Miss Bahamas Universe and World Crowned
It was a fierce competition with 14 gorgeous young women vying for two titles, but when it was all said and done emerged as the winners of the Miss Universe Bahamas and Miss World Bahamas titles respectively. The two stunners are now set to represent the country at the most prestigious pageants in the world – Miss Universe and Miss World. Celeste has only four months to prepare as Miss Universe is scheduled for December. Meanwhile, De’Andra has more than a year to prepare for her pageant, as she will compete in Miss World 2013.
Both young women were crowned during a spectacular night of pageantry at the Atlantis Grand Ballroom on Paradise Island. Rounding out the top five were 1st Runner Up to Miss Bahamas Universe Autumn Joy Dames; 1st Runner Up to Miss World Bahamas Analicia Thompson; and Irina Key. The Beauty with a Purpose fast track award went to Kahtura Fernander for her work with empowering young women and the People’s Choice winner was Reneika Knowles. Other special awards presented during the evening were Miss Photogenic Rakia Rolle; Miss Congeniality Adria Flowers; and MBO Spirit award winner Rochelle Alexandre.
Miss Universe Leila Lopes served as a judge and also helped to crown the new Miss Universe Bahamas.
Miss World Portugal 2013
Elisabeth Rodrigues is the new Miss World Portugal 2013. She will be representing her country at the Miss World 2013 Pageant. The 1st runner-up was Indira Ferreira, Miss International Portugal 2012. Carmen Fernandes, finished 2nd runner-up, and is the new Miss Tourism Queen Portugal, and Vanessa Henriques, the 3rd runner-up, will represent Portugal at Miss Supranational 2012 in Poland.
Miss Connecticut, Logan West, wins Miss Teen USA 2012 title
Logan West of Southington, Connecticut bested 50 other contestants for the title of Miss Teen USA 2012, which was held at the Atlantis Resort in Paradise Island, The Bahamas. Miss West Virginia, Elizabeth Sabatino, finished 1st Runner Up; Miss Michigan, Courtney Pizzimenti finished 2nd Runner Up; Miss Oklahoma, Jessica Morgan placed 3rd Runner Up and Miss Ohio, Kendall Fein finished 4th Runner Up.
Logan is a senior at Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts. Her career ambitions include attending Fordham University in New York and obtaining a degree in dance. She also wishes to travel with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. She also has a passion for law. In the future, she hopes to earn a law degree to serve as a children’s lawyer specializing in divorce cases.
Logan’s favorite hobbies include dancing, cooking and reading. She also collects anything turtle-related. She describes herself as articulate, honest and dedicated.
The 2012 MISS TEEN USA® Competition Celebrates Its 30th Anniversary This Saturday At Atlantis, Paradise Island In The Bahamas
The 2012 MISS TEEN USA® Competition will be streamed LIVE this Saturday, July 28 from the beautiful Atlantis, Paradise Island in the Bahamas at 8 PM ET on http://www.missteenusa.com and http://www.seventeen.com . Danielle Doty, Miss Teen USA 2011, will crown her successor at the conclusion of the two-hour live event.
Hosting this year’s pageant will be Miss Teen USA 2005 and sports reporter for “Fox8 News,” Allie LaForce and executive producer of iPowow, Colin Hornett. The presentation show, scheduled for Friday, July 27, will be hosted by Miss Teen USA 2011, Danielle Doty and Los Angeles-based author, and comedian, Nick Teplitz.
This year’s distinguished panel of judges included: Maruchi Santana, Chief Client Officer at Parham Santana: The Brand Extension Agency; David Knapp, Account Director at Parham Santana: The Brand Extension Agency; Tami Farrell, television personality, pageant veteran and first Youth Spokesperson for the American Heart Association; Dara Busch, Executive Vice President and Managing Director at Rubenstein Public Relations; Stefan Campbell, Producer and Creative Director at OBO, a luxury production company specializing in high-end events and fashion presentations; and Tanya Zuckerbrot, MS, RD, Creator of the popular F-Factor Diet and Registered Dietician as well as best-selling author, brand spokesperson and TV personality.
For the first time ever, the Donald Trump-owned Miss Universe Organization kicked off a fan vote for the MISS TEEN USA® competition. Fans can vote online for their favorite Miss Teen USA contestant, earning one lucky girl a spot in the semifinals. Voting takes place until Friday, July 27 at 12 PM ET online at either http://www.missteenusa.com , or at http://www.facebook.com/officialmissteenusa .
Throughout the event, the 51 contestants will compete in three categories: swimsuit, evening gown and interview. Doty, who will pass on the crown to the new winner, will return to Texas to begin her freshman year at Texas Christian University to pursue a degree in broadcast journalism.
Nichole Mead crowned Miss Oregon 2012
Nichole Mead was named Miss Oregon 2012 on Monday by the Miss Oregon Scholarship Organization.
Mead, a native of Newport, will represent Oregon in the Miss America Pageant in Las Vegas on Jan. 12, 2013. The final night of competition and crowning of a new Miss America will be broadcast live on the ABC television network.
Mead is a graduate of the University of Oregon with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a minor in Communication Studies. As Miss Oregon 2012, Mead receives a $10,000 cash scholarship.
Rachel Berry resigned last week as Miss Oregon. Berry quit after questions arose about her length of residency prior to competing in the Miss Willamette Valley pageant. Winning that pageant qualified her to participate in the state pageant.
Mead, 24, was the reigning Miss Three Rivers and first runner-up at the state pageant.
Miss Oregon gives up crown over residency dispute
Miss Oregon has given up her crown following questions about her residency.
Rachel Berry will not be able to compete in the Miss America pageant next year. She was selected as Miss Oregon last month.
Pageant director Dana Phillips says Berry couldn’t prove she had lived in Oregon for six months before competing in the Miss Willamette Valley pageant in April.
Berry says competing to be Miss America is a dream she’s worked toward since she was young, but she accepts the decision. She says she wouldn’t want to deprive another contestant of the opportunity to represent Oregon.
Instead, the runner-up will compete in Las Vegas in the January pageant.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
Aimer’s New Range of Swimsuits to Feature at Miss World 2012
Followers of previous Miss World beauty pageants all know that this international competition has influenced the world view of beauty. In addition, the positive attitude of Miss World participants is continually admired all over the world.
The 62nd Miss World will be held on 18 July 2012, in the Inner Mongolian city of Ordos, China. The pageant will provide a platform for showing the beauty, talent and love of contestants from 125 countries. As China’s first international lingerie brand, Aimer will also attend this celebrated competition.
The large-scale of Miss World competitions ensures artists and designers of global style pay attention to the fashion so confidently adorned by each of the contestants. One of the key features designers will look to is the elegance a piece can speak as a Miss World hopeful takes to the world stage.
Miss Malaysia Earth 2012
(From left) Teoh Lee Miang, Deidre Ann Walker, R. Deviyah Daranee, Kylie Wong and Elaine Kho. Pix by Wong Tuck Keong
An A-level Science student R. Deviyah Daranee has been crowned Miss Malaysia Earth 2012. Deviyah won a trophy, RM4,000 and a return air ticket to the Philipines.
The 20-year-old who wants to be an accountant also bagged subsidiary titles such as Miss Best Eco-Design and second-runner-up for Miss Talent.
The beauty pageant took place at Syuen Hotel on Sunday.
Deidre Ann Walker, an 18-year-old veterinary student from Sabah, was the first-runner-up. She was also crowned Miss Media.
She received RM1,000, sponsored gifts and a modelling assignment with Star Avenue Productions.
Kylie Wong, a 19-year-old university student from Perak emerged as the second-runner-up. She also won the Miss Facebook and Miss Glamour titles, RM1,000, gifts and a modelling contract.
The third and fourth runners-up were Teoh Lee Miang of Pahang and Elaine Kho of Sarawak. They received RM1,000 and RM500 respectively.
Miss Charity was won by Deborah Yap, Miss Tropical Beauty/Miss Personality by Jacquelinn Yap, Miss Talent by Xandria Ban, Miss Charming by Joanna Marie Faurillo, Miss Cosmopolitan by Livonia Ricky Guing and Miss Goodwill by Phine Loo. The night started with the contestants parading in traditional costumes, swim wear, trendy dresses and evening gowns.
“The top three winners will be contesting at the Miss World Earth 2012, to be held in the Philippines by year-end,” said Star Avenue Productions director Veandra Voon.
Miss World Malaysia 2012
With her wisdom in answering questions, along with her looks and poise, Lee Yvonne captured the hearts of judges and the audience and was crowned Miss World Malaysia 2012 at the finale on Sunday night at the Zouk Club in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur. The fact that this 24-year-old from Kuala Lumpur had taken part before in the Miss World Malaysia pageant certainly helped.
First runner-up was 24-year-old business administration student and part-time deejay Vera Chang also from Kuala Lumpur. She received RM13,000 worth of prizes, and had earlier won three subsidiary titles, namely, Miss World Malaysia Ambient TV, Miss World Malaysia Waveline Body Beautiful and Miss World Malaysia Charity Queen. Second runner-up was 23-year-old nutrition science student Jocelyn Leong from Penang. She received RM11,000 worth of prizes.
Miss World 2012 announces schedule of events
We are excited to announce that the live Miss World contest this year will have a 30-minute extended running time allowing us to feature the journey to the final and showcase the world’s most glamorous event to a global audience for a full 2.5 hours. You can follow the whole contest online on our new missworld.com website set to be unveiled this week.
1. Designer Award: World Fashion Designer Award – 26th July (Shanghai)
2. Beach Beauty: Miss World Beach Beauty Final – Wednesday 1st August
3. Sports and Fitness: Miss World Sports Women – Monday 6th August
4. Performing Talent: Miss World Final – Friday 10th August
5. Top Model: Miss World Top Model Final – Sunday 12th August
6. Multimedia Award: For the first time, viewers will be able to watch the Miss World event through the eyes of all 120 Miss World contestants as each contestant is given their own web section on missworld.com to upload their personal progress to the final show
7. Beauty with a Purpose: Awards special dedication to a charitable project or cause
Armenia not to participate in Miss World 2012
The winner of Miss Armenia 2012 pageant Anna Arakelyan will not participate in Miss World 2012 contest which will be held in Ordos, Inner Mongolia.
A reliable source told Armenian News-NEWS.am the reason is financial difficulties. Miss Armenia national agency has been searching for sponsors but in vain. No one has expressed readiness to become a sponsor so far, the source assured.
A total of 10-20 million AMD is required for Anna’s participation, including the participation fee, clothes and other expenditures. Armenia is not included in the list of contestants on the pageant’s official website.
Anna Arakelyan was declared winner of Miss Armenia 2012 beauty contest held in Yerevan in April.
Miss New Hampshire USA 2010 faces two assault charges in court
Two simple assault charges alleging Nicole Houde, 26, who won the 2010 Miss New Hampshire USA title, were heard in Circuit Court-Manchester District Division this week. The city woman was accused of assaulting her ex-boyfriend, Scott Nickerson, 33, on April 25, after he accused her of cheating on him. Houde claimed the two fought after he grabbed her cell phone and refused to return it.
A judge put one of the assault charges on file without a finding and changed the other to a violation of mutual combat. He found Houde guilty of that violation and fined her $500, suspended for one year of good behavior. Houde faces trial Oct. 2, on a simple assault charge that alleges she hit another man on the back June 30. She is accused of hitting her new boyfriend, Gregory Verro, 35, during an argument after they had been out for dinner.
Miss Puerto Rico 2012
Miss Puerto Rico 2012, Kiaraliz Medina
Kiaraliz Medina will represent Puerto Rico at the Miss America 2013 pageant in January. Her platform is “The Power within Us” and her talent is flamenco dancing. If crowned Miss America, she will be the first Miss Puerto Rico to earn the national title. Puerto Rico participated in the Miss America pageant from 1948 to 1956, 1958 and 1961; and returned to annual participation in 2009.
Meet the contestants for Miss Venezuela 2012
The grand finale of Miss Venezuela will be held on August 30, where they will be crowning Miss Venezuela Universe, Miss World Venezuela, Miss Venezuela International and Miss Earth Venezuela.
Photos courtesy of Miss Venezuela/Venevision
Avatar-esque Miss World Australia national costume sparks criticism
Miss World Australia, Jessica Kahawaty
The Aboriginal culture-inspired bodysuit for Miss World Australia, Jessica Kahawaty has copped the thumbs-down from fashion experts.
Some critics said that it looked more circus than serious fashion.
“I never knew Egyptian sea urchins were Australian? The creators of Avatar called, they want their catsuit back,” one critic said.
“I can’t see the connection to Australia in this – it has a little too much Cirque du Soleil for my liking.”
While another critic described it as: “Avatar going to the beach in a red sarong.”
Kahawaty, 23, unveiled the outfit at a charity high tea in Melbourne as she continues preparations before the 62nd Miss World pageant in Mongolia next month.
Designer Julie Sufi, of Belluccio, said the outfit was inspired by Aboriginal art. “It was a bit hard determining what a national costume is because we don’t have one,” Ms Sufi said.
Source: Jackie Epstein, The Daily Telegraph
Miss Florida USA 2013
Miss Florida USA 2013, Michelle Aguirre
Michelle Aguirre beat out 73 other contestants to win the title of Miss Florida USA 2013. She will be competing with 50 other candidates for the title of Miss USA 2013.
Miss Arkansas 2012
Miss Arkansas 2012, Sloane Roberts
A 19-year-old communications major at the University of Arkansas has been crowned Miss Arkansas 2012.
Pageant spokeswoman Toni Bahn says Miss Heart of the Ozarks Sloane Roberts, of Rison, was named the winner Saturday night. Roberts won a $20,000 scholarship.
Roberts’ platform was preventing child abduction and her talent was tap dancing. She also won the interview and swimsuit awards.
Miss South Carolina 2012
Miss South Carolina 2012, Ali Rogers
Miss Laurens County, Ali Rogers, was ecstatic when she was named the overall swimsuit competition winner at the Miss South Carolina Pageant Saturday night at the Township Auditorium. And when Miss Greater Greer Lauren Cabaniss was named first runner-up for the Miss South Carolina title — meaning Rogers had won the crown — Rogers had to catch her breath.
The 20-year-old Clemson University student, who was Miss South Carolina Teen 2009, was crowned by Bree Boyce, Miss S.C. 2011, who made national headlines by losing more than 100 pounds on her way to the title.
Miss Kentucky 2012
Miss Kentucky 2012, Jessica Casebolt
Thirty-one contestants representing local scholarship pageants from across the state were vying for the title of Miss Kentucky 2012.
19-year-old Jessica Danielle Casebolt took home the crown Saturday night. Casebolt previously held the title of Miss Goldenrod. A Pikeville native, Casebolt attended Georgetown College and majored in political science. Her platform was ‘Heart Health Awareness” and her talent was singing.
The 1st runner up was Olivia Henken, 2nd runner up Jefra Bland, 3rd runner up Annie Franklin and 4th runner up was Ashley Ferry.
The pageant was held at the Singletary Center for the Arts on the campus of the University of Kentucky in Lexington.
Miss Tourism Malaysia 2012
Miss Tourism Malaysia 2012, Jun Yong Wan Jun
Part-time teacher Jun Yong Wan Jun was crowned Miss Tourism Malaysia 2012 after she outshined 16 other contestants at the pageant finals held at a hotel here Friday night.
Jun Yong, 20, will go on to represent Malaysia at the Miss Tourism International 2012, with 59 countries taking part.
Second and third places went to Michelle Fong Kah Yin and Valeria Chua Hui Chin, respectively.
Last year’s Miss Tourism International, Aileen Gabriella Robinson, who was Miss Tourism Malaysia 2011 crowned Jun Yong, witnessed by Information Communication and Culture deputy minister Datuk Maglin Dennis D’Cruz.
The pageant is a talent search platform for the international event scheduled for Dec 31, this year, aimed at promoting Malaysia’s tourism sector.
Miss Florida USA 2013 Pageant Begins
Miss Florida USA 2013 contestants during rehearsals
The 74 women vying for the title of Miss Florida USA 2013 crown began learning the moves Wednesday to the introductory dance number for Saturday’s pageant. Choreographer Vicki Davis is well-known in the dance world and has worked in various venues, including cruise ships and a Britney Spears tour. She has also been the choreographer for the Miss Florida USA pageant for more than 10 years. In all, the contestants will put in more than 26 hours of rehearsals by the end of the week, plus appearances, events, interviews and the competition itself. Clementi said that’s why pageants are called a “marathon in heels.” The pageant will be broadcast Saturday on Local 10.
Miss USA: Rigged or Not?
It is bothersome that there is so much controversy involving pageants nowadays. Rating-booster or not, it’s just bad press altogether. In the last few years, we’ve witnessed the slow and painful deterioration of this industry.
Pageants used to be an integral part of the American culture. Family used to sit down in front of the television and watch the Miss America Pageant like they do with the Super Bowl. The winners in the old days received instant celebrity status and they are treated like royalty. What went wrong? Its appeal persisted among the baby-boomers but almost non-existent to the iPhone-using, XBox-playing, Twitter-sending, Facebook-posting generation of today.
The pageant industry has reached a milestone in the 90’s by abdicating tradition and let trends dictate its future. When Donald Trump acquired the Miss Universe Organization in the late 90’s, the world of pageantry changed forever. Pageants are now viewed and treated as business entities where ratings and profit margins are more important than anything else. In 2006, Miss America abandoned the Boardwalk Hall of Atlantic City, which has been its home for 85 years, and moved to the lights and glamour of Las Vegas. Its ratings decreased dramatically in the early 2000’s and the organization had to make some tough choices. They moved the pageant from network to cable and then back to network again in 2011.
Pageants will always have its share of controversy but it’s definitely turning for the worst. In the early days, majority of pageant controversy revolved around pregnancy, inappropriate photos and citizenship issues. These days, it revolves around drug addiction, drunk driving, weight gain, plastic surgery and felony charges. It’s the sign of the times!
The most recent controversy at the Miss USA Pageant takes the cake. A non-finalist contestant claims that the pageant was rigged. She claims that one of the other contestants saw a piece of paper listing the top 5 finalist before the pageant even began. Seriously? It’s totally unfathomable that the Miss Universe Organization, if they were indeed rigging the pageant, will leave a piece of paper of such importance backstage for everyone to see. It just doesn’t make sense. The pageant was broadcasted live to millions of audiences and there is no doubt that the women in the top 5 unequivocally deserved those spots.
Everyone knows that the Miss Universe Organization partakes in the selection of the semi-finalists. If you pay attention to the disclaimer statement right before the semifinalist’s names are announced, it is clearly stated that the votes of the preliminary judges, along with members of the Miss Universe Organization, determine who would make the first cut. Donald Trump acknowledged in an interview for a pageant documentary, that in the past, he had seen beautiful, extremely talented contestants, who he thinks are more deserving of competing for the title, have been eliminated and are backstage crying while less-deserving ones are out on stage competing. He doesn’t think that this is fair and as a business owner, he thinks that a company must have a say on whom they believe best represents their organization. He took immediate action and the organization started getting involved with the selection of semifinalists. Because of this, even if a contestant scores well in the preliminary competition, it doesn’t guarantee her a spot in the semifinals. The MUO clearly has the ability to modify the list of semifinalist at its discretion if they believe that the results from the preliminary judging is not up to par with their list of who they believe should move forward in the competition. Some people might consider this rigging and some will argue that it is simply influencing or persuading the results a certain way by injecting their opinion, but at the end, the result is still in the hands of the judges during the finals. What do you think?
Miss Belize 2012
On Saturday night, the Queen of the Jewel Miss Belize Pageant was held at Bliss Institute. 9 participants competed against each other in 6 categories. At the end, Destiny Dominique Arnold was chosen by a panel of the judges as the 2012 Queen of the Jewel.
As the new Queen of the Jewel, Arnold will have the duty of being the beauty and tourism ambassador for the country, as well as the speaker for the New Love Foundation. She will be the representing Belize in international Competition along with all of the 5 finalists.
The last 3 State Finals for Miss America will be this weekend
The last 3 Miss America state finals will be happening this weekend.
ARKANSAS – Juy 14, 2012 – Hot Springs Convention Center, Hot Springs, AR – View Contestants
KENTUCKY – July 14, 2012 – Singletary Center for the Arts on the campus of the University of Kentucky in Lexington. – View Contestants
SOUTH CAROLINA – July 14, 2012 – Township Auditorium, Columbia, SC – View Contestants
PAGEANT EXTRA 