MISS SENEGAL 2014

Miss Sénégal 2014 was elected over the weekend. She is Miss Thiès Anna Diouf, who won the title on late Saturday evening at an outdoor event at the Lamantin Beach Hôtel in Saly. Runners-up, or as is said in French, les dauphines, were Miss Dakar Seynabou Thiam and Miss Fatick Aïda Gomez. 14 women competed for the coveted title. (Photo: au-senegal.com)

#MANCRUSHMONDAY - ALLAN LANFREDI

Mister Santa Catarina 2015, Allan Lanfredi

#mancrushmonday

CAVALCADE IN SANTA CATARINA

A cavalcade of beauty yesterday in Itajaí, Santa Catarina, Brazil saw six main titles handed out. Winning the Mister Santa Catarina 2015 title was Mister Imbituta, Allan Lanfredi, 23. First runner-up Mister Blumenau, Boris Gevaerd, 25, was elected Mister Mister Ilhas de Florianópolis 2015. Second runner-up Mister Florianópolis, Eduardo Mocellin, 24, was elected Mister Ilha de São Francisco do Sul 2015. Winning the title of Miss Santa Catarina Globo 2014 was Miss Brusque, Amanda Benvenutti. Elected Miss Miss Mundo Ilhas de Florianópolis was Miss Quilombo, Aline Gentilini. And elected Miss Mundo Ilhas de São Francisco was Miss Joinville Amanda Felski Peres. Visit Blog do Jaime for fantastic photo coverage of the event. (Photo: Blog do Jaime)

BINIBINING PILIPINAS 2014

Mary Jean Lastimosa is the new Bb. Pilipinas Universe 2014. Candidate No. 25, Mary Jean won the highly coveted title tonight during a gala ceremony at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City. Crowned Bb. Pilipinas International 2014 was Candidate No. 22 Mary Anne Bianca Guidotti; Bb. Pilipinas Tourism 2014 was Candidate No. 4 Parul Shah; Bb. Pilipinas Supranational 2014 was Candidate No. 35 Yvethe Marie Santiago; and Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental 2014 was Candidate 13 Kris Janson. Runners-up were Candidate No. 11 Laura Lehman and Candidate No. 27 Hannah Sison.

Viva la Lastimosa!

Says Prof. Chandni: "Sera una lastima si no llegue al final de Miss Universo la Lastimosa."

MISS SOUTH AFRICA 2014

We can just bet the new Miss South Africa 2014 is a fluent Afrikaans speaker. 

The new Miss South Africa 2014 is Rolene Strauss, 21 and a medical student and "test tube baby" hailing from Volksrust in Mpumalanga. She won the highly coveted title today during a televised, glittering gala at the Sun City Superbowl. Runners-up were Ziphozakhe Zokufa from Port Elizabeth and Matlala Mokoko from Johannesburg. 12 women competed for the title. The contest was revamped this year, and as part of revamping, a new crown, the "Palesa" (flower in Sesotho), was designed for the winner to wear. 

The "Palesa" crown

CESKA MISS 2014

The new Česká Miss 2014 (Miss Czech Republic 2014) is stunning blonde Gabriela Franková, 19. She won the coveted title - and a ticket to Miss Universe 2014 - tonight during a glittering gala at the lavish Karlin Theatre in Prague. Gabriela was crowned by none other than Sophia Loren. Named Miss World Česká Miss 2014 was Tereza Skoumalová, 23.

Ten women competed for this year's title - the 10th annual!

#WOMANCRUSHWEDNESDAY - JENNIFER HAWKINS

Jennifer Hawkins, Miss Universe 2004, looking soooo sexy in a Roberto Cavalli gown at the 12th ASTRA Awards last week.

#womancrushwednesday

MISS AND MISTER RONDONOPOLIS 2014

The Brazilian city of Rondonópolis elected his new royalty over the weekend during a competition at the Rondon Plaza Shopping, organized by Ronaldo Dias. Miss Rondonópolis 2014 is Emilay Richtic, 19. Her runners-up were Izadora Souza and Kamila Pohl. Mister Rondonópolis 2014 is Antônio Giaretta, 24. His runners-up were Yuri Vieira and Luís Humberto. A total of 12 "meninas" and 13 "rapazes" competed in this year's event.

The eight "meninas" making the final round.

The eight "rapazes" making the final round.

The seal of the city of Rondonópolis

MISS AND MISTER STYRIA 2014

We just love co-ed contests in which the winners are crowned in swimsuits or folk costumes!

The new Miss and Mister Styria 2014 are Tamara Borer and Severin Haidacher. They won their titles last night during a gala event in Graz. Runners-up for the Miss Styria 2014 title were Antonia Delia Schäfer and Sabrina Zechner. Runners-up for the Mister Styria 2014 were Kevin Zotter and Kevin Zöllinger. The man with the body to die for - who won Mister Styria 2013 and then Mister Austira 2013 - Philipp Knefz was one of the judges for the competition.

MISS AND MISTER WORLD EXTREMADURA 2014

The new Miss and Mister World Extremadura 2014 are Miss Llerena, Irene Alfageme, 20, and Mister Badajoz, Gerardo Sansegundo, 21. They won their titles - and tickets to the national final of Miss and Mister World Spain - last night during a gala event at the Palacio de Congresos in Badajoz. Alejandro Cho, Mister Don Benito, and Brais Bugarin, Mister Santa Marta were runners-up for the Mister World Extremadura 2014 title. Mariona Elias, Miss Badajoz, and Cristina Morgado, Miss Plasencia, were runners-up for the Miss World Extremadura 2014 title.

The extremeños and extremeñas who competed for Miss and Mister World Extremadura.

Escudo of the autonomous community of Extremadura, located in western Spain

WHO WILL BE THE NEW MISS AND MISTER STYRIA 2014?

Who will be the new Miss and Mister Styria 2014? The competition is tonight, so we'll know soon, but in the meantime expectation is on tippy toe!

The candidates for Miss Styria 2014 are:

• Tamara Borer, 19 
• Claudia Dornhofer, 20
• Nadja Ginhardt, 18
• Julia Hochstrasser, 22
• Lisa Ivanova, 18
• Katharina Höfler, 23
• Carina Mayerhofer, 20
• Renate Ploder, 24
• Antonia Delia Schäfer, 17
• Stefanie Trippl, 18
• Marie-Therese Williere, 17
• Sabrina Zechner, 24

The candidates for Mister Styria 2014 are:

• Severin Haidacher, 21
• Dominik Schablas, 19
• Jürgen Waldner, 18
• Kevin Ziehenberger, 19
• Kevin Zöllinger, 24
• Kevin Zotter, 21

For photos of all the candidates,  visit the Kleine Zeitung website. 

MISS VIENNA 2014

The new Miss Vienna 2014 is Catherine Nahlik, 18. She won the title last night during a gala event at the Sofiensäle. We just love her for what she said to the jury about why she should be Miss Vienna: "As Miss Vienna, I want to convey an important message to young people: life is more than the next party, shopping and fat-free salad dressing - question the ideals that are suggested to you and work with your body, not against it." The 'Vize-Miss' titles went to Samantha Solomon, 25, and Vina Aquarina Rakamit, 27.  In attendance and making a special appearance - in lederhose nonetheless! - was the man with the body to die for, Mister Austria 2013 Phillip Knefz. (NOTE: translation by Beauty School with help of Google Translator)

A body born to wear a bikini! Catherine during the swimsuit competiton.

We love Austrian folk costumes! Here is Catherine with Mister Austria 2013!

MR. JAPAN 2014

In other Japanese pageant news, Toru Higa, 26, 1m84, from Okinawa, is the new Mr. Japan 2014.  Congrats, Toru!

MISS UNIVERSE JAPAN 2014

As of yesterday, there is a new Miss Universe Japan 2014! She is none other than Nagasaki's own Keiko Tsuji, 20, 1m70, and sophomore at Nagasaki International University majoring in health and nutrition. Also, she has a black belt in karate! Representatives from each of Japan's 43 prefectures competed for the coveted title. 

Keiko rocking it in her bikini!
You can tell she studies health and nutrition!

#WOMANCRUSHWEDNESDAY - PRIYANKA CHOPRA

Miss World 2000, Priyanka Chopra

#womancrushwednesday

We love this Guess girl! She is the first Indian woman to be the "face" of Guess.

Priyanka graced the catwalk at last weeks Lakme Fashion Week (LFW).

#MANCRUSHMONDAY - GIANLUCA TAMBERI

Gianluca Tamberi, Mister Italia 2012

#mancrushmonday 

THE WHOLE MEGILLAH

Miss Universe Israel 2014 Doron Matalon is ready for Purim!

Happy Purim! Put on your mask and revel without a pause! But before you get the party started, be sure to read the Book of Esther. The whole megillah! What does that mean, you ask? Prof. Chandni shall explain, "Megillah is Hebrew for scroll or volume, and is used especially in reference to the Book of Esther, read aloud every year at Purim.And what does the phrase 'the whole megillah' mean? It means, according to Merriam-Webster, 'a long involved story or account.'" 

me·gil·lah

noun

\mə-ˈgi-lə\

One of the great things about the Book of Esther aka the Scroll of Esther aka Megillot Esther is that for Esther, meaning and purpose are hidden right in front of her. So, each and every day of each and every year, remember to look for the hidden meaning right in front of you. 

MISS UNIVERSE SR 2014

The new Miss Universe SR 2014 (Miss Universe Slovenskej republiky 2014) is Silvia Prochádzková, 21, of Bratislava. She won the title tonight at the climax of a nationally televised, glittering gala. Runners-up for the title were Dária Fabrici, 20; and Michaela Mrázová, 18.

LFW + MBWFI = OMFG FAB!

The fabulous Jacqueline Fernandez, Bollywood star and 

Miss Universe Sri Lanka 2006, at Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) 2014. 

(WTF were the prelim judges smokin' that year to omit her from the top 20?)

The fantastic Çağıl Özge Özkul, sports reporter for Galatasaray TV and 

Miss Universe Turkey 2012 (and top 16 finisher), at

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Istanbul (MBFWI) 2014.

The freakin' fantabulous Sushmita Sen (need we say more?)

SWAMP WOMEN

The Advocate, 13-Mar-2014: The Miss USA pageant will take place at the Baton Rouge River Center on June 8.

Officials gathered at the River Center Thursday morning to announce the news.

“Any opportunity we have to focus the eyes of the entertainment world on our community and on our state is just another feather in our cap,” said Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne. “You can’t put a dollar figure on how valuable that is.”

Contestants will stay at L’Auberge Casino Hotel during the competition.

Donald Trump, owner of the Miss Universe Organization, went on the Today Show Thursday morning to announce that this year’s Miss USA competition would be held in Baton Rouge.

 The contest will air from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. CDT on NBC.

To lure the pageant to Baton Rouge, Visit Baton Rouge offered a $300,000 incentive package, including $50,000 for events to showcase Baton Rouge.

The state Office of Tourism also gave $50,000 to attract the event.

Leaders say it’s unclear how much of an economic impact the event will have, but they are expecting it to be a boon to the local economy.

Louisiana, including the Baton Rouge area, is know for its swamps...
this movie poster says it all...

#WOMANCRUSHWEDNESDAY - DIA MIRZA

 India's Dia Mirza, Miss Asia Pacific 2000

#womancrushwednesday

"IT IS ABOUT F***ING TIME," SAYS PROF. CHANDNI

The gorgeous Miss Mundo Santa Catarina 2014 Elias Freitas, 24.
She won the title over the weekend.

"It is about f***ing time," said Prof. Chandni to no one in particular this morning in the faculty and staff lounge. 

Dean Harris, munching on a delicious prune Hamantaschen, asked, "I beg your pardon?" 

Prof. Chandni went on to explain that a black girl had just recently won the Miss Mundo Santa Catarina 2014 contest.

"But, to be honest, I didn't realize there were black folks in Santa Catarina. I mean, that is where all those f***ing German Nazi psychopaths went after WWII, and they have Oktoberfests and towns with names like Blumenau and Fraiburgo," she added, shuddering with horror.

"I mean it is just spooky! In any event, I am thrilled and wish her luck at Miss Mundo Brasil. She is gonna need it. A black girl winning Miss Mundo Brasil...or Miss Universo Brasil...is like a European white girl winning Miss Universe. Ain't gonna be seein' that happen any time soon! I'm just sayin'"