This post by Cynthia Zhang has been republished from Quora with her permission.

I competed in Miss NY Chinese in 2010, and went on to compete in Miss Chinese International in Hong Kong after being crowned the winner of Miss NY Chinese.

How I Became Involved

I joined the pageant because of a commercial that my mother saw on TV. It was back in the summer of my sophomore year in college; I didn’t have an internship or a job, so she thought it’d be a good experience for the summer. It was in fact my first time being in NYC. I went into the audition room without any expectations. They asked me to “tell them about myself,” asked me to do a catwalk, and asked me to perform my talent. That was it. And then I just waited for two days for them to call me back. 

 
When they called me back, I was in the middle of packing to go back to my home in Michigan. They literally said, “You will be in the city for training for the next three months. Come sign the contract tomorrow.” Umm… what? 

So that’s how my journey started.
 
A Few Things You Wouldn’t Know About the Pageant World…

I Made Close Friends

Perhaps it was because I was not very competitive, I ended up becoming very close to many of the girls. While some girls spent their pageant days thinking about how to stand out and how to compete against others. My mindset was to try my best and make the best out of it. No pressure whatsoever. Maybe that’s not a good thing either…? 

Til this day, about three years later, many of my close friends were made from the pageant. I am still very involved in the pageant community. I’ve been attending many of their events, whether it be judging a competition, being the guest performer, crowning successors, or just sitting in the audience silently observing. Once you are in, you are family. 

I even became very close to the girls I met through the international pageant. We don’t see each other very often since we came from all over the world, but we now have friends in every single continent. In fact, Miss Melbourne is currently visiting me in New York City! Miss Chicago is working in the city, we live about 15 minutes away!
 
Lots of Hard Work Involved

The pageant was more exhausting and a lot more work than I have expected. Most people think we just walk around the blocks and look pretty, but it is more tiring than you think. When I competed in New York, we had hours of training every weekday, and had to go to events on the weekend. We trained on how to sit & walk identical to each other, how to speak in public, how to present yourself, etc. Some girls were very competitive and took dance/voice/whatever classes on the side for extra training. The most exhausting part for me was to smile for a long time for pictures. After each event, we had to take group pictures with every person in the room possible: the sponsors, the important people (whoever they were), the makeup/hair crew, the past winners, etc. It was so tiring that by the end of the photo sessions, my entire face was sore and numb from smiling so much. I always told the girls after me to smile with your mouth closed if you get sore.

In Hong Kong, the exhaustion went up to the next level. Due to the tight schedule planned for us, there were many occasions where we had to wake up at 4 a.m. to do our makeup, and stay up to 2 a.m. filming in the studio. It is not uncommon to see girls sleeping on top of each other, or next to each other on the floor in the makeup rooms. The weather wasn’t very ideal either; we had to film in late fall/early winter in Tianjin, a city in Northern China. We’d film very early or late in the morning in summer clothing, when the temperature was almost below freezing point. Many of us got sick, and by the time we finished filming, no one could feel their fingers and toes.
 
No One is Beautiful Enough

Girls in pageantry are very conscious of their image no matter how beautiful or skinny they are. Many girls didn’t eat. It was especially apparent in Hong Kong. Perhaps it was in the Asian culture, but it was ok for people to tell you that you are too tanned (tan represents poorness in Asian countries) or too fat, even when the girls were young and beautiful. I’ve gotten many comments where people straight up tell me, “You are getting too chubby! Need to watch your figure!” A lot of the girls were so conscious of the swimsuit part of the competition that they stopped eating a few days before the competition. Some were eating, but they dipped everything they ate in hot tea to get rid of the oil, and then dipped in hot water to get rid of the tea taste. It was quite amusing to me. Most girls were obsessed with the topic “losing weight.” For a short time period, I began doubting my figure and asking myself whether I should lose weight. I was 5’9’’ and 110 lb. Not exactly what you’d call “chubby.” Fortunately, I ultimately did not give into the Asian culture, and kept on having my fried chicken at dinner along with a few other contestants coming from North America. 
 
Worldly Experience

You get to see a lot more of the world than you would normally when you compete in international pageants. I was fortunate to meet so many different kinds of people at the age of 20. In Hong Kong, I was exposed to people in the entertainment industry, finance, marketing, PR, textiles… almost every industry possible. I also got to meet many girls from all over the world.  Every girl came from a similar but different culture. There were girls from Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Singapore, America, China… As a young college student, I definitely experienced a lot more than my peers. It has impacted me positively throughout the rest of my schooling and my career. I am more open to new cultures and people. One significant difference I have noticed is that I’m no longer afraid to talk to people that I have absolutely nothing in common with. I used to actively avoid meeting people without common interests, but now I think it’s a pleasure and an opportunity to learn and network with them. It was the pageant that made me realize that you learn the most when you are out of your comfort zone.
 
We Are Not Stupid

When you think of pageant girls, you might think, oh they just look pretty and they are probably not educated. Yes, there are some who focus more on getting into the entertainment industry rather than education. But no, some of us are not stupid at all. There were girls from University of Manchester, University of Melbourne, Northwestern, Princeton, everywhere. If anything, the pageant makes girls become more well-rounded and more successful in life.

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This Sunday's Miss America pageant will be a little different from past years.

For the first time in history, a contestant will expose her tattoos during the bikini portion of the competition.

That bold contestant is Miss Kansas, Sgt. Theresa Vail, who also happens to be the second contestant in the military to compete in Miss America.

Vail, 23, will be breaking a long-standing taboo with her two giant tattoos – the insignia for the U.S. Army Dental Corps on her left shoulder and the Serenity Prayer running down her right side. 

"Why am I choosing to bear my tattoos? My whole platform is empowering women to overcome stereotypes and break barriers," the Miss America hopeful explains to People magazine. "What a hypocrite I would be if I covered my ink. How can I tell other women to be fearless and true to themselves if I can't do the same?"

Much of Vail's confidence comes from being an expert M16 marksman, a skydiver, a boxer, a mechanic, fluent Chinese speaker, and a bow hunter who can skin a deer and apparently cooks a mean squirrel stew – skills not usually associated with beauty queens.

"Nobody expects a soldier to be a beauty queen," Vail tells People, "but I'm all about breaking stereotypes." 

Vail, who recently re-enlisted for six more years in the Kansas Army National guard, hopes to eventually follow in her father's footsteps and become an Army dentist.

But she also wants to use Miss America to get her message of female empowerment out to young girls.

"I was bullied when I was a kid. It got so bad that I nearly took my own life," Vail explains to the magazine. "My dad took me hunting with him and it saved my life. Ever since then, I've been an outdoors girl. My passion is empowering girls through male-dominated outdoor sports." 

She adds, "I know many young girls look at beauty candidates and think, 'What a perfect life they have.' But I want them to know that I haven't led a perfect life. And that beauty comes from the inside."

Check out Vail's full interview with People here.

SEE ALSO: Google Glass is a big trend at New York Fashion Week

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Many people on Twitter were outraged after Indian-American Nina Davuluri won the title of Miss America on Sunday — but not Stephen Colbert.

Colbert didn't understand what all the racist backlash was about, saying he "condemned" it.

After new “Today” correspondent Carson Daly noted that 705 tweets referenced both “Miss America” and “terrorist," Colbert joked between giggles, “That’s right. Seven hundred and five people saw a woman in a bikini and thought: Muslim Extremist."

The host finished off the segment by stating, "I would like to congratulate Nina Davuluri , thanks to you, young Indian girls can now dream about advocating world peace — in a two-piece."

Watch the segment below:

SEE ALSO: Indian-American Nina Davuluri Crowned Miss America Amid Racist Backlash

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The French government has moved to ban beauty pageants for girls under the age of 16 in an attempt to fight child "hyper-sexualization," according to France 24 news.

The possible penalty for those who violate the proposed ban: a $40,000 fine and two years in prison. That ban would apply to any adult who tried to enter a child into a pageant.

France's Senate voted 197-146 to approve the ban. It still has to go back to the lower house for another vote before it can go into effect.

Some are saying the move is too harsh, and the Associated Press points out that department stores in France still sell lingerie for girls as young as 6.

Chantal Jouanno, the lawmaker who wrote the amendment, told the Associated Press that children need to "concentrate on acquiring knowledge" and not be fixated on physical appearance.

French news outlet The Local reports that the law was prompted by a December 2010 Vogue photoshoot that featured provocative pictures of a 10-year-old girl from France.

Child beauty pageants have been popularized in the U.S. by the TLC reality show "Toddlers & Tiaras." The show follows the children who participate in beauty pageants and their often-overbearing parents.

The young participants in these pageants — some are infants — often wear elaborate outfits, fake hair, and makeup for the contests.

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Last month, Maria Gabriela Isler of Venezuela was crowned Miss Universe— the 62nd woman to be crowned with the prestigious title since the competition was founded in 1952.

And while the Miss Universe crown represents one of the most honorable of all beauty titles, hundreds of pageants take place all over the world each year.

Throughout the past 60 years of Miss Universe and Miss USA competitions, former beauty queens have gone on to have successful careers — journalists such as Oprah Winfrey and Diane Sawyer, Oscar winners like Halle Berry, many leaders in philanthropy, and more.

Check out the former beauty queens who are doing their parts to change the world.

Miss Kansas Theresa Vail looked like the average contestant when she competed in Miss America this year.

But during the swimsuit segment, this army sergeant became the first contestant to ever expose her tattoos.

Miss Kansas Theresa Vail was only the second contestant in the military to ever compete in Miss America, and altough she didn't win, she placed in the top 10.

She's also an expert M16 marksman, a bow hunter, a skydiver, a boxer and a mechanic, according to People. 

Vail also became the first contestant to showcase her tattoos during this year's competition.

"Why am I choosing to bear my tattoos?" Vail says. "My whole platform is empowering women to overcome stereotypes and break barriers. What a hypocrite I would be if I covered my ink. How can I tell other women to be fearless and true to themselves if I can't do the same? I am who I am, tattoos and all." 

Lauren Nelson won the Miss America crown in 2007 and used her title for a good cause ...

Popular telenovela actress and former Miss Venezuela Mónica Spear is dead at 29 after an attempted robbery late Monday night according to police, Globovision reports.

Spear, who lived in Miami, was traveling with her 5-year-old daughter, Maya, and ex-husband, Henry Thomas Berry, 49, when their rented Toyota Corolla broke down on the Puerto Cabello-Valencia highway in Caracas, Venezuela following a minor accident.

Armed men approached the car and the couple locked themselves inside. The assailants then opened fire, killing Spear and Berry, and shooting 5-year-old Maya in the leg.

Spear appeared in several TV soaps, including Telemundo’s “Flor Salvaje” in 2011 and “Pasión Prohibida” last year, according to Variety.

“We are deeply saddened by the horrible crime that affected the beloved actress Monica Spear and her family,” Telemundo said in a statement.  “Monica was not only a great professional as we saw in the two novelas she worked with us – but also an excellent person, always enthusiastic, full of strength and determination.  We wish a quick recovery to her daughter and send our deepest condolences to her family.”

Venezuela had more than 24,000 homicides in 2013, according to E! Online, and the U.S. Department of State rates the criminal threat level in the nation's capital, Caracas, as "critical." 

Spear had been documenting their trip via Instagram prior to being murdered.

SEE ALSO: WHERE ARE THEY NOW: The 22 Most Influential Former Beauty Queens

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Self-described "finance nerd" Candace Kendall was crowned Miss New York USA 2014 this weekend. 

The brunette model beat 177 other women for the crown at the Performing Arts Center in Purchase,  New York.

For the pageant, Kendall graced the runway wearing a stunning off the shoulder red gown. 

According to her Twitter page, she holds degrees in finance and accounting.  She held the Miss Teen New York USA title back in 2006. 

This June, Kendall will compete against 50 other women at the Miss USA pageant, which will be held at Donald Trump's Doral Golf Resort and Spa in Florida.

Trump is the owner of the Miss Universe Organization, which hosts the Miss USA pageant. 

The current Miss USA, Erin Brady, was an accountant based in Connecticut before she won. 

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These contestants wearing tiaras, sashes, and gowns are proof that the National Security Agency cared about beauty as well as intelligence in the 1950s and early 1960s.

The photograph comes from the NSA's formerly secret archives and was released in an interactive timeline in celebration of the agency's 60th anniversary. 

Aside from this vintage photo, little information is available to disclose what the annual Miss NSA competition was like in comparison to modern-day pageants. Although, the contestants seem to represent numbers rather than states unlike Miss USA. 

SEE ALSO: Declassified Photos Show The Top Secret Early Days Of The NSA

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This weekend, Miss USA 2013 Erin Brady will crown her successor at the widely-viewed beauty pageant owned by billionaire Donald Trump. 

Before becoming Miss USA, Brady worked an accountant. She told us last year that working as an accountant helped her prepare for the pageant. 

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Tens of thousands of dollars can get you a year of college, a new car or even a down payment on a home.

Or you could use that money to enter a major beauty pageant, like the Miss USA pageant.

Contestants often spend an amount that is more than the cash prize awarded to the pageant's winner: reportedly somewhere in the five-figure range for national pageants, and presumably much less for state and local titles.

Kim Gravel, star of Lifetime’s “Kim of Queens” (which will return for a second season this fall), owner of The Pageant Place costume and coaching service and the 1991 Miss Georgia America, said pageant dresses alone can run from “$700 to $1,000 when bought off the rack, or as much as $5,000 for the serious competitor.”

“Now it’s a big business,” said Gravel. “There’s a pageant every week.”

Lisa Barefield, marketing director for Henri’s Cloud Nine in Minerva, Ohio, which is dressing four girls competing in the 2014 Miss USA pageant, said she’s seen custom dresses cost $8,000 to $10,000 each “for the big pageants.”

Approximately 2.5 million girls compete in more than 100,000 beauty pageants each year in the U.S., according to Statistic Brain, and at least 72 percent of contestants hire a pageant coach like Gravel, often at a cost of $100 or more an hour, sometimes three sessions a week, according to Gravel—and a long list of other expenses. Then there's hair and makeup (about $250 an hour), a spray tan ($75), and a wig or extensions ($200).

Pageants also charge an entry fee that can range from $300 to $500, Gravel said, though some pageants can cost as much as $1,000 to enter.

Barefield said customers typically need additional outfits beyond an evening gown -- for the opening number, interview portion, rehearsals, swimsuit competition, and public appearances. And all must be accessorized with shoes and jewelry.

“It can definitely add up,” said Barefield.

Rachel Slawson, 19, the current Miss Provo USA 2015 and a Miss Utah USA 2014 contestant, spends a bit less than a lot of pageant contestants. She plans to spend $600 to $700 at Salt Lake City-based shop Ypsilon for her dress to compete in the 2015 pageant.

“To me, it's not so much about the cost of the dress as it is how I feel in it,” she said.

Last season, Slawson said, she spent only $100 for a Nephi Garcia gown because the designer gave her a discount as promotion for his brand. She’s also sponsored by makeup artist Jannet Delgaldo, Pureza Salon, Medi Spa and Xtend Barre Provo, which gives her beauty services and a space to exercise in exchange for promotion on social media to her 2,500+ followers. All the rest of her expenses, including travel costs and the entry fee, she pays for on her own.

“My first pageant I invested very little effort and money,” she said. “This year I have taken it more seriously. I want to win. I want to be Miss Utah USA.”

Gravel said young women enter pageants not just to earn scholarship money, as she did, but also because they believe a win will help propel them into the spotlight. Actress Ali Landry, for example, was Miss USA 1996 and singer Britney Spears competed in local pageants in her native Kentwood, Louisiana.

“It’s lucrative on so many different levels and that’s why it’s so competitive now,” she said. “It’s about the launching pad.”

Pageants have also changed over the years, from what contestants wear—swimsuits, Gravel said, use to be much more modest, for example -- to a lower cost of entry, as paradoxical as that sounds.

“It was more expensive back in the day,” she said, because there wasn’t a “dress shop on every corner,” forcing girls to pay designers for custom-made dresses. Now the options are endless, due to a proliferation of formal-wear shops and imports from countries like China.

“The accessibility is more prevalent so it drives the cost down," Gravel said.

While fitness has always been a part of pageants, Gravel said, expectations have gone up. Many girls, feeling they need to be in perfect physical shape, and hire pricey personal trainers or opt for plastic surgery. Gravel believes this is ill-advised.

“I’ve never seen a girl win Miss USA or Miss America because she has the best boobs,” she said. “You win because you have the best brain and can communicate the best.”

Still, many women who compete in pageants never feel quite good enough. Gravel, who said she’s had young girls with eating disorders or who are overweight and feel they’re “not perfect,” said she often works to help contestants feel “comfortable in their own skin.”

“We’re really the hardest on ourselves," she said.

Barefield, who overhears customers in Henri’s dress shop make remarks about extreme dieting, said she often “encourages girls to do fitness the right way.”

As a competitor, Slawson said she’s tried to develop healthy habits, cutting out junk food and soda, but “doesn’t believe in the word ‘diet.’” She credits pageant competitions with helping her learn to eat well and to exercise.

“In middle school and high school, I struggled with my body image, but pageantry has vastly improved my confidence in my body,” Slawson said. “I don't feel pressure to be skinny, but I do want to be ridiculously healthy.”

That’s just one benefit of being in a pageant, a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Gravel.

“You’ve got one shot,” she said. “The stakes are high, so that’s why they spend so much money and time.”

Miss America, which is not affiliated with Miss USA, awards $50,000 to the winner, $25,000 to the first runner-up and $20,000 to the second runner-up.

The possible payoff—a scholarship, opportunities for a future career—is “not just about the prize package." It's much more emotional, Gravel said. 

“There’s so much more than money,” she said. “The money is nice, but it’s about giving it all you've got.”

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Less than two weeks after Amanda Longacre was crowned Miss Delaware, the 24-year-old was stripped of her crown and scholarships.

The crown controversy was caused because the Miss America Organization says contestants must be 17 to 24 years old, and Longacre will turn 25 in October.

But Longacre was truthful about her age from the start, telling NBC's "Today Show" this morning that "My birthday was written on the contract, which the board signed off on, and allowed me to compete."

Longacre insists that the board signed off on her contract on a local, state, and national level — and it wasn't until Tuesday that she was notified her age was an issue.

"I am so upset because I was stripped of my crown over an age clause that clearly my state didn't even know about," Longacre continued through tears. "And so I'm left here wondering why I was even put in this position to begin with."

Not only was Longacre stripped of her crown, but also the prizes associated with her brief title, including an $11,000 scholarship.

But the Miss America organization has already moved on, crowning first runner-up Brittany Lewis, 24, the new winner in a brief ceremony Thursday night.

The Miss America organization said in a press release Thursday: "Following the Miss Delaware Pageant, it was determined that Amanda Longacre exceeded the age requirement in order to be eligible to compete. Therefore, the Miss Delaware 2014 title is awarded to Brittany Lewis." They then tweeted:

Congratulations to Brittany Lewis on being crowned #MissDE2014. We wish Amanda Longacre well on her future endeavors. pic.twitter.com/UCOQ7CdC7y

— Miss America Org (@MissAmericaOrg) June 27, 2014

Longacre responded to the announcement by telling "Today,""It's like they're trying to erase me in a way, like it never happened, and it's not fair because I won outright and I deserve to represent my state. I want this chance still to go to Miss America."

As for next steps, Longacre says, "I am speaking with an attorney right now and we are discussing the options."

Watch Longacre's emotional appearance on "Today":

SEE ALSO: The Newly Crowned Miss USA Used To Work As A Disney Princess

MORE: 13 Beauty Queens Working In Finance

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(Reuters) - A beauty pageant winner who was stripped of her Miss Delaware crown for being a few months too old is suing the Miss America organization, saying officials knew her age and disqualified her unfairly, court documents filed on Wednesday show.

The lawsuit filed in Delaware's Court of Chancery by Amanda Longacre seeks $3 million in damages and her reinstatement as Miss Delaware so she can compete in the Miss America pageant in September.

She said she did nothing wrong and was honest when she applied to take part in the pageant, providing her birth certificate, driver's license and other documents.

Rules for the pageant, the state preliminary for Miss America, require that Miss Delaware contestants be no older than 24, and say they cannot turn 25 before the end of the year. Longacre's 25th birthday will be on Oct. 22.

Sam Haskell, chief executive and board chairman of the Miss America pageant, said Longacre would get the $9,000 scholarship given to the winner, as would the new Miss Delaware.

Longacre won the title on June 14, but was replaced in late June by the first runner-up, 23-year-old Brittany Lewis of Wilmington, Delaware.

When pageant officials initially told Longacre she would lose the scholarship money and her title, a senior official at the Miss Delaware Scholarship Organization offered to make it up to her by hosting a wine and cheese pajama party, according to the court documents.

(Reporting by John Clarke in Annapolis, Md.; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Peter Cooney)

SEE ALSO: Miss Delaware's Crown Revoked Because She Is Too Old

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Miss New York Kira Kazantsev was crowned the new Miss America on Sunday night in Atlantic City, N.J., marking the third year in a row that a contestant from the state has won the nationally televised pageant.

The 23-year-old beauty queen beat out 52 other contestants to win the title and a $50,000 scholarship.

How did she do it?

Kazantsev argued that sexual assault against women in the military needs to be addressed, her platform is “Love Shouldn’t Hurt: Protecting Women Against Domestic Violence," and she proudly rocked the bikini portion.

For her talent, Kazantsev sang Pharrell's “Happy” while sitting cross-legged on the stage while using a red plastic cup as a drum.

Watch a clip of her performance here:

There was a bit of a flub during Kazantsev's performance, but it wasn't her fault.

THEY MISSPELLED JANE AUSTEN!! #MissAmericapic.twitter.com/Hw7A2Bv1Ce

— Amy Odell (@amyodell) September 15, 2014

The final round of the pageant was between Miss Massachusetts Lauren Kuhn, Miss New York Kira Kazantsev, and Miss Virginia Courtney Paige Garrett. Garrett took first runner up and Kuhn took second runner up honors.

Kazantsev gasped after she was named Miss America 2015.Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri crowned Kazantsev the new winner.Contestants rushed to congratulate her.Kazantsev is already embracing the role.

SEE ALSO: Here's What It's Really Like To Compete In Beauty Pageants

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There's something funny about the Miss America Pageant to John Oliver and the Last Week Tonight team. It's something that they obsessed over for a week. No, it's not that the pageant itself even exists in the modern day, though that's plenty confusing. It's not the ridiculously complex questions either – though Oliver did take time to marvel at that.

For example, one contestant was asked what the U.S. government's response should be to the Islamic State's recent, brutal beheadings. "That's right: They asked one of the contestants to solve ISIS," Oliver said, horror in his eyes. "And she only had 20 seconds to do it!"

But Oliver couldn't hide his delight at her answer – that America must come together with other world powers to solve the problem versus trying to do it ourselves. "Holy shit, that is a much better answer than I could have done in that amount of time," he said while laughing in disbelief. "That is a borderline better answer than the president gave last week!"

However, this wasn't what kept Oliver and his team going crazy all week. It was actually the pageant's claim that they are the largest provider of scholarships for women, boasting "$45 million" in scholarships made available. After struggling to believe that and looking up tax forms for 33 state pageants and the greater Miss America Organization, the LWT team could only come up with $4 million.

"How the f*ck is that possible?" Oliver asked incredulously.

The trick comes in the word "provider," he noted. If one state-level pageant offers four scholarships – of which a winner could only possibly take one – the amount of each is added up into the final total. There's other manipulations of language as well – it's all very slick.

Yet unfortunately, Oliver said that even if you assume the lowest possible number, the Miss America Organization's claim is still correct. For the reason why – and for other delights like a special appearance from Kathy Griffin and a description of Donald Trump as "a clown made of mummified foreskin and cotton candy," watch the clip above.

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Colombia's Paulina Vega was crowned Miss Universe, beating out contenders from the United States, Ukraine, Jamaica, and the Netherlands at the world's top beauty pageant in Florida.

The 22-year-old model and business student triumphed over 87 other women from around the world, and she is only the second beauty queen from Colombia to take home the prize. 

Colombia most recently won the crown in 1958, when Luz Marina Zuluaga scored the title. 

Vega, wearing a long silver sequined gown, was beaming and tearful as she accepted her sash and crown from reigning Miss Universe, Venezuelan Gabriela Isler.

She edged out first runner-up, Nia Sanchez from the United States, hugging her as the win was announced.

London-born Vega dedicated her title to Colombia and to all her supporters. 

"We are proud, this is a triumph, not only personal, but for all those 47 million Colombians who were dreaming with me and were part of this whole process," she told reporters after the win. 

She said the title was "more important than the World Cup" and that beauty queens were respected around the world.    

For Vega, the win was a point of national pride, and she hopes it will put her country on the map. 

"We are persevering people, despite all the obstacles, we keep fighting for what we want to achieve. After years of difficulty, we are leading in several areas on the world stage," she said earlier during the question round. 

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos applauded her, praising the brown-haired beauty on Twitter. 

"Colombia today is an example for the world, congratulations," he wrote.  

The 5-foot-9 model from Barranquilla is the granddaughter of legendary tenor Gaston Vega and 1953 Miss Atlantico, Elvira Castillo.

Vega won highest possible score of 9.9 in every presentation at the Miss Universe Colombia contest, according to the pageant's website.

Pageant Gets Political 

Vega beat out Ukraine's Diana Harkusha, Yasmin Verheijen from the Netherlands, and Miss Jamaica Kaci Fennell, who were also top five finalists. 

Though Sunday's program remained mostly apolitical, Miss Ukraine spoke about ongoing turmoil in her nation.

"We have a very difficult situation in our country direct all of our energies to support our army and our people we have to restore schools, we have to restore kindergartens and orphanages," Harkusha said. 

The 63rd edition of the Miss Universe pageant was held at Florida International University before a full house of enthusiastic fans. 

The contest featured the traditional parade of eye-catching swimsuits and national costumes and performances from teen idol Nick Jonas and Dominican-born American singer Prince Royce.

Ten judges were tasked to select this year's winner, including Cuban-American music mogul Emilio Estefan, Cuban soap opera star William Levy, and Philippine boxing great Manny Pacquiao.

The event is actually the 2014 Miss Universe pageant. The competition was scheduled to take place between the Golden Globes and the Super Bowl to try to get a bigger television audience. 

The contest, owned by billionaire business mogul Donald Trump, is watched by about 600 million worldwide, pageant officials say.

Trump said he had not yet decided where the next Miss Universe would be hosted, but he did not rule out Colombia as a possible venue.

Controversy emerged ahead of the contest, when Miss Israel took a selfie with Miss Lebanon. That irritated Lebanon, which is technically at war with Israel. 

Miss Lebanon, who was careful not to be seen next to her rival, explained that while she was posing with Miss Japan and Miss Slovenia, the Israeli beauty queen shoved her way into the photo and posted it on Instagram.

The Miss Universe contest started out in 1952 as a local "bathing beauty" competition organized by a swimwear company in Long Beach, California. 

Today, the competition is more than a beauty pageant, and contestants "compete with hope of advancing their careers, personal and humanitarian goals and ... seek to improve the lives of others," according to the Miss Universe website.

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Miss USA Nia Sanchez gave a classic "world peace" answer when asked what message she would send to terrorists during the onstage question at the 63rd Miss Universe pageant on Sunday night.  

"If you were given 30 seconds to deliver a message to global terrorists, what would you say?" world champion boxer and Miss Universe judge Manny Pacquiao asked Sanchez.

Sanchez replied: "OK, if I was given 30 seconds to give a message to the global terrorists, is that what you said? OK. I would just say, 'I know as Miss USA, I can always spread a message of hope and love and peace,' and I would do my very best to spread that message to them and everyone else in the world." 

Sanchez — a 24-year-old fourth-degree black belt in tae kwon do — could have nailed the question with a firm response against terrorists' brutality. 

To be fair, though, it was a tough question and it's not something you'd necessarily expect a Miss Universe contestant to prepare for.

Of course, it's easy to play Monday-morning quarterback and come up with better answers. It takes a lot of guts and hard work to compete on that stage, though. Miss Universe contestants generally spend over a year preparing for the pageant. It's not an easy thing to do. 

What's more, they have also spent an exhausting three weeks in Florida packed with red-carpet events, photo shoots, outings, charity work, and the preliminary competition (swimwear, evening gown, and interviews) prior to the live competition on NBC.  

Once they've made it into the top five, all of their hard work comes down to the final onstage question, which is aired on live television to an audience of millions. That's nerve-wracking! 

Sanchez placed first runner-up. That's a huge accomplishment. 

Watch below:  

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Univision won't be airing the upcoming Miss USA pageant and has said it won't work with its parent company, the Miss Universe Organization, in response to part-owner and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's recent remarks on Mexicans and immigration.

In a statement released on Thursday, the media company called Trump's comments "insulting":

Today, the entertainment division of Univision Communications Inc. announced that it is ending the Company’s business relationship with the Miss Universe Organization, which is part-owned by Donald J. Trump, based on his recent, insulting remarks about Mexican immigrants. At Univision, we see first-hand the work ethic, love for family, strong religious values and the important role Mexican immigrants and Mexican-Americans have had and will continue to have in building the future of our country. We will not be airing the Miss USA pageant on July 12th or working on any other projects tied to the Trump Organization.

Univision News and the local news division will continue to provide comprehensive coverage of all candidates, including Mr. Trump, to ensure our audience continues to have access to all points of view.

Univision is referring to comments Trump made in his mid-June announcement that he would be running for president.

According to Reuters:

In his speech, Trump said Mexico was not a friend of the United States ... describing Mexican migrants to the country as drug-runners and rapists.

The freshly minted Republican candidate pledged to build "a great, great wall on our southern border," adding that he would ensure that Mexico pay for it.

The Trump organization released the following statement on Univision's decision:

The Mexican government and others are putting tremendous pressure on Univision to break their signed and fully effective contract with the Miss Universe Organization because Mr. Trump has been exposing to the public, and the world, the significant damage that is being done at the southern border, and the terrible and costly trade deals that the United States is  incompetently making with Mexico (these deals are great for Mexico and horrible for the United States). This has been sharply and openly brought out during Mr. Trump’s run for President of the United States.

"Mexican leadership has been doing serious damage to the United States by out-negotiating our representatives and political leaders. They are taking our jobs, taking our money and at the same time hurting us at the border with illegals from all over the world freely flowing into our country." 

Mr. Trump cannot be silenced on this very important problem for the United States. I have great respect for Mexico and love the Mexican people, but my loyalty is to the United States and making our country great again!

Additionally, Colombian reggaeton singer J Balvin canceled his performance at the Miss USA pageant, citing Trump's remarks as being offensive to not just Mexicans, but all Latinos.

Later on Thursday afternoon, Trump's attorney told politics blog Politico that the real estate mogul is suing Univision for breach of contract and defamation.

Previously on Wednesday evening, Trump stood by his comments, blaming the media for distorting their meaning.

"I am personally offended by the mainstream media's attempt to distort my comments regarding Mexico and its great people," he said. "I have many successful business relationships with Mexican companies and employ, and am close friends with, many Mexican people. I also have tremendous respect for the leaders of Mexico, who, frankly, are much smarter and tougher than our politicians here in the United States."

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Miss Universe 2014 Paulina Vega, a Colombian native, fired back at Donald Trump again on Monday after he called the beauty queen a "hypocrite."

Vega told Latina Magazine that his reaction is "comical." (emphasis ours)

"The most comical is using the word: hypocrisy. But I think what I’m doing is the least hypocrite thing I can do by using my voice clearly. By not renouncing my crown has nothing to do with what I do or what I don’t do. I have a legally binding contract and legal relationship with the organization and it’s not so easy for me, like the artists have done, to renounce and say, 'No. I’m not working for you anymore.' I have a contract of 1 year. So it's a much more complicated situation, but we have to understand that Trump is a very polemic person. I’m going to keep going forward and refuse his comments to affect me. Miss Universe the organization and I are much more than what that man says on Twitter."

Last week, Vega distanced herself from Trump and his recent comments about Mexico and Latin America in a statement posted on Instagram in both Spanish and English. Here's an excerpt:

"I find Mr. Trump’s comments unjust and hurtful. As a Colombian and as Miss Universe, I want to show my support and validate the sentiments of the Latin community. The Miss Universe Organization works independently from its owners. For the past 64 years, they have created partnerships with great charity groups and have helped thousands of communities. Their legacy of uniting countries from around the world has been inspiring to many. If the Miss Universe Organization shared any anti-Latin sentiments or any type of racial biases, I wouldn’t be in this position today. I strongly believe that dividing and categorizing humankind only holds it back. Acknowledging and embracing the differences that exist across humanity is the first step in real and substantial development. We must strive together in order to improve the common good." 

Trump, the co-owner of the Miss Universe Organization, responded on Twitter close to 5 a.m. ET on Sunday by calling Vega a "hypocrite" for keeping her crown.

Trump has come under fire lately for comments he made during his campaign launch as a GOP presidential hopeful. In his speech, he said that people coming to the US from Mexico are rapists and drug runners. 

"When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending its best....They're sending people that have lots of problems....They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists...and some, I assume, are good people."

In the days that followed, Trump didn't back down from his comments either. He said that it's "not just Mexico" but that people could be coming from all over through the border.

As a result, NBC ended its business relationship with Trump. The hugely-popular, NBCUniversal/Trump-owned Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants, which are both viewed by millions, will no longer air on NBC.

In a statement, Trump called NBC "weak" and "foolish" and suggested that he'd take NBCUniversal to court over ending its contract with him.

Univision also said it wouldn't air the pageants because of Trump's "insulting" comments. Trump has since filed a $500 million lawsuit against Univision.

Another blow is that Mexico has also said that its delegate will not participate in the Miss Universe pageant.

What's more is the Miss Universe Organization appears to have made an attempt to also distance itself from Trump. In a statement, the pageant pointed out that it's an independently-run company that's had many owners over its 64-year history. Trump isn't the one running the show.

Even the Miss Universe Organization's president Paula Shugart pointed out that Trump has hardly spent any time with the titleholders.

"I think our reigning Miss Universe has been at events with him maybe three times in the last seven months,"Shugart told Entertainment Weekly in a recent interview.

The organization also pointed out that this year's Miss USA class includes six Latinas (four of whom are of Mexican descent). The reigning Miss USA 2014, Nia Sanchez, is also of Mexican decent. 

The organization added in its statement: "While world politics and other influences will undoubtedly play a role, the pageant will always seek to transcend controversy. It is unfortunate that recent events beyond our control have only served to negatively impact the women who participate in the pageant, our state directors, our sponsors and our fans."

Last week, little-known network ReelzChannel said it would broadcast the Miss USA pageant on July 12.

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Donald Trump's comments calling Mexican immigrants rapists and drug runners have dimmed the spotlight for the 51 women competing in the Miss USA pageant this weekend.

Trump is a co-owner of the pageant, and since he spoke, networks and celebrities have ended their affiliation with the annual event.

Miss USA's co-owner NBC ended its business relationship with Trump and dropped the pageant. Univision also said it wouldn't air the pageant because of Trump's "insulting" comments. A number of companies, including Macy's, have cut ties with anything associated with Trump.

That means 51 women have lost a huge opportunity to be recognized. And it's an opportunity they've worked really hard for.

Last year, the Miss USA pageant was viewed by more than 5.5 million people on NBC. It's unclear what the reach will be like this year. Right now, a little-known cable network called ReelzChannel will be broadcasting the pageant live.

The Miss Universe Organization has pointed out that it's an independently-run company. Trump isn't the one running the show. He doesn't spend a lot of time with the titleholders either. But that hasn't mattered to angry networks and celebrity hosts/judges.

Those 51 women competing this weekend have spent months, maybe years, just to make it to the national stage for what's widely referred to as the "Super Bowl of pageants." The day NBC dropped the pageant was also the same day the women arrived in Baton Rouge for two weeks of appearances, volunteer work, rehearsals, and preliminaries.

Competing on a national level requires a great deal of work and commitment. The preparation process includes eating healthy, working out, learning how to walk and pose, and how to interview and speak well publicly. It also involves numerous appearances and countless hours of community service and volunteer work.

It's incredibly expensive too. Yes, there are sponsorships, but many of the women and their families likely had to fundraise to pay for travel and gowns and all of the other costs associated with pageantry.

The contestants make these sacrifices because the Miss USA pageant is a chance to be discovered. Celebrities like Eva Longoria, Halle Berry and Vanessa Williams all competed in pageants in the past and so have Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson and ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer. For many of these 51 women, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. 

Scroll down to meet these ladies. 

ALABAMA: Madison Guthrie is a model/actress. She's appeared in ESPN’s 'Who’s in?' commercials, 'Grace Unplugged,' and Hank Williams Jr. and Kid Rock’s 'Redneck Paradise' music video.

 Miss USA

ALASKA: Kimberly Argon is a student at the University of Alaska Anchorage where she's double majoring in nursing and marketing.

 Miss USA

ARIZONA: Maureen Montagne has been dancing for the last 12 years. She danced for Arizona State University's drill team.

 Miss USA

I spent 18 months of my life holding the titles of Miss Las Vegas and Miss Nevada.

I attended red carpet events, conducted photo shoots and most importantly, spent the majority of my time volunteering with various community service projects around the Silver State.

To make time for all the travel, volunteering, and events, I had to pull myself away from my three businesses: Sin City Cupcakes, Elite Homes US, and Liquid & Lace.

Despite the brief hiatus, all of them showed substantial gains because of the business lessons I learned during my time as a reigning beauty queen.

The power of networking

At every single event I attended, whether a red carpet opening or volunteering at a soup kitchen, I met at least one person I otherwise wouldn't have. And inevitably, one question would arise: "So what else do you do besides being Miss Nevada?”

That was my opportunity to tell them about my companies and how thankful I was to have my business partners’ support as I took on the pageant. Cards and contact information would be exchanged, and while the new acquaintance may not immediately remember my name, they would remember “Miss Nevada and cupcakes” or “Miss Nevada and real estate” and contact me for business needs.

Get out there and make people remember you.

Learn your brand and how to manage it

 In my experience, the modeling and pageant industries are one of the best places to gain first-hand knowledge about how to grow and build a brand.

Models and beauty queens are essentially brand ambassadors who are paid, either in money, scholarship, or gifts to be spokespeople for an organization. The emphasis on personal branding and analyzing how the organization wants the brand portrayed can be directly applied to the corporate world.

For example, as a titleholder, when wearing my sash and crown at public appearances, I was prohibited from drinking an alcoholic beverage, lest a photo of myself in regalia with a cocktail in my hand, make its way onto social media.

Being so cognizant of my public behavior, I felt like a politician with a crown on. As a business owner, I realized that my social media presence and public persona also directly affect people’s views of the companies I co-founded.

Some questions to consider:

• What are the tenets of my company?
• How do I want my company portrayed to the general public and consumer?
• Does my personal brand also reflect this?
• How do I, my partner, or any person we hire, fit into the brand I am trying to build?

Pageant judges consider variations of these questions, and so should you as a business owner.

Get engaged in your community

Since I knew I had a finite amount of time as reigning queen (I crowned the new Miss Nevada in April 2015), I wanted my legacy to be one of service.

As a result, I tried to say "yes" to as many appearance requests as possible, with no consideration given to monetary benefit. The financial sacrifices I made to be part of events with organizations or schools that didn’t have the budget to pay a “celebrity appearance fee” were some of the most worthwhile events I participated in. They “paid” many times over through goodwill, gratitude, and of course, the indirect marketing of my companies.

Many fellow entrepreneurs have asked me, “What's the one thing I should be doing right now?” And my answer is always to get engaged in their communities.

Go volunteer with an organization that has a cause that speaks to you, whether it’s animals, veterans, the homeless, children, or otherwise. There's an extra bonus if that cause is also in-line with your company goals or culture. The community leaders and volunteers you meet will be like-minded and share most of your same ideals.

The goodwill you build will not only be helping the community in which you live and work but will also indirectly benefit your business.

Lisa Song Sutton, J.D., is a serial entrepreneur holding ownership interests in several companies in the real estate, retail, and food & beverage sectors. In addition to her professional careers, Ms. Sutton writes about entrepreneurship and female empowerment and is actively involved in her community as a former Miss Nevada US 2014.

Learn more about Lisa at www.lisasongsutton.com.

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