PODEROSA AMAZONA

We cannot believe that Carnaval/Carnival/Mardi Gras/Carnavale is next week! We haven't even ordered our King Cake (a New Orleans tradition). 

mmm...mmm...mmm good! King Cake!

Meanwhile, they are fully aware of the fact in Tenerife! Last night, 16 women competed for the highly coveted title of Reina del Carnaval de Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2014. In the creation "Poderosa Amazona" by Daniel Pagés, Amanda Perdomo Sanjuán won the title. Our BS scholars who specialize in Iberian beauty may know that Amanda was Miss La Palma and Miss Tenerife 2009 and a finalist in the 2010 edition of Miss Spain.

42ª REINA NACIONAL DEL MAR

Better late than never! Perhaps it was the snow yesterday morning (this winter seems to be endless!), but as Dean Harris was having his breakfast of Ezekiel bread with a generous dollop of tahinomelo, he was longing to be somewhere warm, on a beach, and he remembered! The Fiesta Nacional del Mar in Mar del Plata, Argentina! The Reina Nacional del Mar! So, he asked Lorraine, BS Librarian, to Google the results of this year's contest. Held late last month, the 42nd edition of the Fiesta saw the election of Micaela Ludvik as the Reina Nacional del Mar 2014. Her runners-up were Paz Bazterrica and Luciana Torresel. 12 finalists competed for the coveted title.

MISS NATAL E MISTER RIO GRANDE DO NORTE 2014

We just love co-ed contests in Brazil, and last night saw the election of Miss Natal and Mister Rio Grande do Norte (RN) 2014! Winning the Miss Natal 2014 title over 18 other women was Isabella Cecchi, 19. Beating off 17 other men for the title of Mister RN 2014 was Bruno Mooneyhan, 23. 

#WOMANCRUSHWEDNESDAY 2 - ROSANNA DAVISON

Our second inaugural #womancrushwednesday is none other than the one of the sexiest Miss World winners ever, Miss World 2003 Ireland's very own Rosanna Davison. Late last month (Monday, 27-Jan to be exact), she stepped out for German chocolate company's "Lambertz Monday Night" gala in Cologne.

#WOMANCRUSHWEDNESDAY 1 - JENNIFER HAWKINS

We inaugurate a new, regular feature - #womancrushwednesday - with two super-sexy, super-successful titleholders. First up is none other than the sexiest Miss Universe ever, Miss Universe 2004 Australia's very own Jennifer Hawkins. Last week, she was radiant at the Myer Spring 2014 launch in Melbourne.

#MANCRUSHMONDAY - DENNIS TRANBERG

Dennis Tranberg, Sveriges Man 2012

#mancrushmonday 

Keep up with Dennis on his blog!

AND MISS RWANDA 2014 IS...

The new Miss Rwanda 2014 is Colombe Akiwacu, 20. She won the title last night at the conclusion of a glittering, gala event at the Petit Stade in Kigali. She succeeds Aurore Mutesi, whose reign as Miss Rwanda lasted almost two years. Runners-up for the Miss Rwanda 2014 title were Carmen Akineza and Marlene  Mutoniwase. Miss Rwanda 2014 was organised by the Ministry of Sports and Culture (MINISPOC) and this edition's theme was “My Beauty, My Skills, My Tools for Self-Reliance.”

#SOSVENEZUELA

This morning's lead story on npr's website is about the death of Genesis Carmona, 22, Miss Tourismo Carabobo 2013. It is a must-read. And despite your politics, it is time for civil and human rights to be restored in Venezuela. Civil rights and human rights go hand in hand with serving the poor - and all citizens, from the one percent to the 99% are best represented in a democracy - despite what the Venezuelan president may say and imply with his actions. 

#SOSVENEZUELA

We stand in solidarity with you, Venezuela. Our hearts are heavy here today at Beauty School. We have seen too many citizens around the world, from Venezuela to Ukraine to Turkey to Brazil to Egypt, having to wear gas masks and endure state-supported police brutality to demand what should be a birthright - human dignity, respect, and freedom.

MISS INDONESIA 2014

The new Miss Indonesia 2014 is the stunning Miss Sulawesi Barat Maria Asteria Sastrayu Rahajeng. First runner-up was the equally stunning Miss Papua Barat Rachel Ellen Aragay. The nationally-televised glittering, gala ceremony took place last night at the Jakarta International Expo. A total of 34 women competed for the coveted title and the right to represent Indonesia in Miss World 2014. 

And Miss Indonesia 2014 is...

Did you know that the residents of Jakarta, Indonesia's capital, are the most active Twitter users in the world? And that Indonesia itself is Facebook's fourth most active country in the world? As a nod to this social media mania, two new titles were awarded, Miss Chatting and Miss Social Media (Miss Online has been awarded since 2011). Winning the Miss Chatting award was Miss West Java Siti Anida Lestari, Miss Social Media went to Miss Bangka-Belitung Islands Olivia Pramaisella, and Miss Riau Jesslyn Anggasta Hardi won Miss Online.

Miss World 2013 Philippines' Megan Young was on hand to crown Miss Indonesia 2013's successor

Follow Miss Indonesia 2014 on IG!

#MANCRUSHMONDAY

Mister International 2012 Ali Hammoud of Lebanon

#mancrushmonday

Follow Ali on IG!

REAR VIEW RETROSPECTIVE - PART TWO

What the rear view mirror says also applies to beauty contests!

@ Mister Pernambuco (Brazil) 2010

@ Garota e Garoto Farol 2013 

Mister Iles Balears 2010- 2011 David Gomez 

@ Miss Hungary 2010 

@ Miss Zurich (Switzerland) 2011

REVIEW VIEW RETROSPECTIVE - PART ONE

What the rear view mirror says also applies to beauty contests!  

@ Mister Belgium Personality 2011

Mister Brazil 2011 Lucas Malvacini

@ Miss Universe Sweden 2013

@ Miss Saschen (Germany) 2007

SAVE THE DATE! MISS RWANDA 2014

With the election of Miss Kigali 2014 Carmen Akineza, 22, and her runners-up this past weekend, the list of competitors for the title of Miss Rwanda 2014 is complete. 15 women will compete for the title during a glittering, gala finale on 22-February. These 15 are:

Southern Province
Belyse Hitayezu
Mouna Dukunde
Lydie Kayitesi

Western Province

Vanessa Mpogazi
Diane Umutesi
Merveille Uwase

Northern Province
Melissa Isimbi
Marlene Mutoniwase
Grace Agasaro

Eastern Province
Colombe Akiwacu
Ruth Uwera
Yvonne Mukayuhi

City of Kigali
Carmen Akineza
Emmanuella Erica Urwibutso
Nadia Uwera

For more on Miss Rwanda 2014, visit their facebook page. BTW, we love the motto for Miss Rwanda 2014!

#MANCRUSHMONDAY - JOSE DE HARO

Mr. Cuidad de Valencia José de Haro

#mancrushmonday

For more great pix of studly José, 

visit the Miss & Mr. Ciudad de Valencia website.

MISS GERMANY 2014

The new Miss Germany 2014 is Miss Nordrhein-Westfalen, the stunning blonde Vivien Konca, 19 and 1m74. She won the title tonight during a gala event at Europa Park in Rust. Runners-up were Catharina Leers, 20, and Evelyn Konrad, 19. A total of 24 women competed for the coveted title.

Another stunning German blonde, Germany's Alpine downhill skier Maria Hoefl-Riesch, was the flag-bearer for her national team at yesterday's parade of nations at the opening ceremony of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. Plus, their team outfit was the best by far, and not only because of its "rainbow-inspired" look. Team Germany wins Beauty School's BNC award for this Winter Olympics. (Photo: Reuters)

NANA IN THE CITY

Our very, all-time favorite Miss USA 2012 Maryland's Nana Meriwether has been the toast of the town (at least in our eyes) over the past month or so. Whether at a charity event, a Super Bowl event, or on the runway at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, she is doing her own part to make New York City beautiful while doing some amazing fundraising and awareness-building for the causes championed by the Meriwether Foundation. (Photos: Getty Images)

NOTE: Dean Harris will be spot-checking all IG accounts during classes next week. If you aren't already following Nana on IG (@nanameriwether), you should do so before class!