MIAMI (AFP) – - Ecuador’s Sandra Vinces, 19, and Iceland’s Ingibjorg Egilsdottir, 24, are early favorites on Facebook and other social networking sites ahead of Sunday’s Miss Universe contest.

Eighty-four contestants will parade in swimwear for the judges who this year include actors, TV producers, photographers, fashion critics and vintage supermodel Valeria Mazza.

In the run-up to the big event at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island, Panama’s Diana Broce won the prize for best national costume.

And the contest actually sparked a diplomatic kerfuffle.

Bolivia’s culture minister was outraged when Miss Peru Karen Schwarz wore a typical costume known as a “Diablada,” saying it was a symbol of his country — and not Peru.

Full Story: AFP/Yahoo SG