Miss Honduras Uses Miss Universe Pageant to Get the United Nation's Attention [Details]
During the national costume parade of the Miss Universe 2015 contestants in Las Vegas, Miss Honduras Iroshka Lindaly Elvir wore a costume that caught the attention of many because of the skulls.
The Tom and Lorenzo blog even joked that when Honduras came out of stage she reminded everyone about dying.
"Honduras would like to take this moment to remind you all that you're going to die. And then a dragon will probably eat you," the blog added.
However, NPR claimed that the skulls seen on Elvir's headdress and behind her gown's train had a deeper meaning than their skeletal appearance.
The same report noted that these had "many layers of symbolism, touching on ancient culture, modern-day violence and even health care in Honduras."
It added that interviews with the Honduras beauty pageant representative revealed that her inspiration for the dress was the Mayan goddess of death.
However, University of California Berkeley professor of anthropology Rosemary Joyce, said in the NPR report that the theme of the costume was used "as a basis for sort of black humor about the national homicide rate."
The professor also explained that the outfit sent messages about cultural origins and present-day violence in her country.
Elvir posted also posted on her Facebook page photos of her holding a sign that reads "CICIH YA."
Ayer en el evento tome el valor de levantar mi voz y alzar el rótulo de la CICIH justo cuando fue el relajo de la...
Posted by Iroshka Lindaly Elvir on Monday, December 21, 2015
Joyce noted that this is a call for an independent and UN-appointed anti-corruption task force for Honduras.
She is hoping that a group will be formed to address corruption and criminality in her country.
"I am losing hope to see so much blood flow and so much impunity, therefore it is necessary to exhaust all the means to capture the attention of the international organizations," Elvir's Facebook post reads.
This is yet another issue that has surfaced in the controversial Miss Universe pageant this year.
Pageant host Steve Harvey made a big mistake of announcing Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez as the winner, when it should have been Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach.
"Listen folks, this is exactly what's on the card. I will take responsibility for this. It was my mistake. It was on the card. Horrible mistake but the right thing, I can show it to you right here. The first runner up is Colombia. It was my mistake," Harvey explained as he showed the envelope handed to him with the final results.
The pageant ended in tears, as per News.com.au, since Gutierrez was clearly disappointed with the mix-up. She was seen being comforted by other contestants after the crown was removed from her head.
Social media got filled with netizens fighting over the real winner of the prestigious event. Latin Americans claimed they were robbed of the crown while Filipinos justified Wurtzbach was the real winner all along.