Miss Universe asked to peace talks by FARC

Colombia’s Marxist FARC rebels have invited the newly-crowned Miss Universe Paulina Vega, a native of the country’s Caribbean coast, to attend their peace negotiations with the government, in a bid to end 50 years of fighting.

The 22-year-old Vega, a business student and model from the northern city of Barranquilla, was named Miss Universe in late January and has said that she would be willing to travel to the talks.

“We have read with interest your desire to contribute with your good works to reaching peace,” the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, stated in a statement on its website late on Friday night.