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| 01.28.2008 | Monday
"The only words that come to my mind is that this is a dream come true,
not just for me but for my family as well," Haglund said. "I'm not just standing up here alone." Haglund, a cheery,
classic blond, wore a revealing silver sequined dress and black bikini during the evening gown and swimsuit portions
of the pageant. As her platform issue, she promised to advocate for awareness of eating disorders, an illness from
which she has recovered. The crowning at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip was aired
for the first time on TLC. It capped a four-week reality series, "Miss America: Reality Check," which followed
the contestants as they were pushed to shed the dated look of Miss Americas past and adopt a more updated style.
(CNN, 1/27/2008)
Initially, fifteen semi-finalists were announced, but a sixteenth was added -
Miss Utah Jill Stevens, based on voting via text messages from viewers of "Miss America Reality Check." Stevens
was the only semi-finalist who wore a one-piece during the swimwear segment. Southern states dominated the semi-finals
list - with the exception of Alabama and Oklahoma (these two states have been placing every year since 2003).
• WHAT "IT" GIRL? The goal of a revamped Miss America pageant is to seek the "It" girl, the one who would
symbolize modernity, freshness and mass appeal. Haglund looks more like an upgraded, younger version of her predecessor
Lauren Nelson, and with minor touch-ups, she could easily pass for a Miss USA contender. Yet, Haglund's talent
was nothing extraordinary; of the semi-finalists who showed their talents, the one that impressed me the
most was Miss Wisconsin Christina Thompson's violin act. Instead of calling the names of the states who would
advance, the host Mark Steines instead called the names of the states who would be eliminated - a process that
I abhor because it gives the impression that the producers delight more in trashing losers than
celebrating winners. It was heartbreaking to see Miss Georgia Leah Massee and Miss Iowa Diana Reed cut from the
top 10, since both women had already changed into their talent costumes. I had heard about Iowa's incredible baton-twirling act,
and I was pleased that co-host Clinton Kelly (of TLC's hit "What Not to Wear") allowed Miss Iowa to showcase her talent even for several seconds.
The producers did not completely achieve their goal of presenting a revamped pageant.
The introductory choreography was nothing more than a few seconds of corny poses. The background music in the swimsuit
and gown segments was indistinct, and much of the talent portion remained tiresome. But overall, the show appeared more stylized
and more visually appealing. I also like the idea of keeping the non-placers on stage during the rest of the show because
this allowed them to be part of the audience and to cheer for their colleagues who advanced. I hardly sensed any cattiness
or rivalry among the girls, and even if there had been any, it was subtle or they did a good job hiding it. Compared to last year's
pageant which was easily forgettable, this year's pageant will remain as one of the most memorable, thanks largely to
Miss Utah Jill Stevens's spontaneous and cooky character; after being eliminated from the top 10, Stevens dropped and
did push ups along with several of the remaining finalists. Now the question is: despite its makeover, has interest
in Miss America - especially among the younger audience - changed for the better? We'll find out the answer when the Nielsen
ratings become available later this week.
• QUE SE JODA : I am still disgusted by the MAO Press Relations department's refusal to grant press credentials to
Critical Beauty, and those people have not responded to the angry e-mail that I had sent them last week. I think I know
why. As I was surfing the Internet checking for Miss America-related information, I stumbled upon a piece
published in the Pageant News Bureau website. The article is a review of the Miss America 2007 pageant (won by Lauren
Nelson). The last paragraph of the review is followed by the editor's note which states:
I am glad to know that Critical Beauty is not the only site who had been given the
cold shoulder by MAO. Pageant News Bureau happens to be America's most prominent pageant news site, and if PNB wrote
that MAO lacked organization last year, this certainly remains true even this year.
• CRYSTLE'S GOWN : While many of her rivals are attending Eagle University's beauty seminar in Atlanta,
Miss Texas USA Crystle Stewart is currently in Puerto Rico to get enhanced training and is being fitted
by famous designer Carlos Alberto. In an interview by Patricia Vargas of El Nuevo Día, Stewart
said that it took her five years to win the Miss Texas USA title. She is now 26 years old. "When I saw Zuleyka
Rivera's gown in Miss Universe, I thought it was very impressive. I am sure that Carlos will do create
something spectacular for me. I want something sensual and classic. Carlos listens to you and knows what he does
to make a woman fabulous." (El Nuevo Día, 1/27/2008)
• THE NEW MISS CHINESE INTERNATIONAL is Oceane Zhu, representing the city of lights, Paris. She was crowned
in Foshan, China on Saturday. Her court includes first runner-up Kayi Cheung of Hong Kong and second runner-up
Aileen Xu of Chong Qing. The contest is open to women born in China or of Chinese descent living abroad.
In a posting on her blog, she fumes, "It’s sick and sad… that the reality is having a sex tape
and letting men p**s on you, getting DUI’s (drink-driving arrests), flashing your crotch and going to jail is apparently today,
the image young men and woman strive for to get their foot in the door. "That’s not talent and it sure doesn’t deserve fame.
I mean that’s the message I see everyday in my TV, in my papers, on my radios (sic). "I don’t want to be known for any of this!!
I’ll keep my small-time reality show and my dignity and keep it moving!" And Moakler insists the behavior of other stars has
made her think twice about making her private life public. The sexy blonde used her blog to attack Barker when the couple
first split last year (07) - and now regrets letting the public know her thoughts and feelings. She adds, "My marriage is
just not up for entertainment anymore." (World Entertainment News Network, 1/26/2008)
• GRANDSLAM? Several readers have asked my opinion about the elevation by certain pageant sites of Miss Tourism Queen International (MTQI)
as a "grandslam" pageant, based simply on the high number of participating countries. "Rafa, do you consider MTQI as a
grandslam pageant?" My answer is NO - at least not yet. And this is why. First of all, the pageant has always taken place in
China (since its inception in 2004) where labor is cheap and where you will always have sponsors who will pay for the candidates's airfare. Eventually,
people will get bored of China as the host country. Second, hardly any mainstream news agency (like Associated Press or Reuters)
picks up the story. If there's any publicity or promotion, it is done mostly through the Chinese news media which filters
down to English-language media which is then picked up by pageant websites. Unlike Miss Universe, Miss World or Miss Earth,
MTQI still has a way to go to prove itself worthy of global news.
Third, the pageant world is so saturated with innumerable tourism pageants that one cannot tell the difference among them
(thus, MTQI is not unique in scope, unlike Miss Earth). You rarely see the titleholder making the news, because her cause (promoting
tourism) is dime a dozen and is not really interesting. This year, MTQI will add "special tourism regions and areas" as new
participants (such as Borneo, Hawaii, etc.) - which is absurd because practically any place or region on earth could be a potential
tourist spot. And fourth, MTQI's title is too long and rather redundant, and it's not memorable.
I had posted the above response on the CB Message Board, and the MTQI people
replied to it, although I am not really sure if the counterresponse was indeed posted by "MTQI Org" (the IP address originates
from Singapore where MTQI has an office). Here's their counterresponse (I am posting them as it is, including typos):
1) you were not invited to cover the event? Other websites took opportunity to cover and so they were invited.
If you had asked, we would have looked into it.
2) Also probably you are not the national director of USA , We believe that GB recommended you for the USA
franchise but you did work on it.
3)We like you to know that CNN, BBC, Rueters and AP of China and 55 international press were invited by us
to come to China to cover the event last year. The event was well covered.
4) Just because you cannot remember what MTQI stands for, does not make contest redundant. Or any
contest fo that matter of fact.
So you know that fact that its the only grand slam pageant that provides air tickets for participating
countries. You also forget that MTQI Organization owns this contest and are entitled to make their own rules.
Beauty contests rules are not for Critical Beauty to determined or assumed.
Like Miss Universe, Miss Earth and Miss World the organizers have their own sets of rules and guidelines.
And we have ours too.
Please do not assumptions or determine that they have the sames rules as other pageants. No where did MTQI said
they were similiar to Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International, Miss Earth or any other pageants. We have never said we were.
We run our contest peacefully and based on tourism.And is not for CB message board or you to tell us what countries or region.
Same as we cannot tell what to write on your message board.
We are not out to bash any contests or anyone. but comments from you were not necessary especially when
you did not have the actual facts.
Also note that Miss Tourism Queen has never said anything bad about you and your messageboard. While we respect
you for what you do, we expect you to do like wise.
Thank you and have a great week ahead.
Yours faithfully
Thank you, MTQI, for finally acknowledging Critical Beauty as a significant
pageant website. Have a great week, too!
• FINALLY : Juan Prado reviews the Miss Universe 1974 telecast.
• NEXT UPDATE : Monday, February 4, 2008.
Photo credits: Associated Press, Fametastic.co.uk
| 01.24.2008 | Thursday
• SUING WHY? Valérie Bègue, Miss France 2008, is suing TV host Thierry Ardisson for
insulting her during his chat with Geneviève de Fontenay on his show "Salut les Terriens!" last
Saturday. You can watch a videoclip of the show here.
De Fontenay had introduced Laura Tanguy, the representative of France to international
competitions and who will accompany her to regional pageants. Ardisson, referring to Bègue, exclaimed:
"Quelle pute, hein!" ("She's such a whore!"). Ardisson also showed the so-called scandalous photos of
Bègue on the TV screen, while De Fontenay remarked "unacceptable" or "it's not the image of Miss France."
Bègue did not wait too long to retaliate; she immediately contacted her lawyer who
will file charges against Ardisson, his production company Téléparis and the Canal + network. Bègue believes
that there is no more reason to show the photos since the French court has already condemned the magazine
Entrevue for having published them in bad faith.
Canal + is defending Ardisson, saying that his sense of humour
reflects the overall humour of the network. De Fontenay remains firm with her decision not to take Bègue
with her to any social event. In her contract, Bègue is forbidden from attending regional pageants for
an indefinite period of time, but not during her entire reign. Sylvie Tellier, a former Miss France
who is now the general director of the Miss France Society, said: "For me, there's only one Miss France,
and that's Valérie."(Leparisien.fr, 1/20/2008)
Bègue was interviewed by Jean-Marc Marondini on his chat show. When asked if she's suing Ardisson for money, Bègue
vehemently denied it and said that even if got any money - that she would donate it to charitable organizations.
• TOP MODEL WHO? Last Friday in Cairo, Egypt, Germany's Alessandra Alores, 23, won the Top Model of the
World competition, beating 40 other candidates. The first runner-up is Alena Adka, 23, of Belarus and the
second runner-up is Lobna Amin, 20, of Egypt. Alores represented Germany in Miss Universe 2003 as
Alexandra Vodjanikova. Some of Alores's rivals protested her victory. Spain's
Carlota Tabarin exclaimed, "We are not happy because she's not a top model. She didn't even make any effort
to attend the rehearsals." Britan's Nicola Moriarty: "It's not right. She's too short. She would always
arrive late and drunk at the rehearsals. Furthermore, she had her own room whereas the rest of us had to share
rooms. She knew she was going to win." According to Moriarty, the candidates from Belarus, Colombia and Venezuela
were more deserving of the title.
In her part, Alores claims that she was in "shock" when she heard her
name called as the winner because she had not expected it. "I was surprised because I was the shortest of the finalists, although it's time that a
short girl win!" Alores is barely 5'7" tall. She hesitated making any rebuttal about her colleague's commentaries.
One of the organizers of the event, Detlef Tursies, managing director of WBO (World Beauty Organization),
stated "Pageants are just like football games, that everyone has his or her favorite and there's always
controversy. Besides, we Germans are not very patriotic." This is in reference to the fact that several
of the judges were German, that the majority of the audience was German, and the event took place at
Steigenberger Al Dau Beach Hotel owned by Germans. (El Aragueño, 1/20/2008)
If you're questioning if Alores has got what it takes to be a top model,
visit her official website and check out her galleries. My question is,
why is the winner wearing a 2007 sash when the pageant took place in 2008?
• COONYA-TAI WHAT? It used to be called "Miss Universe Paraguay," but now the preliminary national pageant to select
Paraguay's delegates to Miss Universe, Miss World, and Miss International has been changed to “Kuñataî Paraguay 2008"
under the co-production of TV Acción S.A. – Canal 4 - Telefuturo and Promociones Gloria. The reason for the name
change is to consolidate three titles (“Miss Universo Paraguay 2008”; “Miss Mundo Paraguay 2008” and “Miss Internacional
Paraguay 2008”) and to give them equal ranking. "Kuñataî" is the Guaraní equivalent of "Miss." Guaraní
is the indigenous language of Paraguay, and 80% of Paraguayans speak it. (RedBolivia.com, 1/21/2008)
• LIPSTICK ATTACK : "The latest victim of suspected pageant sabotage is Jessica Wittenbrink, whose $3,500 evening
gown was found smeared with lipstick at last Saturday’s Miss South Florida Fair Pageant, a lead-in competition to
the Miss America Pageant." Read more.
• MOTHERS WELCOME : Ever since Angela Bustillo was dethroned as Miss Cantabria 2007 for being a
mother, the Miss Spain controversy has brought evident changes. Since June 2007, the Miss Spain Organization
has been accepting unmarried mothers to compete in the pageant. This year, there will be two of them who
will be vying for the crown next month. Paula Sánchez, Miss Salamanca, and Sandra Veiga,
Miss Cantabria, will be the first contestants who have a child each. Sánchez has an 8-year-old
son and she will be the oldest candidate at 27 years of age. (La Prensa, Honduras, 1/17/2008)
• AND SPEAKING OF MOTHERS : Alicia Machado, Miss Universe 1996, revealed that she is four-months pregnant.
She has not revealed the identity of the baby's father, and she will not marry him because she does not
believe in marriage, although she did say that she is very much in love with him. All we know is that the baby's
father is a much older gentleman. (Esmas, 1/23/2008)
• A TRUE PROFESSIONAL : Histrionic abilities may not be Sushmita Sen's greatest plus point as an actress despite occasional
flashes in movies like "Main Hoon Na" and "Filhaal," but this former Miss Universe-turned movie star is quite a professional.
Recently, she returned the advance money - or signing amount in Bollywood parlance - of Rs.2.1 million to producer
Vijay Galani who had signed her up for a movie. Reason? She was not provided the bound script of the movie
on time as promised. Vijay Galani Movies had signed Sushmita for a movie to be directed by director Dharmesh Darshan.
The actress said she had initially agreed to do the movie after she heard its narration from the director in August
last year. When she signed the Letter of Intent the next month and was paid advance money out of her total fee
of Rs.10.25 million, it was agreed that a bound script would be sent to her in November.
But instead of a script, what she received was a piece of paper in which
the director had briefly outlined her role in the movie. Not only was she outraged at the producer going
back on his word, she was also shocked that the role outlined in the piece of paper was entirely different
from the director's description of it earlier. So, by returning the signing amount, she wanted to wash her
hands off the movie. A month has passed since she has returned the cheque, but Vijay Galani Movies has not yet
deposited it in the bank. The story does not end there. No sooner did Sushmita disassociate herself from the
movie that Govinda, the movie's leading man, also walked out of it saying without the actress playing the female
lead, the whole concept of the movie would change. And he would not like that. "Professionalism" and solidarity
exemplified by Govinda and Sushmita has put the producer in a spot and the director in a dilemma. (Sify Movies, 1/19/2008)
• LOOKING BACK : The new Miss America will be crowned on Saturday, January 26th. I've been watching "Miss America Reality
Check" and I still do not have a clue who is going to win. Definitely not Oklahoma (again). However, based on the
reality show, I'd love to see these states in top five: Alaska, Utah, Indiana, South Carolina and Florida. A New Jersey
newspaper, The Courier-Post, features more than two dozen archival photos of past Miss America titleholders. Check
this gallery.
• DISGUSTED : As much as I am eager to watch the Miss America show this Saturday night, my eagerness has been substantially
diminished by MAO's refusal to grant press credentials to Critical Beauty to cover the pageant in Las Vegas. Their excuse:
"lack of media space" - which is, of course, total bulls--t. This is the second year in a row that CB was denied press credentials.
My correspondent from Las Vegas had already purchased the tickets to various events that he was supposed to cover, until
the press relations coordinator Princesa Santos advised him that they could not accomodate CB due to "lack of media space."
I fired off an e-mail to Santos questioning why she would blow off an opportunity to get
more exposure for the pageant which is barely struggling to survive, and telling her that by denying CB a chance to cover
the "renovated" pageant - that she has done "not only a great disservice to pageant fans" but she has also alienated them, including
myself. My correspondent, who is just as bothered as I am, commented that the pageant "has not been well publicized
locally and Planet Hollywood has not made a big media push for the event either." I wonder why. It seems like that the pageant
is not the only thing that needs a makeover. The PR department could certainly learn a lesson or two in promoting a
favorable relationship with the public.
• NEXT UPDATE : Monday, January 28, 2008.
Photo credits: Reuters, Comoes.com
| 01.14.2008 | Monday
Meanwhile, it is now official: France's representative to Miss Universe 2008
will be Laura Tanguy, who placed third in the national pageant. Tanguy represented Pays de Loire. In the left photo,
Tanguy poses next to Geneviève de Fontenay, the director of Miss France. Tanguy is wearing a sash that
reads [my translation]: "Miss Pays de Loire, representative of France to Miss Universe 2008."
• THE NEW INTERNATIONAL QUEEN OF COFFEE is Jessica Jordan of Bolivia who was crowned Saturday in Manizales,
Colombia. Her "Virreina" (first place) is Camila Fernández Carvalho of Uruguay. The other finalists are the
delegates from Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and Panama. Twenty-two countries participated in this year's
pageant. This is the first time Bolivia won the title. Jordan had represented Bolivia in Miss Earth and Miss
Universe 2007 pageants. (El Deber, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, 1/13/2008)
• NO ARRESTS YET : Prosecutors still lack the evidence necessary to charge anyone with sabotaging a beauty pageant
contestant by dousing her garments with pepper spray, Puerto Rico's top police official said Wednesday. "It is an
extremely weak case," Police Superintendent Pedro Toledo told reporters. Toledo's comments reverse claims
made Tuesday by a lead investigator in the attack on Ingrid Marie Rivera, winner of November's Miss Puerto
Rico Universe competition, who said Tuesday that arrests of two pageant employees were imminent.
Rivera and pageant organizers claimed that saboteurs had conspired to torpedo
her bid for the crown by tainting her clothes and makeup kit with pepper spray, causing her to break out in hives.
The 24-year-old won the pageant regardless. The black gown and bathing suit she wore during the competition's final
round tested positive for pepper spray last month, weeks after another dress and makeup brush tested negative.
In the future, pageant organizers will screen volunteers and employees more carefully, competition director
Magali Febles said. (MSNBC, 1/9/2008)
• MORE PEPPER SPRAY, PLEASE : The pepper spray incident continues with the implication of María Noelis Rosario,
who represented the town of Guayama in Miss Puerto Universe pageant. Rosario alleges that she also suffered threats
similar to those of Rivera. "The saddest part is that I joined the pageant with a dream and I ended up
living a nightmare. If I had known about it, I would not have competed," she lamented. Rosario said that she has
been constantly harassed in her home with threatening anonymous phone calls. She also said that she has found
weird things in her mailbox. "I really can't point my finger at someone, but these two months have been horrible,"
she concluded. (La Prensa, Honduras, 1/12/2008)
• PROTESTING MISS USA : Ahmed Kadrat, owner of Talat Model Management (TMM) based in Iraq, sent a press release yesterday
informing MUO (Miss Universe Organization) that TMM "is outraged with Miss USA 2007 Rachel Smith's visit to Iraq."
TMM claims that the visit "endorses the U.S. aggression and invasion of Iraq, and according to the United Nations resolution, the
U.S. forces are identified as an occupying force..." Kadret demands that MUO release its official position about the U.S.
occupation of Iraq, and whether or not MUO supports the Bush administration. He also demands an apology from Smith and from
MUO.
Kadret writes: "A philanthropist who embodies dignity and an understanding of the world's
various communities should not offend others and must work to improve people's lives and not endorse any political scheme nor endorse
or support an army who has caused over three million Iraqis to flee Iraq, orphaned over 100,000 children and killed and raped
its citizens and land. Miss Smith should have obtained a visa to Iraq and I would have been more than happy to escort her to
orphanages and foster homes so that she can see what her President/Government and Army did to these people, she should visit
Syria and Jordan and perhaps look at the refugees that are living in dire situations as a result of this American Army and
invasion. When Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, the entire world condemned the act and were attacked by 33 nations, led by the
United States and now Iraq is being raped and looted of its wealth by your government, Miss USA seems to step in and support
her troops."
Kadret's protest seems legitimate, that is, if he is speaking as a private Iraqi citizen.
However, as a fellow colleague in the pageant or modeling business, he has ultimately obliterated any chance for an Iraqi
representation in Miss Universe. An apology from MUO is possible, but highly unlikely. Why? Because MUO has nothing to do
with the U.S. occupation of Iraq. In many mosques in the U.S., anti-Jewish and anti-democracy sentiments are vigorously preached by radical imams from Saudi Arabia, yet we hardly
hear of U.S. citizens demanding an apology from the Saudi government or demanding to deport these imams. Kadret's suggestion -
that he would have been more happy to escort Smith in Iraq to show her the atrocities committed by the U.S. Army - reminds me
of Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi who, in November 2002, hosted a beauty pageant called Miss Net World and
how he recounted the U.S. bombing of Libya in 1986 to the U.S. representative (whose name escapes me) who then cried and
apologized to her charismatic host.
• BEAUTY CAN BE PAINFUL : "Lead in your lipstick? Mercury in your mascara? Recent headlines about harmful ingredients hiding
in beauty products are enough to make even the vainest among us want to go back to the good old days of rubbing
strawberries on our lips to make them red." Read more.
• BEAUTY TIPS FROM MISS ARIZONA : Read all about it here.
• NEXT UPDATE : I will be in the Bay Area (California) from January 16th to January 20th. The Journal will be updated on Thursday,
January 24th.
Photo credit: Miss France
| 01.07.2008 | Monday
The newspaper also said the documents accused Fulbright of biting him several times, sticking a butcher knife in his ear, saying she was going to kill him and pointing a pistol at him.
The Star said after eight to 10 hours, the victim grabbed Fulbright's gun, which went off, and he fled the house screaming for help.
The man's injuries were consistent with his story, police told the newspaper. (FOX News, 1/2/2008)
The undated photo of Fulbright was provided by the Tucson Police Department in Tucson, Arizona.
Obviously, the photo is hardly flattering. You can see a photo of Fulbright as a beauty contestant - and as a model
in a racy 2008 calendar wearing a sexy bikini top and toting a machine gun - in this site.
• DEFENDING HIMSELF : A few weeks ago, in several message boards, a poster by the name of "Teddy Abera" had written
that Gadol Wilson had been stripped of the Miss World Ethiopia franchise "for other dubious promises and
illegal practices." "Abera" also claimed that Ton and his business partner, Tsegaya C. Didana had failed
"to honour any of the many prizes they promised to their winners," and to send Ethiopia males to male pageants.
Wilson wrote a lengthy letter to me in which he denies all claims against him. You can read the letter here.
• MALAYSIA OR MAURITIUS? Sydney Selvon, the father of Melody Selvon who represented Mauritius
in Miss World 2007, wrote to me because he was concerned about two things. First, he thinks that it should be
have been Mauritius, instead of Malaysia, that should have been called a semifinalist, based on a audioclip that
he had sent me. Mr. Selvon insists that the host Fernando Allende had pronounced "Mauritius." He writes:
I posted the YouTube videoclip in question on the CB Message Board. Please review
the clip and let us know what you hear!
Second, Mr. Selvon, who is a former ambassador of Mauritius and newspaper editor in
Canada and Mauritius, also stated that Melody "did not receive the promised prizes except an outdated cell phone and the use of a small second hand car." Melody was also
promised a tourism promotion job which was never given to her "under the pretext she was not yet 18 years-old" (even though
the job was offered to previous titleholders and the current Miss Mauritius). Mr. Selvon has pursued legal action against
the Miss Mauritius Organization.
• CATHERINE THE GREAT: A computer program developed by two scientists from the University of Technology in Sydney
has selected actress Catherine Zeta-Jones as the ‘benchmark’ for beauty. The scientists, Professor Massimo Piccardi and
Hatice Gunes in explaining their invention in the International Journal of Human Computer Studies said that “Potential
applications exist in the entertainment industry, cosmetic industry, virtual media and plastic surgery,” according to
reports on icWales.co.uk. The images of 215 women were used to develop the software. The women were from various ethnicities,
ages and levels of beauty. Not everyone is enamored of the technology, including co-developer Professor Piccardi who said
that it could be damaging for over-sensitive adolescents. Thirty-eight year old Zeta-Jones is no stranger to being labeled beautiful as just
about anything written about her mentions her good looks. (Carefair.com, 1/5/2008)
• MISS AMERICA GETS REAL : This past weekend, I saw the first of four segments of "Miss America. Reality Check" on TLC network.
The premise of the show seeks to update the image of Miss America, to make it more modern and glamorous. Just like any other
make-over show, the fifty-two contestants (including District of Columbia and Virgin Islands) are subjected to scrutiny
by a panel of fashion and style experts who analyze the girls (in their appearance and attitude) as they - according to TLC's
press release - "participate in an intense set of events and challenges designed to prepare them for the final event,
a renewed competition that will redefine what it takes to be Miss America, a relatable and individual 'it girl' who can
connect with today's modern woman."
I like what I have seen so far. Most of the contestants look fresh, sound articulate,
and behave nicely, and no matter how hard the producers attempt to coax the girls to be mean to each other, it doesn't work.
Miss Lousiana Amanda Joseph told a local paper: "The producers of the reality show really tried to make some
drama and make us fight (with) one another. We told them, 'We're smarter than that. We're Miss America contestants.'
We're actually diplomats. We're not going to do that to one another. I can honestly say there was not one catfight."
This reality show is the absolute antithesis of Trump's "Pageant Place," which gets my vote as the worst thing that
has ever happened in the history of pageant-based reality TV.
Now let's talk about glamour. Some would say that the current image of Miss America
is not glamorous. Glamour is one of those words that is not easy to define, like beauty, because it is so subjective.
In fashion, glamour is usually associated with anything sparkling or shiny. Think the red carpet at the Oscars (long flowing gowns made
of silk, satin, lace, organza or taffeta; lots of expensive jewelry; fancy hair and make-up; and
evening designer bags with glimmer.) Yet, one rarely says, "that's a glamorous gown."
Instead, one would say, "You look glamorous in that gown!" I thought Miss South Carolina Crystal Garrett is glamorous
and beautiful even though her current look
may appear traditional or outdated to some. Compare her with the current Miss Texas USA, Crystle Stewart, who looks
every inch a queen. Notice that Stewart's headshot may seem more glamorous only because of her sparkling earrings Are the producers of Miss America trying to modernize the image of Miss America by imitating Miss USA?
I hope not; otherwise, one wouldn't be able to distinguish anymore between the two pageants. Having seen Garrett and Stewart in videoclips,
I must say that Garrett and Stewart are equally beautiful women. Both have great symmetrical features and high cheekbones,
and both are equally eloquent and smart. But to me, Garrett is more glamorous, and I really can't explain why.
• TOP MODEL OF THE WORLD : Who will succeed Michelle De Leon? The delegates will start arriving in Cairo, Egypt tomorrow.
Check out this year's model contenders.
• END-OF-YEAR-REVIEW : 2007 was a tumultuous year in pageantry. Read all about it here.
• NEXT UPDATE : Monday, January 14, 2008.
Photo credits: Asli Bayram Official Site, Miss America Organization, Miss Texas USA
DECEMBER 2007
• THE NEW MISS AMERICA is Michigan's Kirsten Haglund, left, a 19-year-old aspiring Broadway star, who was crowned
on Saturday in a live show in Las Vegas. For the talent segment, Haglund sang "Over the Rainbow" and
walked a crowd-pleasing strut in a black and gold bikini to clinch the title. She beat Indiana's Nicole
Elizabeth Rash, the first runner-up, and Washington's Elyse Umemoto, the second runner-up for the
$50,000 scholarship and year of travel that comes with the crown. The third runner-up is Virginia's Hannah Kiefer
and the fourth runner-up is North Carolina's Jessica Jacobs. Haglund, who studies music at the University of
Cincinnati, grew up in a pageant family. Her mother is an active volunteer, and her grandmother Iora Hunt,
competed for the crown as Miss Michigan 1944. Hunt joined Haglund at a news conference.
"Our commentary about Miss America is not a reaction to how the PNB staff was treated in Las Vegas. It's true,
the treatment we received was noticeably worse than in 2006, due to a lack of organization and the kind of us-against-them
attitude that we noted in this article. PNB is a truth-telling enterprise, and there is an old Serbian saying, "Tell the truth and run."
Still, some pageant officials were unfailingly kind, and many individuals in the vast Miss America family, including especially
the contestants, reached out to us. They are the future of Miss America, and we are grateful to them." (Read the entire article here.)
• WHAT SHE THINKS OF BAD GIRLS : Former Miss USA Shanna Moakler, left, has blasted Hollywood’s party girls for the "sick and sad"
way they behave - because she fears too many wannabes feel they have to be outrageous to get famous. The reality TV star, who
until recently was married to rocker Travis Barker, has taken aim at Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears for
their controversial antics.
Rafa, you are prejudiced because ;
MTQI Org 
• GOT PAID : Valérie Bègue, Miss France 2008, was paid 15,000 euros (roughly US$22,0000) by Entrevue,
the French-language tabloid that published Bègue's "controversial" photos that nearly caused her to lose her title.
Bègue sued the tabloid to attempt to recover her image. Even though Bègue won the lawsuit, she cannot keep the money
which she has to donate to organizations that fight breast cancer and cystic fibrosis. (News de stars, 1/13/2008) 
• TORTURE QUEEN : Kumari Fulbright, 25, left, was indicted with three men Dec. 18 by a Pima County Superior Court grand jury
on charges of kidnapping, armed robbery, aggravated robbery and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, the Arizona Daily Star
reported. Fulbright, was Miss Pima County in 2005 and Miss Desert Sun in 2006, and sought the title of Miss Arizona during those years.
She also clerked for U.S. District Judge Raner Collins as a University of Arizona law school student, the newspaper said.
It said the alleged assailants held a 24-year-old man captive for 10 hours on Dec. 8 while robbing and torturing him.
Court documents said the foursome tied the man up with plastic cable ties and duct tape, holding him at two Tucson homes,
during which time they pointed handguns at him, threatened his life, stole his cell phone, briefcase and wallet,
taking between $500 and $600.
"I was at the finals with my wife and three officials of Miss World. We all heard Mauritius by the announcer
after he liaised with the jury to get the names. Actually, my wife and I started applauding and Melody started
to move but was outpaced by Miss Malaysia who was nearer to the female presenter who then, on seeing Miss
Malaysia on her dress, said Malaysia. Mauritius is pronounced Mow-rrri-tii-us. I know Americans are not familiar
with the name Mauritius. Latinos pronounce it Mauritia or Mauritias. My wife and I checked with one member of
the jury the next day and he did not even know whether it was Malaysia and he said he would go to his room and check.
Then he came and said it was Malaysia, and then went on to make promises to Melody that he would send her to
various other competitions. We went back and checked on YouTube and had people in Mauritius and France check also.
They all said it was Mauritius or heard Mauritius pronounced as Mauritia or Mauritias. In France, one viewer
of the live show said Paris Premiere TV channel announced Mauritius after hearing the presenter. The two
commentators were Christian Roux and former Miss France Sylvie Tellier. I cut out the extract (the one I sent you)
and listened several times and it's clear there is an "s" at the end and at the beginning there is "Mau" (Mow),
not Ma. Clearly , it's not Malaysia (easily pronounced: Ma-lay-zia). My lawyer also listened, so did officials
who listened to the actual recording of the live show at the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation in Mauritius
(not the YouTube version, the actual broadcaster's recording of the show as broadcast to the world).
Often people confuse Mauritius, whose existence they don't know, with Malaysia and Mauritania.
Mail from the US go to either of those countries quite frequently."
• WHAT'S UP WITH ASLI : Asli Bayram, who represented Germany in Miss Universe 2005, is now a burgeoning
stage actress. Bayram, of Turkish descent, is currently playing the role of Anne Frank.
Bayram is getting rave reviews for her acting, which proves that not all beauty queens are superficial or one-dimensional.
Visit her official website.