Latest news with #MissUniverseOrganization
Gulf Today
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
Omar Harfouch to Judge Miss Universe 2025 Following Saint-Tropez Meeting with Raul Rocha
Without a doubt, Saint-Tropez is the official epicenter of A-list celebrities and the biggest tycoons all year round, but especially during summer. For the most part, these juggernauts come to play, but also to do business on the side. This is precisely what happened between two entertainment industry disruptors—Concerto for Peace composer and musical legend Omar Harfouch, and Miss Universe Organization President and Owner, prolific Mexican magnate Raul Rocha—not in a boardroom, but in a private multi-million dollar yacht, according to Harfouch's story publication on Instagram. As the President and Owner of the Miss Universe Organization, Raul played host to one of the most significant figures in music today—Omar Harfouch—for a private meeting. It was there that Omar was confirmed for the appointment as one of the judges of the upcoming Miss Universe competition to be held in Bangkok on November 21, 2025. Omar's participation in this prestigious pageant is strategic, let alone timely, as Miss Universe continues to raise its standards in terms of stature, intelligence, poise, class, and international diplomacy. The collaboration took place in the heart of the Riviera's summer pulse, where A-listers like Jeff Bezos, Leonardo DiCaprio, the Kardashian family, and Adrien Brody were all spotted in the same week. Business, however, was still on the agenda. Raul Rocha and Omar Harfouch used Saint-Tropez for leisure while aligning with the ethos that the Miss Universe Organization has upheld since 1952. Omar Harfouch, known and celebrated as a concert pianist, represents that caliber. His reputation echoes loud and far, pushing for peace initiatives and diplomatic engagements. Bringing him in as one of the jurors further solidifies MUO's position as a purveyor of anything extraordinarily glamorous yet purposeful. Omar Harfouch is clearly one of the few artists whose career merges excellent artistry with the common good of all. His involvement with Miss Universe brings an extra layer of gravity to the selection process and sends a message to the world: the next "Beautifully Confident" woman will be carefully evaluated by exceptional masters of their respective fields who represent excellence beyond borders.
Miami Herald
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Miss Universe Nicaragua will be crowned in Miami. Here are the 16 candidates
Sixteen candidates for Miss Universe Nicaragua took the stage in Miami on July 17, walking the runway at El Guacalito restaurant in southwest Miami. Each contestant represented one of Nicaragua's departments or autonomous regions. The evening celebration featured traditional gallo pinto, music, dancing, and national pride. Organizers announced that the final gala to crown Miss Universe Nicaragua will be held Sept. 4 at the James L. Knight Center in downtown Miami. The candidates aim to show the world that Nicaragua is ready to send a strong contender to the Miss Universe pageant in Thailand — one who can live up to Sheynnis Palacios, who made history in 2023 as the first Nicaraguan to win the Miss Universe title. This year, the Miss Universe Nicaragua organization relocated its headquarters to Miami after Emporium Agency acquired the national franchise from the international Miss Universe Organization in May. The effort was led by businessman Javier Paxtor, owner of El Guacalito and official sponsor of Miss Universe Nicaragua. Daniel Guevara, national director of Miss Universe Nicaragua and Emporium Agency, said the team is working to elevate the pageant to a new standard of excellence. 'We want to demonstrate that with vision, organization, and a dedicated team, we can deliver a world-class event that celebrates the beauty, culture, and talent of Nicaraguan women,' Guevara said. 'We are ready to make history and position this pageant among the best in the region.' A team of specialists, led by Venezuelan beauty coach and makeup artist Juan Bautista, is training the candidates for the competition. Friday's presentation opened with an appearance by Geyssell García, Miss Universe Nicaragua 2024, who will crown her successor in September. The event was hosted by Joe Palacios and Miss Nicaragua 2022, Norma Huembes. Meet the Miss Universe Nicaragua candidates Contestants must be at least 18 years old and either born in Nicaragua or have Nicaraguan parents or grandparents. Many of this year's contestants are based in Miami and have previous pageant experience. Among them is Aleida Josefa Pérez, 24, who is representing Chinandega. Pérez holds a degree in political science and international relations from the University of Florida. With both Cuban and Nicaraguan heritage, Pérez was Miss Earth Cuba 2023 and competed in Miss Universe Cuba 2024 representing Jardines del Rey. She founded the nonprofit Hearts in Mind, which has spearheaded projects including the construction of a school in Cuascoto, a village in Nicaragua's Rivas department. Massiel Córdoba Obando, representing Masaya, previously competed in Miss World Latina USA. On Instagram, she described herself as 'Pinolera, thank God,' in a post wrapped in the Nicaraguan flag. Francela Aragón Lara, 28, representing Carazo, was a candidate in Miss Teen Nicaragua 2015. Other contestants stood out for their modeling experience. Itza Castillo, representing Managua, has worked in commercials, fashion runways, and photo shoots. Nahomy Hill, 21, representing the South Caribbean Coast autonomous region, describes herself as a model. Maria Fernanda Sequeira, 18, from Boaco, also works as an international model. 'Every look tells a story, and this story is about to begin,' she captioned a post after a makeup session with stylist Julio Escudero. The rest of the candidates Alexssandra Montalván, GranadaNatalia Pedroso, JinotegaGlennys Medina Segura, RivasJhozabeth Centeno, Río San JuanLucía Oliveros, EstelíDesireé Estrada, LeónStephanie Álvarez, MatagalpaYaribeth Gutiérrez, Nueva SegoviaAlieska González, Chontales One candidate, Starina Jérez, representing the Caribbean Coast, was absent from the runway presentation. Her 21-year-old sister, Venus Angelina, died unexpectedly in Miami on July 9. Starina and Venus are daughters of opposition leader and former political prisoner Irlanda Jérez. 'Selecting these 16 women was not easy,' said Bautista, who is also the event's creative director. 'The competition is fierce. We had a large pool of highly qualified candidates, and our goal between now and September is to ensure the most prepared woman wins — because she will be the queen of all Nicaragua.' Venezuelan Dayra Lambis, the 1999 International Coffee Queen, is coaching the candidates on mastering the runway. 'We're celebrating not only their beauty but also their resilience,' Lambis said. 'These young women represent the light, culture, and essence of Nicaragua. They've done an incredible job.' Miami has also become a hub for other pageant activity. On July 8, Lina Luaces — daughter of Lili Estefan and niece of Emilio and Gloria Estefan — was crowned Miss Universe Cuba at Milander Park in Hialeah. Telemundo is also searching for a Latina representative from the United States for the Thailand Miss Universe pageant through its reality series Miss Universe Latina. To learn more about the Miss Universe Nicaragua candidates, visit
Hindustan Times
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Did Trump say he entered changing rooms of Miss Teen USA contestants? New pageant post surfaces
Claims that President Donald Trump admitted to entering the changing rooms of Miss Teen USA contestants during his ownership of the pageant (1996–2015) have resurfaced on social media. The claims mainly stem from a 2016 BuzzFeed News report and a 2005 Howard Stern interview. This week several X users brought up Trump's alleged statement. Donald Trump speaks to members of the media on the South Lawn of the White House (Bloomberg) Trump's statements and allegations 2005 Howard Stern Interview: In an April 2005 interview on The Howard Stern Show, Trump, who owned the Miss Universe Organization (including Miss USA and Miss Teen USA), bragged about entering pageant dressing rooms, stating, 'I'll go backstage before a show and everyone's getting dressed, and everything else, and you know, no men are anywhere, and I'm allowed to go in because I'm the owner of the pageant and therefore I'm inspecting it… You know, they're standing there with no clothes… And so I sort of get away with things like that." He was referring to Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants, where contestants are 18 or older, not Miss Teen USA. Miss Teen USA Allegations: In 2016, BuzzFeed News reported that five women from the 1997 Miss Teen USA pageant, including Mariah Billado (former Miss Vermont Teen USA), alleged that Trump entered their dressing room while contestants, some as young as 15, were changing. Billado recalled Trump saying, 'Don't worry, ladies, I've seen it all before." Three others, anonymously, described the incident as 'shocking' and 'creepy,' while a fifth later corroborated. Victoria Hughes (Miss Teen New Mexico 1997) said reports were exaggerated, noting chaperones warned contestants to cover up. Trump Campaign Response: In 2016, Trump's campaign denied the allegations, calling them meritless, but provided no evidence to disprove them. The president has not directly addressed the allegations. A post by @charise_lee this week claims Trump "admittedly stated' on The Howard Stern Show that he entered Miss Teen USA dressing rooms, linking it to #EpsteinCoverUp hashtags. The post includes a link to a video, likely the 2005 Stern interview, but misattributes Trump's quote to Miss Teen USA, not Miss USA or Miss Universe.
GMA Network
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
Who is Opal Suchata? 5 facts about the Miss World 2025
Opal Suchata Chuangsri was crowned Miss World 2025, making history as the first representative from Thailand to take home the blue crown. Here are five facts about the Thai beauty queen. 1. She represented Thailand in Miss Universe 2024. Before Miss World 2025, Opal represented Thailand in the Miss Universe 2024 and finished as third runner-up. However, in April, the Miss Universe Organization withdrew her title due to a breach of contract. 2. She is a breast cancer survivor. At 16, Opal was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent surgery to remove tumors. Through this experience, the Thai beauty queen launched the "Opal For Her" campaign to raise awareness about breast health and early detection. 3. She is a political science student. Opal is currently a political science student focusing on international relations at Thammasat University. She is fluent in Thai, English, and Chinese. 4. She is a pet lover. Opal is a certified fur mom! She has sixteen cats and five dogs. 5. She can play the ukulele. Aside from being a beauty queen, Opal is also musically inclined and can play the ukulele. —MGP, GMA Integrated News
Gulf News
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf News
Miss Universe 2025: Top controversial moments in pageant history and juiciest dethronements
Dubai: Don't let Miss Congeniality fool you — Sandra Bullock's undercover chaos is nothing compared to the real-life drama of the Miss Universe pageant. Sure, the stage is all glitz, glamour, and perfectly rehearsed speeches about world peace, but behind those dazzling smiles and diamanté-studded gowns lies a world full of plot twists. While most beauty queens finish their reigns gracefully in stilettos, others stumble out in scandals. From crowns being snatched to reputations unraveling faster than a contestant's spray tan during a surprise thunderstorm in the Dubai desert, the pageant world is not just about beauty — it's about surviving the drama with lashes intact. Here's the ultimate tea on the most controversial and chaotic moments in Miss Universe history — because sometimes, real life serves more twists than a pageant walk in six-inch heels ... Oxana Fedorova – Miss Universe 2002 (Russia) Russia's Oxana Fedorova had the brains, beauty, and charm — until she ghosted the crown. Just four months after winning, she was booted for skipping duties and allegedly prioritising law school and police training. Fedorova insists she quit on her own terms. The organisation clapped back: no ma'am, you were dethroned. Runner-up Justine Pasek of Panama got a surprise coronation, making pageant history. Amparo Muñoz – Miss Universe 1974 (Spain) Spain's Amparo Muñoz said 'adiós' to the crown halfway through her reign. She reportedly couldn't deal with the pageant politics and wasn't about to hop on planes for PR stunts. The MUO didn't bother naming a replacement, and Amparo marched off into a controversial acting career with zero regrets. Crown? Who needs it? Philippines' first Miss Universe, Gloria Diaz, kept her crown but not without whispers. Gossip swirled about her allegedly breaking pageant 'conduct' rules (ahem, dating drama). But the organization shrugged it off and let her reign in peace. Turns out, the queen had more pressing matters — like becoming a movie legend. Italy Mora – Miss Universe Panama 2024 Now this one's messy. Italy Mora got the boot just before Miss Universe 2024, and the official reason? There was no explanation — complete silence from the organiser. Mora spilled her side: she met her boyfriend at the hotel (with permission, receipts, and all), but pageant insiders freaked out. Cue rumors, drama, and screenshots. She was ousted, and Panama was left scrambling. Magalí Benejam – Miss Universe Argentina 2024 Argentina's Magalí Benejam clearly missed the memo: what happens backstage at Miss Universe MUST NOT get aired on YouTube. In a live chat, she went full pageant rogue—calling the competition 'rigged,' shading Miss Puerto Rico's gown as the 'worst of the night,' and dragging Sheynnis Palacios' farewell walk as 'a horror.' Oh, and she allegedly claimed Denmark's winner knew she'd won days in advance, complete with extra security. Girl, that crown came with a mic, not a megaphone. The Miss Universe Organization clutched their pearls and clapped back, yanking her title for violating the values of diversity, inclusion, and basic pageant etiquette. Lesson learned? You can't throw that much glitter-coated shade and expect to keep your sash. In the world of Miss Universe, you can strut, sparkle, and slay—but speak recklessly, and it's bye-bye crown. Why the crowns come crashing down: A crash course Being Miss Universe isn't just about walking pretty — it's a full-time job with cameras, contracts, and code-of-conduct clauses. If a queen skips duties, causes scandal, or breaks the brand image, that tiara is snatched faster than a bouquet at a bridal toss. Whether they stepped down, were pushed out, or set their own crown on fire, one thing's crystal clear: these queens gave us more plot twists than a Sandra Bullock undercover op in Miss Congeniality.
