WebProNews

Tag: Miss World

  • Mireia Lalaguna Royo: Spanish Model Crowned Miss World 2015

    Mireia Lalaguna Royo was crowned Miss World 2015 on Saturday in the southern Chinese island of Sanya. The Spanish model is 23 years old.

    According to USA Today, the first ever Spanish Miss World, Mireia Lalaguna Roya is an accomplished public speaker with a degree in pharmacology, who plans to add to that a master’s degree in nutrition.

    Sofia Nikitchuk–Miss Russia–and Maria Harfanti–Miss Indonesia–trailed Mireia Lalaguna Roya as first and second runners up, respectively.

    Miss Canada, Anastasia Lin, was noticeably absent from the Miss World Pageant. Just a few weeks ago, Lin was denied a Chinese visa and barred from boarding a flight to China. She believes it was due to her advocacy for Chinese human rights, and her outspoken passion for her advocacy.

    Hi everyone, all of your support has been amazing! Thank you so much. Here is my statement to the press today: As you…

    Posted by Anastasia Lin on Thursday, November 26, 2015

    Fortunately there were no announcer mishaps in the Miss World Pageant. When Steve Harvey announced the winner of Sunday night’s Miss Universe Pageant, he read the wrong name–crowning the first runner up as the winner. He then had to announce his mistake as the crown was taken away from the contestant who believed she won, and placed on the head of the real winner.

    Mireia Lalaguna Roya will put her modeling expertise, as well as her public speaking skills, to work in her role as Miss World. She will certainly have a wealth of travel and appearances awaiting her in the coming year.

  • Anastasia Lin, Canada’s Miss World, Targeted By China For Her Stance On Human Rights

    Anastasia Lin, Canada’s China-born Miss World contestant, said on Tuesday that she is being harassed by China because she has spoken out about human rights abuses in the communist country.

    According to The Guardian, Lin’s visa to travel to the beauty pageant in a Chinese resort has been delayed and her father has been harassed by Chinese officials.

    Lin was crowned Miss World Canada in May and said her decision to speak out about Chinese abuse of human rights may have cost her a chance to attend the Dec. 19 contest final in Sanya, China.

    The 25-year-old actress testified in July at a U.S. Congressional hearing on religious persecution in China.

    In her testimony, she said she wanted to “speak for those in China that are beaten, burned and electrocuted for holding to their beliefs,” according to the full text of her statement on the Congressional-Executive Commission on China’s website.

    “I was interested in human rights way before I even thought of beauty pageants,” Lin, 25, told Reuters on Tuesday.

    While other contestants have received their invitation that allows them to apply for a visa to attend the finals, Lin said she has received no letter and believes China is trying to block her from the event.

    “I don’t think this is an administrative issue. It is not. I think this is a matter of principle,” said Lin.

    Anastasia Lin told the Los Angeles Times she believes organizers of the pageant should relocate the competition should she be refused entry into China.

    “This is not just about me – it is a matter of principle,” she said. “China is also trying to silence academics and journalists by denying them visas. This has been going on for a long time.

    “I want to be able to go to China, and I want Chinese people to see my face [on TV] speaking up for them,” she added. “It’s not wrong to stay true to one’s conscience.”

    Officials from China and the Miss World organization were not available to comment, and a Canadian contest official did not return calls about Anastasia Lin’s situation.

  • Elizabeth Safrit, Miss USA, Takes Third At Miss World

    Elizabeth Safrit says that where she comes from–Kannapolis, North Carolina, to be exact–the words “small town” fit just perfectly, but most small towns can’t boast a resident who made it to one of the country’s biggest beauty pageants and won. And now, Kannapolis can claim a resident who made it to Miss World and took third place out of 122 women.

    Safrit took her place on stage with Rolene Strauss of South Africa and Edina Kulczar of Hungary on Sunday in London; she took the title of Miss USA back in July. As a recent graduate with a Bachelor’s in Political Science, she says she ultimately wants to make it in the world of political broadcast news. For a young woman whose family has lived in the same small town for decades, being passionate about her goals is very important.

    “My hometown is the epitome of ‘Small Town USA’. It is a town where everyone knows one another. My family has lived in Kannapolis for generations. I’ve seen it evolve from a small mill town to a biotechnology hub. I am very proud to be from Kannapolis,” Safrit said. “Nothing frustrates me more than someone simply not caring. Everyone should find something to be passionate about. It is so important for leaders like Miss World to encourage the young generation to recognize their beliefs and to know that it is possible to make a difference.”

    Safrit scored very highly during her address in the competition, telling the audience what she feels Miss World is about.

    “Miss World is not a celebrity; she is an ambassador. She tells women all around the world that it’s OK to have an opinion. She makes changes happen. She identifies problems and she finds solutions,” she said.

  • Miss Honduras Accused Killers Refuse to Testify

    The man, along with three accomplices, accused of killing Miss Honduras and her sister, refused to testify during their first court appearance on Tuesday.

    Miss Honduras and Miss World contestant Maria Jose Alvarado and her sister were found buried near a riverbank roughly 12 miles from the northwestern city of Santa Barbara on November 19. The two had disappeared while attending a resort hotel party on November 13. The sister Sofia Trinidad’s boyfriend has been charged with murder.

    Plutarco Ruiz, 32, while donning a bullet-proof vest, refused to testify during a brief hearing before a judge, along with three others accused of helping him cover up the crime – his friend Aris Maldonado Mejia, resort owner Ventura Diaz and Diaz’s wife, Elizabeth Alvarado.

    Alvarado was shot 12 times and Trinidad was shot 10, in what investigators initially believed to be the result of a fit of jealous rage on Ruiz’s behalf, after he saw Trinidad dancing with another man. New evidence revealed that the women might have been shot while trying to leave the party, as they were weary of the amount of drugs and alcohol being served.

    Alvarado, 19, who was crowed Miss Honduras in April, was set to fly to London last week, in order to compete in the Miss World beauty pageant.

    Miss World pageant chairwoman Julia Morley said in a statement, “We are devastated by this terrible loss of two young women, who were so full of life. We will be holding a special service with all of the Miss World contestants on Sunday, where we will be honoring the lives of Maria Jose Alvarado and Sofia Trinidad, and say prayers for them and their family.”

    Chief detective Leandro Osorio said the bodies of Alvarado and her 23-year-old sister were unearthed along the banks of the Aguagual River, near the town of Arada, which lies in a region plagued by violence.

    In a comment to the Daily Mail, Ruiz denied shooting the sisters.

    Honduras presently hold the world’s highest murder rate, at 90.4 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2012.

  • Miss Honduras, Sister Found Dead

    Miss Honduras, Sister Found Dead

    Miss Honduras and Miss World contestant Maria Jose Alvarado and her sister were found buried near a riverbank roughly 12 miles from the northwestern city of Santa Barbara Wednesday. The two had disappeared while attending a resort hotel party last Thursday. The sister Sofia Trinidad’s boyfriend is currently being held by police under suspicion of murder.

    Alvarado, 19, who was crowed Miss Honduras in April, was set to fly to London Wednesday, in order to compete in the Miss World beauty pageant. Miss World pageant chairwoman Julia Morley said in a statement, “We are devastated by this terrible loss of two young women, who were so full of life. We will be holding a special service with all of the Miss World contestants on Sunday, where we will be honoring the lives of Maria Jose Alvarado and Sofia Trinidad, and say prayers for them and their family.”

    Chief detective Leandro Osorio said the bodies of Alvarado and her 23-year-old sister were unearthed along the banks of the Aguagual River, near the town of Arada, which lies in a region plagued by violence.

    “We are 100 percent sure that it’s them,” Osorio remarked, adding that, “we are holding the author of this horrific act, Mr Plutarco Ruiz. We have found the murder weapon and the vehicle used to transport them, a white pick-up truck.” Osorio commented that additional suspects are being looked at, as the truck was cleaned and repainted at a garage.

    Rashida Manjoo, the United Nations’ special rapporteur on violence against women, said in July that assault against females in Honduras increased 263.4-percent between 2005 and 2013.

    Arabeska Sanchez, a criminologist at the National University’s Violence Observatory, added that details of Alvarado’s killing were indicative of organized crime. Sanchez commented, “only organized crime networks rent a business, such as the resort in this case, close it to maintain control and post guards outside. These crimes have been happening a lot in Honduras, but in this case it gets attention because it has an international impact.”

    Honduras presently hold the world’s highest murder rate, at 90.4 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2012.

  • Megan Young is Crowned Miss World Philippines 2013

    Megan Young is definitely basking in the ambiance of royalty with her new title of prestige – Miss World. The 23-year-old was crowned Miss World Philippines 2013, Sept. 28, at the Hindu-dominated, Indonesian resort island in Bali.

    In an impressive denouement last night, Young executed a laudable performance out-shining a total of 126 beautiful contestants from various walks of life around the entire world. The glamorously grueling competition was comprised of beach fashion, fitness, world fashion, talent, and the gravely important “Beauty with a Purpose” category, which honed in on the significance of charitable work.

    Her magical night was captured by spectators in more than 180 countries internationally. Adorned in a pale pink, shimmering gown, Young received the crown from her predecessor, Miss World 2012, Wenxia Yu of China. She also made history as the first Filipina to ever win the illustrious title of Miss World.

    Young, a United States native, is of both Filipino and American descent. She is currently a college student majoring in Digital Film Making at De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde. The aspiring filmmaker is definitely not new to on-screen presentation, as she has appeared for various programs as an actress and announcer since the age of 15.

    She received her first ‘big break’ on the television talent search show, “StarStruck.” Two years after “StarStruck,” she moved on to the Philippines’ major commercial television network “ABS-CBN.” While she does have a love for acting, she desires to move into the director’s role and work behind the scenes.

    According to CNN, when Young was asked of her sentiments toward achieving such a grand feat, she was literally and figuratively speechless. “No words! Thank you so much for everyone for choosing me. I promise to be the best Miss World ever,” exclaimed the new queen.

     

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Miss Philippines Wins Miss World Competition

    And the winner is…Miss Philippines!

    Megan Young, Miss Philippines 2013, was crowned Miss World at the competition on Saturday.

    The contest has faced many obstacles this year, including a mystery contestant, protests, and calls for the show to be banned. The final round of the competition was moved from Jakarta to the Indonesian resort island Bali after protests from Muslim hardliner groups in Jakarta.

    The new Miss World took to her Twitter before the final round, filled with excitment.

    The Miss World contest took to their Twitter to make the announcement, post photos, and prepare everyone for next year’s competition.

    After winning the 63rd annual event, Young said, “I promise to be the best Miss World ever.”

    Young, 23, was born in America, but she and her family moved to the Philippines when she was 10 years old. Since she was 15, she has appeared as a host, in films, and in television. She is currently studying digital film making, and hopes to work behind the camera. She also says in her Miss World biography that she plays video games, “has and always will be a Harry Potter fan,” and she is guided by her heart, “I think and speak from it.”

    Second place in the competition went to Miss France, Marine Lorphelin, 20, and third place went to Miss Ghana, Carranzar Naa Okailey Shooter, 22.

    The Islamic Defenders Front had threatened to disrupt the contest because contestants show too much skin and it goes against teachings of Islam. The group continued to protest even after organizers of Miss World had cut bikinis from the competition and replaced them with sarongs.

    No protests or rallies occurred during the final round of the competition in Bali, and that may be due to the thousands of security forces deployed for the competition. The Director of Vital Security for Bali provincial police, Col. R. Umar Faroq, said, “The success in securing the Miss World final will be a benchmark for the police in securing the incoming APEC Summit.”

    The APEC Summit refers to the upcoming Asia-Pacific Cooperation summit which will be held in Bali and will be attended by President Barack Obama, thousands of delegates, and many world leaders.

    You can watch video of Miss Philippines being crowned Miss World 2013 in the video below.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66j5H2-VSFc

    [Image via the official Twitter account for the Miss World competition.]

  • Miss Uzbekistan Mystery Continues

    Miss Uzbekistan Mystery Continues

    Who knew a beauty pageant could offer more media excitement other than a fumbled answer from a contestant?

    It seems the Miss World competition is creating quite the buzz, mainly because they’re unaware how a certain contestant made it all the way to Miss World.

    It seems 18-year-old Miss Uzbekistan, Rakhima Ganieva, is a bit confused. Not about global politics or education, but about who she is. You see, according to officials from Uzbek Culture and Sports Ministry and the National Committee on Women, Uzbekistan didn’t even hold a Miss Uzbekistan competition and anyone saying they represent the country is an “imposter”.

    On the Miss World website, Ganieva says she likes music from classical to modern, plays the piano, enjoys and plays sports, such as tennis, and likes to read in her free time. And she isn’t just reading Cosmo or the latest Nicholas Sparks book, she enjoys the writings of the famous Russians – Chekhov, Dostoevsky,Tolstoy. She also likes to travel, having graduated from the Tashkent Professional College of Tourism, and plans to study law.

    On paper, she sounds like the perfect beauty queen contestant. Such a shame she didn’t lay the same ground work as all the other girls competing.

    Even though Ganieva, a native of Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, will be the first ever representative of Uzbekistan in Miss World, her antics are upsetting many of the people back home.

    Zhavlon Komolov, a representative of the Tashkent-based Pro Models modeling agency, where Ganieva briefly trained as a 15-year-old, said, “Rakhima Ganieva never passed through any special selection process in Uzbekistan. If there had been a process to choose a young lady for this competition, I can assure you that a much more beautiful model would have been chosen. I’m sorry that Ganieva is choosing to build a career on lies.”

    So how exactly did she make it all the way to the Miss World competition in Indonesia if her predominantly Muslim homeland doesn’t even host a contest to represent them? Though her entry is still a mystery, she hasn’t been kicked out of Miss World, but that could be because they have more important issues to handle. Officials of the competition are currently looking for a new location in Indonesia because some Islamists in Jakarta say the capital city would be disgraced by hosting a “pornographic” contest.

    You can watch a video of Ganieva introducing herself as Miss Uzbekistan 2013 below.

    Image via YouTube.

    Earlier…

  • Bikini Ban: Miss World Contestants to Wear Sarongs

    Though they’ve been a staple of beauty pageants for decades, bikinis are not welcome this year at the Miss World competition.

    According to an Associated Press report, the organizers of the Miss World beauty pageant have banned bikinis from being worn on-stage at the competition. Instead, contestants will be wearing bikini tops along with long sarongs similar to those worn in Bali.

    The change was reportedly made to “respect” the “traditional customs and values” of Indonesia, where this year’s pageant is being held. The decision is a compromise for those Indonesians who object to women showing certain portions of their skin. Though a majority of Indonesians belong to a moderate sect of Islam, some more fundamentalist locals have planned to protest the pageant. The Indonesian Council of Ulema has called for the pageant to be cancelled entirely.

    A representative for the Miss World Organization told the AP that the decision was made after a year of discussions over the “sensitive” issue. It was also stated that the pageant wished to “work in a manner respectful to every country.” One-piece sarong beachwear is reportedly being designed by Indonesia specifically for the competition.