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| 04.26.2010 | Monday
• THE NEW MISS PHILIPPINES EARTH is Kris Psyche Resus, 22, who was crowned Saturday night at Manila Ocean Park. Resus
represented the municipality of Infanta in the province of Quezon. Earlier, Resus had won the best in swimsuit award.
She will now represent the Philippines in Miss Earth 2010 pageant be held in Vietnam in November. Resus's court
includes first runner-up and Miss Philippines Water Emerie Dale Cunanan of Pandan, Antique; second runner-up
and Miss Philippines Air Renee Rosario McHugh representing the Filipino community of the East Coast, USA;
third runner-up and Miss Philippines Fire Gwennaelle Ruais representing the Filipino community of France; and
fourth runner-up and Miss Philippines Eco-Tourism Angela Fernando of Lubao, Pampanga. This year's pageant
focused primarily on the element of water and marks its tenth anniversary. You can watch the entire show on Pinoy24.tv.
• THE FIRST MR. PHILIPPINES EARTH was crowned on April 22nd at Manila Ocean Park. His name is John Reyes, a 20-year-old
commerce student. It is not certain if he is competing in an international contest.
• THE NEW MISS EARTH PUERTO RICO is Yeidy Bosques who was crowned on April 22nd at Puerto Rico Art Museum
in San Juan. Bosques is a pageant veteran, having competed in Miss Puerto Universe 2006 where she was a semifinalist,
and in Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2010 where she placed third runner-up representing the municipality of Mayagüez. She
is the first Miss Earth representative from Puerto Rico to have been crowned in a national pageant. All of her
predecessors had been appointed.
• GUATEMALAN BEAUTIES : Three new Guatemalan queens were crowned last Saturday. Alejandra José Barillas Solís, 24,
was crowned Miss Guatemala Universe. The first runner-up Ana Lucía Mazariegos Pellegrini, 19, is also the new
Miss Guatemala World.
• RIG-FREE BEAUTY : Romina Andonova, 21, won the Miss Bulgaria 2010 title in what is hoped to be one of the first
beauty pageants for years not marred by vote-rigging claims. “I am very excited, this is something I did not expect,”
Romina said in her first comment after the show. She pledged to make her best to represent Bulgaria in a fitting manner
at the beauty pageant Miss World later this year. The beauty was born in the Bulgarian capital Sofia and is currently
studying biology at the Sofia University. She says she loves animals and modern ballet, with which she has been
professionally involved for four years already. As a little child Romina was part of the singing group “Bon Bon”
and has shared the stage with a number of Bulgarian pop stars, including Geogi Hristov, Neli Rangelova, Orlin Goranov.
(Novinite.com, 4/24/2010)
• THE NEW MISS UNIVERSE TANZANIA is Hellen Dausen, 24, who was crowned April 23rd. She will now represent Tanzania
in Miss Universe 2010.
• YOUNG AT HEART : When she was 16 years old, Tiny Smaha was runner-up in the 1933 Miss Barnesville pageant.
If she had won, she would have gone on to compete in the Miss Georgia pageant that year. But she never entered another
pageant until this year. She is 93 years old. “I tell people when I was 16, I wore a bathing suit,’’ she said, laughing.
“Now that I’m in my senior years, I have switched to pantsuits.’’ Tiny has been a resident of Carlyle Place, a continuing
care retirement community, since it opened in 2002. After some health problems last year, she moved into
the Harrington House Skilled Nursing Center at Carlyle. Even though she has recovered, she made the decision
to stay in the skilled nursing unit, which made her eligible for the pageant. When the local judges asked Tiny w
hat she would do if she won, she told them: “I will stand at the door at Harrington House and greet people.
I will tell them to smile and be happy.’’ (Macon.com, 4/26/2010)
The competition provided the model with too much fame and zero fortune.
Rouillard received so many phone calls a day that the chime of her cell entered her nightmares, "I had to take my
cellphone into the bathroom with me ... 24 hours they had the right to call me," And the worst thing was that after
so much stress, Miss Colombia 2008 hardly received a dime for her hard work, forcing her to live with her aunt and
uncle as she could not afford her own place. But now, gracing the cover of one of Colombia's biggest entertainment
magazines, Rouillard hopes that modeling nude will be the first step to getting to wear the clothes that she wants.
(Colombia Reports, 4/25/2010)
• DAISY FUENTES ON BEAUTY : Daisy Fuentes thinks if she could do it all over again, she'd handle her fame
a little better. The Cuban-born actress and model shot to fame in the early '90s as MTV's first Latina VJ (she also
co-hosted Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants), and in her new book, Daisy says she talks about all the things
she's learned since then. I do believe that if I knew then what I know now, I could have been dangerous," Fuentes,
now 43, told CNN. With "Unforgettable You: Master the Elements of Style, Spirituality, and True Beauty,"
Fuentes says she tries to give younger women the knowledge it took her 20 years to learn. What are the bullet points?
She's big on manners: Daisy says rudeness actually diminishes your attractiveness.
"I've met many beautiful people that turned out to be pretty ugly the minute you start talking to them. So I'm really saying,
'Don't be that girl.' It's very easy to get caught up and to start acting like everybody else does." Spirituality and
beauty are inextricably linked: "I don't believe you can be pretty or attractive and have ugly thoughts. So I think
your soul, your heart - what you think about -- all that really shows as far as beauty goes" And sex? "Sex is great.
You should have it. Just not with everyone." (Zimbio.com, 4/23/2010)
• PERSIAN VANITY : "Iranian women are some of the world’s top consumers of cosmetics and – together with men – have
made Iran the Middle East’s second-largest market for makeup." Read more.
• FROM THE MOUTHS OF BABES : Last week (April 18), several former Binibining Pilipinas titleholders appeared on a
Philippine TV show called "Paparazzi" where they were asked their opinions about BPCI (Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc.)
and its director Stella Marquez de Araneta in the light of the Venus Raj controversy. The ex-beauty
queens included Isabel Lopez (Bb. Pilipinas Universe 1982), Ruffa Gutierrez (Bb. Pilipinas World 1993),
Miriam Quiambao (Bb. Pilipinas Universe 1999), and Precious Lara Quigaman (Bb. Pilipinas International 2005
and Miss International 2005). The program started with a voice-over narrator who recapitulated the supposed resignation
of Janina San Miguel who was crowned Bb. Pilipinas World 2008; the narrator stated that Janina had not resigned (supposedly
because she was devastated by her grandfather's death) but that she was forced to resign because BPCI assumed that
she would be incapable of bringing home the Miss World crown.
The ex-titleholders were then asked questions by several members in the audience -
questions pertaining mostly to their current relationship - or lack thereof - with BPCI. Precious responded that she
has not been invited by BPCI to attend the pageant since 2009; she believes that BPCI was not happy when Precious and two
other ex-titleholders (Karen Loren Agustin, Bb. Pilipinas Universe 2002 and Denille Valmonte, Bb. Pilipinas
International 2006) decided to organize a new pageant called Miss Turismo Pilipina. Precious stated that she never had
the chance to discuss her new pageant with Araneta, and that it was Karen who met with Araneta. Precious commented,
"I don't know exactly what transpired during the meeting, but Karen went out of the room crying. After that, Madame (Araneta)
does not want to have anything to do with us anymore. It's really sad, but we just try to understand her because she's
really old..." Precious emphasized that when she said old, she meant to show respect to the elderly, much to the amusement
of the panel and the audience.
When it was Isabel's turn, an audience member asked her what she meant by the
expression "rest in peace" - alluding to a presscon that Isabel had attended during which she remarked that the only
time she would ever again attend any of BPCI activities is when Araneta has "rest in peace" - which translates to
"she's dead." The ever feisty Isabel meant what she said. She was also asked if she had been given the option to resign
(apparently, BPCI was not pleased to have found out that Isabel was a former member of a sexy fashion modeling group)
and if she still holds a grudge against Araneta. Isabel said she's not angry at Araneta: "Anger could be toxic. The right
word is 'hurt.' I am hurt." Later, another audience member asked Isabel what she thought of the inconsistency in the age requirements.
Isabel said that the age requirements are between 18-25, however, BPCI accepted the daughter of Rosemarie Brosas (Bb.
Pilipinas Universe 1975) - Regina Brosas Hahn - who was already 26 when she competed in the 2009 pageant. Isabel accused
Araneta of breaking her own rules; she also said that Hahn should have been disqualified and not Sandra Seifert who was
disqualified just because she had posed in FHM Magazine in swimsuit. Seifert would later win Miss Philippines Earth 2009.
With Miriam, she was asked if she has had any problems with BPCI because
after she placed second in Miss Universe 1999, she allegedly became stubborn and uncontrollable and that fame had
gotten to her head. She said that the friction between her and BPCI had already started even during the national
pageant. Miriam wanted to wear a gown made by designer Larry Espinoza, but BPCI forbade her to wear it and ordered
her to wear a BPCI gown (presumably from the Cumbia Boutique). Also, Miriam said that she and the other contestants
signed their contract with BPCI just one day before the actual pageant, and that they were not given enough time
to go through the contract with their lawyers (consequently, the contestants could not remember what they had
actually signed). Years later, Miriam approached Araneta to thank her (she believes that Araneta made her famous) and
to apologize for the friction that had started during her reign. According to Miriam, the apology marked a clean
slate in her relationship with Araneta who continues to invite Miriam to all BPCI activities, including to train
the contestants. Despite her rekindled relatioship with BPCI, Miriam is also critical of BPCI's defective screening
process and its penchant for embarrassing women after they have already won: "No girl should be subject to humiliation."
Ruffa exclaimed, "That's right!"
As for Ruffa, she was asked if there was ever a time when she was almost
dethroned. She explained that when she won her title, she was already an actress and had commitments to fulfill related
to her acting profession, which prevented her from fulfilling most of her responsiblities as a titleholder. When
rumors started spreading that Ruffa would be dethroned due to her lack of commitment as a titleholder, her overprotective mother - actress
Annabelle Rama - reportedly confronted BPCI, although Ruffa did not specify exactly what had happened between the two parties.
Towards the end of the show, the hostess asked Isabel, Miriam and Precious if they would
allow their daughters to compete someday in Bb. Pilipinas. With sarcasm, Isabel exclaimed: "My daughter is an American citizen.
I am sure she would be dethroned!" Finally, she stated that it is time for Araneta to step down and that the franchise be offered to
someone who is truly a Filipino in heart, mind and spirit, and not to a foreigner. Although still single and childless, both
Miriam and Precious replied that they would certainly encourage their daughters to compete, hoping that Araneta will have resigned by then.
Laughter in the panel and the audience. The whole segment was not only provocative, but it also confirmed that BPCI - for over 40 years now -
has been manipulating, controlling, threatening and deceiving young women who dream of bettering their lives and those of their loved ones.
• NEXT JOURNAL UPDATE : Monday, May 3, 2010.
PHOTO CREDITS: CBS News, Grau10.net, DimitryL.com, SoHo
| 04.19.2010 | Monday
• CHARGED IN BEAUTY QUEEN DEATH : Prosecutors and defense attorneys focused their attention on the death penalty during
jury selection Monday for a man charged in the 2005 slaying of beauty queen Nona Dirksmeyer.
Lawyers questioned potential jurors about their views on capital punishment as the first day of
Gary William Dunn?s trial got under way. Prosecutors allege that Dunn, 30, tried to rape Dirksmeyer and killed
her in the process. Dunn has pleaded not guilty and defense attorneys say the woman?s boyfriend is the real killer
? even though he was acquitted in 2007. Dirksmeyer, a beauty queen who competed in the Miss Arkansas pageant,
was found beaten and stabbed to death in her Russellville apartment in December 2005. Prosecutors say DNA found
on a condom wrapper linked Dunn to the crime, but defense attorneys dispute that it?s a match. Among the nearly
100 people named in a witness list is Kevin Jones, who was Dirksmeyer?s boyfriend and initially charged in her
murder. A jury acquitted him in 2007. (Arkansasonline.com, 4/18/2010)
• THE NEW MISS COSTA RICA is Marva Wright, a 24-year old student of physiotherapy, who was crowned Miss Costa
Rica 2010 during the 50th anniversary edition of the pageant on April 16, held at Hacienda Pinilla in Guanacaste and
transmitted live to the entire country via Teletica. Wright will represent Costa Rica at the 2010 Miss Universe pageant.
The 1st runner-up was Yazmin Zuniga, the 2nd runner-up is Natasha Campos and the third runner-up is
Guiselle Aragon. (Insidecostarica.com, 4/17/2010)
• NIGERIAN PAGEANTS : Nigeria has been competing in international beauty pageants since the 1950s, but it wasn't
until Agbani Darego's win as Miss World 2001 that the world finally realized that Nigerian beauties could
be just as competitive as the strong candidates from other countries. Here's an interesting article that gives
a brief retrospective of Nigerian pageants and updates on several Nigerian queens. (Daily Sun, Nigeria, 4/17/2010)
• MISS VENEZUELA 2010 : This year's pageant will take place on October 28 in the Poliedro in Caracas, according to
Joaquín Rivera, vice-president of Venevisión which broadcasts the show. There are 28 contestants competing.
Returning to host will be Maite Delgado, but a search is on to find a male co-host. (Panorama, Maracaibo,
4/10/2010)
• UPDATE ON VENUS RAJ : Her crown is still hanging by a thread but controversial beauty queen Maria Venus Raj
said she will accept the invitation by the Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) to train for Miss Universe
starting April 19. However, it doesn?t follow that she has officially regained her Bb. Pilipinas-Universe title. "I still
don't have a passport but we're working on it," explained Raj on "Startalk" last April 17th. Note, however, that her
training will, for now, take place in the Philippines and not in Colombia where Bb Pilipinas winners are usually
sent to prepare for international pageants. Raj maintained, though, that even prior to BPCI?s announcement of her
conditional reinstatement, she has already began fixing the requirements for her passport. Amid all the uncertainty
and confusion, Venus said everything is "okay? between her and BPCI. (Manila Bulletin, 4/18/2010)
Meanwhile, a columnist Ricky Lo bashes Venus in his latest article, insinuating
that she has become a media whore (which is hardly the case) and defending BPCI's unethical actions. It seems that
Lo and BPCI entertain each other a lot!
• UNWORTHY DRIVER : Miss Universe Australia 2010 aspirant Lauryn Eagle's beauty pageant campaign is
in doubt after a magistrate suspended her licence and fined her $900 for driving offences. Eagle was
disqualified last weel from driving for 12 months and issued the fine over an incident at an RBT in Port Hacking on
December 14 last year, when she was charged with giving police a false name and driving while suspended.
The 22-year-old model and water skiing champion has indicated she will fight the conviction, with an appeal
set down for in the District Court in May.
The Miss Universe competition, organised by billionaire entrepreneur Donald Trump,
takes a hard line on contestants' personal conduct, stripping several national winners of their crowns and reportedly
threatening others. However, Eagle has declared she can still win this year's Miss Universe Australia, and by extension
the international Miss Universe crown, last held by an Australian in 2004 when Jennifer Hawkins won.
"I really think I can win it and I'm working really hard to get in pageant shape, which for me as an athlete means
reducing my muscle mass but remaining really healthy," she said last month.
But pageant organisers weren't so sure. "I can't comment specifically on her case
because I don't know the full details but if she does make the national finals our board would have to discuss it,''
pageant director Deborah Miller said in March. Eagle has dedicated her career to her late father Peter,
who died in a speedboat accident on Sydney Harbour last year. He introduced his daughter to waterskiing at three.
(Adelaide Now, Australia, 4/15/2010)
• MISS UNIVERSE AUSTRALIA COVERAGE : Critical Beauty is delighted to welcome new contributor Peter Sereno who will
be covering the Miss Universe Australia 2010 pageant for CB. Some of you may already know Peter as the one who
coached Jennifer Hawkins to universal fabulosity. You can read Peter's updates and comments in his Facebook page.
• NEXT JOURNAL UPDATE : Monday, April 26, 2010.
PHOTO CREDITS: Trasnocho.com.do,
| 04.12.2010 | Monday
Raj had maintained that the officials of the BPCI knew from the very beginning the
incorrect entries in her birth certificate. She said she was transparent during the pre-pageant screening of candidates.
Raj had also vowed to question the BPCI’s decision to dethrone her. Commission on Human Rights chief Leila de
Lima had said that Raj’s case “deserves serious scrutiny.” De Lima said that she would like to find out if the
BPCI gave Raj “her day” to explain the inconsistencies in her birth certificate. The BPCI said in the statement
that the decision to dethrone Raj was meant to protect the beauty titlist “in the way we felt appropriate.”
It said that while the BPCI is concerned about the Raj’s situation, it is also bound “as an entity” under
Philippine laws.
Raj stated, “It has always been a dream to become a beauty queen, and I worked so
hard and prepared myself for years. When I was finally blessed with the crown last month, that dream came true. Then they
stripped me of my title for reasons that I could not comprehend nor accept. So I decided to speak up and let my voice be heard.
I’m glad that I am not alone in the fight, that people from all walks of life have joined me and asked for clarification
and explanation. That has given me the strength and the courage. I’m glad that hope is finally within reach again.
You don’t give up your dreams just like that,” she added.
Frankly, I am still disgusted by BPCI's decision to dethrone Venus three weeks
after she was crowned, and all this based on BPCI's fixation with legalese. In Venus's case, it's an "illegal" matter that could
easily be fixed, if BPCI had only extended a hand to fix it. BPCI surely underestimated the power of the Internet, because
as soon as news of Venus's dethronement hit the press, her supporters zealously worked together to demand for her reinstatement.
There is certainly power in numbers. BPCI caved in to public pressure, but instead of apologizing for humiliating Venus
and admitting their mortal error, BPCI camouflaged their fallibility by pretending to be the savior. Sadly, it's not working.
The real saviors now are those who sympathize with Venus's plight - from her passionate online supporters to businesses
that furnished her family with supply of cement to fortify their vulnerable nipa hut, with a new tractor for her mother (so
she doesn't have to plough with her own hands), and with daily provisions such as rice and canned goods. Never has a queen
been so loved by her people.
• THE NEW MISS SLOVAKIA is Marina Georgievova, who was crowned last Friday. She will represent her
country in Miss World 2010. The 1st runner-up was Martina Davidova, who will compete in Miss International 2010,
and the 2nd runner-up was Tatiana Kohutova.
• THE NEW MISS LATVIA is 19-year-old Ludmila Voroncova who was crowned Saturday in a beauty pageant
held at the Hotel A1 in Riga. Voroncova will represent Latvia at the Miss World 2010 beauty pageant.
At the same event, the winner of Mister Latvia 2010 21-year-old Janis Verners. He will represent Latvia
at the next Mister World competition. (Worldshowbiz.info, 4/10/2010)
• CZECHS VS. SLOVAKS : Miss Universe Slovak team defeated the Czech beauties last Saturday evening in the first year of
a new beauty contest Miss Czech-Slovakia 2010. The winning team consisted of Barbara Palovicová (1st runner-up, Miss Universe SR
2007), Martina Tóthová (1st runner-up, Miss Universe SR 2008), Sandra Manáková (Miss Universe SR 2008),
Marcela Ševcíková (2nd runner-up, Miss Universe SR 2009), Lea Šindlerová (1st runner-up, Miss Universe SR 2009),
and Denisa Mendrejová (Miss Universe SR 2009). The pageant is the brainchild of former Miss World Tatana Kucharova
of Czech Republic.
• BIG AND BEAUTIFUL IN SINGAPORE : They are big, bold and beautiful. And they are taking part in what is likely
to be Singapore's first plus-size beauty pageant. The contestants for Miss & Ms Amazing must weigh at least 80kg
and possess a big personality and confidence to go with it. The contest, which is open to single and married
women, has attracted 40 contestants aged between 19 and 43 since registration began in February. It is organized
by TKS and Sons, which also organises the Miss Teen Singapore, Little Miss Singapore and Elite Mrs. Singapore contests.
Beverly Tan, 29, founder of TKS and Sons, said she came up with a plus-size pageant to give big women
a platform to show off their beauty. She says: 'This pageant will redefine the meaning of beauty. There are many
good-looking plus-size women in Singapore and this is a chance for them to show people they have what it takes to
be a beauty queen.' The contest has attracted women from all walks of life - students, pre-school teachers,
entrepreneurs, sales managers and housewives. (The Straits Times, Singapore, 4/10/2010)
“A lot of pageants have been stuck in a rut for a long time and there has
been a big decline in TV exposure for years. I feel that if they are to thrive, they need to be run by women
and for women.” The former Pop Factory presenter and face of Five’s Quiz Call is in talks with two TV channels
to create a reality TV show on the event and the run-up to it, with regional heats beginning on Thursday.
She believes divorcees can thrive in the contest. “There are so many different ways to celebrate beauty.
I think if a girl is a single mum or divorced, it often gives them more strength and ambition,” she said.
“I think a lot of rules were set in the 1950s and 1960s – all written by men because they wanted women to be seen
Liz admitted that there are very few rules left to be rolled back, but is considering opening up pageants for other
groups – even transsexuals. “I think there is a demand for it – if you look at Mr Gay Brazil, that’s a massively
popular show. The transsexuals and transvestites take so much care in their appearance and look beautiful,
polished and groomed – that could be something to celebrate. It’s not an area I know too well, but I would never say never.”
as pure and virginal. For contests to be taken seriously again, they need to be seen as empowering women.”
(Walesonline.co.uk, 4/11/2010)
Fuller was Miss Wales 1994 and Miss Great Britain International 1996.
• MEET this year's contestants for Miss Bahamas. Fadil shots galore!
• KID BEAUTY PAGEANTS ARE CREEPY : "The other night I watched, transfixed, as truly awful stage mothers trowelled
make-up on their five-year-olds, doused them in fake tan and teased their hair to the heavens." Read more.
• BLACK GIRLS IN KIDDY PAGEANTS : What does former Miss America Ericka Dunlap, who is African-American, think of
black girls competing in kid beauty pageants? Read all about it.
• IN MEMORIAM : Dixie Carter, an award-winning actress who became a household name in her role as sharp
tongued interior design firm owning Julia Sugarbaker on the CBS sitcom Designing Women, died Saturday morning in
Houston of complications of endometrial cancer. She was 70. She was nominated for an Emmy in 2007 for her seven-episode guest stint
on the ABC hit Desperate Housewives. A native of Tennessee, Carter competed in 1959 Miss Tennessee pageant (for Miss America)
where she was first runner-up.
• NEXT JOURNAL UPDATE : Monday, April 19, 2010.
PHOTO CREDITS: Team Venus Facebook Group, Topnews.in,
| 04.05.2010 | Monday
Supporters of Venus have set up an online petition on Facebook
seeking to have Venus remain as Binibining Pilipinas Universe 2010.
• STEFANIA TO ATTEND PAGEANT LAUNCH : On August 23, 2009 she was crowned Miss Universe in the beautiful islands of The Bahamas.
Now Stefania Fernandez is preparing to return to the place where her dream came true as 17 Bahamian beauties officially
begin their journey to fulfill the same dream. Under the theme Timeless Beauty, the launch of the 2010 Miss Bahamas Beauty
Pageant season is set for Friday, April 9 at the British Colonial Hilton Hotel at 8 p.m. with a glamorous Charity Gala to
raise money for the Red Cross’ Haiti Disaster Relief Effort. Miss Universe, who is passionate about helping the people of
Haiti, will be the special guest in attendance. The Miss Bahamas Charity Gala will be the first opportunity for the public to meet
this year’s contestants face to face. While there, they will be able to bid on auction gifts provided by the contestants
themselves, as well as the Miss Bahamas Organization®. All of the proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Red Cross.
“It’s going to be a very elegant affair”, says Miss Bahamas Organization® (MBO) President Michelle Malcolm.
“In keeping with the theme of the night, you will feel like you’ve walked into an old Hollywood movie premiere, red carpet
and all. And of course, you can’t have a premiere without celebrities, so Miss Universe, our reigning queen Joanna Brown,
and our contestants will be the glamorous starlets of the night.”
The April 9 launch kicks off an exciting season of events in which the contestants will compete for the chance to represent the Bahamas at both the Miss Universe and Miss World pageants. Those events include the Sportswoman Competition at the Thomas A. Robinson Track & Field Stadium on Saturday
April 10; the Top Model of the Bahamas Competition at Club Luna Courtyard, West Bay Street on Sunday April 18; the Swimsuit Competition, ICandy Swimwear Fashion Show & Pool Party on
Sunday May 2 at The Dig, Atlantis Resort; the Talent & Evening Gown Competitions on Friday May 7 in the Imperial Ballroom, Atlantis
Resort, and finally, the 2010 Miss Bahamas Beauty Pageant on Sunday May 9 at the Imperial Ballroom, Atlantis Resort. Tickets for
all events are available online at Diamonds International Watch & Design on Bay Street; Mario’s Bowling & Entertainment Palace
on the Tonique Williams Darling Highway; Bani Shoe Warehouse on Mackey Street; and online at www.caribtickets.com. (Info courtesy
of MBO).
• KIWI BEAUTIES : Cody Yerkovich, 17, from the city of Kaitaia, was crowned Miss World New Zealand 2010 last Friday night
in Auckland. The 1st runner-up, Georgia Easter, will represent New Zealand in Miss Tourism Queen 2010, while
Emma McDonald, the 2nd runner-up, will compete in Miss International. The 3rd runner-up is Nyah Laufiso and
the fourth runner-up is Dominique Wisniewski.
• THE NEW MISS THAILAND UNIVERSE is Fonthip Watcharatrakul, a 19-year-old model and student. The runner-up, Watsaporn
Wattanakul, will represent her country in Miss Earth 2010.
• TURKISH DELIGHTS : Gizem Memic from Ankara was crowned as the new Miss Turkey last Friday. She will represent her
country in the Miss World pageant later this year. The first runner-up, Serenay Sarikaya, won the title Miss Turkey Universe.
The second runner-up, Dondu Sahin, will compete in Miss Earth 2010, and Dilay Korkmaz, the 3rd runner-up, will go
to Miss International 2010.
Sanclemente Valencia was crowned International Queen of Coffee in 2000, but in a matter of days
it was revealed that she had lied to the jury by stating she was single, when in fact she had been married. She returned the crown
but not before apologizing tearfully in front of the television cameras.
• WARNING ABOUT BEAUTY PAGEANTS : The Better Business Bureau serving the Richmond (Virginia) area has issued a warning about
solicitations for expensive beauty pageants. BBB of Central Virginia said several female students from Richmond-area high
schools were asked to participate in a beauty pageant in Los Angeles. When one of them responded, she received a letter stating
she was already a finalist but would have to pay $240 to attend a training session and guarantee a slot in the pageant,
said Barbara Homiller, vice president of the local BBB. An additional $200 would be required later.
Homiller said it has not been determined whether the pageant exists, but she warned that many such events are set up
primarily as money-making operations. "Regardless of the legitimacy of an operation, students and parents need to be
aware that participation can be costly," Homiller said. "We know that a lot of teens are lured each year by the promise
of big prizes and a chance for stardom. BBBs across the country get hundreds of thousands of inquiries a year about
various beauty pageant promotions." (Richmond Times-Dispatch, 4/2/2010)
• NEXT JOURNAL UPDATE : Monday, April 12, 2010.
PHOTO CREDITS: Owen Reyes, Dealbreaker.com
MARCH 2010
• BEAUTIFUL INSIDE AND OUT : Last Monday, Sheryl Wolfe, (photo) collapsed while sitting in her classroom at Mililani
High School in Honolulu. She never recovered from a brain hemorrhage that led to a stroke. Sheryl, who was the
reigning Miss Hawaii Teen U.S., was pronounced dead on the following day after being in a coma for a week. She was only 18.
Sheryl was an organ donor, and KNX reports that four people are scheduled to have “life-saving” surgery using her organs.
Sheryl’s death was totally unexpected, as she had no family history of early strokes or any other health issues.
Doctors note there was nothing that could have been done to predict the tragic event. The teen’s father, Allen Wolfe,
said “It’s just kind of totally unexpected out of the blue.” In May, Sheryl was slated to compete for the crown of
Miss Hawaii Teen World. In light of Sheryl’s death, Florence Villanueva will represent her in the pageant.
“She’ll never be forgotten, she was such a wonderful girl who always made everyone smile,” Villanueva said.
(Examiner.com, 4/23/2010)
• THE NAKED TRUTH : Just two years on from being named Miss Colombia, aspiring model Michelle Rouillard, 23,
uses a nude photo-shoot for SoHo magazine as an opportunity to reveal all about the ugly world of beauty pageants.
According to Rouillard, who won the Miss Colombia competition in 2008, life as a pageant winner can be tough and
wearing the crown doesn't necessarily bring all the perks one might expect. "Miss Colombia can never eat or drink
when she's at an event," reveals Rouillard listing the 'rules' of the beauty pageant game, "there cannot be a
photo of Miss Colombia in which her feet are not placed together, one on top of the other. She added, "The four finalists have to
wear the same clothes that they were given in Cartagena all year," said the young Miss Colombia, complaining that
far from being the window into the fashion world that she expected, the beauty competition in fact prevented
her from having any part in the industry. Sponsorship of the event had Rouillard imprisoned in just a select few gowns.
"They didn't let me into any fashion event in the country. I wanted to go to see the work of a designer friend and
they didn't let me in."
• THE NEW MISS DOMINICAN REPUBLIC UNIVERSE is Eva Arias, (photo) a 23-year-old professional model representing the
province of Espaillat, who was crowned Saturday night in Santo Domingo. She defeated 233 other young women who competed
for the title. Arias will represent her country in Miss Universe 2010 in a venue that is yet to be confirmed. Arias's
court included first runner-up Alma Álvarez Alfonso of Samaná who will compete in Miss Continente Americano,
second runner-up Estefany Liriano Alcántara of Dajabón, third runner-up Libell Durán of the Dominican
community of the U.S., fourth runner-up Clara Brito Medina of San Cristobal, and fifth runner-up Olgalid Navarro
of Hermanas Mirabal. Pageant observers have commented that Arias resembles U.S. actress Sandra Bullock.
• UNIVERSE TO VENUS : In a statement released Saturday, the Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) announced that
“for humanitarian reasons” they are allowing Venus Raj to reclaim her title. Raj was stripped of her
Binibining Pilipinas-Universe title on March 29th due to "inconsistencies" in her birth certificate.
“We have reassessed the situation pertaining to Miss Maria Venus Raj and have decided, for humanitarian reasons,
that if she is able to obtain a valid Philippine passport, we will reinstate her as the reigning Bb Pilipinas-Universe,”
the BPCI said in a statement. Raj, who was guest at ABS-CBN’s noontime gameshow Wowowee, said she had been informed by
the BPCI about the decision. She said she has yet to consult with her lawyers about the latest development, but
admitted that she is already planning on applying for a passport.
• PAGEANT WELCOMES DIVORCEES : Miss Great Britain chief and former beauty queen Liz Fuller (photo) is set to
break another pageant taboo – by inviting divorcees to slip on their swimsuits for the next contest.
The former model and TV presenter from Swansea announced last month that the pageant would be binning an
“old-fashioned” rule banning single mums from taking part in the competition. Rules set 65 years ago for Britain’s
oldest beauty contest previously stopped both lone parents and divorcees from taking part. And now she will break
down the “last taboo” and bring in divorcees after a flood of requests from aspiring beauty contestants.
She said: “There were lots of girls that approached me after the single-mum rule change, who have been divorced,
and have said ‘I could enter because I’m a single mum now, but I’m banned from entering because I’m also divorced’.
If we got rid of the rule for one, why shouldn’t we get rid of it for another?
• VENUS RAJ EXPLAINS HERSELF : Dethroned 2010 Binibining Pilipinas-Universe Maria Venus Raj (photo) on Sunday vowed
to question the decision of the Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) to strip her of her crown due to
"inconsistencies" in her birth records. During her live interview on "The Buzz," an emotional Raj maintained
that the officials of the BPCI knew from the very beginning the incorrect entries in her birth certificate, and
that the inconsistencies were not her fault. She said she was transparent about her background during the
screening of candidates. The beauty queen said up until now she is clueless why she was stripped of her title.
She said she is ready to fight for her crown. Meanwhile, Venus supporters have sent a barrage of e-mails to
MUO President Paula Shugart demanding that MUO intervene in the reinstatement of Venus as the Philippines
representative to Miss Universe and take away the franchise from BPCI which is directed by Stella Marquez de Araneta.
They also sent an open letter to Araneta demanding Venus's reinstatement.
In response to my own inquiry, Shugart responded that MUO is "seriously looking into the matter." It will be interesting
to see what MUO owner Donald Trump's reaction to this brouhaha would be.
• EX-BEAUTY QUEEN MAKES INTERPOL LIST : A former Colombian beauty queen is now on the most wanted list of the Argentinian
drug enforcement agencies for alleged drug trafficking crimes. The Interpol has issued a Red Corner notice against
Jeaneth Sanclemente Valencia, (photo) a former beauty queen and lingerie model who led a band of beautiful women who transported
cocaine from Buenos Aires into several European countries. The network of model-mules was discovered at the beginning of
December 2009, after Argentine authorities found 55kg of cocaine in the suitcase of a young and attractive woman who was
travelling first class to Cancun. Following the tracks of the 21-year-old woman, identified only as María N, the police
went to a hotel where they suspected Sanclemente had been staying, but it was too late. As per the Interpol red alert,
Valencia is wanted for "drug related crimes" and upon any information about her, one can contact either the local police,
national police or the General Secretariat of Interpol. Valencia's case highlights the trend of women rising to the top
of the criminal underworld involved in drug trafficking. Daring women also appear on most-wanted lists in the United
States, Mexico and Colombia or are awaiting trial on charges of trafficking large quantities of cocaine. (Times of India,
3/29/2010)