Colombian Rebels Invite Miss Universe to Peace Talks

Colombian rebels have invited Miss Universe Paulina Vega to attend the group’s ongoing peace talks with the country’s government, according to a statement on its website.

“Be assured that we are willing to address your concerns and consider your views a valuable contribution to peace,” said the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia–People’s Army (FARC). “We are waiting for your confirmation and your contribution.”

Newly crowned Vega, 22 — a former Miss Colombia — has yet to reply to the invitation, though she had previously expressed interest in seeing a resolution to the conflict between the government and the rebels.

Members of FARC, a leftist group, have been fighting an armed guerrilla battle against Colombian authorities for more than 50 years in a conflict that has killed more than 200,000 people. In 2012, leaders of the group began negotiations to resolve the conflict in a still ongoing summit in Havana.