A former television host from Venezuela was crowned Miss Universe 2013 last Saturday. This is the seventh time that the South American country won the prestigious beauty contest.
Maria Gabriela de Jesus Isler Morales or Gabriela Isler as she is more popularly known, had bested 86 other representatives of their respective countries to win the most prestigious title in the world. Miss Universe 2012, Olivia Culpo, placed the crown on the 25 year old host on Venezuela's Venevision.
Her first words were, "I have a lot of emotions. I can't describe all the things that I feel at this moment because I'm still shaking."
One of her first acts as Miss Universe would be posing in a specially designed swimsuit worth about USD1 million on Sunday.
The current edition of the Miss Universe pageant is a collaboration between NBC and Donald Trump. The competition was first started in 1926 until the Great Depression hit the United States. This was then continued in 1950 by a consortium of sponsors from the private sector.
The first runner up was Miss Spain, Patricia Yurena Rodriguez, second runner up is Miss Ecuador, Constanza Baez, third runner up is Miss Philippines Ariella Arida and fourth runner up is Miss Brazil Jakelyn Oliviera.
Congratulatory messages streamed all over the world to the newly crowned Miss Universe. According to Venezuela's socialist President Nicolas Maduro, "Her triumph is Venezuela's triumph. May God bless her always." This message was tweeted, a clear respite from the criticisms hurled for the event a 'bourgeoisie'. Venezuelan opposition leader also congratulated the Venezuelan beauty, saying "Congratulations to Maria Gabriela Isler for this triumph, always exalting the Venezuelan woman! Long live Venezuela!."
Venezuela is country where nearly 80% of the population is afflicted by poverty. One of its major highlights is the Miss Universe contest, where the television station airing the show would pay for all the costs for the country's bet. This would include training, grooming and dressing. These take 16 hour days at a cost of nearly USD60,000.
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