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| 2.23.2009 | Monday
Rossi is one of the newest stars of cable reality series “The Real Housewives
of Orange County,” which chronicles the lives of five wealthy women in the county. In season four of the series,
which just ended, Rossi is a tan, blond, 30-year-old engaged to Jeff Beitzel, a wealthy man 23 years her senior,
who died last year after a lengthy struggle with leukemia. Rossi is depicted on the show drinking, shopping
and dancing while her fiancee battles cancer. Lancona estimates she received more than negative 100 e-mails
and countless phone calls about Rossi after she ran an advertisement for the pageant in the pages of the
Daily Pilot that included a photograph of the reality television star.
Lancona claims a few of the pageant’s sponsors — she declined to say which ones
— have backed out. She believes it may have been in part because of Rossi’s association with the event.
“I could feel that I had lost the support of previous sponsors,” Lancona said. “If nobody is behind me on my decision,
I’ve got to change decisions.” The search is now underway for a new emcee, one Lancona says she hopes can be a role model
for the many young women that will compete in the pageant. “I’d like it to be a positive figure who is well known,”
Lancona said. “There are so many reality TV people to go after, but maybe we’ll look for people who have contributed
to the business world.” (The Daily Pilot, California, 2/21/2009)
• THE NEW MISS GERMANY is Doris Schmidts, a 20-year-old administration student. She was crowned February 17th
in Europapark Rust. Her court includes first runner-up Maria Ishutova and second runner-up Kristina Rohder.
Schmidts is not competing in any international pageant.
• THE NEW MISS DOMINICA is Kayan Toussaint of Pointe Michel, 21, was was crowned Friday night at Carnival
City in Roseau. Her court includes first runner-up Amye James, 20, and second runner-up Attainea Toulon, 21.
Four other women competed in the pageant.
• THE NEW MISS UKRAINE UNIVERSE is Kristina Kots-Gotlib, 25, (photo) who was crowned last Friday at the Freedom
Concert Hall in Kiev. Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza helped with the crowning of the winner who is a
former member of an all-girls band called Via Gra. The first runner-up is Antonina Papernaya, 18, who is
the daughter of the famous Ukrainian actress Olga Sumska. The second runner-up is Anna Lapenko, 20.
Fifteen young women competed in the pageant. 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. (Kyiv Post, Ukraine, 2/22/2009)
• ANTI-SHARIA MISS : Denouncing the Sharia Law in Pakistan’s Swat Valley as surrender before terrorists, Miss Pakistan World
Natasha Paracha said Monday that the world should pressure Pakistan to stop implementation of rigid Islamic laws.
The 23-year-year-old Islamabad-born Paracha, who won the 2008 beauty pageant in Toronto last year, told IANS: “I cannot bear
to see that the people who have burnt down schools are being heeded to. “These nomads (the Taliban) coming from the Middle East
and other countries are taking over our nation. I strongly urge the United Nations to intervene and help the Pakistani government
tackle these forces and throw them out. “The world has to put pressure on the Pakistani government to stop the Sharia Law enforcement.”
She said: “The government should never compromise with terrorists. We cannot have basic rights taken away from women.”
Paracha, who is a graduate of the University of California in Berkeley, said she feared
that “if they have the Sharia Law imposed in the Swat Valley then, it will spread to the whole of Pakistan. Rigid Islamic laws
are not a solution for Pakistan and Pakistanis”. She added: “Pakistan should be a secular Muslim nation and the constitution
of Pakistan should be followed throughout the country.” Toronto-based Sonia Ahmed, who started the beauty pageant for Pakistani
girls from around the world in 2002, said: “It is disappointing to see that President (Asif Ali) Zardari has proved himself
wrong just in the first year. It is a shame that people who are not even Pakistanis (Taliban) are running Pakistan.
“In the 1970s, a similar situation occurred when the fanatics closed down casinos, cabarets and bars as well as enforced chadar
or veil for women. I am sorry to say that Pakistan was much better during military rule as compared to this sorry state of democracy.”
(India/Economic Times, India, 2/17/2009)
To CB readers who want to explore the Sharia Law in depth, I strongly recommend Nonie
Darwish's new book, "Cruel and Usual Punishment: The Terrifying Global Implications of Sharia Law." Visit Darwish's website for more info.
• TRAGEDY : A 20-year-old student from the Russian city of Saransk died on Tuesday while participating in a
university beauty pageant. A police spokesman said that Olga Shkolnika, who was in her third year, was taking part
in the "Miss Economics Major" in the Russian republic of Mordovia when she suddenly collapsed on stage in the
middle of her performance. According to witnesses at the scene, the audience and performers believed that it
was all part of the act, but after she didn't get back up, they realized it was something serious. First aid was
immediately called and people were told to quietly go home. "She was rushed away in an ambulance, but the
doctors were unable to help her, and she died," a source said.
Olga had a weak heart and one student said that she had started feeling unwell during the rehearsal,
even getting a temperature. A formal inquiry into her death will be opened. Foul play has all but been ruled out.
"Nothing criminal is seen in the incident so far, as the girl had had a cardiac pathology," said the source.
Her friend describes Olga as wanting to be the best and beaming with life: "She was always in a hurry to live and
wanted to achieve a lot." (Russia Today, 2/21/2009)
• HER SIDE OF THE STORY : Two weeks ago, I reported that Nadia Cerri had been accused by Carlos and
Carolina Brachetti for infringing the Miss Argentina trademark. Now, Cerri has released a statement
accusing the Brachettis of lies and deception. Cerri explained that the "Miss Argentina" title has been used since
1920 by various organizations and individuals who had preceded her. In 2004, her brother-in-law acquired the
franchise for Miss World, which prompted their company N Entertainment to produce a "Miss World Argentina" pageant.
Since acquiring the franchise, Cerri has been receiving threats from the Brachettis who claim that they have
been producing Miss Argentina for twenty years which - to Cerri - is dubious. Cerri demands that the Brachettis
produce evidence of their pageants, such as the venues, the sponsors, and the names of winners. Cerri reiterated that
her company has never used the title "Miss Argentina," but that they do use "Miss World Argentina" and "Miss
International Argentina" because the titles are registered under their company. (Thanks to Rose Foulger, director
of Miss World New Zealand, for this information.)
• DATING PARIS'S EX? : Several online sites are reporting that Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza is dating Stavros
Niarchos III, the former boyfriend of Paris Hilton and the son of the demised Greek shipping magnate
Stavros Niarchos. The couple has been seen dining together in the posh New York restaurant Le Cirque; later they
went to a discothèque called Kiss and Fly before heading to the Hamptons. Witnesses say that there's more to friendship
between the beauty queen and the multi-millionaire. (Cadena Global, Caracas, 2/22/2009)
• MEET THE CANDIDATES for this year's Miss Israel,
Miss Universe Japan, and Froken Norge (Miss Norway).
• IVAN UPDATE : What has been Mister USA Ivan Rusilko been up to? Read my Mister USA Blog.
• NEXT UPDATE : Monday, March 2, 2009.
PHOTO CREDITS: The Daily Pilot, Miss Ukraine Universe
| 2.16.2009 | Monday
• TRES INTERESSANT : Nine candidates have signed up for the Miss French Polynesia contest which will take place
on April 30th. But it seems that the pageant is in direct competition with Miss Tahiti. Dadou Paillé , director
of the Miss French Polynesia committee, stated that his pageant's concept is different and its goal is to select
a candidate for Miss World or Miss Universe. Does this mean we will see a "Miss French Polynesia" in either pageant?
No word yet from Geneviève de Fontenay (GDF), the president of Miss France. Last year, de Fontenay lambasted the
Miss World Organization for allowing Guadeloupe - which is part of France - to compete in Miss World; de Fontenay
claims that there should only be one representative from France, and that it should be her girl. (TahitiPresse,
2/14/2009)
• BEAUTY FROM THE SKY : Miss USA Crystle Stewart traded her crown for a parachute when she went skydiving with
the Golden Knights, the elite U.S. Army parachuting team. Stewart, 26, jumped out of the plane in a tandem skydive
from 13,000 feet in Yuma, Arizona, on Monday. She's the seventh Miss USA to jump with the Golden Knights.
Stewart 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. (USA Today, 2/11/2009)
• SHE'S NOT A DIVA : Kate Tsui, the 29-year-old former Miss Hong Kong (2004), made headlines when she spoke openly
and uninhibitedly about sex on a live radio programme. She even went into great detail about G-spots, her preferred
duration for sex, as well as favourite make out spots and other intimate sex details. That episode apparently 'incurred
the wrath' of higher management at TVB and she was kept in 'cold storage' for a while till the matter finally blew over.
Recently, there were also reports of her 'diva-like attitude' at work, which claimed that she often turned up late for filming.
(Electric New Paper, Singapore, 2/14/2009)
• FROM TOXIC BEAUTY : "Why does being a woman often include surrounding yourself with toxic chemicals? That question seems
to come up daily as we discover the cancer and birth defect causing ingredients inside of our favorite hair dyes, nail
polishes and even lipsticks." Read more.
• TO BRUTAL BEAUTY : "What does true beauty look like? Busty, blonde and tanned? Black, tall and toned? Fortunately for the
non- skeletal or statuesque among us, beauty is something of a fluid concept. Not only does personal preference play a
role, but ideals vary widely from one culture and time to another." Read more.
• FIJI AS HOST : FIJI is expected to benefit from hosting the Miss South Pacific Pageant in September says interim
Attorney-General and the Acting Minister for Tourism, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. Sayed-Khaiyum said the government would
ensure attractive incentives, such as a 200 per cent tax deduction were offered to those interested in investing in the event.
Business houses or individuals who contribute funds to the Pageant qualify for a 200 per cent tax deduction. Sayed-Khaiyum
said that Fiji was proud of the opportunity to host such a prestigious event and that the ground work had already begun.
He said the event would also be a chance to showcase Fiji as one the top tourist destinations of the world.
“The hosting of the regional contest in Fiji will bring enormous benefits such as the spin-offs expected to generate
thousands of dollars into the country,” said Sayed-Khaiyum.
With the theme “Preserving our Environment – the Pacific Way” the event is the first
to be hosted by Fiji to and involves 28 countries in the South Pacific. The pageant is a regional event that has always been
held in Western Samoa since 1987. Young women from all sectors of the Pacific come together to promote, and attract
worldwide attention to their unique attributes, intelligence, talents, culture and tradition. Fiji has never hosted this
prestigious festival but has been represented in 1997, 1999 and 2002 by the respective Miss Hibiscus Queens.
Last year, Miss Hibiscus Filomena Tuivanualevu represented Fiji to the pageant that was held in American Samoa
in October, 2008. Fiji won the Best Float at the pageant’s street parade. (Fiji Daily Post, 2/16/2009)
Some pageant parents think that entering their children into these pageants helps
their child develop positive self-esteem and self-confidence. Maybe it does for some, but studies have shown that other
children actually developed issues with their bodies, lost self-esteem, and were at a higher risk for eating disorders.
And should we mention the fact that sexual predators watch these beauty pageants? Or how about that according to the
Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform Act, any sexual abuse or exploitation is considered child abuse?
These pageants sure seem to fit that category. (Examiner.com, Boston, 2/14/2009)
• NEXT UPDATE : Monday, February 23, 2009.
PHOTO CREDITS: L'Essentiel, Examiner.com
| 2.9.2009 | Monday
• YOU CHOOSE THE NEW CROWN : Through a sponsorship deal, viewers will have a chance to select the crown Miss
Universe wears after she wins the event, broadcast on NBC, later this year. An online jewelry company will
design three possible crowns, and viewers will be able to vote for their favorite leading up to the pageant.
Diamond Nexus Labs, a marketer and manufacturer, is behind the promotion, via its new role as the "official
jewelry sponsor" of Miss Universe, as well as Miss USA and Miss Teen USA. Miss USA airs April 19 and Diamond Nexus
is creating a crown for the winner there, too. NBC Universal is billing the link with DNL as part of its
company-wide efforts to support the environment. Diamond Nexus' man-made gemstones are "all synthesized in clean
labs using environmentally friendly processes."
"We are very excited to have partnered with the earth-conscious Diamond Nexus
Labs to create this year's crowns," said Paula M. Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization.
"Miss Universe," in line with "Miss America," has seen ratings for the broadcasts drop recently. In 2008, the event
drew a 2.3 rating among women 18 to 49, down from a 2.9 in 2007. It garnered 6.7 million viewers last year, down
from 7.2 million the year before. An opportunity for viewers to select the winning crown could spur interest.
(MediaPost Publications, New York, USA, 2/5/2009)
• BB. PILIPINAS 2009 : Binibining Pilipinas 2009 will be crowned on March 7 at the Araneta Coliseum, Araneta Center
in Cubao, Quezon City. The Philippines' delegates for Miss World 2009, Miss Universe 2009 and Miss International
2009 will be selected during the conclusion of the pageant. You can see a clip from the press presentation in
GMA News TV site. A lot of beautiful
girls this year, according to Bb. Pilipinas director Stella Marquez de Araneta who was briefly interviewed.
• LUPITA SPEAKS OUT : Lupita Jones, the director of Nuestra Belleza México, is speaking out after
disgraced Mexican beauty queen Laura Zúñiga was freed from jail a week ago. Lupita was asked if Zúñiga
has the right to reclaim her title as Reina Hispanoamericana 2008. Lupita responded that the organizers of this
pageant make their own rules and that they are the only ones who can make decisions. Lupita also said there is
a clause in the national pageant contract that stipulates that any situation that tarnishes the public image
of the titleholder or the image of the pageant itself may be a ground for dethronement. When asked if Zúñiga
would represent Mexico in Miss International 2009, she said no. (Esmas, Mexico, 2/8/2009)
• MISS URUGUAY 2009 : The new Miss Uruguay for Miss Universe will be crowned on February 28th in Salon Montecarlo of
Hotel Conrad in Punta del Este. The event will be televised live by Canal 10 (Saeta) and Canal 7 of Maldonado beginning
at 10 P.M. The pageant is produced by Ricardo Nugue and Elizabeth Cristinis. Casting and coordination of the
candidates is by Angel Cairo. The pageant is owned and directed by Antonio Vergara Olmos who also runs the
Miss Maja Mundial pageant.
This year's batch for Miss Uruguay Universe look very promising. Uruguay has not been
a consistent participant in Miss Universe, and the last time the country placed was way back in 1985 when Andrea Beatriz López Silva
placed fifth.
• NEW OWNERS : The Puerto Rican franchise for Miss Universe has been taken away from Magali Febles and
has been awarded to former Miss Puerto Rico Universe Desirée Lowry and Luis Vigoreaux, the president
and producer of PR Crown Entertainment. Even though MUO did not state the reason Febles lost the franchise, it is
now common knowledge that Febles had failed to pay the franchise fee in the last two years. Could this also be the
reason Uma Blasini and Ingrid Rivera did not make the cut in Miss Universe 2007 and 2008 respectively?
With Febles without the PR franchise, people are asking whether the new
Miss Puerto Rico Universe Mayra Matos will still be able to compete in Miss Universe 2009. Rumor has it that
she will retain her national title but not compete internationally. However, Lowry and Vigoreaux discredited the rumor,
explaining that Matos will go to Miss Universe and that Febles will be training her. Meanwhile, the search for the
national queen for 2010 will start in May. Febles still holds the franchise for the Dominican Republic, although
there is speculation that she is merely the face of the pageant and not the actual franchise owner. Donald
Trump, the owner of Miss Universe, will travel to Puerto Rico in the next few weeks to make an official
announcement of the changing of franchise ownership. (El Vocero, San Juan, 2/6/2009)
In her column, Millie Cangiano of Primera Hora wrote that Febles could
keep the PR franchise until 2010, but only in the condition that she is able to pay the franchise for 2009. Cangiano also
wrote that Febles has become a born-again Christian and that her fundamentalist church will not allow her to run a pageant where
the contestants are flaunted in bikinis. (Primera Hora, San Juan, 2/4/2009)
• POSING TOGETHER : Four former Miss France titleholders agreed to pose together for a pictorial for Closer
magazine: Cindy Fabre, Rachel Legrain-Trapani, Alexandra Rosenfeld, and Valérie Bègue. The women all
looked beautiful and happy together - maybe because their ex-mentor Geneviève de Fontenay was not invited to
the photoshoot! LOL! (Pure People, France, 2/7/2009)
• WHAT'S UP WITH DANIA : Dania Prince, Miss Earth 2003 and the only beauty queen from Honduras to have won
an international title, gave birth to a baby girl in a Miami hospital on Sunday, February 1st. Dania got married
last October 4th to her boyfriend of several years, Frank Fuentes. The baby's name is Mia Valentina.
(La Prensa, Honduras, 2/7/2009)
• CRITICAL EGO : Congratulations to CB's Héctor Joaquín for becoming the new reporter for EGO TV and EGO MODA
Magazine! EGO is one of Puerto Rico's leading beauty and fashion magazines, and they have contracted HJ as
its first beauty pageant reporter and consultant. HJ's premier article will come out this week, and in his first EGO TV
interview next Tuesday he will be interviewing former Miss Puerto Rico Universe Alba Reyes. HJ will continue
contributing to CB and running his own blog.
• FINALLY : For those of you who have been waiting to get a copy of Mister USA 2008 DVD, wait no further. Support beautiful American men
and order your DVD now!
• NEXT UPDATE : Monday, February 16, 2009.
PHOTO CREDITS: Getty Images, Región Empresa Periodística
| 2.2.2009 | Monday
• FREEDOM : Prosecutors ruled Friday that a Mexican beauty queen be released from house arrest after investigations
in a drug and weapons case turned up no evidence against her. Laura Zúñiga, 23, (photo, center) was detained in western Mexico on Dec. 23,
in a vehicle along with seven men, some of them suspected drug traffickers. Authorities found a large stash of weapons,
ammunition and $45,000 with them inside a vehicle. She was stripped of one of her crowns - the title she won in the
Hispanoamerican Queen pageant in October - but still holds the beauty title of the northern state of Sinaloa, long known
as a center for Mexico's drug cartels. Prosecutors on Friday said Zúñiga should be released and local media reported that
she left custody later that day.
The Attorney General's Office said in a statement that "no information was found
that tie (Zúñiga) to any criminal activity." The Bolivia-based organizer of the Hispanoamerican Queen pageant, the Gloria
Promociones company, said in a statement in December that Zúñiga lost her crown for "failure to comply with the
regulations of the title she represents." The company said the title would be given to runner-up Vivian Noronha of Brazil.
No one answered phones at numbers listed for Gloria Promociones in Bolivia on Friday. Zúñiga also placed third in the
Miss Mexico contest, whose winner competes for the Miss Universe title. As third-runner up, she was expected to represent
Mexico in the 2009 Miss International contest. Prosecutors said a judge had agreed to extend the house arrests of
the seven men detained along with Zúñiga. (The Associated Press, 1/30/2009)
Zúñiga's proven innocence has generated a discussion in the Mexican message boards
as to whether or not Lupita Jones, the director of Nuestra Belleza México, should reinstate Zúñiga as Mexico's representative
to Miss International 2009.
• SUCCESSOR : During a simple ceremony in La Paz, Bolivia last Tuesday, Brazil's Vivian Noronha (photo) was crowned
Reina Hispanoamericana to replace Mexico's Laura Zúñiga who was dethroned in December following an arrest for
drug-related charges. The Brazilian beauty said she felt very happy for receiving the title but sad at the
same time for Zúñiga whom she called "a good girl." The 25-year-old model and dentist from Umuarama, Paraná, was the
1st runner-up at Miss World Brazil 2008. She will represent her country at Miss Tourism Queen International 2009,
to be held in China. (Info from Global Beauties)
• MISS CEBU CONTROVERSY CONTINUES : All dressed in black, members of the Burden family and supporters occupied some pews at
the Sto. Rosario Church where they attended a “Mass for truth” Friday evening. They said they offered the Mass to pray
for an impartial investigation into the family’s complaint about alleged irregularities in the Miss Cebu 2009 pageant.
They were joined by some 1981 graduates of the Cebu City National Science High School, the batch of Rowena Burden,
mother of second runner-up Kimberly. Earlier in the afternon, Burden family members appeared before a fact-finding
committee and acting Vice Mayor Hilario Davide III in City Hall to give their side in a closed-door session.
Kimberly, her mother Rowena and aunt Marilu were asked to narrate what they saw and
did during the Jan. 14 pageant night when the Globe Texters Award was mistakenly given to candidate Kris Janson. Janson
later won the Miss Cebu crown. "It was very emotional. Even though I promised myself I would never cry in public, I
did cry and Kim followed," said Rowena later. "This is a David and Goliath fight. We are David and the (pageant) organizers
are Goliath,” she said in a text message. She said her family, and Kim's other supporters will continue to fight for justice.
Pageant chairman Philip Rodriguez earlier said proper screening procedures were followed by Kris Janson, whose Miss
Cebu crown the Burdens are now challenging after Kimberly returned her second runner-up title. A public apology by TV
production manager Bruce Bollozos that he made an “honest mistake” in giving Janson’s name as Texter’s Choice awardee
did not appease the Burdens. (Inquirer.net, Philippines, 2/1/2009)
• LEARNING DUTCH : The new Miss Belgium Zeynep Sever, a 19-year-old model from a Muslim Turkish background,
has begun an immersion program to learn Dutch, which is one of the two official languages of Belgium (the other one
being French which she speaks fluently). "As Miss Belgium, I must know how to speak two languages because I have to
answer to interviews in Dutch. For me, it's important." Sever admits not knowing a word of Dutch which she finds
very difficult. Next year, the Miss Belgium committee has decided that they would no longer select a titleholder who does not
speak both official languages. (RTL Info.be, 2/1/2009)
• AQUA KING : The first Mister Sea World pageant took place in Tacná, Peru last January 25th. The winner is Carlos Prato,
a 28-year-old model from Venezuela. The first runner-up is Guilherme Cruz, a personal trainer from Brazil
who was named Mr. Pacific World. Jesús Colmenares, also from Venezuela, is the new Mr. Teen World. (From Grau10.net)
• VICTIM OF A PLOT : Rachel Legrain-Trapani, Miss France 2007, said in a recent interview with the magazine
Télé Star that Sylvie Tellier, Miss France 2002 and the current director general of Miss France Society, is
plotting to remove the hat-wearing Geneviève de Fontenay from her duties as president. De Fontenay usually accompanies
her titleholder wherever she goes, but when the new Miss France Chloé Mortaud attended Barack Obama's presidential
inauguration at the U.S. Embassy in Paris, De Fontenay was not present. (News France, 2/1/2009)
• WHAT'S UP WITH ALBA : Alba Reyes Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2004, who has been absent from the public eye for a few years,
is back and is preparing to launch her own line of make-up called Naturalis. Reyes, who had lost her baby, needed some time to regain her
strength and confidence, thanks to her loving husband Joseph Vergara.(Primera Hora, San Juan, 2/1/2009)
• MEET THIS YEAR'S CANDIDATES for Miss Nicaragua 2009.
• NEXT UPDATE : Monday, February 9, 2009.
PHOTO CREDITS: Diario de Yucatán
JANUARY 2009
• BEAUTY PAGEANT TURNS UGLY : The organizer of this year’s Miss Newport Beach and Miss Newport Beach Teen Pageants
in California isn’t sure who will host the event — but she’s positive it won’t be “Real Housewives of Orange County”
star Gretchen Rossi (photo). Pageant organizer Caren Lancona this week decided to drop Rossi, who was slated to emcee
the April 24 event, after she was overwhelmed with negative phone calls and e-mails about the reality television
celebrity. “I made a mistake, and now I’m just trying to fix it,” Lancona said.
Toussaint also won the best in swimwear and evening gown awards.
(Dominica Weekly, 2/21/2009)
• ACCUSED : And speaking of GDF (photo), a Marseille correctional tribunal is charging her of defaming the character
of Luce Auger, Miss France 1961. Auger accused GDF of calling her "salope" (bitch), "perverse" (pervert) and
"méchante" (nasty) on the Swiss online journal Le Matin in its April 14, 2008 edition. Auger is demanding
50,000 euros in damages and interests. Judgment will be officiated on March 13th. Auger, 75, revealed last spring that
GDF had required some candidates to pose topless before the finals of the 1961 pageant. GDF's lawyers argued that
the word "salope" comes from "sale huppe" - a bird (from the Lorraine region) that is very dirty and stinks - and that
the word is very commonly used and therefore is not an insult.(Le Figaro, France, 2/14/2009)
• PAGEANT PRINCESSES : On the heels of TLC's reality show "Toddlers & Tiaras" come another reality program about child pageants.
WE channel is premiering their own version, called "Little Miss Perfect," this Wednesday, February 18. Child beauty pageants
are not only all the rage apparently, but also ignite some as well. "Little Miss Perfect" has a similar premise as "Toddlers
& Tiaras." It follows two families as their children prepare to compete in child beauty pageants. It highlights the lengths
pageants mom go to in order to ensure their daughters win the prize, which is money and a plastic tiara. In the premiere
episode, one mom decides her 9 year-old daughter should put on a Marilyn Monroe inspired performance to win, while the
competitor's mother keeps her 8 year-old little girl late at night to learn a new routine. (Photo: Two contestants from "Little
Miss Perfect.")
• REAL OR FAKE? : A woman named Nadia Cerri (photo), who presented herself as Miss Argentina 1997 during
a press conference in La Pampa's tourism office last November and who claimed that she would produce the
Miss Argentina pageant, is now being questioned by authorities who suspect that Cerri is an impostor who
has been using the Miss Argentina trademark illegally in the last three years, according to Carlos Brachetti
and Carolina Brachetti, respectively the president and director of the official Miss Argentina organization.
Cerri has been telling the public that she owns the Argentine franchise for Miss Universe, but the Branchettis
stated that Cerri owns the franchises for Miss World and Miss International only. The Branchettis organize an annual
pageant called Miss Argentina whose winner is sent to the Queen of the World pageant. (Región Empresa Periodística,
2/6/2009
Meanwhile, Gloria Limpias is considering the possibility of requesting Zúñiga to return the
prizes she won when she was crowned Reina Hispanoamericana last October.