Miss Universe beauty pageant coming to Doral
.JPG "FILE--Gabriela Isler waves after winning the Miss Universe title in Moscow in November 2013. The Doral City Council on Friday approved a $2.5<133>million stipend for the beauty pageant’s organizing body on Friday for the 2015 event at the Trump National Doral Miami.")
Miss Universe is coming to Doral next year.
The City Council on Friday approved a $2.5million stipend for the beauty pageant’s organizing body on Friday for the 2015 event at the Trump National Doral Miami.
Mayor Luigi Boria said the Jan. 18 pageant will be “an important economic stimulator for the community.”
“The organization of this pageant will benefit all of Miami-Dade County, but specifically Doral, whose name will be promoted throughout the event,” Boria said.
The 3-1 vote came during a special session. Vice Mayor Christi Fraga voted no. Boria and councilwomen Sandra Ruiz and Ana Maria Rodriguez voted in favor, while Councilwoman Bettina Rodriguez Aguilera was not present.
Fraga said she wants the pageant in Doral but was opposed to using municipal funds for it.
“I fully support the idea of having Miss Universe 2015 take place in our city,” Fraga said. “But I don’t think the pageant should be held with money that belongs to taxpayers.”
Boria said that of the $2.5million, the city will directly grant $500,000 to organizers of the pageant, owned by Donald Trump, within the next few weeks.
The mayor said the remaining $2million will come later and be provided by private donors.
This story was originally published September 12, 2014 at 9:34 PM with the headline "Miss Universe beauty pageant coming to Doral."