new megafraud controversy raging in Venezuela: imperialism or Chavez

["michael a. lebowitz" <mlebowit@xxxxxx>]

Published: Friday, June 04, 2004
Bylined to: Patrick J.
O'Donoghue 

Chavez Frias blamed for Miss
Venezuela's poor showing in Miss Universe 

Analyzing the failure of Venezuela
to figure in the final 5 candidates of the Miss Universe contest held in
Quito, Ecuador, some Venezuelan luminaries are throwing the blame on
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Frias. 

Beauty contest expert, Julio Rodriguez
says political reasons dominated the exclusion of clear favorite, Ana
Karina Anez ... "it's due to the tense situation between Venezuelan
and the USA ... we must remember that it's a US-based event ... she
should have been the last 5 ... I cannot see any other motive."

Nidal Nouahied, who designed Miss Venezuela's national dress agrees that
politics did enter the contest this year ... "we are talking about a
US company that disagrees with the process developing in Venezuela ...
Lebanon and Israel are always excluded for the same reason."

Star Models Agency director, Elizabeth Linares complains that Ana Karina
had everything it takes to win and showed plenty of security ...
"tense and stringent relations between Venezuela and the USA will
hinder everything we do in international contests ... beauty has nothing
to do with politics ... but!" 

The exclusion of Miss Venezuela
broke Venezuela's record of 21 finals ... three times as runner up:
Marena Bencomo (1996), Veruska Ramirez (1997) y Mariangel Ruiz (2003).

Ruiz says she's as shocked as the rest of
the Nation because people were certain the Venezuelan girl would win ...
money was no object in the preparing Anez for the event but she rules out
the political factor, pointing to the non-political character of the
contest. 

Linares revives the theory that Miss Universe tycoon, Donald Trump is
getting his own back after the (Miss Universe Alicia Machado rumpus
several years ago but other experts reject the theory outright.

• Some people suggest that it is time to change the Venezuelan prototype, insisting that future Miss Venezuelas beef up on the question part and learn to speak English.

Miss Venezuela organizer, Osmel Sousa admits he
wasn't too happy with Ana Karina's performance ... "she was a bit
nervous, a bit passive before the preliminary jury."

Michael A. Lebowitz

Professor Emeritus

Economics Department

Simon Fraser University

Burnaby, B.C., Canada V5A 1S6

Currently based in Venezuela. Can be reached at

Residencias Anauco Suites

Departamento 601

Parque Central, Zona Postal 1010, Oficina 1

Caracas, Venezuela

(58-212) 573-4111

fax: (58-212) 573-7724