Velez's Latin beauty

AXARQUIA: VELEZ-MALAGA model Yanire Ortiz has been crowned Miss Latin America of the World. 

Yanire’s victory was announced after the Panamanian model Nicole Pinto, who was originally crowned the winner during an event in September, rejected the title. 

It is the first time in the history of the contest that a Spanish woman has taken the title.  

Yanire Ortiz (pictured fourth from left) was born in Torre del Mar and has an degree in Architecture from Malaga University. 

Not only beautiful on the outside but also engaged in social and community issues, she called for young people to stand together against unemployment. 

“I refuse to believe that the only way we can move forward is by emigrating. A lot of young, talented people are leaving Spain and I think we should take action to change this,” said the new Miss Latin America. 

Even though the crowning ceremony did not take place at the final gala celebrated in Punta Cana, the model was thrilled to get the chance of sharing such an important moment with the people who had always supported her in her home-town. 

Mayor of Velez-Malaga, Francisco Delgado Bonilla, pointed out that 40 years after Amparo Muñoz was crowned Miss Universe, another woman from Velez-Malaga has become a reference of the international beauty world.