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Miss Universe Jamaica 2013

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Kerrie Simone Baylis, 25, was crowned Miss Universe Jamaica 2013 at the Jewel Dunn’s River Beach Resort in Ocho Rios on September 8th, 2013. She will represent Jamaica in the Miss Universe 2013 pageant to be held on November 9th  at the Crocus City Hall in Moscow, Russia. Her court includes first runner-up Chantel Davis and the second runner-up Salome Campbell.






Miss America welcomes a tattooed contestant for the first time

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As conventional as the Miss America pageant may seem — and almost quaint in an era of debauched ex-Disney starlets twerking their way to the top of the news cycle — the longstanding beauty contest is no stranger to ever-so-gently pushing the envelope. It began in the 1920s as a national ritual enshrining good looks with patriotism and good ol' conservative values. But, since then the pageant has tried to keep up with the zeitgeist, if always slightly behind the curve. In 1974, Miss America winner Rebecca Ann King publicly declared her support to legalize abortion. In 1984, Vanessa Williams became the first woman of color to win the title (only to relinquish it shortly later when Penthouse published nude photos of her and a scandal ensued). And, tonight in Atlantic City, Miss Kansas, Sgt. Theresa Vail, will walk down the catwalk and pull a Miss America first: She'll expose her tattoos.

Don't expect a full sleeve of flaming skulls on the sergeant, though. Vail is only inked with the insignia for the U.S. Army Dental Corps on her left shoulder and the Serenity Prayer running down her right side. Still, Vail stands apart from her competition as both a servicewoman and a member of the tattooed ranks, too. "Nobody expects a soldier to be a beauty queen," Vail told People, "but I'm all about breaking stereotypes." Well. 

The question, however, is whether those stereotypes are in need of breaking. (Miss America's standards of beauty have not exactly kept up with the rest of the country, have they?) If anything, it's everything but Vail's tattoos that make her more compelling: She can skin a deer, she's a crack shot with an M16, she's fluent in Chinese, and she can master an aria in less than 48 hours. 

But Vail's decision to bare her tattooed skin is perhaps more boundary-breaking for the staid Miss America pageant than any of her fearsome skills, and it still comes from a good place. "How can I tell other women to be fearless and true to themselves if I can't do the same?" she asked. "I am who I am, tattoos and all." (People)

Source: Refinery29.com, 9/11/2013




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PHOTO: VIA PEOPLE.




Miss Universe Spain 2013

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Patricia Yurena Rodriguez, 23, was crowned Miss Universe Spain 2013 on September 11th at the Hotel Ada Palace in Madrid. The native of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is 23 years old. and will compete in Miss Universe 2013 in Moscow on November 9th. The first runner-up was Lidia Santos and the second runner-up was Ana Montabes

In 2008 Rodriguez won the Miss España 2008 title and was supposed to represent Spain in Miss Universe, budue to Miss Universe eligibility regulation which requires that every contestant must be eighteen before February 1, Rodríguez was ineligible to attend Miss Universe 2008 in Nha Trang, Vietnam. She was replaced by her first runner-up Claudia Moro of Madrid instead.


Miss Universe Honduras 2013

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Diana Mendoza, representing Tela, was crowned Miss Universe Honduras 2013on September 10th at the the Real Intercontinental Hotel in San Pedro Sula City. She will represent Honduras in Miss Universe 2013 pageant in Moscow, Russia on November 9th.

DIANA MENDOZA

At the same event, Natalya Coto, representing El Progreso, was crowned Miss Earth Honduras 2013 and will compete in the Miss Earth 2013 pageant in the Philippines scheduled for December 7th.


Getting To Know Miss Earth Canada 2013 - SOFIYA CHORNIY

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1. Please tell us something about yourself, your full name, age, height, vital statistics, where you came from, educational information, your interests and hobbies and other important facts about yourself.
Name: Sofiya Chorniy Age: 19 years old 
Height: 5’9 Stats: Brown eyes, dirty blonde hair, 35-25-36 
Born in L’viv, Ukraine
Studying Kinesiology, French, and enrolled in the Concurrent Teacher’s Education Program at the University of Toronto
Interests: Environmental issues, nature’s benefits to human health, physical activity, wellness
Hobbies: Exercise (biking, running, swimming), arts & crafts, community nature cleanups, reading
Facts: Played water polo for 7 years as the goalie of the Mavericks Water Polo club, as a child I spent the majority of my time outdoors, enjoy spending time with my family

2. Who influenced you to join your country’s national pageant prior to winning the title to represent your country at Miss Earth? How did this person influence you to join your country’s national pageant?
My parents are a large influence in my life. They push me to be the best I can be and so when I decided to join the pageant, their encouragement motivated me to follow through with this big decision.

3. How were you chosen to represent your country and what preparations have you done for the Miss Earth 2013 competition?
Miss Earth Canada 2013 consisted of several parts – the contestants were judged based on an interview, presentation in swimwear and evening gown, and our final answers. There were also awards given for Miss Congeniality, Best in Swimwear, Best in Evening gown, Best Talent, Miss Photogenic. I received the awards Miss Photogenic and Best in Swimwear.

4. If you choose among the four elements: earth, air, water or fire, what would you like to be and why?
I would like to be water. Water is the basis of life, and without it, there would be no life on the planet. Also, water is the most abundant substance on Earth and the year of 2013 has been dedicated by the UN to International Water Cooperation because of its integral role on our planet.

5. What is your fashion sense and style? Who is your style icon and why did you choose him/her?
I would say my fashion style is comfortable and feminine. I do not follow style icons frequently and therefore cannot name someone who’s style mine is closest to. However, one person whose style I truly admire is that of Kate Middleton. I love that she is always dressed very elegantly with tasteful femininity.

6. If you are an animal, what would you be and why would you like to be that animal?
That is a difficult choice as there are so many spectacular animals on our planet. I would have to choose to be a dolphin. Dolphins have been shown to be very similar to humans in many ways, and are often portrayed as the oceanic mammal that comes to the rescue of human beings – showing their sympathetic capabilities. They have been names to be some of the most intelligent creatures on Earth. Dolphins also experience a part of the world completely different from what we are accustomed to.


7. What is your idea of fun? How do you enjoy yourself to have fun?
My ideas of fun vary depending on what my mood is. Sometimes it is going out and dancing with friends, other times it is reading, and other times it is working and studying!

8. How would you describe the following colors to a blind person?
A. Red – the colour of heat and the colour that represents passionate feelings like love and anger.
B. White – the colour of light – the colour of purity and of hope
C. Blue – the colour of the water and the sky (which is something all that those with vision can see high above them outside). Blue is the colour of depth on Earth.
D. Yellow – the colour of happiness and of the sunshine that they can feel on their skin.
E. Green – the colour of life, of the leaves and plants that they can touch and hear as the wind moves them.

9. Explain what does this quote by Rachel Carson means, “Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.”
There are certain things that we as humans will never know about the Earth and its workings. However, we can gain a certain understanding from it – a priceless connection, one that heals the person. Nature, with its greatness and timeless presence, also helps put things into perspective for a person – as it reminds us of the cycles of life, and that time goes on. When people slow down in their life to appreciate the beauty of nature, this provides them with a peace of mind, and with pleasure from the beauty they are seeing and experiencing.

10. We live in a world where there are a lot of environment hazards like pollutions, etc. How would you pursue clean living in your community and make our community and our planet Earth a better place to live?
I believe that when little changes are combined in our lifestyle, this amounts to a lifestyle that is wholly greener. Many of the cleaning supplies my family and I use are environmentally friendly, I bike to places I visit often such as to my friend’s house, the gym, or the library. I also enjoy contributing to the community by presenting educational environment materials to children.

11. What environmental platform do you want to pursue during the Miss Earth 2013 pageant and how would you help to pursue this platform?
My environmental platform is teaching as many people as possible about the benefits of nature to our health. The environment is suffering more than ever, and I believe that a weak connection to nature is one of the problems. The technology/information era may give individuals a know-it-all attitude towards nature, when it is really something they should experience themselves if they are to learn how complex it is, and to experience the health gains that exposure to nature offers them. Also, the closer the bond between an individual and nature, the more likely they will engage in environmentally friendly acts.


12. Are you a member of any environmental organization or animal rights protection group in your country?
I am a Site Coordinator of multiple shoreline cleanups in my community – part of the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, and will soon be an EcoMentor – part of the EcoMentors organization.

13. In your country, what do you think is the most common environmental problems that need serious attention? And how will you do your part to help eliminate or prevent this problem?
Preserving our resources. Firstly, the situation at the Oil Rigs of Alberta is detrimental to the ecosystems under which it lays, since to gain access to them, the life on the surface is literally scraped off the face of the planet. Secondly, the surrounding water is becoming polluted, and we need to take care of this precious substance as it is becoming increasingly scarce around the world – as the International Year of Water Cooperation teaches us. Though the oil is beneficial to our economy while it lasts, we should not scavenge for what is left of these oil reserves, and move onto greener sources of fuel. What I would do for this is try to educate as many people as I can about it, especially children. If we teach children the immeasurable power of their actions as future responsible citizens, they will do great things.

14. Aside from your country, which country in the world would you like to live? And why did you choose this country?
Every country I have visited thus far (Ukraine, Poland, Russia, France, United States, Malta..) has its own charm and would be worth living in. I believe have not seen enough of the Earth to truly know where I would like to live. There are many countries I would love to visit, however. The Philippines is one of them and I am overjoyed that Miss Earth 2013 will be taking place there!

15. What do you think is the biggest environmental problem that our planet Earth is experiencing today? And how would you do your share to prevent this problem?
I believe the biggest problem facing us and the environment is the critical situation at the Fukushima power plant. We as the human species have not yet thought of a proper way to dispose of nuclear waste, and it is a very dangerous substance to be spewing out into the Earth’s largest ocean, as it is. There is no way to filter it, and it is very potent and comes with many detrimental consequences to life. I do not think I can do much about this particular problem, but once again if we learn from this situation, we are less likely to make the same mistakes again.

16. If you win the Miss Earth title, how would you use your title to promote environmental awareness all over the world? 
Being a future educator, I would start by raising as much awareness possible to the general public about the importance of being involved in the community, and by being a responsible inhabitant of the earth – and therefore making environmentally-friendly lifestyle choices. I would also teach children, as our future change-makers, about the wonders of nature, and how they can help Mother Earth heal.

17. Which of the two would you choose and why?
A. Beautiful or Smart. I would choose smart. Being smart is always more deeply rewarding because expanding your knowledge is expanding your limits in life.
B. City or Countryside. I would choose city. In the city it is faster to get to one place to another and there are more differing opportunities. One can also use public transit in the city easily. However, when I raise my children, I wish to do so in the countryside as I would like them to experience an ever-present natural environment growing up.
C. Money or Fame. This is a hard decision. Money and fame can both be used for great things. Money – as a means to achieve something large. Fame – same thing, and gives you a platform to spread a message if you choose to do so. I would choose money because fame may bring a person negative attention. Regardless of positive things that a person has done, there will always be scrutiny. With money, one can pick and choose their spotlight and spread their message that way.
D. Deaf or Mute. Mute. As a person, I am a listener and a firm believer in lifelong learning. I love listening to stories, explanations, and opinions of others. Also, I treasure being able to hear others, and would love to be able to hear the voices of my parents, relatives, and friends.
E. Hot or Cold. Cold. The feeling of the rewarding warmth that comes after being cold is one of the best feelings in my opinion.

18. When you are in the final days of your life, what will you want?
I would want to know that my children and loved ones are in good hands, that I have served my purpose in life, and that I have experienced a positive change in humanity in my lifetime – and that hopefully I was an influencer in it.


19. If you are the answer, what will the question be and why did you choose this question?
Who will be the happiest participant at Miss Earth 2013? I will. I think it is a great honour to be able to compete at Miss Earth. This organization has such an important message to spread and just by preparing for this pageant and by competing in it, everyone is already a winner.

20. Lastly, what is your special message to all the people reading this interview? Also, please tell them to support you and the Miss Earth pageant.


Thank you to those who took the time to read through my answers. The Miss Earth pageant is very important to me as I have learnt very many dear lessons throughout my preparation and leading up to my decision to compete in the Miss Earth Canada competition. Thank you and I hope to hear from you! Please like my page to support me: www.facebook.com/SofiyaChorniyMEC2013

By Deybid Natanawan

Ecuador wins Miss United Continents 2013

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Hometown girl Carolina Aguirre, 21, from Guayaquil, Ecuador was crowned Miss United Continents 2013 on September 14 in Guayaquil. Aguirre represented Ecuador in Miss Universe 2012 pageant but did not place. Miss United Continents used to be called Miss Continente Americano but was changed earlier this year to attract countries outside the Americas. The 1st runner-up is Purva Rana of India, the 2nd runner-up is María Belén Jérez of Chile, the 3rd runner-up is Sherine Dandoy of Belgium, and the 4th runner-up is Maria Gabriela Sealy of Panama.

Special awards were handed to Christina Montero Devries of the Philippines (Miss Photogenic), Kelly Saks of the United States (Miss Congeniality),  Carolina Aguirre of Ecuador (Best National Costume, Most Beautiful Face), and Camila Vezzoso of Uruguay (Miss Kotex Evolution). Twenty-seven countries competed in this year's pageant.




Miss Universe Romania 2013

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Roxana-Oana Andrei, 26, was crowned Miss Universe Romania 2013 at TVR Studios in Bucharest on September 14. She will represent her country at Miss Universe 2013 pageant to be held in Moscow, Russia on November 9th. The 1st runner-up: Ioana Mihalache, the 2nd runner-up: Laura Maria Iordache, the 3rd runner-up: Anda Iuliana Parasca, and the 4th runner-up: Mihaela Roxana Luca.




Miss Universe Sri Lanka 2013

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Twenty-three-year-old Amanda Rathnayake was crowned Miss Universe Sri Lanka 2013 last night at a glittering event at the Mount Lavinia Hotel. She will represent Sri Lanka at the Miss Universe 2013pageant in Moscow on November 9th.  Simerene Rabot (left) was adjudged the runner up and Kristina Palliyaguruge (right) the second runner-up. Wijeya Newspapers Ltd was the print media sponsors of the event.




Source: SundayTimes.lk, 9/15/2013



New York crowned Miss America 2014

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(Photo: Mel Evans, AP)

Miss America returned to Atlantic City for the first time in six years to crown a new 2014 winner.
"Atlantic City has survived Hurricane Sandy!" said Good Morning America's Lara Spencer, who co-hosted the ABC show with Chris Harrison.
And now it has survived the mother of all beauty pageants.
After a night of big numbers, long evening gowns, tight swimsuit strutting, dancing, singing and, yes, answering those tough judges' questions (including ones about Miley Cyrus and Syria!), the 53 Miss America contestants (50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) were narrowed down to one winner.
Miss New York Nina Davuluri, 24, from Syracuse, sashayed off with the tiara and the $50,000 scholarship cash. She performed a Bollywood fusion dance (after missing her cue at first) and answered a question about plastic surgery. ("Be confident in who you are!") She said she hopes to become a doctor, like her father, who is an obstetrician. She once battled bulimia, according to a Syracuse.com July story, and is the first Indian-American to serve as Miss New York/ She is the first Miss America winner of Indian descent.
Here's how it all played out:
The contestants introduced themselves in a taped segment with those quippy catchphrases, including:
•"From the state known for its national football championships, here's your champion tonight, I'm Miss Alabama, Chandler Champion."
•"Tweet me, like me, text me! Streaming to you from Silicon Valley, I'm Crystal Lee, Miss California.
•"Listening to your phone calls from the Nation's Capital. Just kidding! I'm Miss District of Columbia, Bindhu Pamarthi."
•"Once most famous for the fountain of youth, now we're known as America's weirdest state. I am Miss Florida, Myrrhanda Jones."
•"Out of 5,500 Kansas Army National Guardsmen, Uncle Sam wanted me. Hoping you will too, I am Miss Kansas Theresa Vail."
•"From the home of Duck Dynasty, I'm here to trade in my duck call for the Miss America crown. I'm Miss Louisiana Jaden Leach."
•"From the home of the reigning Super Bowl champions, you bet I'm wacko for Flacco. I'm Christina Denny, Miss Maryland."
•"The Jersey shore is back and, no, I don't mean the TV show. Welcome home, Miss America. I'm Cara McCollum, Miss New Jersey."
•"I'm not Breaking Bad. I'm breaking through. Say my name, Alexis Duprey, Miss New Mexico."
•"From the state with the lowest unemployment, I'm looking for a job tonight. I am Miss North Dakota Laura Harmon."
•"From the birthplace of Brad Pitt, Chuck Norris and Kristin Chenoweth — beauty, brawn and talent, I'm Kelsey Griswold, Miss Oklahoma.
•From the state where 20% of our homes are mobile, because that's how we roll, I'm Brooke Mosteller, Miss South Carolina."
•"Even though I'm lactose intolerant, Ben and Jerry are still my two favorite guys. I'm Miss Vermont, Jeanelle Achee."
The celeb judges for the night: Lance Bass, Mario Cantone, Carla Hall, Barbara Corcoran, Joshua Bell,Amar'e Stoudemire and the last Miss America to be crowned in Atlantic City, Deidre Downs Gunn,
Co-host Harrison got the crowd pumped up for the first part of the competition — announcing the semifinalists.
First up was "America's choice," chosen by online vote: Miss Kansas Theresa Vail (talking about tattoos and Army life paid off for her!) "I am so honored," she said. "To be fair, I did have the backing of an entire army, literally."
Joining her in the semifinals:
Miss California Crystal Lee 
Miss New York Nina Davuluri
Miss Oklahoma Kelsey Griswold
Miss Connecticut Kaitlyn Tarpey
Miss Georgia Carly Mathis
Miss Mississippi Chelsea Rick
Miss Texas Ivana Hall
Miss Arkansas Amy Crain
Miss Missouri Shelby Ringdahl
Miss Kentucky Jenna Day
Miss Maryland Christina Denny
Miss Florida Myrrhanda Jones 
Miss Wisconsin Paula Mae Kuiper
Miss Minnesota Rebecca Yeh
And then came the swimsuit competition, featuring a parade of bikinis in red, white, black, green and animal prints.
Miss Kansas showed off her tattoos, as promised. Miss Florida went barefoot and wore a bedazzled knee brace after tearing two ligaments on Thursday night after a fall during her baton-twirling talent rehearsal. Everyone else showed long legs and spray tans, concave tummies and big smiles.
Judge Bass assured that Miss Florida's knee brace wouldn't affect the judges at all. "God bless her," he said.
The Top 12 finalists:
Miss Maryland Christina Denny
Miss Connecticut Kaitlyn Tarpey
Miss Florida Myrrhanda Jones
Miss Missouri Shelby Ringdahl
Miss Oklahoma Kelsey Griswold
Miss New York Nina Davuluri
Miss Wisconsin Paula Mae Kuiper
Miss Texas Ivana Hall
Miss California Crystal Lee
Miss Kansas Theresa Vail
Miss Georgia Carly Mathis
Miss Minnesota Rebecca Yeh
Judge Hall said, "Judging is much harder than competing because judging you have someone's life or future in your hands."
The evening wear featured "beautiful girls in beautiful gowns," said Harrison but the judges were looking for "style and panache."
The gowns were sparkly, plunging, slit up high and weighed down with long trains. Miss Florida wore flat sandals with hers.
Top 10 Talent Performances:
Miss Oklahoma Kesley Griswold sang Everybody Says Don't. Fun facts we learned while she sang: Rides horses bareback, appeared on the Rosie O'Donnell Show.
Miss New York Nina Davuluri performed a Bollywood dance. (Lara Spencer had to yell her name three times before she realized she was being called on stage.) Fun fact: Egypt is her favorite place to travel.
Miss Kansas Therea Vail sang Puccini's Nessun Dorma. She wanted to do some sort of archery but it wasn't allowed, so she learned the song by watching it on YouTube.
Miss California Crystal Lee performed a ballet dance. Fun facts: She is fluent in Mandarin and Chinese and obtained a B.A. and M.A. from Stanford in four years.
Miss Connecticut Kaitlyn Tarpey did an Irish step dance. Fun fact: French is her first language.
Miss Georgia Carly Mathis sang On My Own from Les Miserables. Fun facts: Her feet are two different sizes. Her dog has met the president.
Miss Texas Ivana Hall sang a jazzy Fever. Fun fact: She cannot live without coffee.
Said judge Mario Cantone: "It's overwhelming. I feel like I'm in some gay to straight conversion therapy right now!"
Miss Minnesota Rebecca Yeh played a scherzo on the violin. Fun fact: She still fears the Snow White witch and is always 15 minutes early.
Miss Maryland Christina Denny sang a song from Wicked. She wants to ride elephants in Thailand and she enjoys cutting hair.
Miss Florida Myrrhanda Jones took the stage with her knee brace on and performed a baton-twirling routine. She managed to twirl and spin through it flawlessly, juggling three batons at one point.
Top Five Who Answered Questions:
Miss Oklahoma Kelsey Griswold was asked a question by Cantone. He said that "Miley Cyrus has caused a media sensation... What do you think of her? "I'm going to be honest. I don't think her performance was twerking for me. Get it?" She added, "It was not super tasteful but ... I have to respect her creativity."
Miss Minnesota Rebecca Yeh was asked by Lance Bass about political wives supporting cheating, scandalous husbands. Should they stand by them? "I think they're doing the right thing by standing by that man they fell in love with ... That husband needs to get it together, though."
Miss California Crystal Lee was asked by Joshua Bell about Syria. "I believe as one of the most powerful countries in the world we do have an ethical obligation to prevent a leader of a country who is using chemical weapons on his people. I believe we should use congressional support if we can. And the U.N."
Miss New York Nina Davuluri was asked by Carla Hall about Julie Chen's decision to have plastic surgery about making her eyes less Asian. "I don't agree with plastic surgery, however I can understand that from a standpoint. More importantly I've always viewed Miss America as the girl next door. And Miss America is always evolving... I wouldn't want to change someone's looks. Be confident in who you are."
Miss Florida Myrrhanda Jones was asked about minorities having low-incomes and high-unemployment and incarceration rates. What should the country do to address this? "My father is unemployed. It took a lot for me to be able to stand on this stage. ... We need to have more jobs in America." She was cut off before she could continue.
"Don't make me the bad guy," Harrison said. "OK, I'm the bad guy."
But it was time to crown the winner.
Fourth runner-up: Miss Minnesota Rebecca Yeh
Third runner-up: Miss Florida Myrrhanda Jones
Second runner-up: Miss Oklahoma Kesley Griswold
It came down to two Asian-Americans.
Runner up: Miss California Crystal Lee
And the winner: The new Miss America is Miss New York Nina Cavuluri!

***New York wins for the second straight year in a row, as last year's Miss America Mallory Hagan was also from the Empire State.
Source: USAToday.com, 9/15/2013

Miss Universe Guam 2013

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Alixes Scott was crowned Miss Universe Guam 2013 at the Hyatt Regency Guam in Tamuning on September 16th, 2013. The 18-year-old beauty will represent Guam in the upcoming Miss Universe 2013 pageant on November 9th in Moscow, Russia.


Runner-up Lirone Veskler earned the second top score by judges to be crowned Miss International Guam. The 20 year-old will fly to Japan to represent the island in Miss International 2013 pageant in December.


France to ban 'sexualised' child beauty pageants?

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France to ban 'sexualised' child beauty pageants?
© ThinkStock

The French Senate voted early Wednesday to ban beauty pageants for children under 16 – and to impose up to two years in prison and steep fines for adults who try to enter children into such a contest.

By FRANCE 24 

It looks like the French won’t be getting their version of “Little Miss Sunshine” or “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” anytime soon.

France’s Senate voted early Wednesday to ban beauty pageants for children under 16, and to punish any adult who tries to enter a child into such a contest with up to two years in prison and a steep 30,000-euro fine.

The amendment is part of a broader bill on women’s rights, which will now proceed to the National Assembly, French Parliament’s lower house, for debate and another vote.

The senators who voted in favour of the measure argue that it will protect children from being prematurely “sexualised” through the use of heavy make-up and often provocative attire.

The amendment was prompted by a a parliamentary report entitled “Against Hyper-Sexualisation: A New Fight For Equality”, which, in addition to calling for an end to the pageants, encouraged a ban on adult-style clothing for children, including padded bras and high-heeled shoes.

“Let us not make our girls believe from a very young age that their worth is based only on their appearance,” the author of the report, former sports minister and current senator Chantal Jouanno, said in an interview with free French daily “20 Minutes” last year.

Paris’s 'Mini-Miss' pageant…in Belgium?

Controversy surrounding the issue peaked in December 2010, when French Vogue published a photo spread featuring images of a 10-year-old French girl, Thylane Loubry Blondeau, decked out in a tight dress, jewellery, high heels and make-up.

The magazine argued that the photos were meant to capture a classic fantasy of young girls – to dress up like their mother.

But the images sparked outrage both at home and abroad.

If the bill is signed into law, as expected, pageants like the annual “Mini-Miss” contest in Paris will no longer take place.

The pageant’s creator, Michel Le Parmentier, has protested the amendment, saying that regulations, rather than an across-the-board ban, would be more appropriate.

Le Parmentier has said that if the law is passed, he might move his pageant to Belgium – but close to the French border, in order to accommodate French contestants who want to compete without having to worry about legal consequences.

Source: France24.com, 9/17/2013

Related:

France Is Close To Passing A Law That Could Get Pageant Moms Thrown In Prison

 



Nigerian wins World Muslim beauty pageant 2013

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OBABIYI
NDONESIA, JAKARTA : The newly crowned the Muslimah World 2013 Obabiyi Aishah Ajibola (C) of Nigeria speaks to audience during the Muslimah World competition in Jakarta on September 18, 2013. The finale of a beauty pageant exclusively for Muslim women was set to take place in the Indonesian capital on September 18, in a riposte to the Miss World contest in Bali that has drawn fierce opposition from Islamic radicals. AFP PHOTO
A Nigerian woman tearfully prayed and recited Koranic verses as she won a beauty pageant exclusively for Muslim women in the Indonesian capital Wednesday, a riposte to the Miss World contest that has sparked hardline anger.
The 20 finalists, who were all required to wear headscarves, put on a glittering show for the final of Muslimah World, strolling up and down a catwalk in elaborately embroidered dresses and stilettos.

But the contestants from six countries were covered from head to foot, and as well as beauty they were judged on how well they recited Koranic verses and their views on Islam in the modern world.
After a show in front of an audience of mainly religious scholars and devout Muslims, a panel of judges picked Obabiyi Aishah Ajibola from Nigeria as the winner.
While the event in a Jakarta shopping mall paled in comparison to Miss World on the resort island of Bali, in which scores of contestants are competing, Ajibola was nevertheless overwhelmed.
Upon hearing her name, the 21-year-old knelt down and prayed, then wept as she recited a Koranic verse.
She said it was “thanks to almighty Allah” that she had won the contest. She received 25 million rupiah ($2,200) and trips to Mecca and India as prizes.
Ajibola told AFP before the final that the event “was not really about competition”.
“We’re just trying to show the world that Islam is beautiful,” she said.
Organisers said the pageant challenged the idea of beauty put forward by the British-run Miss World pageant, and also showed that opposition to the event could be expressed non-violently.
Eka Shanti, who founded the pageant three years ago after losing her job as a TV news anchor for refusing to remove her headscarf, bills the contest as “Islam’s answer to Miss World”.
“This year we deliberately held our event just before the Miss World final to show that there are alternative role models for Muslim women,” she told AFP.
“But it’s about more than Miss World. Muslim women are increasingly working in the entertainment industry in a sexually explicit way, and they become role models, which is a concern.”
Hosted by Dewi Sandra, an Indonesian actress and pop star who recently hung up her racy dresses for a headscarf, the pageant featured both Muslim and pop music performances, including one about modesty, a trait the judges sought in the winner.
The pageant, which also featured bright Indonesian Islamic designer wear, is a starkly different way of protesting Miss World than the approach taken by Islamic radicals.
Snowballing protest movement
Thousands have taken to the streets in Indonesia in recent weeks to protest Miss World, denouncing the contest as “pornography” and burning effigies of the organisers.
Despite a pledge by Miss World organisers to drop the famous bikini round, radical anger was not appeased and the protest movement snowballed.
The government eventually bowed to pressure and ordered the whole pageant be moved to the Hindu-majority island of Bali, where it opened on September 8.
Later rounds and the September 28 final were to be held in and around Jakarta, where there is considerable hardline influence.
But there are still fears that extremists may target the event — the US, British and Australian embassies in Jakarta have warned their nationals in recent days of the potential for radical attacks.
More than 500 contestants competed in online rounds to get to the Muslimah World final in Indonesia, one of which involved the contenders comparing stories of how they came to wear the headscarf.
The contest was first held in 2011 under a different name and was only open to Indonesians, Shanti said, but after the media began comparing it to Miss World, it was rebranded as a Muslim alternative to the world-famous pageant.
Because of its popularity, organisers accepted foreign contestants this year for the first time, with Iran, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Nigeria and Indonesia represented.

Source: Vanguard, 9/18/2013

Miss Universe New Zealand 2013

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Holly Michelle Cassidy was crowned Miss Universe New Zealand 2013 in Auckland on October 5, 2013. The beauty from Auckland is 22 years old  and will represent New Zealand in Miss Universe 2013 pageant on November 9th in Moscow, Russia. Her court includes first runner-up Kylie Tan and  second runner-up Deborah Lambie. Completing the top five were Haley Robinson and Rachel Maree Millns




Miss Guyana Universe 2013

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Final Four: From right to left: Alicia Bess, Katherina Roshana, Ayana Whitehead and Carlea Chappel

Katherina Roshana was last night crowned Miss Guyana Universe 2013 after triumphing over seven other delegates in the local pageant held at the Pegasus Hotel Poolside.
Over the course of the evening it was obvious that Roshana proved she was a crowd favourite but throughout the event she was given stiff competition by delegate Number 5, Ayana Whitehead who received massive support. It was Whitehead’s placement that had the hundreds in attendance in an uproar as she was named the third runner-up, Carlea Chapelle, the second runner-up and Alicia Bess, first runner-up.
Roshana was sashed by First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar and crowned by her predecessor Ruqayyah Boyer.  She will now be set to represent Guyana in Moscow, Russia at the 2013 Miss Universe Pageant.

Source: Stabroek News, 10/7/2013

Miss Earth Portugal 2013

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23-year-old Solange Duarte was crowned Miss Queen Portugal 2013/Miss Earth Portugal 2013 on October 5 at the Alfandega Club in Caminha – Viana do Castelo. She will represent Portugal in the upcoming Miss Earth 2013 to be held from November 17 to December 7, in the Philippines.

Duarte will only be the fourth Portuguese woman to compete in Miss Earth since the pageant began in 2001. So far, Portugal's best placement in the pageant was when Susana Nogueira cracked the Top 16 in 2011.




Miss Venezuela Universe / International / Earth 2013

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Three new Venezuelan queens were crowned last night at the Poliedro de Caracas. Migbelis Castellanos, 18 (Miss Costa Oriental), was crowned Miss Venezuela Universe 2013 and will compete in Miss Universe 2014. Michelle Bertolini, 19 (Miss Guárico) was crowned Miss Venezuela International 2013 and will compete in Miss International 2014. Stephanie de Zorzi, 20 (Miss Aragua) was crowned Miss Venezuela Earth 2013 and will compete in Miss Earth 2014. The 1st runner-up was Wi May Nava, 19 (Miss Cojedes) and the 2nd runner-up was Gabriela Graf, 23 (Miss Nueva Esparta). Completing the top ten were the delegates from Barinas, Distrito Capital, Lara, Sucre and Yaracuy.


Miss Venezuela Universe 2013 Migdelis Castellanos


Watch her coronation:


Miss Universe Olivia Culpo 'Didn't Want to Do' Illegal Taj Mahal Photo Shoot

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Oct. 11, 2013
Miss Universe Olivia Culpo, who is under fire for an allegedly "unauthorized" fashion shoot on the sacred grounds of India's Taj Mahal, says she did not want to take part in the controversial session.
"Honestly, I did at one point say out loud, 'Isn't this a little inappropriate?'" Culpo, 21, said in an interview with her hometown Rhode Island newspaper, The Providence Journal. "It's really upsetting because I loved my visit to India, and I would love nothing more than to go back, even in the near future."
VIDEO: Indian Authorities lodged a formal complaint over an alleged unauthorized fashion shoot.
Outrage Over Miss Universe Taj Mahal Photo Shoot
Authorities in India said Thursday they had filed a formal complaint over Culpo's fashion shoot for shoes at the famed landmark after the U.S. beauty queen posed with red high heels in front of the "monument to love" without permission.
The session was organized by the New York-based Miss Universe Organization, which is jointly owned by business magnate Donald Trump and NBCUniversal Inc.
Culpo could face up to two years in prison and a $1,600 fine for violating India's Heritage Act, which bans commercial activities on the Taj Mahal grounds.
The Rhode Island native was on a 10-day tour of India to raise awareness about AIDS and female empowerment during the now-controversial trip and had posted a photo of the Taj Mahal on Instagram on the day of the incident. "Gorgeous Taj Mahal #india #instabeauty #nofilter," she wrote.
The incident took place on a bench known as Diana's Seat, named after the late Princess Diana posed there in 1992. Other celebrities, including Tom Cruise and even Oprah Winfrey, have been photographed in front of the famous monument.
"I was given directions to pose with the shoes and, honestly, 5-inch heels on a 10-inch bench in 90-degree weather -- you know, I didn't want to do it," Culpo told the Journal. "It's upsetting to me that I was a part of that."
The fashion designer who accompanied Culpo on the shoot has also been named in the complaint, the Agence France-Presse news service reported.
The Miss Universe organization has apologized for the photo shoot, stating that "the filming that took place outside the Taj Mahal was never intended to be used as a commercial nor was it meant in any way to be disrespectful."
Now, Culpo, who won the Miss Universe crown in 2012, is left with limited options, according to one expert.
"She essentially only has one option, which is to apologize and throw away the tapes and allow the Indian government to make an example of her to discourage other people from doing something like this ever again," said Davidson Goldin, a crisis communications expert at Goldin Solutions in New York City.
ABC NEWS

Olivia Culpo Controversy: Miss Universe Organization Apologizes for Photo Shoot at Taj Mahal

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by PETER GICAS

Prabhas Roy/Hindustan Times via Getty Images
Miss Universe officials evidently feel pretty sorry that a photo shoot in front of the Taj Mahal involving Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo may have violated India's Heritage Act.
"The Miss Universe Organization would like to extend its deepest apologies to the people of India for the incident...which occurred this past Sunday," the Miss Universe organization said in a statement.
"Throughout her reign, the Miss Universe Organization continually creates video diaries of our titleholder to keep fans and sponsors up to date on her travel and to share in the experience. As part of these videos, we sometimes incorporate sponsors into these shoots.
"The filming that took place outside the Taj Mahal was never intended to be used as a commercial nor was it meant in any way to be disrespectful. We sincerely apologize for any unintentional harm our indiscretion and insensitivity may have caused."
The statement comes in the wake of the state-run Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) filing a complaint with police after the 21-year-old Culpo posed for a photograph over the weekend and showed off some red high heeled shoes purportedly for a footwear company, the Hindustan Times reports.
India's Supreme Court strictly prohibits any commercial activity or branding and publicity on the Taj grounds.
If found guilty of the violations, Culpo and other members of her group could reportedly face up to two years in jail and a $1,600 fine.

EONLINE.com, 10/11/2013

Miss Tourism World 2013

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Beronika Martinez, 19, of Venezuela was crowned Miss Tourism World 2013 during a glittering ceremony at the Sipopo Conference Centre in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea on Saturday 12th October 2013.Her court includes first runner-up Hillary Ondo of Gabon, second runner-up Michaela Haladova of Czech Republic, third runner-upAndrea Huisgen of Spain and fourth runner-up Olena Popova of the Ukraine. Completing the top 10 were the delegates from Equatorial Guinea, Great Britain, Portugal, Lithuania and Puerto Rico.


In 2008 Tourism World Organisation bought the Miss Tourism beauty pageant from the previous owner Mr. John Singh. From this moment forward the Tourism World Organisation, based in Great Britain, have worked tirelessly behind the scenes and have made substantial investment to restructure the beauty pageants and organization.

Miss World 2013 Megan Young: “I’m Against Abortion,” and “Sex is for Marriage”

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      Megan Young, the recently crowned Miss World, is pro-life and believes in abstinence before marriage.
     In an interview with the Philippines-based ABS-CBN News Channel in August, back when she was Miss Philippines, Young revealed her more traditional views on abortion, sex and marriage.
     “I’m pro-life and if it means killing someone that is already there, then I am against that of course,” Young said when asked whether she was for or against the country’s Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RH) law, which allows taxpayer funds to be used for contraception, abortifacients and family-planning education. The nation’s Supreme Court suspended the law over the summer.
     “I’m against abortion,” she added.
     When asked for her views on contraception, Young explained she does not participate in activities that would require it.
     “I don’t engage in stuff like that as of now. I think that’s — sex is for marriage. That’s my belief.”
     The interviewer pressed Young on how “a woman as gorgeous” as she says “‘no’ to sex.”
     Young replied, “You just say no! That’s it.”
     “I mean if they try to push you then you step away because you know that that person isn’t — doesn’t value you, doesn’t value the relationship as much and if the guy is willing to, you know, sacrifice that, then that means a lot,” she said.
     Young added that she does not believe in divorce.
     “I’m actually against divorce because I’ve seen that of course in my family. So I think that if you marry someone that should be the person you should be with forever. Through sickness and health, through good of through bad, you should be with that person.”
     Young is the first woman from the Philippines to win the title of Miss World.
 Source: The Daily Caller, 10/14/2013
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