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| 07.28.2008 | Monday
• GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY : Luz Marina Zuluaga, the only Miss Universe from Colombia, celebrated her fiftieth
coronation anniversary on July 25th. Zuluaga's story is significant because as some of you may know, she was the first
runner-up in the 1957 Miss Colombia pageant that was won by Doris Gil Santamaría who eventually had to renounce
her title to be married, which goes against Miss Universe regulations. During the Miss Universe 1958 pageant in
Long Beach, California, Luz caught the attention of beauty experts who designated her as one of the favorites for
the crown. The pageant took place on July 25th while all of Colombia were glued to their radio or television set.
(El Informador, Santa Marta, 7/25/2008)
• VERY IMPORTANT PERSON : The Namibian newspaper Informanté recently published an article featuring influential
Namibians, and one of them is Michelle McLean, Miss Universe 1992. Besides her beauty pageant laurels, Michelle was also praised for her
"statuesque splendour, intelligence and warmth" and for establishing the Michelle McLean Children’s Trust, which focuses
on the education and care of thousands of underprivileged children in Namibia. Michelle was also instrumental in
championing the Miss Universe pageant, held in Namibia in 1995. In 1998, Michelle became the second contestant
in the world ever to receive the Miss Universe Achievement Award. (Informante, Namibia, 7/25/2008)
• VERY IMPORTANT WORK : Lupita Jones, director of Nuestra Belleza México, scolded the Mexican TV program
La Oreja for not devoting adequate coverage of her delegates and her pageants. While being interviewed
at the airport in Mexico City, Lupita insists that she takes her work seriously and that it is of utmost importance.
When asked if she agreed with the results of Miss Universe 2008 where Elisa Nájera placed fifth, she
remarked, "I have already said many times what I think about that topic, and we all saw how it was." (Esmas,
7/25/2008)
• VERY IMPORTANT PUMP : "We call it 'pumping' because that's just a signature name that we came up with our own
language. They get pumped because they want enhance their body to look more convicing of a female.... What is
the better illusion versus having to put on fake breasts, or fake hips, fake butt -- when you can have the
alteration done?" Read more... but don't freak out when you see
this picture! LOL!
A more elaborate article on this subject can be read in this site.
And here's some interesting information about Maribel. Months before the 1955 pageant,
she and her mother had flown to Paris to buy a Dior gown that reportedly cost $1,000 (which would be $30,000 in today's market).
At 19 years of age and at 5'3", Maribel immediately caught the eye of the judges and the public because of her striking
resemblance to Marilyn Monroe. When the fifteen finalists were chosen - which included Maribel - her first words were,
in accented English: "If the girls had not been friendly to me, I could never have been friendly to them." When she came to
Long Beach, she was not a stranger. In 1952 she was selected by Long Beach judges from among 50 girls to ride on the city's
Miss Universe float, in the New Year's Day Tournament of Roses parade in Pasadena, California. (Thanks to Miguel Castro-Rivera
for this information). To know more about Maribel, visit this site.
• JAILED : An Angolan diplomat’s son was on Friday jailed for more than 17 years in the United Kingdom for murdering
Zimbabwean beauty queen Nomsa Muhlwa’s boyfriend after he found the two in bed. According to media reports from
that country, the incident took place in November last year. He stabbed the beauty queen once on the arm as she tried
to protect her new boyfriend. Reports said Etiene Vidal Puna, 23, who was once Muhlwa’s boyfriend, acted in a fit
of jealousy after arriving at her home on Selset Way in Hull and found her in bed with her new boyfriend,
South African 25-year- old Mr Lucas Ramabi. The court heard that Puna assaulted Ramabi who fell unconscious before
proceeding to the kitchen and returning armed with a kitchen knife, which he used to stab him 19 times. He died
on the spot. Muhlwa’s children, aged four and eight, were present when the gruesome murder took place. Nomsa has
participated in several beauty pageants while her sister Sindiso Muhlwa is the reigning Miss Zimbabwe UK. (The Herald,
Zimbabwe, 7/28/2008)
• BEING MISS UNIVERSE : "Being a model is just great. You show a brand, a beautiful dress," said the 22-year-old Venezuelan.
"But being Miss Venezuela and Miss Universe, you have the opportunity to go all over the world and have contact with the
people and show yourself, and that's what I really wanted." Read more.
• NEXT UPDATE : I will be in New York City from August 2 until August 5th to bestow the CB Best National Director award
to Fadil Berisha, to reunite with Héctor Joaquín (whom I haven't seen in nearly four years) and to meet with
Michelle Malcolm, the President of the Miss Bahamas Organization, and with the new Miss Bahamas World Tinnyse Johnson.
Tinnyse will have a photo session with Fadil and hopefully I get to observe it! This Journal will be updated on August 7th.
Photo credits: Miss Mundo Brasil, Miguel Castro-Rivera, Miss Universe Organization
• RELUCTANT QUEEN : The new Miss Universe from Venezuela, Dayana Mendoza, did not really want
to become a beauty queen. According to her parents, Miss Venezuela director Osmel Sousa tried for three
years to convince Dayana to enter the national pageant. Osmel told Dayana: "This is your last chance. Decide if
you want to enter. You're already 21." Her father believes that the frivolity of pageant scared her, but later
she realized that it wasn't so. Mendoza told her father: "If I enter Miss Venezuela, it's to win." So Mendoza
signed up and won. (El Universal, Caracas, 7/20/2008)
• HER GOWN : Dayana had brought to Vientam three gowns - one white designed by Angel Sánchez, one yellow by
Alberto de Castro, and one yellow by Johnny Straccia. No one knew which of these gowns Dayana would
wear. However, during the live telecast, Straccia jumped with joy after having seen Dayana win while she was wearing the
gown that he designed. "I was almost sure that it would be my gown because we worked together with the
Miss Venezuela organization." Straccia said that the gown was designed by the end of May with yards of chiffon
and silk crepe. "The idea was to create a gown that would show Dayana's legs. For that I designed a silk bodice
enhanced by Swarovski crystals that give it total sparkle. (El Universal, Caracas, 7/20/2008)
Interesting note: Dayana is the first woman to be crowned Miss Universe wearing
a yellow gown.
• COSMETIC CONFESSION : During a press conference the day after she was crowned Miss Universe, Dayana admitted
that she had cosmetic surgery done on her nose and on her breasts. This is nothing shocking, really, considering
that cosmetic surgery has become a routine performed on Latin delegates. Dayana said that she had a nose job
because everytime she smiled, her nose would look droopy. The breast augmentation was necessary because she
was essentially flat-chested. Dayana's surgeries didn't agree well with Miss Spain Claudia Moro who, after
the pageant in Vietnam, went topless on the beach and told the Venezuelan press that Dayana "won the title for
much more things besides cosmetic surgeries." (El Heraldo, Barranquilla, 7/20/2008)
• WHO WILL CROWN THE NEW MISS VENEZUELA? Not Dayana Mendoza. This honor will be given to Hannelys Quintero
who was Dayana's first runner-up to her Miss Venezuela 2007 title. Why? Because MUO has already prepared Dayana's
agenda, and it does not include crowning her successor, unless MUO gives her permission to do so. Meanwhile,
it is reported that Venevisión is organizing a lavish reception for Dayana during her homecoming, which will be
shown on the popular variet show "Sábado Sensacional." (Diário 2001, Caracas, 7/20/2008)
• MISS ELEGANCE 2008? : An Argentine newspaper is quoting Mónica Vega, the mother of Miss Argentina Silvana Belli
who said that her daughter was awarded the Miss Elegance award during the Miss Universe 2008 pageant in Vietnam.
Vega remarked: "Silvana received this title, even though it was not televised due to time constraint. In a few more days,
they are going to send us a certificate from Vietnam that credits her as Miss Elegance 2008." Yeah, like whatever. LOL!
(Diario de Cuyo, Argentina, 7/20/2008)
• THE NEW MISS ENGLAND is Laura Coleman, a 22-year-old, blue-eyed blonde from Derby. She was crowned in London
on July 18th and will represent England in Miss World 2008 pageant to be held in the Ukraine. The first runner-up is
Chloe Marshall and the second runner-up is Vanessa Lansom.
• THE NEW MISS HONG KONG is Edelweiss Cheung, a 22-year-old student who was crowned
on July 19th. Her court includes first runner-up is Skye Chan and second runner-up is Sire Ma.
It is not certain if Cheung will be sent to an international competition.
• BOLIVIAN BELLES : Four new Bolivian queens were crowned on July 19th. The new Miss Bolivia Universe is
Dominique Peltier, 21. The new Miss Bolivia World is Jackelin Arias, 18. The new Miss Bolivia
International is Laura Olivera, 17. The new Miss Bolivia Earth is Paula Peñarrieta, 19. Nicole Añez
was crowned as Miss Bolivia Continente Americano. (El Deber, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, 7/20/2008)
• SHE WANTS PEACE : Miss France Valérie Bègue has chosen the magazine Téléstar to invite Geneviève de
Fontenay to "bury the hatchet". Valérie wishes a reconciliation with Geneviève, stating that her former mentor
"is not a bad personne" despite her differences with former Misses. Valérie would very much prefer to be in
good terms with the Hat Lady. Meanwhile, Valérie is traveling to Qatar, to Dubai and to Kuwait as a spokesperson
for a jewelry company. (Le Blog TV News, 7/20/08)
• NEXT UPDATE : Monday, July 28, 2008.
Photo credit: Elanecdotario.com
"I am excited. I cried a lot. I am really glad I made it," Mendoza, the
57th winner of the title, later told reporters. The professional model has said her "express kidnapping" in Venezuela
a year and a half ago taught her to remain calm in stressful situations. "It is something that happens in my
country and that's why I want to raise my voice and say violence is not the answer," she said when asked about the incident.
Mendoza, an aspiring interior designer, was among four finalists from Latin America, including first
runner-up Taliana Vargas, 20, from Colombia. (Reuters, 7/14/2008)
The rest of the top five were second runner-up Marianne Cruz of the
Dominican Republic, third runner-up Vera Krasova of Russia, and fourth runner-up Elisa Najera of Mexico.
Special awards were given to Gavintra Photijak of Thailand for Best National Costume and to Rebeca Moreno of El Salvador
as Miss Congeniality Universe.
• ROBBED : Former Miss Colombia Paula Betancur, who placed second in Miss Universe 1993, remarked that
her compatriot Taliana Vargas was robbed of the Miss Universe crown. She said, "Such a joy to have a vice-queen
after 14 years, but she was robbed. She received the highest scores. Too bad they robbed her of the crown."
(El País, Cali, 7/14/2008)
• WHAT HAPPENED? : Several favorites were shut out of the competition, especially Ingrid Marie Rivera of
Puerto Rico. Puerto Rican fans are simply stunned by the exclusion of their delegate from the top fifteen list.
An article by Primera Hora suggests that national director Magali Febles had failed to pay the rest of the
$100,000 franchise fee. Some say that Ingrid had lost her spark and that she was too exhausted to continue. Some claim
that MUO did not want to have anything to do with candidates who had been involved in controversies. No one
will ever know the real truth.
• IT WORKED IN HER FAVOR : Marianne Cruz of the Dominican Republic defied her director Magali Febles's
orders and opted to wear a Venezuelan-designed long-sleeved gown encrusted with crystals in geometric shapes. Marianne
followed her instinct and she knew what was best for her, and it worked. She placed third!
• SURPRISES : Two delegates who made the semi-finals caught everyone by surprise as they were hardly considered
anyone's favorites: Miss Hungary Jazmin Dammak and Miss Italy Claudia Ferraris. Inés Ligron's serious
pupil Sun Lee of Korea was dumped over her less serious pupil Hiroko Mima of Japan. I guess every year
will be full of surprises, but I didn't realize that this year's surprises could leave a dull taste in my mouth.
• READ my review of the telecast.
• NEXT UPDATE : Monday, July 21, 2008.
Photo courtesy: Reuters
• REBEL QUEEN : Miss Dominican Republic Marianne Cruz changed her prelims evening gown without
notifying designer Leonel Lirio or her national director Magali Febles. The night before the
prelims, Febles had forbidden Cruz to change her gown because Lirio had already designed a white gown for her
with crystals and chiffon. Despite promising Febles that she would not change her gown, Cruz defied Febles
and did it anyway. Cruz opted to wear a gown designed by a Venezuelan Alejandro Fajardo that had
already been worn by a former Miss Venezuela contestant.
Lirio commented, "If Marianne wanted to wear a creation by a Venezuelana,
it should have been a new gown, not a recycled piece and used by a candidate who did not even place. It
doesn't matter who had worn it, but it should have been a special piece, new and conceived within her
participation. By defying us, she is defying herself. She did it because she's not a person worthy to be
trusted or deserving to be in a competition such as this one."
Febles, on the other hand, mentioned that this is not the first time
that Marianne has defied orders. At the beginning of the year, Marianne went to Venezuela to have several
plastic surgeries that included breast enlargement, nose job and liposuction.(El Nuevo Dia, San Juan, 7/11/2008)
• DEVASTATED : Miss Puerto Rico Ingrid Marie Rivera was informed yesterday by her director
Magali Febles that Miguel Curbelo, Ingrid's trainer for four years and whom she considered
as her second father, has died. Febles had to wait for Ingrid to finish filming the segment on national
costumes for the final night so as not to affect her emotional state. Ingrid was devastated upon hearing
Curbelo's death: "Oh my God! Another tragedy. I was going to dedicate my victory to him...," said
Ingrid in tears at the hotel lobby. Ingrid remembers having asked Curbelo to accompany her in Vietnam.
"What else could possible go wrong for me?" (El Nuevo Dia, San Juan, 7/11/2008)
• FOUL : Puerto Rican designer Carlos Alberto is angry because he is being accused by Harold
Rosario, ex-public relations director of Miss Puerto Rico Universe Organization, of not having
created Ingrid's "ring" gown that she wore during the preliminaries. "It saddens me because we have worked
very hard to represent the people of Puerto Rico through Ingrid's participation in Vietnam. Fortunately,
we have evidence that shows that we were working on the gown that also pleased the directors of other
countries. I have never been in such controversy because I have always led a correct life and I don't
deserve to be doubted for my word, especially if I am not home and unable to defend myself," said Alberto
yesterday.
The designer is certain that Rosario's motives are malicious.
"I don't understand. If Harold has problems with Magali Febles, he shouldn't be taking out on me by
spreading lies. What I am saying is that we have to work hard to receive blessings from God."
(El Nuevo Dia, San Juan, 7/11/2008)
• AWARDS GALORE : Critical Beauty is happy to present the annual Miss Universe awards. See the results here! And
yes, we think that Taliana Vargas of Colombia will take it all! She's fresh, she's vibrant, she's charming,
and she's fabulous! She's exactly what MUO needs. And hopefully, politics doesn't affect Taliana's chances in winning.
Meanwhile, Puerto Rico's Ingrid Marie Rivera wins CB'S Miss Internet Universe award with 624 votes, followed by
Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela and USA. Thank you all for voting!
• WHERE WILL YOU BE during the live telecast of Miss Universe? I'll be hosting a party in my home! Woohoo!
Enjoy the show and let the beauty game begin!
• NEXT UPDATE : Tuesday, July 15, 2008.
Photo credits: Miss Universe Organization
Every year during Miss Universe season, I always get asked the same question:
Who do you think will win Miss Universe? My guess is just as good as yours. I am hoping that the winner will be among
CB'S Top Fierce 15, and I would be totally shocked if none from the list is crowned. We'll just have to wait and see
next Sunday!
• COVER UP, PLEASE : The culture czars of Viet Nam are telling beauty pageant contestants and fashion models to
cover up, even as the country gears up to host the Miss Universe pageant. The contest, which will be broadcast
globally from Nha Trang in July, is being touted as the biggest international event to be held here since the end
of the Viet Nam War. Arts and performance regulations ban sexy stage displays but do not clearly define how much flesh
can be bared.
In recent weeks, however, Communist Party officials have made it tougher for
shows to be held unless outfits that they consider too scanty are redesigned or shrouded with a shawl or cape.
Professor Trinh Duy Luan, director of Ha Noi’s Institute for Social Studies, said: "Monitoring stage performers
to stop them from wearing clothes that might be regarded as too sexy is a hot issue now." At the recent Viet Nam Super
Model Contest 2008, for instance, the competitors were forced to don capes during the swimwear section.
There is now concern that such rules, if applied to the Miss Universe pageant, will make Viet Nam appear prudish
and behind the times.
"The world’s fashion shows, like the Miss Universe contest, have rules to stop
the girls from wearing inappropriate clothing, so there’s no need for Viet Nam to start making its own rules," said Luan.
Organizers of fashion shows must obtain prior approval from the culture ministry’s local officials. Many retailers and
designers are criticizing the crackdown, saying it will stifle the development of Viet Nam’s own garment industry.
One of Viet Nam’s best-known designers, Vo Viet Chung, chastised the state censors. "A trashy half-naked disco
dancer is different from a lady in a party dress that reveals her bare back," he said. "We understand the
difference between elegance and erotica." (The Island, Sri Lanka, 7/6/2008)
• FOR THE CHILDREN : Miss Universe contestants inquired into the living conditions of HIV-infected women and needy
children during a charity tour in Nha Trang city on July 3. Taking part in the tour were Miss Universe 2007,
Riyo Mori and other five beauties, including Miss Hungary, Miss Belgium, Miss Slovak, Miss Czech Republic
and Miss USA. They were welcomed at Nha Trang Xanh (Green Nha Trang) club which was founded by the municipal
Women Unions with the aim of taking care of women infected by HIV/AIDS. Mori said she was admired by
the women’s courage to overcome hardship and stigma to integrate into the local community. Representative
of the Organising Committee presented the club with VND100 million. Meanwhile, another group of more than 20
contestants visited Nha Trang’s SOS Children Village. Despite the downpours, they were welcomed and very touched
by the children’s hospitality in the village. The Organising Committee also presented VND100 million to
the village. (VietNamNet Bridge, Vietnam, 7/6/2008)
• OVERWEIGHT? Puerto Rico's national director Magali Febles has already left for Vietnam accompanied by
designer Carlos Alberto and eleven other assistants. Febles is concerned about Ingrid's weight; it appears
that she has gained four pounds since she arrived in Vietnam three weeks ago. Febles said that beauty queens are
just like boxers and their weight have to be monitored constantly. Febles, who also directs the candidate from
the Dominican Republic Marianne Cruz, said that her pupils are eating well and that no one is deprived of
proper nutrition. Meanwhile, Febles refused to comment on the Puerto Rican government's failure to donate
the $25,000 that had been promised to her organization supposedly to help finance her staff's airfare and hotel
accomodations in Vietnam. (El Vocero, San Juan, 7/5/2008)
• TOP 10 OR TOP 15 : In her July 5th blog, Ines Ligron initially wrote that MUO had changed the number of finalists from
15 to 10. A day later, Ines apologized by saying that she had made a mistake and that MUO would keep the
Top 15 slots. However, on NBC's website, it states: "Miss Universe 2008 comes to Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa, Vietnam for
a night of stars and glamour in search of the most beautiful woman in the world! Jerry Springer and Mel B. host
this exciting, LIVE event! Miss Universe 2007, Riyo Mori (Japan) will return to crown her successor. The Top 10
finalists will be judged in three categories: swimsuit, evening gown, and interview during the broadcast. Also,
the winner for Best National Costume, as decided by online votes, will be announced."
You can start voting online for the best national costume effective today at 9 AM,
Pacific time. Go to NBC's Miss Universe section.
• THE JUDGES : MUO announced the judges for the final night: former Miss Universe Jennifer Hawkins, U.S. actress
Nadine Velasquez, Donald Trump, Jr., Italian designer Roberto Cavalli and U.S. hair stylist Louis Licari.
That's right. Only five judges. No Asian. No African. Whatever happened to diversity? Notice that there is no Vietnamese judge;
however, three of the prelim judges are Vietnamese: Rosalina Tran Lydster, Thuy Tran, and Nguyen Cong Khe - so
expect Miss Vietnam to enter the semifinals. See the complete list of prelim judges
here. Three of this year's prelim judges were actually
prelim judges last year: Thuy Tran, Adel Chabbi, and Leigh Rossini. You don't remember? Check this link
to refresh your memory.
• THE LATEST ON MARK ANCHETA : A reliable source informed me that Mark Ancheta, the morally degenerate organizer
of the revived Miss Young International pageant, visited Taiwan this past weekend to convince the mayor of the city of Tainan,
Hsu Tain-Tsair, to give him US$150,000 to host Miss Young International 2008 in Tainan. Ancheta was never invited
to Tainan and his visit to the mayor's office was done spontaneously. Apparently, someone had tipped the mayor earlier about
Ancheta's corrupt business dealings, and fortunately no contract was signed. Ancheta also begged the mayor to help pay
for his hotel bill, but the mayor refused. Ancheta was expelled from Taiwan.
Go figure... what kind of a pageant organizer would invite himself to a mayor's office
and actually think that it would be a legitimate business meeting? Ancheta came alone, without an entourage that is usually
expected from legitimate pageant organizations. I was also informed that Ancheta had promised the mayor at least fifty contestants
for his October pageant, but now that the hosting fee never materialized, Ancheta is left with no place to host his pageant.
• THE NEW MISS COTE D'IVOIRE is Murielle Nanié who was crowned during the twelfth edition of the pageant
in Abidjan on July 5th. Her court includes first runner-up Mariam Koné Barakis and second runner-up
Tania Ncho. Twenty-six young women aged 18-22 competed in the contest, some of whom had been preselected
in France, notably in Paris and Toulouse. The winner will receive a new car, but it is not clear if she
is competing internationally. (Agence de Presse Africaine, 7/6/2008)
• NEXT UPDATE : Saturday, July 12, 2008.
Photo credits: Miss Universe Organization
JUNE 2008
• THE NEW MISS WORLD BRAZIL is Tamara Almeida Silva, photo, 22, representing Minas Gerais. She was crowned Saturday at an event
held at the Eco Resort Agra in Agra do Reis. The first runner-up is Vivian Noronha Cia of Paraná-Umuarama who was also crowned
Miss Tourism Queen Brazil and the second runner-up is Anelize Garcia of Paraná-Maringá who was also crowned as Brazilian
Coffee Queen. This year's edition is special in the sense that it brought together then former Miss World Brazil contestants.
Silva represented the Brazilian territory of Fernando de Noronha in Miss Tourism Queen International 2006 where she placed third.
• QUEENS OF NICE : While Colombians are still pining away for Taliana Vargas's second place finish to Venezuela's
Dayana Mendoza, and thus losing their chance for a second Miss Universe, Salvadorans are rejoicing in Rebeca Moreno's
title as Miss Congeniality Universe - the same award that was presented to her Maribel Arrieta in 1955. Younger pageant
fans may not know this, but the Miss Congeniality title (also referred to as Miss Amity, Miss Friendship or Miss Unity in the olden days) was considered
only second in importance to the Miss Universe title, at least that's what former host Bob Barker used to say.
| 07.21.2008 | Monday
• LUPITA UNDER ATTACK : Lupita Jones, (photo) Mexico's national director and the only Miss Universe from her country,
is being blamed by her countrymen for Elisa Nájera's failure to win Miss Universe. Critics contend that Elisa's
white gown was not good enough, even though she received the third highest score in the evening gown competition. They
are also blaming Elisa's "lack of elegance and the uncertainty of her answer" that caused her to place fifth. Alvaro
Gordoa, the director of Grupo Imagen Pública, said: "They need to run the pageant in a way that Lupita Jones
is no longer its protagonist; she remains as the only Mexican Miss Universe and it would take a lot of courage for
someone to take away that title from her. Lupita disagrees: "I want a second Mexican Miss Universe so badly that I
have devoted my body and soul to the preparation of young women, and the numbers show that we are doing well."
Since Lupita took over the Mexican franchises, Mexico has made the Miss Universe semifinals six times and Miss World four.
(Mundo52, Mexico, 7/19/2008)
| 07.15.2008 | Tuesday
• UNIVERSAL QUEEN : Miss Venezuela, Dayana Mendoza, (photo) was crowned Miss Universe 2008 in Vietnam's
resort city of Nha Trang on Monday. The 22-year-old brunette was given her crown, made of white and yellow gold
and precious stones, by last year's winner, Riyo Mori of Japan, at the pageant finale watched by nearly a
billion television viewers worldwide.
| 07.12.2008 | Saturday
• TOO MUCH DRAMA : Recently in her blog, Japan's national director
| 07.07.2008 | Monday
• FAVORITE(S) : Most betting agencies are putting their bet on Miss Venezuela Dayana Mendoza (photo) to win the
coveted Miss Universe 2008 crown. Not only is Dayana beautiful and captivating, she is also very popular
among the Vietnamese locals. Miss Venezuela is virtually on every pageant fan's list. Other delegates that
seem to have gained in popularity include Elisa Najera of Mexico who won the Best in Swimsuit award,
Taliana Vargas of Colombia, Claudia Moro of Spain, Simran Kaur Mundi of India, Tansey Coetzee
of South Africa, Carolina Dementiev of Panama, Shunit Faragi of Israel, Alizee Poulicek of
Belgium and Natalia Anderle of Brazil. 
• LOST LUGGAGE : TO become Miss Universe you would expect to have a back up of beautiful clothes, dazzling make-up
and killer heels to impress the judges. But UK entry Lisa Lazarus (photo) landed nearly 6,000 miles away across
the world without any of those things. The 20-year-old stunner from West Wales was left luggageless in Vietnam.
Her two suitcases were packed with an ensemble of designer outfits ready to wow the judges enough to scoop the
Miss Universe title – but they have yet to turn up, two weeks after Lisa jetted off from London.
“The suitcases contained all my make-up, shoes and Hannah Rhiannon dresses – it was the worst situation I’ve been
in and I was left with nothing,” said Lisa, who has been sent emergency outfits by her mum Diane. “Luckily, she’s
got really good taste and I’m not sure what I’d have done without her. “It’s now a case of choosing which dress
will suit me best on the night.” (WalesOnline, United Kingdom, 7/6/2008)