Would you choose Miss Earth over Miss World?

I am sure you would pick Miss World over Miss Earth if you are asked to choose between the two.

It won't surprise me. Afterall, Miss World is the oldest among all the 4 grandslam pageants while Miss Earth is only celebrating its 10th year anniversary. Julia Morley's pageant has been broadcasted in most parts of the world while Carousel's can only been seen in Philippine television.

Miss World attracts more participating countries every year of around 100 beauties but Miss Earth is catching up with 80 plus girls. Most beauty pageant fans believe Miss World has more beautiful participants than Miss Earth every year. But personally, I believe this is not true especially if we compare the ladies who competed last year in both pageants. Miss Earth had more quality contestants than Miss World. In fact, Miss Earth produced the most competitive and most stunning girls in the Top 5 of any international pageants last year.

If most of us will choose Miss World, Vietnam did the exact opposite over the question on which of the two pageants they will keep to host. The Province of Khan Khao dropped Miss World 2010 but they kept Miss Earth 2010.

This is definitely a blow on Julia's face but a sure victory for the lesser Miss Earth. I can't imagine what Julia might be thinking now but I am sure the Carousel staffs are grinning from ears to ears.

I can only think of one valid reason why Miss Earth was favored. Hosting this pageant is lot cheaper than the USD 10 million Vietnam will be needing to bring Miss World.

With this, I personally believe Khan Khoa just did the most practical thing to do. The Vietnamese government can still market their tourism with Miss Earth with a lesser budget than spend 10 million without a guarantee they can get this back.

So, kudos to Vietnam for the wise decision.

Miss World 2010 is going to Sanya, China AGAIN?

Miss World is not Miss World without controversies. Since time in memorial, this London-based pageant has been plagued by scandals. The 2010 edition is not an exception. The pageant has not even started yet but it is already drawing the attention of pageant fans worldwide.

Last week, it has been announced by Miss World Organization through its official website that the pageant will take place this year in Vietnam in November. Actually, the announcement did not come as a surprise because as everybody knows Julia Morley, the owner of the pageant and Ksenia Sukhinova, the then Miss World winner, were in Vietnam in 2008 to sign the contracts. The announcement was only a formality.

What excited the fans was the scenario that both Miss World and Miss Earth pageants will be taking place at the same country on the same month.

Read my post here about Miss Earth being hosted by Vietnam in November.

But news broke out that the main sponsor of Miss World backed out because of a dispute on the venue. Two provinces, Tien Giang and Khanh Hoa were caught in the middle of the dispute.

RAAS, a pharmaceutical company, is providing USD 10 million for the pageant and they wanted it to be held in the Province of Tien Giang. However, the government of Vietnam through its Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism approved the pageant to be held in the province of Khanh Hoa, in Nha Trang City.

Since this is the decision of the government, Mr. Hoang Kieu, the president of RAAS company can't do anything so he willingly gave up the right to organize the Miss World 2010 to Khanh Hoa Province.

The problem came when the Province of Khanh Hoa announced that it is not willing to spend USD 10 million just to sponsor the pageant. No one from Khanh Hoa can afford to shell out the amount needed to host Miss World 2010.

In another development, Hoang Kieu and the RAAS company will instead seek the permission of the Vietnamese government to host Miss World 2011 or 2012.

Now there is a rumor that if Miss World 2010 will not be held in Vietnam, it will be moved back to Sanya, China. Sanya hosted the pageant for 4 years - from 2003 to 2005 and in 2007.

Rachael Finch will be in the Top 15 of Miss Universe 2009

Rachael Finch, Miss Australia Universe 2009, in a swimsuit during her national pageant.

We would love to make our Top 15 prediction for the Miss Universe 2009 but it's too early. We'll do it later but as early as now we are sure Miss Australia Rachael Finch will be one of them.

Why are we so sure? It's because Donald Trump, the owner of the pageant, is really trying so hard to win the Australians. He wanted Miss Universe to be hosted by Australia for the second time.

In fact, he offered the hosting of Miss Universe 2009 to some cities in Australia but he was refused because they weren't interested. Now, he wanted to bring the pageant closer to the Aussies.

Donald is determined to get the Aussies' attention. Read this article from news.com.au. Donald is full of praise for Rachael and Jennifer Hawkins, Miss Universe 2004, is one of his all-time favourite Miss Universe.

Just to add, I remember reading a book authored by Donald Trump that his most favourite Miss Universe is Amelia Vega of Dominican Republic who won the pageant in 2003 in Panama. I forgot the title of that mini-book but I report this when I find it out.

Here's the news.

Miss Universe 2004, Jennifer Hawkins

MISS Universe pageant co-owner Donald Trump is full of praise for Australia's Rachael Finch as she tries to follow in the footsteps of one of his all-time favourite winners, Jennifer Hawkins.

The tycoon said he had heard only good things about the current Miss Universe Australia and had been informed the Queenslander was "wonderful".

"I've heard Rachael is beautiful and I hear she's a lovely lady," Trump said.

The glamorous 21-year-old from Townsville will travel to the Bahamas next month in the hope of clinching the crown, won by Hawkins five years ago.

Trump, who also owns the Miss USA competition, said Hawkins was one of his favourites because she was so problem-free, unlike many others.

"Jennifer Hawkins is one of my all-time favourite Miss Universes," Trump said.

"She's phenomenal. She's a great person and just absolutely beautiful.

"She was absolutely great, she was so problem-free."

Trump's pageants have been riddled with controversy recently.

Miss Universe Australia finalist Stephanie Naumoska made international headlines for her skeletal-like frame. "

I think she was too thin, but I hope she's better,'' Trump said.

In the Miss USA competition, the most recent Miss California was dethroned after missed appearances, topless photos and homophobic comments.

But Trump admitted controversy can be positive too.

"Frankly the controversy is a good thing, not a bad thing, because everyone's talking about my pageants," Trump said.