Critical Beauty

  Alejandra Rodríguez has shattered stereotypes and captivated hearts as the newly crowned Miss Universe Buenos Aires. A lawyer and journalist from La Plata, Rodríguez has made history as the first 60-year-old woman to achieve such a distinction, marking a monumental shift in beauty pageants. Her triumph celebrates her achievements and the evolving definition of beauty. Rodríguez’s victory represents a significant milestone in challenging ageist norms and redefining societal standards of attractiveness. Following her win, Rodríguez expressed her profound joy at being chosen to represent this new paradigm in beauty pageants. “I am thrilled to be representing this new paradigm in beauty pageants because we are inaugurating a new stage in which women are not only physical beauty but another set of values. I am the first of this generation to start with this,” she shared, embodying grace, wisdom, and confidence. Indeed, Rodríguez’s journey inspires women of all ages, proving that beauty kn

Osmel Sousa revealed what his position will be in the Miss Universe Organization. The beauty czar will be an advisor to the president of the organization.  Sousa shared the news on his Instagram account on Wednesday, April 17. “For everyone who asked what my position was going to be at @missuniverse, I send you greetings from #Mexico. “I hope to do a good job as president advisor,” he wrote. “In addition to the great affection that he knows I have for him, and the great recognition, well, forget it, he is a reference in beauty pageants, with all that experience he has, and I am happy that he is joining the organization,” said Raúl Rocha Cantú, co-owner of the international franchise, during an interview on Telemundo's La Mesa Caliente program. At that time, Sousa also expressed his excitement about joining Miss Universe. “I am very happy to be part of the Miss Universe organization now working with Raúl Rocha to give my best in the most important beauty pageant in the world,” she s

  Watch my fun interview with Ashley Brown, Miss Grand Noord-Holland 2024, who is competing in Miss Grand Netherlands 2024!

  Samoa returns to Miss Universe! On April 3, 2024, Manaia Event launched the Miss Universe Samoa pageant that will pick a Samoan representative to the 2024 Miss Universe contest held in Mexico in November. Director of Miss Universe Samoa, Leiataualesa Jerry Brunt, revealed that Miss Universe organization granted them the license to organize and recruit a candidate to represent Samoa, with efforts underway to finalize the selection criteria. Leiataualesa disclosed that they have asked MUO to consider exemptions for Samoa, for example, regarding traditional Samoan tattoos such as the malu worn by Samoan girls.  Vodafone Samoa, serving as the telecommunication partner for Miss Universe Samoa, pledged support and knowledge-sharing throughout the journey, building on their successful collaboration in sending Samoa’s first-ever contestant to the Miss Global pageant last year. Source: https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/108673 Samoa has competed in Miss Universe from 1975 to 1978, an

  Rumy Alqahtani will reportedly represent Saudi Arabia in Miss Universe 2024, however, it has been denied by the Miss Universe organization. Image: Instagram/@rumy_alqahtani The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) denied reports of Saudi Arabia sending a representative in the upcoming global tilt, saying that “no selection process” was made to determine whether she qualifies for the pageant. The 27-year-old Rumy Alqahtani made headlines after she announced on her Instagram page on March 25 that she was “honored” to be named the Arab country’s “first representative” for Miss Universe 2024. In her post, the beauty queen could be seen posing with the national flag of Saudi Arabia in her sparkly tube gown and tiara. “We would like to categorically state that no selection process was conducted in Saudi Arabia, and any such claims are false and misleading,” the statement read. “The selection of contestants to represent their respective countries in the Miss Universe competition is a rigorous

  Maria Gigante , 30, representing the Philippines, has been crowned Universal Woman 2024 on March 22, 2024 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. She is the first woman from her country to win the title. She was crowned by outgoing queen Valentina Sanchez Trivella of Venezuela. Her court includes: 1st runner-up - Lisandra Chirinos - Venezuela 2nd runner-up - Elise Mysyshyne - France 3rd runner-up - Brianna Mai - Cambodia 4th runner-up - Tavera Pena Chabeli - Dominican Republic Making the top 12 were the delegates from Zimbabwe, Denmark, Cuba, Argentina, Brazil, Puerto Rico and Great Britain. A total of 42 contestants competed in the second edition of the pageant whose aim is to “unite, celebrate and advance women’s contribution, diverse beauty and accomplishments.” The contest is open to women between 25 to 45 years of age regardless of marital status.

       The Miss Universe Costa Rica Organization, in charge of choosing the Costa Rican representative for Miss Universe 2024, confirmed that trans women will not be able to participate in this edition of the contest.      This was announced by Yessenia Ramírez , director of the beauty contest, during an interview with La Nación: “In the last beauty contests (in the world) trans women have been participating, who are medically and legally recognized as women. What about that requirement? Are they no longer going to be allowed?”      Ramírez replied: “I want to handle this in a very sensitive way, for the respect that that population deserves. For me we are all the same and we all deserve the same respect, but, in this specific case, this contest is for women and that is something that even the same people demand. It is not our issue, if it is not something that is to do justice to women, so to speak.” Source: https://www.nacion.com/viva/farandula/miss-universe-costa-rica-mujeres-trans-

The new Miss World is Krystyna Pyszkova , 23, of Czech Republic who was crowned in March 9, 2024 at Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, India.   The first runner-up is Yasmina Zaytoun , 21, of Lebanon. The other two finalists are Lesego Chombo of Botswana and Aché Abrahams of Trinidad and Tobago.  Completing the top 8 and winning the continental queen titles are: Leticia Frota of Brazil (Miss World Americas & Caribbean), Jessica Gagen of England (Miss World Europe), Sini Shetty of India (Miss World Asia & Oceania) and Hannah Tumukunde of Uganda (Miss World Africa).   Krystyna is the second woman from her country to win Miss World, the first being Tatana Kucharova in 2006. Congratulations to the winner and finalists!

This group chat was conducted via Zoom on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at 10:00 PM EST. My guests include Ed Dominguez, Antonio Rivadeneira, Julio Rodriguez, George of the Pageant Empress and Lenka Vomocil. Watch with timestamps.  

  In this clip, I share a message that pageant and Critical Beauty follower Sabrina Solomon of Singapore had sent me on Instagram expressing her sentiment on the Miss Universe video scandal. This is an excerpt from a group chat from February 25, 2024 that you can watch in full here: https://www.youtube.com/live/pBvUZWku...

  Guest Ed Dominguez, who is the franchise owner of Miss World Panama, raised the question as to why Paula Shugart was not present at the Miss Universe Organization executive meeting that took place in Mexico last October 23, 2023. Shugart resigned from MUO a month later. This is an excerpt from a group chat from February 25, 2024 that you can watch in full here: https://www.youtube.com/live/pBvUZWku...

  Jackie Loughery , former Miss USA and Miss Universe contestant, passed away at the age of 93. Loughery was an actress and the first woman to win the Miss USA title in the year 1952. The news were shared on the Miss Universe social media account. “We are sorry to share that Jackie Loughery, the first ever Miss USA, has passed away. Jackie Loughery will be remembered as a woman who made history being the first Miss USA to compete at the first Miss Universe competition in 1952 and a trailblazer in the pageant community,” reads the post. “May you rest in power and peace.” Viewers shared their condolences in the comments section, sharing how much Loughery meant to them. “A truly beautiful soul for anyone who ever got the chance to be in her presence,” wrote business personality Thom Brodeur. “Rest in peace icon,” wrote Athenna Crosby, the first runner up of Miss World America. Loughery represented the USA in the first Miss Universe pageant, where she placed in ninth place. Following her s

  This group chat was conducted via Zoom on Saturday, February 25, 2024 at 9:00 PM EST. Mg guests include Noemi Melendez, Gaspar Cruz, Antonio Rivadeneira and Ed Dominguez.

  IMPLODING UNIVERSE: Perhaps the biggest scandal of the Miss Universe organization was unleashed this Thursday, February 23, when the program "De Primera Mano", on Imagen TV , published leaked videos of a meeting headed by JKN Global CEO Anne Jakrajutatip and her team in Mexico that included MUO co-owner Raul Rocha Cantu , Cynthia de la Vega (new national director for Mexico). The meeting revealed the dark intentions of the organization which are only motivated by money. The videos were leaked by Rodrigo Goytortua , one of the terminated MUO workers who had recorded the meeting that took place in Mexico on October 23, 2023. These are the main take-aways from the meeting: - Anne said that the idea of inclusion that was realized during the 72nd edition, held last November 18 in El Salvador and that allowed plus-size, transgender women, mothers and married young people to participate, was only an advertising strategy to strengthen Anne's empire through a whole line of produ

  Former Miss Universe Organization President Paula Shugart , who resigned from her post last November, has released a statement on her Instagram on February 18, 2024 addressing the allegations against her made by MUO owner Anne Jakrajutatip . Paula is considering taking legal action against Anne. The post has generated strong reactions from fans most of whom support Paula. Several titleholders expressed their support for Paula like the two former Miss Universe queens from Mexico, Lupita Jones (1991) and Ximena Navarrete (2010); Miss USA 2014 Nia Sanchez; and Miss USA 1998 Shawnae Jebbia. Miss Oregon USA 1994 Denise White, who judged Miss Universe 2023 finals, has some pretty harsh things to say about Anne. S I’m sure more titleholders who have worked with Paula will share their thoughts soon. Meanwhile, I can imagine Anne pacing back and forth in her walk-in closet pulling her hair as she struggles to figure out how she is going to pay for a good lawyer. Here’s an idea, Anne: sell mor

  In this vlog, I discuss the latest stories revolving around Anne Jakrajutatip, or Khun Anne, the co-owner of Miss Universe. Anne's company, JKN Global, sold half of its shares to Legacy Holdings whose CEO is Mexican businessman Raul Rocha Cantu who is also the franchise owner of Miss Universe Mexico. To restructure and to revamp the Miss Universe Organization, Anne fired all the top American executive officers including Paula Shugart whom she labeled as “corrupted.”

As beauty standards evolve, we prioritise character, actions, and expressions over traditional norms: Julia Morley, Miss World Organisation. The chairperson and chief executive officer underscores the role of brand partnerships in driving the event's success and their ability to forge meaningful connections with audiences worldwide   After a hiatus of 28 years, Miss World makes a return to India, heralding the onset of a global appeal that promises to captivate audiences worldwide.    The event is scheduled to take place on 9 March 2024 and the theme is 'beauty with a purpose'.    The festival embarks on a 21-day journey marked by on-ground events to engage with young women as agents of change and leaders of tomorrow, before D-day.    A total of 120 contestants representing nations from around the globe will converge in India, to compete in various competitions, to champion charitable initiatives, embodying the spirit of change and goodwill as ambassadors of their respectiv

     The 6th World Top Model competition took place on February 10, 2024 at the New Yorker Hotel in New York City. 38 contestants competed in this year’s contest. Here are the official results: WTM Miss - Kaelyn Hollingsworth, Mississippi WTM Ms. - Breona Calvert, California WTM Teen - Ava Raiford, Virginia WTM USA - Isabella Key, Florida USA Swim Week Model - Cassidy Carpenter, Florida WTM Junior Ambassador - Olivia Zink, Connecticut WTM Little Ambassador - Kathleen Mountain, South Carolina I had the privilege to judge this competition for the third straight year in a row and I must say that it’s getting more and more competitive every year. I had the chance to speak to a few girls who did not win and encouraged them to come back next time and to never give up on their dreams like Breona Calvert who finally won a title on her third try! Huge shoutout to Rene Bionat of @beautyitseverywhere for producing the event and for providing opportunities for girls and women of all a

Amy Emmerich , the CEO of the Miss Universe Organization, announced on her social media on February 8 that she will be stepping down from her position effective March 1st, 2024. She also announced that she will continue to be an advisor for the organization in the next few months. However, it is uncertain at this moment who will be the new CEO. Emmerich is the last major executive to leave MUO after Esther Swann, the former talent manager who left in March 2023 followed by Paula Shugart, the former president who resigned in November 2023. As you know, Emmerich started her job with MUO in January 2022, which led to IMG selling MUO to JKN Global in October 2022. Under Emmerich’s leadership, the traditional entry requirements to compete in Miss Universe/Miss USA have been replaced by “progressive” ones that now allow women from all walks of life (beyond age limit of 28, married, mothers, grandmothers, divorced, pregnant, transwomen). Traditionalists do not like these updated re

  Miss USA 2022 Morgan Romano guested on Miss USA 2014 Nia Sanchez’s podcast where she reveals the struggles she experienced during her reign. Morgan was promoted to Miss USA after the original winner R’Bonney Gabriel won Miss Universe 2022. Morgan told Nia that she paid all the expenses she had incurred during her reign with her own money. She also stated that she might probably have been the first Miss USA without a manager and she traveled alone to booked events. There was “no system” or point of contact because no one was running the Miss USA organization after its president Crystle Stewart was dismissed by the Miss Universe Organization. “Behind the scenes, nothing was normal,” says Morgan. Watch the entire interview on Nia’s YouTube channel, Nia Sanchez.

  Ashley Melendez of Puerto Rico has been crowned Miss Global 2023 in Cambodia during the pageant’s tenth edition on January 18. She is the first woman from the island country to win the crown. Melendez had competed in Miss Earth Puerto Rico 2023 where she placed second and won the title of Miss Global Puerto Rico 2023. 1st Runner-Up - Haylani Kuruppu, Samoa 2nd Runner-Up - Chonnikarn Supittayaporn 3rd Runner-Up - Pearl Hung, Philippines 4th Runner-Up - Doan Thu Thuy, Vietnam Congratulations to the top 5!

Madison Marsh , Miss Colorado, has been crowned Miss America 2024 in Orlando, Florida on January 14. The 22-year-old beauty makes history by being the first active duty Air Force pilot to compete in the pageant and now the first of her kind to win the title. Her platform is pancreatic cancer awareness. I featured her three days ago. 🤗 Her court includes: 1st runner-up - Texas - Ellie Breaux 2nd runner-up - Indiana - Cydney Bridges 3rd runner-up - Kentucky - Mallory Hudson 4th runner-up - Rhode Island - Caroline Parente Completing the top 11 are the contestants from North Carolina, Kansas, Maryland, Florida, New York and Arkansas. This is the first edition of Miss America under the new directorship of Robin Fleming. The show was streamed live for free for the global audience. I thought the production was fast-paced, the opening number was entertaining, and the overall stage presentation was well executed. It is always heart-warming to see past titleholders gracing the stage (from 1964

  This group chat was conducted via Zoom on Saturday, January 13, 2024 at 9:30 PM EST. My guests include Ed Dominguez (formerly of Global Beauties and license holder of Miss World Panama), Wilfredo Lopez (runway coach and mentor), Brian Javier (pageant blogger and national director of Miss Grand US Virgin Islands) and Lenka Vomocil (Mrs. National Universe 2022 and social media manager).

Looking back at the group chats that I hosted in 2023, I didn’t realize that I had conducted ten of them! There were so many interesting topics covered, and so many amazing conversation among my guests and me. I created a short compilation of some of the highlights from 2023 to give new and future subscribers and viewers a taste of what to expect from this channel, besides a critical analysis of pageants.  

And the winner is... Miss Drama. Runners-up are Miss Money and Miss Narcissist.         2023  pageantry can be described easily in one word: self-conscious . Virtually anyone involved in pageantry has experienced some level of uneasiness caused by uncertainty or skepticism. All of a sudden, being conscious of one's appearance and behavior has been replaced by being conscious of what others may think of you. This phenomenon best describes the two most powerful and influential pageant bosses - Nawat Itsaragrisil , the president of Miss Grand International, and Anne Jakrajutatip , the owner of Miss Universe. Once very good friends, the couple has been competing with each other for grand and universal attention ever since the two split. They would do anything to extend their sphere of influence and pump up their power either by selling merchandise, exploiting the Israel-Palestine conflict or delaying debt payment. Both have strong personalities, both think outside the box, but also bot