CARACAS, Nov 9 (Reuters) – Squabbling bitterly every day
over politics and economics, Venezuelans of all creeds could at
least unite briefly on Saturday to hail their latest beauty
queen.
Maria Gabriela Isler’s victory at the 2013 Miss Universe
contest in Moscow won praise from heads of both political camps.
“Her triumph is Venezuela’s triumph. May God bless her
always,” socialist President Nicolas Maduro tweeted in a respite
from tirades against the right-wing “bourgeoisie.”
“Congratulations to Maria Gabriela Isler for this triumph,
always exalting the Venezuelan woman! Long live Venezuela!”
echoed his rival, opposition leader Henrique Capriles, who was
otherwise lampooning Maduro’s “incompetence” on Twitter.
The South American nation has one of the world’s best
records in international beauty pageants. While it is a source
of pride to most Venezuelans, protests against exploitation of
the female body were held at the last Miss Venezuela contest.
(Reporting by Andrew Cawthorne; Editing by Bill Trott)
