Friday, September 28, 2007

Nikita Anand did not want to join films

By Agencies

Nikita Anand is the latest in the line of beauty queens to enter the film scene from the world of ramp.

On the face of it, former Miss India Nikita, who makes her debut in Hindi films with Manish Tiwari's Dil Dosti Etc (not counting Life Mein Kabhie Kabhiee which featured her in a small role) releasing across the country today, may seem just another beauty pageant winner entering films by cashing in on the limelight coming her way.

For Nikita, however, the foray in films is a well thought out move that comes after a lot of deliberation.

''For me, after winning the Miss India crown, doing films was not a natural choice. In fact, initially, I did not want to join films as I did not have any preparation or background. I like to be confident of what I am doing before venturing into it, '' Nikita said on the eve of the release of 'Dil Dosti etc', which also marks veteran filmmaker Prakash Jha 's debut as a producer.

Said Nikita, who features in the film alongside Shreyas Talpade (of Iqbal fame), newcomers Imaad Shah (son of Naseeruddin Shah ) and Ishita Sharma and Smriti Mishra , ''you know, I cannot get into films just because others are doing so. In fact, earlier I just did not want to do films. However, a brief stint with theatre whetted my appetite for a career in films. Still, before coming in films, I wanted to do some ground work for a career in tinsel town.''

''There may be a lot of people who have not undergone a formal training in acting and yet made a successful foray in films. But, then, everyone has his or her own way of approaching things. I am basically a person who wants to be well prepared before trying my hand at something. So, I have taken my time entering films, undergoing in the meantime training in Kathak besides doing many workshops in acting,'' said Nikita.

Asked whether she felt the pressure of expectations upon her with several beauty pageant winners like Sushmita Sen , Aishwarya Rai , Lara Dutta and Priyanka Chopra establishing a niche for themselves in the tinsel town, Nikita said, ''expectations are always there from every actress who joins films. This trend of beauty pageant winners joining films started in 1994 when Sushmita Sen and Aishwarya Rai joined the industry. They were followed by Lara and Priyanka and all have been successful so obviously there will be more expectations from me too. However, I am prepared for it.''

Talking about 'Dil Dosti etc', Nikita said, ''actually, 'Dil Dosti is the first film that I signed after I decided to enter films. 'Life Mein Kabhi Kabhie' was a film I signed much later and has me just in a small role.''

About her role in the film, she said, ''I play a character called Prerna belonging to a very well to do family. She has a lot of dreams and aspirations and wants to make it big in life and become a model. She joins this college and meets Shiv and falls in love with him even though he is the total opposite of her in terms of background. But like her, Shiv is also highly ambitious in his own way.''

Incidentally, the film also features her in a kissing scene with her co-star Shreyas (who plays the role of her boyfriend Shiv). Media reports have it that Shreyas got very nervous during the kissing scene.

Source: Apun Ka Choice

Miss Universe 2008 pageant glides into Viet Nam

The Vietnamese Government on Wednesday approved the organisation of the Miss Universe 2008 pageant in the southern coastal province of Khanh Hoa.

Doan Kim Hong, chairwoman of the Advertising and Trade Fair Joint Stock CO, has the difficult job of co-ordinating the contest. To that end, the Hoan Vu Joint Stock Co has been established and has partnered with Nha Trang’s Hoan Cau Ltd Co and the Viet CEO Co.

They have raised the US$7 million necessary to sign the contract with the organising board.

"My two partners and I will travel to New York early next month to meet with and discuss financial and organisational issues with the pageants organising board," Hong said.

A lawyer and an expert in administrative processes will also accompany them.

Paula Mary Shugart, chairwoman of the Miss Universe Organising Board explained the eligibility conditions Viet Nam must satisfy.

These include: official government endorsement; financing of $15 million ($7 million for the pageant’s royalty, and the rest covering manpower and infrastructure expenses); an in-doors air-conditioned stage and audience hall with the capacity of 7,500 seats, 5,000 standard hotel rooms; as well as vehicles and bodyguards for the contestants.

Khanh Hoa People’s Committee plans to build a new pageant hall in Diamond Bay. Construction should start early next month and finish by mid-April.

Set decoration, backdrops and the sound and lighting systems will be contracted out to a foreign company.

Month-long tests will be conducted before the hall hosts the final round of the contest.

Hotel Sofitel Vinpearl will be the temporary home of the pageant’s VIPs, organisers, contestants and official guests, said Le Khac Hiep, chairman of the managing board of Vinpearl Joint Stock Company.

The local authorities also plan to upgrade Cam Ranh into an international airport by 2008. — VNS

Source: Vietnam News

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Vietnam beauties cover the region’s pageants this week

Dang Minh Thu (1.68m), second runner-up at Miss Vietnam World 2007

Vietnam’s representation in the region’s beauty stakes heats up with four more Vietnamese beauties competing in four separate pageants, three within the coming week.

Miss Hai Duong province 2006 Tran Thi Huong Giang will compete in Miss Asia 2007 Hong Kong over September 30 to October 28.

Twenty-year-old Giang, 1.76 meter tall, is a media studies student at Ho Chi Minh City’s University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

Nguyen Ai Chau, the runner-up of Miss Photogenic Vietnam 2006 organized by the Phu Nu (Women) Magazine, will strut at Miss Young International 2007 in Taiwan over October 9 to 29.
Chau is a junior in Van Lang University’s Foreign Languages Faculty in Ho Chi Minh City.

Competing at Miss International 2007 in Japan over September 30 to October 17 is Pham Thu Thuy Duong, a singer of military artist troupe.

Duong (1.75m) was among the ten finalists at Miss Vietnam Contest 2006. She also won top honors in northern Vietnam’s 2005 Supermodel Contest.

Dang Minh Thu (1.68m), second runner-up at Miss Vietnam World 2007 which wrapped up early this month will compete at the Miss World 2007 to be held Hainan, China, this December. Thu, 19, is a student of Hanoi Open University.

Sources: Thanh Nien, Tuoi Tre – Compiled by Luu Thi Hong and Thanhnien News

Beauties battle for Miss Earth

Miss Earth ... Victoria Stewart. Picture: Alexander Alba Photography

By Saffron Howden

IT is a beauty pageant with an environmentally friendly message.

The Miss Earth Australia contest proves you can pose semi-naked on a beach and conserve the trees, too.

With environmental issues and climate change near the top of Australia's list of concerns these days, an entrepreneur decided to use busty blondes and brunettes to raise awareness of a planet in crisis.

The competition, in its fourth year in Australia, drew 36 contestants from all over the country in 2007.

A quick glance at the Miss Earth website suggests saving the environment is as much about climate change as it is about cleavage.

The winner of Australian Miss Earth, 21-year-old Canberra resident Victoria Stewart, has no qualms about posing in a bikini to enforce her views on global warming.

"There are many sources of natural pollution that face the world but I think the biggest issue is man-made pollution and environmental damage," she says on her website profile.

Ms Stewart will fly to the Philippines next month to compete in the international Miss Earth pageant.

If she wins, Australia could be graced with the international pageant next year.

Source: The Daily Telegraph

Dang Minh Thu to join Miss World 2007

Dang Minh Thu, the second runner up at the recently held Miss Vietnam Global, is chosen for the competition of Miss World 2007 which will take place for one month, from November 1 in Hainan Island, China.

Earlier, Dang Minh Thu was crowned Miss Beach Vietnam 2006. She is 1.68m tall with body measurement of 85- 63-90. Thu, born in 1988, is now the first year student of the Hanoi Open University.

Thuy Hanh, professional director of Elite Model Beauty Vietnam, the only agency authorised to select beauties to compete at international beauty pageants, said with such above two titles, Dang Minh Thu is eligible for the Miss World contest under the regulations of the State as well as the organising board. She also added that Miss Vietnam World Ngo Phuong Lan won’t join the Miss World 2007 because she can’t arrange the time, whereas the first runner up Teressa Sam won’t take part in the competition either as she can’t speak Vietnamese and she has British citizenship.

(Thanh Nien, Tuoi Tre)

Source: Nhan Dan

Richa’s mom to attend Miss World contest in China

MOTHER of Miss Tanzania 2007, Maria Cercacia, has confirmed that she will attend the Miss World beauty pageant slated for China towards the end of this year.

The Public Relations Officer of the Miss Tanzania Organising Committee, Rico Idan, told the ‘Daily News’ in Dar es Salaam yesterday that Maria is among the people who will go and attend the event in China.

However, she said that Maria would foot all her transport and accommodation bills.

Miss Tanzania 2007, Richa Adhia, expects to arrive in China on November 2, one month before her mother joins her.

Meanwhile, Idan said that according to the rules, the committee is supposed to promote the country’s tourism sector and provide employment opportunities.

He was responding to a statement by the President of Miss Tourism Event, Gideon Chipungahelo, that the Miss Tanzania Organising Committee is wrong to say that one of its responsibilities is to promote the tourism sector.

Source: Daily News

Miss Universe 2008 to take place in Vietnam

The Vietnamese government has agreed to let central Khanh Hoa province to host Miss Universe 2008 after the pageant's organizing committee invited the country to host the event, local media reported Thursday.

To be eligible for hosting Miss Universe 2008, Vietnam should have many landscapes, good infrastructure, especially luxury hotels and a 7,500-seat stage, and spend some 15 million U.S. dollars on the event, according to Young People newspaper.

Of the money, 7 million dollars will be paid as the pageant's royalty, and the remainder spent on covering manpower and infrastructure expenses, said the committee's head, Paula Mary Shugart, who visited the country recently.

Vietnam will focus on constructing the stage, upgrading the Cam Ranh airport and some hotels in Khanh Hoa, and beautifying the province's Nha Trang sea city, venue of the pageant slated for next May.

In late May in Mexico, Miss Japan, Riyo Mori, was chosen as Miss Universe 2007.

Sources: People's Daily Online and Xinhua