Leila Lopes (born 26 February 1986) is an Angolan beauty pageant titleholder who was crownedMiss Universe 2011. She had previously won Miss Angola UK 2010 andMiss Angola 2010.
Lopes was born on 26 February 1986, inBenguela, Angola.[2][3][4] Prior to being a contestant in beauty pageants, she studied business management at theUniversity of Suffolk inIpswich, UK.[3][5][6] Lopes is actively involved in raising awareness aboutHIV/AIDS and the discrimination that people with the disease experience.[3][7][8]
While living and studying in England, she participated inMiss Angola UK contest on 8 October 2010. Lopes won the title, giving her the opportunity to represent the BritishAngolan community in Miss Angola 2010.[9]
After Lopes was crowned Miss Universe 2011, allegations arose that false documents were used to allow her to participate in Miss Angola UK, which enabled her to compete in Miss Angola and subsequently Miss Universe.[9][10][11] It was claimed that Lopes had never lived outside of Angola at the time she competed, so she should not have been allowed to enter a competition that was exclusively for Angolan citizens living in the UK.[11][12] The use of false documents has since been denied by both Lopes and the Miss Universe organizers[13][14] and Lopes herself has stated that she had lived in England for almost four years and attended business school for two years.[15][16]
Lopes competed against 20 other candidates to winMiss Angola inLuanda on 18 December 2010, gaining her the right to represent Angola in Miss Universe 2011.[17] She also obtained thePhotogenic Award during the contest.[18]
In December 2011, Lopes was invited to attend the first edition of the Miss Gabon pageant inLibreville, Gabon where she crowned the first Gabonese representative to Miss Universe,Marie-Noëlle Ada Meyo fromNgounié Province.[24]
In February 2012, Lopes visited Johannesburg, South Africa. On arrival she was welcomed by Miss South Africa 2011Melinda Bam at a red carpet event in Sun City. During her visit, Lopes attended a launch event for African Fashion International on 16 February in support of Joburg Fashion Week 2012. She also visited one of Melinda Bam's supported charities -Thuthuzela, an NGO inAlexandra, Johannesburg. Lopes also attended the State of the Province Address by Honourable Thandi Modise, Premier of the North-West, on 17 February at the North-West University, Mafikeng Campus.[25]
Lopes travelled toDüsseldorf, Germany for the week-long USO/Armed Forces Entertainment tour from 9–14 March 2012. There, she also participated in the Beauty International Trade Show at theDüsseldorf Exhibition Centre.[26]
Lopes attended theCannes Film Festival in Cannes, France on 23 May 2012. She also attended the De Grisogono Glam Extravaganza held at the Hotel Du Cap Eden-Roc inCap d'Antibes on the same day. Prior to her visit to France, she was inLisbon, Portugal for a series of photoshoots and television appearances, at the invitation of Maxim Portugal Magazine.[27][28]
