Yesterday, the Miss World Puerto Rico Organization announced that there will be no Puerto Rico representative for Miss World 2017 scheduled to be held on 18th November 2017 in Sanya, China. It comes as a shock to the fans as the reigning Miss World Stephanie Del Valle is from Puerto Rico.

The national pageant to select this year’s winner was postponed twice due to the hurricane effect. Earlier, the competition was set to take place on 13th September 2017 but was postponed due to Hurricane Irma that swept through the region and was rescheduled to take place on 20th September 2017. It was postponed again due to Hurricane Maria that made a direct hit on Puerto Rico and left millions without power or water for days.

Ana Avilés who is in charge of Miss World Puerto Rico Organization has released a press statement informing the followers of the news -

“With deep regrets, we want to notify you that this year the Miss World Puerto Rico Organization will not send representatives to the international competition and the determinants were unexpected arrival of devastating Hurricane Maria. After consulting with the international organization, we believe it is correct for our candidates, our team and our country in these difficult times. To this day, we cannot make a calendar to complete the events of our 2017 pageant. Therefore the winner of this contest (when it happens) will be our representative of Miss World 2018,”

“Reigning Miss World 2016 Stephanie Del Valle of Puerto Rico will be the best representative of the island. She will be our flag, especially at this time when our country is going through the worst period of our history. We will unite the hands of each of the members of Miss World Puerto Rico and begin to work for the restoration of our country. Hoping in God that Puerto Rico will rise and we can shine again in Miss World 2018."

Many pageant titleholders and contestants are helping to collect goods and funds for those affected in Puerto Rico and we hope that the island nation and its residents are able to restore their normal lives soon.