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| 03.30.2010 | Tuesday
• WORLDLY GUY : Ireland's Kamal Ibrahim (photo, center) was named Mr World 2010 at the contest's finale at Sondo Convention Center
in Incheon last Saturday. The Czech Republic's Josef Karas (photo, left) was runner-up and Nigeria's Kenneth Okolie (photo, right) was second runner-up.
The competition was designed to find "the world's most desirable man'' someone not only tall and good-looking, but
also intelligent and amiable. During the 16-day journey in Korea, the three winners had stood out from the others
for their sense of leadership and camaraderie toward their fellow contestants. The other two finalists were the Netherlands'
Honza Filipi and Lebanon's Abdul Rahman El Balaa. "I feel a bit numb right now at the moment, it really hasn't
sunk in yet," the 24-year-old Ibrahim told the press after receiving his trophy. "I came hoping to make top 15, that was my goal,"
he continued. "I think pride is the strongest feeling right now; I keep thinking of my country, my family, my girlfriend."
(Korea Times, Seoul, 3/27/2010)
• DETHRONED : Binibining Pilipinas-Universe 2010 Maria Venus Raj was stripped of her crown and title after
organizers of the beauty pageant found "inconsistencies" on her birth certificate, a television report said on Monday.
GMA News’ “24 Oras" said Raj will be replaced by Bb. Pilipinas 2nd runner-up Helen Nicolette Henson, who will
now assume the responsibilities of the Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 2010, which include representing the country to the
Miss Universe Pageant. Raj was crowned Bb. Pilipinas-Universe last March 7. She has not reigned for over a month yet.
Other beauty pageant winners who were stripped of their title in the past included Anjanette Abayari
(Bb. Pilipinas-Universe, 1991), Tisha Silang (Bb. Pilipinas-Universe, 1998), and Janelle Bautista
(Bb. Pilipinas-Universe, 1999). The three were dethroned due to issues on their citizenship – Abayari and Bautista
both grew up in the US, while Silang was born in Canada. (GMA News TV, 3/30/2010)
Well, this doesn't surprise me, considering that the Binibining Pilipinas organization
not only recycles gowns and dresses but is also staffed with incompetent screeners and an inflexible and legalistic aging
director. What a travesty!
• THE NEW MISS CROATIA is 21-year-old Lana Obad of Zagreb who was crowned Saturday. She will represent Croatia in Miss Universe 2010.
The first runner-up is Katarina Martinovic and the second runner-up is Doris Delic.
• THE NEW MISS AUSTRIA is Valentina Schlager, 18, who was crowned Sunday at a pageant held at the American Chance Casino
in Kleinhaugsdorf. She will now represent Austria is Miss World 2010. The first runner-up is Mirja Roth, the second runner-up
is Isabella Innerebner, the third runner-up is Sophie Schock and the fourth runner-up is Nina Bukowski.
• THE NEW MISS ECUADOR is Lady Fernanda Mina, a 23-year old student of communications from Guayas, who was crowned
during an event held at the Centro de Convenciones y Exposiciones (CEMEXPO) in Quito, on March 25th. She will represent Ecuador
in Miss Universe 2010. Ana Galarza, a 20-year old model from Tungurahua, was crowned Miss Ecuador Mundo for Miss World 2010.
Andrea Suarez from Loja won the title of Miss Ecuador International. Lady Mina will also represent the country at the
Miss Continente Americano and Reina Hispanoamericana competitions later in the year.
• BAD KARMA : It looks like Miss USA pageant gal Carrie Prejean isn't just opposed to gay marriage. The 22-year-old
Miss California USA 2009 and Miss USA 2009 first runner-up doesn't like paying her bills either. According to TMZ, Prejean
owes more than $64,000 to a "Christian-focused" public relations firm. Prejean attracted nationwide attention with her
response to a question about same-sex marriage during the 2009 Miss USA pageant. A. Larry Ross Communications is the
firm that claims Prejean owes them a hefty chunk of change. She apparently contacted them in April, 2009 and they
spent "hundreds of hours" helping Prejean spread her "biblically correct" message. The lawsuit, filed earlier this month
in Texas, shows that she's not practicing her good, Christian values because she's neglected to make good on the $64,857 bill.
Carrie Prejean hasn't updated her Twitter or Facebook account since November 24, 2009. Perhaps she's decided that being
forthright isn't working out for her. (Examiner.com, 3/29/2010)
• ORDERED TO PAY : A judge has ruled against a beauty pageant organizer, ordering her to pay several thousands dollars
in scholarships to beauty queens. Erlinda "Lin" Armendariz was ordered to pay $3,300 in connection with a
small claims civil lawsuit filed against her by four Circle City Miss Corona queens on Jan. 25. The queens - Ashley Wenzel,
22; Natalie Dauer, 19; Nicole Baldwin, 14; and Paige Scheifelbein - alleged the pageant director
had not paid them the money for fulfilling duties as queens for the 2008-09 court, which included attending numerous events.
Armendariz, of Redlands, has said she encountered unexpected pageant expenses that left her without scholarship money.
• ANOTHER LOSS : The Puerto Rican franchise for Miss Universe is not the only thing that Magali Febles has lost. Now,
it appears that Febles lost her court battle against choreographer Yamil Guzmán. It all began in 2007 when Febles hired
Guzmán to choreograph the Miss Puerto Rico Universe show. Febles had asked Guzmán's assistance at the last minute when no other
choreographer was available. Judge Santiago Cordero decided that Febles's lawsuit doesn't hold water because it was she
who had broken the contract, and not Guzmán. Febles had accused Guzmán of not finishing the job he had been hired to do and
thus sued Guzmán. Guzmán countersued Febles accusing her of not fulfilling the contract and not paying for his services. Guzmán
also stated that Febles is known in Puerto Rico for her lawsuits and for her lack of professionalism. (Primera Hora,
San Juan, 3/28/2010)
• NEXT JOURNAL UPDATE : Monday, April 5, 2010.
PHOTO CREDITS: Miss World Organization, Miss America Organizaton
| 03.22.2010 | Tuesday
• BOLIVIAN DRAMA : Carlos Valverde, the host and producer of the show "Sin Letra Chica, denounced Gloria Limpias
(president of Producciones Gloria which owns several Bolivian pageant franchises including Miss Universe), of having sent
her brother Luis Fernando Antelo Justiniano to beat him. The incident occurred last Tuesday when Valverde was coming out of his office, which was
captured by the security camera in the building where Valverde works. Limpias issued a press conference the following day,
denouncing Valverde's accusation. She is now considering suing Valverde for slander and defamation of character.
Valverde had suggested that Limpias pimps her beauty queens to rich men. (La Razón, Santa Cruz, 3/18/2010)
• DETHRONED: Ada Aimée de la Cruz, 24, first runner-up in Miss Universe 2009, has been dethroned as Miss Dominican
Republic Universe 2009 by her director Magali Febles, after she accepted the position of vice-mayor
of her home town, Santo Domingo Norte on March 17th. Her party is called Partido Revolucionario Dominicano (PRD) headed by
president Miguel Vargas. The beauty queen was in shock about her dethronement as she never intended to
renounce her title; however, during the press presentation of this year's candidates for Miss Dominican Republic
Universe, Febles indicated that Ada had in fact renounced her title. Ada has been replaced by her first runner
Rocío Castellanos. A local reporter summed up the beauty queen?s rise to stardom from humble roots
when she won the local pageant, affirming that De la Cruz ?arrived from Villa Mella in a tattered taxi and returned
home in a Mercedes Limo.?
• COSTA RICAN QUEENS : The Miss World Costa Rica 2010 finals took place at the Beacon Escazu in San Jose on March 18th.
19-year-old Dayana Aguilera of Palmares was crowned Miss World Costa RIca and will compete in Miss World 2010 in November.
Alejandra Alvarez won Miss Earth Costa Rica 2010 and will go to Miss Earth 2010. Mariela Aparicio
was appointed Miss Costa Rica International 2010 and will go to Miss International 2010 this November in Shanghai, China.
Info courtesy of Ed Toledo & Paul Palmero.
• THAI BEAUTIES : The Grand Final of Miss Thailand Universe 2010, the 11th edition of Miss Thailand Universe pageant, was held at
Sofitel Centara Grand Bangkok, in Bangkok, Thailand on March 20, 2010. 44 Contestant has been vying for the crown.
Fontip Watcharatrakul was crowned Miss Thailand Universe 2010 and will represent Thailand at the Miss Universe 2010 pageant.
First runner-up, Watsaporn Wattanakul, will go to Miss Earth 2010. Two second runners-up will go to Miss Intercontinental
& Miss Tourism International 2010: Pimpawan Bunjongsiri and Pannara Phumchareon. (Worldshowbiz.info, 3/21/2010)
• COVER UP : When Maria Al-Masani was a little girl growing up in Yemen, she would often find herself glued
to her family's TV watching beauty pageants from around the world. "Here I was, a girl in a very conservative
country, wearing a niqab and watching these beautiful women in these ball gowns walk around the stage," said Al-Masani.
"How could I have thought at that time it would be me someday?" In June, the 26-year-old public relations officer
will become the first Yemeni Canadian to participate in the Miss Universe Canada pageant in Toronto. She'll join 49
women from Ottawa and around the country to compete for a chance to represent Canada at the next Miss Universe
Pageant being held in Las Vegas this fall.
Al-Masani, who came to Canada when she was 19 and settled in Ottawa, entered
the Toronto-based qualifying pageant on a lark. A friend of hers was trying out a new camera and took some photos of her.
"My friends told me to send it in, but it was really just all in fun," said Al-Masani. "Then they called me
and told me I'd been selected. I couldn't believe it." Al-Masani said she is now looking forward to participating
in the pageant as a way of bringing attention to her two favourite causes - a hospital in Somalia in need of
supplies and the movement toward peaceful dispute resolution around the world. As for the pageant, she's looking
forward to putting on her own ball gown and walking on stage. Her friends have been helping her get ready.
"For my talent, I'm going to do a classical Persian dance," she said. "But in the swimsuit portion, I'm going to
wear a sari. For me, and for my traditions, I think that's most appropriate." (Toronto Sun, 3/18/2010)
A sari during the swimsuit portion? What planet is she from? LOL!
• BREAKING GROUND : Sexy Charlotte Campbell is breaking new ground - as the first single mum allowed to
enter Miss Great Britain. Charlotte, 22, jumped at the chance to compete after the pageant's rules were relaxed.
The Taekwondo black belt is training hard to shape up - by pole dancing. She lives in Manchester with son Bobby,
two, is against size zero models and won't be dieting before the contest. She said: "I like my food. I'm not going
to starve myself." After the competition she aims to return to university to learn to be a teacher. I hope that by
taking part in Miss GB I can be a role model for other mums. Women can still be sexy after they've had children.
Your life's not over." (The Sun, London, 3/20/2010)
• MR. WORLD 2010 UPDATES : Mr, World contestants began their sports challenges Wednesday morning (March 17) with a trek up
Mt. Deogyu Mountain in Muju, Korea. The route taken was along a carved-out path, fitted with steps and handrails along the way.
However, what would usually have been a relaxing stroll was made more dangerous by ice. The conditions were enough to force
Mr. Serbia, Vasa Nestorovic, to turn back before having gotten past the first set of stairs. "I am not going to break my
leg for the show," said the 25-year-old as he walked down. The other 73 contestants made it to the top where they celebrated and
exclaimed that the task was easy. Later in the day the contestants took part in some paintballing, with an added twist:
although they were fighting in teams, individuals could turn on their teammates for extra points.
On Saturday morning (March 20), the contestants visited a charity project being run by Habitat
for Humanity International, the charity that helps provide shelter for the homeless and those in need. The project that
the contestants visited was in Hwaseong which lies in the Gyeonggi province, Korea. The challengers then donned their hard hats
and gloves and got stuck in to the project. They began by clearing out the rubbish from the new build houses where there
was a lot of rubble, off cuts and building material waste. Mr. New Zealand Arnold Du Toi really enjoyed the work,
he said ?I love this, I do a lot of charity work at home. I must have taken about ten bags out already!?
Later that day, the contestants' culinary skills were put to the test as they attempted to
cook the Korean dish Bibimbap, which consists of warm white rice topped with namul (sautéed and seasoned vegetables)
and gochujang (chilli pepper paste). The ingredients are stirred together thoroughly just before eating. The teams had fun
competing against each other to cook the best plate. After half an hour of chopping, slicing and dicing each team selected
their very own master chef and his creation was put forward to get judged by a panel consisting of a Korean cooking expert
and Miss Korea herself, Kim Joo-Ri. The dishes were judged on taste, style, flair and presentation. After much deliberation
the Blue team were announced as cooking champions and Mr. Colombia Camilo Garcia, who prepared the dish, came up to
accept the award. ?It?s an honour to receive this award for best Bibimbap."
Today's agenda includes rehearsals for the final show and rehearsals for the
Andre Kim Fashion Show being held on Tuesday. The new Mr. World will be crowned on Saturday, March 27th.
The videos of the contestants are now available for viewing. Check out the most
telegenic and the best speakers!
• FALLEN TO CANCER : Eva Ekvall, who was third runner-up in Miss Universe 2001 and represented Venezuela, was diagnosed
of having breast cancer, as reported by People en Español on March 9th. Ekvall - who is currently a TV presenter - found
out that she has cancer on February 12 after submitting herself to various medical tests, and five months after the birth of
her first child (a daughter). In her interview with El Universal, Ekvall said [my translation]: "I did not pay attention to it during
my pregnancy because I thought it was just another symptom of many things that one feels. When I returned to see my doctor, he
performed a biopsy which revealed that I have cancer. It was depressing at first and I had so many things going on in my head.
I thought I was going to die, that I wouldn't see my loved ones anymore." (People en Español, 3/9/2010)
PHOTOS BY EFREN HERNANDEZ
Ekvall has already began chemotherapy and radiotherapy. She became bald, she sleeps with
difficulty, and spends hours on the Internet searching for information related to her malady. She has also stopped smoking and is
eating healthy. She is determined to fight cancer and live a most normal life as possible. Is she concerned about losing her beautiful
looks? She said, [my translation]: "I never thought I was beautiful. For me, right now, physical beauty is not important. I'd rather get up bald and
make coffee for my husband instead of never being able to make coffee at all!" (Excerpts from Eva Ekvall's online journal as
posted in La Esquina del Soplón Blog)
? THE EMERGENCE OF PAGEANTS IN CHINA : "China's lightning fast pace of social change can be charted in many ways,
but one of the most striking is the emergence of beauty pageants over the past decade. As recently as the 1990s,
pageants were denounced as "Western cultural nonsense." However, in 2003 and 2007 China hosted the Miss World Pageant."
Read more.
• NEXT JOURNAL UPDATE : Tuesday, March 30, 2010.
PHOTO CREDITS: Czeska Miss, Belga Picture, Getty Images, Tyden.cz
| 03.15.2010 | Monday
The fact that Bolivia would even consider hosting the pageant is beyond me.
The country has never won the crown, much less placed in the top 3, and it is one of the poorest and least developed
countries in Latin America. A 2006 report indicates that 60% of Bolivia's population is below poverty line.
Estimates indicate that as of 2008, the government
owed $4.6 billion to foreign creditors. Lastly, Miss Universe was an odd fit for Evo Morales, an anti-capitalist president who is a
strong advocate of indigenous culture. Political opponents accused Morales and his party of using the pageant to court
voters in conservative eastern Bolivia ahead of April local elections.
• PRICE OF BEAUTY : Imagine what kind of movie "Legally Blonde" would have been if the Reese Witherspoon character, underneath that
ditsy blonde facade, had actually been ditsy. That should give you some idea what to expect from "The Price of Beauty," a world
tour in search of the international ideals of beauty hosted by pop princess Jessica Simpson. Some might wonder what could
possibly create drama in a gig where someone flies you all over the world to get massages and beauty treatments and conduct
deep discussions on how to look better. But Simpson starts the show by declaring that this beauty stuff isn't as easy
as it looks. "The pressure to be beautiful," she says, can become so intense for someone in her position that it's just, well, "too much."
Still, whatever suffering beauty has brought to her life, she's willing to pursue it, and her first stop is Thailand
where women prize light skin over bronzed skin. Simpson's new reality show premieres on VH1 tonight at 10 p.m. (EST). See
behind the scenes from the show.
• LUCKY MISTRESS : Cocktail waitress Jamie Jungers took home $75,000 after being named the winner of the Tiger Woods Mistress
Beauty Pageant, which took place on the Howard Stern Show. The New York Post reported Jungers was dressed in a slinky,
lingerie-style bikini. The golf great's bleached-blonde mistress beat out two other Tiger flames - call girl Loredana Jolie Ferriolo
and waitress Jaimee Grubbs - who also appeared on the shock-jock's satellite radio show to compete for the title by donning
skimpy outfits and telling love stories about Woods. Jungers, 27, convinced Stern to name her the winner by telling how she met Woods
while working as a hostess at a Las Vegas casino party in 2005. She said Woods made his first move on her by sending someone
to chat her up for him. She said that although he got married only a couple of months before they met, Woods took her back to
a mansion he was staying at in Vegas and they had sex the first night. (Herald Sun, Australia, 3/12/2010)
• THE NEW MR. SOUTH AFRICA is Denver Burns of Port Elizabeth who was crowned March 13th. The first runner-up was Durban's Patrick Kasongo
and the second runner up was Cape Town's Ruan Groenewald.
• CONTRACT RENEWED : NBC has renewed its exclusive agreement with Donald Trump and the Miss Universe Organization to broadcast
the "Miss Universe" and "Miss USA" pageants on the network for three additional years effective in 2011. Telemundo is also on board to
continue its Spanish language simulcast of "Miss Universe" as well as its top-rated pageant lead-in special, “Camino a la Corona.”
The 2010 Miss USA Pageant is set to air live on NBC on Sunday, May 16 (7-9 p.m. ET) from the Planet Hollywood Resort and
Casino in Las Vegas. (Radio Business Report, 3/9/2010)
• THE (MISS) UNIVERSE IN ITS HAND : Here's an interesting article by Steve Harvey of the Los Angeles Times that illustrates the beginning and the evolution of the
Miss Universe pageant.
• DROP YOUR BIKINI : The Miss England contest has ditched its swimwear round, where the contestants parade in bikinis, after 50 years.
Instead, participants will take part in a sports challenge. The changes to the Miss England competition have been brought about by the
encouragement of last year's winner, Lance Corporal Katrina Hodge. The 22-year-old soldier, who is known to her Army colleagues
as Combat Barbie and represented England at the 2009 Miss World championship in Johannesburg, South Africa, in December,
will oversee the new section. As the face and body of underwear firm La Senza, she is no stranger to posing scantily clad but said she
did not think the swimsuit round was fair to contestants. “I think it's nerve-racking enough for girls to get up on a stage and speak,
let alone appear in a swimsuit," she said. "It's good the girls are being given a sports challenge in this year's competition.”
Miss England national organiser Angie Beasley said the change showed that Miss England was constantly evolving as a competition.
(Daily Telegraph, Australia, 3/15/2010)
• DROP YOUR MINI : A teen beauty queen is caught in the middle a furious pageant spat. Sophie Watson, 13, has been booted
off her throne as Miss Teen Cinderella UK 2009 for appearing in a series of rival contests. And the police have even become involved
after sour relations with pageant organisers led to allegations of a hate campaign. Sophie, from Spennymoor, County Durham, is the
reigning Mini Miss UK and Miss Teen Great Britain International Tourism 2010, as well as holding several regional titles.
As reported in the Sunday Sun in January, she flew out to America last year to compete in the Universal Royalty National Pageant
in Austin, Texas, the biggest of its kind in America. Now, she has been dethroned. Chief executive of the UK Cinderella Pageant,
Diana Hare, claims Sophie has broken her contract by becoming involved in glamour contests in the US. “It is against our rules for
title holders to enter other major contests,” said Hare, a former model. (Sunday Sun, UK, 3/14/2010)
• MR. WORLD 2010 : Mr. World 2010 kicked off Friday night amid high expectations at the Goldensky International Resort, Incheon, Korea.
With the contestants and VIPs present and ready to start the 16-day competition to name the ``world's most desirable man,''
Incheon Mayor Ahn Sang-soo and Chang Jae-ku, chairman of the Hankook Ilbo Media Group, gave welcoming speeches,
wishing good luck to all 78 competitors. ``I would like to welcome the chairwoman of the Miss World Organization, Julia Morley,
and the staff of the (organization) visiting Korea,'' Chang said. Ahn expressed his excitement to be hosting such an event,
expressing hope that the contestants will show their best and make their countries proud. ``It's very exciting to see the most
desirable man in the world be chosen in Incheon. I hope Incheon will provide the 78 contestants the opportunity to show their
passion and ambition,'' Ahn said.
Mr. World is not just a beauty pageant, but also a competition that requires physical strength,
stamina, leadership and determination. For this year's competition, the contestants' cooking skills will also be put to test
in a Korean cooking challenge at the Korea House near Mt. Nam in Seoul. Other activities include a volunteer project for
Habitat for Humanity International, Andre Kim's charity fashion show, sports challenges and tours around cities including
Incheon, Ulsan and Seoul. A total of 78 men, aged from 18 to 32, will compete for the title, which comes with a prize of
64,000 pounds (about 100 million won). The winner of the Mr World 2010 contest will be chosen at Songdo Convensia, Incheon, March 27.
(Korea Times, 3/12/2010)
• READ my fascinating interview with Nina Ricci Alagao-Flores, a former Binibining Pilipinas-Universe turned artist.
• MISTER USA BLOG UPDATED : The current Mister USA Ivan Rusilko is the U.S. representative to Mr. World 2010. Critical
Beauty wishes him the best of luck! Read all about it.
• NEXT JOURNAL UPDATE : Monday, March 22, 2010.
PHOTO CREDITS: La Prensa, Miss Universe Japan
| 03.08.2010 | Monday
• BEAUTIFUL BINIBINIS : Three new Philippine queens were crowned Saturday night at the Araneta Coliseum in Manila.
Krista Kleiner, 20, is the new Bb. Pilipinas International. Venus Raj, 21, is the new Bb. Pilipinas
Universe. Czarina Gatbonton, 19, is the new Bb. Pilipinas World. The first runner-up is Dianne Necio, 17,
and the second runner-up is Helen Nicolette Henson, 21. The winners were constant favorites during the series
of exciting pre-pageant activities, showing winning forms especially during the first-ever Pre-Pageant, which showcased
the swimsuit and long gown competitions, and a Question and Answer portion with the judges. Arnel Pineda, Filipino
lead singer of the popular American rock group “Journey,” serenaded the ten finalists and impressed the audience
with his vocal range. Watch the coronation and see pics
from the finals.
• THE NEW MR. BRAZIL WORLD is Jonas Sulzbach representing Ilha Dos Lobos. He was crowned last night at
the Tivoli São Paulo Mofarrej. The first runner-up is Marlon de Gregori of Ilha dos Marinheiros and the
second runner-up is Rodrigo Gomes Simoni of Paraná. Twenty-three young men competed in this year's
pageant which for the first time was judged by an all-female jury. Mr. World 2010 will be held in Incheon, Korea
from March 12 to 27.
• BACKING OUT : One of Tiger Woods' alleged mistresses has reportedly backed out of a 'beauty pageant' that features
three more of the golfer's exploits. American radio jockey Howard Stern had announced that he had roped in
four of Tiger Woods' alleged mistresses to compete in a "beauty pageant" as part of his radio program on March 10.
Now, one out of the four has decided to cancel participation, even though every effort is being made to bring her back.
"It's all a bit chaotic at the moment, one of the girls pulled out, and Stern's people are scrambling and doing
everything they can to get her back," Fox News quoted a source as saying. The insider added: "They're offering her a
black diamond (which was supposed to be just for the winner) and guaranteed prize money even if she doesn't win."
The winner of the pageant will take home 100,000 dollars cash prize. They will be judges on various sections including
"bikini," "personality," and "talent". Infidelity-promoting agency AshleyMadison.com is promoting the event. (NewKerala.com,
3/4/2010)
• TLC DROPS MISS AMERICA : Miss America's three year run on TLC is over after the cable network chose not to renew
its television contract with the beauty pageant. TLC declined on Monday to say why it was cutting ties with the 89-year-old
competition after the pageant's broadcast attracted 4.5 million viewers in January – the best showing ever for the pageant
on cable. Sam Haskell, chairman of the Miss America Organization, told The Associated Press that TLC executives
indicated one week after the Jan. 30 pageant that they did not want to pick up a three-year option that was part
of their previous deal. Instead, Haskell said TLC wanted a new two-year deal for less money, which he was unwilling to do.
"They're not dumping Miss America," Haskell said. "They wanted Miss America – they just didn't want to pay the
same numbers for it that they'd been paying."
Haskell said four networks, ranging from broadcast to cable channels, have expressed strong
interest in airing the pageant and are willing to pay what the TLC option would have paid or higher.
"I'm a big boy, I've got broad shoulders – I'll find us another network," Haskell said. "I look at this as an opportunity.
It doesn't depress me in the least. We have a great franchise, we have a great audience, we have a great organization."
The television audience for this year's pageant was 1 million viewers more than those for the 2009 pageant, but far below
the 33 million who watched the pageant on broadcast TV in 1988. The 2010 pageant – won by Miss Virginia
Caressa Cameron – was No. 1 on cable the night it aired, excluding movies. It was held at the Planet Hollywood
Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. (The Huffington Post, 3/2/2010)
• PAGEANT FOR SEX WORKERS : A unique beauty contest is in the works. Unlike most beauty pageants, this one will draw
contestants from only a certain profession, the oldest there is. Sex workers will take part in the beauty contest to be
held later in the month, the first event of its kind in the city of Pune in India. And the theme is celebration of
womanhood. Organized by city-based NGO Saheli, which works for commercial sex workers along with Innocent Heroes
Foundation, the scale of the event may not be too big but the organizers plan to make it a star-studded event.
Excited over the prospect of decking up for a beauty contest, sex workers say the
pageant would be fun. "There's always a lot of competition over who looks better, so this kind of a contest is welcome
and will be a hit," said Sridevi (name changed), a sex worker from Budhwar Peth. The contest is open to all
kinds of sex workers - non-brothel, brothel-based or escorts - and the auditions begin from Monday. The contest is open
to all kinds of sex workers -- non-brothel, brothel-based or escorts - and the auditions begin from Monday.
"We decided to celebrate Women's Day for sex workers in a different manner," said Tejaswi Sevekari, who runs
Saheli in the city. "We are finalising a venue and looking for sponsors. Though the scale of the event will
be small this time, we hope to make a decent start to what we would like to be an annual event. We hope to
get local celebrities and actors to grace the event." (Mid-Day.com, Pune, 3/5/2010)
• WHAT'S UP WITH NATALIE : Canada's Natalie Glebova was crowned Miss Universe 2005 in Thailand. She fell in love
with Thailand and ended up marrying Thai tennis star Paradorn Srichaphan. What is she up to now? Read all about it.
• GOT TO BE REAL : ABC network announced that the new season of the reality show "True Beauty" will debut on Monday, May 31,
following the regular time period of "The Bachelorette." The attractive contestants - 5 men and 5 women - assume they're
being judged solely on their physical attributes when, in fact, the episodes will showcase two sides of each person,
one that displays outer beauty as well as one that exhibits inner beauty. One person will be eliminated each week
based on their behavior and how well they ranked in each challenge, as they're evaluated and critiqued by the judges.
At the end of eight episodes, one winner will be declared who has successfully demonstrated both inner and outer
beauty. That winner will receive a $100,000 cash prize and a feature article in People magazine. Vanessa Minnillo.
former Miss Teen USA, returns as a host and judge, but will only reveal herself to the contestants once they're eliminated.
Carson Kressley ("Queer Eye for the Straight Guy") will host as well as judge, and will put his spin on things in
a way only he can. Beth Ostrosky Stern, the wife of the self-described "King of All Media" Howard Stern, will be
making her broadcast television debut and share her opinion on beauty, being a former model herself. Tyra Banks
and Ashton Kutcher are two of the five executive producers. (The Futon Critic, 3/4/2010)
• NEXT JOURNAL UPDATE : Monday, March 15, 2010.
PHOTO CREDITS: Jonas Yu, EPA/Maxim Shipenkov
| 03.01.2010 | Monday
• LIKE CARRIE, LIKE LAUREN : Former Miss California USA Carrie Prejean (photo, left) isn't the only beauty queen open to expressing her
objection to same-sex marriage. Miss Beverly Hills 2010 Lauren Ashley (photo, right) is also speaking out in support of traditional
nuptials. Miss Beverly Hills and upcoming Miss California USA contender Lauren Ashley spoke out to Pop Tarts earlier this
week against gay marriage - and as a result she has been publicly condemned by the City of Beverly Hills.
"The City of Beverly Hills today denounced statements made by Miss California USA contestant Lauren Ashley,
the self-described Miss Beverly Hills. Ms. Ashley resides in Pasadena and is currently a contestant for the Miss
California USA title. She does not represent Beverly Hills in any capacity," the city said in a news release issued Wednesday.
"The City of Beverly Hills strongly condemns Ms. Ashley's recent statements and has contacted pageant officials to
determine ways to formally prevent any beauty contestants claiming the title of Miss Beverly Hills in the future."
A representative from the City Council told Pop Tarts that the mayor and the entire
council were very upset by Ashley's comments and the council will decide whether or not to take the issue up with the Miss
Universe Organization, co-owned by Donald Trump and NBC. State pageant director Keith Lewis said all applicants are
interviewed by a representative from the organization and if successful they can then choose what city they wish to represent in
the quest for the Miss California title. But despite the Beverly Hills City Council's desire to have the pageant
structure changed, Lewis said, "the incident has no bearing on Miss California USA or the way the pageant will be conducted
in the future. I would love for the City of Beverly Hills to have their own preliminary pageant to determine a
representative," Lewis added. "But until then, this is the way Miss Universe runs it and this is how it is done
in other states." (FoxNews, 2/24/2010)
• THE NEW MISS NICARAGUA is Scharllette Allen, an 18-year old student of tourism from Bluefields, who was crowned
Miss Nicaragua 2010 during the 10th anniversary edition of the national contest, held at the Ruben Dario Theater in Managua
on Feb. 27th. It is the first time in the history of Nicaragua that a black woman wins the coveted title. Allen was the major
favorite during the weeks leading up to the final event. She will now represent Nicaragua at the Miss Universe 2010 pageant
to be held in August. The 1st runner-up was Indira Rojas from Rivas, while the 2nd runner-up was Claudia Trejos
from Leon.
• THE NEW TOP MODEL OF THE WORLD is Carolina Rodriguez of Colombia who was crowned in Germany last week. The first
runner-up is Gabriela Concepción of Venezuela and the second runner-up is Muriel Susana Viera of USA.
• THE NEW MR. WORLD PHILIPPINES is Alvin de Joya, a 23-year-old registered nurse and a seasoned ramp model. He was
crowned Saturday night during a live television show. He will now represent the Philippines in Mr. World 2010 in Korea this month.
• THE NEW MISS URUGUAY UNIVERSE is Stephany Ortega, 20 and the new Miss World Uruguay is Eliana Olivera, 22,
who were crowned February 27th in Montevideo.
• PRETTIEST MISTRESS : Four of Tiger Woods mistresses — so far — have agreed to take part in a beauty pageant with a $100,000
prize, according to The Times of London. Radio’s Howard Stern on March 10 will throw the Tiger Woods Mistress Beauty Pageant.
But the newspaper did not identify the four contestants. The contest will feature such categories as swimsuit, personality
and talent. The prize money comes from AshleyMadison.com, a dating service with the slogan "Life is Short, Have an Affair."
The secrets of Woods’ private life started spilling out after he had a car accident outside his Isleworth, Florida home
in November. The Times put the number of women identified as his mistresses at 13. The world’s most famous golfer didn’t
appear in public until last week, when he apologized to friends, family and fans in a speech carried by many TV channels.
But Stern faulted that scripted apology. "(He) looked like he wanted to be anywhere on the planet but in that room,"
Stern said on his show. "It didn’t seem like this was his idea, or anything he wanted to be a part of." Stern has
invited Woods’ wife, Elin, to be a judge, but The Times said she had not responded to the invitation. (The Orlando
Sentinel, 2/26/2010)
• MISS UNIVERSE IN ARUBA? The "one, happy island" of Aruba is putting a bid to host Miss Universe 2010. According to the
Miss Universe Aruba website: "The Minister of Tourism, Mr. Otmar Oduber announces during a press conference that
Aruba could be the host country for the upcoming 2010 Miss Universe Beauty Pageant. The worldwide broadcasting of the
event and the promotion receive during the month of the pageant will be a unique and great opportunity to showcase Aruba
around the world. Last January the president with her staff of the Miss Universe Organization was in Aruba for site
inspection and they have met with the Minister of Tourism of Aruba and were very interested for organizing such huge
event in Aruba. Next week Mr. Otmar Oduber will be in New York and will have a meeting with the Miss Universe
Organization to discuss further the option for hosting Miss Universe in Aruba."
• WINNING OVER TRUMP : A Filipino woman won a 5-year legal battle against the owner of a prestigious beauty pageant
for trademark infringement, ABS-CBN North America News Bureau reported. Virgelia Villegas, owner and producer
of Miss Asia USA Pageant felt relieved that the lawsuit filed against her by Donald Trump’s Miss Universe Organization
is now over. "I just can't believe it. Again, you know, at that time, I was preparing just to probably yield and probably
have a plan B in what to do if it’s not going to be what I expected it to happen,” Villegas said.
The 5-year legal battle ended last December when a New York State Court dismissed
Trump’s Miss Universe Organization’s challenge to the use and registration of its trademark, Miss Asia USA.
In 2004, lawyers from Miss Universe Organization slapped a trademark infringement lawsuit against Villegas.
Every year, the Miss Universe Organization spends hundreds of thousands of dollars doing businesses that use the terms
Miss and USA in its title. They succeeded in 200 cases. Miss Universe lawyers claim that Villegas' use of Miss Asia USA
confuses the American public into thinking that it was part of the Miss USA pageant and harm the Miss USA brand.
However, Villegas explained that the courts found it differently. Miss Asia USA is
completely different. They may both be beauty pageants, but the contests are completely different. "The big difference is
that Miss Asia USA highlights its cultural pageant aspect of it where we open our program with a parade of national
costumes,” said Villegas. Though the lawsuit took 5 years, Villegas waived for any compensatory damages.
Villegas did not mind when she had to mortgage her home in order to pay for her Washington-based legal team. To her, its
all about keeping the pageant name, Miss Asia USA. "I feel a sense of responsibility to the Asian communities that this
name must go on because eventually it is a name for the entire Asian community,” she added. Now that the lawsuit was
dismissed, Villegas plans to expand her Miss Asia USA pageant on a national scope. Her dream is for the Miss Asia USA
to become the premiere beauty pageant for Asian Americans. (Reports from Joseph Pimentel, ABS-CBN North America News Bureau
and Balitang America, 2/25/2010)
• BB. PILIPINAS 2010 UPDATES : The twenty-four chosen candidates of Bb. Pilipinas 2010 gave the public a sneak peek
of what to expect on March 6, the grand coronation night to be held at the Araneta Coliseum, as they took centerstage
at the pre-pageant event held last Friday at Studio 7 of GMA Network Studios in Quezon City. Officials representing
the beauty contest explained earlier that conducting a pre-pageant show will significantly save time and effort come
the actual coronation event, which in the past usually took four hours. Candidate 10 Venus Raj took home the
Best in Regional Terno award for her gownd designed by Ariel Alvarez. Candidate 11 Krista Kleiner won the Best
Talent award while Venus Raj and Candidate 19 Kate Alimurong shared the Miss Friendship title.
(Philippine Entertainment Portal, 2/28/2010)
See pics
from the Pre-Pageant taping and the Parade of Beauties.
• NEXT JOURNAL UPDATE : Monday, March 8, 2010.
PHOTO CREDITS: Getty Images
FEBRUARY 2010
• IN MEMORIAM : Former Miss America Colleen Kay Hutchins (photo) has died. She was 83. The 1952 winner of the beauty pageant
died early Wednesday in her home in Newport Beach, Ca., according to her son, Kiki Vandeweghe, the interim coach and
general manager of the New Jersey Nets of the NBA. Vandeweghe said his mother had been ill for about six months.
He did not disclose her illness. "It was time. She was in a lot of pain," Vandeweghe said. Hutchins was a Salt Lake
City resident when she was crowned as Brigham Young University Homecoming Queen in 1947. Five years later she won
the Miss America title. Vandeweghe said his mother acted on Broadway for a couple of years. She's survived by her
husband and four children, including Vandeweghe. Vandeweghe missed the Nets' game against the Miami Heat on Monday
night so he could be with his family. "I was really happy I went back. I was very lucky to spend some time with
my dad," Vandeweghe, who planned to coach the Nets on Wednesday for their game against Sacramento. "It was
important, harder on him than anybody. It's better for me to stay busy to tell you the truth." (Associated Press, 3/24/2010)
• CZECH MATES : The new Czech Miss 2010 is 18-year old Jitka Valkova (the brunette in the photo). She will now represent Czech Republic
in Miss Universe 2010. Crowned as Miss Czech World is 19-year old Veronica Machova (the blonde). Valkova was voted by the
television audience while Machova was selected by the judges. 
On Thursday (March 18), Mr. Korea Ji-Kwang Yoo won the Talent Competition with his
rendition of the romantic ballad, "Just Once." The contestants then travelled to the Bulguska Temple in Gyeongju to take in some
Korean history and culture. They were also given a lesson in the ancient martial art of Tae Kwon Do by two Korean masters.
The individual Tae Kwon Do titles went to Mr. Peru Manuel Illich from the Black team and Mr. Czech Republic Josef Karas (photo)
from the Blue team. Karas, a former professional decathlete, also won the 100m Relay sprint on Friday (March 19). 
• BOLIVIA SAYS NO : After months of speculation that Bolivia would host Miss Universe 2010, the South American
country decided to withdraw its bid to hold the pageant. Bolivia's Minister of Culture Zulma Yugar, photo,
announced this decision during a press conference after meeting several times with MUO officials that included
MUO President Paula Shugart. Bolivia was ready to spend $7 million to host, but MUO owner Donald Trump's
demands - which would have cost at least $20 million - didn't go well with Yugar. Among MUO's demands included
the following: more than 600 hours of air-conditioned limousine service, $45,000 on laundry services,
and 350 airline tickets amounting to nearly half a million dollars, rent of sound and lighting equipment for a million
dollars, and the construction of a stage for the finals for half a million dollars. Add to these demands
the employment of international security to protect the delegates, wardrobe, and TV coverage that could
cost up to $39 million. And in case Bolivia is unable to fulfill the demands after the contract is signed,
the country would have to pay a penalty fee of $3 million - which would go against the policies of the country's
political constitution. (El Dia, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, 3/14/2010)
• THE NEW MISS UNIVERSE JAPAN is 25-year old Maiko Itai, photo, who was crowned at the Grand Final held at Tokyo’s Shinagawa Prince Hotel on
Tuesday, March 9th. She will represent Japan at the upcoming Miss Universe 2010 pageant. Itai is a former city hall employee from Oita in Kyushu.
This was a win not just for Southern Japan but for haircuts with severe bangs. Itai sported a very similar, but less extreme version of the
haircut Hiroko Mima used to win her crown back in 2008. Itai studied Portuguese at Sophia University, but returned to the
city of Oita to work in local government. Helping out with community affairs, however, will now have to be placed on the backburner
as she gears up for September’s Miss Universe 2010 pageant, in a location yet to be determined. The 1st runner-up was
Momoka Yoshida, while the 2nd runner-up was Moeko Fukuda. (Worldshowbiz.info, 3/10/2010)
• THE NEW MISS RUSSIA is Irina Antonenko (photo), 18, in Luxury Village, who was crowned in Barvikha outside Moscow
on March 6, 2010. Antonenko hails from Yekaterinburg in the Urals. She won $100,000 and the chance to
represent the country in the Miss World 2010 pageant. The first runner-up was Irina Sharipova from Russia's
Volga Republic of Tatarstan and the second runner-up is another Urals contestant, Olga Kononenko of Chelyabinsk.
The crown awarded to Antonenko is the world's most expensive with an estimated value surpassing $1 million, RIA Novosti
said. The white gold headpiece contains 2,358 diamonds and 14 rare pearls. (UPI.com, 3/7/2010)
• WHAT'S UP WITH AMELIA : Amelia Vega (photo) of the Dominican Republic was crowned Miss Universe 2003. After her reign,
she was romantically linked with artists Pablo Montero and Shalim Ortiz, presented a TV program, made a film with actor
Andy Garcia, became the image of Cover Girl, and then disappeared. People en español "rediscovered" this ex-beauty
queen, now 25, who said that she is currently recording her first album, thanks to the encouragement of her uncled
Juan Luis Guerra who is an internationally known singer and songwriter. Amelia also revealed that she has been in love
with a Colombian guy for four years, though she doesn't have any plans of getting married. (El Nuevo Diario, Managua,
3/2/2010)
