Keysi Vargas is the new Miss Mundo de Puerto Rico 2015

22 year old Keysi Vargas was crowned as the new Miss Mundo de Puerto Rico 2015 (Miss World Puerto Rico) held at the Sheraton Convention Center, in San Juan. She was crowned by Génesis Dávila, the 2014 winner.

Keysi will now be the official representative of Puerto Rico and will travel to Sanya, China to compete in the Miss World 2015 pageant on December 19.

In second place and was also crowned Miss Grand Puerto Rico was Isamar Campos. She will compete in Thailand on October for the Miss Grand International 2015 title.

Vianka Escobales finished in 3rd place. 10 finalists competed in Miss World Puerto Rico 2015.

Carla Barber wins Miss Universe Spain 2015

25 year old Carla García Barber from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria was crowned Miss Universe Spain 2015 during a gala held at the popular Starlite complex in Marbella, Málaga on July 30. She received the crown and sash from last year’s titleholder Desire Cordero.

Standing 1.75m tall, Carla is a medical doctor specializing in the field of cosmetic surgery. She speaks fluent English and German and will now be the official representative of Spain in the next edition of the Miss Universe pageant.

The 1st runner-up was 23-year old Raquel Bonilla from Sevilla, who will compete in Miss Supranational 2015 on December in Poland. The 2nd runner-up was Sofía del Prado, who will be sent to compete in Reina Hispanoamericana 2015 in Bolivia on October this year.

Completing the Top 6 finalists were Raquel Fernandez (Sevilla, 4th), Alba Román (Málaga, 5th) and Zaira Naranjo (Madrid, 6th, who won the popular vote).

The 15 contestants competed in the categories of swimwear and evening gowns, with a collection by Italian-based Raquel Balencia, a Spanish top model who now is an accomplished designer.

Vladislava Evtushenko is Russia's bet to Miss World 2015

Again Russia has decided to take its vice-Miss to Miss World, with the winner (Sofia Nikitchuk) going to compete in Miss Universe. Vladislava Evtushenko, vice-Miss Russia 2015 will represent the country in Miss World 2015 pageant in Sanya, China on December 19.

Vladislava was born and raised in Chita, in Russia’s Zabaikalye region. As a child Vladislava was fond of geology, dancing, and deeply interested in sports’ disciplines – tennis and athletics.

Now she is involved with psychological coaching – training to achieve her goals and self-development. In the future she aims to study Philosophy in Moscow.

It’s the 2nd year in a row Miss Russia contest decides to send its 2nd placed candidate to Miss World, instead of the winner. No reason was given by the organization.

Gabriela Salazar is Miss World Honduras 2015

23 year old Gabriela Salazar was crowned Miss World Honduras 2015 during the annual event held in Exponcentro in San Pedro Sula July 25 where 20 candidates participated.

Standing 1.75m tall, Gabriela from Tegucigalpa will now represent Honduras at the Miss World 2015 competition to be held in Sanya, China on December 19.

The event was a tribute to the memory of Maria Jose Alvarado, last year’s titleholder, who was brutally murdered along with her sister days before her trip to London to compete in the Miss World finals.

The 1st runner-up was Miss Danli, Andrea Salinas. She will compete in Miss International 2015 pageant in Tokyo, Japan.

2nd runner-up place went to Miss La Ceiba, Corina Llores. She will be send to compete in Miss Supranational 2015 contest in Poland later this year.

Brittany Hazelman Crowned Miss World Fiji 2015

Brittany Hazelman was crowned Miss World Fiji 2015 held on July 24 in Suva. She will compete in Miss World 2015 pageant on December 19 in Sanya, China.

1st Princess was Varea Romanu while the 2nd Princess was Anshuka.

Aniporn Chalermburanawong is Miss Thailand Universe 2015

21 year old Aniporn Chalermburanawong from Lampang was crowned Miss Universe Thailand 2015 during the annual pageant held at the Royal Paragon Hall in Siam Paragon, Bangkok, on July 18 where 40 stunning contestants competed for the title.

Standing 1.76m tall, Aniporn is currently a student and working as a model. She will be the official representative of Thailand in the next edition of the Miss Universe pageant.

The runners-up were Chavika Watrsang from Phuket, Chatchadaporn Kimakorn from Phichit, Anchalika Na from Phatthalung and Ravinnipa Hamid from Bangkok.

Paulina Brodd Crowned Miss Universe Sweden 2015

20 year old Paulina Brodd from Stockholm was crowned Miss Universe Sweden 2015 during the annual event held on July 19.

Standing 1.77m tall, Paulina currently works as a model. She is the daughter of Monica Brodd, Froken Sverige 1992 and a Top 10 finalist in the Miss Universe pageant held in Thailand that year.

Following the footsteps of her mother, Paulina will represent Sweden in the upcoming edition of the Miss Universe pageant.

Crowned as Miss International Sweden 2015 was Isabella Jedler Forsman, a model and blogger standing 1.70m tall, who was also awarded as Miss Photogenic. She will travel to Tokyo, Japan, to participate in the Miss International 2015 competition to be held in November.

Jessica Ngoua Nseme wins Miss Cameroon 2015

Jessica Lydie Ngoua Nseme from Littoral was crowned Miss Cameroon 2015. Not a press favorite to win the title, Jessica beat the odds and emerged as her country’s representative in Miss World 2015 on December 19 in Sanya, China.

Joelle Thonet placed 2nd and Diane Biata was 3rd place.

Miss World Guadeloupe 2015 is Arlene Tacite

22 year old Arlene Tacite was the winner of Miss World Guadeloupe 2015 held in Petit-Bourg. She will be the official entry of Guadeloupe in Miss World 2015 in Sanya, China on December 19 later this year.

Khin Myint Crowned Miss World Myanmar 2015

Khin Yadanar Thein Myint was crowned Miss World Myanmar 2015 edging out 19 other candidates vying for the crown.

The 1st runner-up was Maureen Lu San, while Nang Sandar Hla Htun was the 2nd runner-up.

Khin will compete representing Myanmar in Miss World 2015 pageant on December 19 in Sanya, China.

Zahara Nakiyaga wins Miss Uganda 2015

23 year old Zahara Muhammad Nakiyaga took home the Miss Uganda 2015/16 crown beating 20 other contestants held Kampala Serena Hotel.

Juliana Nabwowe and Engrid Wanyama was the first and second runners-up respectively.

Nakiyaga had been billed as the favorite right from the onset and she seemed to ride very well on that as an advantage against her fellow contestants. She will now be the official representative of Uganda in Miss World 2015 contest in Sanya, China on December 19.

Olivia Jordan of Oklahoma Crowned Miss USA 2015

Olivia Jordan won the title Miss USA 2015 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Digital cable network Reelz aired the pageant after Univision and NBC dropped out due to Donald Trump’s racist and controversial comments about Mexico. Trump himself chose not to come, saying he had to attend to his presidential campaign.

To fill the hosting gaps, the show brought back old Miss USA and Miss Universe contestants as judges, once most celebrities refused to take part in an event related to Donald Trump.

Jordan is a former Miss World America 2013 and a quarter-finalist in Miss World (top 20) held in Bali, Indonesia. The a 26-year-old from Tulsa, Oklahoma has appeared in several national/international commercials and feature films. She is a graduate of Boston University, where she earned a degree in health science. As a model, Olivia has walked for Sherri Hill in New York Fashion Week 2015 and the runway at Miami Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim 2014. She has also been featured in Cosmopolitan, Shape and Vogue Japan. Olivia has been recognized by Children of the Night, a group dedicated to getting children out of prostitution, for her work with the organization.

She will now get ready to compete in Miss Universe 2015. There’s no date or venue for the pageant yet.

FINAL RESULTS

First Runner Up:
Miss Texas USA, Ylianna Guerra, will assume the duties of Miss USA 2015 if the titleholder is named Miss Universe 2015 or if for some reason Miss USA cannot fulfill her duties.

Second Runner Up:
Miss Rhode Island USA, Anea Garcia

Rest of Top Five:
Miss Nevada USA, Brittany McGowan
Miss Maryland USA, Mame Adjei

Rest of Top Eleven:
Miss Alabama USA, Madison Guthrie
Miss Delaware USA, Renee Bull (first time ever Delaware made the cut in Miss USA)
Miss Hawaii USA, Emma Wo
Miss Louisiana USA, Candice Bennatt
Miss Michigan USA, Rashontae Wawrzyniak
Miss Kentucky USA, Katie George

Rest of Top Fifteen:
Miss Arizona USA, Maureen Montagne
Miss Illinois USA, Renee Wronecki
Miss New York USA, Thatiana Diaz
Miss Virginia USA, Laura Puleo

MISS PHOTOGENIC USA™ Award: Miss Indiana USA Gretchen Reece. A blue ribbon panel selected the delegate who exemplifies beauty through the lens of a camera. She was awarded a $1,000 cash prize.

MISS CONGENIALITY USA™ Award: Miss Alaska USA Kimberly Agron and Miss Delaware USA Renee Bull tied for the award, marking the first time ever that two contestants received the honor in Miss USA history. This award reflects the respect and admiration of the contestants’ peers, who voted for both as the most congenial, charismatic and inspirational participant. Each contestant was awarded a $1,000 cash prize.

Mexico Withdraws from Miss Universe Pageant

Donald Trump called Mexican immigrants “rapists” and “drug dealers.” Now, the country’s pageant organizers have decided they won’t send contestants to Trump’s Miss Universe pageant.

Two weeks after the real estate mogul angered many Mexicans with inflammatory remarks about immigrants to the United States, Mexican media conglomerate Televisa, which sends contestants to the pageant for the country, said in a statement that it would not be taking part in Miss Universe.

But that’s not the only Trump beauty contest losing support from its participants. The hosts of the Miss USA pageant, Thomas Roberts and Cheryl Burke, quit on Tuesday. Burke, a former contestant on Dancing with the Stars, singled out Trump’s comments in a Facebook post:

The latest double blow to Trump’s beauty pageant franchise comes a day after NBC announced it was not going to air Miss USA “due to the recent derogatory statements by Donald Trump regarding immigrants.” Spanish language network Univision announced earlier it too would not air the pageant, for the same reasons.

Trump is now suing Univision for $500 million under the First Amendment for, the suit said, a “politically motivated attempt to suppress Mr. Trump’s freedom of speech … as he begins to campaign for the nation’s presidency.”

Trump said at his campaign launch for the Republican presidential nomination that immigrants coming across the Mexican border were “rapists” and insinuated immigrants were drug dealers; he has proposed building a wall along the U.S.-Mexican border that he would make the Mexican government pay for.

And the outspoken entrepreneur does not seem eager to back down. On Tuesday, he took to his Twitter account to reiterate his claims about the country south of the border:

The pageant is set to continue in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on July 12.

Lupita Jones, director of the Nuestra Belleza Mexico pageant, published a video with current titleholder Wendolly Esparza where they confirm Mexico will not attend the Miss Universe competition.

Costa Rica boycotts Miss Universe Pageant

For more than 40 years, the Teletica television network of Costa Rica has broadcast the Miss Universe beauty pageant and administered the Miss Costa Rica franchise. This year, however, Teletica (Channel 7) has decided to not send the Miss Costa Rica beauty queen to the Miss Universe competition, and it will also refrain from broadcasting the international pageant.

In a broadcast message to viewers on Wednesday night, Teletica echoed a certain sentiment of disapproval at the controversial comments made by the businessman behind the Miss Universe organization, Donald Trump, as he announced his ill-timed intention to run for the Republican ticket in the next presidential elections of the United States.

The message by Teletica explained:

We reject the xenophobic and offensive declarations made by the owner of the Miss Universe pageant against our Mexican brothers and against all Latin Americans. The opinions of Donald Trump go against the most fundamental principles of Costa Ricans, which are the same principles that guide the work performed [by Teletica.]

Furthermore, the television network indicated its intention to go ahead with the Miss Costa Rica pageant at a national level. The beauty contest will have an awards ceremony in August, but the winner will not be traveling to the Miss Universe pageant, if it is at all held in the near future.

Countries like Nicaragua and Panama are not following suit and have confirmed to the media that they will attend the pageant, whenever and wherever it’s held.

Since then, the deluge of criticism of Trump has not diminished. U.S. Hispanic television network Univision broke its commercial relations with Trump last week and on Monday it was joined by NBC and Televisa.

Colombia Withdraws Its Candidacy To Host The Miss Universe

Photo: Miss Universe 2014, Paulina Vega's homecoming to Colombia

Colombia withdrew its candidacy Tuesday to host the Miss Universe beauty pageant following xenophobic comments against Mexico by Donald Trump, part owner of the Miss Universe franchise, official sources said.

The decision was taken in solidarity with the Latino community, said Tatiana Piñeros, Director General of the District Institute of Tourism of Bogota.

“In light of the xenophobic and discriminatory statements made by franchise owner Donald Trump, we have decided to withdraw our candidature to host the competition,” Piñeros said.

Paulina Vega from Colombia won last year’s Miss Universe beauty pageant in Miami.

Piñeros said the discrimination faced by Mexicans today can be faced by Colombians too in the future and urged the multi-millionaire to present “profound and serious” apologies for his behavior.

Organizers are yet to decide the venue for this year’s competition. A team from the Miss Universe Organization visited the city last April to discuss details about the proposal, with the final event taking place in January 2016, according to local news sources.

Colombia’s reaction follows decision by broadcasters, Univision, NBC and Televisa, to end commercial ties with Trump, Republican aspirant for the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Farouk Systems, Inc. Withdraws Sponsorship of MUO's Pageants

Farouk Systems, Inc. formally announced today its withdrawal of its sponsorship of the Miss USA, Miss Universe, and Miss Teen USA Pageants and that it will not renew its sponsorship of those events. It also announced that it will have no further involvement in the Celebrity Apprentice program.

“Farouk Systems does not agree with or endorse the statements recently made by Donald Trump about immigrants,” said Farouk Systems CEO, Basim Shami. “Our company is multicultural with people of Latin American descent making up a large percentage of our employees and loyal customers. As a company proudly founded on the concept of coming to the USA in pursuit of the American Dream, Mr. Trump’s comments do not and will never reflect our company’s philosophy or practices.”

About Farouk Systems:
Farouk Systems, Inc. is a Houston based company of hairdressers for hairdressers. They manufacture high quality professional hair care products, including industry-leading brands CHI® and BioSilk®. Farouk Systems was founded in 1986 by Farouk Shami, a hairdresser whose mission is to provide the professional beauty industry with the most advanced American technology based upon “Education, Environment and Ethics”. Farouk Systems distributes its products throughout the United States and to over 120 countries worldwide.

NBC Is Ending Its Business Relationship With Miss Universe Organization

NBC is ending its business relationship with Donald Trump over his recent comments about Mexican immigrants.

“At NBC, respect and dignity for all people are cornerstones of our values,” NBC said in a statement. “Due to the recent derogatory statements by Donald Trump regarding immigrants, NBCUniversal is ending its business relationship with Mr. Trump.”

The network will no longer air the annual Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants that were part of a joint venture with Trump, the statement added. Its relationship with “Celebrity Apprentice” will continue, as Trump ceased his involvement with the reality show during his presidential bid.

The real estate mogul and 2016 presidential candidate has faced criticism for comments he made during his announcement speech earlier this month.

“When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best,” he said. “They’re not sending you. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”

Univision previously announced that it would cease its relationship with the Miss Universe Organization over the comments. Trump has said he will sue that network for breach of contract and defamation.

Trump responded to the news after an appearance in Chicago, telling reporters: “I think as far as ending the relationship, I have to do that because my view on immigration is much different than the people at NBC.”

He said he was not yet sure if he plans to sue the network.

The Miss USA 2015 pageant was to be aired on NBC on July 12th, live from Baton Rouge. It is unknown if NBC’s decision will harm Baton Rouge’s investment in the pageant, since the city was counting on the pageant’s air time to promote itself.

The Miss Universe pageant enjoyed a 42-year old relationship with rival network CBS. In 2002, they decided not to renew the contract and NBC came aboard. After 13 years, the peacock network decided to end all business ties with Trump’s pageant.

Univision ends relationship with Miss Universe Pageant

Univision has announced that it is ending its business relationship with Donald Trump’s Miss Universe Organization based on what they called “insulting remarks about Mexican immigrants” that Trump has made as he pursues a presidential bid.

“At Univision, we see first-hand the work ethic, love for family, strong religious values and the important role Mexican immigrants and Mexican-Americans have had and will continue to have in building the future of our country,” Univision said in a statement Thursday.

In light of the move, Univision said it will no longer air the Miss USA pageant on July 12 or any other projects tied to the Trump Organization. However, Univision noted that its news divisions will continue to provide comprehensive coverage of all presidential candidates, including Trump.

Trump has been widely criticized for, in a speech last week announcing his candidacy, referring to Mexican immigrants as “rapists” and as people bringing drugs and crime into the U.S.

“The U.S. has become a dumping ground for everybody else’s problems…When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best,” Trump said. “They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”

The Miss Universe Organization, which presents the Miss USA, Miss Teen USA and Miss Universe pageants, is a joint venture between Trump and NBCUniversal.

On Wednesday, Latin performer J Balvin pulled out of the Miss USA television broadcast due to Trump’s comments.

The pageant is slated to air live on NBC. The Univision broadcast, on its UniMas Network, was set to be the first time the pageant was simulcast in Spanish.

Anyela Galante is Miss Venezuela Mundo 2015

Anyela Galante, one of the favorites for the crown among 12 Miss Venezuela World candidates, walked away with the crown and sash held at the Venevision’s Studio 1. She will now represent Venezuela in Miss World 2015, in Sanya, China.

Karielys Prado and Maria Jose Brito placed 2nd and 3rd.

Victoria Mendoza wins Miss World America 2015

19 year old Victoria Mendoza from Arizona was crowned Miss World America 2015 in Washington D.C. She will compete in Miss World 2015 in Sanya, China, on December 19.

Theresa Scanlan, Nebraska, placed 2nd, Rachel White, Texas, was 3rd, Khristy Landers, Louisiana, finished in 4th place, while Arielle Rosmarino, Virginia, completed the Top 5 in the 5th position.

Miss World Rolene Strauss and Julia Morley, CEO of the MWO, were present at the event.