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| 09.29.08 | Monday
• THE NEW MISS GLOBAL BEAUTY is Yulia Krylova, 22, representing Moscow, Russia. She was crowned Friday night
at the Grand Theatre in Ningbo, China. Last year's winner was also from Russia. Krylova's court includes first runner-up Han Kaixin of Beijing, China;
second runner-up Panagiota Kourakou of Athens, Greece; third runner-up Ana Velesco of Chisinau, Moldova; and
Gerta Poldver of Tallinn, Estonia. Sixty-two young women competed in the event produced by ERM, the same group
that produces Miss Tourism Queen International. (Global Beauties)
• SECURITY THREAT : Nepal's oldest and best-known beauty pageant Miss Nepal, which was given a new lease of life by
Indian sponsor Dabur Nepal, faces the threat of closure after the administration cancelled the program on the
plea that it posed a security threat. The Chief District Officer Dhurba Sharma sent a note to the organizers, an
event-management firm called The Hidden Treasure, hours before the show was to kick off at the Tribhuvan Army Officers'
Club in Kathmandu Saturday, asking them to put it off since it threatened to create a law and order problem.
Nearly 20 contestants who had been training for the pageant for over two months now, with some of them coming from
the outer districts, were close to tears.
This is the fourth time the pageant has been put on hold, raising grave
doubts about whether it would be held at all. It also rules out the possibility of the winners being sent to
international contests like Miss World and Miss Universe. Miss Nepal came under serious threat this year after
the Maoists won the April election and spearheaded the new government of Nepal. The sister organization of the
formerly guerrilla party, the All Nepal Women's Association (Revolutionary), trained its sights on the pageant,
saying it was an elitist event that degraded women by reducing them to merchandise for advertisers. (New Kerala,
9/28/2008)
• WASTE : Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Friday renewed his ban on beauty pageants in the southeast Asian
country, calling a previous beauty contest "bad luck". Hun Sen said the Miss Cambodia pageant in 1993 was "bad luck",
pointing to the fact the capital's historic Tonle Bassac theatre burned down the year after it hosted the contest.
"Don't spend (money) on a Miss Beauty contest. Don't hold it," he told officials during the first meeting of his
government's new Cabinet. Hun Sen urged people instead to "please go ahead with boat racing". The premier cancelled plans
for a Miss Cambodia pageant in 2006, calling it a waste of funds that were better spent on farming. He also said he would
not allow such a contest until poverty in Cambodia was reduced by more than half. More than 30% of Cambodians live
in grinding poverty in the tiny country of 13.4 million people. There has not been a Miss Cambodia contest since the 1990s.
(News24.com, 9/26/2008)
And to think that Cambodia was one of six countries that reportedly placed a bid
to host Miss Universe!
• PALIN'S PAGEANT FOOTAGE : The footage of the 1984 Miss Alaska Pageant, wherein Republican vice-presidential candidate
Sarah Palin appears strutting on stage in a swimsuit, has hit the web. "Sarah says she wants to prepare for
a career in television broadcasting by majoring in telecommunications and political science," Us Magazine quoted
the compare as saying in the video. The announcer continues: "It is no wonder that she has also been recognized by 'Who's Who?'
since she has displayed her leadership in all areas, from academics to student politics to athletics...
Ladies and gentlemen, contestant No. 8, Sarah Heath." Ever since the beauty contest, Palin has served two terms on the
Wasilla City Council before becoming mayor of the town in 1996. Watch the videoclip in YouTube.
A women's issues blogger thinks that the footage may hurt Palin because of double standard. Read more.
See
exclusive pics of Palin in her pageant days.
• CROATIA? Jadranka Kosor, prime minister of Croatia, confirmed last Wednesday that her country will host
the 2009 Miss Universe pageant. MUO president Paula Shugart announced that within the next few weeks she would make
the official announcement about Croatia as the next host country where current Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza will
be crowning her successor. This would be the third time the pageant would be held in Europe. Greece hosted it in 1973 and
Cyprus in 2000. (La Prensa, Honduras, 9/26/2008)
• NEXT UPDATE : Monday, October 6, 2008.
PHOTO CREDIT: Miss Schweiz Organization
| 09.22.08 | Monday
• THE NEW MISS MAURITIUS is Anais Veerapatren, a 22-year-old six-footer who was crowned Saturday night. She
will represent her country in Miss Universe 2009. Her court includes first runner-up Laura Grenouille and
second runner-up Rachel Lacharmante. In the same event, Asvin Chunoo, 19, was chosen as Mister Mauritius
World. (Le Mauricien,, 9/21/2008)
• THE NEW INTERNATIONAL QUEEN OF BANANAS is Amanda Delgado of the United States who was crowned in Machala, Ecuador
last Saturday. The Virreina (Vice-Queen) is Nailette Romero of Venezuela. The rest of the court includes first runner-up Gloria Patricia Pérez of Colombia, second runner-up Silvana Belli
of Argentina, and third runner-up Paola Casilla of the Dominican Republic. Delgado, who does not speak a word of
Spanish, found out that she won only after the outgoing going Jennifer Schell pointed at her as the winner.
(La Opinión, Machala, 9/21/2008
• WHAT'S A HERO AND A MOTHER? This year's Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2009 competition has more than seventy young women competing.
Among them is Gloria Almonte, a former Miss New York Teen USA (2000) and Miss New York USA (2007) who is of Puerto Rican
descent. Almonte is representing the town of Carolina. A reliable source informed me that Almonte's Spanish is mediocre, and that during the filming of a reality show Saturday,
she did not understand the Spanish word "héroe" (which means "hero" or "protagonist" in English). Many of the other
delegates's mothers and promoters were bothered by the way Almonte's mother was behaving. Mrs. Almonte thinks she is running
the show and gives orders to the other girls to take pictures. She also could not identify one famous beauty queen trainer
in Puerto Rico, and that she is very sure her daughter is going win MPRU because she had already won two titles. Oh, well... mothers know
best, I guess! Check out all the delegates' profiles and video clips in the official MPRU
website provided by WAPA-TV.
• McCAIN'S BRAZILIAN FLING? : María Gracinda Teixeira de Jesús, 77, a former candidate in Miss Brazil Universe
1954, revealed to the Braizlian newspaper Extra that she and U.S. presidential nominee John McCain, 72,
had a romantic affair back in 1957. The former beauty queen described McCain as "a real charmer, a loving person." She
also added that McCain "was a great kisser and good in everything." Her claims are actually confirmed in McCain's best-selling book, "Faith Of My Fathers" (1999) in which he describes
his amorous relationship with María Gracinda as "one of the happiest experiences" of his life. According to his
account, he had met María Gracinda during an eight-day stay when his naval ship was stationed in Rio de Janeiro. The young
couple broke up in Christmas 1957. María Gracinda ended up marrying four times and now lives alone in Magé north of Rio.
(Derf, Argentina, 9/20/2008)
"I got bored last year," joked the 28-year-old in a telephone interview from her home in Los Angeles.
"It's really nice to come home and talk about my journey." The signing and discussion will coincide with the Methuen-raised celebrity's
appearance at the Latin Pride Awards in Lawrence, where she'll be honored along with other luminaries like
Sammy Sosa and former Miss Universe Amelia Vega. Castillo wrote the book during the recent Hollywood writer's strike, which ended earlier this year.
Ever since she surrendered her crown, Castillo has been pursuing a career in front of the camera — so far
as an MTV VJ and the face of Neutrogena. "It gave me an opportunity to sit down and just write," said Castillo, who has held the titles of Miss
Teen Massachusetts USA, Miss Massachusetts USA and Miss USA. (Eagle Tribune, 9/21/2008)
• MISTER USA SITE UPDATED: Read my latest blog entry.
• NEXT UPDATE : Monday, September 29, 2008.
PHOTO CREDITS: A.M. México, The Eagle Tribune
| 09.08.08 | Monday
| 09.15.08 | Monday
• MISS VENEZUELA WINNERS : Stefanía Fernández, 17, Miss Trujillo, was crowned as the new
Miss Venezuela Universe last Wednesday at the Poliedro in Caracas. María Milagros Véliz Pinto, 25, Miss Anzoátegui,
was crowned Miss Venezuela World. Laksmi Rodríguez de la Sierra, 22, Miss Monagas, is the new Miss Venezuela
International. The first runner-up is Natasha Domínguez, 18, Miss Sucre, and the second runner-up is
Gabriela Concepción, 18, Miss Carabobo. Twenty-eight young women competed in this year's pageant whose highlights
included a tribute to Dayana Mendoza, the current Miss Universe from Venezuela. The show was
transmitted to twenty countries.
• TRIBAL KING : Alan Martini, the current Mister International from Brazil, attended the 2008 World Eco-Fiber
& Textile Forum held in Kuching, Malaysia from September 12 to 14. Martini was invited as a special guest and also
modeled clothes by renowned Malaysian designer Edric Ong. Kuching hosted the 2007 Mister International pageant
and Ong provided the tribal fashion wear for all the contestants. This year's Mister International pageant will
take place in Kaoshiung, Taiwan from November 11 to 26. Information courtesy of Alan Sim.
• WHAT'S UP WITH ELISA? Elisa Nájera, fourth runner-up in Miss Universe 2008 from Mexico, is returning to Vietnam
to do some promotional work for a jewel company. She is due to arrive in Vietnam in early October. She is currently
preparing to crown her successor when the Nuestra Belleza México 2009 finals take place on September 20th.
(El Porvenir Mexico, 9/13/2008)
• FREE SHOW : Lupita Jones, director of Nuestra Belleza México, confirmed that this year's pageant - which will be
held in the city of Monterrey - will be free to the public. Jones stated that it is the wish of the production team and of
the governor of the state of Nuevo León that the Monterrey Arena be filled to capacity. The arena can accomodate 15,000
people. Lupita promises that this year's production will be spectacular and that there will be several surprises.
(El Norte, Monterrey, 9/13/2008)
• TELENOVELA ABOUT CECILIA : A Chilean television channel is planning to produce a soap opera based on Cecilia Bolocco,
the only Miss Universe from Chile. Even though the story will not be an exact biography of the former beauty queen, it will
take its inspiration from Cecilia's persona. The title of the soap opera will be called "Primera dama" (First Lady)and will
be broadcasted by channel 13 and written by Sebastián Arrau. The story revolves around a woman who wants to marry
a president. Arrau states: "The idea is to show a woman who wants to climb up the social ladder, and to savor power and success."
(Crítica, Argentina, 9/13/2008)
• MISTER USA SITE UPDATED : Read Ivan's latest adventures
and more pictures from the pageant have been added.
• NEXT UPDATE : Monday, September 22, 2008.
Photo credits: El Aragueño, devenir-celebre.com
| 09.08.08 | Monday
• THE NEW MISS CONTINENTE AMERICANO is Lupita González, a 20-year-old student and model from Mexico who was
crowned in Guayaquil, Ecuador last Saturday night. She was also chosen as Miss Photogenic and given the Most Beautiful Face
award. The pageant was broadcasted live via Gamavisión. The first runner-up is Kristina Ruisánchez, 22, of Puerto Rico and the second runner-up is Doménica Saporiti, 20, of Ecuador.
Completing the top six were Cynthia de Oliveira of Brazil, Andrea Matthies of Venezuela and Karol Castillo
of Peru. González had competed in last year's Nuestra Belleza México and placed third. She bears a strong resemblance to
Lupita Jones, the only Miss Universe from Mexico. This year's prize package includes a new crown valued at US$18,000
and US$6,000 in cash. The winner and her finalists will travel to Galápagos Islands this week. Visit the official Miss Continente
Americano website for more information.
During a press conference, she thanked Osmel Sousa for preparing her for Miss Universe.
When asked about her prize package for winning Miss Universe, she said that received US$250,000, but she didn't say if it is entirely in cash. Although she did state that the prize will be
distributed in installments during her entire reign. She also said that she bought a laptop which allows her to communicate daily
with her boyfriend Daniel Cesari. Dayana will attend the Miss Venezuela 2009 this Wednesday to crown her successor.
(El Univeral, Caracas, 9/7/2008)
Watch Dayana come out of the plane at the Simón Bolívar airport in Caracas. Notice how
she sticks her arm first to wave, and then her right leg! So cute! LOL! (Fast forward to counter 4:00)
• PER OSMEL : In a recent interview with El Nacional, Osmel Sousa said that he does not want to wait another
twelve years for another Venezuelan to win Miss Universe, in reference to Dayana Mendoza's 2008 victory that follows
Alicia Machado's in 1996. Osmel commented that Dayana did not really need much preparation, that she was very
disciplined, and that she was more driven to win than the other contenders. Being an experienced model also worked strongly
in her favor. Last week, Alicia advised Dayana not to be impulsive like her - and advice that Osmel finds endearing.
Osmel also revealed that after the Miss Universe pageant in Vietnam, he had asked some of the judges why Venezuela had not
won in a while. Their response: "Because you have won so many times already." (El Nacional, Caracas, 9/7/2008)
• SECURITY ISSUE : It is reported that MUO charged Venevisión "only" US$20,000 for Dayana's visit to Venezuela. MUO also
demanded that security be tight during Dayana's stay to prevent any mishaps, like what happened last year when a crazy fan
jumped on stage and grabbed Dayana's crown after she was named Miss Venezuela. El Poliedro Coliseum (where the Miss Venezuela
pageant is held every year) will be filled with security officers dressed in civilian clothing. Fans have already been warned
not to take photos of Dayana and to stay away from her if they do not wish to be kicked out of the coliseum. (
• THE NEW MISTER INTERNATIONAL PHILIPPINES is Ryan Roberts, 24, who was crowned on September 1st at A. Venue Events
Mall in Makati City. He will represent the Philippines in the Mister International 2008 pageant to be held in Taiwan on November
23rd. The first runner-up is Jeff Surio, 24, and the second runner-up is John Bardo Espiritu, 19. A former U.S. service
man, Roberts was born in the Philippines but grew up in Florida.
• EARTHLY BRITS : On August 30th, the Miss Earth UK pageant crowned four young women to represent their respective regions in the Miss Earth
2008 pageant to be held in the Philippines on November 9th. The lucky winners are Caroline Duffy (21, Miss Earth England),
Courtney St. John (22, Miss Earth Scotland), Jamie Lee Williams (22, Miss Earth Wales) and Amy Robinson (22, Miss Earth Northern
Ireland). The pageant is sponsored by Club4Climate, a dance brand owned by an eccentric man called "
Dr. Earth" who wishes for people to dance to save the world. Visit the official Miss Earth UK site for more information.
• AT RISK : The new Miss Vietnam Tran Thi Thuy Dong, 18, who was crowned last Sunday in Hoi An, risks of losing
her crown if it is proven that she did not graduate from high school. Pageant rules state that a candidate must have
completed secondary school. According to Pham Sy Liem, the director of the high school in the city of Danang where Dong
supposedly graduated this year, claims that Dong never received her diploma. Pageant regulations also include that the candidates
must have never undergone cosmetic surgery. (El Mundo, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, 9/6/2008)
• CRITICAL SAVIOR : Jessica Trisko, Miss Earth 2007, visited Puerto Rico two weeks ago, but her stay in the Enchanted Isle
was not completely enchanting. Jessica had been invited by Reinas de Puerto Rico Organization (RPRO) whose president, Edwin Rosario, is
the Puerto Rico franchise owner of Miss Earth. Jessica - who was supposed to be a guest - was told by "Janet" - RPRO's public relations
director - that she had to pay for her own airfare and accomodations
with the promise that she would have a memorable time in Puerto Rico. However, when
Jessica arrived at the airport in San Juan on August 23 (Saturday), no one from RPRO met her. Even worse, she had not been provided by RPRO
with proper accomodations, food or security for the first three days.
Since RPRO did not send any make-up artist or hairstylist to attend to Jessica, Héctor attempted to solicit
assistance from stylist Davidonne and fashion designer Carlos Alberto. However, when Rosario found out about Héctor's good
Samaritan deeds, he called Héctor on Tuesday (Aug. 26th) and began threatening him with a lawsuit. Rosario also told Héctor that Jessica could not use the services of either Davidonne or
Carlos Alberto. Rosario was supposed to make a new dress for Jessica that she would wear when she gives up her Miss Earth crown, but
Rosario never took Jessica's measurements. When Rosario offered Jessica a dress, it was made of polyester, badly designed, and had stains
in front. Rosario also failed to accompany Jessica to the Bacardi Company offices. Eventually, Rosario was able to provide lodging to Jessica,
in a two-star hotel called Diamond Palace in Condado, but Jessica only stayed for a day and a half because she couldn't stand the substandard
conditions. Héctor was kind enough to receive Jessica in his apartment during the rest of her stay.
In its message board, RPRO posted some vicious comments about Héctor, calling him a no-good, unethical pageant coach
with a big ego, and that no one in Puerto Rico ever hires him to train local queens. On Monday (Sept. 1), Rosario appeared on the local
TV program "No Te Duermas" and badmouthed Héctor, claiming that Jessica was staying in an apartment filled with "bugs, cockroaches and
rats." Nothing could be farther from the truth. Jessica's claims of mistreatment by Rosario are supported by Noemi herself. Noemi wrote to
the project manager of Carousel Productions (which produces Miss Earth), Gemina Mayo (with copies to Jessica and Héctor), informing
Gemina that she "was so disappointed on how Reinas de PR handled Jessica" and that "Edwin [Rosario] did not take care of Jessica
during her stay." Noemi also regrets to have recommended Rosario for the Puerto Rican franchise of Miss Earth. According to Héctor, a
friend of Natalie Cuevas, Miss Puerto Rico Earth, advised him that Natalie had been told by Rosario that she has to pay for
her own airfare to Manila and that he was charging her US$600 for the franchise fee, even though it is free.
I have known Héctor for nearly five years and he has never disappointed me as a friend and a colleague.
Rosario's claim that Héctor is not respected in Puerto Rican pageantry is pure hogwash. May I remind Rosario that Héctor has worked
with numerous big-name local designers and stylists (Carlos Alberto, José Karlo, Verona, René Cruz, just to name a few), has collaborated
with the Miss Puerto Rico Universe and Miss World Puerto Rico organizations, has either prepared or promoted numerous young women who have
competed in Miss Puerto Rico Universe, Miss World Puerto Rico, Miss Puerto Rico International and Miss Puerto Rico Earth, has very good
relationship with the Miss Universe Organization, has been hired again this year by the Miss Bahamas World Organization, and will soon travel to Bolivia for Reina Hispanoamericana, to Manila for Miss Earth and
to South Africa for Miss World. And lastly, CB would not have a Spanish-language edition if it were not for Héctor's drive, hard work and
utter professionalism - something that Rosario should imitate.
• FLASHBACK 1968 : "As a small group of feminists prepared to launch their emerging women's liberation movement onto
the national stage by protesting the 1968 Miss America pageant, they had no idea that the media was about to give them
a new moniker: 'bra burners.' Read more.
• MY MISTER USA BLOG has been updated. See two
videoclips from the Mister USA 2008 pageant.
• NEXT UPDATE : Monday, September 16, 2008.
Photo credits: El Aragueño, HJ Blog
| 09.01.08 | Monday
Other interesting information about Palin: her favorite meal is mooseburger.
She supports the death penalty and the teaching of creationism in schools. Palin is an enthusiast for the outdoors and a gun
owner and opposes environmental restrictions on drilling in Alaska. And get this - she is also under investigation into
whether she intervened to sack a state trooper who was involved in a divorce and custody battle with her sister! LOL!
Can you imagine - if McCain is elected president, and then something happens to him in office (untimely death or assassination) -
a mooseburger-eating, anti-gay, anti-pro-choice ex-beauty queen running the country? If that happens, I am moving to Iceland! LOL!
• MISS VENEZUELA FAVORITES : Saturday night, I saw the live gala presentation online of the Miss Venezuela 2008
pageant and I must say that this year's batch of contestants is rather mediocre. Several girls are either too short, a few
look older for their age, and even those who are facially beautiful lack stage presence. Is Venezuela running out of
world-class beauty contenders? There are 28 contestants, and the Venezuelan press claims that there are only 10 worthy of
the crown. One of them is Stephania Fernández, Miss Trujillo, who just won three special awards (most beautiful face,
best body, and most elegant). The other faves include Natasha Domínguez, Miss Sucre; Karina Rivero, Miss Amazonas;
Lakshmi Rodríguez, Miss Monagas; Ligia Hernández, Miss Aragua; Jennipher Bortolas, Miss Táchira;
Natascha Brandt, Miss Nueva Esparta; and Gabriela Concepción, Miss Carabobo. The coronation night will take
place on September 10th. Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza will be present to crown her successor. (Univision Amarillo, 8/31/2008)
• MISS TIBET PAGEANT : In defiance of both the Tibetan conservative way of life and the Chinese occupation of the high
land plateau country, the Miss Tibet contest is back again this year and is scheduled to be held in the second week of October.
The Miss Tibet Pageant, with the punch line - women with wisdom from the roof of the world, would be conducted in the
Tibetan government in exile headquarters at Dharamshala from 10 to 12 October. Despite being frowned upon by the
conservative community, cultural entrepreneur Lobsang Wangyal, is going ahead with holding the 7th pageant is
as many years. The new winner would be crowned by Tenzin Dolma, who won the pageant in 2007. Following up her win at
Dharamshala last year and to mark a separate identity for the highlands China occupied in 1959, Tenzin Dolma was one among
68 participants Miss Earth pageant held in Manila in November 2007.
Defining the objectives of the contest the organizers hold that Tibetan culture
is a living, breathing, changing culture, with young women who wish to have the same opportunities as their counterparts
in other parts of the world including education, travel and cross-cultural experiences. Due to the seriousness of the
Tibetan refugee situation, there is a tendency among both Tibetans and the international community to assume that young
Tibetan women must only be engaged in activities that are based in the traditional culture or working for the Tibetan
cause. This is a short-sighted view, say the organizers. (myHimachal, Sirmour, Himachal Pradesh, India, 8/31/2008)
• THE NEW MISS VIETNAM is Tran Thi Thuy Dung, an 18-year-old beauty from Da Nang City who was crowned Sunday. She
will compete in Miss World 2008 to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa on December 13.
• THE NEW MISS EARTH CANADA is Denise Garrido, a 20-year-old Northern Ontario resident who was crowned Saturday
night in Montreal. She will represent Canada in the coming Miss Earth 2008 pageant to be held in Manila on November 9.
• THE NEW MISS EARTH COLOMBIA is Mariana Rodríguez Merchán, a tall, 20-year-old marketing student representing
Valle del Cauca. Venezuela's Alexandra Braun Waldeck, Miss Earth 2005, was one of the judges.
• WHAT'S UP WITH YUKTA? The Indian press is reporting that Indian beauty queen Yukta Mookhey, 29, who was crowned
Miss World 1999, is engaged to be married to Prince Tuli, 36, a financial analyst from New York whose family
owns a business empire in central India that runs into hotels and resorts, schools and colleges, malls and motors.
Not much else is known of him, not even whether Prince Tuli belongs to any of the erstwhile royal families of India
or Prince is just his name. The couple was spotted Saturday night, inseparable. Rumours are that the two will be
getting married soon and it is believed that Yukta will be settling down in Delhi after she ties the knot.
(The Times of India, 8/31/2008)
• ONE OF A KIND : Autistic girl expands life by participating in pageants. Read more.
• MY MISTER USA BLOG has been updated.
Also check out the Galleries and Ivan Rusilko's
personal website.
• NEXT UPDATE : Monday, September 8, 2008.
Photo credits: Alaska Report, Mika
AUGUST 2008
• SWISS MISS : The new Miss Switzerland is 18-year-old Whitney Toyloy (photo) of Yverdon, a city located in
the French-speaking portion of Switzerland. Whitney, who is the daughter of an American father,
will represent Switzerland in Miss Universe 2009. Switzerland has stopped sending representatives to Miss World
in 2005, and it is not known if the Alpine country will return to it in 2008. The first runner-up was
Rekha Datta of Zürich, and the second runner-up was Lisa Panigada. Info courtesy of Michael Knittel.
Visit the official Miss Schweiz website).
• MEXICAN BEAUTIES : Three new Mexican queens were crowned Saturday night at the Monterrey Arena in Nueva León.
Karla Carrillo González, 20, photo, from Guadalajara (Jalisco) was crowned Nuestra Belleza México 2008
and will represent Mexico in Miss Universe 2009 pageant. Perla Beltran Acosta, 21, from Guamúchil (Sinaloa)
was crowned Nuestra México Mundo and will go to Miss World 2009. The first runner-up is Laura Zúñiga Huizar, 23,
of Sinaloa, 23, will go to Miss International 2009. The second runner-up was Cecilia Montaño Moreno, 21, of Sonora
and the third runner-up was Paulina Hernández Calderón, 20, of Baja California Norte. You can watch the entire
pageant on YouTube starting with this vibrant opening number.
(A.M., Mexico, 9/21/2008)
• WHAT'S UP WITH SUSIE : Miss USA 2003 Susie Castillo, photo, will return to her hometown of Methuen, Massachusetts
next weekend to sign copies of her book, "Confidence is Queen: The Four Keys to Ultimate Beauty Through Positive
Thinking." Now an actress, Castillo's first movie, "The Heartbreakers" will hit the theaters soon and will appear
in the hit TV sitcom, "House of Payne."
• THE HAT LADY STRIKES BACK : Geneviève de Fontenay, the septuagenarian director of Miss France, hurled insults
at former Miss France Luce Auger, photo, during a court appearance. A few weeks ago, Luce - who is a supporter of Valérie Bègue, Miss
France 2007 - had told the media that Geneviève is a hypocrite. Geneviève had denounced Valérie for having posed provocatively
in a men's magazine months before she was crowned Miss France. Geneviève is equally displeased with Luce for defending Valérie.
Luce claims that when she was competing for the Miss France title in 1961, Geneviève and her then husband Louis Poirot de
Fontenay, had required all the girls to pose topless for a photographer under the pretext that the photos would be
part of a "press book" to be shown to painters, photographers and sculptors with the hope that the girls would be hired as models.
Luce's accusations made Geneviève's blood boil to the point that Geneviève called Luce "perverse" (pervert), "méchante" (mean) and
"salope" (bitch). Luce retaliated by calling her lawyer to press defamation charges against Geneviève; the lawyer told
France Soir that his client "does not wish to be insulted by the sombrero-wearing lady." Luce is also demanding
50,000 euros for reparations. Geneviève thinks it's absurd: "If the soul had a color, Luce Auger's would be black."
(France Soir, 9/13/2008)
• DAYANA'S HOMECOMING : Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza (photo) returned to Venezuela last Saturday for a much-awaited homecoming
and was given a royal treatment by her countrymen. She was received at the airport by Osmel Sousa, former Miss Venezuela
Mariángel Ruiz, Venevisión personalities and former Miss Venezuela contestants Mayte Delgado and Viviana Gibelli, and
several officials from Venevisión. A group of children sang her Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" (from his Symphony No. 9). Dayana was then
taken to the popular weekly TV program, "Súper Sábado Sensacional" where she broke in tears.
Noemi Melendez, the president of the Miss Cuba Organization who sends Cuban delegates to
Miss Earth - and a good friend of Rosario's - had already known that Rosario was not coming to meet Jessica, so she called CB's
Héctor Joaquín Colón González, photo, for immediate assistance. Hector arrived first at the airport, followed by Noemi. Jessica
had to spend her first three nights in the house of Noemi's friend. The following day (Sunday) in the town of Loiza, Jessica attended
an event supposedly in her honor, but when she, Hector and Noemi arrived at the venue, there were only seven people in attendance and that
the activity was limited to a performance by a folkloric dance group and a local writer.
• VICE-PRESIDENTIAL BEAUTY : U.S. Republican presidential hopeful John McCain, 71, selected Sarah Palin, photo,
governor of Alaska, as his vice-presidential running mate. She is just as beautiful as McCain's wife, Cindy, who was Junior
Rodeo Queen of Arizona in 1968. Of course, the only reason McCain chose Palin is just so he could pander to women voters
who supported Hillary Clinton while she was running against Barack Obama. Palin was a former finalist in the Miss Alaska 1984 pageant
(for Miss America). In her local pageant (Miss Wasilla), Palin was voted as Miss Congeniality - though this does not mean
that she is congenial to non-traditional values. She states, "I am pro-life and I believe that marriage should only be between and man
and a woman." Read more of her views on significant issues in this site. 
• NUDE FOR CHARITY : Riyo Mori is the next former Miss Universe who has opted to take off her clothes. Earlier last year,
Alicia Machado (1996) posed nude for the Mexican Playboy magazine, and Puerto Rico's Zuleyka Rivera (2006) got
naked wearing nothing but Swarovski's jewels. However, Riyo got naked not for money or for pleasure but for charity. Riyo is using her nakedness as part of her
campaign against breast cancer. In the photo taken by famous Japanese photographer Mika, Riyo is covering her left breast.
She is also wearing a spectacular necklace by Boucheron and exquisite sandals by René Caovila.