Paulina Vega Miss Universe Crowning Moment

Miss Universe Top 10 Moments

Source: Entertainment Weekly

The universe has declared its new queen: On Sunday night, hosts Thomas Roberts and Natalie Morales crowned Paulina Vega of Colombia as the newest Miss Universe winner. Her powers include smiling for over three hours, not glaring at Rob Dyrdek when he asks her a terrible question, and turning dresses completely sheer when they’re hit with spotlight (but that translucent silver gown was a beauty!). Miss Colombia beat out 87 other professional dancers, students, and fourth-degree Tae Kwan Do black-belts to rightfully claim her crown and keys to a Trump Tower apartment in the 63rd Annual Miss Universe Pageant. And after a year of philanthropic work and glamorous trips, she’ll come right back here to casually promote Sherri Hill dresses and Chi hair care products before commercial breaks.

The Miss Universe Pageant makes no qualms about it: This is a chance to watch 88 of the most beautiful women in the world strut their stuff, and strut beautifully they did in what was a pretty seamless show, give or take an awkward transition. Choosing 10 Top Moments from the night’s broadcast on NBC was tough, but I tried to evaluate each moment on its smile, personality, and matching fuchsia sateen bikini, and these came out on top:

1. The Weight of Your Country on Your Shoulders
I firmly believe that if the Miss Universe contestants could light their National Costumes on fire for their introductions like Katniss and Peeta in The Hunger Games, they would. These outfits get crazier and crazier every year, often defying physics (150 pounds of clothing on 120 pounds of body), and sometimes, logic (I didn’t know that country was known for its genie lamps!). Tonight the costumes could mostly be summed up in three categories: 1. Armed—Bolivia and her sword, Myanmar and her bow and arrow; 2. With Props—I think we all remember Canada and her electric scoreboard and hockey stick cape; and 3. Tortuously Heavy—Indonesia truly earned her fan-voted “Best National Costume” Award for the outstanding 20 kilo Buddhist Temple representation she sported on her shoulders.

2. A Life in Subtitles
As the 88 contestants were narrowed down to 15, a video package played for each selected finalist that allowed us to marvel at her beauty and accomplishments while we (me) ate Nutella on our couches at home. All 15 were given a catchy subtitle that either previewed what was to come in the video or made absolutely no sense at all. Some contestants, like Miss Netherlands, “The Urban Explorer,” or Miss USA, “Tae Kwan Do Kid,” are probably updating their Twitter bios to include their cool new monikers right now. Others are probably wondering how their whole life boiled down to “Beach Family.” But as that title belonged to the future crown winner, Miss Colombia, she’s probably updating her Twitter with something else right now, anyway.

3. Swimsuits with, like, Jeannie Mai
Special correspondent Jeannie Mai has a tough gig, there’s no doubt about it. Grabbing—seriously, grabbing—women as they come off stage and getting them to answer questions when they want to be getting ready for the next competition is prime for some awkward moments. But Mai’s silliest showing was certainly when she decided to ditch the script and announce the Swimsuit Competition as though all of the contestant facts had been presented to her in casual conversation. Of Miss France’s Business Management studies, Mai summarized: “She was like, Jeannie, eventually I’d like to promote and export French lace—well, she didn’t say it like that, she said it in French, but I understood her.”

4. Welcome to Doral, Where All of Your Dreams Come True, and Maybe You AreDreaming Because Is Any of This Actually Real at All?
Truly the most bizarre part of the show had to be all the promotion of the city where the pageant was being held, Doral, Florida. Now if we had just been focusing on Doral’s parent county, Miami, that might have been a little more standard—Culture! Beaches! Golf! But Doral is a new city; in fact, it’s a city that’s still being built, so its video package featured computer-generated landscapes, luxury eight-story buildings that aren’t real yet, and a lot of Donald Trump and men in suits standing in undeveloped fields telling us what a great city it is. I’m sure Doral will be a lovely city, but right now it kind of looks like it’s in The Sims.

5. Dynamic Performances (Someone Give Gavin DeGraw a Call, Already)
Hopeful crossover Latin superstar Prince Royce and newly-sexy Nick Jonas were mostly background music to the 88 women swarming around them while they performed, but Gavin DeGraw certainly made his presence known during the Top Five contestants’s final walk around stage, escorting them down the stairs, shimmying in their general direction, and signaling for Miss Jamaica to give him a call sometime.

6. Miss Universe: Sponsored by Awkward Transitions
With language barriers and cue cards and Jeannie Mai snatching bikinis backstage, there are plenty of opportunities for awkward moments, but I was not prepared for poor Miss Universe 2013, the lovely Gabriela Isler, having to pimp every single Miss Universe sponsor so aggressively. Any woman who can say, “When I went to New York City, it was so cold… luckily, I got these Chinese Laundry boots,” deserves every dollar, apartment, and pair of Chinese Laundry boots she got with this gig.
Okay, one more: “It’s been a busy year, but now it’s time for Gabby. It’s time to go back home… and thanks to SBA airlines, I can go back to Venezuela and move forward with my life.” Move on to your sponsorless freedom, Gabby! Run like the wind!

7. Questions Lost in Translation (But Still, the Answer is World Peace)
The judges’ questions weren’t all terrible, but they almost uniformly sounded as if they were being voiced through a microphone made out of a potato. Just about every Top Five contestant had to call for a repeat, causing Miss USA to answer Manny Pacquiao’s question about what message she would deliver to terrorists if given 30 seconds with this classic ditty: “I know as Miss USA I can always spread a message of love and hope and peace and I would do my very best to spread that message to them and everyone else in the world.” World peace, indeed.

8. Facebook User, Maria Nevarro Fernandez, is a Star
Luckily, the contestants were given one more chance to show their mental prowess and cultural pride during the new Fan Question, and Facebook user Maria Nevarro Fernandez saved the day with this broad but insightful question: “What is the greatest contribution of your country to the entire world?” Miss Ukraine spoke of the difficult situation facing her country, Miss Netherlands focused on her home city of Amsterdam’s tolerance, and Miss Colombia, in what might have cinched her the title, glowed with pride when talking about the perseverance of her country’s people.

9. A Bit of a Tearjerker
Whether it was the former Miss Universe winners talking about how much the crown had shaped their lives and allowed them to become journalists and philanthropists (and start fragrance lines); or Miss Philippines talking about the uncle who took her in as a child that just passed away from cancer; or all of the women speaking so passionately about the philanthropic endeavors they support, these three hours packed an occasional emotional punch.

10. Finally, A New Ruler Is Crowned
4th runner-up: Miss Jamaica and her edgy short haircut
3rd runner-up: Miss Netherlands and her stunning yellow dress
2nd runner-up: Miss Ukraine and her gown’s Angelina Jolie thigh-high slit
1st runner-up: Miss USA and her sparkling smile

WINNER: A shocked and emotional Miss Colombia… congratulations, Paulina!

Miss Colombia crowned Miss Universe in Miami

By KELLI KENNEDY (AP)


MIAMI (AP) — Miss Colombia Paulina Vega, a relative pageant newcomer, has been crowned Miss Universe, beating out first runner-up Miss USA Nia Sanchez and contestants from more than 80 other countries at Sunday's pageant in Miami. Although she was far from home, Vega said she still felt the support from local Latinos.Vega, a 22-year-old student of business administration from Barranquilla, Colombia, said she would wear the crown with "pride and excitement" as she heard the news that fans in Colombia had taken to the streets to celebrate. "It felt like home. I felt like I was in Colombia with my people. I felt that support in every moment of the pageant," she said, wearing a sparkling silver gown with vertical stripes at a press conference after the competition.


Real estate mogul and reality TV star Donald Trump, who owns the pageant, said many predicted Vega would take the crown a few weeks ago when contestants first arrived in Miami for the festivities. "From the minute she walked in the building, people said, 'She's a star,'" Trump said. Vega's win keeps the title in the hands of another Latina — reigning Miss Universe Gabriela Isler is from Venezuela. Beauty pageants are big business in Latin America, where girls are groomed for the contests from a young age and where Vega said women find "a lot of pride" in representing their country.Trump said Colombia was in the running to host next year's pageant but noted China was also a strong candidate. Crowd favorite Miss Venezuela Migbelis Lynette Castellanos was cut after the top ten. She had tremendous support and pressure locally and back home. The Miami suburb of Doral, which was host to the women during their stay, is also known as "Doralzuela" for its many Venezuelan residents.

Pageants and performance run in Vega's family. Her grandmother, Elvira Castillo, was Miss Atlántico 1953 (Colombia) and her grandfather is legendary tenor Gastón Vega. But the contests leading up to Miss Universe were a first for Vega, who is one of eight children. She also said they would be her last, as she is eager to return to her business studies, saying: "It gives me independence. I want to have my own company."

Fennell stood out with her short, spiky haircut and feisty personality. After Sanchez, the 24-year-old Miss USA from Las Vegas, Nevada, the second runner-up was Miss Ukraine Diana Harkusha. Miss Jamaica Kaci Fennell and Miss Netherlands Yasmin Verheijen were also among the top five, emerging from the field of 88 contestants. "I don't have long tresses like everyone else. I'm just representing myself, and that's what beauty pageants are all about," said Fennell, who wore a long, red beaded evening gown. "You don't have to look a certain way ... and I feel like I represent that."
As Miss Universe, Vega will receive an undisclosed salary, a luxury apartment in New York, a wardrobe and oodles of beauty products, and a one-year scholarship from the New York Film Academy.

"It will be a dream come true to represent the woman of today," Vega said earlier in the week. "A woman that not only cares about being beautiful and being glamorous, but also cares about being a professional, intelligent, hard-working person." 

MISS UNIVERSE | Costume Show Photos

Miss Universe Contestants showcase their enviable bodies in the world-famous swimwear show in Miami

By BIANCA LONDON FOR MAILONLINE

Aside from the glittering dresses and charitable pledges, the swimwear round of Miss Universe is one of the most famous and anticipated. And the glossy-haired contestants, who have been working hard in the gym, didn't disappoint as they showcased their toned figures in Miami on Wednesday.

Nearly 90 of the world’s most beautiful women descended on Miami on the Trump National Doral hotel to participate in the Yamamay Swimsuit Runway Show and splashed around in the pool while showcasing their favourite bikinis.

First Miss Universe Turns 80 This Week

Armi Kuusela Williams rarely goes to her native Finland without being surrounded by media. It’s the price the she pays for making history in 1952 when she was crowned the first “Miss Universe. ”That happened a lifetime ago, says Williams modestly, “I don’t talk about it much.” Her days as “Miss Universe” opened many doors, including travel around the world and a starring role, playing herself, in the Finnish movie, “World’s Most Beautiful Girl.” Williams is forever grateful. “But 62 years is a long time ago… I want to be remembered for other things, not just for being Miss Universe.”

She became a businesswoman and good will ambassador. When her husband died in 1975, Williams took over management of the family hotel properties in Manila. She has served as an honorary counsel for Finland, and was knighted by the Finnish government two years ago, earning the Order of the White Rose.

In 1978, she married American diplomat Al Williams. After living in Barcelona and Turkey, they settled in La Jolla in 1991. Here she has supported cancer research and numerous cultural and arts organizations, including co-chairing San Diego Youth Symphony’s program for disadvantaged youth. In fact, many who meet Williams today remain unaware of the international spotlight she commanded at age 17 when actress Piper Laurie crowned the 108-pound beauty queen. Williams just celebrated her 80th birthday at her family’s home in Finland. She is delighted to have made it there and back without word leaking out to the media.

Newly-crowned Miss Universe Thailand in hot water over 'red shirts' remarks

(CNN) -- She was only crowned Miss Universe Thailand on Saturday but Weluree "Fai" Ditsayabut has already become caught up in the political crisis engulfing her country, after comments were found on her Facebook page referring to pro-government demonstrators as "dirty," "evil activists" that should "all be executed." According to news site Khaosod English, the 22-year-old has often published scathing comments about the "red shirt" movement on her Facebook page, which now appears to have been deleted.
"I am not neutral. I am on the side of His Majesty the King," Weluree said in a comment from November, Khaosod English reported. "I'm so angry at these evil activists. They should all be executed." Weluree reportedly said Thailand would be cleaner if the "dirty" red shirts left the country.

Pro-government supporters have questioned Weluree's pageant victory on popular online forums and social media sites. A Facebook page in protest of her winning the competition had over 10,000 "likes" on Monday -- although some users criticized her appearance and claimed she won because of her connections, rather than raising concerns about her anti-red shirt comments. The deputy director of Human Rights Watch's Asia division, Phil Robertson, condemned Weluree's remarks on Twitter. "Perhaps (a) better title is Miss Politically Divided #Thailand? Shameful when beauty queens are calling for executions," he wrote.
Weluree -- an actress, talk show host, and English student -- apologized Monday for the remarks in an interview on Thailand's Channel 3. "I was careless. I was young. I did it recklessly," she said. "It won't happen again." Weluree beat the pageant favorite Pimbongkod "Ellie" Chankaew who placed second in Saturday's competition. The pageant organizers have not responded to the controversy, nor have the leaders of the pro-government movement.

Thailand's political turmoil began in November when the government attempted to pass a controversial amnesty bill that would have cleared the way for the return of then-prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra's brother, Thaksin, to politics. The former prime minister and tycoon has been living in self-imposed exile to avoid a corruption conviction after being overthrown in a military coup in 2006. Since November, the People's Democratic Reform Committee has led anti-government protesters, who are mostly middle-class royalists, in calling for Yingluck's government to be replaced with an unelected "people's council."
Competing rallies have been held by pro-government supporters, many of whom come from the country's rural north and northeast and view Shinawatra's ouster as a "judicial coup." 

Yingluck was found guilty of abuse of power and removed from office along with several cabinet ministers on May 7, and indicted by Thailand's anti-graft body. If the Senate votes to impeach her, she could be banned from politics for five years. Monday marks a particularly sensitive day for the red shirt movement as the anniversary of a military crackdown that left more than 90 people dead and thousands injured in 2010.

MISS UNIVERSE GABRIELA ISLER PRESENTS AT THE 25TH ANNUAL BILLBOARD LATIN MUSIC AWARDS

Miss Universe Gabriela Isler Presented at the 25th Annual Billboard Latin Music Awards this past Thursday, April 24th.

OLIVIA CULPO IN “THE OTHER WOMAN”

Former Miss Universe 2012, Olivia Culpo has a role in “The Other Woman.” After discovering her boyfriend is married, a woman (Cameron Diaz) tries to get her ruined life back on track. But when she accidentally meets the wife he’s been cheating on (Leslie Mann), she realizes they have much in common, and her sworn enemy becomes her greatest friend. When yet another affair is discovered (Kate Upton), all three women team up to plot mutual revenge on their cheating, lying, three-timing SOB. In theaters this Friday.

GABRIELA ISLER’S ADVICE FOR ASPIRING QUEENS: BE ‘CONFIDENT’ AND ‘REAL’

MANILA, Philippines – Right when the Philippines was experiencing typhoon Yolanda in November 2013, Venezuela’s Gabriela Isler was crowned Ms Universe 2013 in Moscow, Russia.

Less than a year later, months into her reign as Ms Universe, Gabriela is visiting the Philippines not only to serve as one of the judges in the Bb Pilipinas coronation night on March 30, but also to raise awareness for rebuilding efforts in typhoon-hit areas.

This is in cooperation with Cordaid, a Dutch development agency that Miss Universe Organization president Paula Shugart told media was focused on the long-term, with several projects centered on women and children – also a key focal point of Gabriela’s projects as Ms Universe.

Miss Universe Malaysia 2014 Results

SHAH ALAM: Christmas came early for the silver state as Perak-born Sabrina Beneett was crowned Miss Universe Malaysia 2014 by reigning Miss Universe Malaysia 2013 Carey Ng at Setia City Convention Centre last Thursday.

Hosted by Miss Universe Malaysia Organisation, the 23-year-old psychology and communications student proved to be the top choice among 16 finalists who were then narrowed down to the top four.

“I’m on top of the world. Winning this means a lot to me and I am proud to be given the chance to represent Malaysia,” said Beneett. “I’ll make sure that I’ll shine even brighter.

“I believe beauty is something people are inclined towards and in a way receptive to. It can make a difference in the right way.”

Beneett clinched the title with her heart-warming smile and candid answers.

The first runner-up was Lalitha Monisha while the second runner-up was Kausalya Ida. Lyn Lim emerged as the third runner-up.

Beneett will represent Malaysia in the 63rd annual Miss Universe International Pageant in Fortaleza, Brazil, in October next year.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: The 22 Most Influential Former Beauty Queens

by JENNIFER MICHALSKI

Last month, Maria Gabriela Isler of Venezuela was crowned Miss Universe — the 62nd woman to be crowned with the prestigious title since the competition was founded in 1952.

And while the Miss Universe crown represents one of the most honorable of all beauty titles, hundreds of pageants take place all over the world each year.

Throughout the past 60 years of Miss Universe and Miss USA competitions, former beauty queens have gone on to have successful careers — journalists such as Oprah Winfrey and Diane Sawyer, Oscar winners like Halle Berry, many leaders in philanthropy, and more.

Check out the former beauty queens who are doing their parts to change the world.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/beauty-pageant-queens-where-are-they-now-2013-12?op=1#ixzz2nxetbYs1

10 Things You Didn't Know About Gabriela Isler

"Happy Holidays" clip from the Miss Universe Organization

Ten questions for Miss Universe 2013, Gabriela Isler

Life is moving very fast these days for 25-year-old Gabriela Isler of Venezuela. Last month, during ceremonies in Moscow, Isler (a popular TV personality back home) was crowned Miss Universe - the seventh time a Venezuelan has taken that honor in the pageant’s 61-year history.   

Isler moved into a new apartment in New York City shortly before this interview was conducted. Although her command of English is impressive, Isler apologized throughout our conversation while searching for the words to best convey her thoughts.  

Dow: Living in New York City must be overwhelming if you’ve never been there before. How are you handling it so far? 

Isler: It’s very overwhelming. There have been a lot of changes in my life this year. Not only becoming Miss Universe but also in my personal life. It’s a big change to move to the big city – the city that never sleeps. I have a new life – a new apartment – a new roommate. It’s a big experience.   

Dow: You said that you have a roommate. Is that part of the rules of being Miss Universe? That someone must be there to watch over you?  

Isler: I don’t know if it’s a rule, but I do have a roommate. It’s Miss USA, Erin Brady.

Dow: I understand that you have a boyfriend back home in Venezuela. Is he a little nervous about the prospect of you traveling around the world?

Isler: He is a little nervous about that, but he supports me as Miss Universe and offers me lots of advice. He is not only my boyfriend but he’s a very good friend. I hope our relationship is still getting better after this year.  

Dow: What sorts of things do you do to stay in such good shape?  

Isler: I eat many times per day. Breakfast, snack, lunch, snack. That way you can regulate your metabolism. Recently, I haven’t had time to go to the gym. Usually I go four or five times a week - two hours of gym to keep the body in good form. I work the abs and the quads but I don’t do heavy weights. Lots of exercise but no diet – just healthy limitations.  

Dow: Is there a food that you consider to be your weakness?

Isler (laughing): Chocolate. Not a bar of chocolate but if you give me a brownie with ice cream or a chocolate cake, I will eat it, I swear.  

Dow: You are a strong advocate for AIDS research and education. How did you decide to adopt that as your platform?  

Isler: As Miss Universe, I think it’s important to not only be a role model for girls but for everyone. I hope that if people see me talk about the importance of HIV and AIDS awareness, they will do the same thing.  

Dow: Who makes you laugh? Who is the funniest person that you know? 

Isler: My niece. When I need to laugh, I think of her. She is 4 years old and a little princess. I have that picture of her in my head and she can always make me laugh when I need it.  

Dow: I read a story yesterday about the president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro. Is he OK? What do you know about him?

Isler: He is very proud of me. He took the time to go on Twitter after I was chosen as Miss Universe to wish me congratulations. He is proud of me and I feel honored.

Dow: The reason I ask is because over the weekend, he sent the Venezuelan national army to occupy and steal from electronics stores to give plasma TVs to people who want them. He doesn’t seem to be a very “business friendly” president if you know what I mean. 

Isler: I haven’t had time to read lately so I’m not sure about this, but I do know about some things happening in my country and I feel very sad. But as I told you before, I also feel happy because I give people there a reason to feel the same happiness. I just try to give happiness to my country in these difficult moments. 

Dow: After your year of being Miss Universe, what would you like to do? Where do you see yourself a year from now?  

Isler: I’m a businesswoman. I studied marketing and I would like to have my own company while also being part of the modeling world. I have time to think over the next year. I have a lot of goals in my head right now.  

Dow: Have you ever visited Maine? Do you know where we are? 

Isler (laughing): No; I know it is very far from New York.

Dow: We’re not that far. Bangor to New York City takes about seven hours on a good day.

Isler (laughing): Oh, you are close. I can go there tomorrow.  

Former Miss Universe Israel 2004 revealed as WONDER WOMAN!

The comic-book movie world finally found its Wonder Woman! Warner Bros. confirmed “Fast & Furious” star Gal Gadot will take on the iconic DC Comics role in director Zack Snyder’s upcoming “Man of Steel” sequel. Additionally, Gal is Miss Universe Israel 2004!

The as-yet-untitled movie, scheduled for release July 17, 2015, has Henry Cavill reprising his role Clark Kent/Superman, with Ben Affleck playing Bruce Wayne/Batman.

Pageant queen’s life not all tiaras, roses

BY ROBYN SIDERSKY / THE FREE LANCE–STAR

In 2006, Tara Conner celebrated winning the Miss USA pageant. Next week, she will celebrate another milestone—seven years of sobriety. Today, she still looks like a beauty queen, sporting straight blonde hair, flawless makeup and a stylish outfit.

But underneath that polished image is a lot of pain. On Tuesday, she shared some of that pain and her experiences with drugs and alcohol with a group at the Caroline County Recovery Center.

Conner told them how she became an addict at 14 and didn’t turn things around until she had to take a drug test after winning the Miss USA crown. She said Donald Trump—the co-owner of the Miss Universe pageant—gave her a second chance if she promised to get treatment.

So, she did, after nearly losing her title.

Now, the Kentucky native talks to people who struggle with the pain she used to endure. “Hi, my name is Tara and I’m a recovering everything,” she told a circle of people Tuesday. She said traveling to Bowling Green, where the recovery center is located, felt like she was back home in Kentucky, in the small town where she grew up.

The reason she goes to small towns, like Bowling Green, is to spread awareness of support groups and recovery programs and the opportunities to change. When I lived in Kentucky, I didn’t know services were available,” she said.

Becoming a pageant competitor helped her “mask what was going on.” Her life changed overnight when she won Miss USA. “I had everything I could have ever dreamt of having,” she said. But when reports of her wild past got out and she nearly lost the crown, she had to change her behavior.

It was the week before her 21st birthday that she decided to become sober. Ironically, she’s never had a legal drink. When she began treatment, she couldn’t relate to those around her. But then their stories came out. “All of our stories were the same,” she said.

She said someone once told her, “you can’t save your face and your butt at the same time.” It means that you can’t paint a rosy picture of your life and expect to make any progress in recovery. “You have to be willing, going into these things, to get anything out of it,” she said.

The group Conner spoke with Tuesday wasn’t just addicts. Local pastors and Caroline’s Commonwealth Attorney Tony Spencer were also there to listen to Conner speak. Spencer said he wasn’t surprised she got treatment, but he wondered why she stuck with it. Conner said she was “emotionally and spiritually bankrupt.”

Mel Covington, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Bowling Green, asked how to catch issues early and educate young people, like those he works with in his church. Conner said the parents need to be educated and be truthful about the issues going on at home. She said it’s about opening up the lines of communication and giving the kids someone they can relate to. Conner said if someone like herself had come to speak to her when she was a teen, things would have been different.

Miss Universe 2013: 10 eye-popping moments

By By Jennifer Arellano

Source: Entertainment Weekly / Pop Watch

Congratulations are in order for the new Miss Universe, Gabriela Isler of Venezuela, who beat out 85 other international beauties Saturday night at Moscow’s Crocus City Hall, wearing a shimmering silver dress.While it’s another year of bleached perma-smiles, bizarro-glam costumery that make an ’80s Cher look modest, and suspiciously impressive résumés, for all the glitter and iridescent excess of Miss Venezuela’s finale dress, the event itself seemed a little lackluster this year. Maybe it was the absence of wonderfully cheeky host Andy Cohenpaired with the pure cheesiness of Giuliana Rancic? Or perhaps it was the lack of cringe-worthy fashion dialogue from usual suspect and style commentator Jeannie Mai? Or maybe my crazy-meter broke from theVMAs and Kanye rants and that Emmy musical number? Well, thankfully, it’s not completely broken, because there were still plenty of silly sights to spare. Behold, my picks for the 10 eye-popping Miss Universe 2013 moments:

1. A Nick Jonas shout-out. At least she didn’t pull a Hillary Swank. Did Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo thank her JoBro boyfriend during her parting speech? After thanking her family, friends, and the Donald, she said she couldn’t wait to start a new chapter with a “very special person who puts a smile on my face every day.”

2. Don’t hate them because they’re beautiful; hate them because they’re … superheroes? Apparently beauty queens save lives too. Instead of baton-twirling, flame-throwing extracurricular taglines, Miss Dominican Republic “helped deliver a baby when she was 17″ and Miss Switzerland “once pulled a drowning girl out of a pool.” C’mon, let’s feel inadequate together!

3. Angelina Jolie was a contestant! Well, sorta. Jin Ye, Miss China, was dubbed the Chinese Angelina Jolie. Do you see the resemblance? But where’s the vial of Billy Bob Thornton’s blood? Or the brood of diverse, aesthetically pleasing children?

4. Nostalgia watch: Tara Lipinski as a judge. Or “Lara Lipinski” as Mel B. mispronounced the retired figure skater’s name. What girl didn’t grow up wanting Olympic figure-skating gold when the tiny Tara won the 1998 Winter Olympics? Holy crap, she’s 31. Winter pipe dreams never die!


(read more)

Burning Question: Why Do Venezuelan Women Rule Miss Universe?

(from Yahoo News)

Welcome to the Miss Universe-Burning Questions Lightning Round!

Q: Three of the last six Miss Universe pageants have been won by Miss Venezuela — what's in the water there? Are pageants a big part of their culture?

A: No, pageants aren't a big part of their culture. Pageants are amassive, huge, enormous part of their culture. In 2010, professor Belinda Edmondson of Rutgers University published an academic paper that pretty much summed it up: "In the beauty contest-obsessed societies of the Caribbean and Latin America, a contestant’s chances of winning a national pageant are directly related to the perception that she has a shot at winning an international beauty contest such as Miss World or Miss Universe."

In other words, in Latin America, beauty pageants serve much of the same hometown rah-rah function that football does in Texas, or basketball in Indiana.

"In the Caribbean, Africa, Latin America, and Asia, the beauty pageant is the quintessential middlebrow cultural product," Edmondson writes, "a mix of cheesecake, social desire, commercial canniness, and Third World nationalist ambition. Its winners are frequently used as spokeswomen to promote state initiatives in farming or commerce.

"The beauty pageant, then, covers roughly the same terrain as the romance novel — social aspiration, nationalism, and pleasure." As for Venezuela in particular, well, a source close to the Miss Universe organization puts it to me this way: "They take their pageants very seriously. It's a big deal, and a ton of girls compete. It's a different level of importance there, and they're fierce competitors."

Maria Gabriel Isler, the contest's new 25-year-old, half-Swiss champion climbed her way to the top of the Venezuelan circuit, while working as an anchor for a national TV network. Isler earned a bachelor's degree in marketing and seems to have specialized in presentation as an art form, having worked as a professional gift wrapper in her early life. She began her rise to Miss Universe winning the Miss Guarico prize — representing her home state — before winning the title of Miss Venuezla and finally the entire Universe.

Q: Which countries have produced the most Miss Universe winners?

A: Well, Isler marks the seventh Miss Universe to come out of Venezuela. But there's one country that has produced eight winners. Say it with me: U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! (FYI: Puerto Rico, which sends its own delegate, has won five times.)

Q: Does every country have a Miss Universe contestant?

A: Nope. Every year, 80 to 100 countries send women to compete. And the planet has more than 200 sovereign states on it. For example, this year's Miss Universe pageant did not contain a Miss Albania, Miss Armenia, Miss North Korea, or Miss Bahrain. There is also an opening for a Miss Bhutan, if you're thinking of maybe launching the franchise there.

Steven Tyler asks Isler about overcoming fears during the 2013 Miss Universe pageant:

Q: How do other countries crown their Misses? In countries where there isn't a democracy, but, say, a king or a sole ruler, can he just crown his girlfriend? Do princesses ever get to rep their country?

A: If you think that Miss Universe and McDonald's have little in common, think again. Both are run like franchises. Local organizations hoping to send a Miss Universe contestant to the big show have to get permission from the Miss Universe Organization.

Most of the time, a local pageant has determined the winner of each participating country, but not always. For a few years, Australia stopped hosting pageants, deeming them archaic, and instead selected its Miss Aussie via a modeling agency. (Oz has since reinstated pageants.) Royals, dictators, and problematic governments can't crown whomever they want ... at least, not without the pretense of a pageant or some other ceremonial contest. The Chinese license holder, for example, finds its Miss Universe China using a combination of regional contests and direct auditions.

Miss Universe 2013 winner is Miss Venezuela, Gabriela Isler

By Jamie Wetherbe, LA Times

And the crown goes to ... Miss Venezuela, Gabriela Isler, who was named Miss Universe 2013 Saturday night at Moscow’s Crocus City Hall. Miss Universe 2012, Olivia Culpo, crowned Isler at the conclusion of the two-hour telecast, viewed by an estimated 1 billion people from 190 countries.

Isler beat out contestants from 85 other countries at the 62nd annual competition to nab the crown for Venezuela, the country's seventh Miss Universe title. The 25-year-old, 5-foot, 10-inch beauty works as an anchor for Venezuela's Venevision television; her experience is likely to come in handy during her one-year stint as Miss Universe.

Soon after her win, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro tweeted his congratulations, calling her victory a "triumph." Isler was selected by a panel of eight judges including celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa, gold medal figure skater Tara Lipinski and Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler, who pulled double duty with a performance during the show.

MSNBC anchor Thomas Roberts and “America’s Got Talent” alum and former Spice Girl Melanie Brown served as co-hosts. The pageant took place in Russia for the first time, sparking debate over the country's anti-gay laws. Roberts, who is openly gay, stepped in as pageant co-host after Bravo's Andy Cohen opted out following Russia's enactment of a law banning "homosexual propaganda."

"I certainly think that discriminatory laws are just that, discriminatory and they marginalize the LGBT community," Roberts told Agence France-Press on the red carpet. "I empathize with the LGBT people here." Roberts, however, didn't take the issue to the stage. He dedicated the telecast to victims of the recent typhoon in the Philippines. "We send our very best, our thoughts," he said.

Isler on Sunday preformed her first duty as the new Miss Universe by posing in a ruby and diamond bejeweled swimsuit worth an estimated $1 million.