Vietnam will meet Miss Universe requirements: official

Reported by Xuan Hoa – Translated by Trong Nhien

The Khanh Hoa province vice leader said Wednesday that he was confident Vietnamese organizers would meet the Miss Universe pageant’s requirements and host the 2008 competition.

Miss Universe chairwoman Paula Mary Shugart has said that only once the government has approved the project and local organizers have proved their ability to meet budget and facility requirements would the panel officially sign a contract to hold the event in Vietnam.

The competition requires a US$15 million dollar investment including a new concert hall. Khanh Hoa officials and organizers are planning to hold the event in Nha Trang, Vietnam’s most popular beach destination.

Vice chairman of Khanh Hoa’s People’s Committee Le Xuan said that Hoan Vu Corp., Miss Universe’s Vietnamese organizing partner, plans to build a new 7,500-seat theater and would begin construction as soon as the central government ratified its proposal.

Than also said that government funds would not be spent on the event, but according to Hoan Vu Corp., the firm will be able to cover the cost of the show.

Than also said the province was upgrading Cam Ranh Airport to facilitate international flights while improving accommodation standards around Nha Trang to welcome the large number of visitors expected to flood the beach town for the pageant.

Authorities from the south-central province will now have to submit a report to the Government Office and Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for the project’s approval.

Several critics of the controversial plan have said that it would be a great waste of money to spend millions of dollars on a beauty contest while the country is still needs funds for development.

Holding such an event is never financially simple, according to Shane St. Michael, a member of the 2005 Miss Universe organizing board in Thailand.

“Although it [the event] was partly subsidized by the government, we still suffered a $1 million loss,” he said.

Source: Thanhnien News.com

A ‘Khwaahish’ for Sushmita tonight

Maheka Mirpuri uses former Miss Universe as a princess for her festive collection preview.

Designer Maheka Mirpuri, who dreamed like every little girl of one day being a princess, has fulfilled this desire with her new fashion collection called ‘Khwaahish’.

It previews tonight, with Miss Universe Sushmita Sen playing Maheka’s princess on the ramp, in a glittering display of fashion that is at once royal and opulent... but also minimalistic.

Maheka describes her new line as being flowy, with layers and layers of long fabric that provide the users with movement when they walk. “It is pretty and very girlie,” she admitted, “and I have used minimalistic embroidery. The royal touch has been acquired by the use of a lot of olden time stuff, you know, like fabric, texture, style, culture, and silhouette.”

So there are sherwanis in a contemporary look, brocade lehengas westernised with corsets, satin and brocade churidhaars with leather cuffs, that sort of thing. Mehaka has also used chunky precious stones in her garments that, she said, is very couture. “They are the main feature, their sizes, styles and colour all symbolise richness and royalty,” she explained.

And as for Sushmita Sen, yes, she will walk the finale. So make sure you are invited to the preview of ‘Khwaahish’ tonight. “Sushmita has the right form,” said the designer. “When I thought of this theme, I knew she was the perfect person to dress as a princess, and I’ve given her garments a dreamy, flowy and festive look.”

Source: The Times of India

Jennifer Hawkins' visit was a letdown

By Nikki Parkinson

She came, she saw and she cut a ribbon.

The Jennifer Hawkins show stopped briefly in Brisbane this week and I was ringside for the event.

I’d like to tell you, dear readers, that this was a privileged position to be in but alas, the term VIP was not as VI as I had hoped.

You see, when it comes to supermodels, I’ve been a bit spoilt.

In 2004 that I had one-on-one interview time with Megan Gale during a stay at the Conrad Treasury – and earlier this year I got to stand around in a small circle of fellow fashion journos while Elle Macpherson held court.

So when the invitation to have breakfast with Jennifer Hawkins arrived last week, I deluded myself that it would be me, Jen and a few important media types sitting down for a bowl of muesli and a flat white.

The scenario that unfolded before me on Tuesday morning could not have been further from this.

We lined up (admittedly on red carpet) and made a grand entrance into Myer Chermside at 7.30am, only to be ushered down to the store’s cosmetics hall.

By the time we (my hubby had taken the day off for a chance to get up close and personal with Jen) were munching on our first mini croissant and downing a glass of Janz bubbles, there were about 50 people doing the same thing.

That number continued to grow and an hour later there was audible concern from the punters as to whether the star guest was actually going to show.

Minutes later when she did, one Myer frequent shopper near us commented that it was just like royalty.

The crowd parted and Miss Hawkins did a half lap of the crowd in teetering gold stilettos before taking to the mini stage, answering a few staged questions about life and fashion, then officially opening the refurbished store.

All fab stuff, but I couldn’t help feeling a little let down.

After all, here was Australia’s favourite girl next door, standing just metres away from me.

Unfortunately for me – and my desire for a fashion scoop - she was also just metres from about 200 others.

Source: Sunshine Coast Daily

Despite Lesbian, Drug Scandal Miss USA Tara Conner Says No Changes

By Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith

Despite the scandals that plagued her reign last year, former Miss USA Tara Conner says if she had the chance to do it all over, "I wouldn't have done anything differently." Controversy became Conner's last name after reports surfaced that she turned into a party animal, had been sneaking men into the Trump Place apartment appointed for Miss USA, was drinking underage, tested positive for cocaine, and kissed Miss Teen USA Katie Blair in public.

Despite Lesbian, Drug Charges Miss USA Tara Conner Says No Changes

Conner escaped dethronement only after Miss USA pageant owner/exec producer Donald Trump decided to give her a second chance and she entered rehab last December.

"I know it sounds crazy," says Conner of not wanting to change a thing about the past year, "but we all make mistakes. No one in this world is perfect. I can sit here and try to beat myself up about being the one who did go out too much, but all of these mistakes have formed the person I am today, who is someone I'm very proud of and have a lot of respect for."

Connor will be seen offering the benefit of her hindsight to 2007's reigning beauty queens, Miss Universe Riyo Mori, Miss USA Rachel Smith and Miss Teen USA Katie Blair, in MTV's Oct. 10-debuting reality series "Pageant Place," which chronicles what happens to a beauty queen after the win.

"I pretty much touched base on every issue you could touch base on," notes Conner, "so I'm an unofficial peer consultant there to try to keep them sane, help them look on the bright side of things and realize everything in life is temporary."

In retrospect, she says, "The crazy thing about it is that when I received the title, I didn't know what I wanted to achieve because of this disease, alcoholism, and all the 'isms' I fell into." In fact, she says now, "In no way did I think I would win and be put in this position, and when the first runner up got called, I thought, 'Oh, s---! What do I do now?' I was scared to death. I didn't realize how much went into it, how stressful it was. … I was only able to get three good sober months in as Miss USA, but it was still the best year of my life. It was the hardest year but still the best."

Source: National Ledger

What a face in the crowd

SHE is universally sought, but yesterday it was Adelaide's turn to host Jennifer Hawkins.

The former Miss Universe and Myer ambassador is in town as part of her national tour promoting the department store's latest summer collection.

And while she may only be here for two days, the 23-year-old was willing to put fashion aside for five minutes, mingling with excited shoppers in Rundle Mall.

In a stunning Wayne Cooper citrus gown, Hawkins posed for photos and even gave one fan a high five.

But it was back to business last night, with Hawkins entertaining more than 250 guests at an exclusive Myer VIP cocktail party. Among the stars at the event was Sydney-based designer Wayne Cooper, who talked about this season's latest trends from mini to maxi dresses.

However, there will be no rest for the Channel 7 star who will jet off to New Zealand on Monday on a 10-day trip for The Great Outdoors. It's not too late to see the blonde beauty. She will be at Myer City today from 12.30pm.

Source: Adelaide Now