MISS INTERCONTINENTAL OFFICIAL SITE | SLIDESHOWS
| PHOTOS BY FRANK BAUERMANN
VIDEOCLIPS OF ACTIVITIES | VIDEOCLIPS BY BELARUSIAN MEDIA
VIDEOCLIPS BY HECTOR JOAQUIN
| PROMOTIONAL
Héctor Joaquín Colón González is the creator of www.hectorjoaquin.com, one of the world's most popular
pageant blogs. He is also a columnist for EGO Fashion Magazine, a pageant coach and trainer, and edits the
Spanish-language section of Critical Beauty called Belleza Crítica. He will provide us with the latest scoop
on Miss Intercontinental 2009 that is going on in the beautiful city of Minsk, Belarus.
CB is very happy to
cover the pageant for the first time.
| 10.12.09 | Monday
Posted 10:08 PM, 10.11.09 (Boston time)
The Review
Without doubt, Venezuelan beauties dominate the world stage! After Stefania
Fernandez was crowned Miss Universe just a little over a month earlier, Hannelys Quintero was crowned
Miss Intercontinental 2009 in a spectacular show in Minsk, Belarus on September 27th. Hannelys was a semifinalist
in Miss World 2008, and little did she know that she would be crowned by her predecessor Cristina Camargo
of Colombia as the new Miss Intercontinental.
Nobody is more surprised of Hannelys's victory than her mother Mercedes Ledezma: "Mommy, I won! I won!" exclaimed
Hannelys to her beloved mother when she called her on the phone. Right after her coronation, Hannelys was interviewed
by the newspaper La Verdad. Ledezma explained that her youngest daughter Hannelys competed in Miss Intercontinental
because Osmel Sousa had proposed it to her. Hannelys left for Belarus on September 9th with the hope of bringing
a new crown to Venezuela. Mother said, "When she was there, they called me to tell me that they were treating
her very well, that she was received with all the honors at the Venezuelan embassy and that she was among the favorites."
Even though her family had difficulty communicating with her and was not sure about her return date, they were already
preparing to give her a grand homecoming party.
Born in Ocumare del Tuy, 23-year-old Hannelys competed in Miss Venezuela 2007
representing the state of Cojedes. That same year, she competed in Reina Hispanoamericana that took place in Santa
Cruz, Bolivia where she placed fifth. In 2002, she won Señorita Ocumare and in 2005 she won Miss Teen Model Venezuela.
In early 2005, she debuted as a host in the TV program Somos Talento on Venevisión. During an October 2007
interview, Hannelys said that the experience of being a beauty queen has been life-changing. "It's rare for me to be
the center of attention. I still can't believe that when I get out of the house, people ask me for autographs. It's
quite exciting!" With her new title, she gets a precious crown with 720 diamonds worth $360,000. Her court includes
first runner-up Maryia Yesman of Belarus, second runner-up Rosana Padro of Puerto Rico, third
runner-up Anna Tarnowka of Poland and fourth runner-up McKeyla Richards of Curacao.
The finals were held at the Football Manege Arena in Minsk. The 38th annual
pageant was attended by the president of Belarus, Aleksandr Grigórievich Lukashenko and was shown live
all over Europe by ONT TV. The show featured dancers and contorsionists impeccably dressed in white and
carrying blue-colored lights, which was totally different and unique. The show continued with the dancers
jumping up and down to signify the entrance of the candidates in their national costumes and their self-introduction
stating their respective name and country. The stage - which was built specially for the event by ONT TV - was simply
magnificent. The introduction of the contestants was followed by a group of Belorusian folk dancers who performed
a charming dance number that illustrated the history and culture of the country. After the dance, the girls
returned to the stage wearing their swimsuits adorned with colorful and interesting accessories that enhanced
their sensuality without being vulgar. On the contrary, they all looked glamorous and sophisticated. The girls
paraded in groups of five while effects of lights, smoke and water gave the impression of a Victoria's Secret
fashion show. In this segment, the girls who stood out were Venezuela, Poland, Curacao, Ethiopia, Canada, Swaziland,
Zimbabwe and Puerto Rico.
After the swimsuit show came the performance of invited artists which to me
has been one of the most spectacular mini-concerts I have seen in my life. The performers included Dimitry
Koldum, sixth finalist in Eurovision 2007; Alexander Rybak the winner of Eurovision 2009; Arash,
third placer in Eurovision 2009; and pop artist and trumpet player Lou Bega. This awesome recital - which
provoked everyone to get up and dance - was followed by the evening gown competition. In this segment, the girls
who stood out were Curacao, Ethiopia, Belarus, Korea, Martinique, Bahamas, Georgia, Honduras and Venezuela.
I hate to be biased, but Hannelys's gown was the most beautiful! LOL
After having seen all the girls in swimsuit and evening gown, the judges
selected the 15 semifinalists: Poland, Puerto Rico, Peru, Curacao, Ethiopia, Belarus, Korea, Martinique, Bahamas,
Canada, Swaziland, Georgia, USA, Honduras and Venezuela. To calm the girls' nerves, singer Morandi came up
on stage and sang three songs. Aftewards, each semifinalist sashayed and posed while Lou Bega entertained
the audience. Then the top 5 were called in random order: Curacao, Poland, Puerto Rico, Belarus and Venezuela.
Dima Bilan, the winner of Eurovision 2008, came up on stage and serenaded
all of the candidates. Dima was mesmerized by the beauty of Deborah Lyra, Top Model of the World 2008; he
couldn't take his eyes off her all night long! LOL. Then the hosts announced the continental winners: Puerto Rico as Miss
Intercontinental Caribbean, Venezuela as Miss Intercontinental Americas, Korea as Miss Intercontinental Asia-Pacific,
Miss Ethiopia as Miss Intercontinental Africa, and Belarus as Miss Intercontinental Europe.
Then the official results were announced: Curacao is fourth runner-up, Poland is
third, Puerto Rico is second, Belarus is first, and Venezuela as the new Miss Intercontinental. It's important to note
that Hannelys is the fourth Venezuelan to win the title. The others were María Emilia de los Rios (1974), Ligia Fernanda Petit
Vargas (2001), and Emmarys Pinto (2005).
For me, the pageant has been one of the most organized pageants that I have ever attended,
from the logistics to the production of the event. The ONT TV people knew exactly what they were doing. What impressed me
a lot - and it's something that I don't see much in my own country and very little in the U.S. - is the punctuality and sense of
responsability. If they told you that it would start at 5 p.m., it would start exactly at 5 p.m. They would call you 10 minutes
before or they would remind you to get ready by that time. Another important detail was the diet provided to the girls; it was
well-balanced, nutritious and included all the food groups, and it was prepared in a way that would complement the girls'
tight schedule. There was always security for the girls, for the members of the press and for everyone involved in the
organization of the pageant, which made you feel very much at ease. There were interpreters that spoke all the languages
spoken by the girls; I was amazed by the Belorusian interpreters who spoke Spanish fluently. Maria, one of the interpreters who
spoke Spanish, said that there are over 600 students enrolled in the university who are learning Spanish. The organizers also
provided a doctor and nurses to the girls and the members of the press. I can't say enough good things about ONT TV and WBO;
I would give the pageant five stars! Nothing was missed and at all times the staff was cheerful, professional and always smiling!
The production of the event during the finals has to be the best I've ever seen!
To those who are accustomed to watching Eurovision, you can have a clearer idea of what I am trying to say in terms of
production for television. First of all, the stage was incredibly impressive and resembled the stage set for Eurovision; the
only difference is that the ONT stage was set up especially for a pageant with colorful lights, smoke, water falling from
the ceiling, and artificial fire. What else can I say to explain the magic and the good vibration that was felt during the three
hours of the pageant in which the girls were the headliners and several world-class artists performed to an emotional crowd?
Now about the final results, all I can say is that I am very pleased because I had
always wanted for Hannelys to win, not because she's a good friend of mine but because she truly deserved the title because
of her great beauty and for her awesome performance during the pageant. She was never in a bad mood, never complained, and
always smiled for the camera, compared to some girls who refused to have their pictures taken. The people of Belarus fell in
love with Hannelys; she was always the most applauded in all the activities; she always shone, was always impeccably dressed,
well made-up, well-coiffed and well-accessorized. But more than an image, she has an infectious personality that could
light up the darkest cave: this was the key to her triumph and the judges noticed it.
I will carry fond memories of Belarus forever; I fell in love with its people, its
cleanliness, its beautiful gardens, its music, its culture. For me, Belarus was more than just a host for a pageant; it was
getting to know a country that is hospitable to the world, that loves and defends its culture, its history, and in matters
of beauty pageants - it is still a young nation. But with strong determination, it's only a matter of time when this
country will excel in pageants as well as in modeling. Miss Intercontinental certainly found an ally in Belarus, and it
has been one of the pageants that I've truly enjoyed. I am sure that in the hearts of all 60 girls who competed, there
exist a small piece of Belarus, of its people and of the new good friends that we all made.
My deepest gratitude to the ONT TV staff, to all the new friends that I made in you, and
many thanks to Mr. Detlef Tursies for giving me the opportunity to be part of an unforgettable experience. Spasiba Belarus!
| 09.28.09 | Monday
Posted 10:21 PM, 09.28.09 (Boston time)
“Tired!"
Hello everyone! I am stuck in Moscow, Russia due to a cancelled flight, so
I called Rafa and informed him that I would be spending the night here! I haven't slept in 24 hours! I am still
so emotional and happy about Hannelys Quintero's victory! She has become my best friend and we feel like
we have known each other for so long! Anyway, I can't talk too much right now because I am so tired and I am about
to crash! Just to let you know that I'll be arriving back to Puerto Rico on Tuesday night around 9 P.M. And
the first thing I will do is hit the bed! Once I have recovered from the jet lag, I promise I will write my
final thoughts about the pageant and the results! Talk to you soon!
| 09.27.09 | Sunday
Posted 11:34 PM, 09.26.09 (Boston time)
“Tonight is the night!"
What can I say? Meeting over sixty beautiful and lovely young women from
all over the world, in a beautiful and magnificent country such as Belarus - is an experience that I will cherish
forever. As a correspondent for Critical Beauty and HJ Blog, I have followed the girls for two weeks. During
the first week of their journey, the girls got acquainted with Belarus, its traditions, culture, places of
interests. They've been to nearly all regions of Belarus, seen its most picturesque places like Belovezhkaya
Puscha, the lakes of Braslavy. They went down into the caves of Soligorsk, visited the open air folk museum Dudutki
where they charmed the crowd with their national costumes. In Grodno, at the courtyard of the new royal palace,
the girls became princesses in a royal ball. In Gomel, they visited the park and the palace complex. One memorable
event is a visit to the Gomel Cancer Children Hospital where the girls presented gifts to the little patients.
in Mogilev, the beauties went to the zoo, to the astrologer's square, and to the monastery of Saint Nicholas.
Here's my last report, guys! It's been very hectic and stressful, but
I am enjoying every minute of it!
Wednesday, September 22nd. As usual, the girls had their breakfast at the
Hotel Victoria. I'd like to emphasize the fact that all meals are prepared with a special regimen for the girls
so they can maintain their lovely figures. The meals are nutritious and delicious and there are always fresh
fruit available. After breakfast, the girls left for the Football Manege Arena to start the general rehearsals.
The girls practiced their opening number and their dance steps, along with Belarusian musical groups Drum Extasy,
Khoroshki and Pesnyary. After the rehearsals, the girls returned to Hotel Victoria for a succulent and nutritious
lunch. Then they returned to the arena for more practice. In the arena, the girls had their swimsuit fittings.
I must say that the swimsuits are beautiful. I have never seen swimsuits so sexy and beautiful in my life like
the ones that girls will be wearing during the finals! We're so used to seeing boring two-piece swimsuits in other
pageants, but here in Miss Intercontinental the girls will be wearing not only sexy bikinis but also accessories
that enhance and sensualize their figures. Even Victoria's Secret swimsuits cannot compare with those of the girls.
After a long rehearsal, the girls headed back to the hotel to have dinner and then to retire for the evening.
Thursday, September 23rd. A very chilly day in Minsk and many of the girls
have a cold, but WBO makes sure that everyone is taken care of. The girls who are sick were immediately attended by
WBO's doctor and nurse. I also caught a 24-hour cold but thank God I feel much beter. During that day the girls had
their first rehearsal on the stage. After a dinner at the hotel, they returned to the arena to practice their dance
steps with the choreographer. I was invited to the Venezuelan embassy when Miss Venezuela Hanny Quintero (photo)
paid a courtesy call. Hanny was invited by the Venezuelan ambassador to Belarus, Américo Díaz Nuñez. The
ambassador received Hanny with all the honors. Hanny was also welcomed by all of the embassy employees who presented
her with a bouquet of beautiful flowers. They served hors d'oeuvres and drinks. We drank coffee and Hanny was given
a tour of the embassy. Afterwards, the embassador treated Hanny to a lovely dinner at the Mipcki Zamak restaurant which
had been reserved exclusively for Miss Venezuela. Hanny was entertained with traditional Venezuelan music played with
violin. When she heard the music, Hanny became emotional and burst into tears. Imagine being far from hymn and then you
hear your country's hymn! That's unforgettable! After the visit to the embassy, we were taken to the opera theater which
is a magical and beautiful place. Hanny was even happier of being there. Even I was touched by all the attention I was
getting from the embassador and the embassy employees. Afterwards, we headed to ONT television station that produces the event;
this time, the girls participated in a round table that was viewed online. They were asked questions formulated by
Belarusian fans. Among the countries that participated included Misses USA, Netherlands, Thailand, Australia, Ghana, and
Belarus. It was a rare experience for the girls; they managed very well and it was a success. From the TV station, the
girls returned to the hotel to start their interviews with the judges - a decisive moment for many of the candidates. The
interviews went very well and the majority of the girls felt satisfied with theirs. Despite a long and hectic day filled
with many activities, the girls appeared relaxed and happy during dinner at the hotel.
Thursday, September 24th. They unveiled the new Miss Intercontinental crown at the
palace of the republic. This crown has been heavily guarded by Belarusian authorities. Thousands of people flocked to
see the new crown at the palace. After more rehearsals, the girls were allowed some free time to shop and to buy
souvenirs for their friends and families. Overall, it was a low-key and easy day for the girls.
Friday, September 25th. Breakfast at Hotel Victoria. General rehearsal. Dress rehearsals
in swimsuits, evening gowns and national costumes. The hosts also rehearsed their piece. Lunch at Hotel Victoria. Return
to the arena for more rehearsals and to meet stylists, makeup artists and hairdressers.
Saturday, September 26th. Breakfast at Hotel Victoria. The rehearsals were conducted
as if it were the finals. Lunch at the hotel, followed by a press conference at the hotel with the judges and with the
current Miss International Cristina Camargo, with WBO and ONT.
Sunday, September 27th. Breakfast at the hotel and rest to get ready for the show.
Artist sound checks: Morandi - Dmitrij Koldum - Dmitrij Bilan - Arash - Alexander Rybak - Lou Bega. Lunch at the hotel.
Departure for the arena. Preparation for the concert hall. Ready for the show!
Note on the show: the production is grand and exquisite, as if you'll be seeing a joint
production of Miss Universe and Miss World! It's very impressive and some 50,000 people are expected to attend the finals.
The Judges: Dr. Yasar Sarigul (Turkey, author, TV host and plastic surgeon);
Keith Tynes (USA, singer and former member of the legendary Motown group, The Platters); Cristina Camargo (Colombia, Miss
Intercontinental 2008); Rolf D. Raima (Germany, Vice-President of the hotel group Steigenberger Middle East);
Deborah Lyra (Brazil, Top Model of the World 2008); Grigorij Kisel (Belarus, head of ONT TV Channel-Belarus);
Olga Khizhinkova (Belarus, Miss Belarus 2008); Alexander Rybak (Norway, winner of International Song Contest, Eurovision 2009);
Dima Bilan (Russia, winner of International Song Contest, Eurovision 2008); Oksana Fedorova (Russia, Miss Russia 2002);
Detlef Tursies (non-voter; Germany, CEO World Beauty Organization-Europe).
Invited Artists: MORANDI,
Dmitrij Koldum, Dima Bilan,
Arash,
Alexander Rybak,
Lou Bega (Note: Dima Bilan, Arash & Alexander Rybak are products of Eurovision which is
the most important singing competition in Europe and of which I am a big fan! It's a dream come true for me to see these three
great artists on stage! I am getting verklempt! LOL!)
The Favorites for the crown: In my point of view, and based on my interaction
with the girls during these last two weeks, my Top 5 are Belarus, Poland, Puerto Rico, Russia and Venezuela. Completing the top 15 are
Afghanistan, Bahamas, Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, Germany, Honduras, Martinique, Thailand and the Ukraine.
The dark horses are Czech Republic, Latvia, Panama, Slovak Republic and USA. Happy surprises
could be Canada, Curacao, Georgia, Ghana, the Netherlands and the Philippines.
Miss Intercontinental 2009 Critical Beauty Awards
(Here are the 5 finalists for each category. After the finals are over, we will announce the winner for each category.)
CB Best National Costume: Bolivia - Colombia - Guatemala - Pakistan - Thailand
CB Best Body: Colombia - Poland - Puerto Rico - Swaziland - Venezuela
CB Most Beautiful Smile: Bahamas - Belarus - Ethiopia - USA - Venezuela
CB Most Beautiful Hair: Afghanistan - Colombia - Honduras - Poland - Venezuela
CB Most Beautiful Legs: Colombia - Ethiopia - Montenegro - Poland - Venezuela
CB Most Beautiful Eyes: Czech Republic - Russia - Slovak Republic - Thailand - Ukraine
CB Best in Swimsuit: Colombia - Greece - Puerto Rico - Poland - Venezuela
CB Best in Evening Gown: Bahamas - Colombia - Honduras - Russia - Venezuela
CB Most Beautiful Evening Gown: Afghanistan - Colombia - Honduras - Russia - Venezuela
CB Intercontinental Style & Elegance: Colombia - Ethiopia - Poland - Russia - Venezuela
CB Best Fashion Sense: Bahamas - Colombia - Poland - Russia - Venezuela
CB Sexiest: Brazil - Canada - Hungary - Martinique - Panama
CB Best Catwalk: Bahamas - Ethiopia - Martinique - Russia - Venezuela
CB Miss Personality: Belarus - Curacao - Canada - Martinique - Thailand
CB Best Stage Projection: Ethiopia - Ghana - Martinique - Russia - Venezuela
CB Miss Photogenic: Belarus - Ethiopia - Martinique - Puerto Rico - Venezuela
CB Intercontinental Face of the Pageant: Czech Republic - Ethiopia - Poland - Russia - Venezuela
CB Spirit Award: Afghanistan - Belarus - Colombia - Martinique - USA
PHOTO/World Beauty Organization
| 09.21.09 | Monday
Posted 10:30 PM, 09.21.09 (Boston time)
“Miss Intercontinental is breaking records..."
Saturday was another hectic day for the girls and members of the press.
We visited the city of Zhodino where there were more than a thousand people waiting for the girls. They were
welcomed with the traditional bread with salt and red carnations by charming Belarusian women dressed in
traditional Belarusian costumes. They were also welcomed by a musical group that played traditional
Belarusian music. It seems that the girls are almost always received with music, which is interpreted by
various cadet bands of the Belarusian police. Then we toured of Belaz auto and truck factory
where the girls saw a glimpse of how cars and trucks are manufactured. It's important to mention that this
factory is one of the country's biggest employers. Here, the girls were presented with miniature trucks and
Belarusian handicrafts made of fine crystal!
From the auto factory, we headed to the plaza dedicated to automobiles where
you can see a statue of a gigantic truck; the girls took pictures and they were cheered by adoring fans! After
the tour, we had an exquisite lunch consisting of meals that are indigenous to the area. Then we went to the
Plaza of the Four Elements. As we reached the main point of the plaza, I was surprised to hear a cadet group
play Latin music like "El Cumbachero!" So you can imagine how the Latin candidates became all so excited!
At that moment, Miss Colombia was with the other girls and with a Colombian guy living in Belarus and who is
married to a Belarusian woman. This guy took out his Colombian flag and started cheering for Miss Colombia,
who was touched that a compatriot was rooting for her! By now, there were more than five thousand people
waiting for the girls; everyone was very excited and happy to see their arrival. The girls listened to a mini-concert
performed by the band. Afterwards, we walked alongside the vast plaza and we encountered a group of boys and
girls who performed a beautiful ballet number to the contestants. It was also quite impressive to see giant statues
of Lenin!
From the plaza, we headed to the salt mine and we were divided into groups of
four. For this visit, we had to put on a special uniform to enter the mines. Miss Intercontinental is breaking
records because this is the first time - in the history of any pageant - that contestants descend 600 meters underground
to enter a salt mine. We got out all dirty (lol), but after the tour you get to take a bath and sauna so you
could feel completely relaxed after having experienced something unforgettable and extraordinary. In the evening,
we returned to our luxurious and modern Victoria Hotel in Minsk. Each girl has her private room.
Sunday, September 20th, was the presentation of national costumes. That morning,
we had breakfast at the Victoria Hotel restaurant. Then we left for Dudutki where we took an excursion and had lunch.
There, the girls paraded in their national costumes in front of the most important press groups in Belarus and Europe.
The costumes that caught my attention the most were the following. Miss Guatemala was sensational with her attire made
completely of wood. Miss Venezuela dressed in a ruffled plainswoman costume by designer Hugo Espina. Miss USA in a
Native American outfit that caught the eye of Belarusian television. Miss Puerto Rico in a jibara costume
designed by Adams and José Alfredo. Miss Philippines in a colorful terno. And I also love the colorful and interesting
costumes of Misses Afghanistan, Pakistan, Peru, Romania, Honduras, Thailand, Bahamas, Russia, Bolivia, Colombia and
Slovak Republic. Then, the girls returned to the hotel to rest, and in the evening they were ready to attend a pre-party
in the Centre, the most luxurious and chic night club in Minsk.
Monday, September 21st. We had breakfast at the Victoria Hotel and the girls
had their dress fittings. They spent most of the day rehearsing their dance steps. Each girl had her own stylist and
makeup artist. The dressing rooms are very spacious and believe me, today I saw a report on the pageant. It will be a mega-production!
The VIP tickets sell for $500 and the others for $100. At 9 P.M., we were invited to the TV show Vybor ("Choice") -
one of the most popular talk shows in the country where the girls were the special guests. But the most important
guest of the show was none other than Mr. Detlef Tursies who presented the new crown of Miss Intercontinental which
appears to be the most expensive crown of any pageant. (See a
videoclip of heavy security guarding the crown!) The other guests were Miss Belarus World 2008 and Miss Belarus
Intercontinental 2009 and 2008 (who was the 1st runner-up in last year's Miss Intercontinental), and of course, myself! I was
invited by the TV station to talk about being a correspondent, and I have to say that it was an awesome experience!
The program lasted an hour and was shown all over Belarus and Europe.
ATTENTION! Tomorrow, September 22nd at 8 A.M., I will be interviewed via Skype by the
Puerto Rican radio program "El Circo." They will want to know more about CB's coverage of the pageant in Belarus! I am so excited!
So if you use Skype, don't miss my interview by http://elcirco.net/
see also:
http://www.belarus.net/polyfact/
http://www.minsk-travel.com/Belarus_Tours_Dudutki_Village
http://gslis.simmons.edu/blogs/dispatches/2009/07/03/dudutki-belarusian-authentic-village/
| 09.19.09 | Saturday
Posted 10:05 PM, 09.18.09 (Boston time)
“Spasiba Belarus!"
Well, yesterday the girls and the members of the press had to be ready by 7 AM to
have breakfast at Tourist Hotel, the same hotel where we stayed in the region of Gomel. The breakfast consisted of
cheese, fruit, yogurt and several chicken dishes. After we had our breakfast, we left for Gomel Park, a beautiful park
with tall trees, exquisite gardens, lakes and squirrels. There the girls had the chance to feed the swans which they
really enjoyed doing. The girls were received in the park by city employees and by a group of Belarusian children who
were excited to see and cheer the girls.
From there, we visited the exteriors of a war museum where the girls saw
old chariots and tanks. We were also warmly received by the officials from the region of Mogilev who treated us as if
we were one of them. Then when we took the bus for an excursion to Mogilev. Our first stop was at the border between
Mogilev and Gomel where the girls were received by a group of majorettes and by the official band of Mogilev;
leading the majorettes was a six-foot tall beautiful woman, and she was accompanied by a group of little girls
dancing to the rhythm of the band. The president of the region and several mayors of the city also attended the
reception. As a tradition, the girls and the CEO of World Beauty Organization Detlef Tursies were presented with a homemade bread
and salt. Everybody was happy with the girls' arrival. It's wonderful to see people from remote areas with smiles
on their faces.
From the border, we took the bus again to go deeper into the region. During the trip,
I noticed the rich natural beauty of the country; imagine acres and acres of vegetation filled with trees and more trees, where
you can breathe fresh air and see the inhabitants on horse-drawn carriages. Despite the simplicity of their lives,
they always have a smile on their faces. When we arrived in Mogilev - a very modern city - we made our first stop at
a square featuring a statue of Zorak the stargazer. Zorak's statue is interesting because the fingers of his right
hand have different colors. According to a legend, if you touch this hand it will bring you good luck, so you can imagine all the girls wanted to touch the statue and to take photos
of it. Also, around this statue there are twelve enormous metal chairs and each chair carries one of the twelve
Zodiac signs. The girls had an official picture taken at the entrance of the square. Mogilev is one of
oldest cities in the country, dating back to 1268.
From the square, we headed to one of the most beautiful and charming places that
I have ever seen in my life, the monastery of Saint Nicolas where nuns reside. As a sign of respect for the place,
the girls had to put on a veil and a brown skirt that they got to keep as souvenirs. The girls were given a tour of
the monastery and they visited the church where they lit candles to venerate their favorite saints. After the tour,
the girls had a sumptuous buffet lunch in Kochma Restaurant at the Square of the Stars. After lunch, we checked in
the fabulous Mogilev Hotel where the girls had a good rest for almost three hours - enough time to prepare themselves
for a formal dinner with the president of the region of Mogilev. During dinner, the girls were presented with a photo
taken at the square and with chocolates from the region! They were also treated to a spectacular show featuring
an opera singer and dancers interpreting various chapters in the history of Mogilev. Afterwards, the girls danced
non-stop, enjoying a divine evening with great company.
Interesting stuff:
- Miss Netherlands Franca Nieuwenhuys and Miss Turkey Sevtap Ergec had competed in Miss Tourism Queen International 2009 and described the
experience as awesome.
- Miss Russia Anna Mezentseva was in top 10 of Miss Russia 2006 and wants to compete in her national pageant whose winner goes to
Miss Universe, which has always been her dream. For now, depending if she wins or not, she is contracted to act in
a movie to be shot in Palma de Mallorca in Spain and then she will move to Miami where she plans to start her career
as a model.
- Miss Philippines Jacqueline Schubert is half-German and half-Filipina, but she actually lives in Germany. She is a very sociable
and charming young woman.
- Miss Panama owns a beauty salon and is an excellent entrepreneur in her country.
- Miss Ethiopia Hiwot Assefa Tesfaye, (photo) who has one of the most beautiful faces in the competition, competed in Face of Africa.
- Miss Turkey possesses dual citizenship, Turkish and Dutch. She is so sweet.
- Miss Belarus Maryia Yesman has the energy of 100 girls in her; she's very nice, always smiling and cracking jokes and has been
a great ambassador of her country. She's a pure dynamite and she's always happy.
- A curious note is that there are many European candidates who speak Spanish in Miss Intercontinental 2009 (this
was the case also in Miss Universe 2009). Miss Romania Maria Lia Bledea, Miss Slovak Republic Lea Sindlerova, and
Miss Montenegro Snezana Buskovic all speak Spanish as if they were born in Latin America.
- A contestant chaperone named Maria (whom everyone calls Chiqui), comes from Honduras and is an intelligent woman
with a five-star personality.
- Miss Puerto Rico Rosana Padro was one of the semifinalists in the reality show Nuestra Belleza Latina and plans to compete in
Miss Universe Puerto Rico.
- Miss Armenia Lilit Nersisyan is one of the sexiest girls in the competition and she has a great sense of humor.
- Miss Bahamas Dashanique Poitier was the second runner-up in Miss Bahamas World 2009. She is a highly educated and refined young woman,
always well-groomed and always wears a smile.
- Miss Bolivia Adriana Barahona is a very elegant and intelligent girl. I talked with her a lot about her country and she even extended
an invitation to me to visit her country as soon as possible.
- Miss Colombia Veronica Velasquez has a spectacular figure. She competed in Miss Colombia 2009 representing
the department of Antioquia and she ended up being the first princess.
- Miss Czech Republic Zina Stovickova has a very attractive face and a regal bearing that you can't miss.
- Miss Denmark Lyudmilla Bakhur is one of the friendliest girls in the bunch, yet she seems to be calm and diligent.
- Miss El Salvador Iris Martinez is one of the most exotic contestants in the pageant.
- Miss Ghana Afula Akycampong is the tallest contestant, towering at over 6 feet tall!
I would like to stress the fact that WBO, in association with the 2nd National
TV Channel, is doing a remarkable job in carrying out the activities related to the pageant. The girls and the members
of the press are well-taken care of, and the girls always comment how happy they are to be in Miss Intercontinental
and to be in Belarus. There are always activities to do and the girls always receive gifts from the country's authorities.
WBO President Luis Pitti Sagrera of Panama couldn't be present during the finals (Sept. 27) because he is
currently in Hong Kong negotiating a contract for three years to host Top Model of the World contest with CCTV - the
most important TV channel in China.
PHOTO/World Beauty Organization
| 09.18.09 | Friday
Posted 10:55 PM, 09.17.09 (Boston time)
“Belarus is a beautiful country!"
Yesterday was another hectic day of travel for the girls. After having breakfast in Brest, the girls
visited the Polesje Museum in Belovezhskaya Pushcha. It was a very educational experience as the girls
learned a lot about Belarusian history. Then the girls traveled to the city of Gomel where they were warmly
received by the mayor. They were greeted by a group of men and women dressed in typical costumes of the region.
It's a tradition in Gomel to offer visitors with homemade bread and salt water. The mayor said a few words of gratitude
to the girls who were presented with gifts made by the locals. We had traveled for nearly four hours since the
initial reception. Belarus is a beautiful country with so many stunning landscapes.
After meeting the mayor of Gomel, we headed to the Historical Cultural Establishment
at Gomel Park and then to Palace Complex. In this palace the girls were received by uniformed policemen who offered them flowers while
a group of musicians played classical Belarusian music. Then girls were taken to the main room where a pianist
gave them a mini-concert. Afterwards, they took us to a tour of the palace which is so beautiful! The palace was
built in the 1700s by one of the richest families in the region. At the end of the tour, the girls were treated
to the finest Belarusian chocolates. After this wonderful visit, we headed to the hotel where we're staying at the
moment called Tourist where we had a sumptuous dinner and were entertained by singers, Las Vegas-type dancers,
and even a belly dancer.
All 74 contestants are here now, and I must say that there are so many beautiful girls.
Some of the girls that caught my attention are Misses Venezuela (of course! LOL), Austria, Iceland, Thailand, Poland, Puerto Rico,
USA, Russia, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Ethiopia, Honduras, Philippines, Slovak Republic, Czech Republic, and Bahamas. Miss
Montenegro competed in Miss Universe 2007, Miss Georgia in Miss Universe 2009, Miss Ghana in Miss Earth 2004 and Miss
Honduras in Top Model of the World 2009. That's all for now!
| 09.17.09 | Thursday
Posted 11:00 PM, 09.16.09 (Boston time)
“First-class treatment!"
Hello everyone! I arrived in Minsk, Belarus after a long trip that started from San Juan,
Puerto Rico to Philadelphia, from Philadelphia to Frankfurt, and then from Frankfurt to Minsk. As soon as I landed at Minsk
International Airport, I was met by a woman sent by the World Beauty Organization (WBO) - which produces Miss Intercontinental.
This woman assisted me, as well as Miss Ghana Afula Akycampong, with our travel visas. When we got out of the terminal, a television crew and the WBO staff
greeted us. We were interviewed for TV! Then they escorted us to the bus where I met Miss Venezuela Hannely Quintero who had
competed in Miss World 2008 and who won the Miss Critical Beauty World 2008. I presented the award myself to "Hanny" in Johannesburg
and we immediately became good friends afterwards, so you can imagine the emotion and the excitement when we saw each other again!
Then they took us to a beautiful place for lunch. We ate a typical Belarusian meal and it was
delicious. After lunch, we returned to the airport to pick up Miss Slovak Republic Lea Sindlerova, the first runner-up to Denisa Mandrejova
who was in Miss Universe 2009. Lea is gorgeous, very sweet with big, beautiful eyes. From the airport, we traveled almost four hours
to meet with other candidates in an immense national forest where they served food and drinks. We were entertained by a sing and dance
Belarusian group. Miss Korea Cha Ye Lin celebrated her birthday today and her friends sang Happy Birthday to her. We are
staying in this big forest in a hotel that resembles an old chalet; it's really beautiful. (See a
slideshow of this event)
The girls have already started their tour of various cities for a week. The people
would always present them with flowers and they all become excited seeing beautiful women. I have to tell you that WBO is
determined to do an excellent job with this pageant. So far, they have treated us like royalty; I spoke with some of the girls
who recognized me and they told me that they are content and happy. More to come soon!
