Miss US Virgin Islands Debuts at Miss International
Miss USVI, Vanessa Donastorg
US Virgin Islands will be debuting at Miss International this year! The former Danish colony and now an American territory, this small Caribbean group of islands had been regularly sending delegates to other pageants like Miss Universe and Miss World. Now it is sending Vanessa Donastorg to the Miss International pageant to be held in Naha in the Okinawa prefecture.
Miss World Mexico 2013
Miss World Mexico 2013, Marilyn Chagoya
18-year-old Marilyn Chagoya was selected to represent Mexico at the 2013 Miss World Pageant in September 2013 in Indonesia. Nuestra Belleza Mexico Mundo 2013 was chosen during the semi-final round of the Mexican national pageant. This was done due to a request by Miss World owner Julia Morley who asked for a separate contest to select Mexico’s Miss World representative. The new Miss World Mexico stands 1.81m tall.
Miss Venezuela 2012 is Miss Guarico
Miss Venezuela 2012, Maria Gabriela Isler
(L-R) 2nd Runner Up, Miss Yaracuy, Mary Julia Alvarez; Miss International Venezuela, Miss Aragua, Elian Herrera; Miss Venezuela, Miss Guarico, Maria Gabriela Isler; Miss Earth Venezuela, Miss Falcon, Alyz Henrich and 1st Runner Up, Miss Tachira, Ivanna Vale.
24-year-old Maria Gabriela Isler, Miss Guarico, was crowned Miss Venezuela 2012, during the finals night held at the Hotel Tamanaco in Caracas on August 30, 2012. She will represent Venezuela at the 2013 Miss Universe Pageant.
Other winners include Miss International Venezuela, Miss Aragua, Elian Herrera; Miss Earth Venezuela, Miss Falcon, Alyz Henrich; Miss Tachira, Ivanna Vale and Miss Yaracuy, Maria Julia Alvarez were 1st and 2nd Runners Up respectively.
Missing at the pageant is the crowning of Miss World Venezuela, which was omitted after a controversy involving Miss World Venezuela 2010 and Miss World 2011, Ivian Sarcos. According to Osmel Sousa, the new Miss World Venezuela will be chosen separately.
Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2013
Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2013, Monic Marie Perez
Monic Marie Perez is crowned as the new Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2013 by past queen Bodine Koehler during the national beauty contest at the Center of Performing Arts in San Juan, August 29, 2012. She will represent the Island of Enchantment at the 2013 Miss Universe Pageant.
Miss Earth Ecuador 2012
Miss Earth Ecuador 2012, Estefani Chalco
Ecuador appoints Estefani Chalco as their official representative for Miss Earth 2012 in Bali, Indonesia this coming October. She is hoping for a back to back win for Ecuador and bring home the crown of Miss Earth for the 2nd year in a row.
Incidentally, Estefani won the Miss Latin America title last year, the first ever Ecuadorian to win that title.
Miss Earth Trinidad & Tobago 2012
Miss Earth Trinidad & Tobago 2012, Amryl Nurse
Amryl Nurse, Miss Paria Waterfalls, was crowned Miss Earth Trinidad & Tobago 2012 on Saturday, 25th August, 2012 at the Cara Suites Hotel and Conference Centre’s Ballroom, Claxton Bay. Amryl Claudia Nurse is 22 years old and stands 1.78. She will represent her country in the Miss Earth 2012 pageant to be held in Indonesia, on 28th October, 2012.
Miss Earth South Africa 2012
Miss Earth South Africa 2012, Tamerin Jardine
Tamerin Jardine from Sandton has been crowned Miss Earth South Africa 2012 at the grand coronation night of Miss Earth South Africa 2012 beauty pageant finale at the Montecasino in Johannesburg on Saturday night of 25th August, 2012. Aurelia Nxumalo, Chanelle Davids and Marina Nicolaidis are the Miss Earth South Africa 2012 Runners-up.
Tamerin Jardine will represent South Africa in the world’s Third biggest beauty pageant Miss Earth 2013. Miss Earth 2013 is the 13th edition of Miss Earth beauty pageant.
Miss Zimbabwe Experienced Nightmare at Miss World
Miss Zimbabwe 2012, Bongani Dlakama
Reigning Miss Zimbabwe Bongani Dlakama’s stay in China at the Miss World finals was a nightmare that she quickly wants to forget.
Besides going to the international contest without any grooming, the Miss Zimbabwe Trust sent her abroad with an empty purse. She said she had to use her prize money for accommodation in Beijing where she spent a night before going to Mongolia.
She had to purchase a lot of other goods that were required for the event from her own purse.
“I had to buy my own dress for the final because a designer engaged by Miss Zimbabwe Trust told me just two days before I left for China that she had not been paid and had not made the dress,” lamented Dlakama.
“I bought the dress for about US$1 500 in South Africa and I spent US$500 on portraits of the Victoria Falls and the flame lily national flower that I had to take to the final for my national identity. There were many other requirements that I had to finance on my own.
“On my return I had to pay over US$800 for luggage and I think my total expenditure could exceed US$5 000 (half of the prize money she got for being crowned Miss Zimbabwe).” Besides the financial stress, Dlakama said she felt very low in camp as she realised the higher level of preparedness of other models compared to her.
“The competition was intense and there was no way that I could have done well. It is not like I am giving an excuse for my failure but people have to know that what we do in the name of preparation for such a stage is nothing close to what is required.
“I had just two months to prepare in which there was no significant grooming that was done.”
Dlakama said she failed the Beauty with a purpose contest because she had no video footage of her cancer project that was mandatory. “When I wanted to film the project before leaving for Miss World the Trust had no money to hire cameras and I could not do it myself because it was too expensive. “It was embarrassing to hear other models saying they actually had choreographers training them three months before the contest when I failed to do dance lessons that cost just US$15. “I really felt so low and I have to say it is time organisers become more serious about the pageant.”
She said organisers have to be more serious and pledged to assist the next national queen as much as she can. She also bemoaned the fact that the licence holder for Miss Zimbabwe pageant, Cliff Sachikonye is not directly involved in the production of the pageant. “Sachikonye is the United Kingdom while the pageant is going through such tough times. Even now as I am going back to Bulawayo the Trust cannot afford a mere bus ticket and that should say a lot,” said Dlakama.
The model arrived in the country on Tuesday on a low key after her failure to impress in China where she came back empty- handed. She however said her stay in China was enlightening and had a great experience in the Asian country.
Kiki Divaris, patron of Miss Zimbabwe Trust last week said everyone knows the challenges that they faced and they should be grateful that Dlakama even managed to travel to China. “There is a lot that has been happening, everyone knows that,” said Divaris. “We were lucky to manage the holding of the pageant in the first place and she was lucky she travelled so I think that she failed to impress in China should not be an issue.”
Courtesy of Silence Charumbira/The Standard
Miss Sweden Universe 2012 is Hanni Beronius
(L-R) Miss International Sweden, Katarina Konow, Miss Universe Sweden, Hanni Beronius and Miss Earth Sweden, Camilla Hansson.
Miss Sweden Universe, Hanni Beronius
21-year-old, Hanni Beronius, was crowned Miss Sweden Universe 2012 during an event on August 26. She will represent Sweden at the 2012 Miss Universe Pageant. Also crowned were Katarina Konow, as Miss International Sweden and Camilla Hansson, as Miss Earth Sweden.
Other winners include Sally Lindgren, 1st Runner Up and Claudia Sundberg, 2nd Runner Up. Special awards include Miss Photogenic Sweden 2012, Aleksandra Eriksson; Miss Personality, Hanni Beronius and Miss Internet, Katarina Konow.
21-year-old student crowned Miss Vietnam 2012
(L-R) Duong Tu Anh, 1st Runner Up; Dang Thu Thao, Miss Vietnam 2012 and Do Hoang Anh, 2nd Runner Up.
Nhan Dan – Dang Thu Thao, a 21-year-old beauty from Can Tho, was crowned Miss Vietnam 2012 at the Tien Son Sports Palace in Da Nang on August 25. Duong Tu Anh and Do Hoang Anh, both from Hanoi, were the contest’s first and second runners up. The jury also presented awards for other categories including Miss Talent, which went to Nguyen Thi Xuan Trang from Da Nang; Miss Sea, Ninh Hoang Ngan from Ho Chi Minh City; and Miss Ao Dai, Vu Ngoc Anh from Hanoi. Nguyen Thi Ha from Thanh Hoa and Phan Thi Mo from Tien Giang won the Miss Beautiful Skin and Miss Beautiful Hair awards, respectively.
Dang will represent Vietnam at the 2012 Miss Universe Pageant in December.
Miss Angola World 2013
Miss Angola World 2013, Maria Castelo
Maria Castelo was crowned Miss Angola World 2013 during the the first ever Miss Angola World contest took place at the Cine Atlantico, in Luanda, on August 24. Maria will represent Angola at the Miss World 2013 Pageant in Bai, Indonesia, on September 2013. The runner-ups were Claudia Daniela dos Santos and Vanilde Martins.
Miss Earth Ghana 2012
(L-R) Chaana Abdul-Razak, Miss Earth Water, Miss Earth Ghana 2012, Jennifer Maame Yaa Kyekye Tete and Rhoda Brown Wood, Miss Earth Air.
medical student of the University of Ghana, Jennifer Maame Yaa Kyekye Tete has been crowned Miss Earth Ghana, 2012 at a keenly contested finale at the National Theatre, on August 24. She won an official car, GH₡ 10,000.00, wardrobe for one year, and will represent Ghana at the world finals of Miss Earth.
Martha Mensah, was 3rd runner up (Miss Earth fire) and would work towards the protection of lands, aforestation, and related issues. She won a refrigerator, GH₡ 1000.00, and fabrics from sponsors. Chaana Abdul-Razak emerged the 2nd runner up (Miss Earth water) and would work towards solving the issues affecting water. She took home a 32” plasma TV, GH₡ 3,000.00, wardrobe for three months and participation in an international event. Rhoda Brown Wood was 1st runner up (Miss Earth Air) and would work towards the sanitization of air. She won home theatre set, GH₡ 5,000.00 cash, wardrobe for six months and a participation in an International event
Other special awards on the night include Miss Earth Walk – Martha Mensah, Miss Earth Project – Aseye Eleblu, Miss Earth Talent – Selina Antwi, Miss Earth Eloquence – Farouza Bawah, Miss Earth Face – Rhoda Brown Wood, and Miss Earth Poise and attitude – Imaculate Siddick.
Miss Earth Northern Ireland 2012
Ciara Walker was crowned Miss Earth Northern Ireland 2012 during a gala at the Seagoe Hotel on August 23. She will represent Northern Ireland at the Miss Earth Pageant in Bali, Indonesia. Incidentally, her older sister, Gemma Walker, also represented Northern Ireland at the 2008 Miss Earth Pageant in the Philippines.
Miss Earth Belize 2012 crowned
A new Miss Earth Belize was crowned Saturday night at the Bliss Center for the Performing Arts, and she is Jessel Lauriano.
A total of four contestants — Katalina Jones, Claudia Lara, Jessel Lauriano, and Idolly Saldivar, vied for the coveted title, with the winner to represent Belize in Bali, Indonesia.
Jessel was the third of the four contestants to step onto the stage, and when she did, she did so with great confidence, displaying her costume made of environmentally friendly materials, including coconuts.
Miss Earth Puerto Rico 2012
Miss Earth Puerto Rico 2012 and her court
After several failed attempts to get a crown, Miss Toa Baja, Darla Pacheco, was crowned as the new Miss Earth Puerto Rico 2012 in a gala held at the Museum of Art of Puerto Rico.
The rest of the finalists include Miss Guaynabo (first runner up), Miss Aibonito (second runner up), Miss Caguas (third runner up), Miss Cabo Rojo (finalist), Miss Orocovis (finalist), and finally, Miss Dorado (finalist).
Pacheco has been in the world of beauty pageants since 2008, when she represented the town of Ponce at the Miss Universe Puerto Rico Pageant in 2009 and managed to be among the 20 semifinalists. In 2011, she returned as Miss Yabucoa but again failed to win the crown but was able to represent the island at the Miss International Queen 2009, where she was among the finalists of the contest.
Former Miss USA Contestant casted on Survivor: Philippines
Miss Delaware USA 2011, Katie Hanson
The popular CBS show Survivor cast a couple of former beauty queens for Survivor: Philippines. One of them is former Miss Delaware USA, Katie Hanson. Katie competed at the 2011 Miss USA Pageant in Las Vegas.
Katie Hanson is a junior studying at the University of Delaware, where she is majoring in Criminal Justice. Upon graduation from college her goal is to ultimately become a Delaware State Trooper. She is the daughter of Donna Fournier, a Nutrition teacher in the Christina School District.
Achieving the title of Miss Delaware USA has been a dream come true for Katie. She loves interfacing with people, which is evident in how she utilizes her spare time. During her spare time, and between study sessions, Katie maintains two jobs. She works as a waitress at Outback Steakhouse in Newark, Delaware; this allows her to meet and interact with new people on a daily basis. In addition, she works at the Variety Club (The Children’s Charity) instructing high school children with a wide range of disabilities.
Miss Malawi Shoves Miss New Zealand at Miss World
Organisers of Miss World NZ will formally complain to the competition’s international body after the Kiwi contestant was pushed by Miss Malawi as they stood on stage.
Collette Lochore, 18, of Auckland was taking part in the international pageant in the Inner Mongolian city of Ordos in China at the weekend.
However, during the competition, cameras caught Miss Malawi, Susan Mtegha, jostling with Miss New Zealand on stage.
Words were exchanged between the two, then Miss Malawi elbowed the Kiwi out of shot and stood smiling, with her hands behind her back.
Miss NZ could just be seen standing to the side, also continuing to smile.
Speaking from Shanghai yesterday, the director of Miss World NZ, Desmond Foulger, said he was shocked and upset for Miss NZ and would complain this week.
“What actually happened was that Collette was on her correct spot on stage, but Miss Malawi didn’t realise that. Instead of asking her to move over, she just shoved her, elbowed her, and everybody in the audience was aghast.
“She was pushed hard, so she nearly fell over. It was a very rude and very unprofessional thing to do.”
The video, which quickly went viral, had Twitter fans chatting eagerly about the incident, with one calling it “The Pageant Push.”
Ms Lochore teaches drama to young people aged 3 to 18 and was this year inducted as the youngest member of the New Lynn Rotary Club.
Ms Mtegha is a fashion designer and dancer.
Mr Foulger said that after the incident, Ms Lochore did not approach or say anything to Ms Mtegha.
He praised Miss NZ for maintaining her composure and continuing to act appropriately.
“She’s very professional, she just carried on. In fact, she didn’t want us to make a complaint – she was really very good.”
Miss China, Yu Wenxia, was crowned the winner.
Rachel Wyatt crowned Miss America’s Outstanding Teen 2013
Miss America’s Outstanding Teen 2012, Rachel Wyatt of South Carolina
Rachel Wyatt of South Carolina was crowned Miss America’s Outstanding Teen 2013 Saturday night in Orlando, FL.
The teen pageant is the younger-sister pageant within the Miss America Organization.
Wyatt is a senior honor student at Wren High School, is class president and member of the Beta Club. She is the recipient of the Presidential volunteer service award and the Duke of Edinburgh silver award. An avid dancer, she hopes to major in speech pathology.
Others honored at the national pageant were:
First Runner-up: Jaine Coann LeFebvre of Connecticut;
Second Runner-up: Laura Leigh Turner of Arkansas;
Third Runner-up: Jameson Kenerly of Georgia; and
Fourth Runner-up: Molly May of Mississippi
China is Miss World 2012
Miss World 2012, Wen Xia Yu of China
Wen Xia Yu of Liaoning, China was crowned Miss World 2012 in Ordos, China. Sofie Moulds of Wales and Jessica Kahawaty of Australia was 1st Runner Up and 2nd Runner Up respectively.
The rest of the top 7 includes Brazil, Mariana Notarangelo; Jamaica, Deanna Robins; South Sudan, Atong Demach; and India, Vanya Mishra.
The top 15 also includes Spain, Aranzazu Estevez; Netherlands, Nathalie Den Dekker; England, Charlotte Holmes; Mexico, Mariana Berumen; USA, Claudine Book; Philippines, Queenierich Rehman; Indonesia, Ines Putri; and Kenya, Shamin Nabil.
The winners of each special events were also announced. They are:
Beach Fashion: Wales
Top Model: South Sudan
Multimedia: India
Sports: Sweden
Talent: China
Beauty with a Purpose: India
Continental Queens of Beauty were also announced after the finals and they are Americas: Brazil Africa: South Sudan Asia and Oceania: China Caribbean: Jamaica Europe: Wales
Miss World Colombia 2013
Daniela Ocoro Mejia, representing Valle del Cauca, was crowned Miss World Colombia in Bogota. The pageant’s name was changed from Miss Mundo Colombia to Miss Colombia International, but the winner remains the country’s representative to Miss World.
Daniela was born in Cali and is 22 years old. She stands 1.72 cm and a student of architecture.
Genet Tsegay is Miss Ethiopia Universe
Miss Ethiopia 2012, Genet Tsegay
Genet Tsegay, a 21-year-old third year architecture student, was crowned Miss Ethiopia Universe 2012. The event was organized by Ethiopian Village at Radisson Blu Hotel in Addis Ababa.
Bikinis banned from Miss Italy contest as pageant organisers choose to focus on ‘inner beauty’
It’s a step forward for women – but perhaps a step too far for male television viewers in Italy.
The Miss Italia beauty contest has banned bikinis in favour of swimsuits.
The organisers said the move would ‘add a sober element’ to the contest and that ‘interior beauty as well as exterior beauty’ was important.
Pageant organiser Patrizia Mirigliani said: ‘With this type of costume we will be returning to the classical beauty of the 1950’s, the era of female legends who we still admire and respect even today.
2013 Miss America Pageant to Air on ABC, Jan 12
ABC Television Network and Sam Haskell, Chairman of the Board of the Miss America Organization, have announced that “The 2013 Miss America Competition” returns to Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas for a week of preliminary competitions, culminating in a live telecast on SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 2013 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on ABC.
“The 2012 Miss America telecast on ABC was a tremendous success, taking the ratings crown as the most-watched non-sports program on Saturday night,” said Haskell. “With the success of our re-branding Miss America, we have attracted a new audience. We look forward to working with ABC and Planet Hollywood to make the 2013 broadcast event even more memorable for our viewers.”
The three nights of preliminaries will take place on January 8, 9 & 10 at Planet Hollywood’s PH Live Tickets for the preliminaries, as well as the Miss America live event, will be available soon. For information on ticket sales visit http://www.missamerica.org. Laura Kaeppeler, of Kenosha, Wisconsin is Miss America 2012.
Aniska Tonge Crowned Miss Virgin Islands
Miss Virgin Islands, Aniska Tonge
The 52nd and last Miss America 2013 was crowned today. Aniska Tonge was crowned Miss Virgin Islands Sunday afternoon at the ninth Miss Virgin Islands Scholarship Pageant, a preliminary event leading up to the annual Miss America Pageant in January 2013.
More than 50 people gathered at the Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas to watch four glittering contestants compete for an opportunity to attend the national pageant and receive scholarship funds. The contestants competed in such categories as fitness, talent and evening wear.
The format of the program was different this year as the entire preliminary took place in one afternoon.
PAGEANT EXTRA 