A Sen-sational gesture!

Sushmita Sen was so taken in by Project Shiksha that she impromptu donated a cheque to help needy kids

Those of you who thought beauty queens only talk about mother Theresa and charity to win beauty contests, Sushmita Sen is out to prove you wrong.

The former Miss Universe, who was a guest at an event by P&G, which made a contribution of 2.27 crore to educate 67,000 needy children under Project Shiksha, was so emotionally moved by it all that she decided to donate some amount for the cause herself.

Not only did Sen donate the cheque, but she also volunteered to pass the hat to everyone present so that they could make their own bit of contribution.

She said, “This is extra-ordinary. I truly believe that our lives are not just ours and every child has a right to education. I am so glad that there are certain people who are making a move towards providing that basic right to these children. Our country’s greatest resource is the human resource and this cause makes good use of it. I would like to start with making a contribution myself and I would like each of you to contribute to this cause. Even one coin will do,” she said in jest.

Actor Konkona Sen Sharma, who was also present at the event, seemed totally awe-struck by Sush’s presence and gesture. “I am truly humbled to be a part of this occasion,” she said.

Source: Daily News & Analysis

New Venezuelan Queens

Miss Amazonas Dayana Mendoza, a 21-year old professional model and student from Caracas, won on September 13th the title of Miss Venezuela 2007, after beating 27 other aspirants for the coveted title.

Mendoza, who stands 1.76 m tall, will represent Venezuela at the Miss Universe 2008 pageant to be held possibly in Vietnam.

Crowned as Miss World Venezuela was 21-year old Hannelys Quintero, Miss Cojedes. Quintero is 1.76 m tall and is currently pursuing a degree in Psycholgy. She will represent Venezuela at the Miss World 2008 contest.

Miss Venezuela International is 20-year old Dayana Colmenares, from Valencia. The 1.75 m student of Marketing will travel to China to compete for the Miss International 2008 title.

Misses Aragua and Tachira were the 1st and 2nd runners-up, respectively.

Completing the Top 10, where the delegates from Trujillo, Sucre, Barinas, Vargas and Miranda.

Miss Cojedes also won the Miss Photogenic title, while Miss Aragua was chosen Miss Internet.

Notable former beauty queens were among the judges, including reigning Miss International Daniela Di Giacomo; E! Latin America main anchor Daniela Kosan; Carmen Maria Montiel, Miss Venezuela 1984; Anarella Bono, Miss Anzoategui 1997; and Nacarit Molina, noted for being one of the winners in the Miss Tachira 2006 pageant, who lost her arm in a tragic accident while she was in route to one of the main castings in Caracas.

The event, which took place for about 4 hours, was telecast live to the country. The transmission ended abruptly when a deranged pageant fan (right) climbed up on stage and took the crown away from Quintero (Miss World Venezuela). The psycho fan put the crown over his head and started waving to the crowd. He was then taken away by security.

Source: Global Beauties

Miss Belize 2006, Maria Jeffries and Miss World 2006, Felicita Arzu pose with the eight Miss Belize contestants.

The stage is almost been set and preparations are still underway for the annual Miss Belize Pageant which is to be held on Saturday, September 15, at the Belize City Centre, beginning at 7:30P.M.

Eight beauties from all over the country will compete in the single crown competition, unlike last year where two crowns were awarded.

They are Jenine Thompson, 20, representing Belize Rural North, Keisha Daniels, a 21-year-old primary school teacher of Stann Creek, Iris “Jessie” Medina, 24, of Orange Walk, Sharalee Rodriguez, being the youngest with 18 years, Melanie Lammey and Lorriean Samuels, both 19, along with 20-year-old Tanisha Vernon, and Flareda Belezaire all of Belize City.

Like most years, it’s a pageant of distinction that promises to be an event to remember. In addition to the traditional strolls across the stage and the various costumes, local artists like B-Wood massive from Buttonwood Bay will also entertain the audience. On Wednesday, the young ladies vying for the title were introduced to the press.

According to Executive Director, Margaret Johnson, they have lost five days of training due to Hurricane Dean, but have caught up over the last two days.

“It’s been tedious due to the weather. Nevertheless, I have some very nice young girls going up and we’ve had good participation. I’ve had a lot of applications, but as I had mentioned earlier, I only chose the ones who I thought were ready because we had only a short time to prepare.”

Contestant Tanisha Vernon, during a brief interview with this newspaper mentioned her decision to enter was an inspiration.

“I’ve had a lot of support, but I must say thanks especially to my parents who were my biggest motivators. Being my first time, I thought it would be a great experience. I will also get to meet new friends.”

Reporter also spoke to Melanie Lammey, who is being sponsored by Belize Telemedia Limited. According to the brave at heart, she entered because “as a little girl growing up, I’ve always dreamt about becoming an ambassador to Belize and this pageant will give me the opportunity to become that ambassador.”

She continued, “I also entered this pageant because I really want to prove to myself that I am not as shy as I believe I am.”

These eight women also participated in a swimsuit and fashion competition on Saturday last, September 8. In the end, it was Lorriean Samuels who walked away with both titles.

The present Miss Belize, Maria Jeffries says her last year has been great. Not only had she traveled to numerous places like Merida and the United States, but was also this year’s Costa Maya Queen, which happened just last month in Ambergris Caye. She concluded by saying that if she had a choice, she would not give up her crown because the rewards are overwhelming.

For additional information on the contestants, you can visit their official website at www.missbelize.bz. Tickets can be purchased at any Venus outlet, the Princess Hotel or at D.J. Tambran at $20 for reserve and $10 for general and children before 6:00P.M. on September 13. An additional $10 will be added for those purchased anytime after.

Source: The Reporter

The boom in beauty pageants in the Czech Republic

By Rosie Johnston

Beauty pageants are by no means just a Czech phenomenon, but the do enjoy a popularity here unparalleled in most of Western Europe. There are scores of different Miss competitions, from the big nationals like Miss Ceske Republiky and Ceska Miss, right down to the more specific titles of Miss Deaf Czech Republic, Miss Roma Czech Republic, and Miss Orphan Czech Republic, to name but a few.

Miloslav Zapletal

Miloslav Zapletal is the owner of one of the biggest beauty pageants in the country - Miss Ceske Republiky, otherwise known as Miss Czech Republic. He explains why he thinks these competitions are so popular in this country:

"Miss competitions aren't too popular in a whole lot of other countries because they have been running for more than 50 years. So they have kind of passed their best there. But 'Miss' competitions were banned here under Communism. We managed to set them up here eventually, and next year, Miss Ceske Republiky will be celebrating its 20th birthday. Maybe for this reason the contest is really very popular here, unlike in Scotland, England, France and Italy."

Tatana Kucharova (middle), photo: Lukas Fronk, www.missczech.com

Tatana Kucharova won this contest back in 2006. She subsequently went on to become Miss World. She disagrees with Miloslav Zapletal, attributing the popularity of such competitions to the reputation they have built up here:

"I think it's because this competition has a really long, long history, this year it will be the 20th Miss Czech Republic. And we have had a few very successful Misses in the past. For example, there was Alena Seredova, she came fourth in Miss World, and Monika Zitkova, she was Miss Europe in 1995. So, that's why I think it is so famous and popular here."

This all sounds very rosy. So, is this really the golden age of the Miss pageant here in the Czech Republic? I asked Miloslav Zapletal:

"Three years ago, we underwent a slight crisis when a rival Miss contest set up in competition. In my opinion, this was a bit of a blow. But in the course of the last couple of years, we have stabilized ourselves a bit. We don't have any problems finding sponsors, we don't have any problems with the staging of the event. So I would say that we are experiencing a second golden age. We are even in talks with the organizers of these international Miss competitions, Miss International, Miss World etc, about staging some of these events here. It's looking promising."

Michaela Malacova

Michaela Malacova is the owner of this rival Miss competition. She set up Ceska Miss back in 2005, when the owners of Miss Universe offered her the license to this pageant. She herself was Miss Czechoslovakia back in 1991, and so has experience from both sides of the competition. She explains what she looks for now in a Miss:

"Definitely beauty is not enough. I can't exclude it. Sure, the girls must be pretty. We have professional photographers and directors helping us choose the right girl. I take a look at how healthy they look, how they move, if they can pose. But this is just the first thing, which you can see. The second thing we are searching for is her personality, whether she can speak foreign languages, whether she can present herself well and represent our country abroad in the big international competitions. We are looking for educated, smart girls, who have something more."

One of Michaela Malacova's successors to the throne is Tatana Kucharova, last year she was crowned Miss Czech Republic, and this year she became Miss World:

"I spent such a long time preparing and I was so happy when it was finished! Before the grand final we needed to do lots of choreography lessons, for the talent part of the show. Every girl had to choose what she wanted to do for the talent part of the show, and I chose dancing. It wasn't easy, and to spend 2 months working on it so intensively, stressed all the time, you know, it wasn't easy for anybody. But it worked! And you, know, you must, when you get that chance, you must."

Michaela Malacova never became Miss World, but is still probably the most well known former Czech beauty queen. Since she won the title, she has worked as a political campaigner for the Civic Democratic party here, set up her own business and married one of the Czech Republic's richest men. Can she still remember how she felt back when she won Miss Czechoslovakia?

Photo: www.ceskamiss.cz

"I had mixed feelings. Sure I was happy, that I was the prettiest girl in the competition, but sure I felt that this is just a game somehow. I was interested in what would happen next. I was really happy to travel and to meet other people. I was just happy that something was happening - that I didn't have to sit at home and watch TV, and wait to find out what will be going on at school the next day. For me, it was a really big change in my life."

Mrs. Malacova says that being pronounced Czech Miss is only the beginning, and that is when the hard work really starts. I asked her about her experiences, that following year:

"Well my experience was that I met many interesting people. I remember that it was a different time. The year was 1991, and the country was changing fast. There was a different atmosphere. I was Miss Czechoslovakia - we were a little bit bigger then. I went everywhere. I was traveling to different cities, people were waiting for me, I was giving many interviews, having my photo taken. I was in Miss Universe, in Bangkok in 1992, I was in Miss Model of the World, some Miss Tourism contest - whatever. And I thought about what I would do with my life, because my dream was never just to be a model or a Miss. And so I went to school in Prague to FAMU - the film and TV academy, and I studied Television Production."

Photo: Lukas Fronk, www.missczech.com

Miloslav Zapletal has been involved in these beauty pageants since they started up here in the 1980s. He explains the way they have changed over the years:

"In the beginning, the girls entering the competition were absolute amateurs. They didn't know what the whole thing was about, and they didn't have the international competitions like Miss World to measure themselves up against. Gradually, as the younger generation started looking at their predecessors, they came to realize that they really have to be talented in some way or another. This is because there is a part of the competition which tests the girls on talent alone. The girls realized they had to learn how walk down a catwalk, like models too. They had to be beautiful as well, of course. So the whole thing started to become more professional."

Michaela Malacova agrees:

Photo: www.ceskamiss.cz

"Everything did become a lot more professional, this is exactly right. These first years were a lot more dependant upon enthusiasm than professionalism. But today, these girls know exactly what they are doing, they are a lot more prepared. But on the other hand it is always the same. There are big expectations, big dreams, sometimes harsh realities. In some ways the young people are similar, in some ways they are different. I think that in the 90s, the girls were ready to do much more, today they are a little bit spoilt, some of them, this is my experience."

Zdenka Sedlackova is a psychologist who has watched the way these competitions have developed over the years. She outlines the type of person who, she thinks, is most likely to enter into such a competition:

"The majority of girls who enter these competitions want to attract attention to their own beauty, and are, I would say, driven by 'consumerist' values. These are elements of our daily life like money, popularity, the possibility of foreign travel, etc. All of these things combine to create a very attractive package for girls who have inherited these values from their parents, let's say."
Photo: www.ceskamiss.cz

And why does she think that Czechs like watching these contests so much?

"Czechs really like to stage and take part in these big, extravagant events. I would say we are a communicative nation, and we like to have these big grand events to talk about. The second thing I would say is that these Miss competitions have a bit of the sheen of the big wide world to them - we have only been part of this outside world for a little while. We are a small country, and we were isolated under communism. So these competitions represent another world for us, even though they have now been around in this country for quite a few years now."

Source: Radio Prague

Lara Dutta on a roll, carries designer sister along

Former Miss World (2000) and United Nations Population Fund Goodwill Ambassador Lara Dutta is on a roll.

Lara Dutta unveils her sister Cheryl's new collection at Cypress on 11th September 2007. Photo Credit: IANS Photos

14 September 2007 (Sawf News) - Former Miss World (2000) and United Nations Population Fund Goodwill Ambassador Lara Dutta is on a roll.

After winning critical acclaim for her role in Jhoom Barabar Jhoom the 29 year old daughter of a former Indian Air Force officer has been busy signing films and interestingly most of them have been opposite Salman Khan.

Earlier this year Lara appeared opposite Salman in the very successful comedy Partner that also starred Govinda and Katrina Kaif in the lead.

Lara Dutta unveils her sister Cheryl's new collection at Cypress on 11th September 2007. Photo Credit: IANS Photos

Lara is reportedly working in three more films with Salman - Rajkumar Santoshi's London Dreams, debutant director Prem Soni's Mr and Mrs Khanna and Partner followup Tom and Jerry.

There is a good reason Salman prefers to work with Lara Dutta as his love interest rather than squeeze Katrina Kaif. Salman, who is inclined to do comedies these days, feels Lara has an edge over Katrina in the genre.

Lara Dutta and Salman Khan became friends while shooting for Partner.

Lara Dutta unveils her sister Cheryl's new collection at Cypress on 11th September 2007. Photo Credit: IANS Photos

On Tuesday (11 Sep 2007) Lara Dutta helped her designer sister Cheryl Dutta launch her bridal collection.

Cheryl says, "I always had the aesthetical sense of designing but had never thought of retailing my creations. But finally, I took the step and am very happy with my decision."

The budding designer was all praise for her better known sister.

"Lara is my muse. She was always the stylish one at home, and she carries off almost every outfit so well!"

Source: Sawf News

Miss Teen pageant delights

(l-r) Miss Teen Cayman Islands 2006/2007 Prescilian Bromfield crowns the new Miss Teen Yentel McGaw while Leo member Trisdaca Ebanks (coach for the pageant) looks on. Photo by Lauriston Streekes

The 29th Annual Miss Teen Cayman Islands Beauty Pageant was held last weekend at the Lions Centre in George Town.

A large crowd filled the venue with supporters cheering on for their favourite contestant, which added to the exciting atmosphere.

Ten contestants vied for the title of Miss Teen Cayman 2007/2008 and as is standard in many beauty pageants, the contestants made appearances in casual, swim and formal wear. The contestants also performed as a group in a musical and dance presentation and participated in the Questions segment.

Although the pageant started on the night of Saturday 9 September it did not finish until the early hours of Sunday 9 September.

When the results were ready it was after 1:00 am in the morning, but most of the crowd was still in attendance, eagerly anticipating the results.

Before the winner was crowned, awards for categories such as Most Talented, Best Smile and the Cable & Wireless People’s Choice Awards were announced.

With the excitement building it was time for the second and first runner-up to be named, followed by the crowning of the new Miss Teen.

The second runner-up honours went to Kerri-Anne Chisholm from North Side who was sponsored by Whittaker & Watler Architecture. After this, Monyque Brooks was announced as the first runner-up. Sixteen-year-old Ms Brooks, from West Bay, was sponsored by Caribbean Utilities Company Ltd.

When the moment for the announcement of the winner finally came, sixteen-year-old Yentel McGaw of Bodden Town, stepped into the spotlight as Miss Teen Cayman 2007/08. Miss McGaw was sponsored by National Security Services Limited.

After being announced the winner fellow contestants congratulated Ms McGaw and she took her first walk down the stage as Miss Teen Cayman Islands 2007/2008.

This crowning was the culmination of another year of hard work by the Leo Club of Grand Cayman who presented and organized the show, which was sponsored by Cable & Wireless.

President of the Leo Club of Grand Cayman, Anya Rankin was pleased with this year’s pageant. “The pageant was a splendid production once again this year,” she said.

“Although it ran quite a bit late, we are very pleased with our overall achievements. The contestants did an amazing job, and each of them are to be lauded for their efforts. I’d like to say a big thank you to the community for their continued support of the pageant, and to everyone who contributed to the pageant in any way, especially to our corporate sponsors Cable & Wireless.”

Source: Cayman Net News Online

Miss Bulgaria Universe 2007 Naked for Maxim Magazine

By Blaga Bangieva


The sexy brunette from the cover of the last edition of ‘Maxim' men magazine is the 20 years-old Gergana Kochanova from Sofia.

She presented Bulgaria with dignity on the World finals of ‘Miss Universe' competition that took place in Mexico.

Other hot girls that are in the maxim's issue are: Galina Gancheva - Miss Bulgaria Universe 2005, the long-leg beauty from Sofia Biliana and the Brazil top model Roberta.


Source: Web Media Group

Supermodel to represent Vietnam at Miss International 2007

Pham Thi Thuy Duong, one of the 10 finalists at Miss Vietnam 2006, will compete at Miss International 2007 in Tokyo and Beijing from September 30 to October 28.

Thuy Duong, who is at present working for Military Zone II Art Troupe, is also an exclusive Elite Vietnam model. At 21 years of age, Duong is 1.75 m in height and 50 kg in weight. Her body measurements are 82-60-88.

Thuy Duong’s name has appeared on the website of Miss International 2007 since yesterday morning, September 13. She is ready to compete, said Pham Thi Thuy Duong, who won the gold prize at Northern Supermodel 2005, and the Talented Supermodel title at Supermodel 2005.

Sources: Vietnam Net Bridge and ANTD

Jen Hawkins' contract dilemma

SHE'S proved herself a polished performer on the fashion circuit, looking catwalk-ready as she jetted back into Sydney from a national tour of duty for her retail bosses Myer this week.

But just where Jennifer Hawkins will touch down on the television tarmac next is the multi-million dollar question facing the beauty right now.

Reps for the Channel 7 favourite have been in contract negotiations with the network which made her a star, with insiders claiming a decision on her future is expected as early as next week.

While Seven gave her a start on the box, the former Miss Universe has set her sights beyond her presenting role on travel show, The Great Outdoors, rejecting the idea of moving to a similar slot on rival Channel 9's Getaway as "tacky".

Nine held preliminary talks with Hawkins' manager Sean Anderson last month before the pair are believed to have sat down to crunch numbers.

Source: The Daily Telegraph