Cesar Montece (62 years old), the organizer of international beauty pageants, died yesterday in Guayaquil, Ecuador, after suffering from prostate cancer.

He had a long and distinguished career that encompassed education, business, beauty pageant franchises, and philanthropy in Ecuador and throughout Latin America.

For 40 years, Montece had been organizing national and international beauty pageants through the company Queen of Ecuador C.A., which was one of the pioneers sending Ecuadorian representatives to international competitions around the world.

He was the founder and organizer of Mister Ecuador, Miss Teen Ecuador, Miss Teen Universe, Miss Teenager World, Miss Teen World, Miss Teen Intercontinental, Miss Americas Caribbean World, Miss Expo International, World Queen of the Pacific, World Queen of the Sea, Male Model Universe, Top Model of the Universe, Miss Tourism Universe, to name but a few.

Beyond his business career, Cesar Montece also held public office. He was appointed Director of the Department of International Relations for the Municipal Government of the Vinces Canton, in the province of Los Rios. His contributions earned him significant regional and international recognition over the years.

The funeral will be held at 4:30 p.m. in his hometown, Vinces (Los Ríos province).