User:LaLaFoote/Queen of the Universe

Queen of the Universe is an international beauty pageant created by Joyce Giraud in 2012.

The pageant provides the opportunity for women from all around the world—single, married, divorced, and with or without children—to represent their countries in the search for the "Most Beautiful Woman in the Universe." Each contestant must have a charitable platform, and the proceeds from the event benefit the international children's charity UNESCO.

In addition to its stated goal to "unite the intelligence and beauty of women around the world in search of the perfect Ambassador of Love, Hope and Peace," the pageant's mission also includes charitable alliances to benefit "education for children in need, and children in third world countries."

The pageant is produced in Los Angeles by Infinity Media with producers Michael Ohoven and Joyce Giraud.

The current Queen of the Universe is Gloria Sophia of Puerto Rico who was crowned On December 6, 2015.

Contestants in the News
Golsa Sarabi, Miss Iran 2013, also known by her performer name "Mirage," received significant attention from the American-Iranian press as Iranian pageant contestants are rare due to pageants being banned in Iran. She was also featured on the cover of Tehran International Magazine of Jan. 18, 2013, prior to the pageant, wearing her sash.

Sarah Fasha, Miss Egypt 2013, who is both a military veteran (four years in the U.S. Navy) and actress, received criticism from her home country in social media for a variety of issues after the pageant. As the country was facing mounting unrest, she was quoted saying she wanted to be a voice for Egyptian women and children and for other countries around the world. Her statement became viral and she was criticized for having served in the U.S. military (even accompanied by photos of her while in the service); accused of not being beautiful enough for a beauty pageant and that she was not “Egyptian enough,” and was even scolded for her rising fame as having “hijacked” Egypt. She took the backlash in stride and responded to some of the criticism: “Beauty pageants aren’t just about beauty, they are also about morals, ethics, accomplishments and more.” Also criticized for modeling in bikinis and revealing attire, she posted a photo of herself in a turtleneck jumper suit.

Miss Mexico 2014, Beatriz Cazares, was interviewed immediately following the pageant by TMZ, who made note of her lack of an accent and proceeded to joke about her having attended community college, Mt. SAC (Mt. San Antonio College). The remarks were criticized by the college's Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences, Jim Jenkins, who stated: "It's always difficult to watch something where people who have an established voice within the system and use that voice to put people down who don't have that same voice. [Her achievement] is hard won and hard worked for, and for them to mock it is rather pathetic."