Miss Venezuela contestants hope for international fame and riches, in contrast to the economic plight of their home country MARCO BELLO/REUTERSIn an economically ruined nation, the annual beauty pageant provides a welcome distraction to millions. For the women that are eventually crowned Miss Venezuela, international glory awaits. But the pageant, which has become a symbol of national pride, has been suspended after claims that some participants were prostitutes whose clients included government officials and ministers. The company that owns one of Venezuela’s biggest television networks, Venevision, which broadcasts the pageant to millions of viewers, announced an investigation into the prostitution scandal this week. Contestants were alleged to have received cars, holidays and luxury gifts from government officials in exchange for sex.

Source: The Times March 22, 2018 17:03 UTC