After missing her connecting flight yesterday in New York from Puerto Rico, Valerie Hernandez, the reining queen, has finally arrived in Tokyo to fulfill her duties as Miss International 2014. She now joins her runners up who arrived yesterday and are now staying at the Tokyo Dome Hotel, which will also be the official residence of the delegates of the 2015 Miss International Beauty Pageant.
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On top of the agenda of this historic visit by the Miss International 2014 Top 5 winners is a trip to the Mikimoto pearl farm in Mie Prefecture, located more than 400 km west of Tokyo. Mikimoto, which became the official crown sponsor of Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA from 2001 to 2007, is now back as the official crown provider for the homegrown pageant.
Hernandez will turn over her crown during the 2015 Miss International Beauty Pageant, which will be held at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel Hitten Hall on November 5th. /Stephen Diaz