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Showing posts from November, 2018

Miss Universe Spain 2018 Ángela Ponce Still Faces Anti-Trans Backlash

The Miss Universe pageant takes place on 17 December in Bangkok, Thailand Ángela Ponce, Miss Universe Spain Ángela Ponce of Spain  became   the first trans women to be crowned Miss Universe back in June. Despite this trailblazing win, Ponce is still the subject of anti-trans bigotry in the media and online. Ponce’s win ‘I have to win not just for me but for all the people in Spain and around the world so the situation changes. Not just for the LGBTI collective but for all of humanity. I’m not just another Miss Universe candidate who wants world peace; I have a very powerful message of tolerance, hope, respect, love for oneself and others. I want to do all this under the Spanish flag,’ Ponce  told  EL PAÍS fashion magazine S Moda after winning the title. At that time, though, Ponce didn’t seem to expect the harassment that would be thrown her way. Backlash Since her win, Ponce has been the topic of anti-trans media reports throughou

Venezuela Wins Its 8th Miss International Crown

Mariem Velazco of Venezuela was crowned Miss International 2018 on Friday, November 9,  at Tokyo Dome City Hall in Tokyo, Japan. Mariem was crowned on her 20th birthday by the outgoing Miss International Kevin Lilliana of Indonesia. Her victory marks Venezuela's eighth Miss International crown. The finale lasted for over five hours.  Velazco's court includes first runner-up Ahtisa Manalo of the Philippines, second runner-up Reabetswe Sechoaro of South Africa (who was also awarded Miss International Africa title), third runner-up Bianca Tirsin of Romania, and fourth runner-up Anabella Castro Sierra of Colombia. Completing the top 8 were the delegates from Ecuador, Spain and Japan. Rounding up the top 15 were the candidates from Australia, Indonesia, Madagascar, Mexico, Paraguay, Thailand and Ukraine. Photo credit: Facebook

Miss Earth 2018 Candidates Allege Sexual Harassment

Miss Earth-Canada Jaime Yvonne Vandenberg, Miss Earth-England Abbey-Anne Gyles-Brown, and Miss Earth-Guam Emma Mae Sheedy Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 8) —   Three candidates of Miss Earth 2018 bravely came forward to reveal their experiences of sexual harassment involving a sponsor during the international beauty pageant, which was recently concluded in the Philippines. Miss Earth Canada Jaime Yvonne Vandenberg , Miss Earth England Abbey-Anne Gyles-Brown , and Miss Earth Guam Emma Mae Sheedy all shared how excited they were to compete and to enjoy the Philippines, but it was ruined by a pageant sponsor's alleged sexual requests. Vanderberg, who eventually withdrew from the competition, said the sponsor started harassing her on her second day in the country. She said the sponsor got her mobile number without her consent and kept calling her to ask for her hotel and room number. But it didn't stop there. The candidate said the unnamed sponsor offered

Venezuela Wins Reina Hispanoamericana 2018

Photo credit: Instagram Nariman Battikha of Venezuela was crowned Reina Hispanoamericana 2018 on November 3 in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. Battikha is the seventh Venezuelan to win the crown.  Elected as the Virreina ("Vice-Queen") is  Isabele Pandini Nogueira of Brazil. The list of runners-up include: 1st runner-up - Mexico - Aranza Anaid Molina 2nd runner-up - Paraguay - María Belén Alderete 3rd runner-up - Bolivia - Marian Joyce Prado 4th runner-up - Chile - Camila Ignacia Helfmann 5th runner-up - Ecuador - Lisseth Naranjo Goya 6th runner-up - Cuba - Gleidys Leyva Rodríguez 7th runner-up  - Peru - Jessica McFarlane 8th runner-up  - Europa Hispana - Daniela Santeliz Acosta The pageant, which began in 1991, seeks to promote Hispanic culture around the world. It was initially limited to countries where Spanish is spoken, but a few years ago it opened to countries with some Spanish influence and to Hispanic communities in the United St

Vietnam Wins Miss Earth 2018

Nguyen Phuong Khanh , a 23-year-old marketing student from Vietnam, was crowned Miss Earth 2018 on Satuday, November 3, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Philippines. Nguyen is the first woman from Vietnam to win the pageant which is now in its eighteenth edition. 86 young women from all the world competed in the popular pageant whose mission is to promote the care and preservation of the planet Earth.  L-R: Mexico, Colombia, Vietnam, Austria Nguyen's court includes  Miss Earth Air 2018  Melanie Mader of Austria,  Miss Earth Water 2018  Valeria Ayos of Colombia, and  Miss Earth Fire 2018 Melissa Flores of Mexico. Completing the top 8 were the delegates from Italy, Portugal, Philippines and Venezuela. Rounding up the top 18 were the delegates from Chile, Netherlands, Slovenia, South Africa, Brazil, Ghana, Japan, Montenegro, Nepal and Romania.  Nguyen was crowned by outgoing queen Karen Ibasco The show was broadcast worldwide and streamed live via