Miss Mexico plans to promote country
Published:Wednesday | August 25, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Every Miss Universe is asked to use her title to champion HIV/AIDS prevention, particularly among adolescents.
Miss Mexico, 22-year-old Jimena Navarrete of Guadalajara, will be no different.
The Miss Universe website explains the reason for choosing the HIV/AIDS fight as part of its mandate to its winner.
"Because over 41 million people are living with HIV/AIDS - 47 per cent of them are women and roughly one-third are young people between the ages of 15 and 24; because more than 14,000 people were infected with HIV last year; and because AIDS is the deadliest infectious disease among adults and the fourth leading cause of death worldwide, every Miss Universe has the job of travelling the world to speak on behalf of her official cause, HIV/AIDS awareness."
Navarrete, who in dramatic fashion, narrowly defeated Jamaica's Yendi Phillipps on Monday Night at the Mandalay Bay Events Centre in Las Vegas, Nevada, also has personal goals she would like to achieve during her reign. Miss Australia Jesinta Campbell was the second runner-up.
From flags to Facebook, 22-year-old Jimena Navarrete quickly made it clear what she plans to promote as the world's newest Miss Universe, her home country of Mexico.
"I want the whole world to know about my country and my people," the Guadalajara native said after beating 82 competitors for global bragging rights at the pageant in Las Vegas.
"I imagine that they're all going crazy in Mexico right now," she said through an interpreter. "I'm extremely proud and I'm sure they're very proud, too."
Miss Mexico's victory earned for her an undisclosed salary, a luxury New York apartment with living expenses, a one-year scholarship to the New York Film Academy with housing after her reign, plus jewellery, clothes and shoes.
Miss Universe uses her title to champion HIV/AIDS prevention, particularly among adolescents. During her reign, Miss Universe will work with the Latino Commission on AIDS, Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) and YouthAIDS/PSI among other organisations.