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The pomp, the glamour, the conflicts, the characters: When it comes to Britain's royal family, Americans can't seem to get enough. That was evident this week following the announcement of King Charles III's treatment for cancer. They're references for power and prestige, like Aretha Franklin as the “Queen of Soul” or the administration of John F. Kennedy as Camelot. There was a social and cultural element as well: In the 19th century, some rich Americans would find husbands for their daughters among the British aristocracy. And of course, the 20th century has plenty of examples of music, television, etc., that traveled between the two societies.

Persons: they've, King Charles III's, Aretha Franklin, John F, Kennedy, Charles, Diana, —, ”, Maria Tatar, aren't, Philadelphia's Grace Kelly, Prince Rainier III of Monaco, Joanne Freeman, Erin Carlson, Carlson, William, Kate, Harry, Meghan, Camilla, ” Freeman, It’s, Deepti Organizations: United States, WHO, Camelot, Harvard University, England, Yale University, America Locations: United, America, Buckingham, Great Britain, New York

☆ Ukrainian-born Miss Japan relinquishes crown following alleged affair
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Leah Dolan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The Ukrainian-born beauty queen who sparked a debate on cultural identity by being named Miss Japan has relinquished her title just two weeks after being crowned. Karolina Shiino, the first person of predominantly European heritage ever to win the Miss Nippon contest (which takes its title from the country’s Japanese name), announced her decision to step down on Monday following local newspaper allegations of an affair with a married man. “I wanted to be recognized as a Japanese person,” Shiino told CNN in Tokyo following her win last month. “I kept being told that I’m not Japanese, but I am absolutely Japanese, so I entered Miss Japan genuinely believing in myself. “If the Miss Nippon contest is based on the concept of beauty, I personally wish that it would be based on standards of Japanese beauty,” historian Hiroe Yamashita wrote on X following Shiino’s victory.

Persons: Karolina Shiino, “, Shiino, Kaoru Wada, ” Shiino, Kazuki Oishi, I’m, Hiroe Yamashita, Karolina Shiino’s Organizations: CNN, Miss, Miss Nippon, Miss Nippon Association Locations: Miss Japan, Nagoya, Tokyo, Asia, Japan

☆ Ukrainian-born Miss Japan has given back her crown after accusations of an affair and outrage over her heritage
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Mikhaila Friel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The 2024 Miss Japan winner has given up her title following backlash over her Ukrainian heritage and a newspaper report detailing her alleged affair with a married man. AdvertisementMiss Japan winner Karolina Shiino, MISS JAPAN ASSOCIATION/ReutersHowever, the conversation around Shiino's heritage came to an abrupt end when she announced plans to give up her title on Monday. According to the BBC, The Miss Japan Association initially defended Shiino and said that she hadn't known the man was married. Representatives for The Miss Japan Association could not be reached. As The Japan Times reported, the model received criticism from some viewers, who argued that she didn't represent "true Japanese beauty," which is listed as the official goal of the Miss Japan Association.

Persons: Karolina Shiino, Bunshun, Shiino, Shiino's, Hiroe Yamashita, Karolina Shiino's, There's, Shaimaa Khalil Organizations: Miss, MISS JAPAN ASSOCIATION, Reuters, BBC News, BBC, Miss Japan Association, Politico, The Miss Japan Association, Japan Times, Miss Nippon, CNN, TSN, New Locations: Ternopil, Ukraine, Japan, Tokyo

☆ Miss America no longer has to hide her significant other
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Anneta Konstantinides | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewBoyfriends and fiancés no longer have to be kept secret if you're Miss America. "I'm just as proud being a fiancée as I am being Miss America," Marsh told BI. In "Secrets of Miss America," past winners Mallory Hagan, Savvy Shields Wolfe, and Betty Maxwell described the "anti-boyfriend" policies that were enacted by former CEO Sam Haskell, who resigned in 2017 after vulgar internal emails he wrote about past Miss America winners were leaked to the press. "It was made clear that Sam was in charge, and what he said went, and boyfriends were not allowed to exist when you're Miss America," she added. AdvertisementMarried women and mothers are now allowed to compete at Miss USA but are still unable to participate in Miss America.

Persons: —, Madison Marsh, Miss America, Marsh, Robin Fleming, Marsh texted Fleming, Walker Morris, Marsh's fiancé, Walker, Miss America Marsh, Mallory Hagan, Shields Wolfe, Betty Maxwell, Sam Haskell, Hagan, Isaac Brekken Wolfe, Sam, Maxwell, they're, Grace Stanke, Camille Schrier, Marsh's, William R, Lewis, she'll, I've Organizations: Service, Miss America, Miss, Business, Houston, Boston Opera, Miss America Organization, Associated Press, Miss USA, Air Force, Whitney Marsh Foundation, US Air Force Locations: It's, Miss, Miss America

☆ Every adult woman can now compete at Miss USA. Past winners and contestants aren't convinced it's a good idea.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Anneta Konstantinides | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Read previewThis will be the first year that any adult woman can compete at Miss USA . Both Miss USA and Miss America weathered scandals and declining ratings throughout the 2000s, prompting both organizations to make big shifts. Miss America did away with the swimsuit competition, while Miss USA now allows married women and mothers to compete. AdvertisementThe Miss USA pageant has helped launch the careers of everyone from Halle Berry to Kenya Moore. Miss USA is about to follow on the heels of the most diverse Miss Universe competition in history.

Persons: —, Crystle Stewart, Miss USA, Miss America, Laylah Rose, Rose, Rachel Slawson, Jessielyn Palumbo, we're, it's, who's, Benjamin Askinas, you've, they're, they've, Susie Castillo, Eric Gay, Castillo, Merissa Underwood, Halle, Kenya Moore, Underwood, It's, Noelia Voigt Organizations: Service, Miss USA, Miss Universe Organization, Business, Miss, Miss USA's, Asya Branch, Branch, Associated Press, USA, Miss Universe Locations: Miss USA, Utah, Montana, Halle Berry, Kenya, California, Florida, Mississippi, Texas, Alabama

Throughout her career, the South Carolina-born daughter of Indian immigrants has generally called out acts of individual prejudice and the people responsible. But Haley, now a Republican presidential candidate, has avoided denouncing society or groups of people as racist. Haley, who was Trump's U.N. ambassador, has described facing prejudice in her upbringing in rural Bamberg. “My parents never wanted us to think we lived in a racist country,” Haley told reporters recently. When asked by reporters whether Trump's criticisms of her are racist, Haley has instead portrayed him as “desperate to stop our momentum," using any means necessary to attack his opponents.

Persons: Nikki Haley, Haley, Glenn Beck, Donald Trump's, ”, Emanuel, “, ” Haley, Trump, Trump's U.N, Hajar, “ Nikki Haley, ” Yazdiha, “ She’s, Terry Holyfield, Haley’s, Holyfield, ” Holyfield, Sen, Tim Scott, Vivek Ramaswamy, Scott, Ramaswamy, Haley “ Nimbra ”, Nimarata Nikki Randhawa, “ Nikki, Trump's, Barack Obama, we’ve, Jake Tapper, ” Tapper, Holly Ramer, Noreen Nasir, ___ Meg Kinnard, Matt Brown Organizations: COLUMBIA, Washington Post, Republican, GOP, Methodist Episcopal Church, Southern, University of Southern, Confederate, ”, Trump, CNN, Associated Press Locations: South Carolina, Columbia, Charleston, Washington, United States, Bamberg, University of Southern California, North Charleston, U.S, Iowa, Mexico, New Hampshire, America, India, Indian, Hollis , New Hampshire, New York

☆ How Cheslie Kryst encouraged a Miss USA contestant to make history by wearing pants during the evening gown competition
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Anneta Konstantinides | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Slawson said Kryst encouraged her to make history by wearing pants during the evening gown round. Business Insider recently sat down with former Miss USA contestant Rachel Slawson , who called Kryst a huge inspiration. Kryst, who won Miss USA in 2019, encouraged Slawson to make history as the first woman to wear pants during the evening gown competition when she competed as Miss Utah in 2020. Slawson said Miss USA 2019 Cheslie Kryst encouraged her to wear pants during the competition. Slawson went on to make history as the first openly bisexual contestant at Miss USA , as well as the first queer woman to compete at the Miss Grand USA pageant.

Persons: Rachel Slawson, Kryst, Slawson, —, It's, Miss USA Cheslie, Cheslie Kryst, Cheslie, would've, Kryst's, April Simpkins, John Lamparski, it's, I'm, she's Organizations: Miss, Miss USA, Service, Business, Miss Universe, Miss Grand USA, Miss Grand Locations: Miss Utah

☆ Foreign-born residents in Japan sue the government for alleged racial profiling
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Jessie Yeung | Saki Toi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Tokyo CNN —Three foreign-born residents in Japan are suing the country’s government over alleged racial profiling, highlighting an ongoing debate about Japanese identity and nationality. The three plaintiffs, all residents of Tokyo, filed the lawsuit in the Tokyo National Court and held a news conference with their lawyers on Monday, according to public broadcaster NHK. One plaintiff came to Japan from India after marrying his wife, and has lived there for more than 20 years, NHK reported. Since then, he has been repeatedly stopped and questioned by police officers on the street, sometimes twice a day. The third plaintiff is an American-born man who said he hoped to raise awareness of the issue among the Japanese population, according to Reuters.

Persons: “, ”, Philip Fong, Nissin, Naomi Osaka –, Karolina Shiino Organizations: Tokyo CNN —, Tokyo National Court, NHK, Aichi, Reuters, Court, Getty, CNN, Pew Locations: Japan, Tokyo, India, Pakistani, American, AFP, Aichi, Nagoya

☆ She Gave Birth Two Weeks Ago. Now She’s in a Beauty Pageant.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Madison Malone Kircher | Bridget Bennett | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Two weeks after giving birth to her eighth child, Ms. Neeleman, 33, said she no longer needed to wear postpartum diapers. That was convenient, since she was about to take part in the swimsuit round of the Mrs. World beauty pageant, an annual competition for married women from around the globe. “A lot of us have kids, and I don’t think there’s any shame in showing I just had a baby,” Ms. Neeleman said. “Like, I’m not going to have a perfectly flat stomach.” The beauty team draped a blanket over the infant, Flora Jo. “She’s breathed in a lot of hair spray,” she joked, “but other than that she’s stayed safe.”

Persons: “, ” Hannah Neeleman, Neeleman, Ms, I’m, Flora Jo, “ She’s, she’s Locations: Las Vegas

☆ Ukrainian-born model sparks debate by winning Miss Japan pageant
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Christy Choi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —The face of Japanese beauty is now a Ukrainian-born model — at least according to pageant judges who sparked a debate on cultural identity by naming 26-year-old Karolina Shiino as Miss Japan on Monday. Ukrainian-born model Karolina Shiino was crowned Miss Nippon on Monday. Miss Japan Association/Handout via ReutersShiino’s win comes almost 10 years after Ariana Miyamoto became the first biracial contestant to be crowned Miss Universe Japan, one of several other national-level pageant titles. Miss Nippon is not part of the international beauty pageant circuit and is unaffiliated with global competitions like Miss World and Miss Universe. The first Miss Nippon contest, held in 1950, was sponsored by one of Japan’s largest newspapers, the Yomiuri Shimbun.

Persons: Karolina Shiino, “, ”, Shiino, Kazuki Oishi, I’m, Karolina, ” Karolina Shiino, Hiroe Yamashita, Karolina Shiino’s, Ariana Miyamoto, Miyamoto, Fujiko Yamamoto, Shizuo Wada, Ai Wada Organizations: CNN, Japan, Miss Nippon, Miss, Pew, Miss Japan Association, Handout, Reuters Shiino’s, Miss Universe Japan, Yomiuri Shimbun, Miss Nippon contest’s Locations: Ukrainian, Nagoya, Tokyo, Miss Japan, Japan, United States

TOKYO (AP) — Crowned Miss Japan this week, Ukrainian-born Karolina Shiino cried with joy, thankful for the recognition of her identity as Japanese. But her Caucasian look rekindled an old question in a country where many people value homogeneity and conformity: What does it mean to be Japanese? Shiino has lived in Japan since moving here at age 5 and became a naturalized citizen in 2022. But her crowning triggered a debate over whether she should represent Japan. Others said there was no problem with Shiino's crowning because her Japanese citizenship makes her Japanese.

Persons: Karolina Shiino, Shiino, ” Shiino, I’ve, ”, Chiaki Horan, “ I've, “, Ariana Miyamoto, Naomi Osaka, Ayaka McGill Organizations: TOKYO, Miss, Miss Universe, Tokyo Games, AP Locations: Japan, Ukrainian, Miss Japan, Nagasaki, African American

☆ An Italian Town Full of the Elderly Wants to Feel Young Again
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Jason Horowitz | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

As the traveling brass band ended San Giovanni Lipioni’s annual holiday concert with a rendition of Wham’s “Last Christmas,” the gray-haired villagers seated in the old church of the central Italian hill town gazed dotingly at the few young children clapping to the music. “Today there is a little movement,” Cesarina Falasco, 73, said from the back pew. It’s different.”San Giovanni Lipioni used to be known — if at all — for the discovery in its countryside of a third-century B.C. Samnite bronze head, a rare Waldesian Evangelical community and an ancient annual pageant with pagan roots that venerates a circular cane garlanded in wild cyclamen flowers. (“It represents the female genital organ,” said a tourism official, Mattia Rossi.)

Persons: Giovanni Lipioni’s, Wham’s, dotingly, Cesarina, Giovanni Lipioni, ”, Mattia Rossi Organizations: “

☆ US Air Force officer Madison Marsh was just crowned Miss America. See photos of her at work.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Lauren Frias | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Madison Marsh was crowned Miss Colorado shortly before graduating from the US Air Force Academy. The US Air Force second lieutenant went on to compete for — and win — Miss America on Sunday. The 22-year-old is the first active-duty Air Force officer to compete in the Miss America pageant. The 22-year-old Arkansas native became the first active-duty Air Force officer to compete in the Miss America pageant. See photos of the newly crowned Miss America serving in her other uniform as an Air Force officer.

Persons: Madison Marsh, —, Marsh Organizations: Miss Colorado, US Air Force Academy, US Air Force, —, Miss America, Sunday, Air Force, Service, Miss, Madison, Harvard Kennedy School Locations: Arkansas

☆ What is the 'Ballerina Farm controversy?' Some viewers feel an influencer's rustic homesteading videos don't add up with her family's stratospheric wealth
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Geoff Weiss | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

As her TikTok channel Ballerina Farm grew in popularity, controversy has also stirred. When Ballerina Farm pretends their reality is reality, those people are erased." Who is Ballerina Farm? The creator @caroclaireburkeeen has critiqued Ballerina Farm in several videos starting at the beginning of this year. Ballerina Farm did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

Persons: Hannah Neeleman, —, Hannah Neeleman —, sourdough, David Neeleman, Neeleman, Dean Martin, Farm's homemaking, Anne Helen Peterson, Meg Conley, Daniel, it's, She's, @caroclaireburkeeen, @thecopperpony, Ballerina Organizations: Juilliard grad, Service, Azul, JetBlue, Breeze Airways, Reuters, Juilliard, Vox Locations: Kamas , Utah

☆ An Air Force pilot has been crowned Miss America 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Amanda Goh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewMiss Colorado Madison Marsh was crowned Miss America 2024 on Sunday night. The 22-year-old is a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force and the first active-duty Air Force officer to be a Miss America state titleholder, per the Miss Colorado website. Marsh is also the first active-duty officer to compete for the Miss America crown, an Air Force Academy spokesman told Stars and Stripes, a daily American military newspaper, earlier this month. She also credited her time at the Air Force Academy for developing the leadership skills that won her the Miss Colorado title, per The Harvard Crimson. According to the Miss America website, the 2024 winner of the pageant will be awarded $60,000 in tuition scholarships and have the opportunity to travel the country as the Miss America brand ambassador.

Persons: —, Madison Marsh, Marsh Organizations: Service, Madison, Miss America, Air Force, Miss Colorado, Business, Air Force Academy, United States Air Force Academy, Harvard, Harvard Kennedy School, Air Education, Training Command, Harvard Crimson, Miss, Whitney Marsh Foundation Locations: Miss America, Fort Smith , Arkansas, El Paso County , Colorado, Miss Colorado

☆ Miss America: Madison March of Colorado wins 2024 pageant
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Alex Rees | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Miss Colorado, Madison Marsh, is crowned as the 2024 Miss America. From Miss AmericaMadison Marsh, a 22-year-old second lieutenant in the US Air Force and master’s student at the Harvard Kennedy School’s public policy program, emerged victorious at the 2024 Miss America pageant in Orlando, Florida on Sunday night. Miss Colorado, Madison March, poses in her evening gown. Carlos Velez Studio/Courtesy Miss AmericaThe five finalists then faced an additional question about their goals as Miss America. The 2024 Miss America’s Teen pageant, which took place Saturday night, crowned 16-year-old Hanley House, of North Carolina.

Persons: Madison Marsh, Harvard Kennedy, Ellie Breaux, Marsh, Breaux, Cydney, Mallory Hudson of, Caroline Parente, Madison, Carlos Velez, Grace Stanke Organizations: Miss, US Air Force, Harvard, Miss America, Air Force, District of Columbia, Madison, Carlos Velez Studio, Hanley House Locations: Miss America, Orlando , Florida, Colorado, Texas, United States, Cydney Bridges, Indiana, Mallory Hudson of Kentucky, Rhode Island, America, Miss Colorado, Grace Stanke of Wisconsin, Hanley, North Carolina

☆ Opinion | The Iowa Caucuses Are Not a Delightful Game
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Michelle Cottle | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Ah, the Iowa caucuses. So much money and energy spent on an antidemocratic process in a state with a pretty dismal track record of picking presidential nominees. Because Iowa is never really about who wins the actual caucuses so much as about who wins the Expectations Game. As you can imagine, this is not a lighthearted game like, say, charades or Hungry Hungry Hippos. And this election, with Donald Trump dominating the race as a quasi-incumbent cult-of-personality leader, the known unknowns are even knottier.

Persons: Arizona can’t, Donald Trump Organizations: Republican Locations: Iowa, New Hampshire, Arizona

☆ Nicaragua Charges Local Owner of Miss Universe Franchise With Treason, Organized Crime
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( José De Córdoba | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The charges against the beauty contest organizers are the latest attempt by President Daniel Ortega to consolidate power in Nicaragua. Photo: POOL/REUTERSMEXICO CITY—Nicaragua’s government charged the owner of the local Miss Universe franchise with treason, organized crime and inciting hatred as part of a plot to overthrow President Daniel Ortega ’s regime two weeks after the country’s first victory in the pageant. Nicaraguan police accused the contest’s local organizer, Karen Celebertti, a past beauty queen and owner of a modeling agency, her husband and son of rigging contests so that antigovernment winners would emerge at the pageants.

Persons: Daniel Ortega, Daniel Ortega ’, Karen Celebertti Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Miss Universe Locations: Nicaragua, MEXICO

☆ Nicaragua's Miss Universe franchise owner accused of conspiracy
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Miss Australia Moraya Wilson, Miss Puerto Rico Karla Guilfu, Miss Nicaragua Sheynnis Palacios, Miss Thailand Anntonia Porsild and Miss Colombia Camila Avella the top five finalists, take part in the 72nd Miss Universe pageant in San Salvador November 18, 2023. REUTERS/Jose Cabezas/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDec 2 (Reuters) - Nicaraguan police late on Friday charged the owner of the local Miss Universe franchise with conspiracy, money laundering and spreading fake news, just weeks after the Central American nation's first victory in the pageant. Authorities have accused Karen Celebertti, director of the Miss Nicaragua franchise, her husband and son with conspiracy against the government, according to a statement issued by the national police. Celebertti's local Miss Universe organization has been used to "turn pageants into political traps and political ambushes, financed by foreign agents," the police statement said. Nicaragua's Sheynnis Palacios won the title of Miss Universe on Nov. 18, becoming the first Central American to wear the crown.

Persons: Moraya Wilson, Miss Puerto Rico Karla Guilfu, Miss Nicaragua Sheynnis Palacios, Miss Thailand Anntonia Porsild, Colombia Camila Avella, Jose Cabezas, Karen Celebertti, Celebertti, Nicaragua's Sheynnis Palacios, Palacios, Ismael Lopez, Toby Chopra Organizations: Miss, Miss Nicaragua, 72nd Miss Universe, REUTERS, Nicaraguan police, Miss Universe, Central American, Reuters, Authorities, Central, Nicaraguans, Police, Inter, American, Human Rights, Thomson Locations: Miss Puerto, Miss Thailand, San Salvador, Miss Nicaragua, Nicaragua, Central American, New York

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Nicaraguan police said Friday they want to arrest the director of the Miss Nicaragua pageant, accusing her of intentionally rigging contests so that anti-government beauty queens would win the pageants as part of a plot to overthrow the government. It all started Nov. 18, when Miss Nicaragua, Nicaragua’s Sheynnis Palacios won the Miss Universe competition. Ortega claimed the protests were an attempted coup with foreign backing, aiming for his overthrow. It didn't help that many ordinary Nicaraguans — who are largely forbidden to protest or carry the national flag in marches — took advantage of the Miss Universe win as a rare opportunity to celebrate in the streets. Palacios, who became the first Nicaraguan to win Miss Universe, has not commented on the situation.

Persons: Karen Celebertti, James Bond, Nicaragua’s Sheynnis Palacios, Daniel Ortega, Palacios, Ortega, Nicaraguans, Celebertti “, Celebertti, ”, —, “, Palacio's, Lady Rosario Murillo, Palacios ’, ” Murillo Organizations: MEXICO CITY, —, Miss, Facebook, National Police, Sandinista, Jesuit University of Central, Nicaraguan Locations: MEXICO, Miss Nicaragua, Jesuit University of Central America, Nicaragua

☆ I'm the first plus-sized woman to compete at Miss Universe and I made the top 20. My story is changing society's standards.
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Anneta Konstantinides | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Miss Nepal Jane Dipika Garrett is the first plus-sized woman to compete and place at Miss Universe. AdvertisementThis as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jane Dipika Garrett, who represented Nepal at Miss Universe in November. That moment really, really inspired me. Then I saw the Miss Universe Nepal application was open and I was inspired to try it. AdvertisementAfter Miss Universe, I've gotten so many messages from people who said they were inspired by me.

Persons: Jane Dipika Garrett, Garrett, —, I've, Olivia Cuplo, Hector Vivas, MARVIN RECINOS, El Organizations: Miss, Service, Miss Universe, Getty Locations: Nepal, United States, Pennsylvania, San Salvador , El Salvador, AFP, Miss Nepal, El Salvador

☆ I only had 3 weeks to prepare for Miss Universe, but made history as the first trans woman to place in the top 20
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Anneta Konstantinides | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

She made history as the first trans woman to place in the top 20. I was inspired by Angela Ponce, the first trans woman to compete at Miss Universe. AdvertisementMachete is the first trans woman to place at Miss Universe in its history. Some girls have a year and three months to prepare for Miss Universe, I had three weeks. Marvin RECINOS / AFPMaking it to the top 20 at Miss Universe was an amazing experience.

Persons: Marina Machete, Machete, —, Angela Ponce, Angela, I've, Hector Vivas, Miss Portugal, they've, didn't, I'm, Portugal, Marvin RECINOS Organizations: Miss Universe, Miss, Service, Miss Portugal Organization Locations: Miss Portugal, Portugal, Spain, Lisbon, El Salvador

☆ ‘Amid Falling Walls’ Review: Songs of Resilience From the Holocaust Era
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Laura Collins-Hughes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Underscored by music, the montage of images has a visceral impact; we don’t need language to understand it, or to think and feel in response. “Amid Falling Walls,” though, relies heavily on lyrics and spoken text, almost all of it in Yiddish; non-Yiddish speakers, like me, will spend the performance reading supertitles, which are in English and Russian. Curated by Avram Mlotek, who wrote the libretto, and his father, Zalmen Mlotek, who is the show’s music director and arranger as well as the company’s artistic director, “Amid Falling Walls” sounds gorgeous. Its 28 musical numbers — folk music and cabaret, elegies and anthems — are played by a nine-piece orchestra tucked away upstage. But before bloodshed comes the process of dehumanization that features in all ethnic hatred, and “Amid Falling Walls” delineates that vividly.

Persons: Brad Peterson, Dan Moses Schreier, ’, Jessica Alexandra Cancino, we’re, Avram Mlotek, Zalmen Mlotek, “, —, Steven Skybell, Tevye, Reuven Lipshitz’s “, ” Skybell Locations: Vilna, Lithuania, Germany, Warsaw

☆ Miss Universe: Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua wins 2023 pageant in El Salvador
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Alex Rees | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua was crowned the 2023 Miss Universe at the culmination of the annual beauty pageant, which took place on Saturday night in El Salvador’s capital, San Salvador. The winners of 84 countries’ national pageants had competed at this year’s Miss Universe, judged by a panel including model Halima Aden, “Queer Eye” star Carson Kressley, TikTok influencer Avani Gregg and two former Miss Universe winners, Janelle Commissiong of Trinidad & Tobago (Miss Universe 1977) and Iris Mittenaere of France (Miss Universe 2016). Sheynnis Palacios, Miss Nicaragua, competes in the evening gown round. A newly-crowned Palacios waves to the audience in attendance at the Miss Universe pageant final. Palacios succeeds the 2022 Miss Universe, R’Bonney Gabriel of the USA.

Persons: CNN — Sheynnis Palacios, Anntonia, Carson Kressley, influencer Avani Gregg, Janelle Commissiong, Iris Mittenaere, Sheynnis Palacios, Hector Vivas, Palacios, Porsild, Moraya Wilson, Australia, Mary Wollstonecraft, “, ”, Marvin Recinos, Colombia, Camila Avella, Karla Guilfú, Athenea, Congeniality, R’Bonney Gabriel Organizations: CNN, Miss, Miss Universe, Getty Locations: Nicaragua, El Salvador’s, San Salvador, Thailand, Aden, Trinidad & Tobago, France, Miss Nepal, Miss Pakistan, Miss Nicaragua, British, AFP, Miss Puerto Rico, USA

☆ In southern Mexico, third-gender 'muxe' festival mixes celebration and activism
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Jose Cortes | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

JUCHITAN, Mexico, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Members of southern Mexico's third-gender 'muxe' community celebrated sexual and gender diversity over the weekend, while committing to fighting for LGBTQ people in the face of recent losses. "In the Zapotec language, there is no gender," said Felina Santiago, considered by many the matriarch of Juchitan's muxe community. Before the festivities began, a special mass was held for festival attendees and other members of the local community. This weekend's festival is called the "True Fearless Seekers of Danger" vela, a name that harkens to the risk many members of the community face. Reporting by Jose Cortes in Juchitan; Writing by Brendan O'Boyle; Editing by Bill BerkrotOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Felina Santiago, Juchitan's, Oscar Cazorla, Ociel Baena, Mexico's, Elvis Guerra, Jose Cortes, Brendan O'Boyle, Bill Berkrot Organizations: vela, Thomson Locations: JUCHITAN, Mexico, Juchitan, Oaxaca, Aguascalientes

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