Miss Universe beauties touch down in Ecuador

A bevy of beauties from the US, Spain, South Korea, and Venezuela touched down in Ecuador on Wednesday.

A bevy of beauties from the United States, Spain, South Korea, and Venezuela touched down in Ecuador on Wednesday where they will compete for the Miss Universe 2004 crown on June 1.

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Amid tight security, 34 shapely contestants arrived here to complement the 19 hopefuls who have arrived in Quito since Sunday.

They include participants from Colombia, Costa Rica, Brazil, Peru, Israel, Egypt, the Bahamas, Switzerland, Taiwan, Angola and Italy.

The annual beauty pageant is owned by US property tycoon Donald Trump and NBC Television.

The contestants smiled and gave warm greetings to the waiting press and hundreds of onlookers who turned up at Quito's international airport to greet the incoming hopefuls.

Official ceremonies for the contest are due to kick-off on Friday with a party for the participants.

Amelia Vega, a teenage high school student from the Dominican Republic, won the Miss Universe Crown in 2003.