Confirmed: Misses Philippines and Colombia are roommates in Bahamas

It's confirmed. Miss Philippines Universe Pamela Bianca Manalo and Miss Colombia Michelle Rouillard will be roommates in Bahamas during the Miss Universe 2009 stint.

Was this possible through Stella Marquez Araneta, Philippine Director for Miss Universe, who is a Colombian? We are just asking.

What's funny here is that Misses Colombia and Philippines will be wearing gowns and traditional costumes made by only one designer, Alfredo Barraza of Colombia. Will they be ripping the Barraza beads on each other's gowns? We are just kidding.

Aside from Pamela Bianca and Michelle, other roomies are Miss USA Kirsten Dalton and Miss Australia Rachael Finch; Miss Honduras Belgica Suarez and Miss Guatemala Lourdes Figueroa; and, Miss Switzerland Whitney Toyloy and Miss Thailand Chutima Durongdej.

Jenel Cox Wins Miss Guyana Universe 2009

Gorgeous Jenel Cox won the right to represent Guyana at the 58th edition of Miss Universe to be held in the Paradise Island, Bahamas on August 23rd by winning the Miss Guyana Universe 2009 at the National Cultural Centre.

First Runner-up was Rachael Bakker and Second Runner-up was Lucria Rambalak.

CONFIRMED: Top 15 Semi-Finalists will be chosen for Miss Universe 2009

The rumor that Miss Universe 2009 pageant will go back to its old format of having Top 10 semi-finalists only, instead of 12,15 or 20 is confirmed as purely RUMOR. There's no truth about this stuff that started circulating in different Latin American beauty pageant message boards.

Miss Universe 2009 will have Top 15 semi-finalists as confirmed by a report of an American newspaper which is shown below.

Click on the image for larger viewing.

"Each contestant from more than 80 countries around the world will be judged in three categories: swimsuit, evening gown and interview TO SELECT 15 SEMI-FINALISTS, who will vie for the coveted title of Miss Universe 2009. In recent years, worldwide distribution of the popular competiton has topped more than 180 countries."

That was the exact texts confirming that the 58th Miss Universe pageant to be held in Bahamas in August 23 will select 15 semi-finalists instead of 10.

Well, from that said report, Billy Bush and Claudia Jordan will host the pageant live from the Atlantis, Paradise Island.

Elena Bianca Constantin Wins Miss Romania Universe 2009

Elena Bianca Constantin (L) smiles after she was crowned Miss Universe Romania in Bucharest June 27, 2009. Constantin, 20, will represent Romania at the Miss Universe beauty pageant due to be held in Paradise Island, Bahamas, on August 23, 2009.

 Elena Bianca Constantin, 20, waves as she won the title of Miss Universe Romania in Bucharest June 27, 2009. Constantin will represent Romania at the Miss Universe beauty pageant due to be held in Paradise Island, Bahamas, on August 23.

 Miss Universe Romania Elena Bianca Constantin is helped by runners up to remove a confetti which stuck to her lips in Bucharest June 27, 2009. Constantin, 20, will represent Romania at the Miss Universe beauty pageant due to be held in Paradise Island, Bahamas, on August 23.

 

Elena Bianca Constantin (L) is crowned Miss Universe Romania by the current Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza from Venezuela in Bucharest June 27, 2009. Constantin, 20, will represent Romania at the Miss Universe beauty pageant due to be held in Paradise Island, Bahamas, on August 23.

 A combination picture shows Elena Bianca Constantin, the winner of Miss Universe Romania wearing (L-R) a full length dress, a traditional folk costume and a swim suit during the contest in Bucharest June 27, 2009. Constantin, 20, will represent Romania at the Miss Universe beauty pageant due to be held in Paradise Island, Bahamas, on August 23.

An Apology to Vo Hoang Yen

I would like to correct my previous post on Vo Hoang Yen, one of Asia's strongest candidates for this year's Miss Universe pageant in the Bahamas. I have written about a blog which I claimed she updates personally.

A big thanks to the admin behind vohoangyen.blogspot.com who made remarks on this entry. The said blog is not owned by the beauty queen who is so far Vietnam's strongest candidate to the Miss Universe. The said article was written by Nina herself, a fan of Vo Hoang Yen.

To Vo Hoang, if you are reading this blog, I apologize. To the writers of the said blog, you have a fantastic blog.

Miss Vietnam Vo Hoang Yen Dares Ines Ligron

Vo Hoang Yen, Vietnam's representative to the Miss Universe 2009 pageant to be held in Nassau, Bahamas is very happy with the review of a Puerto Rican fan who wrote an affirmative review about her chances in the pageant that she even dared Ines Ligron, the Director for Miss Universe Japan.

"Feeling a tad nervous, Ines?" That was the line from Vo in her latest blog entry. It should be remembered that Ines made a comment about her and called her a Miss Tiffany entrant. Miss Tiffany is a Thai pageant for transsexuals.

The fan who described by Vo as " from a beauty expert site" is Nina Cleopatra.

Cleopatra gave Vo an almost perfect score of 9.15 and 9.90 for her presentation and catwalk skills respectively. As for her face, the fan gave her a score of 8.80. Vo got a score of 8.70 for her body.

Read the full review here.

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.

 

 

Rachel Kum, Miss Singapore, Lashes Back on her Detractors

With the flak Rachael Kum, Miss Singapore-Universe 2009, is getting from rabid fans, the beauty queen was not able to hold her composure when she lashed them back with a very strong article she posted on her blog on May 18. The title of the blog entry is "Why So Angry?"

Obviously, she is referring to her detractors who are busy visiting pageant forums and blogs to spread their words of disappointment.

This only shows that Rachel is a human. She is definitely affected by all the controversies generated by her winning the right to represent her country to the Miss Universe 2009 pageant in the Bahamas on August 23.

She even accompanied her article with a picture of a devil, with horns of course, which she thinks symbolize these people who are so angry with her.

Below is her blog entry:

It soon becomes a joke when you realise how some people can get insanely jealous of others when they see them succeed in life that they spend so much of their spare time rallying others to slander the ones they despise so much. Why so angry ah?

Apparently these haters are the same people who devoted their lives to slander me for something I have never done to hurt them in any way. I hope one day this becomes the highlight of their child hood where they can share such stories of their past time with their children.

Mom : "Dear son, back in my younger days I have created accounts and forums to slam people I have never met before just for fun!"

Son : "Wow Mom, good on ya! I'm so proud of you!"

So anyways, this is what I can analyse about the feelings of a jealous person...

Hate: To really hate something or someone, you must first throw off any and all remnants or attributes of love. Hate have gone beyond the simple little wordings of "I hate you" to the plateau of "I despise any and every thing about you". To reach this stage of sin's evilness, you must let it fester within your heart, within your soul, until it reaches the point of control over your words and actions.

Bias: What can describe this self bred dart of the devil? What makes a person decide to become biased over something or someone? Did they get advanced at the workplace when we believed we should have got the promotion? Did the lady wear a more expensive piece of clothing to church? Maybe the preacher shook hands with the person next to you, but for some reason he did not shake your hand. Bias is like a plague that spreads all over us until it blinds us to the truth.

Stupidity: I am not talking about a lack of smarts or even being an educated genius. I am referring to being stupid with decisions and choices we all make that we know are not right. The ones where we reap no beneficial significance. By our stupid actions because of our stupid decisions someone else and including ourselves are ravished over the ravine of reckoning.

Insolence: How many time are we insolent to someone else and don't even know it, or if we do, we tend to let it go. Let us never forget that words are sharper than darts, and the infliction of them on others leave lasting wounds. We may not see the scars on the faces, arms, hands, legs, bodies of those we insult, but they are there believe you me. When these wounds fester and spread within the bloodline of the soul, they one day come out, and when they do it is usually not pretty.

Bitterness: Instead of forgiving and forgetting, someone has hurt us to the point that we cannot do either, and so the episode that planted the seed of bitterness starts to grow, and smothers out our rationale and ability to think straight. It can change us until our souls become wrinkled, aged with bitter thoughts, and die away without ever being the real soul they was supposed to be.

Envy: What is the difference in envy and coveting? Can we be envious of something or someone else without coveting? I say not. Whenever we become envious over the possessions, the wives, the husbands, the children, the homes, the cars, all people and possessions or others we covet them. The bible tells us if we covet our neighbor's wife with our heart, we are as guilty as being with her. I say if we covet the other possessions of others, including others, we are as guilty as doing the deed we are thinking of. From within the heart the actions proceed.

Jealousy: Why is it we let jealousy within us expand upon those around us? What do we have or do not have to be jealous about? We are so afraid that someone else is going to be richer, going to have a better life, going to have all the "goings" that I will lack. Like the rich man who said he would eat, drink, and be merry, because his barns were overflowing, and he said he would build more barns to fill. Then that very night the Lord told him his life here was over.

Rage: Rage goes beyond anger, it entails the loosing of the mind either temporarily or for a sustained period. Rage blocks out rationality, it quenches the flow of decision making, and it results in us being out of our minds, out of control, and to the point of hurting ourselves or someone else.

Seriously, to accuse others with no concrete evidence will just make you look like an idiot. Being an idiot generally involves a certain amount of arrogance, or at least ignorance of one's lack of expertise, and a stubborn insistence on proceeding anyway. When intelligent people approach something new that they don't know anything about, they do so with appropriate humility and follow the directions of those who know what they are talking about. As they grow more confident, they start to take their own initiatives. It's funny how that hanging out with Dawn and having our pictures taken together seems inevitable to have me strung along to the subject matter of plastic surgery and made me her overnight best friend. If I remember vaguely, the reason why people created a hate fan site for her is because they want to expose her. Why would someone wish to expose someone? That will only happen that if someone loathes another terribly. Like someone did an unforgivable mistake. Like your husband is sleeping with your best friend's mom. Did i go overboard?

Has one ever thought of masseter botox which causes your face shape to shrink? How about the art of makeup where you highlight the part of your lid to create the banana eyeshadow effect so that it enhances the deep set of your eyes? How about the new trend of using wide eyed contact lenses and eyelash extensions to enhance the shape of your eyes? If anyone would like to challenge me about plastic surgery on my face, please make sure money is involve. :-)

The world is progressing with technology and Singapore is definitely not a third world country, so let us all get with the program! Hmmm...maybe i've finally found myself a talent with the art of makeup!

So instead of sitting behind the computer all day long to rally support for their own ideologies, I can only hope that they can learn to do something more constructive with their lives like contributing to the good of society rather than finding jokes to entertain their small community who finds joy and satisfaction at the expense of hurting others. I can only pity.

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts."-Bertrand Russell

"The only causes of regret are laziness,
outbursts of temper, hurting
others, prejudice, jealousy and envy."

Ife Bethel Sears Resigns as Miss Earth Bahamas 2009

Controversy continues to storm Miss Bahamas Organization as news broke out yesterday that Ife Bethel-Sears resigned as Miss Earth Bahamas 2009. She was the first runner up at the Miss Bahamas 2009 pageant where Kiara Sherman emerged as the victor or the over-all winner.

Humor has it that the reason why she relinquished her crown is because she is not happy with her placement from the very start. According to some pageant observers, she really wanted the title of Miss Bahamas or nothing. And, because more and more Bahamians are expressing their disappointments over the selection of Kiara as the over-all winner, Ife saw this opportunity to jump in to the bandwagon. This is her own way of protesting of what she believes as unfair judgment.

Well, as a pageant observer, this act from a beauty queen who did not get the top prize shows lack of sportsmanship. Ife is definitely bitter. In my own standard, this attitude from Ife does not make her a real beauty queen. So, it is just right that she resigned because I personally believe she can't perform the duties of a beauty queen. She is not a role model.

Thus, I am praising her decision of stepping down from her throne. Clap! Clap! Clap!

Bethel-Sears is the daughter of the former Minister of Education and Attorney General of the Bahamas Alfred Sears. This might be one of the factors why she was brave enough to resign. I am just speculating.

There is no development yet on who will replace her.

Controversies at the Miss Bahamas 2009 pageant

There's a hot discussion on the recently concluded Miss Bahamas 2009 pageant in beauty pageant forums and blogs especially the controversies involving candidates and the selection of the winners.

Obviously, many fans have been disappointed.

Another controversy on the pageant which I failed to highlight in my first blog entry, fans noticed that the answers of the winners are all rehearsed except for Amanda Appleyard who was the only one who gave the most honest answer to the final question. Amanda was crowned Miss Bahamas International.

Since the whole world is watching Bahamas (Due to the fact that it is in this beautiful island where the Miss Universe 2009 pageant will be taking place) let's try to know more about the 22-year old Enna Thomas who stands 5'8".

Enna is the candidate who walked out at the middle of the pageant when her name was not called for the semi-final round. She was an earlier favourite and got two special awards. Despite these awards, she failed to advance.

In fact, one poster commented in my blog that Enna actually won SIX special awards. Take note of that, it is six and NOT two. According to the anonymous poster, "when the pageant organizer realized thats Miss Thomas was no longer in the building, they did not announce the other 4 awards."

Maybe someone from Bahamas can confirm this since I still don't have any idea on this.

Anyways, I found out a very interesting interview of Enna by Miss Bahamas Organization. I am just sharing this in order for us, non-Bahamas residents, to know something about the beautiful lady who walked out from the pageant.

1. WHY DID YOU JOIN THE MISS BAHAMAS UNIVERSE COMPETITION?

It has always been my dream to become Miss Bahamas; I decided to join the 2009 Miss Bahamas Universe competition because of the international media attention that this pageant is receiving, as the host for the 2009 Miss Universe pageant. This media attention will give me an opportunity to reach thousands of individuals as I share my platform “Save the Children”.

2. IF YOU WERE TO BECOME MISS BAHAMAS 2009, WHAT WOULD BE THE FIRST THING THAT YOU WOULD DO?

The first thing I would have to do is thank God, the judges, my sponsors, my family and friends for their support and congratulate all of the contestants because we are all winners at the end of the day.

3. WHAT IS THE MOST UNIQUE OR UNUSUAL THING THAT HAS HAPPENED TO YOU IN YOUR LIFE?

In 2005, three weeks after starting my sophomore semester at the University of New Orleans I witnessed firsthand the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Fortunately, I evacuated to Baton Rouge three days before the storm hit. I spent the next few days watching the destruction of New Orleans and I knew right away that I wanted to do something to help. I immediately signed up to volunteer at a local shelter for refugees from New Orleans. I helped displaced families with meals, homework, and social support but I felt like this wasn’t enough. So, in January 2006 just two months after the city opened back up I moved back to New Orleans to help rebuild and revitalize the city. I spent my weekends gutting out homes and attending many community events.

This experience has taught me that in life there are going to be obstacles in life that may slow us down but you do not have to let any obstacle stop you from pursuing your dreams. Immediately after the storm I resumed my semester at L.S.U in Baton Rouge and returned to the University of New Orleans when it re-opened the following January. I completed my Bachelors in Management in the Fall of 2007, a semester early.

4. DO YOU THINK THE SWIMSUIT CONTEST AT BEAUTY PAGEANTS DEGRADES WOMEN?

I personally don't find the swimsuit contest at beauty pageants degrading but I feel like whether or not the swimsuit contest degrades women depends on the individual. If a women is not comfortable and confident with her body then yes when she puts on a swimsuit she may feel degraded, but for those ladies who are comfortable and confident with who they are physically, the swimsuit contest can empower them as they display their confidence.

5. GIVE AN IDEA OF WHAT YOUR NATIONAL COSTUME WILL BE AND WHAT DOES IT REPRESENT?

My costume will be Enchanting! It represents a mythical element of one of our Bahamian islands and captures the essence of what attracts so many to our shores.

6. WHAT ARE THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO AS MISS BAHAMAS 2009?

Firstly, I would like to reach out to the youth in our community. It is important for them to know that we are all our brothers and sisters keepers, and serving each other increases our national self worth. While pursuing my Masters Degree in Business Administration in New Orleans, I have been tutoring children in the city whose parents are incarcerated. Being there for them while their parents are serving time shows them that they live in a community where they are loved and cared for and teaches them that loving and serving each other is the key to happiness.

Secondly, I would like to help preserve our natural environment. From the ecologically pristine turtle nesting grounds in Curtis Creek, Mayaguana to the magnificent barrier reef in Andros, The Bahamas has an array of natural beauties that need to be protected so that they can be enjoyed for generations to come.

Thirdly, one of the three things that I would like to do is see that the government conducts a referendum on legalizing gambling in The Bahamas.

7. IF YOU HAD TO RESIDE ON ONE OF THE FAMILY ISLANDS IN THE BAHAMAS, WHICH WOULD IT BE AND WHY.

If I had to reside on one of the family islands in The Bahamas it would have to be Cat Island. Proclaimed to be one of the most beautiful islands of the Bahamas, Cat Island has everything that I am looking for in a family island! The Rake n Scrape Festivals would keep me entertained, the golden sand beaches and unspoiled turquoise waters would keep me relaxed, and my trips to the Hermitage would keep me fit as I would have to travel up 63 meters up Mt. Alvernia the highest point in our nation to get to the top of this Sacred monastery and that’s why I choose Cat Island!

8. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COLOR AND WHY?

My favorite color is definitely black because it represents strength and power and is stronger and more powerful than any other color. Black is also mysterious and is associated with the unknown like the Black Holes of Andros.

9. TELL VIEWERS A LITTLE ABOUT THE BAHAMAS AND WHY YOU LOVE IT SO!

There is no place on earth like The Bahamas - an archipelago of natural beautiful islands with the friendliest most beautiful people. Each island has its own unique culture, topography, ecology, personality, and history. From marvel of the Glass Window Bridge in Eleuthera to the spectacular rolling hills of Cat Island the Bahamas is awe-inspiring and diverse and a place to be loved.

Joahnna Mariel Lasic Wins Miss Argentina Universe 2009

Joahana Mariel Lasic, a beautiful girl 20 year-old of Ciudad Autonoma (Capital District), was crowned Miss Universe Argentina 2009 during the pageant held in the Hall of the Americas NH Hotel Provincial on 23th May.

The new Argentinean beauty queen who stands 1.82 m tall will represent Argentina in Miss Universe 2009 Beauty Contest in the Bahamas in August 23.

Crowd favourite, a beautiful Gretel Venecia Otto of Misiones was just a First Princess. Lovely girl Gisela Berger from Córdoba was Second Princess.

Twenty-three young women participated in this year's pageant. This is the first time in the pageant's history that a reigning Miss Universe, Dayana Mendoza, was invited as a guest.

Guðrún Dögg Rúnarsdóttir Wins Ungfrú Ísland or Miss Iceland 2009

Another beauty queen to the Miss World 2009 pageant has been named when Iceland crowned Miss Vesturland Guðrún Dögg Rúnarsdóttir as the new Ungfrú Ísland 2009 or Miss Iceland 2009 at Broadway in the capital Reykjavík.

The 18 year old gorgeous lady will travel to Johannesburg, South Africa and in London on December for the Miss World pageant.

Iceland has produced 3 Miss World winners in the history of the pageant. It was in 1985 by Holmfridur Karlsdottir, 1988 by Linda Petursdottir and 2005 by Unnur Birna Vilhjalmsdottir.

The 1st runner-up was Magdalena Dubik, and the 2nd runner-up was Sylvía Dagmar Friðjónsdóttir. It is not clear whether the two will compete to any international pageants or not.

Rumour says that last year first runner-up, Ingibjorg Ragnheidur Egilsdottir, will be competing at the Miss Universe 2009 pageant in Nassau, Bahamas on August 23.

Serdült Orsolya Wins A Királynő or Miss Hungary 2009

A 21-year old student was crowned A Királynő or Miss Hungary 2009 in a glittering event in Budapest in May 21st. Serdült Orsolya or also known as Orsi bested other contestants to have the right to represent this Eastern European country to the Miss World 2009 pageant to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa and in London, UK on December.

Orsi stands 1.75 meters.

Like the usual scenario in beauty pageants, another crowd favourite ended only as first runner-up. 21-year old half-Jamaican, Zsuzsa Budai, was crowned Miss Hungary Universe. She will be going to the Bahamas to compete for the Miss Universe 2009.

Budai is known model in her country who stands 1.81 meters. She will try to give Hungary its first Miss Universe win.

Crowned as Miss Hungary Earth is 18-year old Korinna Kocsis. She will be competing at the Miss Earth 2009 in Manila, Philippines.

Serdult Orsolya as Miss Hungary World 2009

Zsuzsa Budai as Miss Hungary Universe 2009

Korinna Kocsis as Miss Hungary Earth 2009

Miss Japan Universe Emiri Miyasaka visits Japanese Prime Minister

Miss Universe Japan Emiri Miyasaka chats with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso during her visit to the premier's official residence on May 15, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. Emiri won the Miss Universe Japan crown on May 11, 2009 and will now go on to represent Japan at the Miss Universe final on August 23, 2009 in Nassau, Bahamas.

Rachael Kum Wins Miss Singapore 2009

Rachael Kum, 24, is the winner of Miss Singapore 2009 that was held on Saturday night, May 9, at Shangri-La Hotel's Island Ballroom. She will represent this tiny Asian state at the Miss Universe 2009 which will be held at the Atlantis Paradise Island in Nassau, Bahamas on August 23.

The victory was not an easy win for Rachael who went against all odds. Prior to the coronation, she was mired in a controversy when she was accused by many including fellow contestants of allegedly skipping the preliminary audition rounds and compulsory activities.

Rachael is a manager in the medical industry. She stands 1.71 m. She also bagged two minor awards - The Most Body Beautiful and Miss Personality.

I just don't understand how she managed to get the award of Miss Personality if she has been accused by her fellow contestants of being prima donna.

Miss Singapore 2009, who was a former New Face finalist won $5,000 in cash, a trophy and products and services from the sponsors.

First runner-up is April Wang and second runner-up is Cheryl Wee.