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"As a woman, I always try to keep beauty in my heart wherever I am,
whatever I do and whomever I am with." - Maiko
Interview by David Natanawan for Critical Beauty
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HELLO WORLD! First of all, I'd like to say that I'm so excited about this opportunity to reach many people around the world through this interview
with you. Even though I probably make some mistakes in my English, I did not want anyone to correct me as I would like to try to keep
it as it is, just to stay who I am. Here is the introduction of Maiko Itai, Miss Japan 2010. Hope you'll enjoy!
Please tell us something about yourself, your full name, age, height, vital stats, where you came from, educational information, your
interests and hobbies and other important facts about yourself.
My full name is Maiko Itai and I am 26 years old. I am 5'8" (173 cm). My hometown is Usuki, Oita. I graduated from
Sophia University in Tokyo, which has one of the best qualities in Japan, majoring in Portuguese. Por isso eu falo Português.
My interests and hobbies include arts and architecture and traveling with my grandfather's camera.
I live in a house that was built more than 200 years ago. It was a Samurai house in Edo era with traditional Japanese style.
The reason why I mentioned it here is that is strongly influenced me to understand my country and our culture, and to make a
base to be Japanese.
Who influenced you to join your country’s national pageant prior to winning the title to represent your country at Miss Universe?
How does he/she influence you to join your country’s national pageant?
I’d like to say that was my grandmother who has very high sense of beauty.
She is now 78 years old, dresses as me and she is still working at her own hair salon, looking forward to coming to Las Vegas
to see me. She keeps shining! It was not a direct influence, but she always makes me aware of the importance to be beautiful inside
out and to be involved in the society. I put the photo of her on my blog once, so if you have time, check it please! Sorry
it's in Japanese, but I think you will be surprised! Here is the URL: http://missuniversejapan.com/2010/blogs/itaimaiko/2010/01/20
What preparations have you done for the coming Miss Universe 2010 competition?
One of the most important trainings for me is to gain weight with eating right foods and
working out almost everyday at gym to make elegant curves. That’s about my appearance, and at the same level, as I just finished
reading a book about Swedish style retirement house for old age, I always try to have time as possible as I can to get
information to improve my knowledge and sensibility, following newspaper, recovering books I read before, going to museum,
meeting new people, etc. There is no ending! I’d like to continue searching for real beauty throughout my life.
How would you describe your fashion sense and style?
Basically I prefer simple elegant looks for casual or formal events. But now I’m having fun to add some SPICES on it, for example with some accessories or with hair & make-up.
I bought bright color leather gloves for the winter the other day, to put together with my grandmother’s classical black coat.
What is your idea of fun? How do you enjoy yourself to have fun?
Challenging to do something new would be fun for me. When I have fun, happiness is always there.
So, to feel happiness it’s also very important for me to be with people who enjoy their life, instead of being alone. We can make a
spiral of the positive energy together! Because of that, I’m really enjoying the road to the coming Miss Universe 2010. Of course
this is a huge challenge for me, and I’ve been training so hard, but I got wonderful supporters, and they help me a lot.
I’m always thankful to them.
What is the essence of being a woman?
As a woman, I always try to keep “beauty” in my heart wherever I am, whatever I do and whomever I am with. There are many shapes
and views about being beautiful, but I believe that’s important for women to be independent and shine with other women
and men in any generation, with children as well.
Who is your hero/heroine? And why did you choose him/her as your hero/heroine?
During my childhood, I was always with my grandfather. He took me everywhere with his camera to photograph me. Though it has been 10 years since he passed away,
he left me tons of pictures with such precious memories. He is still my hero.
Which of the two would you choose and why?
Beautiful or smart? I'd like to choose beautiful, because “beautiful” is not only beautiful, has much deeper aspects and meanings.
For me, beauty has to include smartness as well as elegance, awareness, clearness, compassion, class, honesty, confidence from
the bottom of our hearts... This importance of inner beauty is exactly what I learned from my mother, grandmother and other
spectacular women I have ever met in my life.
City or countryside? Now I feel that the City gives me wider experiences and more opportunities to work and meet people.
But I grew up in a small and incredibly warm community with rich nature, so I think, 20 years from now, I will probably prefer
the countryside because there are a lot of beautiful places in Japan, like my hometown, Oita.
Money or fame? I think fame sometimes helps to get "voice", but I don't really care about being famous. That's not my goal.
If I can get a lot of money instead of fame, I'd like to use it to donate in effective way.
Deaf or mute? It is quite difficult to choose, but it will be incredibly difficult to lose my ability to hear sounds around me,
especially the voices of my family and friends.
Hot or cold? Actually the season which I like the best is autumn, a mild climate. I recommend you to visit Japan in autumn,
because you will see the leaves turning beautifully in our country at that season. But anyway, through a year I usually don’t much
drink and eat cold things, so maybe I prefer hot.
Past or future? I believe we can learn so many things from the past. And it always has to be used effectually in future, not only looking back.
But for me more important thing than future is the present.
Lady Gaga or Taylor Swift? I cannot say many things about their music works, but a few months ago, I read one article about Lady Gaga, which made me reach to know MAC AIDS FUND,
and I bought VIVA GLAM lipstick. Besides she accomplished so much being only 23-year-old, she is more influential for me.
How do you see yourself five years from now?
In five years, I'll be 31-year-old. And I'm positively dreaming about my exciting future,
being happy with my family and valuable friends, connected to the society in which I believe. To make it become true, I don’t
want to quit trying to be active, curious, beautiful, and to be with people. And…hopefully I will be with a great partner to
spend the rest of our life together.
Are you involved in the HIV/AIDS awareness campaign in your country? If yes, what organization/group you are involve in and how do you
promote the organization’s/group’s cause?
Unfortunately, I couldn’t get a chance to participate in it yet. But a few months ago, I was involved in a
charity auction named Room To Read. We sold the right to have dinner together with Miss Japan 2010, me, at one of the
most famous restaurants in Tokyo. It auctionned for about $900! I was surprised someone would bit that much to dine with me!
I already had dinner with the generous bidders, and then they gave me an iPad as a gift. Sorry for such a long answer, but I
just want to add that right now I’m answering this interview with my iPad in the Shinkansen whle getting back from Osaka to Tokyo:)
If no, what organization/group would you like to join to help in promoting HIV awareness in your country?
Actually now I’m reading a book about HIV/AIDS, trying to know more about it, and I would like
to find how I can be helpul. Miss Universe Japan already has partnership with Japanese Foundation of AIDS Prevention for about 10
years. So for sure we can arrange for instance, some campaigns or projects, after I come back from one year living in New York(!)
And I'll be really excited to collaborate with them, knowing such much more already from the expertise of the Miss Universe
Organization.
The Miss Universe Organization has been criticized for the glamor shots of the Miss USA 2010 delegates wearing sexy lingerie.
Do you think it is degrading for women to pose in bed wearing only lingerie?
Six months ago, I couldn’t imagine at all that someone would be asking me a question like this!
Only a few months ago, I was working for the local government in my hometown. At that time, I was quite a regular girl, working in the
office of our City Hall and wearing only black or white shirts and tight long skirts with low heels. Now, I had to wear a swimsuit
at the Japan finals and will wear a swimsuit in front of the world in Las Vegas, also even if not lingerie, it seems the same
to me. Swimear reflects fitness in my mind, and lingerie reflects a woman's feminity. Also in my eyes there is nothing wrong with both.
I know it can easily be seen from the one-sided way, also when I will have to be photographed in lingerie I will make sure that
the pictures reflect elegance, confidence and project class in people's mind. I believe women can keep being classy even when
wearing little clothing.
What is the first thing you will do if you win the Miss Universe title?
I’ve never been to New York, so I’d like to visit Ground ZERO. The images of the sudden attack
and destruction were all over the media in Japan and I would like to visit the site in memory of what happen. I will help me think
about the message I will want to carry around the world for a year as Miss Universe. When I was studying at the university,
I acquired museum attendant's qualification, so there are also many museums that I’d like to go. And, I cannot wait to move
around in taxi or by subway to see places!
If you were Miss Universe, how would you promote HIV/AIDS awareness all over the world?
For example in my country, we all studied the basic knowledge about HIV/AIDS at school.
But afterwards, it kind of switch to a sexual disease and becomes very taboo in our society, which I think is a shame. It is
very closed topic in Japan and little information is given throughout the media. As Miss Universe, I understand that the
promotion of awereness around the world shouldn't be uniform but must be based on culture and other social differences.
But I imagine one of the biggest duties as a Miss Universe is to be a role model for women in the world. Also, I would
like to visit women in many different countries, talking about HIV/AIDS with them and listening to
their stories or opinions as much as I can.
Several Miss Universe winners have posed nude for some glossy magazines or photographers after their reign or even during their reign.
If you were offered to pose nude, would you accept it? Why or why not?
At this time, I don't see my career as a performer. Also, I don't think it will happen in my future.
But I would definitely accept to do it only for a lot of money, in order to donate everything to a charity close to my heart.
Lastly, what is your special message to all the people reading this interview?
Thank you very much for reading until the end. I hope you could somehow sense my character in
this interview! Anyway, if you search my name on the Internet, you will probably find many of my pictures with high-brand designer
clothes, but I'd like to tell you that it is just one part of me. I like to be casual of course with jeans and a plain t-shirt.
These gorgeous clothes definitely help me look nicer and I'm enjoying it. It is important to be mentally active, dreaming widely,
believing in yourself, being with people who give you a good influence, and staying who you are. I hope I could reach inside of
you with this small message:) Now I have one more month to prepare for Miss Universe in Las Vegas, and I will keep training
as best as I can. I look forward to seeing you on the 23rd of August! If I win, you're all invited to celebrate with me in New York!
Best regards, Maiko Itai.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF INES LIGRON. ALL PHOTOS ARE NOT PHOTOSHOPPED.
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