Miss Colombia Crowned Miss Universe Amidst Uproar, What Cost Miss Jamaica The Title, Ask Fans
Going up against some stunning competition, Miss Colombia was crowned as the winner of The 63rd annual Miss Universe pageant.
Miss Paulina Vega, a 22-year-old student of business administration better known as Miss Colombia, was crowned Miss Universe last night. A relative pageant newcomer, Miss Vega beat first runner-up Miss U.S.A Nia Sanchez and contestants from more than 80 other countries at Sunday’s pageant in Miami. An overwhelmed, but surprisingly composed Miss Vega had earlier said.
“It will be a dream come true to represent the woman of today. A woman that not only cares about being beautiful and being glamorous, but also cares about being a professional, intelligent, hard-working person”
Though Miss Vega looked stunning during the entire evening and in myriad attires, that many-a-times bordered on outrageous, her victory was marred by multiple boos from the various corners of the venue as Kaci Fennell — the 22-year-old model otherwise known as Miss Jamaica — was declared fourth-runner up. The social media too seemed united behind Miss Fennell.
It looks like #MissUniverse's world isn't ready to a black, elegant, short hair and INTELLIGENT woman as #MissJamaica pic.twitter.com/ymuiLaaO4v
— Samy Nemir Olivares (@Samynemir) January 26, 2015
Quite a few jeered that Fennell’s victory was snatched away due to her modest curls.
I love that #MissJamaica is wearing her hair this short length! She's probably the first beauty contestant to do that. #MissUniverse
— Rafaelina Siri (@rafaelinasiri) January 26, 2015
Many even felt that Jamaica being a small country of just 3 million inhabitants, wasn’t a strong commercial market for beauty products that are undoubtedly the biggest gainers. Not being an economic superpower limited Miss Fennell’s chances of being crowned Miss Universe.
yow #MissJamaica shoulda been #MissUniverse2015 STILL ! They never wanna big up Carribean girls smh
— Jesska. (@CoolestKidOuttt) January 26, 2015
Many others argued beauty pageants are still a very big business in Latin America, where girls are intensely groomed for the contests from a young age.
Some even went further accusing the Pageant community of racism. History is witness that since 1952, when the pageant was first held, only four black women have been crowned Miss Universe.
This year’s Miss Universe has had its fair share of controversies. Just last week Miss Lebanon faced criticism when she appeared in a photo with Miss Israel.
http://instagram.com/p/xt0F8yD5YJ/
Speaking of the winner though, Miss Vega shared she felt quite at ease with her fellow contestants and the country as well,
“It felt like home. I felt like I was in Colombia with my people. I felt that support in every moment of the pageant.”
Interestingly, Donald Trump, who owns the pageant, knew about Miss Fennell’s popularity, “From the minute she walked in the building, people said, ‘She’s a star,” he had said.
Apparently, Miss Vega winning means the title continues to remain in the hands of a Latina. Reigning Miss Universe Gabriela Isler, who graciously bestowed the titled to Miss Vega is from Venezuela. However, Miss Venezuela Migbelis Lynette Castellanos was cut after the top ten.
[Image Credit | Global Beauties]
