Land of beauty queens under siege
Scratch your head if this sounds like a forced oxymoronic juxtaposition of seemingly unrelated realities: Donald Trump, the megalomaniac United States president who ordered a military attack on Venezuela and the abduction of its sitting president/dictator, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife on Jan. 3. This swaggering Trump once owned the Miss Universe Organization, which crowned seven Miss Universe winners from Venezuela over the years.
On international beauty pageant nights, avid Filipino pageant watchers glued to their TV screens are likely to watch out for Miss Venezuela, who could edge out the Philippines’ bet (homegrown or not) and win the crown by a hair. In the Miss Universe beauty contests, which began in 1952, Venezuela has won seven, two in succession (2008 and 2009), next only to the United States, which has nine. Puerto Rico is next with five, while the Philippines and Mexico have four each.
But Venezuela’s bets make it to the top five quite often. In the recent turbulent 2025 Miss Universe pageant, held in Bangkok, Miss Venezuela was the second runner-up, and Miss Philippines was the third runner-up. In Miss Universe and other international beauty tilts, Venezuela’s bets have won a total of 24 top crowns. It is said that Venezuela is a consistent producer of international beauty titlists, and this is a thriving industry. That is a story in itself.
Venezuela (population: approximately 30 million) has the largest oil reserves on this planet, a most coveted resource.
So, what was the US invasion of this South American country all about? The US’ interest in oil? Returning oil control to US companies? Reversing Venezuela’s nationalization of its oil industry? The narcotics flow from Venezuela to the US? The Maduro dictatorship and mismanagement? The China and Russia factor? (Now, now, taking the cue, what would prevent Russia and China from doing the same to their neighbors?)
Or is this simply the hegemonic dream of a moist-eyed autocrat, who now has eyes on Colombia, Cuba, and Denmark’s Greenland? (Just making light of this: Was there a Miss Greenland when Trump owned the Miss Universe Organization?) A common citizen of this planet, a nonexpert in geopolitics, would see all this as a flashback, a period movie set in the age of discovery and colonization. Or a dystopian World War III movie.
In the meantime, Trump wants to run Venezuela the way he wants it. Will Maduro’s interim successor be in Trump’s grip?
One cannot keep up with the vociferous antis and pros who present their arguments with confidence as if each alone possessed the truth. But after listening to many sides and arguments, I heard a churchman sum it up so simply, I had a good laugh because it was so true. From a thundering Rev. Kevin Johnson to his Abyssinian Baptist congregation in Harlem:
“America, we’ve got to wake up! I don’t doubt that Nicolas Maduro is a thug, but so is Trump. (Applause.) I don’t doubt that Maduro is a criminal, but so is Trump. I don’t doubt that Maduro rigged the elections, but so did Trump. I don’t doubt that Maduro tried to silence his critics, but so has Trump. I don’t doubt that he tried to enrich himself, but so has Trump. I don’t doubt that Maduro weaponized the justice system, but so has Donald Trump. I don’t doubt that he has lied to his people, but I want you to know that each and every day he looks at the camera and lies to us, so does Trump.”
Pope Leo XIV: “The good of the beloved Venezuelan people must prevail over every other consideration and lead us to overcome violence and to undertake paths of justice and peace, safeguarding the country’s sovereignty, ensuring the rule of law enshrined in the Constitution, respecting the civil and human rights of each person and of all, and working to build together a serene future of collaboration, stability and concord, with special attention to the poorest who suffer because of the difficult economic situation… (Dear Pope Leo, por favor, cut the long sentences into shorter ones. Grazie. I read the book you suggested, but I look forward to the Vatican edition with your intro.)
“Let us continue to have faith in the God of peace. Let us pray and stand in solidarity with the peoples who suffer because of wars.” He entrusted the Venezuelans to Our Lady of Coromoto, patroness of Venezuela, and Saints Jose Gregorio and Carmen Rendiles.
From the Venezuelan Bishops Conference: “We stand in solidarity with those who were injured and with the families of those who died … May the decisions that are made be made always for the good of the people.”
Our Department of Foreign Affairs’ statement was succinct and direct, emphasizing “the relevant principles of international law, including the independence and sovereign equality of states …”
May the afterglow of the Feast of the Epiphany comfort us.
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