Miss Honduras María José Alvarado goes missing before Miss World competition

A reigning beauty queen and her sister went missing just days before she was scheduled to fly to London for the Miss World competition.

Miss Honduras, María José Alvarado, 19, and her sister, Sofia Trinidad, vanished after attending a friend’s birthday party late Thursday night near their hometown of Santa Barbara, according to several reports.

Police initially said the disappearance was not being treated as a crime but later confirmed that four people had been arrested and were under questioning, the Telegraph reported.

“They include the owner of the party venue and Sofia Trinidad's boyfriend. They are being investigated,” Police Chief Jose Coello said, according to the British news site.

Pageant director Eduardo Zablah told told CNN affiliate Televicentro that the young women were last seen stepping into a vehicle after the party.

Alvarado had been spending a few days with her parents before setting off for the United Kingdom.

"Open your hearts and understand my pain," her mother pleaded Sunday night, the Telegraph reported. "There is an all-powerful God that sees everything, and I hope you set them free."

Alvarado was crowned Miss Honduras on April 26 in San Pedro Sula after defeating 18 other contestants.

Her Miss World profile says she is a student who aspires to work as a diplomat for her country and enjoys playing sports in her spare time.

The Miss World contest is slated to start on Thursday and culminate in the crowning of a new winner on Dec. 14.