Miss Universe 2013 Controversies: Reason And People Behind Them [PHOTOS/VIDEOS]

Nowadays beauty pageants are known more for political controversy than scripted displays of feminine elegance, intelligence, and beauty. The Miss Universe 2013 pageant which is being hosted in Moscow, Russia unsurprisingly has already has its very own share of controversies. Let us find out the reasons and people behind these controversies:

1. Andy Cohen

Andy Cohen has boycotted the pageant due to Russia's anti-gay laws. He co-hosted the contest in 2011 and 2012 with Giuliana Ranci.

"He didn't feel right as a gay man stepping foot into Russia to attend, because the discriminatory policies make it unsafe for gays who live there and gays coming to work or visit." According to Blog.zap2it.

The new Russian anti gay law states,"It is illegal to hold any sort of public demonstration in favour of gay rights, speak in defence of gay rights, and distribute material related to gay rights, or to state that gay relationships are equal to heterosexual relationships." As reported by Wall Street journal.
Watch Andy Cohen Boycotts Miss Universe Pageant In Russia:

2. Miss Kosovo Mirjeta Shala

Another controversy which plagued the Miss Universe 2013 pageant is Miss Kosovo Mirjeta Shala's prohibition to participate in the contest. Miss Kosovo Mirjeta Shala will not be authorized to partake in the Miss Universe 2013 contest as Russia does not identify with Kosovo's 2008 "Declaration of Independence." As reported by Kosovan newspaper 'Koha Ditore'.

3. Miss Albania Fioralba Dizdari

As Albania shares a promising relationship with Kosovo and don't want to sacrifice their alliance due to any rationale, hence Russia's denunciation for the Kosovo's delegate has also resulted in Miss Albania Fioralba Dizdari's withdrawal from the pageant.

4. Miss Universe Philippines Ariella Arida's communication skills

Arida who was speculated as the hot pick for Miss Universe 2013 crown got involved in a controversy inadvertently as she was asked by host Karen Davila to comment on controversy regarding her communication skills in English, on ANC's Headstart show before she left to Moscow.
Watch Ariella Arida answers criticisms on her communication skills:

"'Is this our Miss Universe?'" Davila mentioned a Twitter post saying. "'I think she's having a hard time speaking in English.' Can you respond to that?"

Arida answered:

"I'm aware of that actually," Arida responded. "I got a lot of... feelings especially on my communication skill(s). I'm doing my best to convey my message to the people. Like what I told my trainers, I will do my best in the competition," Miss Universe Philippines said during the interview on ANC's Headstart show.

"When you get there, it's (on) how your express yourself. Latinas can't even complete a sentence... in English. I think it's (just) the Filipino(s) who are critical", "Many of the candidates have a translator. But I know I'm gonna deliver," she boldly added.

Then Arida caught in one another hullabaloo for her negative remarks against Latinas. Mo Twister, the controversial Radio personality whose real name is Mohan Gumatay, slammed the Arida, over her allegedly "offensive" remarks about Latinas in beauty pageants.

On Tuesday the disc jockey, posted on twitter, his views on Arida's recent interview on the ABS-CBN News Channel's (ANC)"Headstart."

I don't intend to bash on our Ms Philippines here but how the f*ck is this not considered offensive... http://t.co/S9wXe3Gb7a - Mo Twister (@djmotwister) October 21, 2013

Mohan Gumatay also posted a short clip from Arida's "Headstart" interview on Instagram:

"...to really express myself, to convey a message to the people... Especially, you know, Latinas cannot even speak a sentence, right? I mean a complete sentence in English." Are the only part of heard in the short clip.

In the post's caption, he highlighted many other instances when Filipinos got "sensitive" over negative comments about the Philippines or its citizens.

"I mean, we ALWAYS get so sensitive when someone says anything about us Filipinos (see Dan Brown, Alec Baldwin, and every other time we screamed murder) yet our girl representing our country, in a legit interview regarding the competition, says Latinas can't put a sentence together in English. That would royally piss me off if I were of Latin descent. I'm pretty sure we would lose our minds if we heard an interview of a contestant saying "Filipinos can't string a sentence together" and our Senator/Congressman would persona non grata that b*tch immediately. I'm also quite certain that a few of the Latina contestants can cook up a few intelligible lines in English that would leave Ariella here dizzy in her heels. Best of luck to her in the competition. Now back to my NBA Fantasy Team." he posted in the caption.

Mo then took to twitter to draw attention to his concern that Arida's allegedly "offensive" statement might make it to news and outrage Latin Americans as the target audience. He posted on twitter:

Ariella Arida's apology:

Ariella Arida of Philippines representing her country at Miss Universe 2013 later tweeted that she did not want to upset anyone.

"sorry. I didn't mean to offend anyone from my last interview. I hope you guys can understand what Im trying to say." said Arida in the interview.

5. Miss Universe Myanmar, Moe Set Wine

The first time the event had been held in Burma for 52 years on the evening of 3 October, Moe Set Wine rose to celebrity status when she was crowned winner of the Miss Universe Myanmar 2013.

But shortly after winning the prize, Moe became the target of criticism on Burmese social media for attending a public event accompanied by Nay Shwe Thway Aung (the grandson of former Burmese dictator Than Shwe).

Following the disclosure that she has competed as a Chinese beauty contestant, DVB contacted her for comment, but she was unavailable. However, Chan Linn Thu, the media officer at the agency, Hello Madam, (the agency that organised the Miss Universe Myanmar 2013 competition), said she was busy.

"It was not held in China but at the Sedona Hotel in Rangoon for the anniversary of the International Traders Association in 2009," said Chan Linn Thu, the media officer at the agency, adding that the controversy was created to spoil the credibility of his agency. He also told that the pageant Moe Set Wine participated in 2009 was not a Chinese event but a Burmese event hosted in Rangoon as reported by www.dvb.no.

You may also like to read more:
"When You Get There, It's (On) How Your Express Yourself": Miss Philippines Ariella Arida Snubs Critics On Her English Speaking Skills Read HERE
All About Miss Universe 2013 Just Revealed!!!Read HERE
Miss Universe 2013: Philippines Tops Probable Winner List As Three Contenders Have Filipino Ancestry Read HERE