Critical Beauty

In the final minutes of the first presidential debate, Hillary Clinton attacked Donald Trump's sexism. "This is a man who has called women pigs, slobs, and dogs, and someone who has said pregnancy is an inconvenience to employers," Clinton said. She then called attention to one woman in particular, who, next to Clinton herself, would emerge as the most famous following the debate. "And one of the worst things he said was about a woman in a beauty contest - he loves beauty contests, supporting them, and hanging around them - and he called this woman 'Miss Piggy.' Then he called her 'Miss Housekeeping,' because she was Latina." "Where did you find her, where did you find her?" Trump interrupted, but Clinton pressed on: "And she has a name, Alicia Machado , and she has become a U.S. citizen ... and you can bet she's going to vote this November." The audience, against the debate's house rules, burst into applause

Jeslyn Santos of the Philippines was crowned Miss United Continents 2016 ("Miss Continentes Unidos") in Guayaquil, Ecuador on September 24. She is the first Asian to have won this pageant which used to be called "Miss Continente Americano" until 2011. Jeslyn was crowned by outgoing queen Nathalia Paiva Lago of Brazil. Her court includes 1st runner-up Mette Riis  Sørensen  of Denmark, 2nd runner-up  Lopamudra Raut of India, 3rd runner-up T aynara Gargantini of Brazil, 4th runner-up Cynthia Duque of Mexico, and 5th runner-up Rita Silvestre of Panama. Completing the top 10 were the delegates from   Colombia, Thailand, South Africa and the Dominican Republic. Photo credit: Miss United Continents

Angela Bonilla , 24, representing Ecuador, was crowned Miss Global 2016 during a gala event held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City,  Philippines on September 24. She was crowned by her predecessor, Jessica Peart from Australia. Angela is the first Latina delegate to win the pageant which began in 2013. Her court includes 1st runner-up Camille CJ Herro of the Philippines, 2nd runner-up Caitlynn Henry of Australia, 3rd runner-up Nikola Bechynova of Czech Republic, and 4th runner-up  Britt Roselyn Camillo Rekkedal of Norway. Forty-two young women from around the world including Iran competed in this year's edition. The pageant was co-hosted by former Miss Universe Natalie Glebova . Angela represented Ecuador at last year's Miss Earth pageant.  Read her Critical Beauty interview a year ago! PHOTO CREDITS: FACEBOOK

Cherell Williamson crowned Miss Universe Bahamas - Photo: Draf Designs Photography for TheBahamasWeekly.com Cherell Williamson of Nassau was crowned Miss Universe Bahamas 2017 on September 17. She will now compete in the next edition of Miss Universe pageant which is tentatively scheduled for January 30, 2017 in the Philippines. The first runner-up was Chivvaun Smith ; the second runner-up was Erika Adderley , and Rokara Hepburn and Crystal Stubbs rounded out the top five.   Outgoing queen Toria Nichole crowns Cherell Williamson - Photo: Draf Designs Photography for TheBahamasWeekly.com

Helena Heuser was crowned Miss Denmark 2016 on September 17 at Docken Performing Arts Theater in Copenhagen. Heuser's court includes 1st runner-up    Fatoumata Camara , 2nd runner-up  Elina Ea Dahl , 3rd runner-up   Jessie Llanes Tøttrup , and 4th runner-up  Patricia Overgaard Christensen . Heuser will now compete in the 66th edition of Miss World pageant to be held in Washington, D.C. on December 20th. Photos: Peter Olsen/Omega Foto/missdanmark.dk  

Raquel Tejedor Melendez  from Aragón was  crowned Miss World Spain 2016 (Miss Mundo España 2016) on September 17 at the  Teatro Auditorio de Salou. She was crowned by the reigning Miss World from Spain, Mireia Lalaguna . The first runner-up is Carla Font Cabrer a of Lleida and the second runner-up is Miriam Paredes Gines of Madrid.  Raquel will represent Spain in the 66th edition of Miss World to be held in Washington D.C on December 20th.  

A $3 million lawsuit filed by a former Puerto Rican beauty queen whose title was taken away for purported attitude problems has been dismissed by a judge. Kristhielee Caride had sought to be reinstated as Puerto Rico's Miss Universe representative after losing her title earlier this year. But on Tuesday, Superior Court Judge Eduardo Rebollo said in his ruling that Caride's behavior violated the terms of her contract with PR Crown Entertainment and the company was within its rights to sever the relationship. 'Her dismissal was justified,' Rebollo wrote. Caride's attorney, Ernie Caban , could not be immediately reached for comment. A secretary said he would hold a news conference later. The ruling concluded a nearly week-long trial that captivated pageant fans on an island well known for its beauty queens, with TV stations interrupting regular programming to show testimony.   Rebollo cited several incidents including Caride's refusa

Miss Arkansas Savvy Shields waves to the crowd after being named Miss America 2017 in Atlantic City on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray) ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Miss Arkansas Savvy Shields won the Miss America pageant Sunday night in Atlantic City and promptly delivered a message to the two leading presidential candidates: "Compromise" is not a dirty word. Shields was asked during her onstage interview what she thought of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton; she answered that while both Clinton and Republican Donald Trump have done a good job thus far, "they also need to watch what they're doing." Meeting reporters after the pageant, Shields elaborated. "What I want both candidates to focus on is compromise," she said. "Our country was founded on compromise. We're in a state now where both parties just seem to be yelling at one another." Shields topped a field of 52 contestants to win the c

Two new Guamanian queens were crowned on September 9th at the Hyatt Regency Hotel  in Agana. Muñeka Taisipic won  Miss Universe Guam 2016 and she will compete  in the next edition of Miss Universe to be held on January 30, 2017, in the Philippines. Meanwhile,  second placer  Annalyn Kuan was crowned  Miss International Guam 2016 and will compete in Miss International 2016 pageant in Tokyo, Japan next month.   Muñeka Taisipic   Annalyn Kuan Photo credit: Bert Duarte for Pacific Daily News