Miss Panama 2012 winner is Stephanie Vander Werf

25 year old Stephanie Vander Werf from Panama City was crowned Miss Panama 2012 during a special ceremony held last March 30 at the Riu Plaza Panama.

Stephanie holds a degree in public relations and currently working as TV presenter and restaurant manager. She will represent Panama in Miss Universe 2012 later this December.


Crowned as Miss World Panama was 23 year old Maricely Gonzalez. She is a singer and student standing 172cm tall. She will enter the Miss World 2012 pageant in Ordos, Inner Mongolia in China.

Winner of Miss International Panama is Karen Jordan, while Miss Earth Panama is Ana Lorena Ibanez.

Completing the top 6 finalists were Yinela Yero and Astrid Caballero. 12 women competed for the title.

Attending the event was Miss Universe 2010, Ximena Navarette.

* Señorita Panama 2012 Contestants

Winners of 2012 Pantaloons Femina Miss India

19 year old Vanya Mishra from Chandigarh was crowned Pantaloons Femina Miss India 2012 last March 30. She stands 171cm tall and will represent her country at the Miss World 2012 pageant on August 18 in Ordos, Inner Mongolia in China.

Prachi Mishrwa was crowned Femina Miss India Earth, and will go to Miss Earth 2012 contest.

Crowned as Femina Miss India International was Rochelle Rao. She will enter the Miss International 2012 competition in Chengdu.

Completing the top 5 finalists were Sana Khan and Ipsita Pati.

Online voting was won by Ipsita Pati. While the Beauty with a Purpose award was given to Vidhi Bhardwaj.

20 lovely candidates competed in the 49th edition of Pantaloons Femina Miss India. Attenting the event were Julia Morley, Chairperson of the MWO and reigning Miss World 2011, Ivian Lunasol Sarcos Colimenares of Venezuela.

* Pantaloons Femina Miss India 2012 Contestants

17-year old Amina Dagi wins Miss Austria 2012

Last March 30, Amina Dagi was crowned as the new Miss Osterreich 2012 / Miss Austria 2012 which was held at the Casino Baden. The 17 year old beauty is from Vorarlberg and stands 174cm tall.

The 1st run-up was Stefanie Steinmayr. And the 2nd run-up was Marisa Gerhardter.

Amina Dagi has a vital statistics of 88-61-90cm. She will represent her country at the Miss World 2012 competition on August 18 in Ordos, Inner Mongolia in China.

Miss Earth 2011 Olga Alava visits Reunion

The reigning Miss Earth 2011, Olga Alava of Ecuador, arrived in Reunion last March 23 to attend the Miss Earth Reunion 2011 Finals to be held April 1.

The 24 year old beauty queen who speaks Spanish, English and Mandarin, talked to local media about her duties and responsibilities as Miss Eartn and her role on preserving the environment, as well as her involvement with organizations dedicated to conservation of resources.

Her reign will also take her soon to Indonesia and Thailand.

Reunion, one of the overseas departments of France, is located in the Indian ocean. Although officially part of France, the island will choose a contestant for this year’s Miss Earth competition to be held in October. Reunion will also take part in this year’s Miss World pageant.

* Miss Earth 2011 Coverage

Julia Morley's Exclusive Interview by Times of India

Julia Morley: “You can be 5’1″ and still win Miss World”

In an exclusive interview to the Times of India, Miss World president Julia Morley dispelled myths about the Miss World competition, which is now on its 62nd year.

Over a cup of tea at the JW Marriott, Mumbai, we met Julia Morley, Chairperson of the Miss World Organisation. The age-defying 70-year-old is here to be a part of the Pantaloons Femina Miss India 2012 contest. Energetic and spirited to the core, she dispels a few myths about beauty pageants and tells us how the Miss World contest has evolved in the last 62 years.

The Miss World contest is the oldest beauty pageant and is in its 62nd year. How does it feel to have taken a contest with modest beginnings to such a massive global scale?

It’s a wonderful feeling to create something so incredible that brings so many young people, from various parts of the world, together on the same platform.

You are the one who brought in the concept of ‘beauty with a purpose’. How did that happen?

We started out in the ’50s; it was the post-war period and there were a lot of celebrations due. People wanted to see only beauty all around. Secondly, men used to organise the event. As you know, men always try to bring in their own flavour. I came in to help, because my husband (the late Eric Morley) wanted me to get involved. But as a woman, it seemed to me that it would be a waste to have such a huge platform without any constructive thought put into it. Not everyone in those times had the material to look good. Beauty is a superficial thing anyway. Even if you are the most beautiful in the world, you are going to get used to your face at some point. Where do you go from there? Eventually, you will get bored of your face.

Do you think contestants look beyond beauty?

What I have come to realise about 18-19-year-olds is that they are flexible, open to any idea and are not as dramatic as older people. They are still trying to be the person they want to be. If you can plant a seed of idea in their heads at that time, it will only flourish. Also, there is this huge misunderstanding that the Miss World needs to save the world. No one can save the world or all its children. What you need to do is look around you and make a difference in one person’s life or a few people’s lives. It can be your own grandfather, or an old age home or a child that you feel for, whom you see on the road everyday. We want young girls to realise and use this platform to enrich their lives and few others along the way.

Why is it that only tall and gorgeous women are part of the contest?

You tell me, I am baffled to see so many tall women in the contest and I have often wondered that myself. When I go to Korea, or any other part of Asia, I don’t see too many tall women. I haven’t got an answer to that myself yet. Another thing that bothers me is that we see a lot of unrealistic pictures of beautiful women on magazine covers. This happens because cover designers from all over the world are men. So they see women in a certain way, which has become the only accepted form of beauty. It is just sad. You can be 5’1″ and still win the Miss World contest. In the year 1963, Miss Jamaica, Carole Joan Crawford, won the title and she was just 5’3″! So there is a misconception.

What do you think stands out about Indian contestants like Aishwarya Rai, Priyanka Chopra, Diana Hayden and Yukta Mookhey?

Like India, which is such a diverse country, each of these women are also different from one another. They all come with their unique personalities. They all had the spark that we were looking for.

* SOURCE: Times of India

Dayana Mendoza talks about Transgender issue on CNN

Donald Trump's Miss Universe Organization is involved again in new controversy in which media and activist groups ask the question whether the pageant should start accepting transexuals or not. The organization previously released a statement in which they state that only natural born women are accepted only in the competitions, for both national and international edition of the contest.

Former Miss Universe 2008 and Celebrity Apprentice contestant Dayana Mendoza of Venezuela was on CNN to discuss the issues.

Jenna Talackova was disqualified from the Miss Universe Canada for not complying with the rules and requirements. The Miss Universe Organization also stated that its rules and regulations are applicable to every franchise owner in the world.

In the history of the top 4 biggest international pageants, this is the 2nd time transsexual/transgendered woman is involved in this kind of issue. In 2004, transsexual Chen Lili was disqualified from the Miss World China pageant for not being a natural born female.

Related Articles:
* Transgender delegate declined by Miss Universe Canada Pageant
* Transgender was reinstated to join Miss Universe Canada 2012
* MUO starts to accept Transgenders

* Thanks to CNN for the video.

Jenna Talackova declined by Miss Universe Canada Pageant

Transgendered Jenna Talackova from Vancouver, one of this year's Miss Universe Canada 2012 hopefuls has been disqualified from the contest and been removed from the official website. An official statement was posted on the site clearing the issue:

"Jenna Talackova from Vancouver, British Columbia will not compete in the 2012 Miss Universe Canada competition because she did not meet the requirements to compete despite having stated otherwise on her entry form. We do, however, respect her goals, determination and wish her the best.">

Talackova said she won’t release a statement until next week after meeting to her lawyer.

Official pageant's rule state that contestants must be Canadian citizens and between the ages of 18 and 27. They cannot be pregnant or married, but there is no mention of any cosmetic or sex-reassignment surgery being prohibited.



Recently competed and represented Canada in Miss International Queen 2010, an international competition for transgendered/transsexual women which was held annualy in Pattaya Thailand, Jenna says she knew she was a girl at the young age of 4 years old, and began taking up hormone therapy at 14. She says she underwent sex reassignment surgery at the age of 19 and identifies herself as 22-year-old student.

“I regard myself as a woman with a history”, she said.

Beauties of Canada Organization, owner of the Miss Universe Canada pageant, gained the exclusive rights to send a Canadian delegate to the Miss Universe Pageant since 2002.

An e-petition has netted over 21,000 digital signatures in an effort to make Donald Trump reinstate Talackova as a Miss Universe Canada candidate.

Related Articles:
* Dayana Mendoza speaks on CNN
* Jenna was reinstated to join Canadian Pageant
* MUO starts to accept Transgenders

* Thanks toOfficial Beauties of Canada

Nann Khin Zayar is the new Miss Myanmar International 2012

Declared as the newest tourism Ambassador for Myanmar, Nann Khin Zayar was crowned Miss Myanmar International 2012 during a pageant ceremony held at the Myanmar Convention Center (MCC) in Yangon.

Swan Yee Htun, who is a model was the 1st run-up. While Aye Chan Moe positioned as the 2nd run-up.

The Miss Myanmar Contest is organized by the Myanmar Tourism Services (MTS) Co., under the supervision of Myanmar Travel Board (MTB) in order to promote tourism industry in the country and enhance the interest of citizens in the tourism sector.

Miss Bonaire 2012 Confirmed Finalists

In Kralendijk, a new Miss Bonaire 2012 will be crowned by the reigning queen, Benazir Charles (Miss Bonaire 2011 winner) on June 2.

The new winner will be representing the Caribbean island in Miss World 2012 pageant on August 18 in Ordos, Inner Mongolia in China.

The 4 Candidates vying for the title are:

Paula Karina Petit; Saphira Janga; Cindy Dominguez; Chary Ogando

* Saphira Elouise wins the Title!

Watch Miss World Thailand 2012 Online

Miss World Thailand 2012 was held last March 24 at the Centara Grand Bangkok Convention Centre at Central World in Bangkok.

Witness the crowning moment of Vanessa “Na-Chatra” Muangkod. Watch the full complete video of the Miss World Thailand 2012 pageant.

* Meet Miss Thailand World 2012 Winner

Vanessa Muangkod crowned Miss Thailand World 2012

The annual Miss Thailand World 2012 was held last March 24 at the Central World Hotel in Bangkok. The stunning Vanessa Poung Herrmann “Na-Chatra” Muangkod beat out other 29 candidates to become Thailand’s official representative in Miss World 2012 pageant to be held in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, China on August 18.

20 year old Vanessa Muangkod stands 1.74m tall and currently studying at the Ramkhamhaeng University taking up a course in Humanities.

The 1st run-up was Boonyisa “Poppy” Chantrarachai, and the 2nd run-up was Chawanluck “Pekky” Unger Moksiri.

Completing the 5 finalists were Athitaya “Uli” Von Zur Muehlen and Jarinya “Rin” Bachmann.

* Watch the full competition

* Photos courtesy of Times of Beauty

Leila Lopes on the Importance of HIV Awareness

The current Miss Universe 2011, Leila Lopes of Angola talks about the importance of being aware of HIV and AIDS; of knowing and protecting yourself and to stay healthy.

During the National Women and Girl’s HIV awareness Day, Lopes got tested and lectured others about HIV/AIDS, the official platform of the Miss Universe Organization.

* Miss Universe 2011 Complete Coverage

* Click to learn more about HIV Test and National Women & Girls Awareness Day.

Miss Earth Reunion 2012 Official Finalists

The finals of Miss Earth Reunion 2012 was scheduled to be held on April 1 at Parc des Expositions in Saint-Denis, France.

New winner will represent Reunion in the 12th edition of Miss Earth pageant later this year.

Meet the 10 lovely candidates of Miss Earth Reunion 2012:

Anais Sadeyen


Santiana Randanayaguy


Marie Cadet


Delphine Maillot


Estenie Sadeyen


Armelle Sorlier


Laetita Nativel


Aisha Valy


Solenne Abarnou


Deborah Scoth

* See who wins Miss Earth Reunion 2012

Silvana Sanchez Jimenez wins Miss World Costa Rica 2012

22 year old Silvana Sanchez Jimenez from Palmares was crowned Miss World Costa Rica 2012 in a ceremony held last March 22 at the Comi Restaurant in Heredia.

9 gorgeous contestants competed in the national pageant organized by Allan Aleman, president of Reinas de Costa Rica.



Silvana Sanchez Jimenez stands 1.80m tall and has previously competed in an international pageants such as World Miss University and Miss Turismo del Milenio. To add for her experience, she will represent her country in the upcoming Miss World 2012 competition on August 18 in Ordos, Inner Mongolia in China.



20 year old Mariam Natasha Sibaja Bermudez from Perez Zeledon finished as 1st run-up and was crowned Miss International Costa Rica 2012. She stands 1.68m tall and will go to compete in Miss International 2012 in Chengdu, China. The 2nd run-up position went to Fabiana Granados Herrera.

* Photos courtesy of Times of Beauty

Mister South Africa 2012 is Andrew Govender

Andrew Govender, who currently works as a Actuarial Quantitative Analyst from Johanesburg, is the new winner Mister South Africa 2012 title. He is expected to represent his country in the next Mister World pageant.

His 1st run-up was Zane Mandisi Maqetuka. While the 2nd run-up was William Heydenrych.

Andrew Govender enjoys playing cricket and loves to swim. He loves to model and travel. Back in 2010, he was elected Mister Pride of India SA, and nos Govender became the first South African Indian to win his country’s male beauty title.

Official Launch of Miss World 2012

At the Beijing Media Center in Beijing happens the Official Launching of the 62nd Miss World Pageant with the presence of Julia Morley, president and CEO of Miss World Ltd; Ivian Lunasol Sarcos Colmenares, Miss World 2012; Zilin Zhang, Miss World 2007; Liu Chen, Miss China 2011; and Li Guojian, Vice Mayor of Ordos.

Journalists and members of the press from all of China’s biggest news outlets such as Sina, Sohu, Xinhua, People’s Daily, CCTV and local media from Inner Mongolia attended the conference.

The Dongsheng National Fitness Center Stadium in Ordos with a capacity of 50,000 persons will welcome almost 130 international beauties from all over the globe during a big Opening Ceremony on July 24. Weeks of activities await them as the contestants will learn all about Chinese and Mongolian culture during their stay in Ordos.

Venezuela's Ivian Sarcos is visiting China as part of the promotion for the event. She will also visit Hong Kong.

The finals of the world’s oldest and largest beauty competition will take place August 18 in the Dongsheng Fitness Center Stadium.

* Miss World 2012 Complete Coverage

Miss World 2012 Pageant

Miss World is an annual international beauty pageant created by Eric Morley in 1951. It was the oldest major beauty contest which is among the 4 largest and grandest pageants in the world.

When Eric Morley passed away in 2000, his wife Julia Morley, co-chairs and organized the pageant.

Miss World's main theme was "Beauty with a Purpose", which aims in helping and raising funds for children's charities. The delegates are judged according to beauty, intelligence, personality and charisma. The winner in the early age lives in London (the birthplace of Miss World) during her reign. As the pageant evolves, the winner spends her reign traveling and representing the Organization and it's various causes.

MISS WORLD BEAUTY PAGEANT 2012:

The 62nd edition of was held on August 18, 2012 in Ordos, China. A total of 116 Official Contestants competed from all over the world, marking the biggest turnout in the pageant's history. Ivian Sarcos of Venezuela crowned her successor Yu Wenxia of China at the end of the event. The contestants visited Shanghai and Changshu.

Official Launch @ the Beijing Media Center

Hosts / Presenters

Challenge Events: Talent | Top Model | Dress Designer Award | Beach Fashion | Sports | Beauty with a Purpose

Watch the Videos

Farah Eslaquit Cano wins Miss Nicaragua 2012

20 year old Farah Eslaquit Cano from Masaya won the title of Miss Nicaragua 2012 in a pageant held at the Ruben Dario National Theater in Managua. She was crowned by Adriana Dorn, Miss Nicaragua 2011 winner.

Farah Eslaquit Cano stands 1.75m tall, and she will compete in Miss Universe 2012 on December.

Keykoll Montalvan placed as the 1st run-up. She will enter the Miss International 2012 pageant in Chengdu, China.

2nd run-up was Reyna Perez Nunez. Completing the 5 finalists were Violeta Majano Gutierrez and Claudia Cuadra.

12 contestants competed on the 12th edition of the Miss Nicaragua contest organized by Silhuetas Modelos.

* Miss Nicaragua 2012 Candidates

Miss Ecuador 2012 winner is Carolina Aguirre Perez

Carolina Aguirre Perez

19 year old Carolina Aguirre Perez from Guayaquil was crowned Miss Ecuador 2012 during a glamor pageant held at the Puerto Marina Yacht Club in La Libertad last March 16.

Standing 177cm tall, Carolina Aguirre is currently a university student. She also bagged the Miss Cielo and Rostro Yanbal awards that evening. She will be the official representative of Ecuador in Miss Universe 2012 later this December.


Cipriana Correia Macias

Winning the Miss World Ecuador 2012 title was the 21 year old Cipriana Correia Macias from Esmeraldas. She stands 173cm tall and will enter the Miss World 2012 competition on August 18 in Ordos, Inner Mongolia in China.

20 year old Tatiana Loor Hidalgo from Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas was crowned Miss International Ecuador 2012. She will compete in Miss International pageant on November in Chengdu, China.



Completing the 6 finalists were Tatiana Chele, Nicole Cevallos and Sulay Castillo. They will represent Ecuador in the Miss Supranational, Reina Hispanoamericana and Miss Atlantico Internacional competitions.

18 gorgeous women competed in the competition which was televised live by Gama TV.

Barbara Turbay chosen as Miss World Colombia 2012

19 year old Barbara Turbay was crowned as Miss World Colombia 2012 / Miss Mundo Colombia 2012 during a private ceremony on mid-March.

Barbara Turbay competed and placed 1st run-up in Miss Bogota 2011. She is also the cousin of Paola Turbay, Señorita Colombia 1991 and 1st run-up in Miss Universe 1992.

Because of Miss World’s change of it's traditional schedule, Colombia organized a special casting call to choose their representative in Miss World 2012. The winner of Miss World Colombia, which will happen on the second semester, will compete in Miss World 2013.

Barbara Turbay will compete in Miss World 2012 in Ordos, Inner Mongolia in China on August 18.

Italy's Luna Voce wins Top Model of the World 2012

Miss Italy, Luna Voce who works as a model in her country was declared the new winner of the 19th Top Model of the World 2012 competition held at the Hohensyburg casino in Dortmund, Germany last March 10.

24 year old Luna Voce competed before in the Miss International 2008 and Miss Earth 2009 pageants.

The 1st run-up was the reigning Miss Zimbabwe 2011 and a top 15 finalist in Miss World 2011, Malaika Mushandu. The 2nd run-up was Miss Colombia, Melina Ramirez Serna.

Completing the top 5 was Miss Denmark, Celine Alroe and Miss Venezuela, Maria de Luz da Silva.



REST OF THE TOP 15 SEMI-FINALISTS:

* Miss Vietnam - Thuy Hoang

* Miss Puerto Rico - Nadyalee Torres

* Miss Belgium - Laetitia Wastyn

* Miss Ukraine Alona Lyashchuk

* Miss Brazil - Kelly Fonseca

* Miss Bolivia - Nayeli Quiroga

* Miss Cuba - Brianna Ortiz

* Miss Argentina - Macarena Francia

* Miss South Africa - Loreal Laria Magro

* Miss Germany - Jasmin Herzinger

SPECIAL AWARDS:

* Miss Photogenic - Miss Puerto Rico, Nadyalee Torres

* Best Body - Miss Germany, Jasmin Herzinger

* Best in Evening Gown - Miss Ukraine, Alona Lyashchuk

* Pierre Cardin Model Award - Miss Venezuela, Maria de Luz Da Silva

* Best in Catwalk - Miss Vietnam, Hoang Thuy

* Miss Congeniality - Miss Argentina, Macarena Francia

* Miss Globe - Miss Afghanistan, Zallascht Sadat