Miss Universe-PHL bet Shamcey Supsup turns pressure into positivity: Instead of letting herself be overcome by the pressure of matching the fourth place finish of Maria Venus Raj in last year’s Miss Universe pageant, 2011 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Shamcey Supsup would rather use it “in a positive way.”The General Santos City native is determined to seize the much-coveted title, telling “The Buzz” in a taped interview aired Aug. 7, “…If you’re destined to win, you would get the crown. And I believe I’ve worked hard, I have the discipline, I’m determined and I have the support from everyone. I believe we have a chance.” (mb.com.ph)
Miss SA pays courtesy call to Zuma: President Jacob Zuma yesterday received a courtesy call from Miss South Africa Bokang Montjane at Mahlamba Ndlophu in Pretoria. Zuma wished her well and said: "I am confident that she will represent us well as an ambassador of South Africa". The two discussed Montjane's youth campaigns, which include teenage pregnancies and education. (sowetanlive.co.za)
Look out Universe, says Scherri-Lee : Not so long ago, the local Miss Universe pageant was considered so passé, organisers scrapped the competition, sending a delegate chosen by a modelling agency, instead. But in 2004, Hawkins – then a little-known cheerleader and part-time model – won the international Miss Universe tiara and became a star, not to mention a very rich woman thanks to endorsements and a multi-million-dollar contract with Myer.A year later, the national pageant was back. Young women have been clamouring to follow in Hawkins’ footsteps ever since, seeing the event as their ticket to fame and fortune despite the stereotypes attached to beauty pageants.
But Biggs – who put a communications degree on hold to pursue modelling – says there’s more to the event than you might think. Although, yes, she does have to parade in a bikini.
“People criticise it for being a beauty pageant – I understand that because there’s a beauty component, but it’s a minor part; you can’t just be beautiful, you have to have the full package. You have to be socially aware and know what’s going on around you; you have to have wit and personality. I’m not saying this is me, of course, but it’s definitely what we’re working towards.”
As for that bikini? Well, Biggs reckons that’s what most Aussies wear every weekend anyway. “Rachael Finch [Miss Universe Australia 2009] put it well when she said that, as Australian women, we’re proud of our bodies, so showing them off isn’t a big deal. I agree, it’s about being proud of who we are. I’m not the skinniest person and I have issues with my body. But, ultimately, I’m proud to be happy and healthy and to present those values, rather than say, ‘Hey, look at me in a bikini.’”
Asked would she like to follow Hawkins’ lead, Biggs sighs, as if she’s already tired of the questions about her famous predecessor. “A five-million dollar Myer contract? Yes, please! Look, Jennifer has done very well for herself and if I do half as well as her, I’ll be very happy. She’s an inspirational young woman.”
So is it a case of ‘move over Jennifer, it’s time for Scherri-Lee’? “I don’t know about that,” she laughs. “Imagine me taking her place – I’d be hated. No, she’s a very smart businesswoman, but I want to do my own thing.” (heraldsun.com.au)
Online votes to help decide Miss Universe 2011: For the first time in the pageant's history, Miss Universe will have an online poll that will automatically guarantee a contestant with the highest votes a spot in the semi-finals. The online voting will be via www.missuniverse.com and www.nbc.com.
An online voter just needs to follow the registration procedure in these websites in order to cast his or her vote. Voting will be held from 4:00 a.m. on August 20 until 6:00 a.m. on September 12 (Manila time). Only 10 votes per e-mail address per day will be counted.
Anyone who is 16 years old or older and legally residing in any of the countries/territories with 2011 Miss Unverse contestants can join the online poll. (abs-cbnnews.com)
Beauty Queen on a Mission : On a recent weeknight on the Upper East Side, the current Miss China, a beauty who stands 6 feet tall in stockings, was learning how to mingle at a dinner party.
"I am Rosaline, pleased to meet you," the beauty queen said to the bankers and lawyers present, giving an English version of her Chinese name, Luo Zilin.
"Tell them about your dress Rosaline," prompted her host, Yue-Sai Kan.
"It is Calvin Klein, isn't it beautiful?" Miss China announced with a practiced twirl.
* Can China 'Win' Miss Universe?
The performance was but a small part of Ms. Kan's determined bid to make this Miss China into Miss Universe. Like many champions before her, if she wins, Miss China's greatness will have been forged on—or at least near—New York City's mean streets.
For the past few weeks, Ms. Luo has been living in Ms. Kan's posh Sutton Place townhouse, taking a crash course in Western manners and mores in advance of the pageant, to be held in São Paulo on Sept. 12.
"This is like trying to create a gold-medalist swimmer," said Ms. Kan, a cosmetics mogul and media personality who is organizing China's Miss Universe bid. "If you don't train her well there is no way you can throw her into an Olympic-type situation and expect her to win. In the past these women were not trained. That's why they didn't win."
The problem with Chinese contestants at the Miss Universe pageant? According to Ms. Kan, they've been, well, too Chinese. "The girls can't be all that Chinese—it's Miss Universe. They've got to be quite savvy about the world and what I am trying to do is to expose them to as many savvy things as possible." (online.wsj.com)
Nelly Kamwelu ready to make Tanzania proud : Nelly Kamwelu leaves Tanzania on Monday for Sao Paolo, Brazil on a journey that is set to be a defining moment of her life as she sets her sights towards conquering the world.The 60th edition of the Miss Universe World which draws talent from across the world is set to take place on September 12 at Credicard Hall, in São Paulo, Brazilia and according to Nelly she is ready for it.
“I anticipate a stiff challenge but I am up to the contest because during the last two months I have been undergoing training from different designers and other experts in the industry,” she says.
Nelly is confident to make history in the pageant by doing well due to the preparations she gone through under Compass Communications, the franchise holders of the pageantry in Tanzania. (thecitizen.co.tz)
Miss Universe outfit puts local designers' taste to the test: Scherri-Lee Biggs showcases the 2011 Australian national costume for Miss Universe. Fashion designers who created looks for Miss Universe pageants deserved a special bravery award according to designers and commentators.
Once upon a time dressing Miss Universe was considered a career highlight for designers. However over the past decade it has been likened to loaning a dress to Paris Hilton or any other fallen Hollywood starlet - a great PR exercise which comes laden with brand-destroying negativity and pessimism.
Staying away from pageant gowns ... Ray Costarella. "I've been asked several times to create the national cossie. I won't go there. It's a difficult one," designer Aurelio Costarella tweeted yesterday after Australia's national costume for the Miss Universe pageant was unveiled.
"It's always a bit wrong," he said of the costume segment of the competition. Scathing media reports and social media coverage regarding the Kooey designed yellow one-piece swimsuit and technicolour skirt to be worn by Scherri-Lee Biggs circulated quickly.
However a lack of understanding and a clear definition of Australia's "national dress" could be to blame. Fashion commentators suggested national costume creations for Australia's Miss Universe were ostentatious and lacked sophistication.
"[It is] absolutely the reason I've not taken up the offer. It always ends up looking like a Priscilla cast off," Costarella said. Celebrity stylist and Fashion TV Australia presenter Amber Renae said pageant land was a whole world unto itself.
"They [pageants] love all things ostentatious and outrageous which we would never wear on the street, but often translates well to that arena," she said. (smh.com.au)
Ex-Miss Universe to wed TV dance partner: Former Miss Universe Australia Rachael Finch has confirmed her engagement to her Dancing With The Stars partner.Finch, who was third runner-up in the 2009 Miss Universe competition, will marry Russian-born dancer Michael Miziner after he proposed last month with a 1.2 carat diamond ring.
"From the first day I met Mish, I knew he was going to be my side no matter what," Finch told Who magazine. "We just never dreamed that doing the show would mean we would end up finding each other." (news.ninemsn.com.au)
Miss Colombia confidently heads to Miss Universe: Miss Colombia, with a sexy new body, is ready to take on the 2011 Miss Universe beauty pageant taking place September 12 in Brazil.
According to a report from news website CM&, the 2010 Miss Colombia Catalina Robayo is all set to make an impression on the judges at Miss Universe, the most important beauty contest in the world.
Thanks to a special work-out routine with her trainer, Robayo feels more confident than ever in her hot new body. "I'm more toned and more slender, I've trained very hard since I've been chosen as Miss Colombia in Cartagena last year. All of this has been complemented by a good diet so that I have a healthy weight for someone of my height."
Robayo has been criticized for losing her former curves, and acknowledged that she has lost a few pounds due to pressure during the reign. However, she said that the overall experience of being Miss Colombia has been amazing.
Besides looking her physical best, Robayo has also prepared a breathtaking wardrobe to wow the judges. It is reported that she is the only national Miss taking more than 20 dresses to the beauty pageant. And all 20 dresses are crafted by different Colombian designers.
Robayo added that she chose so many designers in order to have more chances to show off the creative talent in Colombia. (colombiareports.com)
Venus gives advice to Shamcey for upcoming Miss Universe pageant: "Just be yourself.” This is what Miss Universe 2010 4th Runner Up Venus Raj has advised Miss Universe 2011 contender Shamcey Supsup relating to the latter competing in the upcoming Miss Universe 2011 pageant." And kung ano lang ‘yung talagang kaya niyang ipakita, ‘yun lang ang ipakita niya. Hindi naman puwedeng mag-pretend siya nang kung sino siya; kailangan talaga ‘yung kaya niya," said Venus in a report posted by Bomboradyo on its website Aug. 3.
The Bicolana beauty says she’s “nervous” for Shamcey as the latter is relatively new in the world of beauty pageants. Despite this, Venus believes that with her “guts,” Shamcey will bring pride to the country in the level that she did a year ago when she was hailed as 4th runner up in the same competition.
Apart from being true to herself, Venus added that Shamcey could do well to try and be more independent, as the chances of bringing her friends and family to Brazil are quite slim. (mb.com.ph)
Miss Bahamas Universe Receives $50,000 Wardrobe for Miss Universe Pageant: In a matter of days, Anastagia Pierre will be heading to Sao Paulo, Brazil where she will carry the Bahamian banner in this year’s Miss Universe pageant, and she will do so in fine fashion after enjoying a shopping spree of a lifetime! The saying “shop till you drop” became a reality for Miss Pierre as she received an incredible wardrobe of designer fashions, exquisite jewelry and fabulous accessories for her stint at the Miss Universe pageant, thanks to the generosity of the Atlantis Resort, its retail partners, and other leading boutiques in New Providence. The beauty queen is now set to make an incredible showing at the prestigious competition, scheduled for September 12, 2011.
Everything from diamonds, emeralds, crystals and pearls, to fashion jewelry, shoes, daywear, cocktail, and gala dresses was provided by boutiques and department stores on Paradise Island and here in New Providence. Leading the list of retailers was long time MBO sponsor Diamonds International which provided the queen with an exquisite earrings and necklace set worth $10,000. Not far behind was Atlantis’ Escape boutique at The Cove, which generously allowed Miss Bahamas to choose whatever she wanted in the store, capping at $6,000. Anastagia gleamed with excitement like a kid in a candy store as retailer after retailer met her every heart’s desire for a combined total of more than $35,000, which she later described as the “biggest shopping spree of her life”. (thebahamasweekly.com)
Mrs. Universe 2011: Simultaneous with the on-going preparations for the Miss Universe pageant in Brazil on September 12, Bulgaria is similarly on beauty queen mode.
The city of Pleven in that European country is holding the Mrs. Universe contest from Aug. 20 to 28. At least 35 married women from different parts of the world are competing in the pageant that seeks to go beyond physical allure and vital statistics as a measure of beauty.
The Bulgaria-based contest was founded in 2007 by Megi Savova, the woman behind Mrs. Universe Philanthropy, Inc. whose motto is love of earth and humankind. (mb.com.ph)
Dayanara Torres, Broadway’s L-M Miranda Shoot Film in Puerto Rico: Former Miss Universe Dayanara Torres and actor/rapper/songsmith Lin-Manuel Miranda are in Puerto Rico to film “200 Cartas,” a bilingual romantic comedy.
“I received many proposals that didn’t work for me, but when I read the screenplay of this film, I quickly wanted to do this audition,” the 37-year-old former beauty queen said. Torres, the ex-wife of singer and actor Marc Anthony, began her film career within a year of winning the Miss Universe crown in 1993. (laht.com)
Lara Dutta is pregnant!: After intense speculation of is she, isn't she, it's time to rest all speculations as actress and former Miss Universe is indeed in the family way.
And this we have it from the horse's mouth. Not only has Lara confirmed there's a baby on the way, she's also understandably overjoyed about it.
In an interview to a film-based site, Lara said that they, she and her tennis star husband Mahesh Bhupathi, had never really denied this news of her expecting, but just that they had decided to break this news only at a time they thought was just right. (articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
Miss Valle and Miss Colombia take on Sao Paulo : Melina Ramirez, winner of the Miss Valle pageant, will accompany the current Miss Colombia to the Miss Universe beauty pageant in Sao Paulo, Brazil, reported gossip website Sweet Thursday.
Ramirez is gearing up to win the crown of the most beautiful woman of Colombia next November in Cartagena, and will be taking notes from Maria Catalina Robayo Vargas when she competes for the title of Miss Universe on September 12.
Rumors are that the two will spare no expense on their trip. Melina and Maria will make quite an attractive pair in Brazil's capital city. The trip will apparently serve as a part of Ramirez's preparation for the Miss Colombia competition next year. (colombiareports.com)
New Miss Singapore’s Smile Radiates Above the Rest: Miss Valerie Lim, Age 25, was crowned Ms. Singapore Universe by Tania Lim, the 2010 pageant winner, at the Shangri-La Hotel last week in Singapore. All of the finalists in the Miss Singapore contest had their teeth professionally whitened using Opalescence by Drs. Jerry and Ronnie at the Orchards Scotts Dental office.
Ms. Valerie Lim, a Behavior Therapist, will represent Singapore in Miss Universe 2011, the International Pageant at Sao Paulo, Brazil in September 2011. Ms. Lim is known for her beauty blog, DWEAM.com. The judges recognized her for her confidence on stage which may have been most obviously displayed with a beautiful smile that helped her radiate through all of the elimination rounds. (dentistrytoday.com)
Miss India Earth Hasleen Now Eyes International Crown: Miss India Earth Hasleen Kaur says she won’t allow anything to come into her way in the run-up to the Miss Universe show later this year. “As of now anything else, films, comes second to me. Now I am eyeing the international pageant,” Hasleen said July 16. She has previously walked the ramp for designers Tarun Tahiliani, Rohit Bal, Ritu Kumar, Manish Malhotra and Rina Dhaka.
“I have received Bollywood offers, but I am not ready to give it a thought before the Miss Universe event, where I will be vying for the Earth crown,” she said. The 22-year old and 5’6” beauty expressed hope that the pageant at Sao Paulo in Brazil Sept. 12 will mark a new beginning in her life. “I have come this far...Now I can’t get distracted by anything at this stage. I have to give it my best shot and make my country proud,” she said.
Hasleen said though initially she had wanted to join the ad industry, “I took plunge into modeling and then I decided to have a go at Miss India.” (indiawest.com)
Emma Wareus goes to Phikwe: After 'technical hitches' prevented Miss Universe Emma Wareus from visiting Selebi-Phikwe last year, the beauty queen is finally scheduled to be in town today.
During the visit, which has been arranged by the Botswana Council of Women and Miss Universe Botswana, She is expected to visit and interact with various individuals and humanitarian organisations.
A plan by former Selebi-Phikwe Town Mayor Lekang Mukokomani to have the beauty queen visit the town last year failed as unspecified requirements had not been met. However she was tentatively booked to visit the copper town this year. (mmegi.bw)
Beauty Queen Turned Actress Monica Spear To Star in Telenovela: Venezuelan actress Monica Spear is set to star in the telenovela “Flor Salvaje” (Wildflower), set to debut on Telemundo next week in primetime.
The 2004 Miss Venezuela turned actress grew up on a ranch in Maracaibo and is excited to star in a show that takes her back to her roots.
“I remember that before they offered me the project, I told my dad that I longed to be back on a ranch, in touch with nature and surrounded by animals. I needed that smell of wet grass after the rain and feeling that wild creature we have inside,” she told Efe in a telephone interview from Colombia, where the series is in production. (hispanicallyspeakingnews.com)
Miss Earth wonders where Filipino men are: “Where are all the Pinoy men?” Miss Earth 2010 Nicole Faria of India wonders. Falling in love with Filipino men is not a far-fetched idea for her and the two other titleholders of the pageant. The trio of beauties are currently visiting the country.
“If someone sweeps me off my feet here, then why not? But nobody has approached me,” Faria said teasingly during a press conference held recently at the Discovery Suites in Pasig.
Miss Earth, with Miss Water Watsaporn Wattanakoon from Thailand and Miss Air Victoria Shchukina from Russia have a series of environment-related activities on their schedule.
Wattanakoon is even open to falling for a Filipino actor — as was the case of Miss Earth 2004, Brazil’s Priscilla Meirelles, who married TV host-actor John Estrada. “I am an actress in Thailand,” said Wattanakoon.
“I love Russian men, but Filipinos are also beautiful,” added Shchukina. (entertainment.inquirer.net)
