Alicia Machado, Miss Universe 1996

Yoseph Alicia Machado Fajardo was born on December 6, 1976 in Maracay, Aragua State, Venezuela. From 1979 to 1983 she studied classic ballet and soon she danced contemporary dance during eight years. In 1993 she graduated as bachelor in the mixed grammar school " Calicantina " of Maracay. That same year she began studies of Administrative Sciences at the UNITEC. In 1994 she made sporadic commercial in Caracas with the agency of models that directs the Hundredth Mariela.


Her journey started on September 27, 1995 when she was representing the state of Yaracuy in Venezuela winning the crown of Miss Venezuela. Next year, in 1996, Alicia went to Las Vegas, Nevada USA to represent Venezuela in Miss Universe 1996 Pageant. For this contest Alicia prepared, and trained herself hard, up to 14 hours a day which included catwalking, picture posing, oratory, English, etc. On May 17, 1996, all that training, and hard work, and of course her beauty was enough to take the crown home, she became the Miss Universe titleholder.


A few months after winning the tittle, Alicia Machado started to gain weight, to which she atributed to the 'wisdom teeth' she had to take out and so made her look a little chubby. Nevertheless, she kept gaining weight until she reached about 12 kilos (about 20lbs) overweight. The organizers of Miss Universe though of taking the crown from here since she was representing the most beautiful, and perfect woman in the world, and so overweight didn't make happy the board of directors. On January 1997, Mr. Trump, the president of Miss Universe Organization humiliated her making her workout in front of photographers. She argued about this but, at the end she had to do it because she was an 'employee of the Miss Universe Organization.

When Alicia finished her reign, she started working as an actress performing in telenovela "Samatha" winning the Nidia Awards as best actress and ACE with Best new Actress. In 1999 she traveled to Mexico while carried out the soap opera "Infierno En El Paraiso" (Hell in the Paradise). After that, Alicia made numerous of soap operas such as Amor Secreto in 2001, Mambo y Canela in 2002, Pantera in 2007, and Amor sin maquillaje in 2007.


Machado currently lives in Mexico City. On June 25, 2008, Alicia gave birth to her daughter, Dinorah Valentina, with then boyfriend, Mexican businessman Rafael Hernandez Linares.



Miss USA 1991, Kelli McCarty star in a Porn Movie

The former Miss USA 1991 enters the adult entertainment business. From beauty queen to porn queen. She will star in the new X-rated, "Faithless," which will be released on home video on Feb. 4 by Vivid Entertainment.

Kelli started as a beauty queen as a Miss USA 1991 titleholder and competed in the Miss Universe Pageant and became a finalist.

After her reign, she then went on to become an actress and played "Beth Wallace" on the soap opera "Passions". Kelli recently quit mainstream acting for a career in the adult entertainment business.

Watch Kelli McCarty interview about "Passions"

Miss World Slovakia 2009 Finalists

After the numerous regional casting all over Slovakia, the Production house Forza, Oklamcak Production and TV Markiza finally announced the top 12 finalists of Miss Slovakia 2009 Beauty Pageant. They will be competing in the finals to be held on April 17, 2009 in Bratislava. The reigning Miss Slovakia 2008, Edita Kresakova will crown her successor during the event.

Meet the 12 Finalists:

Miss Trencin
Monika Macharova


Miss Roznava
Alexandra Kiss Bandiova

Miss Zilina
Barbora Franekova

Miss Velky Krtis
Maria Zelinova

Miss Namestovo
Michaela Stitova

Miss Vinne
Martina Sabova

Miss Trebisov
Viktoria Bobrikova

Miss Bratislava
Katarina Prikazska

Miss Prievidza
Sona Skoncova

Miss Kysucke Nove Mesto
Ivana Smolkova

Miss Lozorno
Aneta Valentova


Miss Senica
Petronela Pribilova


Miss Slovakia World 2009 is Barbora Franekova

Miss Kentucky, Tara Elizabeth Conner crowned as Miss USA 2006

After rounds of competition, now the crowning of Miss USA 2006 has finally arrived. Miss Kentucky, Tara Elizabeth Conner was crowned by the reigning winner Chelsea Cooley as the new Miss USA 2006. She will be competing at the Miss Universe 2006 in Los Angeles, California.

Tara was also former Miss Kentucky Teen USA 2002, Miss Teen USA 2002 top 10 semi-finalist and Miss Kentucky County Fair 2004.

Runners-up:
1st - Miss California , Tamiko Nash
2nd - Miss Georgia, Lisa Wilson
3rd - Miss Ohio, Stacy Offenberger
4th - Miss Florida, Cristin Duren



Special Awards:
Miss Congeniality - Miss Minnesota, Dottie Cannon
Miss Photogenic - Miss Florida, Cristin Duren



  • Official Delegates
  • Panel of Judges
  • Top 15 Quarter Finalists
  • Top 10 Semi-Finalists
  • Top 5 Finalists
  • Miss USA 2006: Top 5 Finalists

    After two rounds of competition, the swimsuits and evening gowns, the judges have made their choices for the five finalists of Miss USA 2006 Beauty Pageant. One of them will be the next titleholder:

    01 - Miss Ohio (Stacy Offenberger)
    02 - Miss Kentucky (Tara Elizabeth Conner)
    03 - Miss California (Tamiko Nash)
    04 - Miss Georgia (Lisa Wilson)
    05 - Miss Florida (Cristin Duren)

    The top 5 finalists will go to the last part of the contest, the question and answer round. This will determine who will bring home the crown. After the nerve rocking interview, the final look of the top 5:



  • Official Delegates
  • Panel of Judges
  • Top 15 Quarter Finalists
  • Top 10 Semi-Finalists
  • Winner and runners-up
  • Miss USA 2006: Top 10 Semi - Finalists

    After the first round which is the swimsuit competition. The panel of judges have selected their top 10 semi-finalists of Miss USA 2006 Beauty Pageant.

    01 - Miss California (Tamiko Nash)
    02 - Miss South Carolina (Lacie Lybrand)
    03 - Miss Ohio (Stacy Offenberger)
    04 - Miss Kentucky (Tara Elizabeth Conner)
    05 - Miss Florida (Cristin Duren)
    06 - Miss Texas (Lauren Lanning)
    07 - Miss Alabama (Haleigh Stidham)
    08 - Miss District of Columbia (Candace Allen)
    09 - Miss Georgia (Lisa Wilson)
    10 - Miss Rhode Island (Leann Tingley)

    Now, the top 10 will compete in the Evening Gown Competition. They are to be judged with their class, sophistication, and personal style.



  • Official Delegates
  • Panel of Judges
  • Top 15 Quarter Finalists
  • Top 5 Finalists
  • Winner and runners-up
  • Miss USA 2006: Top 15 Quarter Finalists

    The evening started with 51 delegates already judged in the preliminary competition last April 14. Now's the time to reveal the top 15 quarter finalists who still have the chance to be crowned as the new Miss USA 2006:

    01 - Miss Kentucky (Tara Elizabeth Conner)
    02 - Miss Rhode Island (Leann Tingley)
    03 - Miss Texas (Lauren Lanning)
    04 - Miss Alabama (Haleigh Stidham)
    05 - Miss District of Columbia (Candace Allen)
    06 - Miss Illinois (Catherine Warren)
    07 - Miss South Carolina (Lacie Lybrand)
    08 - Miss Nevada (Lauren Scyphers)
    09 - Miss Georgia (Lisa Wilson)
    10 - Miss Maine (Katee Stearns)
    11 - Miss California (Tamiko Nash)
    12 - Miss Arizona (Brenna Sakas)
    13 - Miss Ohio (Stacy Offenberger)
    14 - Miss Tennessee (Lauren Grissom)
    15 - Miss Florida (Cristin Duren)

    First round is the swimsuit competition with the music of East Village Opera Company. The top 15 contesants will be judged on Physical Fitness.



  • Official Delegates
  • Panel of Judges
  • Top 10 Semi-Finalists
  • Top 5 Finalists
  • Winner and runners-up
  • Miss USA 2006 Official Delegates

    The 55th annual Miss USA 2006 Beauty Contest will be on April 21, 2006 to be held at Baltimore, Maryland. Hosts in the finals will be Drew Lachey and Nancy O'dell. The reigning Miss USA 2005, Chelsea Cooley will crown her successor.

    Here are the 51 Official Candidates:
    # Alabama - Haleigh Stidham
    # Alaska - Noelle Meyer
    # Arizona - Brenna Sakas
    # Arkansas - Kimberly Forsyth
    # California - Tamiko Nash
    # Colorado - Jacqueline Madera
    # Connecticut - Jeannine Phillips
    # Delaware - Ashlee Greenwell
    # District of Columbia - Candace Allen
    # Florida - Cristin Duren
    # Georgia - Lisa Wilson
    # Hawaii - Radasha Ho'ohuli
    # Idaho - Allyson Swan
    # Illinois - Catherine Warren
    # Indiana - Bridget Bobel
    # Iowa - Sarah Corpstein
    # Kansas - Ashley Aull
    # Kentucky - Tara Conner
    # Louisiana - Christina Cuenca
    # Maine - Katee Stearns
    # Maryland - Melissa DiGiulian
    # Massachusetts - Tiffany Kelly
    # Michigan - Danelle Gay
    # Minnesota - Dottie Cannon
    # Mississippi - Kendra King
    # Missouri - Kristi Capel
    # Montana - Jill McLain
    # Nebraska - Emily Poeschl
    # Nevada - Lauren Scyphers
    # New Hampshire - Krystal Barry
    # New Jersey - Jessica Boyington
    # New Mexico - Onawa Lacy
    # New York - Adriana Diaz
    # North Carolina - Samantha Holvey
    # North Dakota - Kimberly Krueger
    # Ohio - Stacy Offenberger
    # Oklahoma - Robyn Watkins
    # Oregon - Allison Machado
    # Pennsylvania - Tanya Lehman
    # Rhode Island - Leeann Tingley
    # South Carolina - Lacie Lybrand
    # South Dakota - Alexis LeVan
    # Tennessee - Lauren Grissom
    # Texas - Lauren Lanning
    # Utah - Soben Huon
    # Vermont - Amanda Gilman
    # Virginia - Amber Copley
    # Washington - Tiffany Doorn
    # West Virginia - Jessica Wedge
    # Wisconsin - Anna Piscitello
    # Wyoming - Kristin George


  • Panel of Judges
  • Top 15 Quarter Finalists
  • Top 10 Semi-Finalists
  • Top 5 Finalists
  • Winner and runners-up
  • Panel of Judges: Miss USA 2006

    Preliminary Judges will choose the top 15 quarter finalists of Miss USA 2006 Beauty Pageant and will be reveled during the live telecast on on April 21:

    * Jeff Kimbell - businessman involved in lobbying, political strategy, real estate, and entertainment.
    * Kerry Cavanaugh - North American brand manager for CoverGirl cosmetics.
    * Natasha O'Dell - producer for Black Entertainment Television's Special Projects Division.
    * Valerie Boyce - an agent for Trump Model Management.
    * Arnold Williams - manager of Abrams, Foster, Nole & William (based in Pennsylvania) since 1993.
    * Robb Merrit - Vice President of a commercial real estate developer based in Baltimore, MD.
    * Rhona Gaff - Vice President at the Trump Organization and is best known as the woman who rings Apprentice candidates each morning to give candidate their directions.



    The celebrity panel judges during the live telecast will be the one to decide the eventual Miss USA 2006 winner:

    * Jillian Barberie - actress and entertainer reporter for Good Day LA.
    * Donny Deutsch - executive and talk show host.
    * Gina Drosos - Vice President and General Manager of Global Cosmetics for Procter & Gamble.
    * Steve Madden - founder of a footwear company that bears his name.
    * Nicole Linkletter - fashion model who won America's Next Top Model, Cycle 5.
    * Donald Trump Jr. - Executive Vice President for Development and Acquisitions and son of pageant owner Donald Trump.
    * James Hyde - starred as Sam Bennett on NBC's Passions for seven years.
    * Hines Ward - wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
    * Chad Hedrick - speed skater and world record holder.


  • Official Delegates
  • Top 15 Quarter Finalists
  • Top 10 Semi-Finalists
  • Top 5 Finalists
  • Winner and runners-up
  • Miss Toronto, Canada wins Miss Chinese International 2009

    Christine Kuo, the 25 year old Miss Toronto, Canada was crowned as the new Miss Chinese International 2009 in a beauty contest held last Saturday in Macao.
    The first run-up Skye Chan, Miss Hong Kong, Hong Kong while the 2nd runner-up was also another Canadian, Cici Chen, Miss Vancouver, Canada.

    Finalists:
  • Miss Seattle, USA (Jiang Ni)
  • Miss Tubingen, Germany (Julie Lam)

  • Semi-Finalists:
  • Miss Auckland, New Zealand (Yenyi Lee)
  • Miss Beijing, China (Dong YiYun)
  • Miss Zhengzhou, China (Xiao Ling Han)

  • Special Awards:
  • Miss Friendship: Miss Hong Kong, Hong Kong (Syke Chan)
  • Miss Young: Miss Tubingen Germany (Julie Lam)
  • Oriental Charm Ambassador Award: Miss Vancouver, Canada (Cici Chen)
  • International Charm Ambassador Award: Miss Toronto, Canada (Christine Kuo)


  • 28 contestants.

    Miss Gabon 2009 is Marlyne Eyene Ella

    Heading out other contestants of Miss Gabon 2009 Beauty Pageant, the 22 year old Marlyne Eyene Ella won the coveted crown. And she will now got the chance to represent and debut Gabon in Miss Tourism Queen International 2009 Contest.

    Close to the title is the 1st run-up, 19 year-old student Marie Therese Palysandre Bert who will compete at the Miss International 2009 Pageant. Also a student, Cynthia Mboumba, 21 years of age is the 2nd run-up and will go to Miss Earth 2009 Beauty Contest.

    Zilin Zhang joins Miss World 2008 in Vietnam

    The former Miss World 2007, Zilin Zhang of China met again the current Miss World 2008, Ksenia Sukhinova of Russia now in Hanoi, Vietnam for the Miss World Charity Tour.

    Ksenia arrived in Vietnam few days before. Zilin said she came to Vietnam late because her grandfather was sick. He is still in the hospital. She also said that Vietnam has become a familiar country to her.

    “Many Vietnamese correspondents have become my friends. I often tell my friends in China that Vietnam is a wonderful place for travel. In China we are preparing for the New Year and it is the same in Vietnam. I wish a happy New Year for everyone.” Zhang said.

    The two beauty queens took photos at the National Convention Hall in Hanoi this morning and they participated in the rehearsal for the “Singing from the Root” gala, which is going to take place tonight.

    Contestants of Miss Atlantico Internacional 2009

    The Miss Atlantico Internacional (Atlantic International) Beauty Pageant will be held at Punta del Este, Uruguay on January 24. To crown her successor at the event is the reigning titleholder, the 23 years old Alexandra Miriam Diaz of Dominican Republic.

    Meet the 16 candidates of Miss Atlantico Internacional contest:


    Miss Argentina
    Maria Laura Fornero, 20

    Miss Bolivia
    Yamile Ruiz, 18

    Miss Brazil
    Aline Mendez Tagliari

    Miss Colombia
    Alexandra Mendoza, 19

    Miss Costa Rica
    Nazareth Cascante, 18

    Miss Dominican Republic
    Crystal Moya, 22

    Miss Ecuador
    Eliana Quintero, 22

    Miss England
    Amanda Kapote Militar Miles, 20

    Miss Guatemala
    Saida Jeronimo, 17

    Miss Mexico
    Claudia Espinoza, 23

    Miss Panama
    Karina Pinilla, 23

    Miss Paraguay
    Claudia Aquino, 23

    Miss Peru
    Diana Carolina Limo, 19

    Miss Uruguay
    Fernanda Sosa, 19

    Miss USA
    Amy Holbrook, 23

    Miss Venezuela
    Isis Malpica, 20


    Eliana Quintero, Miss Ecuador is Miss Atlantico Internacional 2009
    "To God be the Glory".