MISS KURDISTAN REGION 2012

Sheena Aziz, 18, waves to the audience after being crowned Miss Kurdistan Region 2012 tonight at the Rotana Hotel in Arbil, about 350 km (220 miles) north of Baghdad. Twelve women competed in this inaugural pageant. Kurdistan Region is a federal entity of Iraq, but is governed by the autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government. 

MISS UNIVERSE TANZANIA 2012

Winfrida Dominic was crowned Miss Universe Tanzania 2012 tonight during a glittering gala in Dar Es Salaam. Runners-up for the coveted title were Bahait Chando and Dorice Mollel. (Photo: BongoCelebrity)

MISS MACEDONIA 2012

Aneta Stojkoska, center, crowned Miss Macedonia 2012, poses with the runner-up Sofija Musu, left, and second runner-up Simona Stankovska during a beauty contest in Skopje, Macedonia, late Thursday, June 28, 2012. The 20-year-old Stojkoska will represent Macedonia at Miss World 2012. (Photo: AP)

EXPECTATION ON TANZANIAN TIPTOE

HOT IN THE BALKANS!

It's getting hot in the Balkans! Miss and Mister Croatia will take place on 08-Jul-2012. Contending for the coveted Miss Croatia 2012 title are Mia Mohorić; Nikolina Čolak; Marija Androšević; Klara Lučić; Anita Modrić;  Vanessa Biki; Ena Đivoje; Bernarda Konjević; Maja Nikolić; Tea Bošković; Ivana Jakin; and Antonela Tomašić. And up for the Mister Croatia 2012 title are Andrija Buković; Antonio Šincek; Mislav Buntić; Dejan Vuković; Anđelko Vragović;  Ante Đirlić; Renato Repka; Ante Perković; Goran Fijačko; Velimir Rajkovača; Massimo Nikić; and Arsen Filipović.

Mister Croatia 2012 contestant Andrija Buković

Miss Croatia 2012 contestant Tea Bošković

MISS CONGO 2012

The new Miss Congo (RD Congo) 2012 is Christelle Mbeni. She won the title last night, during a glittering gala at the Grand Hôtel in Kinshasa. Mado Bafana was first runner-up; Cathia Lubolo was second runner-up.

MISS WORLD PHILIPPINES 2012

The new Miss World Philippines 2012 is Queenierich Rehman, 23. She also won  the Ms. Pantene and Best in Swimwear sub-awards. She bested 24 other candidates tonight during a glittering gala at the Manila Hotel.

ZEN ON SUNDAY

The beautiful new Mister Brazil 2012 Willian Rech

MISS TAHITI 2012

 The new Miss Tahiti 2012 is the stunning Hinarani de Longeaux. She will now compete for the Miss France 2013 title later this year.

MISS BiH 2012

The new Miss Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) 2012 is Fikreta Husić of Brčkog. She won the title Wednesday night and will now represent her Balkan nation in Miss World 2012. Runners-up in the glittering, televised gala were Anja Đudurović and Jelena Lukić. 

MISS AND MISTER NWS 2012

The new Miss and Mister NWS (Nordwestschweiz) 2012 are Jennifer Senften and Gionatan de Vita. They won their titles over the weekend in a co-ed contest. 

MISTERS MAGNIFICENT!

Much to Dean  Harris' delight, a mile-long multitude of magnificent misters have been elected in the past week or so, including Mister Rio Grande do Sul 2013. The new Mister Rio Grande do Sul 2013 is Jhonatan Marko, 22 and 1m93. He won the title last night in Novo Hamburgo, Brazil. Jhonatan will now represent his state at Mister Brazil 2013. First runner-up was Bruno Vanin; second runner-up was Jerônimo Urrutia, both of whom will also compete in Mister Brazil 2013, as Mister Ilhas dos Lobos and Mister Ilhas dos Marinheiros, respectively.

Jhonatan Marko

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During the Mister Rio Grande do Sul 2013 ceremony, Mister Brazil 2012 was announced, Willian Rech, who will now represent Brazil at Mister World 2012 and Manhunt International 2012. He received the Mister Brazil 2012 from the outstanding Mister Brazil 2011 Lucas Malvacini. 

Willian Rech and Lucas Malvacini

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Mr. Upper West Side Luke Hawkins is the new Mr. New York 2012. He won the title on June 11.  Mr. New York 2011 Scott Larsen and Miss New York 2012 Kaitlin Monte were the hosts for the contest. (Photos: Staten Island Advance/Hilton Flores)

Luke Hawkins

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Over the weekend, Slovenia elected its "bros" for Mister Universe Model and Mister International. Winning the Mister Universe Model Slovenia 2012 title was Matjaž Kumelj. Marko Šobot is the new Mister International Slovenia 2012. 

Matjaž Kumelj

Marko Šobot

L-MEN OF THE YEAR 2012

Winner of Indonesia's L-Men of the Year 2012 is Rizal Al Idrus from Sulawesi Selatan. Akbar Kurniawan of DI Yogyakarta was first runner-up. Second runner-up was Stephan Hofmann of Jawa Barat. (Photo: The Stunning Angels)

ZEN ON SUNDAY

Miss USA 1971 Michele McDonald of Pennsylvania

WE THREE QUEENS

In the pageant version of a trifecta, Hungary crowned three new international beauty delegates today. Miss World Hungary is Tamara Cserhati, Miss Universe Hungary is Agnes Konkoly, and Miss Earth Hungary is Alexandra Kocsis. The beauty pageant named "The Beauty Queen" was held as a joint contest.

MISS UNIVERSE AUSTRALIA 2012

The new Miss Universe Australia 2012 is a dancer and photography lover from Perth.   Renae Ayris won the title today at a black tie event in Melbourne. First runner-up for the highly coveted title was Mary Vitinaros.

RHODE ISLAND WINS MISS USA 2012

Miss Rhode Island Olivia Culpo reacts as she is announced Miss USA 2012. Miss Maryland Nana Meriwether was named first runner-up. Olivia's win tonight during the Miss USA pageant at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas gives Rhode Island, "The Ocean State," its first Miss USA title. Did you know that Rhode Island is the smallest in area of the 50 states in the USA, but the 2nd most densely populated. Also, Rhode Island was the first of the 13 original colonies to declare independence from British rule, declaring itself independent on May 4, 1776.

Miss USA 2012 "Call Me Maybe" ft. Donald Trump, Andy Cohen, Giuliana Rancic

MISS UNIVERSE NEW ZEALAND 2012

The new Miss Universe New Zealand 2012 is Miss Howick Avianca Böhm. She won the title last night in front of live audience at the Amora Hotel in Wellington. The competition was also streamed lived on facebook. First runner-up was Miss North Harbour Talia Bennett, and second runner-up was Miss Wellington Lauren Mann. Miss Otago Monique Cooley and Miss Auckland Jennifer Lambly rounded out the top five. Avianca hails from South Africa, and had to learn English as her second language after her arrival, having spoken only Afrikaans in her teens. She already holds a diploma in fashion, and is planning to embark on a business degree, majoring in accounting. (Source: lucire.com)

ZEN ON SUNDAY

Miss Turkey 2010 Gizem Memiç

THE FRONT PAGE

Thanks goodness! The crowning of new national royalty still makes the front page of newspapers in many countries around the world. Both the recently crowned Miss Universe Bolivia 2012 Alexia Viruez and Miss World Turkey 2012 Açelya Samyeli Danoğlu were splashed across the front pages of newspapers in their countries.