Critical Beauty

The 2013 queens for Martinique were crowned July 27th. Julie Lebrasseur is Miss World Martinique 2013 and will compete in Miss World 2013 in Indonesia on September 28th. Rhani Charles is Miss Earth Martinique 2013 and will compete in Miss Earth 2013 in November at a venue that has not yet been confirmed. Cindy Jolie is Miss Supranational Martinique 2013 and will compete in Miss Supranational 2013 in Minsk, Belarus on September 6.

Heny Tavares, 21,  was crowned as the first ever  Miss World Guinea-Bissau 2013  n July 26th at the Hotel Azalai in Bissau. Tavares will represent Guinea-Bissau for the first time in the upcoming  Miss World 2013  pageant to be held on September 28th in Indonesia. Guinea-Bissau is a small country in West Africa bordered by Senegal to the north, Guinea to the south and east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west.

Michiko Tanaka , 23, was crowned the title of  Miss World Japan 2013   on July 29th. She will represent Japan in the upcoming  Miss World 2013  pageant, scheduled for September 28th, 2013 in Indonesia. She is the first ever Miss World Japan to be crowned; past Japanese representatives to Miss World had been first runner-ups to Miss International Japan. Michiko had competed in Miss Universe Japan 2011 where she placed 2nd runner-up. Michiko Tanaka and her court Photo credit: Miss World Japan official website

TOP THREE: (From left) First runner-up Elizabeth Houghton, winner Maria-Anna Zenieris and Rachel Leng (Yahoo! ) Maria-Anna Zenieris  was crowned Miss World Singapore 2013 at the pageant final at the Pan Pacific Hotel on Sunday. The 18-year-old Singaporean, who is half-Chinese and half-Greek, topped the list of 15 pageant finalists during a three-hour gala final, which saw the contestants parade in swim and evening wear. The outspoken beauty, who recently graduated from United World College and with a diploma in psychology, English and music, wins a $3000 cash prize as well as a working contract with Asia Music People worth about $30,000. She will now represent Singapore in the Miss World finals in Jakarta on 28 September. When asked how she would use the title to give help to others during the question-and-answer session, she said to loud applause, "I'm a big charity worker and will engage in more charity work with the title. This is not just a big title to take

People of All Ages, Including a Few Men, Enter Contest as a Protest by  ELLEN EMMERENTZE JERVELL REYKJAVIK, Iceland—In early July, eight women wearing sweaters began their week by filing into a sunlit meeting room in Iceland's cozy capital to hatch a scheme. The objective: Put Miss Iceland to death. The women, including a 48-year-old pastor and an author in her early 30s, don't actually want to harm the reigning 5-foot-9 beauty queen crowned in 2011. Instead, they dream of ending a competition that has endured for nearly half a century and helped put this Nordic island nation of 315,000 people on the map. "Our goal must be to kill it," Asa Richardsdottir , 49-year-old producer in the fine arts industry, said between sips of coffee. Matthildur Helgadottir-Jonudotti r, an event manager also in her 40s, nodded in agreement. "Yes," she said in a loud voice. As a form of protest, the eight women applied to enter the beauty contest. The unusual

Rakhima Ganiyeva  was crowned  Miss Uzbekistan 2013  or in  Tashkent  on July 20th. She will represent  Uzbekistan  for the first time in  Miss World 2013 pageant  in Bogor, Indonesia on September 28.

PETALING JAYA: Three of the four Muslim finalists of the Miss Malaysia World pageant who were deemed to have insulted Islam have issued an apology. Contestant Sara Amelia Muhammad Bernard , 20, said she had issued a formal apology to the Federal Territory Islamic Affairs Department (Jawi). “My intentions were not to offend Muslims or my own religion,” she said yesterday. Finalist Wafa Johanna De Korte , 19, also issued an apology. “I’m not at all against the fatwa ruling. I respect that the fatwa is there to protect the Muslims of Malaysia. “If anyone is insulted, I’m deeply sorry, but it was never my intention to insult anyone,” she said. It was reported that Jawi has launched an investigation against the four pageant finalists as they were deemed to have insulted Islam. Jawi director Datuk Che Mat Che Ali said Jawi’s enforcement unit would look into the matter following a Malay daily’s report that the girls were bent on taking part in the beauty pageant despit

The new Miss Jamaica World 2013 is Gina Hargitay , 18, who was crowned at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St. James on Sunday, July 21st.  Jenaae Jackson (right), 23, was first runner-up, while Amanda McCreath (left),  23, finished second runner-up. Hargitay will compete in Miss World 2013 to be held in Indonesia on September 28. Gina Hargitay    

The new Miss Universe Italy 2013 is Luna Isabella Voce , 24, who was crowned July 20  at the Rainbow MagicLand Theme Park in Rome. She will compete in Miss Universe 2013 in Moscow, Russia on November 9th. Voce had represented Italy before in several pageants, notably in Miss International 2008, Miss Earth 2010, and in Top Model of the World 2011 where she won. Italy has never won the Miss Universe crown. In 1987, Roberta Capua was first runner-up to Cecilia Bolocco . The last time Italy placed was in 2008 when Claudia Ferraris made the top 10.

The new Miss World Trinidad and Tobago 2013 is  Sherrece Villafana (in blue bikini) who  was crowned a t the National Academy for the Performing Arts in Port of Spain on July 20th. The  19-year-old beauty will represent Trinidad and Tobago in  Miss World 2013 in  Indonesia on September 28. In the above photo, Villafana is flanked by t he first runner-up  Ria da Costa (farthest left);  Athaliah Samuel , the interim national director of Miss World in Trinidad and Tobago; and  s econd runner-up  Starlet Lewis .

Aoife Walsh, 23, from Clonmel in Tipperary has been crowned Miss Ireland 2013 on July 20th in Dublin. She will compete in Miss World 2023 pageant in Indonesia on September 28. Máirín McGrath   @MawMcGrath Absolutley delighted for Miss.Tipperary and now Miss Ireland Aoife Walsh, feel so cool that I know her! pic.twitter.com/VLmYeolyjc 3:45 AM - 21 Jul 2013

And the  2013 Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria   is…   Anna Ebiere Banner . Just a few minutes ago, the 18 year old aspiring beauty queen, representing Bayelsa state was crowned MBGN 2013 (Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria). Anna will represent Nigeria at the Miss World 2013 Finale in Jakarta, Indonesia on September 28. The 1st runner-up  is 19 year-old  Stephanie Okwu  representing Imo state. She will represent Nigeria at the Miss Universe 2013 competition in Moscow, Russia on November 9th.  Meanwhile, 20-year-old  Powede Lawrence  representing Adamawa state will compete inMiss Tourism 2013 competition. SOURCE: Bellanaija.com, 7/20/2013

Exactly 40 years ago today, July 21, 1973, Margarita Moran of the Philippines was crowned Miss Universe 1973 at the Herod Atticus Theatre in Athens, Greece. Margarita became the second woman from her country to win the coveted title ( Gloria Diaz was the first in 1969). In the photo, Margarita is flanked by her court, from left to right: 4th runner-up Miss Israel Limor Schreibman , 1st runner-up Miss USA Amanda Jones , 2nd runner-up Miss Norway Aina Walle , and 3rd runner-up Miss Spain  María del Rocío Martín Madrigal A beaming Margarita The last two standing: Philippines and USA. Host Bob Barker announces the winner Margarita's winning reaction Miss USA Amanda Jones is happy for Margarita's win Margarita takes her victory walk Greek authorities did not allow the contestants to wear swimsuits in the open-door theater to honor the sanctity of the place. Instead, they had to wear the ancient Greek clothing for women called chiton (shorter ve

The reality show Proyecto Miss Chile concluded July 19th with the selection of Camila Andrade , 22, as  Miss World Chile 2013.  She will represent Chile in Miss World 2013 pageant to be held September 28th in Indonesia. Andrade was crowned by her predecessor, a pregnant Camila Recabarren. The  1st Runner-Up is Renata Barchiesi and 2nd Runner-Up Romina Lancelott . Barchiesi, Andrade, Lancelott Camila Andrade Photos from the Camila Andrade Facebook Fan Page

The new Miss Aruba 2013 is  Stefanie Quillen Evangelista , 24 (second from left) who was crowned July 19th at the Westin Resort & Casino. She will  compete in Miss Universe 2013 to be held in Moscow on November 9th. She is joined by her 1st runner-up Jarnely Martinus (to her right), her 2nd runner-up Georgina Martinus (to her left) and Larisa Leeuwe , Miss Aruba 2012 who will be competing at Miss World 2013 in Indonesia on September 18th. Six young women competed in this year's Miss Aruba finals. Jarnely Martinus, Stephanie Quillen Evangelista, Georgina Martinus Photos from the Miss Aruba Facebook Page

The new Miss World Australia 2013 is Erin Holland , 24, who was crowned July 19 at Werribee Mansion in Werribee, Victoria. She beat 31 young women who competed in the pageant. She will now represent Australia in Miss World 2013 pageant to be held in Indonesia on November 18th.   The first runner-up is  Natalie Kalinowski and the   second runner-up was  Yasmin Kasim. Photos by  Stuart Walmsley