Miss America 2012 winner crowned

Miss Wisconsin Laura Kaeppeler was crowned the winner of Miss America 2012, the 91st Miss America pageant. Kaeppeler won a $50,000 scholarship grant and 1-year title run. She also took home an additional $2,000 in scholarship funds for her victory in the preliminary talent competition.

Kaeppeler was crowned after answering a question about whether or not Miss America should be allowed to declare a political affiliation.

“Miss America represents everyone, so I think the message to political candidates is that they represent everyone as well,” she said. “And so in these economic times, we need to be looking forward to what America needs, and I think Miss America needs to represent all.”

Miss Oklahoma Betty Thompson came in second while Miss New York Kaitlyn Monte placed third.

The coronation night was held at the Theatre for the Performing Arts at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas on January 14, 2012.

Here are the results of Miss America 2012:

Miss America 2012 - Miss Wisconsin Laura Kaeppeler
1st runner-up - Miss Oklahoma Betty Thompson
2nd runner-up - Miss New York New York Katilin Monte
3rd runner-up - Miss Arizona Arizona Jennifer Sedler
4th runner-up - Miss California - Noelle Freeman

Top 10

Miss Illinois Hannah Smith
Miss Iowa Jessica Pray
Miss Louisiana Hope Anderson
Miss Tennessee Erin Hatley
Miss Texas Kendall Morris

Top 15

Miss Alabama Courtney Porter
Miss Florida Kristina Janolo
Miss South Carolina Bree Boyce
Miss North Carolina Hailey Best
Miss Virginia Elizabeth Crot

Miss Earth USA's Facebook Comment

Miss Earth USA 2011 Nicole Kelley allegedly posted on her Facebook account (Nicole Lynn) negative comments about her stay in Manila, Philippines where the Miss Earth 2011 pageant was held recently.

A screen capture of the said Facebook status is currently making the rounds in the interwebs and receiving both open-minded and violent reactions from Noypi netizens. Here's what it contains:

"I hardly made it to Manila and we already attended a ridiculous tv show. So annoying!!! These people want to touch you and be with you all the time!! I can’t understand a word they say. I can’t wait to go back home. This country is so dirty and noisy. I’m scared to eat!!! What a mess. On a lighter note I don’t see any real competition. Will keep you updated my loves," the status reads.

Nicole Kelley has denied posting the said remarks and said that her Facebook account may had been hacked or accessed by someone else without her permission. In this video posted on Youtube, Nicole Kelley explained the incident.


"...I wanted to address something that occurred earlier... which was brought to my attention. I was very disappointed about what was written as me but it wasn't me. I was out at a community center tour earlier when it was posted. But I want to make it clear that it's never okay to cyberbully anyone and as Miss Earth contestant we should be appreciating each other and making each other happy instead of tearing each other down. And I want to see from now on from everyone, the girls and the public included, a better camaraderie and a more positive outlook..." the Miss Earth 2011 contestant said.

The coronation night of the Miss Earth 2011 pageant was held last December 3, 2011 at the UP Theater in Diliman, Quezon City. Check out the names of the winners here: http://noypistuff.blogspot.com/2011/12/miss-earth-2011-winner-is-olga-alava-of.html

Miss Earth 2011 Olga Alava of Ecuador

The Miss Earth 2011 winner has been crowned Saturday evening at the University of the Philippines Theater in Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines. She is none other than Miss Ecuador Olga Alava who took home the first Miss Earth and the second major international beauty pageant title for the Latin American country this year - Ecuador also won the Miss International 2011 crown in China, last month.

The 23-year-old model bested 83 other lovely candidates of this year's competition. Miss Brazil Driely Bennettone came in second (Miss Air) while Miss Philippines Athena Mae Imperial and Miss Venezuela Caroline Medina finished third (Miss Water) and fourth (Miss Fire), respectively.

Check out below the complete list of winners of the 2011 Miss Earth pageant:

Miss Earth 2011 Olga Alava of Ecuador
Miss Air 2011 Driely Bennettone of Brazil
Miss Fire 2011 Caroline Medina of Venezuela
Miss Water 2011 Athena Imperial of the Philippines

Finalists
Casandra Becerra of Mexico
Nina Astrakhantseva of Crimea
Aleksandra Kovacevic of Bosnia & Herzegovina
Thandi Muringa of Zimbabwe

Semi-Finalists
Rebecca Kim Lekse of Slovenia
Kristina Oparina of Ukraine
Tomoko Maeda of Japan
Nicole Huber of Paraguay
Susana Nogueira of Portugal
Renate Cerljen of Sweden
Cherry Liu of Chinese Taipei
Niratcha Tungtisanont of Thailand

Special Awardees
Best in National Costume: Tomoko Maeda of Japan
Best in Swimsuit: Sarka Cojocarova of the Czech Republic
Best in Long Gown: Casandra Becerra of Mexico
Miss Photogenic: Cherry Liu of Chinese Taipei
Miss Friendship: Sanober Hussain of Pakistan
Best in Talent: Dominique Mann of South Africa

Miss World 2011 winner Ivian Sarcos of Venezuela

Miss Venezuela Ivian Sarcos was crowned the winner of the Miss World 2011 pageant during a glittering final ceremony held at Earls Court Two in London, England on November 6, 2011.

“I believe that the next Miss World should be a woman of responsibility and reason," Sarcos said during the competition.

“I believe the woman should be committed to the organization and help people in need. Beauty with a heart," she added.

Twenty-two-year-old Sarcos is a Human Resources graduate who currently works for a broadcasting company. Coming from a big family with 12 siblings, Sarcos plans to promote and work with children in the future. She loves volleyball, mountaineering and trekking. She believes that "everything arrives when it should."

The 5'10'' beauty was raised by the nuns in a convent in Cojedes after orphaned by her parents at age 8.She had studied to become a nun before but did not pursue it.

There were 113 candidates from all over the world who joined this year's competition. The second place went to Miss Philippines Gwendoline Ruais while Amanda Vilanova of Puerto Rico came third.

Check out the rest of the Miss World 2011 results here: http://noypistuff.blogspot.com/2011/11/miss-world-2011-winners-and-results.html

Miss World 2011 is going to be exciting for the pageant-fanatic Filipinos. It is because among the 113 candidates of this year's pageant, three of them have Filipino blood, increasing the chance of a Pinay beauty to finally earn the most elusive international beauty title for the Philippines. They are Miss Philippines Gwendoline Ruais, Miss Canada Riza Santos and Miss Denmark Maya Olesen.

Gwendoline Ruais

In an interview with ABS-CBN, Business Management graduate Ruais, 21, said that it will be a great honor for her to be crowned the first Miss World winner from the Philippines. She added that she is feeling the pressure but she is taking it in a good way.

Riza Santos

Twenty-four-year-old Filipina-Canadian Santos, who was a former "Pinoy Big Brother" housemate, meanwhile, told ABS-CBN that she is "honored to be representing Canada and come from a Filipino background."

Maya Olesen

In her ABS-CBN interview, Filipina Danish Olesen, 20, said she is proud to be representing both her Filipino roots and Denmark.

The Philippines' highest placement in Miss World was Evangeline Pascual’s first runner-up finish in 1973. Actress Ruffa Gutierrez was hailed Second Princess in 1993.

The Miss World 2011 will be held at Earls Court Two on November 6, 2011 (UK Time) in London, England. It will be aired on GMA-7 starting at 10:00 a.m. on November 7.

Photos courtesy of their respective owners.

Nelson Banzuela, Fashionissimo 2011

Nelson Banzuela was named the winner of the Fashionissimo 2011 which Finals night occurred on Sunday, October 23, 2011, at the Palacio de Manila. The event was hosted by Marc Nelson, Angel Aquino and Mikael Daez.

As winner of  Fashionissimo 2011, 21-year-old Nelson Banzuela received more than half a million pesos worth of prizes.

Check out below the info written on Nelson's profile on the Fashionissimo website:

"Nelson is not unfamiliar to working hard. Born into a family with lesser means, Nelson has already experienced working odd jobs, including busting tables and lifting goods at a restaurant warehouse. All these he did so that he could support her younger sister’s schooling while finishing his highschool. But instead of bringing him down, his experiences has imbibed in him humility balanced with a sense of pride in his work. He wants to win the competition so that he’d be able to help his family further and so that he’d be part of the medical missions of the foundation."

Meanwhile, JB Espiritu and Hamid Hassan went home 1st runner-up and 2nd runner-up, respectively.

Now on its second year, Fashionissimo is a male model search organized by Circle of Friends Foundation and CHU Production.

Photo courtesy of Fashionissimo and Ash Reginald Evasco