SASHES AND TIARAS.....RIP Monica Spear, actress and Miss Venezuela 2004

RIP: Monica Spear Mootz, former Miss Venezuela and actress--slain on Monday night in an attempted robbery

Late Monday night, Venezuela beauty queen and telenovela star Monica Spear Mootz and her ex-husband Thomas Henry Berry were gunned down by the side of a country road in Venezuela.

According to CNN, Spear and her ex-husband, were driving in Venezuela's Carabobo state Monday night when their car broke down, officials said. Armed robbers opened fire, killing both of them.

Their 5-year-old daughter survived Monday's shooting, authorities said, but was shot in the leg.

 Monica Spear

Spear was Miss Venezuela in 2004 and represented her country in the Miss Universe pageant in 2005.

Her popularity opened the door to acting roles in telenovelas that eventually made her an international star. She made her home in Miami but was vacationing in Venezuela with her family when she was killed. This is a tragic loss and has brought to light--once again--the awful crime situation in Venezuela--the country in which I grew up in and called home for my adolescence. Venezuela is one of the world’s most violent nations, according to Reuters. The official annual murder rate is 39 per 100,000 people, but local activists estimate the actual murder rate is nearly twice as high. I--and Venezuela--will miss her.

As a "SASHES AND TIARAS"  homage to her, I'd like to look back at the gorgeous Monica and the beautiful gowns she wore in the Miss Venezuela 2004 Pageant as well as Miss Universe 2005 Pageant. Heaven has a beautiful angel now. RIP. Que En Paz Descanse...

Resplendent in Pink: Monica Spear Mootz "Miss Guarico 2004" (far left) at the Miss Venezuela 2004 Pageant (Top Five Finalists)--Her gown was designed by Samy Gicherman, Venezuelan fashion designer based in Florida. The gown featured pink sequined applique over a blush base with cascading fuchsia pink feathers highlighting the bottom half. Looking at the Top Five Finalists, she definitely stood out!

At Miss Universe 2005 in Bangkok Thailand:

Monica Spear in her Princess of Caribay Costume worn at Miss Universe 2005 National Costume "Parade of Nations"--The Costume was designed by Venezuelan designer Jose Maria Almeida--the silver costume was inspired by the legend of the "five white eagles" and the legend of Princess of Caribay from Venezuelan writer Tulio Febres Cordero.

The Gown: Miss Venezuela 2004 Monica Spear competed in the Miss Universe 2005 Pageant and wore this gown--for her "Evening Gown Portrait" as well as for the Finals. The sexy gown was designed by Angel Sanchez...

The ivory silk crepe gown was very fitted and showed off Monica's perfect figure--as well as was an ideal "frame" for her skin color and jet-black hair. It featured cut-outs, Princess seaming and silver sequins and bugle beads that accented the bust and side-back panels.The gown was modern, chic and perfect for a top Hollywood red carpet.

Finalist Beautiful: Monica Spear "Miss Venezuela" (far right) on stage during the Miss Universe 2005 Pageant. Monica ended up as 4th Runner-Up to Miss Universe 2005. The winner was "Miss Canada" Natalie Glebova (second from right).

An Angel in Pageant Heaven: RIP Monica Spear