(Image source: Fashion Tonga)
BY JESSICA SIBERT
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From Miss Angola— to Miss Universe. Crowned the winner of the 2011 international beauty pageant, 25-year-old Leila Lopes did indeed appear to ‘have the whole world in her hands.’
“89 beauty queens from around the world took to the stage in Brazil on the final night of the Miss Universe contest. It was Miss Angola, Leila Lopes, who was crowned the victor. To be Miss Universe, candidates must win evening gown and swimsuit competitions and also answer that all-important interview question…” (ABC)
What was her interview question? MSNBC said Lopes deftly answered about what physical trait she would change if she could.
“Thank God I’m very satisfied with the way God created me and I wouldn’t change a thing... I have acquired many wonderful principles from my family and I intend to follow these for the rest of my life.”
However, just hours before she won, a writer for the International Business Times raised another question—is the Miss Universe pageant racist?
“There’s a good chance that the winner will be ‘Western-looking.’ Even if that contestant is from Asia, Africa, or Latin America. It is sad to see that almost every one of the women in the competition look like they were pulled from the University of Texas.”
Lopes is, in fact, the second African woman and the fourth black woman in the world to win the Miss Universe title.
WTVJ reports Lopes thought her winning feature was her smile.
“I’m thinking, please, child. You got more going on than a smile. She’s absolutely stunningly beautiful. You see her in that yellow bikini, and she’s just a showstopper.”
The new Miss Universe hopes to help her native country, Angola, escape its history of war and poverty. She also plans to focus on combating HIV around the globe.
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Transcript by Newsy.
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