Hispania News, 7/23 - This evening, during one of the year's most exciting live television events, a star-studded panel of judges chose Zuleyka Rivera, Miss Puerto Rico, as Miss Universe® 2006.

The 18-year-old delegate from Puerto Rico was crowned at the conclusion of the 55th Annual broadcast on NBC live from Los Angeles, CA.

Access Hollywood 's Nancy O'Dell and actor/singer Carlos Ponce (7th Heaven), hosted the live telecast from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, CA. Commentary was provided by Carson Kressley of Bravo's Queer Eye along with Miss USA 2004, Shandi Finnessey throughout the live telecast.

Miss Universe 2006 was chosen by an international judging panel which included NBC's Las Vegas star James Lesure; NBC's latest winner from The Apprentice, Sean Yazbeck; renowned fashion photographer Patrick McMullan; Project Runway winner Santino Rice; NBC's Deal or No Deal briefcase model Claudia Jordan; Telemundo's Al Rojo Vivo anchor Maria Celeste Arraras; former Miss Universe Amelia Vega; television writer/creator Marc Cherry; former Miss Teen USA and actress, Bridgette Wilson Sampras; comedian Tom Green and former Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith.

Throughout the two-hour event, the delegates competed in three categories; swimsuit, evening gown and interview. During these competitions the "Top Five" finalists were selected before the crowning. Natalie Glebova, Miss Universe 2005, crowned her successor at the conclusion of the two-hour primetime telecast, before an estimated worldwide viewing audience of more than 600 hundred million in over 180 countries.

Global Beauties, 7/09 - Miss Philippines, Justine Gabionza, has just become the seventh Filipino beauty to have won a Grand Slam pageant, as she was crowned Miss Tourism Queen International 2006.

The final event took place in Hanghzou, China, and Miss Philippines performed lovely from the beginning until the last moment. She was a crowd favorite and deserving winner.

The 1st runner-up was Miss Serbia & Montenegro, Gordana Strajin, who days before had been picked as "Miss Cyberpress". She also received the title "Miss Europe Queen". Very elegant Fatouma Eboundit, of the Republic of Congo, was the 2nd runner-up and Miss Africa Queen. She was followed by Miss Singapore, Laxmi Ssunita, a international model who was always among the favorites. Rounding out the top 5 was Miss Brazil, Lívia Pratissoli, for many the most beautiful face in the contest. She was named Miss Americas Queen as well.

The top 10 was completed with Misses China, Nicole Yu, Thailand, Sujittra Pra-arktitsukhum, Hungary, Katalin Polgar, Bolivia, Pamela Saucedo, and Puerto Rico, Gladira Robles (Miss Islands Queen).

Finally, the following countries placed in the top 16: India, Rupali Suri, Poland, Malgorzata Kiezik, Monaco, Julie Breham, Slovak Republic, Michaela Knapcova, Martinique, Elodie Charron, and Australia, Natalie Gillard.

The winner and the runner-ups will remain in China for a week longer, fulfilling their duties with sponsors and the press. The new Miss Tourism Queen International shall receive over US$ 30.000 in cash and sponsors' contracts.

Mrs. Globe serves as a fundraiser for the WIN Foundation, a non-profit outreach specializing in abuse and self-esteem recovery.  As the new Mrs. Globe, Tsagias is the international spokeswoman for the foundation.  Says the new Mrs. Globe, “It is a great honor to represent an organization that is changing lives around the world.”

The new Mrs. Globe won cash and many other prizes, including a gold and diamond Mrs. Globe necklace, a diamond bezel Reymond Weil watch, a fur jacket, a smile make-over valued at $15,000, a year supply of SHOCK Cosmetics, the official cosmetic company of Mrs. Globe, clothing, shoes and more.  In addition, as the winner of Mrs. Globe, on behalf of the WIN Foundation, the country of Greece will receive a gift called, “Christmas for Kids”. This special gift is where the Mrs. Globe delegates around the world provide Christmas for parentless children. Christmas for Kids will take place the second week of December. 

Semi-finalist were Mrs. India, Mrs. Singapore, Mrs. Bulgaria, Mrs. Bolivia, Mrs. Guyana, Mrs. England, Mrs. Georgia, Mrs. Jamaica, Mrs. Paraguay, and Mrs. South Africa

The new Mrs. Globe will reign until July 2007 and during her year will travel to the US and other venues in support of the charity and the Mrs. Globe pageant.   For more on Mrs. Globe see the website at www.MrsGlobe.com For more on the WIN Foundation visit www.WomenInNeed.org.

MosNews, 4/30 - Russia’s Sofia Arzhakovskaya has been crowned Mrs. World 2006 at the final show of contest in St. Petersburg, Russia, news agencies said.

Sofia, 18, graduated from a dancing school in Ufa and is now a “free dancer”. She only became Mrs. a year ago. Together with the crown, as the winner of pageant she will receive a $6,000 worth fur coat and a set of jewelry.

Mrs.Costa Rica Andrea Bermudez Romero was crowned Vice Mrs. World, although she was first mistakenly announced the winner of the contest. Contestants from China, Finland and Kenya were also named among the top five beauties of the pageant that featured [thirty-eight] contestants from across the globe.