So, the 2013 Miss Universe pageant ended last night with Miss Venezuela being crowned Supreme Monarch of the Universe, but that wasn't really the highlight, judging from this picture of Miss USA Erin Brady dressed in the Optimus Prime costume your 8-year-old brain could never quite conceptualize.
Apparently the National Costume Competition of the Miss Universe Pageant is largely a crash course in cultural stereotypes. While some contestants donned more traditional clothing from their home countries, others created extravagant costumes roughly inspired by their heritage. And Miss USA showcased two of the most…
One of the many women who received heat online for having undergone plastic surgery has won the Miss Korea beauty pageant; Yoo Ye-bin, a 21 year old college student, will go on to compete to be Miss Universe next week.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--wrKOtiHW--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18h62vv0sqxz5jpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--KX6i3tT5--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18h62vv0sqxz5jpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--oU30wrPC--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18h62vv0sqxz5jpg.jpg, (large)])
Ashleigh Blake never dreamed of becoming a beauty queen. The 21-year-old amateur model and part-time tutor fantasized about being a movie star or the next Glee triple threat, and posted her resume on the casting networking site GotCast in hopes that Hollywood might call. But when a recruitment associate for Miss…
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--kfXNibwa--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/188xtl3c31eb8jpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--xwRx1QEA--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/188xtl3c31eb8jpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--T4sY-Etl--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/188xtl3c31eb8jpg.jpg, (large)])
In last night's Miss Universe pageant — held in the historic international city of Las Vegas — a particular look was favored: Tanned beige skin, dark hair. Miss Peru, Miss Hungary, Miss Russia and were finalists.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--f0wOXXGn--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/188xpxhyz6x4bjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--tBzgENaH--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/188xpxhyz6x4bjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--vvfhlsG3--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/188xpxhyz6x4bjpg.jpg, (large)])
Olivia Culpo has been crowned Miss Universe; it's the first time in 15 years that a Miss USA has taken home the tiara. Mascara! Everywhere!
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--XK9bqvc1--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/17p8zdnvdd2oojpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--ga78Ia88--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/17p8zdnvdd2oojpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--SdVw-OHx--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/17p8zdnvdd2oojpg.jpg, (large)])
After claiming to have witnessed someone else witness evidence that this year's Miss USA pageant was merely a choose your own adventure book in which all the endings are exactly the same, former Miss Pennsylvania Sheena Monnin is facing accusations of pageantry defamation and some pseudo legal trouble.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--4NRXNSEf--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/17ja5x8aukm3djpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--kNfVpwxE--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/17ja5x8aukm3djpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--5F-S_LTM--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/17ja5x8aukm3djpg.jpg, (large)])
In what is a major step forward for transgender women looking to live out the pageant queen's dream, the Miss Universe Organization announced today that they will officially change their rules to allow transgender contestants to into their pageants. That means they'll not only be allowed to compete for Miss Universe,…
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--bg4nVfeu--/c_fill,g_center,h_358,w_636/18eqgcsdqe7qjpng.png, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--6g-ozL5p--/c_fill,g_center,h_180,w_320/18eqgcsdqe7qjpng.png, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--OaBLizIf--/c_fill,g_center,h_77,w_137/18eqgcsdqe7qjpng.png, (large)])
Risqué. Sexy. Fits like a glove! Look at that leg! These were the phrases used to describe the Miss Universe Pageant finalists during the evening gown portion of last night's competition. Among them, a dress so sheer it took a lot of pleading in order for it to be approved for competition by pageant officials.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--RKmmTiDO--/c_fill,g_center,h_358,w_636/18eqjzi6eu4x4png.png, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--9ixNx2AE--/c_fill,g_center,h_180,w_320/18eqjzi6eu4x4png.png, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--MlTYk_Dy--/c_fill,g_center,h_77,w_137/18eqjzi6eu4x4png.png, (large)])
No? Because it totally happened. She was just a new kind of weirdly dressed pop star and not the international juggernaut she is today! Let's travel back to 2008, a year when we first heard her single "Just Dance." A year she performed the song as all of the Miss Universe contestants strutted down the catwalk in bikinis…
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--7UgjRgOG--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18equgysezyg1jpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--fV-UpCGw--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18equgysezyg1jpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--E-CuhLYR--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18equgysezyg1jpg.jpg, (large)])
[Shanghai, October 24: Miss Universe 2010 Ximena Navarrete of Mexico looks at the original self-portrait of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo at the Mexico Pavilion in the Shanghai Expo site. Image via AP.]
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--bUxSiKak--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18j3gcnn3jhocjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--h49CxZ65--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18j3gcnn3jhocjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--cpV1Q_3d--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j3gcnn3jhocjpg.jpg, (large)])
Australia's Jesinta Campbell claims that one of her Miss Universe competitors "booby-trapped an outfit by sticking pins in delicate places." To add insult to injury, it was her "National Dress" costume!
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--olPtdf7l--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18j3yxj49kiqcjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--JxuMeP-X--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18j3yxj49kiqcjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--MF2jApD0--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j3yxj49kiqcjpg.jpg, (large)])
In this week's compilation of pop culture crap, Real Sports reveals that Tareq and Michaele Salahi are crooks and weirdos, Charlie Day makes penetration jokes about Jennifer Aniston, and the Miss Universe cultural costumes could be future Lady Gaga outfits.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--0qslb2kF--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18eqy44dcpre8jpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--XNXLw9ZX--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18eqy44dcpre8jpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--TlifyAfa--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18eqy44dcpre8jpg.jpg, (large)])
[Las Vegas, August 23. Miss Mexico 2010, Jimena Navarrete, reacts as she is crowned the 2010 Miss Universe by former title-holder Stefania Fernandez. Image via Getty.]
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--vl-cM1c8--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18j4e106s4zmljpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--9lD17X5l--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18j4e106s4zmljpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--MVIB-yO4--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18j4e106s4zmljpg.jpg, (large)])
Miss Universe contestants recently posed topless, covered in body paint. Naturally, some people are quite upset. But I happen to think this is a good thing.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--om812SzP--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18er189aebdfvjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--LLseuMNu--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18er189aebdfvjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--GzrlGKOl--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18er189aebdfvjpg.jpg, (large)])
Could it be that the Miss Universe empire really does favor about beauty over brains?
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--0hz8F-jQ--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18er8dssolathjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--FP7AwAEm--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18er8dssolathjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--e2-D8Tgi--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18er8dssolathjpg.jpg, (large)])
[Tokyo, March 9. Image via Getty]
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--5NlFmkxd--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18er8hkxr6r3fjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--fezQmcLM--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18er8hkxr6r3fjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--x2yRgEEf--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18er8hkxr6r3fjpg.jpg, (large)])
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--JFY8pN80--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18erbv1a8hmfgjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--D_XmLkAL--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18erbv1a8hmfgjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--AqYUjFGl--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18erbv1a8hmfgjpg.jpg, (large)])
[New York, Janaury 26. Image via Getty]
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--KL3vna3X--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/18erghji9n9s5jpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--mclFNEB8--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/18erghji9n9s5jpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--6MAa91ve--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/18erghji9n9s5jpg.jpg, (large)])
There must be some unwritten rule that beauty queens must film their every assignation: Anya Ayoung-Chee, aka Miss Universe 2008, has become the latest pageant winner to become involved in a sex-tape scandal. Spoiler: It's a threesome. [NYDailyNews]
