Daniela Álvarez Crowned Miss World Mexico 2014

Daniela Álvarez was crowned Miss World Mexico 2014 on October 17th, 2013 during an event held at the Toluca International Airport (Aeropuerto Internacional de Toluca). The beauty representing Morelos is 19 years old and stands 1.74 m. She will represent Mexico in the Miss World 2014 pageant, scheduled for October 1014 in London. Earlier, Daniela won the Miss Talent Award.

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Olivia Culpo, Miss Universe, Could Face 2 Years In Jail For Taj Mahal Photo Shoot

The Huffington Post  |  By Cavan Sieczkowski

Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo claims she didn't want to do the controversial footwear photo shoot at the Taj Mahal, a move that could allegedly land her and others in jail for two years if found guilty.

On Monday, the Hindustan Times reported officials from the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) would file a police complaint against Miss Universe for her Oct. 6 visit to the Taj Mahal because of a footwear photo shoot that took place on the grounds of the world wonder.

Apparently, Culpo modeled pairs of shoes at the marble ledge known as the Diana Seat, using the Taj Mahal as a backdrop, without permission from ASI.

"The sandals from a bag she carried were taken and placed on the Diana Seat for shooting pictures, which is not permitted by the ASI (Archaeological Survey of India)," Taj caretaker Munazzar Ali told India's Mid-Day paper, according to the Hindustan Times. "It also amounts to disrespect and insult."

Police Inspector Sushant Gaur said Culpo and others in the group were in violation of India's Heritage Act, according to the Associated Press. The legislation bans commercial activity at the Taj Mahal, which is a World Heritage Site.

Now, authorities have filed a case against them. Culpo and others could face up to two years in jail and a fine of 100,000 rupees ($1,600) if found guilty, Gaur said, per the AP.

Now, the 21-year-old is speaking up and saying she had issues with the shoot to begin with.

"I mean, I'm an employee of the Miss Universe organization and following directions given to me," Culpo told the Providence Journal. "I guess their vision was, 'What's better to identify India than the Taj Mahal?' But unfortunately it's something that was highly offensive. Honestly, I did say out loud at one point, 'Isn't this a little inappropriate?'"

"It's upsetting to me that I was a part of that," Culpo added. "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."

The Miss Universe Organization released a statement to The Huffington Post Wednesday apologizing for the incident and explaining that titleholders make videos with promotional tie-ins throughout their reigns.

"As part of these videos, we sometimes incorporate sponsors into these shoots," the statement read. "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."

The Rhode Island native set off on a 10-day trip to India last month. Her visit was focused on celebrating female empowerment and spreading AIDS awareness, according to the Miss Universe website.

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Venezuelan beauty contest bridges political divide

By JORGE RUEDA CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelans have trouble agreeing on anything these days, whether it's who really won the election to replace Hugo Chavez or who to blame for this South American nation's mounting economic woes.

But for a few gala-filled hours, they put all that aside to embrace a shared national obsession: beauty. In what is traditionally the country's most-watched television event, millions tuned in Thursday night to watch as 18-year-old Migbelis Castellanos was crowned Miss Venezuela.

The 5-foot-7-inch, green-eyed blonde is a political science and communications college student from the state of Zulia. The youngest of 26 finalists competing for the crown, she'll represent Venezuela at next year's Miss Universe pageant.

Even as regular Venezuelans struggle to contend with galloping inflation, shortages of basic goods such as toilet paper and strict currency controls, the beauty contest, now in its 61st edition, is experiencing something of a rebirth.

After four years of reduced budgets and smaller venues, the pageant returned this year to Caracas' main indoor arena, the Poliedro, with a capacity of 15,000. Interest was also piqued by a new reality show beamed across Latin America, called "Miss Venezuela: Everything for the Crown," which followed the finalists as they learned to walk, talk and smile their way to glory.

Venezuela has won more major international beauty competitions than any other nation, including six Miss Universe titles, and beauty pageants rank alongside baseball as the country's most-followed diversion, one that transcends social class. A whole industry of grooming schools, plastic surgeons and beauty salons has emerged to prepare young women for the thousands of pageants that take place each year around the country in schools, army barracks and even prisons.

"It doesn't matter if you're Chavista or a government opponent, this is one sin we all share," Jose Luiz Martinez, a 21-year-old college student, said yesterday in downtown Caracas. As if to prove that point, Maria Eugenia Enriquez, wearing a red shirt stamped with the piercing gaze of the late Chavez, said she never misses the festivities. "I'm a revolutionary but I like to watch the show with my entire family," said Enriquez.

"Miss Venezuela is as much ours as the arepa," she said, referring to the corn cake that's an emblematic part of the country's diet. Last night's show was expected to draw more than two-thirds of the television audience, according to Venevision, the network responsible for organizing and broadcasting the pageant.

While the self-styled 21st century socialist revolution implemented a decade ago by Chavez drove a wedge in Venezuelan society, the scale of political vitriol has intensified since the charismatic leader's death in March and the narrow victory by his hand-picked successor, Nicolas Maduro, over opposition leader Henrique Capriles, who has accused Maduro of stealing the vote. In turn, Maduro has slammed his critics as "lackeys" of the U.S. empire conspiring to destabilize the government.

The country's problems weren't visible under the bright lights last night, politics did nudge their way into the question and answer period, when the candidate for Caracas, Andrea Lira, said that more than chasing an ideal of beauty, she dreams of one day transforming her divided nation. "I want my country to be a country that isn't complacent and that continues to struggle in the face of adversity so that we can come together in spite of our differences," she said in remarks that elicited extended applause from the audience.