Miss Universe Controversies Through the Years

Here are some of the controversies in the Miss Universe pageant collected to us by Joyce Lamela. This was sent to me by a reader.

Miss Universe, just like any other prestigious event and contest, is mixed with great anticipation and intrigues. Here, the author listed several controversies that happened in one of the oldest beauty pageant in the world.

MIRIAM STEVENSON OF USA (1954)-was the first Miss USA winner of the Miss Universe title in 1954. There it happen the first controversy of the pageant. Miriam tied with Miss Brazil’s Martha Rocha, the organizers decided to break the tie through the pageant’s major sponsor-the Catalina Swimwear, eventually the judging boiled down to who has the greater body. The votes favored Miriam Stevenson, because according to reports, she had the fitter hips compared to Miss Brazil.

GLADYS ZENDER OF PERU(1957)-born on October 1939, Gladys made history as the first Latin woman to win the prestigious Miss Universe title, but she was controversial because of her age. Few months after the pageant, it was revealed that the Peruvian beauty queen was only 17 years old, a year younger than the minimum age requirement of the pageant (18). The pageant organizers however was quick to defend that in Peru a person is considered one year older than their age after 6 months of their actual birthday. She was not dethroned however. She married Antonio Meier in 1965 and had 4 children together. Gladys Zender, the youngest Miss Universe winner ever, chose to live a quiet life away from the glittery world of show business.

AMPARO MUÑOZ OF SPAIN (1974)- born on June 22, 1954 in Spain, Amparo was the only Miss Universe titlist from Spain. She won the title in 1974 in Manila, Philippines. Several months after she was crowned, she gave up her title to pursue a showbiz career. She did not replace by the pageant organizer and managed to keep her crown.

MARITZA SAYALERO OF VENEZUELA (1979)- born on Feb.16,1961 in Caracas, Venezuela, Maritza became the first Venezuelan to win the Miss Unverse title. When she was named Miss Venezuela, her first runner up Maria Fernanda Ramirez refused to accept the result, Ramirez’s family confronted the jury, nevertheless the title secured by Maritza. But another unfortunate event greeted the first few hours of her reign in Perth, Australia where the pageant was held, when the live telecast was over, the stage collapsed due to the presence of so many journalists taking her photos, several contestants were injured including Miss Brazil and Miss Turkey. The audience panicked but Maritza, with her tiara and sash on, had the presence of mind to save one contestant from a hole of the stage. She then went to New York City to serve her term and responded her role with determination to help charities. She married in 1981 to a Mexican tennis player Raul Ramirez and presently lived in Mexico

IRENE SAEZ CONDE OF VENEZUELA (1981)-born in December 13, 1961 was the only Miss Universe titlist who floated to the world of politics. In early 1990’s she served a two term as mayor in the municipality of Chacao, Venezuela. Her performance as mayor gained her a nationwide popularity that in 1997 she was considered a potential presidential candidate, but in the 1998 Venezuelan national election she lost to Hugo Chavez. She regained her political career in 1999 when she won the gubernatorial race in the province of Nueva Esparta but gave up her post in the late 2000 when she got married and moved to Florida, USA.

DAYANARA TORRES OF PUERTO RICO (1993)-born on October 28,1974 in Puerto Rico, Dayanara’s victory in the Miss Universe tilt attracted controversy because she did not win any of the 3 major categories in that pageant held in Mexico. She placed 4th in the question & answer portion, fifth in both swimsuit and evening gown competition, nevertheless, Dayanara proved her worth on the crown, during her reign, she worked endlessly on various charities, she became an ambassador of UNICEF helping underprivileged children through out the world. After her reign, she established a foundation which provided scholarships to children. She lived for five years in the Philippines where she became a well-known TV host, actress and model. After her stint in Philippine television, she moved to Puerto Rico and to the US and started a singing and acting career, she married Latin singer Marc Anthony on May 9, 2000 where she had 2 sons, but on October 2003, they announced the sad news of separation and divorced a year after. Currently, Dayanara is dating American actor Amaury Nolasco. Her ex-husband Marc Anthony married Jennifer Lopez whom he had twins.

SUSHMITA SEN OF INDIA (1994)- born on November 19, 1975 in West Bengal, India, is the daughter of Indian Air force wing commander Shubeer Sen and Subhra Sen, a fashion artist and jewelry designer. In May 10, 1994, Sushmita became the first Indian to win the Miss Unverse title in Manila, Philippnes. The pageant result at first, did not suits well to the fame craze Pinoy audience who favored the Venezuelan bet Minorka Mercado, a towering 6’2 varsity player in volleyball. Sushmita, who was a dark horse during the contest, did not win the crowd’s admiration with her not-so elegant gown and appearance, even in the fearless forecast before the actual show she failed to capture the public’s fantasy, whose favorites were Kristelle Rolandt of Belgium, Areeya Chumsai of Thailand, Minorka Mercado of Venezuela and the home bet Charlene Gonzales. Sushmita only emerged 3rd during the interview portion and fourth on the swimsuit and evening gown competitions. But she impressed the 8 panel of judges, including the hairstylist of Princess Diana- Richard Dalton, with her unique poise, grace and intellect, her winning answer to the final question “What is the essence of being a woman” was inspiring that it became a household quotes among the Filipinos, she said: “A woman is a gift and it should be appreciated, she is the origin of life, therefore should be treated not as a mere sexual object but as an important human being”. After her reign, she joined Bollywood showbiz in India and became a famous actress. At 34, Sushmita Sen, however, is still single but adopted a girl in 2000 whom she named Renee.

ALICIA MACHADO OF VENEZUELA (1996)-born on December 6, 1976 in Maracay, Venezuela, Alicia almost lost her title when she gained too much weight during her reign. As Miss Universe, she was expected to stay fit and trim as she would represent the Miss Universe Organization with glamour and grace. Though Alicia is one of the most beautiful Miss Universe winners ever, she looked haggard and worn out when she ballooned beyond limit. The Miss Universe organization was considering of replacing her with her first runner up Taryn Mansell of Aruba, Alicia, pressured by her title and responsibilities tried hard to loss weight. In the end, she managed to shed off extra pounds and kept her crown. The pageant owner, American billionaire Donald Trump, slighted her with the dismissive title “an eating machine” in the 1997 promotion of the next Miss Universe pageant. After her reign, she made showbiz her lifetime career, debuting on Venezuelan soap opera as “Samantha”, the telenovela, which was shown in Philippine television GMA channel in 2000, was an instant hit. In February 2006, Alicia generated another controversy when she appeared in the Mexican issue of Playboy magazine as centerfold, making her as the only Miss Universe titlist to pose nude for playboy. She got married and gave birth to a daughter last June 2008.

DENISE MARIE QUIÑONEZ OF PUERTO RICO (2001)-born on September 9, 1980 at Ponce, Puerto Rico. She was the first Miss Universe winner to win at home, which gave rise to rumors “ home court decision”. In Miss Universe history, no pageant host country wins the title. Denise bested more than 80 delegates including the crowd favorite (and my favorite too) Greek model Evelina Papantoniou whom journalists regarded as a deserving winner. Denise pursued a movie career after her term.

OXANA FEDOROVA OF RUSSIA (2002)- born on December 17, 1977 in Russia, Oxana is the daughter of a Russian nuclear physicist whom she did not meet, her parents separated when she was 3 years old and she never heard from her father since then. Oxana became the first Russian to be crowned Miss Universe in the 2002 pageant held in Puerto Rico. She graduated from Russia’s Police Academy and became a police officer, later on, she enrolled at the Russian Ministry of Internal affairs University to become an investigator, she also worked as a fashion model. In 2001 she easily won the Miss Russia title but declined to represent Russia in Miss Universe 2001 for unknown reasons, but in 2002 she went on to join the pageant, her glamorous physique made her an event favorite and scored high in three major categories, according to the official tally of scores, she earned an almost perfect score of 9.88 in the swimsuit portion, making her as the only candidate with a highest score for that event in the history of the pageant. But several months after her victory, Oxana was dethroned by Miss Universe organizers for her failures to function on her responsibilities as Miss Universe. In her interview, she denied rumors of pregnancy. She was the only official title holder of Miss Universe who was dethroned and the organization did not recognized her as “former Miss Universe winner”, she was replaced by her first runner up, Justine Pasek of Panama.

Ukraine's Connection to Miss Universe Org

I am always convinced that politics plays a role in the selection of the finalists for some of our international beauty pageants. This is depressing and inevitable.

Miss Universe for instance is not an exception. How many times we have seen Ukraine in the Final 10? Many times since the former Miss Ukraine Oleksandra Nikolaenko acquired the franchise of the pageant effortlessly.

Connection is the answer for a beauty queen to enter the finals of a pageant. This is what I deduced from my readings.

In the case of Miss Ukraine, just take a look who attended the national pageant. So, don't tell me the national director is not associated with the Miss Universe Organization.

Read..........

Christina Kots-Gotlib, 25-year-old model from Donetsk, wins Miss Ukraine Universe 2009 beauty pageant.

The judges at the Miss Ukraine Universe-2009 competition had a tough time selecting the country’s top beauty on Feb. 20. All 15 finalists were apparently gorgeous but the title went to 25-year-old Christina Kots-Gotlib, the only contestant with traditional 90-60-90 measurements. The title of Vice Miss Ukraine Universe went to Anastasia Paperna, the daughter of the famous Ukrainian actress Olga Sumska. The winner, Kots-Gotlib, was the oldest and most experienced contestant, and her self-assured presence on stage conquered the judges.

The judges included Oleksandra Nikolaenko, owner of the pageant and an ex-winner herself, actors Sergey Zhygunov and Svetlana Svetlichnaya, and son of billionaire Donald Trump, Eric Trump.

Last year’s winner of Miss Ukraine Universe Eleonora Massalab and Miss Universe 2008, Venezuelan Diana Mendoza, took part in the award ceremony, while Tina Karol, a Ukrainian singer, was one of many pop stars who entertained guests while contestants refreshed their makeup and changed for yet another stroll on the catwalk.

Apart from the title and the crown, the winner of the pageant gets the right to represent Ukraine in Miss Universe 2009, a worldwide pageant. She also received a Mercedes-Benz, a monthly stipend of $5,000 for a year, and a trip to Paris. Photos by Yaroslav Debelyi.

Christina Kots-Gotlib, 25, was born in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk. From early childhood, she was interested in dancing, playing football and dismantling home appliances. She took on rhythmic gymnastics as a child and even had minor achievements in the sport.

The new Miss Ukraine-Universe started modeling while studying at the Donetsk Trade and Economy Institute. She won a dozen of local and national beauty contests, and then started a singing career in 2005 as a part of Ukrainian pop trio Via-GRA. Although her voice was mediocre, producers liked her for beauty and grace, and she stayed in the band for a few months.

Source: kyivpost.com

Why Vietnam may Not Join Miss Universe and Miss World this year?

Have you heard about a new policy released by the Vietnamese government concerning about staging of beauty pageants in their country? Well, the government allows only ONE national pageant to be staged in a year. You've read it clear. I just don't understand why there is a restriction on the number of pageants for every year. As far as I know, Vietnam is a supporter of international pageants like Miss World and Miss Universe. In fact, it hosted last year's Miss Universe and it encouraged its people to vote for its candidates at Miss World during the times this British pageant was using text votes to determine the semi-finalists. Now, this Southeast Asian country is facing a problem on their participation for the other grandslam pageants.

Read the article below for you to know what I am ranting here. The picture you are seeing is just borrowed from a fan who made it.

Vietnam - This year, it will be a hard job for Vietnam to choose contestants for international beauty contests like Miss Universe and Miss World as the new rules only allow one national beauty contest a year – the Mrs. Vietnam pageant.

According to the regulations on the organisation of beauty contests in Vietnam, dated December 30, 2008, as of 2009, Vietnam will have only one national beauty contest, one regional, sector level beauty contest. Provincial pageants are permitted to be held every two years.

In recent years, Vietnam has had three national beauty contests: Miss Vietnam, Miss Vietnam Global and Miss Universe Vietnam. According to the new regulations, these contests will not be organised in 2009 because Mrs. Vietnam 2009 was licenced to be the sole pageant.

The Chief of the Performance Art Agency under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Le Ngoc Cuong, said the Mrs. Vietnam 2009 pageant must be licenced this year because in 2008, the government approved the Mrs. World 2009 pageant in Vietnam. Vietnam needs to hold a national beauty contest to choose a representative for the Mrs. World 2009.

Moreover, the agency received applications for organising beauty contests 2009 last October and at that time, the agency didn’t receive any application except for the Mrs. Vietnam 2009, Cuong said.

“It is quite funny that each year Vietnam will have only one national beauty contest because each pageant has its own criteria. Mrs. Vietnam is for married contestants. It will be a loss for young girls if only Mrs. Vietnam 2009 is licenced next year,” said former Chief Editor of Tien Phong Newspaper, who has been the chief organiser of many national beauty contests, Duong Xuan Nam.

The vice chief of the Performance Art Agency, Nguyen Van Khanh, suggested that the Miss Vietnam Global, Miss Universe Vietnam, etc. should change their scale from national to regional or sectoral to get a licence.

However, Duong Xuan Nam, one of the founders of Miss Vietnam Global pageant, said it is impossible to lower the scale of Miss Vietnam Global because this contest is open to contestants from home and abroad.

Respecting the new rules, the Deputy General Director of the Universe Joint Stock Company, Chi Bao, stated that the firm would not organise Miss Vietnam Universe 2009. He also said that it is impossible to change the scale of the pageant because in that case, the winner of this contest will fail to meet conditions to attend the international Miss Universe pageant.

The new rules are said will cause difficulties for Vietnam in choosing representatives for international beauty contests this year. But Cuong said: “Vietnam doesn’t need to have too many beauty contests while its organising skills are unprofessional. Moreover, not all international pageants require national-level contestants.”

At the same time, Elite Vietnam stated it would stop buying the copyright to send Vietnamese representatives to Miss World and Miss Universe 2009.

Managing Director of Elite Vietnam, Thuy Nga, said: “This decision was considered in 2008 and Elite Vietnam wants to focus on modelling.”

However, she admitted that choosing contestants for Miss World and Miss Universe 2009 will be difficult.

A Beauty Queen Dies During a Pageant, Beauty Contest is Bad for Women, A Model Hopes to win a Beauty Pageant

Russian Student Dies During Beauty Pageant - The Miss Faculty of Economy pageant in Saranak, Russia, ended tragically. One of the contestants, 20-year-old Olga Shkolina, died on stage, world agencies report.

Doctors warned the girl that her heart was weak, nevertheless, she applied for beauty pageant. Olga`s medical condition also deteriorated due to various diets and slimming pills.

The girl was keen on winning and she collapsed during her dance routine, when she wanted to display her talent. Olga`s heart simply failed. The event shocked audience members, who rushed to help the unfortunate girl. However, the young girl`s heart stopped for good. (www.javno.com)

Model hopes to win beauty pageant - A Norwich woman is raising money for charity after getting through to the national final of a beauty pageant.

Ann-Marie Woodyatt, 29, has been named Miss Norfolk Galaxy after she entered the competition organised by Galaxy Pageants UK. The blonde model and events organiser has only been modelling for three years, and has never entered a similar competition before.

She is organising a charity ball on April 7 at Dunston Hall to raise money for Sparks, the children's medical research charity. She is involved in producing a 2010 calendar to raise money for cancer research.

She said she never thought she would have any success in the first round of the competition, which was based on sending photographs to the organisers along with information about herself. She said: “To find out I had won and had been crowned Miss Norfolk is a really big deal for me. It is amazing.”

The Miss Galaxy UK final is in Manchester on March 29. If she wins, she will be flown out to Florida for a week in July to take part in the international Miss Galaxy competition.(www.eveningnews24.co.uk)

Beauty Contests: Bad for Women? The protestor - Betty Friedan stated: “men are not the enemy, but the fellow victims. The real enemy is women’s denigration of themselves.”

I invoke the Second Wave stereotype to announce that the Miss University of London Pageant has done contemporary feminism an enormous favour. It provides living, breathing, posing, pouting evidence for the “backlash against feminism” in our very community. The ‘Frilly Feminist’ contestants see the pageant revival as empowering.

This is the true testimony of the endeavours of Friedan and her sisters - intelligent, emancipated young women are free to choose to objectify themselves, ‘free’ to be liberated from the library and judged as the true embodiment of sexual desire.

Considering empowerment surely is about self-determination; I would ask the contestants whether they feel that the image that they present on the stage truly represents them. The women at the pageant are given a class on how to walk, how to pose, how to dress etc; who are they posing for?

I could rant about the exclusivity of ‘accepted’ beauty categories, about how empowerment is about fostering an appreciation of endless diversity (rather than the Crufts-esque eugenic cleansing currently being shunned across the board), but what I truly don’t understand is why people buy into these notions in the first place. Categories defined by a patriarchal consumerism, judged on their standards whatever these might be. It’s not the ‘standards’ themselves, even, but the very fact that we’re judged at all.

The pageant reinforces a system of oppression that says that women are only worth anything if they fit an idealised stereotype, even at university.

The parameters are totally unachievable, rendering ‘empowerment’ a mirage only to be found on airbrushed covers of fashion magazines. The desperation to fulfil this unattainable goal causes endless physical and mental health problems, such as eating disorders and depression, not to mention perpetuating a skewed image of femininity and sexuality.

We are the world leaders of tomorrow: what do we want our legacy to be? Bookstores where girls can buy Playboy stationary?

Pole-dancing kits sold to children as exercise equipment? In a society where 60 per cent of middle school girls would rather be strippers than doctors, this is a very real concern.

The pageant symbolises a backlash against feminism that is encroaching onto university territory - one of the few safe spaces where we can be on an even platform regardless of our gender, sexual definition or race. In the workspace there is still a gender pay gap. At home the woman is most vulnerable to abuse. Universities now have beauty pageants, pole dancing societies, Playboy Bunny parties, not to mention the now deemed generic ladies nights. With increasing student financial problems, more and more female students are working in lap-dancing clubs, sex phonelines, and even prostitution, to fund their studies.

Empowerment cannot be bought over a beauty counter, by embracing one’s role as an object. Empowerment is about fighting for liberation for all, so beauty and sexual liberation will come to mean real exploration and freedom of self-definition, rather than consumer catchphrases seeking to ‘uglify’ us into buying their products.

We have bigger battles to face than beauty pageants. But the only way that we can tackle these problems is by uniting against them, not judging each other on a platform.(www.london-student.net)

Binibining Pilipinas Tidbits

In the picture are the winners of the 1969 Binibining Pilipinas.

From left: Maricar Azaola, third runner-up; Nelia Sancho, first runner-up (and 1971 Queen of the Pacific); Binky Montinola (Bb. Pilipinas-International 1969); Gloria Diaz (Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 1969 and Miss Universe 1969); Denden Quirino, second runner-up; and Carmina Gutierrez, fourth runner-up

This is taken from the column of one of my favorite writers, Ricky Lo of The Philippine Star.

A new set of Bb. Pilipinas — Universe, World and International — will be chosen from a batch of 27 candidates (“One of the best batches,” said Madame Stella Marquez-Araneta, lady boss of the Bb. Pilipinas Charities, Inc.) in the grand finals on March 7 at the Big Dome.

Funfare’s “other beauty expert” Celso de Guzman Caparas (now working in Saudi) has compiled the following binibini “juicy bits” and anecdotes:

• 1964 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Myrna Panlilio and the country’s other top ramp models appeared in a travelogue fashion show, Sights & Sounds of Pacifica ’68, a Honolulu TV format aired every Sunday, filmed in Hawaii, New York, San Francisco, Chicago and Mexico City. Myrna was a finalist in the 1964 Filipina Maid of Cotton.

• 1964 semi-finalist Edna Keyes was introduced in Lalaine, Mahal Kita (1964, topbilled by Lalaine Bennet, 1963 Miss Philippines and 1963 Miss Universe third runner-up). Edna was also Miss Luzon, first runner-up to 1964 Miss Philippines–International Gemma Cruz.

• 1965 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Louise Vail Aurelio, an American mestiza, was a track-and-field athlete from Iloilo. She appeared with 1964 Miss International Gemma Cruz in Sunduan which was featured in the Sampaguita movie Romansa sa World’s Fair (1965, topbilled by Susan Roces and Romeo Vasquez).

• 1965 second runner-up Sehba Mulok (real name: Georgie Reisland), a Muslim princess by birth from Kiamba, Cotabato, appeared in People’s Pictures movies using Soraya as her screen name. Her film credits include Captain Barbell Kontra Captain Bakal and Hong Kong 999 (both in 1965).

• Other Muslim princesses who have joined the pageant include Emraida Kiram (1966 candidate and later Miss RP-World 1966), Yasmin Kiram (1968 semi-finalist and later 1970 Miss Caltex finalist) and Ava Quibranza (1979 Bb. Pilipinas-Maja).

• 1967 Bb. Pilipinas–Universe Pilar Pilapil was crowned by Claudine Auger, 1958 Miss World first runner-up who became a Bond Girl. Neil Sedaka was the special guest during the pageant.

• 1968 third runner-up Tina Artillaga entered showbiz eight years after the contest, first in Hoy Mister, Ako Ang Misis Mo (1976) starring Joseph Estrada and Elizabeth Oropesa, and then in Mga Sekretaryang Walang Silya (1976).

• 1968 Miss Philippines-International second runner-up Fortune Aleta is presently the honorary Consul of Monaco to the Philippines. She’s a cum laude Optometry graduate from CEU. Fortune was also 1968 Mutya ng Pilipinas first runner-up (to Jane de Joya).

• Nineteen days before she was crowned 1969 Bb. Pilipinas–Universe, Gloria Diaz was one of the seven finalists in the 1969 Quest for a Model search won by Maricar Azaola who became Gloria’s third runner-up in the Bb. Pilipinas pageant. It was 1963 Miss Caltex Elsa Payumo who tapped Gloria to join the Bb. Pilipinas contest.

• 1970 Bb. Pilipinas-International and 1970 Miss International Aurora Pijuan was one of the members of the 12 Young VIP Council of Rustan’s in 1968 (along with Camay Girl-actress Maritess Revilla and 1969 Queen of the Pacific runner-up Emma Ruth Yulo).

• 1970 first runner-up Imelda Pagaspas was in the cast of the longest-running afternoon soap, Flordeluna (1979-1983), starring Janice de Belen.

• 1972 second runner-up and Miss Photogenic Polly Penson was paired with Dolphy in Bornebol, Special Agent (1974). She was crowned Mutya ng Pilipinas in 1974 and placed second runner-up in the Miss Asia pageant that year.

• 1975 Bb. Young Pilipinas Jean Saburit made her acting debut in an episode of Habang May Buhay on Channel 13 after her reign. Leroy Salvador was impressed and included Jean in the cast of Tang Tarang Tang for three seasons. Her first movie was Kapten Batuten (1977), first starring role was in Kaladkarin (1980) and first title role was in Babae Sa Ulog (1981). Jean won the Miss Yukata (Best in Summer Kimono) Award in the 1976 Miss Young International.

• 1976 first runner-up and Best in Swimsuit Celita de Castro portrayed the young Vilma Valera in Rosa Negra (1962, topbilled by Lolita Rodriguez). Celita was crowned Miss Hawaii-USA in 1977 and was one of the semi-finalists in the Miss USA 1977 (for Miss Universe) pageant. She also appeared in Eddie Romero’s Banta ng Kahapon (1977) and had a supporting guest role in Charlie’s Angels (starring Jaclyn Smith, Farah Fawcett and Cheryl Ladd) Season 2/Episode 3 Pretty Angels in a Row which was aired on Sept. 28, 1977. Celita was also 1974 Miss Oahu Filipina and 1975 Miss Hawaii Filipina.

•1976 semi-finalist Azenith Briones did a few movies between 1977 and 1979 including Omeng Satanasia (with Dolphy, her first movie), Patayin Si Mediavillo (with FPJ), Mission: Terrorize Panay (with Ramon Revilla), Magapatuka Na Lang Ako Sa Ahas (with Chiquito) and Sabotage II (with Tony Ferrer), among others. She was also 1975 Miss Tourism (Mutya) second runner-up.

•1977 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Anna Lorraine Kier starred in top-rating sitcom Duplex as the love interest of Al Tantay, played the nurse of Dindo Fernando in Flordeluna and did hosting chores in Business Talk. Anna was also 1976 Miss Teenage Philippines.

• 1977 Miss Maja Pilipinas and Artist Choice Award winner Bambi Arambulo got her break in showbiz three years after her reign when she was introduced in Temptation Island (1980) in which she shared top billing with fellow beauty queens Azenith Briones, Jennifer Cortez, Dina Bonnevie. She also appeared in Ang Agila at ang Falcon (1981, with FPJ and Tony Ferrer) and Alfredo Sebastian (1981, with Ramon Revilla Sr.) Bambi was also 1976 Filipina Maid of Cotton.

•1978 Bb. Pilipinas–Universe Jennifer Cortez was persuaded by award-winning cinematographer Romy Vitug to join the Bb. pageant while she was shooting her first movie, Pagputi ng Uwak, Pag-itim ng Tagak (1978, directed by Celso Ad. Castillo). Her other movies include Tatak Angustia, Daniel Bartolo, Tatlong Hari and Temptation Island, all in the early ‘80s.

Miss Universe Ukraine Named; Vietnam may not be Represented in Misses World and Universe 2009

Via Gra ex-member named Miss Ukraine Universe

Former member of Via Gra girls’ band, Christina Kots-Gotlib, won Miss Ukraine Universe beauty pageant on Friday, Feb. 20. She will represent Ukraine at Miss Universe 2009.

Anastasia Paperna, the daughter of the famous Ukrainian actress Olga Sumska, was named First Vice-Miss.

15 girls competed for the title of Miss Ukraine Universe. Among the jury members where actors Sergey Zhygunov and Svetlana Svetlichnaya, owner of Miss Ukraine Universe beauty pageant Oleksandra Nikolayenko and son of billionaire Donald Trump, Eric Trump.

Vietnam may not join Miss World, Miss Universe 2009

Elite Vietnam has refused to repurchase the copyright to send Vietnamese candidates to the Miss World, Miss Universe 2009 pageants. This means that Vietnam may miss the two big beauty contests this year.

Elite Vietnam Managing Director Thuy Nga said the firm’s withdrawal was planned in 2008, and is not because it is afraid of the new strict rules issued by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on beauty contests.

Under the new rules, there will be only one national beauty contest, Mrs. Vietnam 2009. Other contests will be local-level events. Contestants at Miss World and Miss Universe must be winners of national contests.

“If we want, we can choose beauties from previous years. But this is not a good method. It’s time to solve the problem at its roots,” she said.

Miss Vietnam Global 2007 Ngo Phuong Lan, who refused twice to take part in the Miss World pageant, said that if she was invited to attend an international beauty contest in 2009, she would have to refuse because she is busy with a new job and new life in Vietnam.

The first runner-up of the Miss Universe Vietnam 2008, Hoang Yen, said she was willing to represent Vietnam at any international beauty contest.

GP’s daughter aims to be Miss World

 

Some doctors may secretly hope their offspring follow in their footsteps. For Canberra GP Dr Elizabeth Pickup, her daughter could not have headed in a more different direction had she tried.

Her daughter, Sophie Lavers, 24, is amongst finalists in the prestigious 2009 Miss World Australia contest. Following in the footsteps of stars such as Halle Berry and ‘Wonderwoman’ Lynda Carter who also contested the Miss World title, she is aiming to represent Australia in the Johannesburg pageant later this year.

The job description is for someone for a young single woman who “is expected to travel the world as a glamorous personality of star quality”.

But her mother is at pains to dismiss the stereotype of the empty-headed beauty queen who seeks to promote world peace.

“These days it is more about ‘beauty with a purpose,’ and Sophie is certainly fulfilling her fair share of charity commitments.”

Sophie tells 6minutes this week that she is on her way to the scene of the bushfires in Victoria, where she will be carrying out support work as part of her ambassadorial role with the Salvation Army.

Questioned over whether she ever considered going into medicine, she says: “I don’t think I would have been very good working with needles – but I do admire it.”

Text by Louise Durack

Outgoing Miss Bahamas Universe: Reign was an amazing Experience

All young ladies who aspire to hold the title of Miss Bahamas should definitely enter the Miss Bahamas Universe pageant, according to reigning queen Sacha Scott.

As her reign nears its end, she told The Nassau Guardian that it was an honor and an amazing experience to represent her country — an opportunity she says not everyone gets to have.

"Not only did this give me the opportunity to learn even more about my country, but I learned more about myself as well. I learned to overcome hurdles, answer difficult questions and I made great friends. So I honestly feel that this pageant can serve as a learning experience for all who enter, even if you don't win the crown."

The University of Miami student, is also the daughter of former Miss Bahamas title holder Christina Thompson-Scott, who represented the Bahamas at the Miss Universe Pageant in 1983 said it was like a dream come true. With her win, they became the first mother/daughter to capture the Miss Bahamas crown.

Scott, who represented The Bahamas at the Miss Universe pageant in Nha Trang, Vietnam, will pass on her crown to the new Miss Bahamas Universe.

The question: Could you be that new queen?

The Miss Bahamas Universe Organization is preparing for its 2009 pageant to select their new queen, who will represent the country at Miss Universe in August in Las Vegas. Garnell Storr, Miss Earth, and Amy Storr, Miss International Bahamas will also be handing over their crowns to title holders who will represent the country in the Philippines and Macau respectively.

Other beauty crowns to be filled this year, include Miss Teen World Bahamas, Miss Teen International Bahamas and Miss Teen Universal Bahamas.

Text by Karan Minnis for The Nassau Guardian

Entry open to Miss Jamaica Universe 2009

Entry is now open to the Miss Jamaica Universe Beauty Pageant 2009. Young Jamaican women between 18 and 26 years of age are invited to apply if they have beauty of face and body, a keen awareness of the world around them and the grace and confidence to represent Jamaica at the Miss Universe Pageant. Contestants should never have been married, or had children.

For this, the first competition since last year's groundbreaking event, which saw April Jackson emerge the winner from 25 finalists, all the stops are being pulled to ensure that the high standard of 2008 is maintained or even surpassed. Last year's coronation show attracted more than 5,000 patrons at a sold out event, which saw new age R&B superstar Keyshia Cole perform in Jamaica for the first time ever.

Jackson won over $1 million in cash as well as a brand new BMW motor car. Clearly the 2008 event realised its target of a world-class production, thus ensuring that the local event mirrored the international pageant's pre-eminence in the world of beauty contests.

This year's planned prize package is likely to be similar to last year's, even if not exactly the same as the event's organisers seek to attract Jamaica's best talent. A show-stopping entertainment package is also in the works and more details in this regard will be announced in the coming weeks.

Now in its 57th year, the Miss Universe competition provides the opportunities for women to be personally enriched through the organisation's year-round support of all aspects of their lives, from their own personal career goals to social and humanitarian causes and work. Interested applicants to the Miss Jamaica Universe pageant 2009 should enter online at www.missjamaica universe2009.com.

By JamaicaObserver.com

Audience to choose new Miss Universe Crown

Diamond Nexus Labs is the new Jewelry Sponsor for the Miss Universe pageants

In keeping with co-owner NBC Universal's "Green is Universal" environmental initiative, the Miss Universe Organization announced today that Diamond Nexus Labs, the world leader in lab-created precious gemstones, is the official jewelry sponsor for the Miss Universe(R), Miss USA(R) and Miss Teen USA(R) pageants.

Diamond Nexus Labs will create a custom-designed crown for Miss USA, who will be crowned from the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas live on NBC on April 19th.

"We are very excited to have partnered with the earth-conscious Diamond Nexus Labs to create this year's crowns. Their initiative coincides with the pageant's core values of being savvy, aware and socially mindful," said Paula M. Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization. "The titleholder crowns are some of the most revered pieces of jewelry in the world."

"We are honored to be creating these prestigious crowns and we stand with and congratulate the Miss Universe Organization and NBC on their bold venture in creating a greener world," said Gary LaCourt, CEO of Diamond Nexus Labs.

Diamond Nexus Labs, the fastest growing online jewelry company in America, is the creator of the world's most technologically advanced man-made gemstones. The gemstones are all synthesized in clean labs using environmentally friendly processes, making Diamond Nexus Labs conflict-free. They are created with no toxic byproducts or pollutants.

The stones are near perfect optical matches to the finest D color, internally flawless diamonds, but cost a fraction of the price. Additionally, the company creates perfect cultured rubies, emeralds and sapphires. In a world in the midst of a Green Revolution, Diamond Nexus Labs offers the solution to the serious effects of gemstone mining on the environment.

The green theme of Nexus Labs corresponds with "Green is Universal," NBC Universal's ongoing environmental initiative. Launched in May 2007, "Green is Universal" is dedicated to raising Green awareness and substantially greening the company's own operations. To date, "Green is Universal" has successfully launched three week-long programming events, airing a combined total of over 300 hours of green-themed content across 42 different NBC Universal brands.

"We're thrilled that the Miss Universe Organization chose to partner with an environmentally-friendly jeweler," said Lauren Zalaznick, President of NBC Universal's Women & Lifestyle Entertainment Networks and Chair of NBCU's Green Council, "And hope that Miss USA will use this as an opportunity to help raise green awareness."

Along with executive producer Donald J. Trump, veteran executive producer Phil Gurin and the Gurin Company will once again produce the Miss USA and Miss Universe telecasts.

Diamond Nexus Labs will also create three distinct crowns for the 2009 Miss Universe competition where the public will be able to choose the winning crown, which will be unveiled at the live telecast! Visit www.missuniverse.com for more information!

A Viewpoint on Miss Cebu Controversy

Miss Cebu is an annual pageant in one of Philippines' most popular cities. In fact, Cebu is the oldest city in the Philippines when it was established by the Spaniards who colonized the country in 1500's. This pageant is said to be one of the most prestigious beauty pageants in the Philippines but this year's competition was hurled by accusations of manipulation by the pageant organizers.

I found out an interesting article written by Ariel Allera who is a pageant coach and a contributor for The Mindanao Examiner. The title of the article is The Glitch and Glamour: Burdened by 'the beauty & the best' of Miss Cebu by Ariel Allera. Let's read it.

This is in reaction to a myriad scuttlebutts around the Miss Cebu 2009 controversy , as though not only pageant fanatics but also the people in general have been feasting on the topic based on what they've heard on radio, seen on T.V., let alone read in the papers. It's quite burdening to note that some came up with reports, both written and spoken, as if they were missologists who knew much about pageants and the ropes.

It stems from just one minor award given out during the selection cum coronation night held last January 14 at the Pacific Grand Ballroom of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino. The award in question is Globe Texters' Choice, which went to Kris Tiffany Janson. While such must've gone to Kimberley Burden, because the latter was in the lead on the survey, it's not in any way Janson's fault that her name was called. The spectators present at the venue, not to mention the televiewers who were watching the event live on Studio 23, didn't have any inkling to whom Globe Texters' Choice award was supposed to go.

No less than Kris herself was quite taken aback on the spot, because the latest she'd heard about the poll was that it was Kimberley who was leading. Matter of fact, when she was proclaimed the winner, she was hesitant to come forward, until she was completely sure it was her name having been called out by the host. Janson's supporters were as surprised at the announcement, thinking that maybe, just maybe, her votes had surpassed Burden's at the eleventh hour.

Kris Tiffany Janson's bagging the Miss Cebu 2009 crown at the end of the night had nothing to do with the special awards she had garnered prior to the coronation, as well as those she had acquired several nights ago when the candidates were first presented to the public in a fashion show held at the Fuente Osmena Circle.

Quite a number of Miss Universe delegates ended up as winners without any special award in the first place. We can only wish that, before anyone dared to write something about this, they should have followed on prestigious pageants like Miss Universe, as religiously as they keep themselves abreast with current issues...so that they would've known that Miss Universe 2007 Riyo Mori of Japan didn't get any special award before her crown was relinquished by Puerto Rico's Zuleyka Rivera (Miss Universe 2006), who wasn't awarded with any trophy or whatever prior to her coronation.

Canada's Natalie Glebova won the Miss Universe title in 2005 despite her not getting any minor award. The three successive years had our country's delegates (2007 Bb Pilipinas Anna Theresa Licaros, 2006 Bb Pilipinas Lia Andrea Ramos, 2005 Bb Pilipinas Gionna Cabrera) winning the Miss Photogenic special awards, respectively; however, they were unplaced in the final slot. In 1999, Miriam Quiambao won as Clairol Herbal Essences Style awardee and Spain's Diana Noguera got both the Best in Swimsuit and the Best in Gown special awards, but then Mpule Kwelagobe eventually edged them out by wearing the Miss Universe crown on her way back home to Botswana.

For 25 years now, Miss Cebu organizers have maintained their opulent taste in choosing the right people with the trained eyes for beauty, the keen ears for the sensible brains to match. Unfortunately (read: addressed to the ones who pretend to know something), this search doesn't have a swimsuit competition. The fact that Janson was adjudged Miss Cebu would mean no more than that the judges saw her potentiality to be Cebu's next official ambassador of goodwill, spokesmodel for young Cebuanas, voice to the world. Kris was indisputably a stand-out amongst everyone's bet---what with her lovely face, her vibrant personality, her classy style, her regal carriage, her good breeding, let alone her no-nonsense answer to the final question. Any intelligent audience can attest to all of the above.

How could they question the credibility of judges Tweetie de Leon-Gonzales and Katrina Holigores? Now, some people are making insinuations that both judges must've accounted a lot for Kris's victory because she had been in one of Tweetie's and Katrina's modelling workshops in FTV-Philippines. Dear friends, Metro Magazine's Katrina Holigores was judging only the Best Fashion Designer (Oj Hofer) as well as the Best in Evening Gown awards (take note: the latter went to Rizzini Alexis Gomez). Isn't it shallow?

The pageant is not just for anybody who comes in the Cebu City Tourism Commission Office and goes through the process with at least a five-feet-four stature, a beautiful face, a well-curved body, a fair-complected skin, a mind that contains her canned answers to hackneyed questions. The commissioners aren't a dumb bunch of organizers who will give the last slot to whoever can fill in the blank. Which is why a string of screenings are completed before the list of official candidates is finalized. It is downright ridiculous that, after all, it seems easy for some to say that Kris Tiffany Janson had not undergone the screening process before she was enlisted as one of the 12 official candidates to the 2009 Miss Cebu Search.

It was about 2:00PM on January 29 (Thursday) when Kris and I were together in Ayala Center, en route to Starbucks, where we were supposed to sit down on our interview for my entertainment article, when we received a text message from Dexter Alazas (her mentor, managing director of A.D. Models Philippines and StyleFirm) saying that there was a formal complaint to be filed against them for violating a pageant rule that prohibits the candidates' parents, handlers, and agents from being present in any official pageant activity. It was later stressed that Dexter attended the press conference at the Cebu City Hall and also the Miss Cebu pre-pageant night at the Fuente Osmena Circle.

Dexter had just arrived from Puerto Princesa, Palawan, together with Jam Charish Libatog, fresh from her victory at the Mutya Ng Pilipinas pageant the night prior. Being last year's Miss Cebu 2nd runner-up and another Cebuana who just did Cebu proud, Jam was brought straight to the Cebu City Hall where a press conference was being held for the Miss Cebu 2009 candidates, hosted by reigning queen Sian Elizabeth Maynard, attended by Libatog's fellow runners-up from the previous year and, of course, members of the press. Dexter's presence that evening was highly regarded because, for one, he's the manager of Jam's and, on the other hand, he's a fashion columnist of The Freeman newspaper and so he had every reason to participate in the so-called question-and-answer taking place in the room. Was that hard to understand?

True, Dexter was also present at the pre-pageant night held at the Fuente Osmena Circle. And why wouldn't he be? He's the one who designed and provided for all the 12 red evening gowns that the candidates were wearing at the finale of the fashion show. Is this harder to understand?

Anyhow, Kris and I then decided to just go straight to CCTC office where Dexter was awaiting. We couldn't help laughing up our sleeves because, how could Kris have been enlisted as official candidate if she hadn't passed through the screening? We were all just watching the video that contains the file of that said screening where Kris's first runner-up Rizzini Alexis Gomez was with her, standing before a panel of commissioners who were interviewing them.

It wasn't in any way intended as a special screening for Kris and Rizzini, because there were two other girls scheduled to undergo such but didn't show up for school reasons, because the list of official candidates was not finalized yet, because the last two applicants (Kris and Rizzini) were not difficult to fill in the blank. And w hat do they mean Kris failed to submit her curriculum vitae? There was the official Miss Cebu application form which every aspiring candidate filled out as a prerequisite for the screening. If that's what they mean, maybe it's time they knew its definition and the difference between the two.

Somehow, when thoughts are clouded with sour grapes, the mind becomes restless over nothing more or less than false accusations, a by-product of sheer envy and pure jealousy. Please bear in mind, this is not addressed to the Burdens. It doesn't carry a wisp of insinuation for anybody following on the controversy, for we believe that hate is too great a burden to bear it injures the hater more than it injures the hated. William Shakespeare wrote, "A wretched soul, bruised with adversity, We bid be quiet when we hear it cry; But were we burdened with like weight of pain, As much or more we should ourselves complain..."

Instead that we keep pulling the strings of Kris Tiffany Janson or try to lift the precious 25th Miss Cebu crown from her head, why don't we support the lovely Cebuana in her cause so that, together, we make Cebu go over with a bang in the next 25 years... and beyond?

A Meeting with Miss Universe 2008 Dayana Mendoza

Here is an article about our reigning Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza of Venezuela and Miss USA Universe 2008. This is lifted from the column of one of my favorite writers, Ricky Lo of the Philippine Star. But this particular story is send to him by his so-called "beauty expert", Felix Manuela.

Ricky says:

Felix Manuel, one of Funfare’s “beauty experts” now working (as a nurse) in New York, had a close encounter with 2008 Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza. Here’s his breathless account:

I met her and two other beauties two weeks ago at the NBC Experience Store in Manhattan. She was so nice. Interviews with them were not allowed due to time constraints. I was just so happy to see her in person. 2008 Miss USA Crystle Stewart and 2008 Miss Teen USA Stevi Perry were also there as well; an added bonus for a pageant aficionado like me.

I showed Dayana my collection of newspaper/magazine stories about her and she was impressed.

Incidentally, the Miss Universe Organization has not decided where this year’s Miss Universe pageant would be held; several countries are bidding to host the pageant. By the way, a new crown will be used this year.

Dayana, 22, was crowned Miss Universe 2008 in Nha Trang, Vietnam, in July last year. She was born in Caracas, Venezuela. She speaks three languages — Spanish, English and Italian. She was discovered at the age of 13 at a local bus stop. Since then, she has gained vast experience in catalogue modeling and has worked with prestigious companies like Max Mara and Costume Nacional. Modeling has allowed Dayana to travel the world, visiting places like New York, Italy, Germany, France, Athens and Spain. One of her most unforgettable experiences was when she was kidnapped, and incident which she said made her stronger.

She has proven to be a great champion for the official causes of Miss Universe, which include increasing HIV/AIDS awareness by focusing on women’s health and reproductive issues, and forging relationships with organizations committed to research and education including the Latino Commission on AIDS Global Health Council and God’s Love We Deliver.

Crystle (of Texas), 26, was crowned Miss USA 2008 after competing five times in the Miss Texas pageant. A B.S. Consumer Science & Merchandising graduate from the University of Houston, she is a fourth-generation educator and teacher. Crystle is not just a pretty face, she is also an entrepreneur with her own company, Inside/Out, which she uses as a platform for public speaking appearances, character development lessons and event planning. She will always be remembered for her tumble during the evening gown competition of last year’s Miss Universe pageant.

Stevi (from Hamburg, Arkansas), 18, was crowned Miss Teen USA 2008 on Aug. 16, 2008 at the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort in the Bahamas. Already established as a successful model, Stevi has modeled for a top national dance-apparel company and was chosen as a finalist in Cosmo Girl’s So You Want to be a Model contest, beating thousands of other entrants. She plans to attend the New York Film Academy to learn more about the entertainment industry and hone her acting skills.

Miss Earth 2008: The opportunity and experience of a lifetime

Endings are always bittersweet. It was a delight to return home to see familiar faces and sleep in my own bed, but having to say goodbye to all the ladies and staff that shared in everything I did for almost a month was definitely difficult.

So what happened during those 3 and a half weeks? We had jam-packed days that started at 5 a.m., and ended at 1 a.m. Our activities in a single day would range from tree-planting to visiting schools, and then attending formal evening events. We did a lot of work, and got to participate in some fun events – fashions shows and photo shoots. The most important, however, were the various conferences and television interviews that allowed us to speak about our countries, our culture, and the environmental issues and solutions that were important to us.

The trip was very educational – and I truly enjoyed learning of the different delegates’ countries and environmental work. We had seminars and opportunities to speak to specialists in different fields, regarding their work from an environmental perspective – and we visited cities across the Philippines to see what kind of efforts were being done there.

One of the cities that remains special to me is Puerto Princesa, on the Island of Palawan. The city is known as the “City within a forest” for its excellent maintenance of its terrain and vegetation. It is also the location of one of the nominations for the new “Seven Wonders of the World” list -the subterranean river. What makes this underground river so unique is that it is the world’s longest navigable underground river, and we delegates had the opportunity to take a canoe ride to marvel at its beauty.

While there, we encouraged people to vote for it as one of the new Seven Wonders – and voting can still be done at www.new7wonders.com Aside from its stunning landscapes, Puerto Princesa holds a special place in my heart because I was awarded the title of Miss Puerto Princesa 2008 – an award given to the best final answer of the top 5 contestants in the swimsuit competition.

As for the final results, one of my good friends from the pageant – Karla Henry, Miss Philippines – won the title of Miss Earth 2008. I am proud of her accomplishment and I know she will be a great environmental ambassador. I did not make the semi-finals, but that is no disappointment. I still bring home a title, and most importantly, many great memories, knowledge and friendships, and a friend told me that the impression I left in the Philippines as Miss Earth Canada was as a “go-getter, smart, energetic and a well-rounded person.” I think this is a winning impression for Canada.

It doesn’t end here. I still have the title of Miss Earth Canada to fulfill, until next August. There are events that I am already booked for, including attending the Miss Eart United States Pageant in July, the launch of my evening gown designer’s line (ULTRA) in February, and the judging of the Miss North Ontario Pageant in May. Most importantly, I will continue to represent Miss Earth by being a “Green lifestyle” role model and environmental advocate.

Author: Denise Garrido
Bradford Times

Beauty a champ of poor children

Let's here from one of Malaysia's most beautiful representative to Miss World. Deborah Priya Henry.

FOR former Miss Malaysia World Deborah Henry, charity is not just about dropping change into a collection tin once in a while, it’s about making sure you make a difference.

The stunning lass who hails from Kuala Lumpur was in Penang recently to promote World Vision Malaysia’s 3,000 Children in 3 Months campaign.

“When I was younger, my parents always sponsored kids. We first had one in the Philippines and then one in Ecuador.

“I sponsored one of my own in 2006 and when I won Miss Malaysia (in 2007),” she said in an interview during her visit to Penang.

The former beauty pageant queen currently has three sponsored children — a boy each in India and Cambodia and a girl in China.

“In the 3,000 Children in 3 Months campaign, our goal is to register new sponsors for 3,000 children by the end of March.

“One of the most frequently asked questions is — does the child get the RM50 I pledge every month?

“World Vision understands that to help a child, you have to help the parents and the community. This is the most sustainable way to break the cycle of poverty.

“Instead of giving a child money, which will either be wasted on toys or be spent by the parents, World Vision builds a hospital that will give that child health care.

“They also build schools and train teachers which will enable that child to get an education,” shed added.

With the multi-pronged approach, she said, communities as a whole were lifted out of poverty and parents ended up earning up to five times their initial income after World Vision started area development programmes in their villages.

“The sponsorship also makes things very personal. It’s nice to get letters from the children saying how they are doing in school and telling me about their grades and hobbies.

“Sometimes you get Chinese New Year and Christmas cards and through all this, you know you’re making a difference to that child’s life.

“It’s easy to throw RM5 into a bucket and say ‘I’ve done my part’ but we need to take it to the next level when it comes to responsible giving and making sure that the people you want to help get that help,” Henry added.

With signs suggesting that the worse of the global economic slowdown is yet to come, Henry reminded the public that this meant more dire times for children in impoverished nations as well.

“It’s RM50 a month which comes up to RM600 a year so a lot of people can generally afford it. However, things are going to be hard and charities like World Vision are definitely not immune,” she said.

On her personal plans for the future, she said she was thinking about creating her own charity organisation one day.

“In the long term, I hope to start a business of my own, possibly in retail.

“I will definitely continue doing social work in my own way and maybe even start something myself,” she said.

Asked whether she had any plans of having children herself, she laughed and replied: “Let’s think about get married first.”

“Being the second of four kids, I’ve grown up with lots of babies and I’d love to have kids.

“For a few years, I’ve been thinking a lot about adopting a child as well.

“I’ve always had a great interest and felt very strongly about the situation in Africa so I’d like to adopt a baby from there one day,” she said.

A Valentines Wedding for Miss Universe 1983 Miss Lorraine Downes

The celebrity cupid was shooting true this Valentine's Day with three of the country's leading ladies getting hitched.

Former Miss Universe Lorraine Downes and television stars Jaquie Brown and Joe Cotton married their beaus yesterday.

Although the skies opened up, no amount of rain was going to put a damper on Downes' and cricket star Martin Crowe's wedding.

About 70 guests travelled by bus to Omaha, north of Auckland, to attend the ceremony at a mansion above Pink Beach. Downes' agent, Andy Haden, said the couple were calm and happy, despite the stormy weather that threatened to foil plans of an outdoor ceremony.

"It will take a lot more than a bit of rain to spoil their day... They're thrilled and very happy," he said.

Haden wouldn't spill any details on what the former beauty queen was wearing.

But New Zealand's first and only Miss Universe, and the 2006 Dancing with the Stars winner, told Woman's Day a few months ago she was turning down a traditional white dress in exchange for a one-off piece by designer Jane Yeh.

She emphasised that the rest of the wedding wouldn't be conventional either. "We're not getting married in a church, so it's going to be very relaxed."

Crowe's five-year-old daughter Emma, to former partner Suzanne Taylor, and Downes' daughter Jasmine, 11, were flower girls.

Security around the wedding was tight, with the Australian Women's Weekly magazine protecting its exclusive rights with a posse of six security guards who blocked the driveway and clifftop in four-wheel-drives.

It is the second marriage for both - Downes' first husband was All Black Murray Mexted, while Crowe was married to interior designer Simone Curtice.

Meanwhile, Brown tied the knot with her partner, advertising agency creative Guy Denniston, in a garden wedding at a private home on the outskirts of Havelock North.

Two buses and four mini-vans ferried guests to the McLean Rd home, near Te Mata Peak, for the 4pm ceremony.

Brown is believed to have designed her off-white dress herself.

Talking to the Star-Times yesterday, Brown said she was excited about the big day.

"I'm happy, I'm thrilled, I'm excited, but I'd prefer not to talk about it in the press."

Former True Bliss star Joe Cotton, 30, married her bar manager fiance Daniel Shields, 32, in Auckland.

Like Downes, Cotton wore a gown by Yeh. Cotton declined to talk to the Star-Times yesterday but told Woman's Day her gown was "anything but simple".

Miss Universe 2009 in Ukraine?

I reported earlier here in my blog that Miss Universe 2009 will be held in Ukraine. Click here for the story. But late last year rumors are spreading that it will be held in the USA and might go back to Las Vegas in Nevada. The reason why it would not be in Ukraine is because of financial issues. You have to include there the threat on national security on neighboring countries.

But I am now confused since newspapers in Ukraine are reporting that the pageant will be held in Zagreb.

They say Deputy Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor, Minister of Tourism Damir Bajs and Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandic have already submitted a bid to host the pageant. The newly built Zagreb arena is a perfect venue for the beauty pageant.

It was also reported that Donald Trupm, the owner of the pageant, and the whole Miss Universe office are really interested in bringing to Ukraine the 2009 Miss Universe pageant. Officials have already inspected the are and they were impressed.

Aside from Ukraine, the Dominican Republic, United Kingdom and Macau are also bidding. Well, we'll all know the real venue soon since the pageant is fast approaching.

Miss Philippines-Universe 1969, Pilar Pilapil

Let's go back to the 60's where beauty queens were regal and queenly. There are lots of difference nowadays about girls joining beauty pageants as compared when the pageant was still young. Today the focus is on model-type tall girls who can walk the runways. Before, intelligence, poise and reputation are important.

One of the major players during this era was the Philippines. This is the golden era for the Filipinos when they win pageants left and right. To honor one of their beauty queens, I am bringing you an article about Miss Philippines - Universe 1967, Pilar Pilapil. This is written by Ricky Lo of the Philippine Star.

The article does not focus on her Miss Universe experience but it is interesting to know her after she joined the pageant. Last 2006, Pilar released an autobiography. The book is still available.

Read from here.

You wonder why the autobiography is entitled The Woman Without a Face when the author, Pilar Pilapil, is one of the loveliest and most visible faces to ever grace the silver screen.

You find the answer at the Conclusion chapter of the book subtitled The Life Story of Pilar Pilapil.

"Looking back," writes Pilar, "I tried very hard for many years to look for the love of a father and find happiness by doing what I wanted, and what everyone wanted me to do. I did what my parents wanted. I did what my directors wanted. I did what my fans wanted. I did what my men wanted, but most of all I did what I wanted! I soared to the highest levels of success that this world had to offer, only to find when I got there that I was empty, did not know who I was, and even despaired of life itself. I really did not have a face of my own."

But this book, which reads more like a testimony that renewed Christians (like the author is) deliver before a rapt audience than a real autobiography, Pilar Delilah "Lailing" Veloso Pilapil has finally put a face on that woman, and what a face it is!

Writing in all candidness in an easy style, as if she’s just writing a long-overdue revealing/revelatory letter to a trusted friend, Pilar starts her story from her childhood in Liloan town, Cebu, where she was born on Oct. 12, 1950, explaining without any apology that she has two sides – the Pilar Side which she claims is her "saintly nature" (the name Pilar having been taken from Mary of Pillar whose feast day falls on her birthday); and the Delilah Side, her "sinful nature" (Delilah having been derived from the woman who betrayed Samson, her lover, by cutting his hair, source of his strength and power).

She’s the woman without a face but with two distinct sides quite contrary to each other.

The youngest of six girls (with four brothers after her) recalled that childhood, spent with a spinster aunt since age five, with an overtone of bitterness toward a father who, she insists, didn’t love her, citing an incident when she was 14 and starting to be "mischievous" with the guys: She obeyed terrified when her father, depressed after losing his job at a tire company, summoned her to his room and, she narrated, "shut the door behind me and I learned just how very cruel my father could be."

What that "cruelty" was she didn’t elaborate. But after that incident, she says, "My life was never again the same."

Faking her age (18, she indicated in the application when in fact she was only sweet sixteen), she won as Bb. Pilipinas-Universe in 1967. After representing the country in that year’s Miss Universe Pageant, Pilar succumbed to the lure of showbiz, rising above being "a mere beauty" by winning a Best Actress award (for Imelda, ang Uliran) at the Manila Film Festival.

And she fell in love with, you guessed it, older men, first with Dolphy (who, according to some sources, she almost married) and then with a man whom she identifies only as Doy, father of her only child Pia who married a handsome blind model. Pilar recalled that on their first meeting, the man Doy tried to seduce her ("...the fact that he was proposing sex without romance was a big turn-off to me..."), so she ran out of the back entrance and down the stairs because the elevator of the apartment building was out of order, much like "Cinderella running away from my Prince Charming."

Well, to make a long story short, Pilar fell deeply in love with the man Doy, "even though he was married with several children," convinced that "I believed I learned to love him, and I believed that he loved me," foolishly desiring that they would be together forever even if she knew that that could never happen.

One of Pilar’s poignant recollections of the man Doy was when he fought with his wife (unidentified in the book) and he stayed with Pilar for one week: Midnight came and my helper used the intercom and told me that Doy’s two daughters were downstairs. I went down to see them while Pia (then only about three years old) and her dad were fast asleep. As we talked, his daughter told me, "You finally found what you wanted." I replied, "It’s not a matter of what I want, it’s a matter of how many people get hurt in the process. There are eight of you, nine including your mother. There are only two of us." They both became quiet and asked if they could see their father. I led the elder daughter to our bedroom upstairs and she woke her dad, saying, "Dad, mom is already home." He woke up and told me, "Mama (our term of endearment), I’ll go home first."

I guess you and I have an idea what happened to that "affair to remember."

This much is clear: Pilar had a fixation for older men because of her desperate search for a father figure...for a redemption from the painful memory of a father who, she said, never loved her.

In the chapter entitled Finding Your True Face, Pilar writes: Just before my daughter Pia got married, I asked her why she wanted to marry a blind man who could not even see her. She replied, "Mama, you had lots of men in your life, but they couldn’t see you..."

You find in the book everything that you’ve always wanted to know about "this girl Pilar" (as the title of her then TV show put it). Pilar doesn’t mince words, she tells her story straight and direct to the point, she leaves nothing to the reader’s imagination, telling all: Her failed short-lived marriage to Spanish journalist Michel Ponti, her flirtation with men other than those mentioned in the book, her foray into politics and her long-drawn depression that led her to a suicide attempt.

Having found God, Pilar has found herself, she has found peace and made peace with the people she thought she had wronged and who had wronged her. She has found love and happiness in the person of, irony of ironies, a younger man named Leo Peñas (a.k.a. Pastor Bernie) whom she married on May 18, 2002. Like Pilar, Leo is a Christian whose mission in life is, like that of Pilar, to spread the Word of God.

The woman without a face has found a face at last.

Miss USA Crystle Stewart Takes Another Fall

In the picture is Miss USA-Universe 2008 Crystle Stewart. Last year in Vietnam, during the finals of the Miss Universe pageant, she fell onstage while parading in her evening gown.

Now, she's into another fall. But this time, it's a free fall or skydiving with the elite US Army parachuting team, the Golden Knights.

This is the first free fall for this 26 year-old beauty queen. She jumped out of the plane in a tandem skydive from 13,000 feet in Yuma, Arizona, on Monday. She was with instructor Sgt. 1st Class Mike Elliott and other members - Sgt. 1st Class Jeff Schafer, left of the pictures, Stf. Sgt. Joe Jones and Sgt. 1st Class Dallas Berentis at right.

Stewart just became the seventh Miss USA to jump with the Golden Knights.She says it was the most exciting and terrifying experience she's ever had — and something she will never forget.

Her big leap was part of a two-day tour of the Yuma area and its bases.

Death of a Beauty Queen - Brazil's Mariana Bridi Costa

Just seeing at the pictures of this beauty queen from Brazil, I can say that she's very vibrant, sweet, poised, strong and confident. She has long legs that makes her so sexy. She has a captivating smile and gorgeous eyes.

But those legs were amputated. Not only the legs but the beauty queen has gone. She died fighting to survive.

She was Mariana Bridi Costa. She made headlines around the world last month for contracting a seemingly ordinary urinary tract infection. The bacteria spread quickly and inexorably through her body, proving to be extremely drug resistant. In a desperate bid to save her life, doctors amputated her hands and feet. But by last week of January, she was dead.

One month ago, 20-year-old beauty queen Mariana was living the dream of many young Brazilian women, trading her striking good looks for a modeling career that promised to lift her family out of poverty.

It is very frustrating to hear her stories especially if she was doing all means to uplift the status of her life. She was very strong in her last days on earth and really fought the battle so hard to keep on living. I am sure many of us were inspired.

I am sharing you an article written by one of her mentors in the beauty pageants, Henrique Fontes. This was written during the time Mariana was fighting so hard.

Spend a little time to read this.

I can say that in these three years producing the Miss World Brazil pageant, without a doubt, Mariana Bridi Costa, the young beauty queen who made headlines all over the world for having her hands and feet amputated in the last few days, and is now fighting to survive, has one of the most inspiring stories among all the girls who have competed in our pageant.

In 2006, when after years Brazil had an exclusive contest to select its representative for Miss World, and another for Miss Brazil Universe, Mariana found us in the internet and asked how she could participate in the pageant. She sent a few amateur photos taken at home, and said she would do whatever she could in order to participate in the national pageant.

With a couple of days for Miss Brazil World’s kick-out, on July 2006, Mariana informed us that she was ready to compete, and asked if it would be ok for her to be a day late, since she would spend nearly a whole day on a bus traveling from Vitória to Curitiba. How could we say no?

Mariana had no fancy wardrobe, no plastic surgeries, no coaching, but there she was, fulfilling her dream. She had tremendous will, lots of charisma, and, of course, she looked stunning.

Ms. Bridi passed unnoticed the days preceding Miss Brazil’s final event, but when the game began, Mariana truly shone. She made it to the top 24, then to the top 10, and finally, for many people’s surprise, there she was, among the 5 finalists. The spontaneous and courageous country girl who represented the city of Guarapari, was one of the 5 most beautiful young women in her country.

She finished as 3rd runner-up in the competition won by Jane Borges. Mariana left several favorites behind and was very happy with her accomplishment. When she returned home, she was welcomed as a true winner in her town.

A few months later, we decided to send her to the Face of the Universe competition, a new pageant held in Ghana. Again, Mariana did quite well, finishing was 3rd runner-up and winning the best national costume award. Mariana was proud to say that she had the 4th most beautiful face in the world.

In 2007, the very talented pageant coach and state license-holder Alexandre Araújo invited Mariana to return to Miss World Brazil. This time she was fully sponsored, got proper coaching, and entered the contest as a front-runner. As Miss Sergipe World, Mariana did not disappoint her fans, and was, once again, a runner-up.

This time we sent her to Miss Bikini International, in China, which I had the opportunity to attend as well. Mariana won the ‘Best in Swimsuit’ award, and finished the competition in 6th place. Honestly speaking, as her national director, I was very mad with Miss Bikini’s results. She was clearly the favorite to win the title, or at least should’ve been in the top 3.

I remember that she left the backstage and came towards me in tears. I hugged her when she said: “Sorry Henrique, I didn’t win!”. My God, that broke my heart! I replied immediately that it was not her fault, and told her that she had been perfect on stage (and she did, indeed!). Then I joked: “Those judges might’ve been on drugs, don’t worry, you did really well and we are very proud of you”.

The next day we spent some 6 hours at the Shanghai’s airport, and we got a chance to talk a lot. Mariana is the kind of girl who says what she thinks, who’s not afraid of dreaming, and most importantly, of going after her dreams. She wanted to be a famous model and a journalist one day, and at that time, I knew nothing could stop that girl (God, I wish I was right…).

One thing I admire in Mariana is that fact that she does not take things for granted in her life. Still at the airport, she told me that visiting China and Hong Kong had been a dream come true for her. “How could I possibly do it if not for participating in the Miss Brazil pageant?”. She was surprised to see how modern and beautiful China was.

Those of us who follow beauty pageants from a close distance, know that this is not the rule. Several girls do nothing but complaining about waking up early, the ‘exotic food’, the fact that they are homesick, and the list goes on. Then, if they don’t do well, they complain about the judges, the organization, the winners! When it’s all over, they can barely say much about the country they visited, the new cultured they encountered, the people they had the opportunity to meet.

It’s great to see beauty contestants who are able to appreciate every bit of their experiences. Mariana certainly is one of them.

What is happening to her now has no logical explanation. Perhaps it’s part of her karma, or of the plans God has for her, nevertheless, it’s absolutely terrifying. She’s been bravely resisting death, and we couldn’t expect any less from her.

Several contestants who competed with her in 2006 and 2007 have been writing or calling us in complete shock and disbelief. If Mariana survives, they all want to put together a fashion show to raise funds to help her family buying mechanical hands and feet for Mari, so that she could continue on living with more comfort and autonomy.

Two weeks ago doctors gave Mariana 24 hours. She’s been resisting and beating the odds, just like she did in that Miss Brazil 2006, in Curitiba.

Whatever happens, Mariana is a true example of determination, persistence, and love for life. I hope her story inspires those who complain about so little, or who sit around waiting for things to happen.

Mariana has all our love and admiration, and the whole planet praying and rooting for her.