SASHES AND TIARAS.....Nuestra Belleza Latina 2011: Winner, Gowns

La Más Bella...

Sequin Queen: Nasstasja Bolivar, Nuestra Belleza 2011

8.4 Million (yep! MILLION!!!) people tuned in two days ago on Sunday night and watched the Season Finale of Univision Network's "Nuestra Belleza Latina 2011" (Our Latin Beauty), the Spanish-speaking version of "Miss USA"/"America's Next Top Model". The telecast – which saw Miami’s Nastassja Bolivar (of Nicaraguan descent) declared “Nuestra Belleza Latina 2011” and win...

Beauty Cash: Nuestra Belleza Latina Winner Nasstasja Bolivar holds up her $250,000 Winning Prize Check

$250,000 in cash and prizes, along with a one-year contract to be Univision on-air talent – led the Network to a third place finish for the entire night among all broadcast networks among Adults 18-34, ahead of CBS and NBC, and #4 among Adults 18-49, ahead of CBS. Additionally, last night’s telecast was the highest-rated finale in the history of “Nuestra Belleza Latina”. So, yeah, kids, it's time you might want to be paying attention to Univision and "Nuestra Belleza Latina". "Nuestra Belleza Latina" is a Reality TV-style Beauty Show, in its fifth season, where ladies of Latino descent--from all over the USA , are chosen through "American Idol"-like castings (in various cities like Chicago, San Antonio, Los Angeles, NYC, Miami and San Juan Puerto Rico). Two of the finalist were even chosen through online fans of the show. Like I said, this year's winner was the tall and very bella Nasstasja Bolivar who "represented" Nicaragua. Her First Runner Up was Puerto Rican Gredmarie Colon. Both of their final evening gowns were elegant and on the "Pageant Lite" side--which Thank Goodness, is a good thing. The First Runner-Up's gown had a slit (not too high, gracias!) and the winner didn't even have a slit! Nasstasja's gown was a purple strapless Princess -seamed fit-and-flare design, featuring silver beading bust-and-waist detail. Let's just say she WORKED that gown OVERTIME!!! Afterward, she did an Outfit Change (At-a-Girl) and posed for Red Carpet Photos as well as posed with past winners (left to right) Alejandra Espinoza, Greidys Gil, Melissa Marty and Ana Patricia Gonzalez, who all looked very "Pageant Perfect" in their gowns. I especially loved Melissa's and Ana Patricia's gowns (far right). "Nuestra Belleza Latina" TV Host Giselle Blondet (above), who never met a gown she didn't like--looked very elegante in a one-shoulder Mermaid-silhouette black-colored style. Her swept-back hair and over-sized earrings and bracelets perfectly finished her look. During the telecast, Giselle also gave a "cocktail look", wearing a strapless canary yellow mini dress with sequin waist and folded side-peplum as seen in photo above. I thought she looked great!

Gown Heaven: Left to right--Lupita Jones, Julian Gil, Giselle Blondet, Nuestra Belleza Latina 2011 Winner Nasstasja Bolivar, and Osmel Sousa

Other "Gown Notables" included the ever-so-fabulous Lupita Jones, Miss Universe 1991 and Director of Nuestra Belleza Mexico/Miss Mexico Pageant. She is also one of the judges of "Nuestra Belleza Latina".

Red Universe: Lupita Jones, Miss Universe 1991 and Nuestra Belleza Latina Judge

Miss Jones, is a Drag Queen's Dream in her over-the-top lipstick red satin taffeta one-shoulder ruffled-and-shirred gown with cascading detail. Lupita does not waste a red carpet moment as can be seen above. Once a Miss Universe...ALWAYS a Miss Universe.

Turquoise Judge: Nuestra Belleza Latina Judge and Miss Venezuela Director Osmel Sousa

Speaking of Miss Universe--this "Nuestra Belleza" posting would not be complete without the notable mention of "La Diva", Osmel Sousa, "Miss Venezuela" Pageant Director, Beauty Pageant Svengali, and "Nuestra Belleza Latina" judge. He's like the Simon Cowell of the show...and everyone loves it! In case you didn't know, he took a little ol' pageant--the Miss Venezuela Organization--and turned it into THE POWERHOUSE of International Pageants. Under his direction, Miss Venezuela has won six Miss Universes, five Miss Worlds, six Miss Internationals and many many others. Osmel decided to turn it up a notch on Sunday night when it came to his own ensemble: A Turquoise blue satin dress shirt, printed jacket, ascot, and styled hair...well, Osmel you are un Dios!