"I have prepared arduously for this crown and that's why I'm so proud to tell you that Mexico is returning to Miss Universe. I'll give it everything I've got," Esparza, 24, said in a video message quoted by Fox News Latino.
In June, it was reported that Mexico will not be joining the 64th Miss Universe Pageant as a protest against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who has been making racist and offensive remarks directed at Mexican immigrants, the news outlet added.
"In the last few months there were a lot of remarks about our country that were so against my ideals and those of all the people who struggle every day looking for a better life," the beauty queen said, as reported by Fox News Latino.
However, it was recently reported that Trump's name has been removed from the Miss Universe and Miss USA organizations, AdWeek wrote. The pageants are now owned by IMG, with Fox set to air the upcoming Miss Universe event live on Dec. 20 from the Axis Theater of the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.
NBC had previously aired the pageants, but the network cut professional ties with Trump in June because of the GOP nominee's controversial remarks, the news outlet added. Last June's Miss USA Pageant aired on Reelz and accumulated 1 million views, its lowest rating ever. NBC's Miss USA broadcast last year had 5.56 million viewers, while the network's January airing of the Miss Universe Pageant averaged 7.6 million.
According to Esparza, she is continuing her "preparations for an excellent performance" in the international contest, Fox News Latino reported. She added, "Now that the situation has changed, it makes sense to stay in the battle and show the nobility and courage that identifies us."
Fox and IMG's agreement also gives the network domestic rights to broadcast the Miss USA Pageant in 2016. David Madden, president of entertainment for Fox Broadcasting, said in a statement that Fox's partnership with IMG and the Miss Universe Organization will "infuse a fresh new energy into these perennial broadcast favorites," AdWeek noted.
"Miss Universe is a unique, global media property and this partnership with Fox marks a new era for the Miss Universe Organization as a whole," said Michael Antinoro, IMG's SVP of original content, as quoted by the news outlet. "As the broadcast leader in innovative and groundbreaking live events, Fox is the perfect partner as we look to implement new and exciting changes to this show and the franchise."
Source: Latinopost.com, 10/30/2015
