visa for Buchi so he could be the "special guest" and "celebrity judge" at the 2014 Mister Global Tourism Canada and 2014 Miss United Continents Canada to be held at St. Cyril and Methody Hall in Toronto on  July 12, 2014.

July 18, 2014 - Buchi writes to Ovette inviting him "to be part of 2014 Mister Global Tourism and Face of World pageant in Manila, Philippines." (Side note: Buchi's English is rather mediocre with plenty of misspelled words, faulty syntax and run-on sentences, so for the benefit of clarity, I have purposely edited and corrected his written English). Buchi then explains his side of the story (what exactly happened in South Africa).


July 21, 2014 - Buchi sends a letter (in JPEG format) to Edgar officially appointing him as Face of World Organization's  "vice-president of administrations and franchising." Edgar's responsibility would be to lead FWO's administration office in Canada, to be the "vice-global coordinator" of Global Family Funds (the charity and humanitarian arm of FWO), and that he would be entitled to "25% of proceeds of profits" of all of FWO's business dealings.


July 23, 2014 - Ovette proposes to Buchi that if Buchi wants to clear his name, he should conduct a media press conference and invite pageant sites like Critical Beauty, Missosology, OPMB Worldwide, Philippines Pageants and Sash Factor, plus Prime Lens Photography - to cover the conference. Ovette requires Buchi to pay him an honorarium for the amount of "$200 x 6 people = $1200" (I assume that a representative for each pageant site as well as the Prime Lens photographer would be paid $200 just for showing up at the press conference, so that would make 6 people in total attendance). Ovette also requires Buchi to pay $600 for a luncheon for 20 people and to send his public statement to be distributed to the media. Ovette ends the e-mail by providing detail of his bank account to Buchi (should Buchi decide to accept Ovette's proposal, then he would wire money directly to O
vette 's bank account).  (***Buchi failed to send any money to Ovette ; therefore, the press conference never materialized.)

August 14, 2014 - Buchi asks Edgar to send him a budget proposal. Buchi promises Edgar that he will send money to pay for all the expenses. Edgar advises Buchi that he will reimburse him after the pageant in Toronto.


August 18, 2014 - Edgar sends Buchi  a copy of the agreement between Edgar's company (IPEN) and Westin Harbour Castle Toronto where the pageant would be held.


August 20. 2014 - Edgar sends his bank account information to Buchi. (***Edgar claims that he never received a penny from Buchi and that he had already spent so much money from his own pocket.)


September 2, 2014 - Edgar sends two documents to Buchi: 1) a contract ("Memorandum of Agreement") between his company (IPEN) and Buchi's (FWO). The contract lays out the respective obligations of each party; and 2) a copy of a letter written by Edgar - dated September 1, 2014 - and addressed to the Canadian Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria requesting the Embassy to secure a Canadian visitor’s visa for Buchi so he could be the "special guest of honour" at the Toronto pageant.


     Buchi failed in fulfilling his obligations to Edgar, which prompted Edgar to ask Buchi to take down all of Edgar's contact information from Buchi's multiple fake pageant websites, and to end all communications with him. That was two months ago. Meanwhile, Buchi blocked Edgar on Facebook and continues to promote fake events. His latest one is the UNFW event.




      Buchi - along with his equally shady Filipino associate Ovette Ricalde - are currently promoting the UNFW event on social network. Now that Edgar is out of the picture, Buchi and Ovette found another potential benefactor to help them coordinate the event in the United States. Enter Danny Pagsambugan, the founding president of Maharlikang Pilipino USA (MPU) which used to produce fashion shows and pageants for the Filipino community in the East Coast. Danny started communicating with Buchi via Ovette last December 2014. Danny met Ovette in Manila during the last week of January 2015; the two struck a friendship. Danny is undoubtedly one of the dearest people I know in the pageant industry; he is also kind, generous, and honest and he is always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need, so when the opportunity arose for Ovette to find someone from America to help him organize the UNFW event, he approached Danny who subsequently obliged. A third person, Collins Sam Guvai, a citizen of Kenya who refers to himself as the "executive board secretary at United Nations Fashion Week-UNFW" on his Facebook page, is also involved in the running of the event. But since neither Buchi nor Collins has any registered business in the United States, Danny took the liberty to register the event under his name. Danny also wrote letters to the U.S. embassies in Nigeria and Kenya requesting them to issue a visitor's visa for Buchi and Collins respectively so they could attend the event in New York City.  

     An agreement between Danny's company, MPU (Maharlikang Pilipino USA) and Buchi's FWO (Face of World Organization) was drafted on January 22, 2015; the agreement stated that MPU would be the host and events partner and would be responsible for the following: securing the venue; hiring professional models, glam squad, dressers to assist the models, ushers, photographer, videographer, cleaning crew; providing dressing and styling space, racks and clothes hangers; creating a webpage with thumbnail photos from the show; and publishing program books and press release. It was also agreed that FWO would fund the entire project, and that net sales and profit from the project would be divided in this manner: 70% to MPU and 30% to FWO. Danny signed the agreement, but Buchi did not - which made Danny suspicious of Buchi's intentions. On January 24, 2015, Danny posted on his Facebook page that the UNFW event "has been cancelled" and that he does "not want to deal with them anymore" (them meaning Buchi, Collins and Ovette). Danny officially cut ties with the trio on February 2015.

     With Danny out of the picture, Buchi, Collins and Ovette are currently promoting UNFW as a week-long project "designed as a glamorous celebration of artistry honoring excellence in fashion" featuring fashion designers from all over the world, as well as consisting of supermodel search, a gala ball, a live charity concert, awards, and other fashion-related events.  Originally, it was scheduled to be held from August 24 to 29 at the historic Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, but now it has been changed from October 20 to 26, 2015. A skeptical Danny met with the Waldorf Astoria events executive on March 11, 2015 who informed him, sure enough, that the October dates have not been secured for the event and that the publicity that Buchi and his accomplices have been posting on social media is completely false.


     How amusing is the fake document below signed by Buchi granting Ovette the license as the national director for the Philippines and as the regional director for Asia? Hardly proofread - and undated. And one wonders who really occupies the space at 550 St Amable Street, Suite 407, Quebec, Canada:



      And how laughable is this amateurish logo that infringes on the iconic logo of the United Nations Organization featuring a couple of olive branches?

      
     Another accomplice, Luis Lavin, is hosting the Mexican edition of UNFW in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico from June 24 to 28, 2015:




       On Twitter, the event is advertised as being managed by "Lavin & Asociados" ("Lavin & Associates"):




      I contacted the United Nations Organization via e-mail to inquire if the UNFW event is sanctioned and authorized by UNO, but I have not yet received any response. Though I have a feeling that I will never get a response because UNO has far more important things to do than to waste precious time investigating a UNQ (United Network of Quacks).  Has the UNO actually sponsored or organized fashion events in the past? A simple Google search generated several results:


UN teams up with fashion industry to fight poverty (Published by the UN News Centre on June 28, 2012. In collaboration with the Fashion for Development Initiative founded by former Bangladesh-born international model, Bibi Russell).

Fashion finds inspiration at the United Nations (Published by the United Nations Blog on January 8, 2014. Attended by Project Runway All Stars host Alyssa Milano and designer Isaac Mizrahi.)

The United Nations had a fashion show, and it was actually good (Published by Quartz.com on September 24, 2014. The show took place at the UN Headquarters in New York City.)

Fashion models strut in United Nations debate chambers (Published by CNN on November 11, 2014. Watch a video of models walk the runway at the UN.)

The United Nations hosts fashion show for Palestinian-Italian designer Jamal Taslaq (Published on November 12, 2014 by Bustle.com)

      Notice that these fashion shows actually took place at the UN Headquarters, and not at some hotel in New York City. So if UN could deliver fashion shows at its headquarters, why would it hold an October 2015 fashion week at an event space that is not affiliated with the organization? Buyer, beware!

By Rafa Delfin, March 14, 2015




UPDATE:  Monday, October 26, 2015: So it seems that Ovette Ricalde did go to New York City and attended the UNFW event but it turned out that it was nothing more than a podunk fashion show held in a room at Hotel Pennsylvania with rooms, without a stage or proper runway, no stage lights, and no banner or signs advertising the event at all. And the models! Ugh! If you can call them models!  And as usual, George Buchi was a no-show! Lol!





UPDATE:  Sunday, October 18, 2015: On 10/14/2015, received an e-mail from Brenda De La Fuente of UNO who confirmed that the UNFW event is neither sanctioned nor authorized by UNO. Unfortunately, UNO will not pursue the case as there are too many scam artists using the UN name and logo:



     
     Since I originally posted this exposé on March 14, 2015, Buchis George has changed the hotel venue from the posh Waldorf Astoria Hotel, to the mundane Espace Convention Centre, and now to a bedbug-infested 2-star Hotel Pennsylvania. 


      In her e-mail, Brenda included a screenshot of Hotel Pennsylvania's Calendar of Events which reveals that there is no booking for UNFW on the week of October 20:




     Meanwhile, Buchis's accomplice, Ovette Ricalde, posted on his Facebook that UN will present him with an award as  "Humanitarian Personality of the Year & Style Person of the Year." Notice the rather amusing description underneath: "A strong Man / Woman with pure dedications to His / Her works, family and social matters." Whoever created the graphics couldn't even make up their mind if Ricalde is a male or a female. It remains to be seen if Ricalde will actually travel to New York City to receive the award at the fleabag of a hotel.






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UPDATE:  Wednesday, March 18, 2015: I received a second reply from the United Nations Organization confirming once and for all that the UNFW event is neither sanctioned nor authorized by them:





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UPDATE:  Monday, March 16, 2015: I received a reply from the United Nations Organization regarding my inquiry as to whether or not the UNFW event is sanctioned by UNO. Apparently not!







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