Renate Cerljen Wins Miss Sweden Universe 2009

Renata Cerljen, a 21-year old beauty queen who also stands 175 cm is the newly crowned Miss Sweden Universe 2009. She will try to give the fourth Miss Universe crown to her country when she competes in the Bahamas on August 23.

Her First Runner-Up is Michaela Savic and her Second Runner-Up is Alexandra Rydeström.

The recipient of the special award of Miss Photogenic went to Johanna Lundbäck.

 

 

Former Miss Norway Disses Beauty Pageants, Drinks Guys Under Tables

Former Miss Norway Monica Hansen Disses Beauty Pageants, Sues Plastic Surgeon Over Breast Implant Exposure, Drinks Guys Under Tables

She’s known across the world as one of the most bangin’ bikini babes — but Monica Hansen is no Miss Universe. After unexpectedly being crowned Miss Norway in 1997 (she was entered into the competition by a friend as a joke) Hansen didn’t go on to compete in the now Donald Trump-owned pageant. Even though the Miss Universe Organization reportedly told her it was too late to drop out after she explained the situation, Hansen was struck down by a not-so-healthy gall bladder.

"Beauty pageants bring out the best and worst in women: on one hand they enhance already high level of cattiness women are known for, on the other hand they sure help the contestants to overcome their shyness, improve self-esteem and unleash the go-getter in each of them," Hansen told Tarts in an exclusive interview. "But overall I view pageants as a bit silly - yet one can't discount the entertainment factor." (And based on the whirlwind two weeks surrounding Miss California’s controversial gay marriage response at Miss USA, that’s an understatement).

So while Hansen may consider the concept of catty queens pretty entertaining, she was far from amused when a plastic surgeon used her famous face and figure to promote breast implants on his website without her consent. The 6"1 stunner recently filed a lawsuit against Dr. Leonard M. Hochstein for splashing copyrighted snaps of her assets across his site, and according to Hansen the case is only now starting to heat up. But dodgy docs aren’t the only downfall of the modeling industry, it seems Miss Monica has had and continues to have run-ins with the murky men behind the lens.

"The modeling industry is very sexist. Being a model you become a symbol/object of all what human desire is about — including sex. There are always disparaging men that comes along with that," Hansen admitted. "You have to have a very strong head on your shoulders in order to make it in this industry. You don’t have to take crap from these men, but it’s easy to fall into the traps they lay out."

But hey, there are times even away from the set when being blonde, busty and beautiful has bewitching benefits …

"One time a girlfriend and I got pulled over for a driving on red light, and we used our charm to get out of it," she laughed.

As one of the most in-demands swimsuit starlets today (who also happens to be a painter, speaks seven languages, spends spare time helping the homeless and writes a travel tips column for bestswimwear.com) Hansen divides her time between Norway and the United States, but can’t seem to draw a conclusion on which country breeds the better boys.

"Norwegian men are more straight forward and transparent. They will call you the minute they get your phone number, and tell you right away if they like you or how they feel about you. The American man is more of a game-player. He is more likely to wait a few days before he calls you, after meeting you for the first time," she explained. "American men are also more "old fashioned" on the first date versus Norwegian men, they would pay the first drink or dinner.

"Norwegian men would most likely expect you to pay your own drink or dinner the first time you meet. I don’t have any preference, as I believe suitable men exist in every country, but I generally like when a man is honest and straight up, rather than over-strategizing and playing silly games."

But one thing is for sure, no matter what land her man is from she can drink them right under the table.

"I am not a heavy drinker by nature, but I grew up in Norway where women and men don’t just drink to get drunk, but until you pass out," Hansen added. "I can for sure handle a few drinks with no problems, and I can sure drink a few guys under the table …"

Death of a Beauty Queen: Miss Sweden Hellevi Rombin

She is really stunning. Beauty superiority is written all over her face. The woman in the picture is Hellevi Rombin, the first Swedish winner of the Miss Universe pageant and the second Scandinavian winner after Finland's Armi Kuusela.

But where is she now? Does anyone know?

Hellevi Rombin Schine is gone, but as long as beauty is celebrated, her legacy will be remembered.

That is her tomb now.

Hellevi Rombin died in a plane crash in June 19, 1996 (Many are actually writing she died in June 20, 1996). She was on board a privately owned aircraft piloted by her 32 year-old son. She and her son died together with her second husband, US former senator David Schine in Los Angeles in Southern California.

Her death was overshadowed by that of her husband, who was a successful and controversial man, but pageant fans remembered her as Sweden's Hellevi Rombin, Miss Universe 1955.

She was 64. Her husband was 69 and their son, Berndt, was 35.

Let's take a look about her short background before and after winning the crown in 1955.

The second Scandinavian delegate to win the title, Hellevi was a very athletic individual. After her reign as Miss Universe, she went on with a movie career in Hollywood and eventually married a movie produced.

Hellevi Rombin was an extraordinary athlete as well as a stunning woman. She was the Swedish national decathlon champion before being crowned Miss Sweden. Photographs of her as Miss Universe are still striking for the warmth they seem to exude. In some, she appears almost angelic, reminiscent of her fellow Swede Ingrid Bergman playing Joan of Arc.

Ms. Rombin married Schine in 1957, and they had six children. He was at the center of the great McCarthy controversy of the 1950s, allied with Sen. Joseph McCarthy and lawyer Roy Cohn in political warfare that eventually destroyed McCarthy's career. Schine then went on to success in the motion picture business, serving as executive producer of "The French Connection" in 1971. (Cohn, coincidentally, later became a confidant of the young Donald Trump.)

Below is the complete list of the courts of Hellevi:

1st runner-up Maribel Arrieta EL SALVADOR
2nd runner-up Maureen Hingert CEYLON
3rd runner-up Margut Nunke GERMANY
4th runner-up Keiko Takahashi JAPAN

SEMI-FINALISTS

Hilda Isabel Sarli Gorrindo ARGENTINA
Nicole De Mayer BELGIUM
Emilia Barreto Correa Lima BRAZILl
Cathy Diggles CANADA
Margaret Rowe ENGLAND
Maria del Rosario Molina Chacon GUATEMALA
Pastera Pagan Valenzuela HONDURAS
Solveig Borstad NORWAY
Carlene King Johnson USA
Carmen Susana Duijm Zubillaga VENEZUELA

Venezuela's Carmen Zubillaga, a semi-finalist, went on to win the Miss World 1955 crown later on in the year. This is also one of the few years we saw Sri Lanka, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Belgium as strong competitiors.