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| 06.28.2010 | Monday
• BEAUTY AND TRAGEDY : Viveka Babajee, a former beauty queen who represented Mauritius in 1993 Miss World and 1994
Miss Universe, was found dead last Friday in her residence in her posh Mumbai apartment. She had committed suicide
by hanging herself from the ceiling. Police are looking to question her boyfriend Gautam Vora who
allegedly visited Viveka the night before she killed herself to tell her that he wasn't ready for a commitment.
It’s turned out to be a nightmarish birthday for Gautam, a successful stockbroker and a regular at
some of south Mumbai’s most happening parties, who turned 32 on Saturday. Viveka had left a chilling message
for Gautam on the last page of a diary found near her body - “U killed me, Gautam Vora.”
Gautam, whose phone was switched off on Saturday, met Viveka at a party in Goa a
month ago and they fell in love. Friends said marriage was very much on the cards and Viveka was planning to throw
a secret party for Gautam, five years her junior, on his birthday. But he had other plans. Police sources said
that on Thursday night, Gautam visited Viveka at her 5th floor residence, and they had an argument. Some neighbors
described the altercation as ‘loud’ and ‘nasty.’ Apparently, this was when Gautam told Viveka he was not ready for
marriage. According to an autopsy report, Viveka hanged herself between 3pm and 5pm on Friday. Gautam is also
allegedly involved with another model, Hemangi, with whom he has an on-and-off relationship. Friends described
Gautam as somebody who “loves the good life, throws lavish parties and likes to be seen in the company of beautiful
and influential people.” Viveka was last spotted with friends at a party on June 17. At the time she was aglow in
the first flush of her relationship with Gautam. (The Times of India, 6/28/2010)
Viveka's suicide is reminiscent of the tragic 2004 death of Nafisa Joseph, Miss
India Universe 1997, who had also hung herself after finding out that her fiancé was already married. Ironically, Nafisa's
love interest was also named Gautam. It seems that models do not always have everything easy. French top male model Tom Nicon
died last week at age 22; initial reports suggested that Nicon died instantly falling four floors from an apartment window in Milan after returning from a Versace catwalk rehearsal.
However, the latest police reports indicate that Nicon was depressed after breaking up with his girlfriend and that he felt the
pressures of the fashion industry. Last month, Marks & Spencer's model Noemie Lenoir, 30, attempted to killer herself in
Paris. In November 2009, South Korean model Daul Kim, 20, hanged herself after writing on her blog that she was
"mad, depressed and overworked", while in April 2010 American model Ambrose Olsen, 24, hanged himself.
Also in April, Colombian model Lina Marulanda fell to her death in a suspected suicide attempt, while in a similar incident
in 2008 Russian model Ruslana Korshunova was suspected of taking her own life after she fell from the ninth-floor
balcony of her New York apartment.
• THE NEW MISS SERBIA is Milica Jelic who was crowned during the annual event held in Belgrade, June 20th.
Milica will now represent her country at the Miss World 2010 pageant next December.
• THE NEW MISS SCOTLAND is Nicola Mimnagh, 24, who was crowned June 20th at the finale held at the George Square in
Glasgow. She will represent Scotland in Miss World 2010. The first runner-up is Kimberley Dean and the second runner-up is
Jamey Bowers.
• NORWEGIAN BELLES : The new Frøken Norge-World 2010 is Mariann Birkedal and will compete in Miss World 2010.
The new Frøken Norge-Universe 2010 is Melinda Elvenes and will compete in Miss Universe 2010. They were crowned
Saturday night. Birkedal was also Frøken Norge-Universe 2008.
• SALVADORAN BEAUTIES : María Gabriela Molina Rochac, 21, was crowned Nuestra Belleza Mundo El Salvador 2010 or Miss El Salvador
World 2010. Sonia Cruz, 20, was crowned Nuestra Belleza Universo El Salvador 2010 or Miss El Salvador Universe 2010.
Both women were crowned at the finale held at the Telecorporación Salvadoreña studios in San Salvador on June 25th.
• THE NEW MISS GIBRALTAR is Larissa Dalli who was crowned by Miss World 2009 Kaiane Aldorino, from Gibraltar.
Dali will compete in Miss World 2010. The first runner-up is Jemma Rocca and the second runner-up is Leandra Howe.
• ROAD TO MISS AMERICA 2011 : New state winners were crowned last week. Caitlin Uze, 22, is the new Miss Virginia. She
won after being the second runner-up in 2009. Gabrielle Reed, 22, is the new Miss Indiana. She was also
the pageant's second runner-up last year. Adrienne Core is the new Miss North Carolina. Lindsay Staniszewski is the
new Miss Maryland. The new Miss Connecticut is Brittany Decker. And the new Miss Louisiana is Katherine Putnam.
''I don't fear for my safety although my family is afraid of what might happen,'' says Jordan,
who represented Bolivia in the 2006 Miss Universe contest, and who will now be managing a budget of $US700 million ($A800 million)
to build highways, schools, hospitals and sanitation. Jordan's appointment to the post of ''director for development of frontier
zones'' comes on the heels of her narrow defeat in a race for governor. Critics say the post has been created to usurp the
power of her elected rival. There is also the question of her qualifications for the job. ''Jessica has no experience,''
says Adriana Gil, a former Morales supporter turned opposition Member of Parliament. ''I just know her as a model
and have only heard her talk about light topics.'' (The Age, Australia, 6/28/2010)
• SENTENCED : The former director of the Miss South Carolina pageant was sentenced to 14 years in prison after a jury found him
guilty Thursday of performing a lewd act on a minor. The jury took three and a half hours to find Joseph Pettigrew Sanders IV,
who is in his 40s, guilty of that charge. The jury found Sanders not guilty of criminal sexual conduct with a minor.
Anita Gearhart was found guilty of unlawful conduct against a child. Investigators said she knew what happened and didn't
report it. Investigators said Sanders inappropriately touched the girl when she was 9 and had sex with her in 2008 when she was 12.
Sanders testified Thursday at the trial that he could not have sex at all because he has suffered from complete erectile dysfunction
since 2001. The prosecution, however, called his ex-wife to the stand, who was involved with Sanders from 2002 until 2005. She said
she and Sanders had sex once or twice a week. The defense called a doctor to the stand Wednesday who testified that he gave Sanders
testosterone supplements in 2007 after Sanders complained of erectile dysfunction. The doctor said under cross examination that
there was no way to diagnose the severity of the dysfunction or if Sanders was still having problems when the alleged rape occurred.
An investigator and a pediatric sexual abuse doctor also testified for the prosecution. The victim, now 14, testified that she did
recant her complaints against Sanders at one point because she did not want her mom to go to jail. Sanders took leave from the
pageant organization after he was arrested in 2008. (Anderson Independent Mail, 6/25/2010)
• MAGALI POLL : Two weeks ago, Critical Beauty launched a poll asking readers whether or not Magali Febles should quit directing
pageants because of her ill reputation. Of 1165 votes received, 71% (823) said she should quit, 17% (198) said she should continue,
whereas 12% (144) were indifferent to her. Thank you all for participating in this poll. Oh, well... it seems that pageantry loves
controversy, because if MUO didn't like Magali, then they could have offered the Dominican franchise to a reputable (and well-financed)
individual or group!
• HAPPY LESBIANS : Czech tennis ace Martina Navratilova, 53, has finally come out about her relationship with the last
Miss Soviet Union Julia Lemigova. Julia, 37, represented her country in the Miss Universe competition in 1991. Navratilova
has been seen in public with her new partner and there are loads of pictures of the two lovers. Navratilova settled legal
matters with her ex-wife Toni Layton not long ago. She was with Layton for 8 years and the relationship suddenly ended.
During the legal battle there was a threat from Layton that she would uncover Navratilova’s secrets in public if she is
not given what she wants, which was $3 million. As it happened, she got the money and is now apparently happy with the money,
whereas Navratilova seems happy with her new partner.
Toni Layton left her husband for Navratilova when they first hooked up, this is definitely
a vicious tale of breakups and make ups, but for the most part it turned out pretty good for Navratilova. The whole world
knows that Navratilova is a certified lesbian, but things were not too clear about Layton in the beginning.
However later it was known about her sexual orientation because for some people it might be weird to hear about a
woman leaving a man for a woman. All that is understood, but it was never known that Lemigova was a lesbian. All
this time being in pageants and modeling assignments, there were always men running behind her, well it seems all
those men are going to be heavily disappointed. (News.Puggal.com, 6/23/2010)
• THE FIRST EDITION of Miss Global Teen kicked off this past weekend with the arrival of the first batch of delegates
(Philippines, Colombia, South Africa) in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Check out the official website of the
pageant whose winner will be crowned on July 3rd at Campo Grande's Convention Center.
• NEXT JOURNAL UPDATE : Tuesday, July 6, 2010
PHOTO CREDITS: Viveka Babajee Facebook Fan Page, The Age
| 06.21.2010 | Monday
"I honestly thought I'd come in fifth after that happened," she said. "All the excitement from the past few days caught
up with me and I had a mental blank. "This is a huge shock [to win] and I'm not going to make that mistake again."
The former school captain, who volunteers with a children's charity, beat West Australian beauty Renae Wauhop who
had to settle for the first runner-up position. Second runner-up was Lia Tapper, third runner-up was Shadae Magson,
and fourth runner-up was Poeta Hope. Read Peter Sereno's
review of the pageant in Facebook.
• NEW GREEK BEAUTIES : (Star Hellas) is Anna Prelevic, 20, who was crowned at the finale of the Star Hellas-Miss Hellas-Miss Young pageant
in Athens and broadcasted on Antenna TV. She will represent Greece in Miss Universe 2010 Pageant in Las Vegas.
Her runner-up or Vice Star Hellas 2010 was Maria Tsagiraki. Maria will compete in Miss International 2010.
Crowned as Miss Hellas 2010 is Manto Gasteratou who will compete in Miss World 2010. The 1st runner-up to Miss Hellas
is Eleonora Bretz, who will participate in the Miss Earth 2010 contest to be held in Nha Trang, Vietnam in December.
Melina Syria was crowned Miss Young 2010 (I hope they don't send her to Mark Ancheta's Miss Young International
pageant!)
• TALL ORDER : Elena Semikina, a 6'1" 26-year old model from Toronto, was crowned Miss Universe Canada 2010 out of 62 beauties competing
for the title. The contest took place at the Metro Toronto Convention Center on June 14th. The 1st runner-up was Aleksandra Malkin,
while the 2nd runner-up was the Cree community representative, Ashley Callingbull. Neda Derakhshanfar and Zarah Al-Aubiydy
completed the Top 5 finalists. As a new trend in beauty pageants, this year edition of Miss Universe Canada was not free of controversy.
Yemeni-born Maria Al-Masani made headlines when declaring she would cover herself up during the swimsuit competition; then,
newscasts had a field day when contestant Tiffany Munro linked poverty and malnutrition with Africa; and finally, Sophie Froment,
from Montreal, was disqualified after it was discovered she shot a video campaign - nude - for a website that encourages extramarital
affairs. Elena will now represent Canada at the 2010 Miss Universe contest in Las Vegas, on August 23rd. (Toronto Sun, 6/15/2010)
• ROAD TO MISS AMERICA 2011 : New state winners were crowned last week. Christina McCauley, 21, was crowned Miss Georgia 2010 on Saturday.
It was her fourth attempt for the title. The first runner-up was Jamie Kelton, the second runner-up was Laura Stone,
the third runner-up was Casey Walker and the fourth runner-up was Rose Michaela Lackey.
Becky Minger was crowned Miss Ohio 2010 on Saturday night after five tries.
The first runner-up was Shannon O'Neill, second runner-up was Marissa Buchheit, third runner-up was Ellen Bryan,
and fourth runner-up was Nanciann Strosnicer.
Kacie West was crowned Miss Montana 2010 on Saturday night in Glendive. Holly Matz, 21,
of Missoula, was first runner-up. Taryn Chuter, a 22-year-old from Corvallis, was second runner-up. She was followed by
23-year-old Jennifer Lower of Missoula and 17-year-old Jill Sharp of Sidney.
• BOY QUEEN : Maxwell Davis Marr, 5, was selected as the 2010 Miss Southwest Florida Sunshine Prince.
Maxwell attends Pelican Marsh Elementary School and is the son of Robin and Lesley Marr of Naples, Florida.
The Sunshine Prince Program is designed for boys, ages 5 through 8 years of age. The program encourages young boys
to honor, encourage and respect young women in our society. Sarah Callahan, Miss Southwest Florida will help teach
him the importance of courtesy, discipline and community involvement. The inclusion of young boys in the Miss Florida
America program helps to instill the values of character education and to promote scholastic achievement and
community service. When asked why Maxwell was selected as her prince, Sarah Callahan, Miss Southwest Florida shared
with us that she met Maxwell at the Grand Opening of Naples Flatbread & Wine Bar at Miromar Outlets. “He was all
boy and so cute and charming. We talked about music and pageants; and to my surprise he knew that Ms. Venezuela
won the 2009 Miss Universe Pageant wearing a yellow gown. I realized I had found my Sunshine Prince!" (PRLog, 6/19/2010)
• THE NEW MISS U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS is Janeisha John from St. Croix. The first runner-up is Esonica Veira.
Five women competed in this year's pageant. John will represent her country in Miss Universe 2010. She represented the U.S.
Virgin Islands in Miss America 2008.
• THE NEW MISS ZAMBIA is Zindaba Hanzala, 20, who was crowned at the pageant held on 5th June at Mulungushi
International Conference Centre in Lusaka. The first runner-up was Irene Banda and the second runner-up was
Christine Mwaaba. Zindaba will represent Zambia in Miss World 2010. Miss Zambia pageant is currently organized
by Elizabeth Mwanza who was Miss Zambia in 1992. (UK Zambian, 6/8/2010)
• THE NEW MISS WORLD ITALY is Giada Pezzaioli, 17, of Montichiari (Brescia) who was crowned on June 12th in
a gala event in Gallipoli, besting 51 other contestants for the title. She will represent Italy in Miss World 2010.
• MISS ST. HELENA : Always a big event in St. Helena, the bi-annual Miss St Helena contest took place on Saturday, May 8th,
to a packed hall at Prince Andrew School. A total of 10 young ladies took part with the eventual winner being Stacey
Thomas, a school teacher from Pilling Primary. 1st runner-up was Kerisha Stevens and 2nd runner-up went to
Sinead Green. Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha is a British overseas territory consisting of the
islands of Saint Helena, Ascension Island and the Tristan da Cunha group. They share the same dependency status
as Gibraltar, Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands. To meet the contestants and see pictures of the final night,
visit the official Miss Saint Helena website.
Thanks to Zara Sabeen for this info.
• AGELESS QUESTION : The winner of a Miss Germany 2010 beauty pageant was in hot water on Thursday after admitting lying about her age,
but she said that she had done so when fleeing Afghanistan as a refugee. "Oh well! It doesn't really does matter does it?" the Bild daily
quoted Miss Deutschland, Zallascht Sadat, who had given her age as 24 when in fact she is 28, as saying. "The main thing is I look great."
The brunette beauty said she had had a justifiable reason. "When I fled Afghanistan with my family... I pretended I was younger in
order to make getting into the United States easier,' she explained. Her family, however, ended up settling in the western German city
of Frankfurt. Sadat won the Miss Deutschland pageant, which differs from the older Miss Germany contest, on Sunday. She will retain her
title, nonetheless, keep her crown and 6,000 euros (S$10,344) in prize money, and go on to compete in the Miss Europe and Miss
International pageants. She has also started a charity raising money for people with HIV/Aids in Afghanistan, the Zallascht Sadat
Foundation. (AFP, 6/17/2010)
• SUSHMITA IN TROUBLE : Ipsita Pati, one among the top 30 contestants of "I Am She" Miss Universe India Pageant spoken against
Sushmita Sen and the contest organizers Tantra Entertainment Private Ltd. As a daily reports, the girl on Wednesday
filed a FIR at the Women's Police Station in Bhubaneswar and accused the organisers of the event for causing her "mental
and physical torture". According to her allegations, she was prescribed a very "horrible" diet by the dietician and was
kept "starving". And at the last moment her name was intentionally removed from the final list because she was "under-weight," claims Ipsita.
She even talked to the press and told them that she suffered weakness during the contest and was even hospitalised but
wasn't allowed to talk to her parents as her grooming session was in progress. She has even met Orissa's Chief Minister
Naveen Patnaik along with her mother and has asked for his help in this matter. Ipsita is an aspiring model who is not new
to beauty contests; she has already won Miss South India title in the year 2008. - (Agency. The New Nation, 6/13/2010)
• DON'T BLAME THE BEAUTIES : Brazilian and Ivorian players will have to keep their eyes on the ball not the 31 beauty queens who will
be at the Soccer City stadium later on Sunday to avoid a repeat of a controversy surrounding Spain's defeat last week.
British media had suggested the presence of Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas' glamorous reporter girlfriend near the touchline
had distracted him allowing Switzerland to score the winning goal in the first major upset of the World Cup.
But beauty queens representing all of the teams at the tournament - except for secretive North Korea - on the way to
Sunday's match said wives and girlfriends should be at matches to offer support to players, adding they would offer
motivation rather than distraction. "Don't blame us - I don't think that she was the main cause of the loss," said Miss
Honduras Blaise Massey in reference to Spanish journalist Sara Carbonero. Miss Switzerland Bianca Sissing
said: "Having a girlfriend (there) might even be motivating." North Korea had not held a beauty pageant to be able to
compete in Miss World in 2010, said Miss South Korea Yun Seo-choi, but she said she was behind their soccer team.
"They were really fighting hard, I support them as well," she said. "At some point it's kind of sad that we can't play
together in one team - one day I hope that we can play altogether but now I am proud of them." (Reuters, 6/20/2010)
• ARABS WANTED VENUS : The mom of 2010 Binibining Pilipinas-Universe Maria Venus Raj disclosed that Arab nationals
had offered to buy her daughter for $60,000 when she was still an infant. In an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN News,
Aster Bayonito recalled that she was still working in Qatar when the offer was made. Bayonito said she turned it down
and told the Arabs that her daughter could also make $60,000 if she stayed with her and were sent to school despite
being poor. Eventually, Bayonito said her family was able to hurdle all the hardships, and she is proud that her daughter
achieved her dreams through perseverance. Meanwhile, 2008 Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza advised Raj to be herself
as she vies for the Miss Universe crown. The Venezuelan beauty was in the Philippines for a short visit.
Mendoza was tapped by poll automation supplier Smarmatic to congratulate Filipinos on their successful conduct of the
first nationwide automated elections last month. (ABS-CBN News, 6/18/2010)
• NEXT JOURNAL UPDATE : Monday, June 28, 2010
PHOTO CREDITS: AFP, Enterra.com
| 06.14.2010 | Monday
• INGRID TELLS ALL : Ingrid Marie Rivera, who was thrust into the limelight two days after winning the Miss Puerto Rico
Universe 2007 title by asserting that her competition gown and makeup had been pepper sprayed, is finally speaking out
about her tumultuous relationship with her former national director Magali Febles. In an exclusive interview with
the weekly magazine TV y Novelas that appeared on the newsstand last week, the former beauty queen revealed that she
and Magali did not see eye to eye on issues revolving around her preparations for Miss Universe 2008 (held in Vietnam) and around her contract
with Magali's organization, Miss Puerto Rico Inc. Among Ingrid's claims are the following:
- her arrival in Vietnam was delayed by two weeks because Magali didn't want her to arrive before
she did
- Ingrid's parents had to pay her return trip to Puerto Rico because Magali had disappeared and
that she never attended to Ingrid's needs in Vietnam
- Ingrid had found out only during the morning of the finals of Miss Puerto Rico Universe
that Magali hadn't paid the Miss Universe franchise in full (Magali still owed US$40,000)
- Magali humiliated Ingrid on several occasions. For example, Magali enlarged a photo of Ingrid
and posted it on the wall of her salon; with a marker, Magali highlighted the areas in Ingrid's body that she was not happy with.
About her nose surgery, Ingrid said that she never really wanted to have one, but Magali insisted that the tip of Ingrid's nose
be fixed. On the day of the surgery, Magali ordered Ingrid's parents to take her out of the clinic in a wheelchair - this while Ingrid had just
been anesthesized. Magali told them that she had totally forgotten that Ingrid was supposed to appear on that same day with a
sponsor. Ingrid's parents told her that she was speaking incoherently (obviously because of the anesthesia) and that
Magali ordered her parents to give her a cup of coffee so she would be awake. Then Magali gave a script and a can of Red Bull to Ingrid
to make the presentation. Ingrid started getting nauseous and a horrible rapid heartbeat. She finally had her nose surgery; however,
Magali - defying the surgeon's order to Ingrid to rest and recuperate - told her that she had to make another appearance with a
sponsor at the very same week. Imagine Ingrid's horror when she had to face the media with a swollen nose.
- Ingrid felt a lot of pressure from Magali in winning Miss Universe. Magali said that it was
Ingrid's fault for not making the cut. Magali also blamed Zuleyka, and then others in her organization, without any basis whatsoever.
Everyone was at fault except Magali.
- Magali told Ingrid that she had to stay away from Zuleyka because she had so many problems
with her and that the Miss Universe Organization did not want another Puerto Rican. In Vietnam, Magali told Ingrid that she had gotten fat
and that some adjustments had to be made in her gown. Ingrid claims that everyone in Magali's staff was present during the rehearsals except her. Ingrid: "I only saw Magali once in rehearsals.
I'd ask people who knew her and they would say that they didn't see her. When she called me, she would give me instructions without
never having been there and would say that I was bad."
- Magali had put chemicals in Ingrid's hair that seriously damaged it.
- While packing for her trip back home, Ingrid noticed that a pair of earrings missing. She had
paid $275 for it. Some time later, Ingrid and her parents saw Magali on television wearing the earrings. They took a picture of Magali
wearing them. Ingrid's parents went to Magali's salon to confront her, but she denied having taken the earrings. But when the parents
showed Magali a photo of her wearing the earrings, she was stunned. Then she said that she didn't remember wearing them and that she would
look for them in her house. Then one day, Magali asked to see Ingrid's parents; she told the father that she had found the earrings
and insisted that he take them away, but the father refused since Magali has already used them and that Ingrid had paid for them.
- When she didn't make the cut in Miss Universe, Ingrid said that her mind went blank because she
was not expecting it.
- Ingrid feels that her preparations had been spoiled because of the large amount of time that she
spent giving interviews and filing police report about the pepper spray incident.
- Magali would coax Ingrid into signing a contract without even acknowledging Ingrid's questions
or suggestions. Ingrid was supposed to receive a 50% commission for any modeling work that Magali had found for her, but Magali never
advised her of the exact dollar amount or gave her copies of the contract. Magali also forced Ingrid to sign the contract, because if
she didn't, Magali would cancel the campaign to do a Diet Pepsi commercial in Los Angeles.
- Magali abandoned Ingrid in Vietnam, leaving the beauty queen without any means to pay for her
return trip to Puerto Rico. Eventually, Ingrid's father paid for the trip.
- Magali owes Ingrid and her parents approximately US$8,000 for airfare, hotel, commissions and
miscellaneous expenses.
When Ingrid was asked why she is talking only now, she said that she had a gag order not to talk
about anything for two years.
With all this dirt revealed about Magali, why hasn't MUO fired her? Just askin'!
• THE NEW MISS UNIVERSE SWEDEN is Michaela Savic, 19, who was crowned June 6th. Last year, Savic placed second in Miss Universe
Sweden 2009 won by Renate Cerljen. The first runner-up was Denice Andree and the second runner-up was Andrea Myrander.
Savic will now compete in Miss Universe 2010 to be held in Las Vegas on August 23rd.
• THE NEW MISS EARTH GUAM is Naiomie Jean Perez Santos, 17, who was crowned Friday. She will represent Guam in the 2010
Miss Earth pageant in Vietnam in December.
• THE NEW MISS TIBET is Tenzin Norzom, a 23-year-old from Hunsur Tibetan settlement in Karnataka, India
who was crowned at the 9th Miss Tibet pageant which was held in Dharamshala on June 6th. Thousands of people gathered at the
Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts to witness the show and the crowning. However, considering the earthquake in April
in Tibet, the show did not burst crackers as has been the tradition in past pageants. Instead the gathering recited a
short prayer. The judges chose 19-year-old Yangchen Metok as the first runner-up and Rinchen Choden as
the second runner-up. The pageant, directed by Lobsang Wangyal and produced by Group Can & Able, donated 10,000 rupees
to the victims of the earthquake which took place in Kyigudo in April. (Mizoram Express, 6/7/2010)
• MADAGASCAR QUEEN : Alexandra Hasina Randrianarivelo was crowned Miss Madagascar 2010.
The Finale of Miss and Mister Madagascar 2010 was held on June 5th. The first runner-up is Nataëlle Rakotoarisonand
and the second runner-up is Francia Ratovohery. Lova Razafindrazaka won the Mister Madagascar 2010 title.
Todisoa Soloniasy and Ialy Ramialison, finished second and third respectively. According to L’Express Madagascar
newspaper, Randrianavelo will represent Madagascar in Miss World 2010 (could be in 2011 instead), while Razafindrazaka
will go to the next edition of Mister World. Worldshowbiz.info, 6/14/2010)
• ROAD TO MISS AMERICA 2011 : New state winners were crowned last week. The new Miss Alabama is Ashley Davis of Dothan and will represent Alabama in the Miss America 2011 pageant.
The 21-year-old University of Alabama at Birmingham student was crowned Saturday night at the conclusion of the four-day competition
at Samford University. Davis competed in the Miss Alabama competition as Miss West Central Alabama. She was among 11 young women
from across the state who competed in finals of the competition Saturday night. (Associated Press, 6/13/2010)
The new Miss Delaware is Kayla Martell, the 21-year-old Milford native took the crown Saturday night after four
previous tries. Sixteen women competed in the June 10-12 pageant, which rolled on the theme of Broadway.
First runner-up was Dover native Steffi Holmes. Georgetown native Carly Economos was second runner-up,
Newark native Nicole Bosso was third runner-up, and Georgetown native Chelsea Betts was fourth runner-up.
(Delaware Online, 6/13/2010)
The new Miss Iowa is Pauli Mayfield, 23, a Davenport native and graduate of Iowa State
University, was crowned on Saturday night. Elizabeth Davidson, Miss Muscatine, was named first runner-up.
The second runner-up was Miss Pearl City Jennifer Neal. Third runner-up was Miss Johnson County
The new Miss Nebraska is 17-year old Teresa Scanlan, who was crowned the winner at the conclusion of the annual
scholarship pageant on Saturday, June 5th. Devin Howell was named first runner up. Second runner-up was
Kayla Batt. Nicky Haverland received third runner-up and Jennifer Curtis was fourth runner-up. (NPTelegraph.com,
6/5/2010)
• JOLIE TO PLAY CLEOPATRA? According to latest reports, Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie has got a new role and it is
the once in a lifetime role of legendary Egyptian ruler Cleopatra, in a new biopic. It is believed that film producer
Scott Rudin has purchased the film rights to upcoming biography "Queen of the Nile, Cleopatra: A Life" and has Jolie
is mind for the role. The producer’s office commented that talks are going on with the actress and the movie is currently in its
development stage. Film makers are also trying to cash on the real life chemistry between Jolie and her partner Brad Pitt by
roping Pitt in the role of Marc Anthony-the lover of Cleopatra. Earlier Cleopatra was played by Elizabeth Taylor
among others in a 1963 film and the role almost took her life. (News Post Online, 6/12/2010)
• OH, CANADA! - PART I : Beauty queen Tiffany Munro was talking to Oshawa high school students about body image, saying she put on
weight to enter the Miss Universe Canada competition. The 26-year-old said, didn’t want them looking anorexic, “like some
little African child with the ribs going on.” Rumblings and muted jeers erupted from the audience at G.L. Roberts Collegiate
and Vocational Institute, and a fellow contestant who had just described her experience in a Rwandan refugee camp gasped in shock.
The event Thursday morning was to have been a chance for the pageant’s 62 contestants to practise their public speaking skills.
But Munro, for one, learned a hard lesson of a different sort. “Skeletons,” the Edmonton native said later. “I meant to say they
don’t want us to look like skeletons. But I’m still half-asleep after having to get up at 5 a.m.” Munro, a filmmaker who has her own
production company, said she was apologizing to everyone for the gaffe that “just slipped out.”
African-born Solange Tuyishime, 26, spent much of her time onstage being consoled
by another contestant. “I was hurt” by the reference to “stereotypical images they show on TV,” she said in an interview.
“It’s very sad that in 2010 when we make references to the poor, we think of African children, because poverty is everywhere.”
But the “beauty” of the pageant, she added graciously, is that it gives them an opportunity “to learn from each other.”
Expanding on her body image theme, Munro told the 300 Grades 11 and 12 students that she struggled with weight issues, at one
point ballooning to 180 pounds. “Dancing around on stage in swimsuits” for the competition might seem “archaic,” she noted,
but it shows that they have healthy bodies. (The Star, Toronto, 6/10/2010)
• HONORED : Real estate mogul and NYC icon Donald Trump was honored on June 8th by Gray Line New York, as part of its Ride
of Fame series. A ribbon cutting ceremony with Trump and Miss USA Rima Fakih was held in front of Trump Tower on Fifth
Avenue in Manhattan. Following the ceremony, The Donald and Miss USA boarded Trump’s very own double-decker bus for a ride
with fans on board. And yes, a likeness of him is on the front of the bus. Gray Line New York’s signature red double-decker tour
buses have been a familiar sight in Manhattan since 1926. Now it’s channeled Hollywood’s Walk of Fame with this mobile
monument that commemorates New Yorkers who have made contributions to the city. (True Slant, 6/8/2010)
• FUR PROTEST : The Miss Florida USA program held a preliminary event in Hollywood over the weekend of June 5th. And along with
dozens of young women hoping to compete in the Donald Trump-owned Miss USA Pageant, there were a few dozen animal-rights activists
outside the building, holding signs and yelling to the women as they walked by. Some of the contestants said as they rushed by
that they didn't know the Fur Information Council of America (FICA) was a sponsor of the event or gave out fur coats to pageant
winners. The news, of course, did not stop their entry into the building. "By continuing to associate with FICA, Tel-Air Interests
Inc., and the Miss Florida pageants unavoidably support the inhumane practices of the fur industry," said Don Anthony, ARFF's
communications director. "With many wonderful, modern, and cruelty-free prize options available, how could the skins of dead
animals ever be considered a prize?" Eventually the pageant producers called Hollywood police. Four squad cars were dispatched,
no arrests made. ARFF is also planning to protest at the pageant finals on July 10. (Broward Palm Beach New Times, 6/7/2010)
As an animal welfare activist, fur has no place in a civilized society. By giving away
fur coats as prizes, the Miss Florida USA organizers are encouraging and contributing to the torture and slaughter of animals
whose fur looks better on them than on humans. It's pathetic that some contestants had not been informed that FICA was one of
the sponsors; what kind of a pageant organization that doesn't divulge all information to its contestants? Vile and disgusting.
• FRUITY UNIVERSE : Telemundo, a leading producer of high-quality content for Hispanics in the U.S. and audiences around the world,
announced last Thursday a partnership with Fruit of the Loom, Inc. for the 2010 Miss Universe Pageant. The "Fruit of the Loom Miss
Universe Experience" multi-platform deal provides viewers with more engaging coverage of the pageant and will provide tips and advice
to help viewers learn how they, too, can prepare to look and feel great for all of life's big events. Telemundo's Levantate will
promote the partnership on-air through a promotional segment series and a customized product capsule. The partnership will be
featured in additional on-air promotions in Telemundo programs including Camino a la Corona and Al Rojo Vivo. Telemundo will
produce a customized "Buscando a la Corona" vignette showcasing Fruit of the Loom product, which will air during the Miss Universe Pageant.
"We are thrilled to work with our partner Fruit of the Loom as a marquis sponsor of Miss Universe," said Jacqueline Hernández,
Chief Operating Officer, Telemundo. "Each year Miss Universe delivers record numbers both in ratings as well as online. This program is
very on brand for Fruit of the Loom and multiplatform with custom capsules running across our network's day parts as well as on all
screens. We are all looking forward to Vegas!" (TV Broadway World, 6/10/2010)
• THE CHANGING FACE OF BRAZILIAN BEAUTY : "Before setting out in a pink S.U.V. to comb the schoolyards and shopping malls
of southern Brazil, Alisson Chornak studies books, maps and Web sites to understand how the towns were colonized and how
European their residents might look today." Read more.
• NEXT JOURNAL UPDATE : Monday, June 21, 2010
PHOTO CREDITS: TV y Novelas, Beauties of Canada, Miss Croatia, Washington Examiner
MAY 2010
• GOING POLITICAL : Rare is the international beauty contestant who does not speak of an enthusiasm for good works. Jessica Anne
Jordan Burton, (photo) however, has taken it a step further, swapping her crown as Miss Bolivia for a job that pits her against drug
traffickers and paramilitaries. Jordan, 26, who has an English father and Bolivian mother, has caught the eye not only of pageant
judges but of Bolivia's left-wing president, Evo Morales, who has picked her to be his representative in one of the country's
most hostile regions. As the new development chief for the border province of Beni, a restive jungle backwater plagued by
right-wing separatists, indigenous militants, and Colombian drug traffickers, she will have the task of lavishing cash on
the region in a bid to boost her boss' popularity.
• NEW BEAUTY FROM OZ : Jesinta Campbell (photo) was crowned Miss Universe Australia 2010 at the finale held at Sofitel Hotel
in Sydney on June 17th. Thirty finalists from all over Australia have been vying for the crown across three sections,
swimwear, eveningwear and the answering of a question. Campbell will represent Australia in Miss Universe 2010 in Las Vegas.
The 18-year-old model, who lives in Sydney but was raised on the Gold Coast, was asked what more could be done to
raise awareness of sun damage during an interview with the top five contestants. Campbell struggled to find the right words when talking
about sunscreen and almost broke down in tears, fearing her chance at the crown was gone. But she recovered to finish her
answer- that Australians should always wear plenty of sun cream and drink water - and her composure won her votes from
the judges.
• SCARRED FOR LIFE : A Colombian beauty queen is recovering in hospital after an unknown attacker threw acid at her face.
Maria Fernanda Nuñez (photo) was returning home from a contest rehearsal last Thursday when the attack took place,
The Latin American Herald Tribune reported. The attacker escaped on a motorbike after throwing the acid. She claims she
has no idea who could have been responsible. "I am a calm woman, domestic, and I don't have a nightlife ... I've never
had any problems," she told LA FM radio. The extent of her injuries were not clear, but she was filmed her getting into
a car with bandages over her entire face. She is reportedly most concerned about her eye, as her cornea was burned by
the acid. She was due to compete against seven other women for the Miss Norte de Satander provincial title, representing
her hometown of Cucuta. Nuñez has since called for a boycott of the Miss Columbia pageant, asking her local province to refrain from entering a
contestant to compete in the nationwide competition. "It is time to set a precedent and teach a lesson to the violent
ones," she said. (Colombia Reports, 6/17/2010)
• CROATIAN WINNERS : Winning the Miss and Mister Croatia 2010 titles on June 6 were Katarina Banic, 20 (photo, left)
and Radovan Stošic,
22 (photo, right) First runner-up for Mister Croatia 2010 was Nikola Kamenaric, and second runner-up was Stiven Razmilic.
Miss Croatia 2010 first runner-up was Anastazija Ðuric, and second runner-up was Ivana Ljutic. The glittering,
nationally-televised ceremony was held at the Sveti Martin Spa and Golf Resort. 
• OH, CANADA! - PART II :
A Gatineau contender for the title of Miss Universe Canada was disqualified on Saturday from the competition after
pageant directors discovered she appeared semi-nude in ads selling extra-marital affairs. Sophie Froment, 20 (photo), of
Gatineau, met with pageant directors Saturday afternoon to discuss her involvement with AshleyMadison.com, an infidelity
website that touts itself as "The World's Premier Discreet Dating Service." Froment acted in commercials for AshleyMadison.com.
In one, she appears in bed with a man when they are caught by the man's wife. A caption reads: "This couple is married ...
But not to each other." In another video, Froment is featured wearing an unbuttoned man's shirt and panties.
Froment is a pre-law student at the University of Ottawa, and holds two part-time jobs. A statement on the website of Beauties
of Canada, the organization that produces the Miss Universe Canada pageant, said Froment "is a bright and talented woman
... Unfortunately, she had made some career choices that are not compatible with the image of women that our organization
tries to promote... It would be unfair to her to have her compete in such circumstances, and it would be distracting for
the rest of the delegates." On the Miss Universe Canada website, Froment refers to herself as "the girl next door."
AshleyMadison.com president Noel Biderman said Froment works to pay for her education. "Instead of condemning her, they s
hould be commending her," he said. He has offered Froment a job with AshleyMadison.com.Miss Universe Canada will be crowned
Monday night in Toronto. (Ottawa Citizen, 6/13/2010)
• POLED : Though Miss USA 2010 Rima Fakih was under fire for climbing up the pole (remember those raunchy pictures
released last month?), Miss D.C. USA 2010 MacKenzie Green (photo) can't keep away. The 21-year-old D.C. native has been tweeting
about her "new obsession" -- pole and lap dancing classes. She's been taking lessons in Miami, where she is studying at the
University of Miami. But what about her role model status? "My initial feeling is that if it's a younger girl, or whatever,
I would hope that anybody would first of all explain to her that I'm a 21-year-old, grown woman," Green said.
She said she thinks pole dancing helps build self-esteem. "I have promoted ... respecting your body," Green said. "I would rather
be dancing in a room on a pole to myself than feeling desperate to have to do it for some man to get attention." (Washington Examiner,
6/8/2010)