Whoever wears the Miss Universe crown can expect to be invited to star-studded cocktail parties, balls, charity events and galas. The newly crowned Miss Universe, however, has been given a different kind of invitation.
Leftist Farc rebels, from Pauline Vega’s native Colombia, want her to visit them in Havana, where they are trying to negotiate a peace deal with the Colombian government.
In a brief letter, Farc leaders invited the beauty queen to Havana “to inform [her] about the development of the negotiation process, its progress and the contributions that you and the great majorities who wish for peace can offer”.
Vega, a 22-year-old model and student of business administration who was named Miss Universe on 25 January at a pageant in Florida, said in a post-crowning interview she would be “willing to go to Havana so that a peace deal can be signed”.
Taking her up on her offer, Farc said they were willing to “address her questions and esteem her opinions as a valuable contribution toward peace”.
The last time a Colombian wore the Miss Universe crown was in 1958, a year in which the country began a brief period of peace following a bloody partisan war known simply as “The Violence”. In 1964, Farc rose up against the state, demanding more equality. They have been fighting ever since.
Since negotiations between Farc and the Colombian government began, in 2012, the two sides have reached draft agreements on three of six negotiating points aimed at ending the armed struggle. A half-century of conflict has left at least 200,000 people dead and nearly 6 million displaced.
A public opinion poll published on Friday showed that less than half of Colombians – 47% – believe peace talks will conclude in a deal to end the conflict, while 44% do not. In a country where the rebels are largely loathed and beauty queens are revered, an endorsement of the peace process by Miss Universe could go a long way toward convincing doubters.
