Beauty Pageants [Archive] - Kung Fu Magazine Forums

GeneChing

11-03-2010, 03:53 PM

Pilipina power!

Krista makes a 'scene' in China
FUNFARE UPDATE By Ricardo F. Lo (The Philippine Star) Updated October 27, 2010 12:00 AM

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/6766/ent4hiresu.jpg
2010 Bb. Pilipinas-International Krista Kleiner in a dazzling Filipiniana dress, her right hand holding a fan and her left holding a nunchaku.

Yes, 2010 Bb. Pilipinas-International Krista Kleiner did make “a scene” during the National Costume Parade of the ongoing 2010 Miss International contest and she succeeded in getting everybody’s attention. Coronation night is on Nov. 7 in Chengdu, also in China.

“How couldn’t she,” reported Felix Manuel, one of Funfare Update’s “beauty experts,” “when she paraded in a Filipiniana dress holding a fan with her right hand and a nunchaku with her left.”

Felix believed that Krista didn’t make a scene in the literal sense of the word; it just so happened that Krista wanted to show one of her special talents.

Related Krista in a text message to Funfare Update, “When we did the red carpet, they asked us if we wanted to do a little demonstration of a talent so I hid my nunchaku in my bolero. When I was interviewed, I answered in Chinese, ‘Hi, Chengdu. My name is Krista Kleiner. I am representing the Philippines. Chengdu is beautiful!’ Then, the host said, ‘I heard that you do kung fu. I want to ask you to do a demonstration but you cannot in your dress.’ I spun around with my fan and asked him to hold it. Then, I pulled out my nunchaku and started demonstrating with it. Everybody was like, ‘Whoa!’ At least, kaiba.”

“It’s unfair to label Krista as a scene-stealer,” added Felix. “She’s more of a performer. Pageant fans expect her to be noticed and that is what she’s actually doing. Being a showbiz person, it’s natural for her to please the audience. Krista doesn’t have to make a scene. In fact, in almost all the surveys on the Internet and the Chinese media, she always lands in the Top 5.”
2010 Bb. Pilipinas-World Czarina Gatbonton. Both are in China, Krista competing in the Miss International contest on Nov. 7 and Czarina in the Miss World contest on Oct. 30.

The Philippines has four Misses International — Gemma Cruz (1965), Aurora Pijuan (1970), Melanie Marquez (1979) and Precious Lara Quigaman (2005). Will Krista be the fifth?

More on Krista from Funfare Update’s “other beauty expert” Celso de Guzman Caparas:

Krista and other delegates visited the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai last Oct. 22 and interacted with schoolchildren in Chengdu, the Panda City of the world. They are scheduled to go to Tokyo and return to Chengdu for the pre-pageant
activities and finals on Nov. 7 at the Sichuan Provincial Gymnasium. Reigning Miss International is Anagabriela Espinoza of Mexico.

Krista is up against 79 equally gorgeous beauties from the same number of countries, some of them pageant veterans, including Mauritius’ Anais Veerapatren (joined Miss Universe 2009 and Miss World 2009); Egypt’s Donia Hamed (Miss Universe 2010); Denmark’s Nadia Pederson, Kenya’s Fiona Konchellah and Scotland’s Katherine Brown (who represented UK) who all competed in the 2009 Miss World contest; El Salvador’s Julia Ayala (Miss Earth 2007); Thailand’s Piyaporn Deejing (Miss Earth 2008 Top 16); Chinese Taipei’s Chen Yi Wen (Miss Earth 2009); Singapore’s Tan Yong Ying (Miss Intercontinental 2009); Bolivia’s Ximena Vargas (Miss Tourism International 2009); Australia’s Charlotte Mastin (Miss Friendship International 2010); Annija Alvatere (Miss Supranational 2010); and Vietnam’s Chung Thuc Quyen (Miss Supranational 2009 Top 15 and Miss Tourism Queen International 2008).

Meanwhile, here’s an update on the 2010 Miss World contest which is also being held in Sanya, China, with finals set for this Saturday, Oct. 30, also from Caparas:

Miss Norway Mariann Birkedal won the Top Model of the World making her the third delegate to enter the semi-finals. Miss Talent was chosen yesterday and the winner of Beauty with a Purpose award will be announced during the finals on Oct. 30. Miss French Polynesia (Tahiti) Mihilani Teixeira received the Designer Dress Award.

As of Oct. 25, the Philippine bet, 2010 Bb. Pilipinas-World Czarina Gatbonton’s standing has dramatically improved among bookmakers, as follows: Bet365 (No.7), Betfred.com (No. 11), Boylesports.com (No. 12), Gamebookers.com (No. 15), Partybets.com (No. 15) and Skybet (No. 24). Miss Norway leads in all except in Boylesports.com with Miss Brazil Kamilla Salgado as the top choice.”

Twenty-five semi-finalists will be selected in the pageant’s 60th edition, five of them from fast-track events and 20 to be chosen by the judges.

Diana, not Yukta

Here’s the correct photo of India’s Diana Hayden, 1997 Miss World, which should have been posted in the Miss World Honor Roll published in Funfare last Monday. This is one of the signed official photos sent to Funfare’s ‘other beauty expert’ Celso de Guzman Caparas by the late Eric Morley, founder of Miss World Organization. Celso mistakenly sent the photo of 1999 Miss World Yukta Mookhey

Syn7

11-03-2010, 04:17 PM

oh look.... a muslim... how progressive and understanding...:rolleyes:

GeneChing

11-09-2010, 06:55 PM

Krista Kleiner (aka Krissa) using her nunchucks :) (http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1266865081848)

Every beauty queen should be required to use nunchucks (http://www.martialartsmart.com/weapons-nunchakus.html).

GeneChing

12-01-2010, 10:48 AM

Click Two Beauty Contests, Two Worlds (http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2010/11/30/world/americas/20101130COLOMBIA.html?ref=americas) for a fine slideshow.

Dueling Beauty Pageants Put Income Gap on View (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/01/world/americas/01colombia.html?_r=1)
By SIMON ROMERO
Published: November 30, 2010

CARTAGENA, Colombia — The Champagne flowed. Cigar smoke floated in the thick air of the tropical night. Women in miniskirts and men in pressed guayaberas danced at Jet-Set magazine’s fete in this city’s Naval Museum, as the candidates for Miss Colombia sashayed about, flashing perfect smiles and impossibly high cheekbones.

Two Beauty Contests, Two WorldsAnother party unfolded the same night last month outside Cartagena’s stone ramparts. In a slum called Boston, Ivonne Palencia, an elegant 19-year-old, tiptoed in the mud outside her family’s hovel. Amid the din of firecrackers and reggaetón music, neighbors toasted her victory as Miss Independence, the queen of this city’s slums, with beer.

“We have our queen,” said a glowing Patricia Álvarez, 44, a social worker in Boston who led a collection drive to support Ms. Palencia’s candidacy. “They have theirs.”

Despite making strides in stabilizing the economy in the last decade, Colombia has South America’s most unequal distribution of wealth, except for small Paraguay, according to the Center for Economic Development Studies in Bogotá. And each November this port city puts that inequality on open display, when it hosts two beauty pageants at the same time. The rival contests offer views not only of the country’s yawning income gap but of issues of race and class in a country that has, by some measures, the Spanish-speaking world’s largest black population.

Miss Colombia, the better-known event, features two dozen strutting candidates, many of them light-skinned daughters of prominent families. The pageant positions Cartagena as its boosters often market it: a playground for the global elite with $475-a-night boutique hotels and Audis prowling the narrow streets of a colonial gem once coveted by corsairs.

In the shadows of that opulence, Cartagena’s slums hold their own pageant celebrating the city’s declaration of independence from Spain in 1811. Largely featuring Afro-Colombian candidates, the contest, which unfolds during a tumultuous street festival, reveals rival concepts of beauty in a city that was also imperial Spain’s major port of entry for slaves being shipped to its South American colonies.

“One pageant portrays Cartagena as its elite wants it to be seen: rich, white and glamorous,” said Elisabeth Cunin, a French sociologist who studies Cartagena. “The other reflects the reality of the city as the majority of its inhabitants know it: poor and neglected, a complex mix between racial domination and an emerging current of black consciousness.”

The national pageant, founded here in 1934 as a tourism linchpin, employs a multilingual staff at an air-conditioned building in Parque de Bolívar in the old center, attracting sponsors like Edox, a Swiss watch manufacturer. The municipal contest, created in 1937, operates on a shoestring budget from a crumbling structure a few blocks away.

Few nations, with the exception of neighboring Venezuela, attach as much importance to such pageants. In addition to Miss Colombia and Miss Independence, Colombian juries award many lesser titles, like Miss Plantain and Miss Coal. Cellblocks in a Bogotá women’s prison have their own pageants. One town in northern Colombia takes it even further, putting makeup and wigs on its donkeys then parading them for its annual Miss Burro celebration.

No pageant attracts as much obsessive attention as Miss Colombia. Paparazzi swarm the city each November. Gossip columnists speculate about plastic surgery, while investigative journalists try to uncover whether drug kingpins paid the surgeons’ bill. In a further stamp of legitimacy, Colombia’s intellectuals deride the event.

The writer Laura Restrepo skewered the whole scene with the words of a cynical reporter in her novel “The Angel of Galilea.” “Of all my assignments for Somos, covering the pageant was by far the worst, having to rhapsodize on Miss Boyacá’s Pepsodent smile, Miss Tolima’s dubious virginity, Miss Arauca’s preoccupation with poor children.”

One of this year’s candidates boasted that she was studying at DePaul University in Chicago. Yet another emphasized that she was born in Paris. In contrast, the bios from the municipal pageant described one candidate who came from a family of 10 children. Another said she simply dreamed of visiting the capital, Bogotá.

Sometimes the candidates from both pageants have to greet one another, as they did at a military parade one morning in November. Organizers seated them side by side under a canopy shielding them from the sun.

Awkwardness reigned. The mostly fair-skinned Miss Colombia candidates fidgeted. There were attempts at small talk, and smiles for the cameras.

In an interview, Raimundo Angulo, a former mayor of Cartagena who now directs the national pageant, chafed at criticism that his event was somehow racist or excluding. He said the pageant could improve life for residents by helping to make Cartagena into “the Monte Carlo of the Caribbean,” replete with chic casinos and a Formula One race.

“It is democratically elitist,” he contended of his pageant. “I simply want what is beautiful, wherever it comes from, according to certain principles, certain values.”

As Mr. Angulo points out, an Afro-Colombian candidate has even been named Miss Colombia. That happened precisely once in the pageant’s 76-year history, in 2001, when Vanessa Mendoza won the crown. Winners of the local contest sometimes go on to compete in the national pageant the following year.

As with the national pageant, the views here of the local contest are far from unanimous. Some Afro-Colombian leaders see it as a poor imitation of the rival pageant, while reinforcing standards in which women are judged almost solely on their appearance.

Still, it is clear which pageant elicits the most excitement on Cartagena’s streets. The candidates from the slums strut through different districts as the city’s carnivalesque celebration of its independence from Spain unfolds. Shop owners shut early, fearful of assaults. A bawdy parade is led by a troupe dressed as whip-wielding priests pursuing sinners, re-enacting the Spanish Inquisition’s tribunal, once based here.

This year, bystanders greeted them with cries of “Long live our queens!” as they marched through the Getsemaní district. Bands of youths roamed the streets carrying buckets of black paint, threatening to paint the faces of visitors. For a few small bills they would relent.

Within this anarchic scene, a panel chooses a winner. The title of Miss Independence this year went to Ms. Palencia, who took time off from her job as a preschool teacher to compete. Her slum, Boston, said to be named for a red-light district once frequented by foreign sailors, erupted in celebration.

Ms. Palencia’s mother, Yadira Querubín, 50, a maid who earns $6 a day cleaning houses in a rich area of Cartagena, proudly welcomed a visitor into their home, which has a dirt floor that turns into mud when rain leaks through the ceiling. “I’m a maid, and I have a daughter who is a queen,” said Ms. Querubín. “Maybe my lovely girl, from this difficult place, will have a more dignified life than my own.”

Jenny Carolina González contributed reporting from Bogotá, Colombia.

GeneChing

06-21-2011, 03:34 PM

...is CALIFORNIAN!!!

I wish they all could be California girls. :cool:

http://cdn.missuniverse.com/media/photos/galleries/photo_cron_2_95_3_2011.jpg

Syn7

06-21-2011, 04:34 PM

these toddler pageants i see on life channel and sh1t is pathetic... so sad... child abuse if you ask me... superficial bullsh1t... basically screwing over their kids so early with superficial that attitude that i doubt many of them will grow into truly productive worthwhile people... very sad...

GeneChing

09-13-2011, 09:14 AM

She's Beautiful Inside, Too.

5 Things to Know About Miss Universe Leila Lopes (http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20527748,00.html)
By Liz Raftery
Tuesday September 13, 2011 11:00 AM EDT
http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2011/news/110926/leila-lopes-2-300.jpg
Miss Universe Leila Lopes

She's got the whole world in her hands. Newly crowned Miss Universe Leila Lopes of Angola touts herself as a activist whose reign will be devoted to battling AIDS and poverty.

"I've worked with various social causes. I work with poor kids, I work in the fight against HIV. I work to protect the elderly and I have to do everything that my country needs," she said at the event. "I think now as Miss Universe I will be able to do much more."

Standing 5',10", the 25-year-old also cited her smile as being her biggest asset in Monday night's competition.

But what else is there to the new woman in the spotlight, whose good looks and charm were evident during the ceremony? Here are five facts about the pageant winner:

1. She's an Ex-Pat.
Though born in Angola's Benguela Province, Lopes is studying business management in Great Britain. She also nabbed a crown in her adopted home, being named Miss Angola U.K. on Oct. 8, 2010.

2. She Keeps Things Simple.
Her three beauty tips are sleep, sunblock and water. Lopes told the judges she has never had cosmetic surgery of any kind to enhance her appearance. She recommends getting a lot of sleep, using sunscreen even when it's not sunny outside, and drinking lots of water to maintain beauty.

3. She's a Pacesetter.
She is the first woman from Angola and only the fourth black woman to be crowned Miss Universe, after Trinidad & Tobago's Janelle Commissiong, Mpule Kwelagobe of Botswana and Wendy Fitzwilliam of Trinidad & Tobago. Addressing the issue of tolerance during the competition, she said: "Any racist needs to seek help. It's not normal in the 21st century to think in that way."

4. She's a Linguist.
She spoke to the pageant judges in Portuguese, the official language of Angola, a former Portuguese colony. The event was held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where Portuguese is also the official language.

5. She's Beautiful Inside, Too.
One of her dresses in competition was a colorful ensemble of seashells, fish and coral made of plastic and felt. But it's not only the exterior that Lopes wants the world to see. "I consider myself a woman endowed with inner beauty," she said. "I have acquired many wonderful principles from my family and I intend to follow these for the rest of my life."

As a side note, Miss China was 4th runner up and the tallest of the final five.

Miss China Luo Zilin named 4th runner-up in Miss Universe finals (http://shanghaiist.com/2011/09/13/miss_china_luo_zilin_named_4th_runn.php)

http://shanghaiist.com/attachments/shang_kenneth/luo-zilin-evening-gown.jpg
At the Miss Universe finals which took place earlier today in Sao Paolo, Brazil, Miss China Luo Zilin (罗紫琳) entered top 5, and was named 4th runner-up.

Not a bad result -- all that prepping from Yue-Sai Kan might have helped.

In the final segment, each of the remaining top five contestants was asked a question. Miss China had the good fortune of picking a rather daft question, which was posed to her by Isabeli Fontana: "Nude beaches are common in some parts of the world. Is public nudity appropriate or inappropriate and why?"

Speaking through an interpretor, Luo answered, "Every country has its rules and regulations and every country has their own habits as well. We should respect them and be more understanding."

Leila Lopes of Angola was crowned Miss Universe 2011. Miss Ukraine, Miss Brazil and Miss Philippines took first, second and third runner-up positions respectively.

sanjuro_ronin

09-14-2011, 06:08 AM

I heard that Miss Colombia was in trouble for not wearing any underwear.
:D

GeneChing

09-14-2011, 09:14 AM

Miss Columbia, Catalina Robayo, went commando. :eek:

Here's the most tasteful pic I could find that didn't have a censor star over it.

http://www.cleveredfool.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/miss-colombia-no-panties.jpg

sanjuro_ronin

09-14-2011, 09:43 AM

sanjuro_ronin

09-14-2011, 09:48 AM

It was a thing of beauty really, nicely upkept and quite inviting.
:p

David Jamieson

09-14-2011, 11:30 AM

It was a thing of beauty really, nicely upkept and quite inviting.
:p

...what you don't know is the acrid sulphuric smell belching out of her lady garden like a dragon with beer f@rts.
Nearly rendered the other girls unconscious.

now take that image to the bathroom with ya!

you're welcome.

:D

sanjuro_ronin

09-14-2011, 11:35 AM

...what you don't know is the acrid sulphuric smell belching out of her lady garden like a dragon with beer f@rts.
Nearly rendered the other girls unconscious.

now take that image to the bathroom with ya!

you're welcome.

:D

You need to date a different type of women my friend !
:D

GeneChing

09-22-2011, 03:28 PM

...but more On Topic for this forum...um...I think...:confused:

Jon Carroll
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Super Girl est morte (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/22/DDKO1L734O.DTL)

The problem did not begin with Duan Linxi, but she didn't help. She was the reigning champion of "Super Girl," a wildly popular Chinese variety show that was more or less a direct knockoff of our own beloved "American Idol." Apparently she has an androgynous look and other cultural signifiers that upset the powers that be in Chinese television, which promptly canceled the show.

Officials said that next year, in the "Super Girl" time slot, Hunan state television would present shows about, in the words of the New York Times, "healthy morals, public safety and practical information about housework." Man, talk about a ratings downer.

Official Chinese state television also sponsors talent shows on its channels, but they are not nearly as popular as "Super Girl." It is speculated that the government was miffed because it couldn't get a ratings edge on "Super Girl." Government just doesn't do mass culture very well - look at the ads in this country from politicians underlining their street cred by doing moderately dopey things with grins on their faces.

Officials have been nibbling at the show for years; in 2007, they banned text-messaging votes, leaving only the audience in the studio to vote for their favorites. Still, its popularity persisted and grew.

From the Times: "In an online essay published Saturday, one of the show's judges, Song Shinan, suggested that China's cultural authorities were unhappy about being cut out of the selection process and threatened by the kind of women who rose to the top. 'One thing that has progressed is that "idols" are no longer the product of political needs but of commercial needs,' Mr. Song wrote. 'The promotion of "role models" from above is dying. These girls truly represent the voices of our times and are the idols of the people.'

"He acknowledged that the show could be cruel and frivolous, but said that it ultimately celebrated the triumph of the individual over the state. 'In the frenzy of the "Super Girl" fan there is the blind, naive and even the violent and dark side,' he said. 'But there also is a path leading to freedom rather than slavery.' "

So that is the battle in China now: Commercialism is freedom. Commercialism is the answer to stultifying big government. Censorship is answered by song! Souvenir T-shirts on sale! One of the government officials called the show "poison for our youth" - that would be a great name for a band! Go crazy.

Over in this country, we're trying to run the nation without a functioning government, leaving commercialism to be well and truly free. Is that working out any better? Is it in fact a new kind of freedom? I am not experiencing it that way.

Maybe we'd better rethink this whole idea of "nations." Maybe we just need engineers and janitors.

As for the promotion of role models from above - surely a 20-year-old singer relentlessly hyped by commercial interests is just as much an imposed role model as Miss Official Chinese Pretty Person. It's just a matter of sensibilities. Or it's a matter of money. Someone is making big yuan out of this deal. Maybe this is just a squabble over exploitation rights.

Maybe someone should do an explanation of international politics based on the customs and practices of the music business. That might make a lot of apparently random stuff seem a lot more straightforward. If it's ganefs all the way down the line, the pieces fit together pretty neatly.

The Chinese Communist Party needs a better marketing team. Sure, the gerontocracy is great, but you have to be concerned about image. Lot of young folks in China, and they vote. Well, not vote, exactly, but they do watch TV.

As for Duan Linxi, her problem was timing. This is the Times again: "But at a time when the Communist Party has been avidly reviving revolutionary mass culture from the Maoist era, some critics say the sassy and startlingly individualistic performers who scored well on 'Super Girl' represented something of a threat."

I saw a Chinese propaganda extravaganza in Shanghai in 1988. There were women in flowing sleeves and too much makeup carrying farm implements; there were impossibly rosy-cheeked men marching in formation but always happy; there were massed choirs, oh my yes. If this is the revolutionary mass culture being revived, I'd say it doesn't stand a chance in 2011.

"Super Girl" is gone, but another superish girl will arise to take her place. You must give the people what they want, even if it's all feathers and gas. For the power of commercialism is the power of the people. Sort of. Once in a while. When someone gets lucky.

Super Girl meets her demise, and a whole nation mourns, or at least complains.

Faith, he is posted hence on serious matter. It was great ignorance, Gloster's eyes being out, to let him live: Where he arrives, he moves all hearts against jcarroll@sfchronicle.com.

[HD][2011快女] Duan Linxi 段林希 - 《是否我真的一无所有》 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMDGZSexIBI)

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6071/6055078264_ef01061c54.jpg

GeneChing

04-11-2012, 09:18 AM

Miss Universe pageant allowing transgender women (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gTkHxVw8EQ0JG7UszJzudB8cwQRg?docId=52da9f2a3 aae4ab497cdc474f81f794c)
By COLLEEN LONG, Associated Press – 18 hours ago

NEW YORK (AP) — A rule change that would allow transgender women to participate in the Miss Universe beauty pageant next year is a step forward for equality, advocates said Tuesday after pageant officials announced the policy shift.

Pageant officials said they are working on the language of the official rule policy change but expected final word to come soon. The rules will have to be approved by Donald Trump, who runs the Miss Universe Organization, and NBC. Trump and NBC co-own the contest.

The announcement of the policy change comes a week after the organization decided to allow Jenna Talackova to compete for Canada's spot in the Miss Universe pageant this year.

Talackova, a Vancouver resident, underwent a sex change four years ago after being born a male. The advocacy group GLAAD called on the Miss Universe Organization to review her case, as well as open the competition to transgender women, after she was disqualified from competing in the Miss Universe Canada contest next month.

"We want to give credit where credit is due, and the decision to include transgender women in our beauty competitions is a result of our ongoing discussions with GLAAD," said Paula Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization. "We have a long history of supporting equality for all women, and this was something we took very seriously."

The Miss Universe Organization produces the pageant, as well as the Miss USA and the Miss Teen competitions, according to the organization's website. The Miss Universe pageant began in 1952 as a local "bathing beauty" contest, headed by California-based Catalina Swimwear, the site says.

Trials for next year's Miss Universe pageant begin this summer.

"Everybody should be allowed to participate in every aspect of society," said Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality. "Absolutely it's good news, it's another pernicious structural discrimination barrier taken down."

Susan Stryker, director of the Institute for LGBT Studies at the University of Arizona, said she hoped to see similar progress in areas that would impact more people — like employment discrimination issues and anti-transgender violence.

"The next question is, can't we move beyond beauty pageants and make changes in areas that have more relevance," she asked.

She pointed out that while trans people should be able to take part fully in society, there are issues with beauty pageants overall, questions of "whether beauty pageants are the best way to advance the cause of girls, of women."

But she said trans women participating in the pageants could make a difference, and help shatter stereotypes and educate the public. She pointed to Chaz Bono, a transgender man, and the impact of his appearance on "Dancing with the Stars."

"To that extent, it's just a great thing to have a positive media representation even if it is inconsequential," she said.

Contest officials worked closely with GLAAD to change the policy, and the advocacy group on Tuesday praised the decision and the work by Talackova to remain a contestant.

"The Miss Universe Organization today follows institutions that have taken a stand against discrimination of transgender women including the Olympics, NCAA, the Girl Scouts of America and The CW's America's Next Top Model," said GLAAD's senior director of programs Herndon Grad****. "At a time when transgender people are still routinely denied equal opportunities in housing, employment and medical care, today's decision is in line with the growing levels of public support for transgender people across the country."

Talackova's sex change initially led organizers in Canada to disqualify her from the 61st Miss Universe Canada pageant in May, citing a rule that she must be "naturally born" a woman.

Talackova pleaded with the pageant's leaders to drop the rule.

"I am a woman," Talackova said last week. "I was devastated, and I felt that excluding me for the reason that they gave was unjust. I have never asked for any special consideration. I only wanted to compete."

Associated Press writer Deepti Hajela contributed to this report.
Here's some pix of Talackova.
http://blog.zap2it.com/pop2it/jenna-talackova.jpg
http://fabgabblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Jenna-Talackova-Miss-Universe-Canada-contestant.jpg

GeneChing

04-12-2012, 10:00 AM

She's a bad girl. Naughty, naughty. She might just make it like Vanessa Williams did.

Former Miss USA Rima Fakih pleads no contest in driving impairment case (http://www.freep.com/article/20120412/NEWS02/204120450/Former-Miss-USA-Rima-Fakih-pleads-no-contest-in-driving-impairment-case)
April 12, 2012 |
http://cmsimg.freep.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=C4&Date=20120412&Category=NEWS02&ArtNo=204120450&Ref=AR&MaxW=640&Border=0&Former-Miss-USA-Rima-Fakih-pleads-no-contest-driving-impairment-case
Former Miss USA Rima Fakih appears Wednesday in 30th District Court in Highland Park with city attorney Todd Russell Perkins, left, and her attorney, W. Otis Culpepper, at her impaired driving trial.

By Melanie D. Scott

Former Miss USA Rima Fakih pleaded no contest to driving while visibly impaired, avoiding a trial that was to start Wednesday on a more serious charge of operating while intoxicated.

Fakih, 26, stood next to her attorney, W. Otis Culpepper, on Wednesday in 30th District Court in Highland Park as Culpepper announced she would accept a plea deal.

"You have to pay the price for making mistakes, but you move on and make sure you learn from those mistakes," Fakih said after the hearing.

Two other charges -- open intoxicants, a misdemeanor, and careless driving, a civil infraction -- were dismissed as part of the plea deal.

Fakih, who two years ago was the first Arab American to be crowned Miss USA, will be sentenced on the misdemeanor conviction May 9. A no-contest plea is not an admission of guilt but is treated as such for sentencing purposes.

"The settlement that was reached is fair to all sides," Culpepper said. "She doesn't have to go through all of this anymore."

Culpepper said he expects Fakih will be placed on probation and hopes she can serve that probation in California, where she now lives and is pursuing an acting career.

Fakih was arrested Dec. 3 after a Highland Park police officer said she was driving a black 2011 Jaguar XJR at a high rate of speed near 6 Mile and Woodward.

The officer said the car was traveling at 60 m.p.h., and that Fakih changed lanes several times without using a turn signal.

Police pulled her over in the area of Woodward and Highland. The officer said Fakih appeared disoriented and had slurred speech. Police found a wine bottle and an open bottle of champagne in the car, reports said.

A breath test revealed she initially had a blood-alcohol level of 0.19%. The level at which someone can be convicted of drunken driving is 0.08%.

Fakih was born in Lebanon and moved to the U.S. at age 7. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

sanjuro_ronin

04-12-2012, 10:15 AM

She's a bad girl. Naughty, naughty. She might just make it like Vanessa Williams did.

She looks quite doable :D

http://www.examiner.com/images/blog/replicate/EXID14380/images/Miss_USA_2010_Rima_Fakih.jpg

http://cdn02.cdn.egotastic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/06/rima-fakih-yellow-bikini-01-580x435.jpg

GeneChing

04-12-2012, 11:27 AM

[QUOTE=sanjuro_ronin;1166706]She looks quite doable :D

And what do you think about Jenna Talackova?

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4070/4298863520_02cdb2bde8.jpg

sanjuro_ronin

04-12-2012, 11:46 AM

[QUOTE=sanjuro_ronin;1166706]She looks quite doable :D

And what do you think about Jenna Talackova?

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4070/4298863520_02cdb2bde8.jpg

More hardware than I am comfortable with :D

David Jamieson

04-12-2012, 12:52 PM

[QUOTE=GeneChing;1166719]

More hardware than I am comfortable with :D

I'm betting the hardware has been uninstalled and replaced with virtual lady plumbing. it doesn't work of course, but it looks alright by comparison.

To be fair, I don't think I'd be down with doing a transgendered dude. If I didn't know, I simply wouldn't know and wouldn't have to hurdle any mental blocks etc.
Plus my wife would be livid! lol

sanjuro_ronin

04-12-2012, 01:08 PM

[QUOTE=sanjuro_ronin;1166724]

I'm betting the hardware has been uninstalled and replaced with virtual lady plumbing. it doesn't work of course, but it looks alright by comparison.

To be fair, I don't think I'd be down with doing a transgendered dude. If I didn't know, I simply wouldn't know and wouldn't have to hurdle any mental blocks etc.
Plus my wife would be livid! lol

But if it's no longer a dude, then...?
I don't know IF I WANT to know !
All this is too complicated for me.
I am a simple "meat n potatoes" kind of guy.

ShaolinDan

04-12-2012, 01:30 PM

Gee. Isn't modern medicine fantastic? :eek:

GeneChing

04-12-2012, 01:51 PM

I used to live in SF. If you only knew how many men I've seen fooled. Some of them were never the wiser... :o

I'm betting the hardware has been uninstalled and replaced with virtual lady plumbing. it doesn't work of course, but it looks alright by comparison. It would work for what you'd use it for. :eek:

sanjuro_ronin

04-13-2012, 05:28 AM

I used to live in SF. If you only knew how many men I've seen fooled. Some of them were never the wiser... :o

It would work for what you'd use it for. :eek:

Not big on blondes or skinny chicks but I know what you mean.
I've met a few that, well...honestly...are far more beautiful than most natural women I have met.
Know a few that were strippers too and I am talking headliners.

MasterKiller

04-13-2012, 09:43 AM

I used to live in SF. If you only knew how many men I've seen fooled. Some of them were never the wiser... :o:

I think Gene just confessed. His soul is now cleansed.

Syn7

04-15-2012, 05:28 PM

Here's some pix of Talackova.
http://blog.zap2it.com/pop2it/jenna-talackova.jpg
http://fabgabblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Jenna-Talackova-Miss-Universe-Canada-contestant.jpg

Shes local. It's been in the paper everyday. Sure looks like a woman. I think it should be illegal to engage in sexual activity without disclosing a sex change first. I dont grudge any lgbt's but i most certainly don't want to be part of thier club. live and let live in this respect.
You can really do damage to a person by having them find out the hard way they slept with another man. when it comes down to it, surgery or not, they are still men. nothing can change that. if they want to pretend, im fine with that, but they really cant be sleeping around and not saying anything about it. thats just wrong. It should be treated like a sexual assault.

Sardinkahnikov

04-16-2012, 08:24 PM

i'll say this much: if you go out with a girl who says she can't naturally lumbrificate, run.

David Jamieson

04-17-2012, 08:24 AM

Shes local. It's been in the paper everyday. Sure looks like a woman. I think it should be illegal to engage in sexual activity without disclosing a sex change first. I dont grudge any lgbt's but i most certainly don't want to be part of thier club. live and let live in this respect.
You can really do damage to a person by having them find out the hard way they slept with another man. when it comes down to it, surgery or not, they are still men. nothing can change that. if they want to pretend, im fine with that, but they really cant be sleeping around and not saying anything about it. thats just wrong. It should be treated like a sexual assault.

This reads like an argument.

Do you begrudge them their lifestyle and being or not. You say you don't, then you make a point about how you think they should be charged for...having sex with a willing partner?

Say you got a hand job in a dark room and didn't see who was doing it to you?
First, what are you doing in dark rooms getting hand jobs?
Second, how can you fault someone for being what they are? I don't think there is any question whatsoever regarding disclosure with Transfolk. You are creating a scenario that doesn't exist to build off some other fear you hold about people who take this way.

If all a person looks at is the surface, they will never understand the person. Ever.
If a person only looks at an issue in a precursory glance, they will never fully understand. Just saying.

MasterKiller

04-17-2012, 12:43 PM

I dunno about you guys, but I'd rather f@ck this:

http://blog.zap2it.com/pop2it/jenna-talackova.jpg

than this:

http://images.quickblogcast.com/8/4/1/5/1/123334-115148/fat_chick_drinking_from_tits_thumb.jpg

GeneChing

05-02-2012, 02:01 PM

...but I can't resist contributing to its downfall.

May 1, 2012, 12:46 pm
Koovagam, India’s Largest Transgender Festival, Opens (http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/01/indias-largest-transgender-festival-opens-in-koovagam/)
By MICHAEL EDISON HAYDEN
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2012/05/01/world/asia/1-Beauty-IndiaInk/1-Beauty-IndiaInk-blog480.jpg
Harani, center, a transgender from Tiruvannamalai district in Tamil Nadu was crowned the first runner-up at the beauty pageant held a day before the Koovagam festival, April 30, 2012.Ayush RankaHarani, center, a transgender from Tiruvannamalai district in Tamil Nadu was crowned the first runner-up at the beauty pageant held a day before the Koovagam festival, April 30, 2012.

Senthil Thomgon is a 36-year-old bellman at the Balaji, one of only a handful of air-conditioned hotels in the dusty city of Villupuram, 162 kilometers southwest of Chennai. The city has a few dosa restaurants and one bus station, which serves the small farming villages that dot this particular region of Tamil Nadu. “I was born here – and I will tell you that on normal days, nothing ever happens,” Mr. Thomgon says. “Villupuram is the silent city.”

But these are not normal days and his neighborhood is anything but silent.

It’s Koovagam: an annual religious festival for hijras, India’s male-to-female transgendered people. The festival celebrates the myth of Lord Krishna taking female form in order to marry Aravan (also called Iravan), a warrior who fought the Mahabharata War with the five Pandava brothers against their rivals, the Kauravas. Aravan volunteers to be sacrificed in order to ensure the Pandava brothers’ success on the battlefield, but wishes to marry and spend a night with a woman before he dies.

While Koovagam is officially only a two-day affair – May 1 and 2 this year – the festivities in Villupuram often go on for weeks. No one takes attendance, but the number of hijras flocking to the city easily number in the thousands – at this point on some streets in Villupuram hijras seem to outnumber non-Hijras by two to one.

It’s the largest gathering of male-to-female trangendered people in India, and arguably one of the most singular cultural celebrations an open-minded traveler could ever hope to encounter, where an influx of hijras, eunuchs, and cross-dressers swarm these usually desolate streets seeking spiritual cleansing, friendship and sometimes casual or paid sex. According to locals like Mr. Thomgon, the festival has been running for over a hundred years now – but it has only started to acquire fame over the past few, as attendance has soared because of more word of mouth in the Internet age.

Villupuram is the closest area with lodging near Koovagam – the rural village the festival is named after. The festival is held in Koovagam because of the presence of a shrine dedicated to Aravan.

Thanks to Villupuram’s convenient locale, the city has evolved over the last 12 years from merely supporting the traditions of Koovagam to actually hosting some of the festival’s most popular elements. Two beauty pageants, one in the morning and one at night (winners from both are crowned “Miss Koovagam”) are held on the day preceding Koovagam’s formal opening and religious ceremony.

In each pageant, elaborately dressed transgender contestants from cities and small towns throughout India lip-sync and perform dance routines to classical Hindi music, golden-era Bollywood songs, or sometimes raunchier, more contemporary Tamil fare. Hijras often live in clans, or families of their own kind, and friends and “sisters” raucously cheer on their local stars. In this year’s morning event, Shakila, a hijra from Chennai, danced for her 10th consecutive year. It was her 15th time attending the festival. She claims to be 30, but appears somewhat older. She also claims that her dance once earned her a photograph inside the pages of National Geographic.

Shakila, a transgender from Chennai, Tamil Nadu holds a dance pose. She has been dancing every year at the Koovagam festival for the past ten years.

“I call my dance ‘Aquila Shaquilla,’ ” she said, gesturing dramatically with long, spreading arms. “It releases me.”

Some newcomers, however, have more practical ambitions. Joanmohi, a graceful 23-year-old hijra from Assam who has been studying Indian classical dance fairly seriously for several years, was excited to showcase her training in a public setting during the evening’s program. Unfortunately for Joanmohi and the other dancers, Koovagam takes place on the full moon night of the Tamil month of Chitrai – a time that is generally regarded as the most humid and punishingly hot period of the Tamil year.

Dancing under bright stage lights wearing an elaborate, bell-adorned costume in a poorly ventilated room can prove to be a significant challenge for even the most determined performer. “It was very hot up there,” Joanmohi said, panting and streaked with sweat after her performance. “But I finished it.”

These beauty pageants, not to mention the massive influx of hijras, journalists, documentarians, and male admirers who trail their every step, constitute a major boon to Villupuram’s economy. Hotels are full. Restaurant workers pull overtime, and shopkeepers turn a hefty profit.

M.S. Velu, 75, along with his 16-year-old-grandson Pugamendhi, runs a small shop beside the hall where the morning beauty pageant is held. The shop has an advantage – a working refrigerator stocked with cold drinks. “For one day a year,” Mr. Velu said, “I have really good business.”

Not everyone in the silent city, however, is as enthusiastic about the changes Koovagam presents to the local community. Outside of a run-down bar on the edge of town called the VVA Lodge, decorated with back-lit pictures of semi-nude women, a male admirer could be seen presenting liquor purchased inside of the bar to a hijra who waited patiently in an auto-rickshaw. Despite the bars’ risqué choice of décor, hijras are not permitted inside. Shahairaj, a waiter at VVA, explains. “It’s a family place,” he says of VVA Lodge. “We don’t allow those types in here.”

Some other bars closer to the center of town that do allow hijras are transformed into pickup joints by an influx of sex workers, and would-be johns. On the streets outside of these bars, men aggressively tease their more provocatively dressed guests. Hijras who wear short dresses, and clacking heels become easy targets for physical and verbal abuse in the shadows of Villupuram’s poorly lit streets. “Some men here respect us,” says Achu, a bright-eyed young hijra grad student from Kerala. Others, she said “are not so nice.”

Inside the more protective confines of the dim, smoky, unventilated bars, transactions for sex last until closing time, or in the case of one bar, until the police finally arrive to break up the action and take bribes. The radically sexual environment seems at odds with almost anything typically seen in modern India – and especially anything situated in such a remote, rural region of the country.

Ambika, a 49-year-old hijra from Salem who has been visiting the festival annually for the last 35 years, connects the erotically charged environment to a newer, more liberated generation of India’s transgendered population. She said she doesn’t bring her boyfriend here because he doesn’t like the way the modern dress, exposing too much flesh.

Many hijras have nothing to do with the pick-up scene, and are here instead to spend time talking with friends and fellow travelers in restaurants and overcrowded hotel rooms. Reshma, a 23-year-old hermaphrodite who traveled from Delhi to the festival couldn’t contain her happiness when asked why she’s been traveling to Koovagam for the last five years. “Where else can I meet friends from all over India and receive the lord’s blessing?” she asks.
I remember encountering a band of hijras while traveling by train in India. They would make a public nuisance of themselves until someone would pay them to go away. They didn't hassle us as we were clearly foreigners and traveling cheaply as opposed to the deluxe high class train cars.

Syn7

05-03-2012, 08:15 PM

This reads like an argument.

Do you begrudge them their lifestyle and being or not. You say you don't, then you make a point about how you think they should be charged for...having sex with a willing partner?

Say you got a hand job in a dark room and didn't see who was doing it to you?
First, what are you doing in dark rooms getting hand jobs?
Second, how can you fault someone for being what they are? I don't think there is any question whatsoever regarding disclosure with Transfolk. You are creating a scenario that doesn't exist to build off some other fear you hold about people who take this way.

If all a person looks at is the surface, they will never understand the person. Ever.
If a person only looks at an issue in a precursory glance, they will never fully understand. Just saying.

It is NOT a willing partner if it's all under false pretenses to begin with. I have no issue with people being who they are and doing what they want as long as they don't trample other peoples rights. If you love a woman who was a man that's fine.

It's way more common than you're implying. It's all about disclosure. I feel that way about a ton of subjects. Transparency is righteous, privacy is only sacred because without those rights people would seek to abuse others. If you want to change your sex, fine, if you want to keep that a secret, fine, but disclosure is important when there is a sexual relationship. Like it or not, 99.9% of people fooled would feel violated and I personally feel that everyone has the right to not be violated by another. There is a pretty big LBGT community here and it is a current topic here.

Oh, and it was an argument. Prolly why it read like one... :)

Would you be upset if you had a one night stand with a woman who you later found to be a man or a transexual?

Look man, I'd be pi$$ed if somebody misrepresented themselves in ANY way that caused me discomfort. If I did that to another I don't feel I would have any right to whine about the consequences. And let's be honest here, more often than not the consequences are the transexual getting beaten within an inch of their life.... or more. Not how I would handle it, but a reality none the less. I'm not gonna front and say I feel this way for their safety, I feel this way cause I feel it's the best way to prevent discomfort all around and if I'm not mistaken that is the whole point of a community is it not? find middle ground and get along as best we can hopefully to all mutual benefit?

To answer your questions, if you are having relations with unknowns in the dark you have no ground to stand on with any complaint. And the second one, I don't fault people for who their are as far as sexual orientation and personal whatever but I do find fault in lairs and criminal faul in lyers causing damages. Correct me if I'm wrong, I'm no lawyer, but there is a ton of precedence in when it comes to lying and damages. The only question is whether a person should or should not feel violated by being lied to by a sexual partner causing you harm of sorts.

It would be the same the other way around too, if a transexual would feel violated by a non transexual then a lack of disclosure caused damages. If somebody says "oh eah I was a man, it's all good I'm what you want". I suppose you could argue that not disclosing is very different than lying where damages are concerned, and I would be willing to take that into account at sentencing. ;) Just like with anything else.

GeneChing

05-17-2012, 10:15 AM

Follow the link and you'll be rewarded with a pic of Koini Vakaloloma.

Fiji beauty contest marred by ugly accusations (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MNG91OIQT2.DTL)
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Shiri Ram / Associated Press

http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2012/05/16/ba-fiji17_ph2_WRE0110907209_part6.jpg
Torika Watters, 16, lost her crown as Miss World Fiji after criticism that she looked too Western to represent her country.

First came complaints that the winner of the Miss World Fiji pageant looked too Western to represent her country. Then her age came under scrutiny. And now, with the 16-year-old's crown lost, one of the judges says the contest was rigged from the start.

The pageant has turned into a fiasco in this South Pacific nation of about 900,000. The pageant's director is avoiding questions as fans of the fallen beauty queen, Torika Watters, flock online to support her.

Watters was crowned Miss World Fiji last month by an international panel of judges led by New Zealand supermodel Rachel Hunter, winning the opportunity to represent the country at the world competition in China in August.

Soon after, however, dozens of people posted messages on the Miss World Fiji Facebook page questioning whether Watters, who is of mixed racial heritage, represented Fijian beauty or was simply a mirror of Western ideals.

Two weeks after she won, Watters wrote on her Facebook page, pageant director Andhy Blake told her she couldn't compete for Miss World because she is too young. The international competition requires contestants to be at least 17 years old, but Watters said Blake previously assured her "it was fine" because he had received prior approval for her entry from international organizers.

Organizers of the Fijian event over the weekend announced a new winner: 24-year-old Koini Vakaloloma.

A message on the Miss World Fiji Facebook page Tuesday said Watters had voluntarily stepped down and that reports connecting the decision with racism or her age were untrue.

Another of the six judges, Fijian fashion designer Hupfeld Hoerder, said Wednesday that the judging was a sham.

He said there was no note-taking or judging criteria during the competition and that from early on, Blake had pressured the judges to name Watters the winner. Hoerder said he tried to argue with Blake to no avail and, in protest, refused to attend the final night's crowning ceremony.

Hoerder said the contest has painted Fiji in a bad light and that the country shouldn't send any representative to China.

The bottom line? The Miss World pageant will be in China. It's all part of my master plan behind this thread. :cool:

GeneChing

06-07-2012, 02:01 PM

Miss Pennsylvania gives up crown, claiming beauty pageant was rigged
(http://www.mercurynews.com/nation-world/ci_20796219/miss-pennsylvania-quits-beauty-pageant-claims-its-rigged)Associated Press
Posted: 06/06/2012 11:12:10 AM PDT
Updated: 06/06/2012 12:23:37 PM PDT

http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site569/2012/0606/20120606__misspennsylvania_300.jpg
Miss Pennsylvania, Sheena Monnin, competes during the 2012 Miss USA Presentation Show on Wednesday, May 30, in Las Vegas. (Darren Decker/Miss Universe Organization/AP Photo)

PITTSBURGH -- The Miss USA pageant representative from Pennsylvania resigned her crown claiming the contest is rigged, but according to organizers the beauty queen was upset over the decision to allow transgender contestants to enter.

A posting on Miss Pennsylvania Sheena Monnin's Facebook page claims another contestant learned the names of the top 5 finishers on Sunday morning -- hours before the show was broadcast.

Monnin claims the other contestant told her the names of the top 5 she spotted on a planning sheet for the telecast -- and she decided to step down as soon as those same contestants were named during the show.

"In my heart I believe in honesty, fair play, a fair opportunity, and high moral integrity, none of which in my opinion are part of this pageant system any longer," Monnin wrote in one of her Facebook posts.

Monnin, of Cranberry, Butler County, did not immediately respond to a Facebook message from The Associated Press.

Donald Trump, who runs the Miss Universe Organization, called Monnin's claims that the pageant was fixed "totally ridiculous" in a live interview Wednesday on ABC's "Good Morning America" and said the pageant organization plans to sue Monnin for making the "false charge."

"We're going to be suing her now. She made a very false charge and she knows it's a false charge," Trump said.

Pageant organizers confirmed Monnin resigned, but said it wasn't for the reason she claimed.
Advertisement

According to a statement from the Miss Universe Organization, the contestant who Monnin claimed saw the sheet vehemently refuted Monnin's account.

The statement includes text from an email organizers said Monnin sent citing the decision to allow transgender contestants into the competition as the reason she's resigning.

A transgender contestant was initially denied entry to the Miss Universe Canada pageant, but Trump subsequently overruled that decision.

Miss Rhode Island, the pageant's winner, Olivia Culpo, told WPRO-AM she knew Monnin "fairly well" because contestants were often positioned alphabetically by state. She said Monnin's original resignation was based on her stance on the pageant's policy on transgender contestants and called it "strange" that Monnin is now saying something else.

"It's a little iffy to me," Culpo said.

Trump downplayed the role transgender contestants had on that Monnin's decision, even though pageant claim that was her motivation.

"I don't think that she had an issue with that," Trump said. "I think her primary issue is that she lost and she's angry about losing. And frankly, in my opinion, I saw her barely a second and she didn't deserve to be in the top 15."
Trump. :rolleyes: Like he's the one to judge beauty.

poshmissy

09-11-2012, 06:00 PM

Beauty Pageants are just so amazing! You get the chance to see a lot of beautiful women from different countries competing in one title. All are deserving but there's only one who deserves more to get the crown. My favorite of all time is Ms. Universe 2011, Ms. Angola. She has the beauty inside and out and brains that made her on top of the competition. :)

GeneChing

09-13-2012, 09:22 AM

I'd websearch Ms. Universe 2011, but I got distracted by what I hope to be my next career move - official Chinese beauty pageant nipple checker.

China beauty contest wants nipple checks (http://www.channel24.co.za/News/International/China-beauty-contest-wants-nipple-checks-20120907)
2012-09-07 13:34

http://cdn.24.co.za/files/Cms/General/d/2085/29e89a4c6d68480b860836d0873f687e.jpg
The 2012 Miss World beauty pageant was held in Mongolia on 18 August. Yu Wenxia of China walked away with the crown.

Beijing - A Chinese beauty contest requiring candidates to have nipples spaced at least 20cm apart sparked a storm of criticism on the Internet on Friday.

"Why more than 20cm? I honestly don't know who came up with these figures," said a user on Weibo, China's version of Twitter.

"How can beauty standards include breast distance? Do they take women as toys?" Judging women by such rigid criteria is so 'out'!" said TV personality Yang Lan on the microblog.

The contest, aimed at crowning 10 university students in central Hubei province, drew from traditional Chinese and modern Western standards of beauty, a contest staff member was quoted as saying in the Global Times on Friday.

He added that contest organisers had conducted research on the Internet to determine the criteria.

In addition to considering traditional measurements like chest, waist and hips, the contest also said the space between candidates' pupils should be 46 percent of the distance between their pupil and their ear.

China has hosted a slew of beauty pageants, including six Miss World contests, in the past nine years. Its candidate Yu Wenxia won the title when the international competition took place in northern China last month.

"These beauty contests are absurd," said another Weibo user.

"On what basis do these so-called judges use their own standards to measure beauty?"

GeneChing

09-18-2012, 03:37 PM

Just in time for Halloween 2012

Redlands to get reprise of Zombie beauty pageant (http://www.sbsun.com/breakingnews/ci_21537904/redlands-get-reprise-zombie-beauty-pageant)
Ed Castro, Staff Writer
Posted: 09/13/2012 04:36:27 PM PDT
http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site209/2012/0913/20120913_105917_RN14-ZOMbie1.jpg
Brianna Maynard, 28, of Redlands, takes the stage last year as "Zombrie" after being announced as the winner of the first annual Miss Zombie Pageant. (File/Micah Escamilla, correspondent)

REDLANDS - A.J. Herrera may have stumbled onto something. Redlands may indeed be a zombie kind of town.

Herrera, who runs comic book publishing company Forbidden Panel, is preparing to host its second annual Zombie Beauty Pageant.

"Last year was just fantastic," Herrera said. "I thought to myself `Redlands sure is a zombie town."'

The Zombie Beauty Pageant will again be held at the Fox Event Center. It is scheduled for Oct. 28. Contestants will be asked to meet with pageant organizers on Oct. 3.

"Last year I looked into the crowd and everyone was smiling and having a good time," Herrera said. "Everyone had their cell phones. The response was so phenomenal. We hope to repeat that excitement."

Herrera said there was about a crowd of 200 at last year's pageant. He hopes to top that number this year.

"What we would like to see is a bigger crowd than last year," Herrera said. "And more contestants."

Still, last year's event surpassed expectations.

"I was absolutely surprised," Herrera said. "I understand not a lot of people are into this. When I did it, I expected a couple people and to have some fun. The reaction was such a total surprise. I was floating around for a few days."

So far there are eight confirmed pageant contestants, including the six who competed in last year's event. That group includes last year's winner Brianna Maynard.

Herrera said there are tentative plans to include a junior division in the pageant for younger children.

GeneChing

09-18-2012, 03:40 PM

But this one isn't about nipples; It's about udders.

August 20, 2012, 11:43 PM HKT
A Model Controversy: China’s First ‘Dairy Cow Beauty Pageant’ (http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2012/08/20/a-model-controversy-chinas-first-dairy-cow-beauty-pageant/)

http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-UF744_crt_co_G_20120820073322.jpg
Bikini models pose with dairy cows during the Miss Dairy Cow Pageant on August 18, 2012 in Shuozhou, Shanxi Province.

For years China has been known for its generous deployment of bikini models to spice up industry conferences and meetings. But news that scantily clad models were recently recruited to enliven the country’s first “dairy cow beauty pageant” is being described some as utterly — or should that be udderly? — ridiculous.

Designed to promote the dairy industry of Shanyin County in the central Chinese province of Shanxi, the weekend contest pitted more than 200 cows against each other based on looks, milk and pedigree.

The concept is a strange one even for a country with more than its fair share of mystifying events. But it’s the eight bikini models hired for the bovine pageant – and made to pose awkwardly next to, and even milk, the cows – that has churned the controversy.

Photos of the girls — all of them, perhaps understandably, wearing masks — spread around traditional and social media websites on Monday, and even earned an editorial on the website of the Communist Party mouthpiece People’s Daily.

While noting that the popularity of beauty contests has been rising (China’s Yu Wenxia won the Miss World pageant over the weekend), the editorial argues that in this case things seem to have gone a bit too far. “Beautiful girls have far greater ability to attract attention that the milk cow contestants,” it reads. “How do you think that makes the cows feel?”

The editorial also calls attention to one model who said given the natural setting of the dairy farm, posing in a bikini felt “harmonious.”

The article allows the girl might simply have been embarrassed and making excuses, but reserves little sympathy for the organizer of the conference, who it sarcastically declares must have a peculiar understanding of what adds excitement to an event.

On Sina Corp.’s popular Weibo microblogging service, most users milked the ample potential to make puns about the contest, but a few were more critical of the proceedings. “Shanxi’s ‘cow models” — an inconceivable objectification of women,” wrote one user posting under the screen name Ariel_Meow.

Organizers of some Chinese promotional events have recently tried to move away from reliance on bikini girls — in one case replacing them with cross-dressing men. But given the success Shanyin had in drawing attention to its dairy industry over the weekend, China likely hasn’t seen the last of the cow belles.

GeneChing

10-12-2012, 10:45 AM

I don't mean to sound insensitive, but this has the makings of a great movie.

Beauty pageant loser 'admits plot to shoot dead rival who won (after she hired her boyfriend as a hitman to prove he loved her)' (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2210740/Brazilian-beauty-pageant-contestants-admit-plot-kill-rival-Alini-Oliveira-won.html)

Alini Oliveira, 21, won competition in Cariacica, Brazil
She beat Adayane Matias, 20, in final round of contest
But Oliveria was shot dead before music video filming
Gunman said to be Matias's boyfriend Deivid Correa
Her dance partner Juliermeson Baston 'also involved'

By Matt Roper
PUBLISHED: 04:18 EST, 30 September 2012 | UPDATED: 10:20 EST, 30 September 2012

A contestant in a Brazilian beauty pageant has allegedly confessed to plotting the murder of the rival who beat her in the competition.

The winner of the glamour competition in Cariacica, south-east Brazil, was to star in the music video of a well-known local band.

Dark-haired Alini Oliveira, 21, beat Adayane Matias, 20, to first place in the final round of the contest.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/09/30/article-2210740-15477E29000005DC-571_468x351.jpg
Dead: The winner of the glamour competition in Cariacica, south-east Brazil, Alini Oliveira (pictured), was to star in the music video of a well-known local band

But she was shot dead in a hotel garden on September 21, just hours before the filming of the video was due to take place.

The gunman was allegedly Deivid Correa, who later turned out to be the boyfriend of Matias, the woman who came second in the competition.

Matias and her dance partner Juliermeson Baston, 20, later confessed to planning the murder, according to police chief Adroaldo Lopes.

He told Brazil’s Gazeta TV channel: 'They thought that Alini had robbed them of something that was rightfully theirs.

'Adayane became depressed and convinced her boyfriend to kill Alini to prove that he loved her.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/09/30/article-2210740-15477E3B000005DC-517_468x346.jpg
Contestant: Adayane Matias, 20, (pictured) was beaten to first place in the final round of the competition by Oliveira

'She believed that once she was out of the way she would be called up to replace her.’

Following the murder Baston is alleged to have sent a text message to Matias saying 'now you can have some ham with your breakfast' - 'ham' being Brazilian slang for 'dead body'.

In an interview with the Globo TV station, Baston said he and Matias, who danced together as a duo, believed that if she won a place on the music video it might lead to the break they always dreamed of.

Confessing to the murder, he said: 'It was a moment of desperation. We wanted recognition as dancers. Our attempts at making it big never came to anything.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/09/30/article-2210740-15477E43000005DC-774_468x352.jpg
Partner: The gunman was allegedly Deivid Correa (pictured), who later turned out to be the boyfriend of Matias, the woman who came second in the competition

'So Adayane came to a consensus with her boyfriend. She told him she would be happy if he did this for her, so he did what he did.'

Mr Lopes said that Matias and Baston ordered the death of their rival after reading posts on Oliveira's Facebook page about the video shoot.

According to Mr Lopes, Correa implicated Matias and Baston in the crime after hearing that Matias had claimed their relationship was over.

He said: 'There were clear contradictions in the statements made by all three.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/09/30/article-2210740-15477E31000005DC-596_468x340.jpg
'Involved': Matias and her dance partner Juliermeson Baston, 20, (pictured) later confessed to planning the murder, according to the police chief

'In a new statement, Correa told us that his girlfriend didn't only know about the murder, but also planned the crime with the help of her dance partner.'

'Correa told us that his girlfriend didn't only know about the murder, but also planned the crime with the help of her dance partner'
Adroaldo Lopes, police chief

The trio are alleged to have planned three attempts at killing the model, including opening fire on a bus she would have been travelling in to the video shoot, but Correa complained innocent people would also have died.

Before shooting her twice in the back from a motorbike in the hotel garden, Correa is believed to have tried to find Oliveira at her house and at the gym where she worked out.

Correa, Matias and Bastos have all been charged with first-degree murder

GeneChing

10-12-2012, 10:48 AM

I'm guessing that there's no swimsuit competition.

Last Updated: Wed Oct 10, 2012 17:31 pm (KSA) 14:31 pm (GMT)
Third Annual ‘Miss Congeniality’ beauty pageant held in Saudi Arabia (http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/10/10/242959.html)
Wednesday, 10 October 2012
http://images.alarabiya.net/7a/a3/640x392_34674_242959.jpg
Maram al-Saif, in the middle, was the obvious winner (photo courtesy: Sharq newspaper)
By Al Arabiya

A beauty pageant in Saudi Arabia? Yes!... with actual women participating, a panel of judges a winner and two runners-up.

Welcome to the third annual Saudi “Miss Congeniality” contest, whereby the winning lady isn’t crowned based on looks, measurements or physical beauty; but on her “ethics”.

This year, the pageant took place under the theme “my ethics, my identity” as the event took place on Monday at the grand King Abdullah Ballroom in the Eastern province of Qatif.

The winner, Maram Zaki al-Saif, a was chosen as the new Saudi “Queen of Ethics” after her notable piety apparently had a mesmerising affect on the panel.

In addition to the title, Saif handed in an award worth approximately ten thousand Saudi Riyals (2,6666 USD), according to local daily newspaper, Sharq.

The queen – who hails from the Saudi island of Tarout - was among the top five finalists who made it through the competition that initially had 285 contestants, all between the ages of 16-24.

At the same competition, Fatema Abdel Jaleel Al Abad, 17, from the Saudi region of Al-Ahsa was crowned first runner-up whilst Fatema Saeed Al Baik, 23, from Al Qatif was the second runner-up.

In addition to a contestant’s ethics and good behaviour, the competition’s executive director Khadra’a Al Mubarak said the electoral criteria focused on the participant’s charisma and theatrical performance, in addition to herself confidence and literacy, reported Sharq newspaper.

The queen of ethics had to answer two main questions, initially directed to all five finalists. The questions were: What will the title add to you if you were qualified? What will you add to the title in return?

Al Saif said winning will encourage her to achieve her ambitions and goals, along with inspiring her compatriots to believe in their ability to form a change in the society as a whole. The queen also noted that she aims to establish a vocational rehabilitation project for people with special needs that would help them find suitable job opportunities.

The inauguration event was attended by several women, celebrities and media figures, alongside the contestants’ mothers.

GeneChing

10-16-2012, 10:42 AM

More on Dairy Cow Beauty Pageant (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1188333#post1188333)

Follow the link below for more pix

The first ever ‘Dairy Cow Beauty Pageant’ sounded like a good idea, said no one ever (13 Photos) (http://thechive.com/2012/10/10/the-first-ever-dairy-cow-beauty-pageant-sounded-like-a-good-idea-said-no-one-ever-13-photos/)
October 10, 2012
Follow Bob on Tapiture

For years China has been known for its generous deployment of bikini models to spice up industry conferences and meetings. I suppose it was only a matter of time before the models made their way down to the highly competitive world of dairy industry. The models were hired to pose next to the nearly 200 cows who were being judged based on looks, milk and pedigree. And for some reason they were told to wear masks, because what point would models standing next to cows serve if not for the vibrant and shiny costumes. It's about showmanship, people.
For years China has been known for its generous deployment of bikini models to spice up industry conferences and meetings. I suppose it was only a matter of time before the models made their way down to the highly competitive world of dairy industry. The models were hired to pose next to the nearly 200 cows who were being judged based on looks, milk and pedigree. And for some reason they were told to wear masks, because what point would models standing next to cows serve if not for the vibrant and shiny costumes. It’s about showmanship, people.

http://thechive.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dairy-cow-beauty-pageant-0.jpg?w=500&h=301
http://thechive.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dairy-cow-beauty-pageant-3.jpg?w=500&h=255
http://thechive.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/dairy-cow-beauty-pageant-9.jpg?w=500&h=356

GeneChing

12-18-2012, 01:26 PM

There are 89 pix if you follow the link. I cherry-picked a few for ya, because I care.

Miss Universe 2012 contestants in national costumes (http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/slideshow/Miss-Universe-2012-contestants-in-national-54022.php)

1 of 89

http://ww3.hdnux.com/photos/16/72/06/3907982/4/628x471.jpg
Miss Brazil 2012, Gabriela Markus, performs onstage at the 2012 Miss Universe National Costume Show on Friday, Dec. 14 at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas. Eighty-eight of the 89 Miss Universe contestants participated; only Miss Sweden did not. The National Costume Show is not a part of the judging to determine who will become the 61st Miss Universe, which will take place Wednesday night in Las Vegas.

http://ww2.hdnux.com/photos/16/72/00/3907637/3/628x471.jpg
Miss Argentina 2012, Camilla Solórzano. Photo: Matt Brown, Miss Universe Organization / Miss Universe Organization

MY FAVS BELOW (it's the swords :D)
http://ww2.hdnux.com/photos/16/72/01/3907661/3/628x471.jpg
Miss Chile 2012, Ana Luisa König. Photo: Matt Brown, Miss Universe Organization / Miss Universe Organization

http://ww4.hdnux.com/photos/16/72/02/3907771/3/628x471.jpg
Miss Ukraine 2012, Anastasia Chernova. Photo: Darren Decker, Miss Universe Organization / Miss Universe Organization

GeneChing

01-02-2013, 12:20 PM

Women in uniform. With guns. :)
Follow the link for more pix.

Armed Forces of Ukraine Holds Beauty Pageant for Soldiers (http://en.rocketnews24.com/2012/12/24/armed-forces-of-ukraine-holds-third-annual-beauty-pageant/)
Dec 24, 2012 by Steven

http://sociorocketnewsen.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/443f5f6a.jpg?w=580&h=422
Ukraine is known for being home to some of the most beautiful women in the world, and also these two (http://en.rocketnews24.com/2012/10/14/ukraines-anime-girl-and-real-barbie-meet-face-to-eerie-face/).

It seems the gene pool is so refined in Ukraine that even their soldiers and gorgeous, and the military must know it because every year they hold the “Miss Trooper” contest, a beauty pageant to determine the most stunning soldier female soldier in the Ukraine army.

Фіналістки Всеармійського конкурсу "Міс Десант - 2011" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv0UPSR0OBo)

Now in its third year, the contest is open to any of the 18,000+ women currently enlisted in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. And it isn’t just about looks: contestants are also judged on their pistol and rifle marksmanship, RPG proficiency, and handling of armored vehicles. There is also a swimsuit competition.

The crown (a blue beret in this case) goes to the soldier with the highest marks across the board. That means even an uggo can win if she’ proves she could top the other girls in a firefight—which, if you think about it, is a pretty fair deal.

Have a look at the photos from this year’s competition, as well as the winners from 2010 and 2011, below. The final stage (swimsuits) will be held next week and the winner announced in early January.

Source: Hachima Kiko, FACTS ICTV

▼ 2010 Winner
http://sociorocketnewsen.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/2010misswinner.jpg?w=580&h=869

▼ 2011 Winner
http://sociorocketnewsen.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/2011winner.jpg?w=534&h=800
http://sociorocketnewsen.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/2011winner1.jpg?w=580&h=808

▼ 2012 Contestants
http://sociorocketnewsen.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/000cf1bdd048123e891a40.jpg?w=580&h=390

GeneChing

01-04-2013, 11:00 AM

You know what Okinawa is home to...

KARATE GIRLS (HD Quality 1280×720) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1OJSeoQm-s)

I luv it when OffT goes OnT. :cool:

GeneChing

01-07-2013, 10:38 AM

Not quite a beauty pageant. Here's how to torture bikini models in China.

Plenty more pix if you follow the link

And Now For Chinese Bikini Models in the Snow (http://en.rocketnews24.com/2013/01/05/and-now-for-chinese-bikini-models-in-the-snow/)
Jan 5, 2013 by Steven

http://sociorocketnewsen.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/6c3182ee-s.jpg?w=580&h=374
You can tell the models in the pictures in the gallery below are professionals. Not because they’re posing outside in -20°C (-4°F) weather while wearing bikinis, but because they manage to smile while doing it.

The photos were taken on December 31,2012 during a ski performance at Beidahu Ski Resort in Jilin City, located in the northeastern Jilin Province.

Close to 40 models were present, some of them even riding down the slopes to promote the event.
http://sociorocketnewsen.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/117df318-s.jpg?w=580&h=415
http://sociorocketnewsen.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/china_1000lb_1647530a.jpg?w=580&h=465
I know if I were wearing a bikini in below-freezing temperatures I’d have hard time doing anything other than cursing. Or maybe just break down and cry, like the beautiful young lingerie model Lin Siwi, seen here during a recent photoshoot in Beijing.
http://sociorocketnewsen.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/c03d112b67d71f8ba7e70555bc695371.jpg?w=426&h=640
http://sociorocketnewsen.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/b2945f2892aa7a846abc055f1e2e0edd.jpg?w=426&h=640

Poor girl. Leaning against a freight container half naked in the freezing cold against a backdrop of rubble probably isn’t the highlight of a model’s career.

GeneChing

06-12-2013, 08:59 AM

Martial arts to Miss England: Female cage fighter shows her feminine side as she reaches finals of UK's top beauty pageant (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2339575/Female-cage-fighter-shows-feminine-reaches-finals-UKs-beauty-pageant.html)

Nikki Sahota, 24, will take part in the Miss England final next month
A mixed martial arts athlete, she hopes to represent Team GB at Rio 2016
Illness meant she was forced to pull out of last year's Miss England
She hopes her story will inspire younger women to follow their dreams

By Ruth Styles

PUBLISHED: 08:28 EST, 11 June 2013 | UPDATED: 11:21 EST, 11 June 2013

A self described tomboy and mixed martial arts fighter has proved she’s got beauty as well as brawn, after reaching the finals of the Miss England beauty pageant.

Nikki Sahota, 24, spends her days donning martial arts gloves and taking down male opponents twice her size in metal cages and even appeared alongside Vin Diesel and Michelle Rodriguez as a kickboxing beauty in the Hollywood blockbuster Fast And The Furious 6.

But this weekend, the West Bromwich fighter will replace the Octagon with the catwalk as she challenges for the Miss England crown in a glamorous dress and high-heels.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/06/11/article-0-1A4183A4000005DC-902_634x413.jpg
Talented: Mixed martial arts specialist, Nikki Sahota, 24, has made it to the finals of this year's Miss England

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/06/11/article-0-1A4183E7000005DC-888_306x478.jpghttp://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/06/11/article-0-1A418511000005DC-46_306x478.jpg
Beauty: Despite her passion for martial arts, Nikki has already taken one beauty title - Miss Black Country 2012

The former Territorial Army officer beat off hundreds of finalists to become Miss Black Country in January this year, discovering that she had won while sparring in the gym.

As well as winning the the Miss England 2013 crown 5ft 7in Nikki says she is also hoping to become part of the Team GB kickboxing team at the Rio Olympics in 2016.

The Staffordshire University student is currently enjoying a gap year before starting the second year of a psychology degree.

Since taking up mixed martial arts Nikki has gained sponsorship from Bad Boy MMA, one of the sport’s leading clothing that sponsors UFC fighters.
One tough beauty queen. Nikki trains hard!

But despite running the risk of a black eye, size six Nikki revealed that taking up the UFC combat sport has helped develop her strength of character she needs to compete in the Miss England competition.

Nikki said: 'Since I was really little I’ve always been a tomboy. I did boxing on and off at school and then last August I just wanted to see how far I could push myself so took up MMA [Mixed Martial Arts].

'Now it’s like there’s two different personas. On one hand a girl with glamorous dresses and a crown and heels, but on the other hand, when I’m in my MMA gear I’m tough and empowered.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/06/11/article-0-1A4183D3000005DC-143_634x464.jpg
Olympics: Nikki's dream is to represent Team GB at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in martial arts

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/06/11/article-0-1A418487000005DC-311_306x691.jpghttp://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/06/11/article-0-1A41851F000005DC-515_306x691.jpg
Glamour: Despite taking on men in martial arts, Nikki says Miss England brings out her feminine side

'It’s that transformation as soon as I put that gear on I feel so strong, this is me, the athlete.'

And Nikki has needed her battling spirit, after being struck down by septicaemia and kidney infections weeks after winning the Miss Black Country prize in 2012.

The illness meant Nikki, who is also the current Miss Asian Model, had to pull out of last year’s Miss England competition a few days before the final.

But she has since fully recovered and says she is looking forward to competing in this year’s final at the Riviera International conference centre in Torquay between June 13 and 16.

Nikki added: 'It’s exactly a year ago since I fell ill, but now feels like another life. I feel like I was in a glass snow-globe being shaken around, but I can see things clearly now. It feels like those things were happening to a different person.

'It’s mentally challenging when you get ill, you don’t look or feel great, you can’t do things and it is really tough. I would really love to win this year.

'Last year I said I was doing it because I wanted to be a role model, but this year I really believe I can be the new Miss England.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/06/11/article-0-1A4183DF000005DC-372_634x550.jpg
Film star: Nikki appeared in the Fast and Furious film franchise as a glamorous female kick boxer

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/06/11/article-0-1A4183B3000005DC-945_634x474.jpg
Sporty: Nikki, from West Bromwich, has a passion for all things equine but prefers mixed martial arts

'I don’t think I’m the most beautiful girl or the most talented, but everything I do I put my heart and soul into.

'I feel like I’m already a winner because I’ve picked myself up from anything I’ve been through and started again.

'I want to inspire others to go and follow their dreams, especially when other people tell you that you can’t do things.

'There’s a great healing power in vulnerability and when you’re real about who you are, it gives others the courage to do the same.'

A spokesperson for Miss England said: 'Nikki epitomises the type of strong young woman that we now attract to the Miss England competition.

'We’re really proud of how she’s turned adversity around and used it as a positive to be a role model to other young girls.

'It proves that with hard work and dedication you can achieve anything you set your mind to.”

This weekend around 50 girls will battle for the crown, a place at the Miss World competition and prizes worth £30,000 including a luxury holiday to Mauritius.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/06/11/article-0-1A4183D7000005DC-818_634x422.jpg
Powerful: Although part way through a psychology degree, Nikki has sponsorship for her martial arts career

Some how, I missed her appearance in F&F6 (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/ezine/article.php?article=1097). :o
There's one more pic if you follow the link (only allowed 10 here, ya know).

MightyB

06-12-2013, 09:06 AM

I think I'm in love... or obsessed... same thing, right?

GeneChing

06-28-2013, 02:30 PM

Follow the link for a vid. I imagine a lot of forum flame wars would to look like this.

Rival drag queens brawl at gay beauty pageant in Peru (http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/rival-drag-queens-brawl-gay-2005369)
28 Jun 2013 09:16

Wigs went flying when the newly-crowned Miss Gay San Juan 2013 was attacked by a runner up

A gay beauty pageant turned ugly after a brawl erupted between two rival drag queens in Peru.

Wigs went flying when the newly-crowned Miss Gay San Juan 2013 was attacked by a runner up.

The claws came out when judges reportedly announced the wrong winner at the beauty contest in the northern city of Tarapoto.

According to local media, public at the event were so engrossed with the brawling drag queen divas security reportedly took some time to separate the sparring contestants.

GeneChing

09-16-2013, 09:28 AM

Diversity begets racism.

Fox News host: new Miss America, Nina Davuluri, doesn’t ‘represent American values’ (http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/09/16/fox-news-host-new-miss-america-nina-davuluri-doesnt-represent-american-values/)
By Scott Kaufman
Monday, September 16, 2013 7:34 EDT

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/missamerica1.jpg

The crowning of Miss New York, Nina Davuluri, as Miss America should have been, to paraphrase her platform, a celebration of diversity through cultural competency. But in the hours after her victory, Twitter became a frank demonstration of American incompetence in matters relating to both ethnicity and geography.

“Well they just picked a Muslim for Miss America. That must’ve made Obama happy. Maybe he had a vote,” said one user.

“I am literally soo mad right now a ARAB won. #MissAmerica” wrote another.

It should go without saying that Davuluri, a Syracuse native of Indian descent, is neither Muslim nor an Arab. But according to Fox News Radio host Todd Starnes, the American-born Davuluri doesn’t “represent American values,” unlike the blonde-haired, blue-eyed contestant from Kansas, Theresa Vail.

This is not to say that Vail isn’t an unprecedented contestant in her own right: she’s spent five years in the Kansas Army National Guard and is double-majoring in chemistry and Chinese at Kansas State University. But, according to Starnes on Facebook, she lost because “the liberal Miss America judges were not interested in a gun-toting, deer-hunting, military veteran.”

But at least, from Starnes’s perspective, she was a lady, “although I’m sure the gender-neutral crowd is plotting.”

I think it was Jenna Day (Miss Kentucky) who made some comment about being connected to Society of American Fight Directors (http://www.safd.org/). I just did an image search for her hoping to add her to our sword hotties (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=41007) gallery, but came up empty handed.

David Jamieson

09-16-2013, 01:55 PM

Well, if you suck at math and science, have little creativity and lack critical thinking skills of any real value...there's always beauty pageants! lol

That dairy cow thing is one of the most delightfully wtf things I've seen today. :) lol

It's the bikinis and masks...with the cows. lol

GeneChing

10-15-2013, 08:36 AM

This isn't a major competition, just a student one at Binghamton University in NY. But given the article title, it must be posted here. :)

OCTOBER 15, 2013
Miss Asia crowned for martial arts mastery (http://www.bupipedream.com/news/24363/miss-asia-crowned-for-martial-arts-mastery-miss-thailand-wins-second-annual-pageant/)
Miss Thailand wins second annual pageant

Joseph Hawthorne
Various Asian cultures converged and competed, displaying an array of new skills and talents during the second annual Miss Asia competition.

http://www.bupipedream.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/12-N-KL-MissAsia-WEB-425x283.jpg
Vietnamese Student Association hosted their second annual Miss Asia competition Saturday night in the Mandela Room. At the end of the night, Kanyawee Thipthamai, a sop****re majoring in economics, representing Thailand, won the competition and took home a check for $100.

As a crowd of more than 200 students packed into the Mandela Room, attendees cheered, chanted and called for their favorite country’s representatives Saturday night.

The Vietnamese Student Association (VSA) hosted the competition. Eric Dinh, president of VSA and a junior majoring in biology, said the event was designed to unite the many Asian student groups.

“We wanted to connect Asian [Student Union] groups,” Dinh said. “We had people from the Thai club, China, India, Philippines, Taiwan, Korea and Malaysia.”

This year’s competition featured a multitude of different talents.

“The president last year decided to promote more diversity on campus, but we really only had the options of singing or dancing,” Dinh said. “This year contestants could present whatever represented their culture.”

The change benefited Miss Thailand, who took home first place with a Thai martial arts routine.

“I wanted to show something unique from Thailand,” said Kanyawee Thipthamai, a sop****re majoring in economics. “I wanted to present Thai boxing, Muay Thai. I really just wanted to do what I practiced.”

Even before the results, however, audience members said that they thought the acts that weren’t songs or dances stood out from the rest.

“I love Bollywood-style performances, like Miss India’s,” said Carl-Esther Turenne, a junior majoring in linguistics. “But I thought the Muay Thai was really cool; I didn’t know about it before.”

Allan Lapid, a sop****re majoring in biology, agreed.

“There was such diversity; I wish I’d come last year,” Lapid said. “I liked to see the martial arts. I liked all the performances, but I’m really a fan of the martial arts.”

The competition featured traditional outfit, talent and Q&A categories. Questions ranged from the importance of cultural presence in the Asian community to holidays of importance to issues within the Asian-American community.

After nearly two hours of performances, judges said it was difficult to select Thipthamai as Miss Asia 2013.

“This was a wonderful event, and not just because the food was delicious,” said Mengchen Huang, a judge and Multicultural Resource Center program coordinator. “We almost had a fight to pick someone.”

Nayemai-Isis McIntosh Green, a judge and the vice president of multicultural affairs, agreed.

“The Student Association and ASU did a wonderful job, and it was a pleasure to watch all the different displays. It was so difficult to choose just one,” said McIntosh Green, a sop****re double-majoring in human development and history.

Editor’s Note: Christina Pullano, Pipe Dream’s editor-in-chief and one of the judges at Miss Asia 2013, was not involved in the writing or reporting of this article.

Syn7

10-15-2013, 04:14 PM

Well, if you suck at math and science, have little creativity and lack critical thinking skills of any real value...there's always beauty pageants! lol

Well, you could always get a degree in communications. :rolleyes:

GeneChing

12-11-2013, 10:06 AM

Being a guy, I only cut&pasted the bikini shots. If you are one of the few stalwart women here, or if you're bawang, and want to see the bodybuilding shots, follow the link.

Photos: Miss Bikini and Mr Bodybuilding Contest held in Sanya (http://shanghaiist.com/2013/12/11/photos_miss_bikini_and_mr_bodybuild.php)

http://shanghaiist.com/assets_c/2013/12/bikini-contest-sanya-1-thumb-640x368-821735.jpg

More than 175 bodybuilders and bikini-clad models vehemently overused spray-on tan and participated in the 3rd International Mr Bodybuilding and Miss Bikini Contest held in Sanya, Hainan Province. Too. Many. Abs

http://shanghaiist.com/attachments/samcanpadee/bikini-contest-sanya-5.jpg
http://shanghaiist.com/upload/2013/12/bikini-contest-sanya-6.jpg
http://shanghaiist.com/upload/2013/12/bikini-contest-sanya-7.jpg

Alex Córdoba

12-12-2013, 09:02 AM

Here's Miss Ireland

7951

GeneChing

01-06-2014, 09:46 AM

ttt 4 2014!

Photos: Qingdao University's flight attendant recruitment pageant (http://shanghaiist.com/2014/01/06/qingdao-uni-flight-attendant-models.php)

http://shanghaiist.com/upload/2014/01/beauty1.jpg

A flight attendant recruitment pageant was held at Qingdao University on January 4 after universities from all over the country recommended candidates to walk around in their swimsuits on stage as models.

http://shanghaiist.com/upload/2014/01/beauty2.jpg
http://shanghaiist.com/upload/2014/01/beauty3.jpg
http://shanghaiist.com/upload/2014/01/beauty4.jpg
http://shanghaiist.com/upload/2014/01/beauty5.jpg

Becoming an airline attendant in China is serious business. It's a coveted job which tens of thousands of people compete for, and all are required to be young and good-looking. Many airlines hold pageant-style competitions to recruit new stewardesses.

In 2011, China Southern Airlines, one of the country's largest airlines, held one such pageant and these were the requirements:

•Women must be 25 or younger

•They must be single

•They must be between 5' and 5'9"

•Their legs cannot be "X or O shaped" [???]

•There are also restrictions on their weight-to-height ratio

•No glasses or visible scars

According to the Global Times, many young people end up quitting shortly after getting the job when they realize its demands don't quite live up to the romanticized expectations.

"The job description doesn't tell you that you need to scrub the toilet," Wang Cheng, an administrator at Civil Aviation University of China was quoted as saying. "They only imagine a glamorous picture, traveling around the world, carrying cute suitcases and wearing cute uniforms," said Wang.

GeneChing

03-28-2014, 09:41 AM

Remember our 2005 Zodiac shirt (http://www.martialartsmart.com/t-shirt-zodiac.html)? Year of the wood ****? Man, we got so much backlash for that, but those who bought them really loved it. Some people just luv ****. :p

http://vimeo.com/74638927

GeneChing

06-09-2014, 09:47 AM

I luv it when OT goes T.

Martial arts black belt Miss Nevada is new Miss USA (http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/364846/lifestyle/peopleandevents/martial-arts-black-belt-miss-nevada-is-new-miss-usa)
June 9, 2014 1:48pm

Nia Sanchez, 24-year-old 4th degree black belt in taekwondo from Nevada, was crowned Miss USA on Sunday during the 63rd telecast of the annual beauty pageant.

Sanchez, who wore an intricate red gown during the latter part of the three-hour nationally broadcast contest, addressed the issue of sexual assault on college campuses during a question-and-answer session faced by all six finalists.

http://images.gmanews.tv/v3/webpics/v3/2014/06/2014_06_09_14_02_09.jpg
Miss Nevada Nia Sanchez poses in a taekwondo martial art stance for the media at a news conference after she won the 2014 Miss USA beauty pageant in Baton Rouge, Louisiana June 8, 2014. Fifty-one state titleholders compete in the swimsuit, evening gown and interview categories for the title of Miss USA 2014 during the 63rd annual Miss USA competition. REUTERS/Adrees Latif

Sanchez said she felt some colleges, fearing a bad reputation, might sweep the problem under the rug, and that "More awareness [of the issue] is very important so that women can learn to protect themselves."

She added that as a 4th degree black belt, she learned "you need to be confident and be able to defend yourself ... That's something we need to start to implement for a lot of women."

The pageant, co-hosted by Giuliana Rancic of "E! News" and MSNBC's morning news show "Way Too Early" host Thomas Roberts, was broadcast live on NBC from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The first runner-up was Audra Mari, 20, from North Dakota. Other finalists included contestants from Georgia, Louisiana and Florida. Iowa's representative became a sixth finalist based on fan voting on Twitter, but placed as the fifth runner-up.

The competition featured contestants from all 50 states and the District of Columbia who were judged in three traditional beauty pageant categories: swimsuit, evening gown and interview.

Erin Brady, Miss USA 2013, crowned her successor, who will go on to compete at the international Miss Universe competition. — Reuters

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/06/09/article-2652571-1E979D7800000578-542_634x627.jpg
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/06/09/article-2652571-1E97635500000578-369_634x842.jpg
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/06/09/article-2652571-1E97920F00000578-7_634x1019.jpg

GeneChing

06-11-2014, 09:27 AM

Former HK Disneyland princess becomes Miss USA 2014! (http://shanghaiist.com/2014/06/11/former_hk_disney_princesss_dream_co.php)

http://shanghaiist.com/attachments/benjamincost/MissUSAprincess2.jpg

24-year-old former Hong Kong Disneyland princess Nia Sanchez beat out other competitors from 50 US states to take home the Miss USA crown with her, fulfilling her own Disney fairytale ending.

Sanchez's saga began when came to Hong Kong and worked as a variety of famous characters at Hong Kong Disneyland for seven months. including Snow White, Cinderella and Belle. Referring the period of her “princess” career, she described it as one of the best moments in her life. “I have been to the Disneyland in California for several times. Yet, the culture in Hong Kong Disneyland is completely different,” she said.

http://shanghaiist.com/attachments/shang_shanghaiist/MissUSAbelle.jpg

During her time in Hong Kong, the beautiful princess enjoyed uploading photos of herself sight-seeing at different landmarks in Hong Kong, such as the Big Buddha on Lantau Island and the Golden Fish Street in Mongkok.

Aside from her beauty, Sanchez also showed the power and wisdom of women in the pageant (something not often associated with such competitions). While answering the judge’s question about what should be done towards the high rate of sexual assaults on US college campuses. Sanchez, the fourth-degree black belt in taekwondo said confidently that women should take the responsibility themselves and know how to defend themselves.

http://shanghaiist.com/attachments/shang_shanghaiist/MissUSAtaekwondo.jpg

When she was young, there was a period which Sanchez stayed in the women’s shelter with her mother after her parents’ divorce. With this personal experience, she has volunteered at women’s shelters regularly in her adulthood to teach women and children how to defend themselves.

“Disney Parks- the place where dreams come true”. The brown-eyed girl felt excited with this new title and was proud to bring the first Miss USA title back to Nevada. “It’s a dream come true,” she said.

http://shanghaiist.com/attachments/shang_shanghaiist/MissUSAcrying.jpg

Sanchez will then go to represent the US in the Miss Universe competition.
Who do I contact to interview her? Donald Trump? Oh bother...

GeneChing

06-12-2014, 12:13 PM

Remember Letterman?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFSstYaVb5o

Syn7

06-12-2014, 04:03 PM

I question the integrity of any school or system that makes it even remotely possible for an early twenty something year old to have a fourth degree black belt. WTF? That's crazy sauce.

-N-

06-12-2014, 05:15 PM

While answering the judge’s question about what should be done towards the high rate of sexual assaults on US college campuses. Sanchez, the fourth-degree black belt in taekwondo said confidently that women should take the responsibility themselves and know how to defend themselves.

Well, looks like she doesn't really understand the issues related to question. No surprise.

David Jamieson

06-13-2014, 06:37 AM

Well, looks like she doesn't really understand the issues related to question. No surprise.

well, in all fairness, it's not like shes ever gonna legislate anything. It's just a beauty pageant that has zero impact on law or politics. :)

GeneChing

06-13-2014, 08:54 AM

You guys realize this is a beauty pageant we're talking about, right? You were expecting some intellectual discussion? It's run by Trump. :rolleyes:

Personally, I love this stuff, if just for quotes like "Martial arts and techno, the new peanut butter and jelly" alone. :p

Miss Michigan 2014: Martial arts, dance highlight talent competition on opening night of preliminaries (http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/muskegon/index.ssf/2014/06/miss_michigan_2014_martial_art.html)
Brandon Champion | BCHAMPIO@mlive.com By Brandon Champion | BCHAMPIO@mlive.com
on June 13, 2014 at 10:02 AM, updated June 13, 2014 at 10:30 AM

http://imgick.mlive.com/home/mlive-media/pgmain/img/muskegonchronicle/photo/2014/06/-1b89a8d1ad5f53f5.jpg
Erin Jenkinson, Miss Great Lakes breaks boards during her martial arts performance as she competes in the talent competition during the opening night of the Miss Michigan Scholarship Pageant competition on June 12, 2014. A total of 34 contestants began competition for the title of Miss Michigan at the Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts in Muskegon. The pageant concludes on Saturday.

MUSKEGON, MI – "It's the most exciting part of the Miss Michigan competition."

Those were the words of Mistress of Ceremonies and 2008 Miss Michigan Ashlee Baracy before the talent competition at the 2014 Miss Michigan Scholarship pageant Thursday night.

Half of the 34 contestants performed a variety of talents inside the Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts on June 12. The other half will perform Friday, June 13.

The contestants are all competing for the statewide title, $10,000 in scholarship money and the chance to compete for the Miss America crown in September in Atlantic City, N.J.

Here are five highlights from the first night of the talent competition:

1. Opera comes to Muskegon

Many of the contestants entertained the crowd with stirring vocal performances, but two that stood out were both operas. Emily Smith, Miss Greater Kalamazoo, took home the first preliminary talent award, a $500 scholarship for her classical vocal performance of "Convien Partir" by Maria Callas.

Miss Stateline Mallory Rivard also received a large ovation for her rendition of "O Mio Babbino Caro" from the opera "Gianni Schicchi."

2. "The Flight of the Bumblebee"

Thursday's performances included just one involving a musical instrument, but it was a good one. Performing in a sparkling, golden dress, Miss Greater Grand Rapids Camille Bridges played Rachmaninoff's iconic arrangement "The Flight of the Bumblebee" on the classical piano.

After a small slip-up at the beginning of the performance, Bridges played the remainder of the lightning-fast arrangement flawlessly, for which she received a large ovation from the full theater.

3. Martial arts and techno, the new peanut butter and jelly

What do you get when you combine martial arts and "Bangarang" by Skrillex? The most unique performance of the night, that's what. Miss Great Lakes Erin Jenkinson showcased a variety of martial arts skills during her high-energy performance.

Jenkinson began the performance flying around the stage, using punches and kicks as dance moves. She then twirled a stick in front of and behind her head several times before emphatically smashing through three sets of wooden boards with her fist.
Erin Jenkinson, Miss Great Lakes, performs at the 2014 Miss Michigan Scholarship Pageant Contestant Erin Jenkinson, Miss Great Lakes, performed a martial arts routine for the talent portion of the Miss Michigan Scholarship Pageant on June 12, 2014.

4. Disney's "Frozen" popular among the contestants

Influences from Disney's hit 2013 film "Frozen," the story of a princess whose icy powers have inadvertently trapped her kingdom in eternal winter, made several appearances during the first night of competition.

Back-to-back contestants, Miss Tip of the Mitt Charlotte Squires and Miss Capital City Tiffany Rogers, performed songs from the film, singing "Let it Go" and "For the First Time in Forever", respectively.

2013 Miss Michigan Haley Williams also performed an impressive baton routine to "Let it Go" at the end of the night. Williams perfectly executed the routine that helped her win last year's pageant, at times juggling three batons at once. She received a standing ovation following her performance.

5. Dance like nobody's watching, except everyone is

Dance will be a theme throughout the 2014 Miss Michigan pageant. Fifteen contestants will be performing some sort of dance, more than any other type of performance. Seven of those performances took place on Thursday.

Contestants performed a variety of styles, including contemporary, ballet, Irish step, tap and jazz. Miss SouthCentral Carleigh Rowley impressed with her feisty jazz dance to "It's About the Walk" by Prince.

Miss Lighthouse Coast Allison Adams showed some athleticism by doing a forward flip during in her jazz dance to "Ain't Nothing Wrong With That" by Robert Randolph and the Family Band.

Miss Bay County Katelyn Miujeak (contemporary dance), Miss Jackson Crossroads Quinn Fischman (tap dance), Miss Saginaw County Victoria Lines (Irish step dance), Miss Shoreline Jodi Beckman (tap dance on stairs) and Miss Allegan County Abbie Reed (ballet) also showcased their moves.

Brandon Champion covers arts and entertainment, business and weather for MLive Muskegon Chronicle. Email him at BCHAMPIO@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter @BrandonThaChamp.

-N-

06-13-2014, 10:10 AM

well, in all fairness, it's not like shes ever gonna legislate anything. It's just a beauty pageant that has zero impact on law or politics. :)

Isn't all law and politics based on manipulation of misinformed masses? :)

-N-

06-13-2014, 10:17 AM

Syn7

06-13-2014, 10:33 AM

Well, the prizes are scholarships after all.

GeneChing

07-16-2014, 08:26 AM

We can only hope...

MMA Marine to take the stage in beauty pageant finals (http://www.militarytimes.com/article/20140714/NEWS/307140054/MMA-Marine-to-take-the-stage-in-beauty-pageant-finals)
Jul. 14, 2014 - 06:00AM |

http://cmsimg.militarytimes.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=M6&Date=20140714&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=307140054&Ref=AR&MaxW=640&Border=0&MMA-Marine-take-stage-beauty-pageant-finals
Marine Cpl. Kelsey DeSantis smiles after winning her MMA fight in October 2011. (Staff)

By Hope Hodge Seck
Staff Writer

http://cmsimg.militarytimes.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=M6&Date=20140714&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=307140054&Ref=V1&MaxW=600&Border=0
Cpl. Kelsey DeSantisand date Justin Timberlake at the opening ceremonies at the Instructor Battalion Marine Corps Ball on Nov. 12, 2012. (Lance Cpl. Emmanuel Ramos / Marines Corps)

http://cmsimg.militarytimes.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=M6&Date=20140714&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=307140054&Ref=V2&MaxW=600&Border=0
Kelsey DeSantis (Courtesy Kelsey DeSantis)

First, she made headlines in 2011 by taking Justin Timberlake to the Marine Corps ball. She did it again when she became a professional mixed martial arts fighter upon leaving the Corps in 2012.

Now, Kelsey DeSantis has her eyes set on winning a beauty pageant.

DeSantis is letting her tough-girl image slide a bit, announcing July 7 via Twitter that she had been selected as a finalist in the Ms. Veteran America competition, a pageant-style contest that aims to highlight “the woman behind the uniform” while raising funds for homeless women veterans.

A veterans advocate who started her own organization, the H.E.L.O. Foundation, to help troops transition into civilian life, DeSantis said she was drawn to the competition by its mission and its commitment to highlighting strong women who served. She signed up to compete earlier this year—and then life threw her a curveball.

“When I committed to Ms. Veteran America, everything was good in my career [as a fighter],” DeSantis said. “Then I found out I’m pregnant.”

DeSantis and her boyfriend Jake are expecting a baby girl in November. Doing the math, DeSantis realized that she’d be almost full-term by the Ms Veteran America final competition. She emailed the organizers explaining her situation and offering to drop out if necessary.

“They wrote me back and said, ‘are you kidding me? this is what we’re all about!’” DeSantis laughed.

For the competition’s regionals near Washington, D.C., DeSantis had to demonstrate a talent; she chose to highlight her fighting skills with a boxing demonstration, showcased in a humorous skit with some assists from a friend and fellow Marine vet.

“We had all the judges laughing,” she said.

At the finals in Leesburg, Va., DeSantis said she’d do another boxing demonstration as well as a panel interview, for which she’d be judged for the content and delivery of her responses. That part would come naturally, she said.

“Ever since I got out, I realized that it’s a part of me to continue a life of service,” she said. “It’s become a part of who I am and what I want to do. I guess I speak form the heart.”

Following the competition, DeSantis said she’s looking forward to entering her life’s next adventure: motherhood.

“My boyfriend Jake really wanted a boy,” she said, of first finding out they were expecting. “I told him, ‘either way, she’s going to be a fighter.’”

GeneChing

07-23-2014, 08:48 AM

..but Miss Tourism is a dirty gal. Very dirty. ;)

Fan service alert!: 'Miss Tourism' contestants get down and dirty at Xiushan Mud Carnival (http://shanghaiist.com/2014/07/23/fan_service_alert_miss_tourism_cont.php)

http://shanghaiist.com/attachments/benjamincost/mudmain.jpg

'Miss Tourism' contestants romp about in tidal mud during a mud carnival on Xiushan Island, Zhejiang, promoting tourism/perving by tourists.

http://shanghaiist.com/attachments/benjamincost/mud2.jpg

Every year, the mud carnival at the sea mud park (yes, that's the name) attracts around a thousand visitors
http://shanghaiist.com/attachments/benjamincost/mud3.jpg

http://shanghaiist.com/attachments/benjamincost/mud4duck.jpg

Probably the one time it's good to be a duck in China.

http://shanghaiist.com/attachments/benjamincost/mud6.jpg

http://shanghaiist.com/attachments/benjamincost/mud7.jpg

Yep, a lot more titillating than your average 'mud run revelers.'

Syn7

07-23-2014, 09:14 AM

I remember outdoor parties that ended up like that. It's a weird scene when you factor in that 98% of the people crawling around are high as ****. :p The next morning was always bitter sweet.

GeneChing

08-12-2014, 08:51 AM

...or perhaps totally on T.

Weibo user solicits pics for 'most beautiful bosom' contest (http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?cid=1103&MainCatID=11&id=20130723000024)
Staff Reporter
2013-07-23
08:52 (GMT+8)

http://www.wantchinatimes.com/newsphoto/2013-07-23/450/Img381992663-172414_copy1.jpg
Making Zhang Jiang happy. (Internet photo)

Over 3,200 contestants have submitted pictures of their cleavage for the Happy Zhang Jiang "best breasts" competition on Sina Weibo, China's equivalent of Twitter. The only entry requirement is the words "Happy Zhang Jiang" written somewhere on the contestants' chest, reports our Chinese-language sister paper Want Daily.

Any shots that get past the qualifying round, presided over by (presumably happy) Weibo user Zhang Jiang and a panel of expert judges, will be rewarded. There are special prizes for the biggest, smallest and most beautiful bust.

Many were not afraid to show their faces and an ample portion of the rest of their body. Rather disturbingly, a three-year-old child is reportedly included in one of the shots.

References:

Zhang Jiang　　張江

GeneChing

09-04-2014, 09:10 AM

...and run!

Stripped of title, Miss Asia Pacific winner goes on the lam with expensive prize tiara 【Update】 (http://en.rocketnews24.com/2014/09/03/scandal-as-miss-asia-pacific-winner-stripped-of-title-goes-on-the-lam-with-expensive-prize-tiara/)

Mike 2 days ago

http://sociorocketnewsen.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/maymyat1.jpg?w=580&h=386

May Miat Noe, a native of Myanmar and (brief) champion of the 2014 Miss Asia Pacific beauty pageant has apparently gone on the lam after contest authorities attempted to revoke both her winner status and her extremely pricey prize tiara, which the 18-year-old squirreled away with her before falling off the radar.

The Korean contest organizers claim that Noe’s status was revoked after it was discovered she’d apparently lied on her profile about… something (the agency appears reluctant to specify), and that she’d “been rude” to staff and extended a 10 day visit for her mother – which the agency paid for – to Seoul, where the contest was held, into a three-month sojourn.

Update: Reports now suggest that Ms. Noe is refusing to return the tiara, which is worth approximately US$100,000, until the contest’s organisers apologise for branding her a liar. The dethroned champion alleges that the contest’s director of media, Mr. David Kim, lied about her age and accused her of having undergone plastic surgery in order to give her career a boost. It was not her intention to take the tiara with her, Ms. Noe insists, but she now has no plans of returning it to the contest’s organizers without first receiving an apology.

But, as with all disputes involving large sums of money, there appears to be more to the story than what the contest organizers are letting on. Although Noe obviously can’t be reached for comment at this time, David Kim, the director of media for the Miss Asia Pacific pageant, also told press that they’d offered her a recording contract to become a singer if she agreed to get plastic surgery and breast augmentation.

http://sociorocketnewsen.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/maymyat2.jpg?w=580&h=433

Read between the lines and one could conceivably draw the conclusion that some back door deals with Noe fell through – possibly when she refused the surgery – and the organizers decided to get vindictive, strip Noe of her title, and blame it on her with some flimsy attacks on her character.

The organizers did, after all, continue to pay for Noe’s mother’s visit for the entire three months when, if it was such a problem for them, they easily could have refused.

There’s quite a bit of they-said-she-said going on right now, and we probably won’t be able to truly get to the bottom of this one until Noe goes back on the grid.

(Note that some media outlets are reporting that Noe actually received breast augmentation surgery, while other outlets say she refused and indicate that that may have been the event that kicked all this off.)

GeneChing

11-03-2014, 09:22 AM

...anyone who has ever been there knows...

Queens of stage and screen: Thailand’s transgender beauty pageant kicks off for 10th year (http://en.rocketnews24.com/2014/11/03/queens-of-stage-and-screen-thailands-transgender-beauty-pageant-kicks-off-for-10th-year/)
Fran Wrigley 17 hours ago

https://sociorocketnewsen.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/miss-international-queen-2.jpeg?w=580&h=417

In many ways, Miss International Queen is just like any other pageant: finalists parade in evening gowns, swimsuits and national dress, and the winner will perform twelve months of promotional and charity duties. There’s one major difference, though: all the contestants are transgender women, and the top prize includes cosmetic surgery for the winner – if she wants it.

As the world’s largest transgender pageant hits the stage in Thailand (where else!) for its 10th anniversary year, we take a look at this unique contest.

Miss International Queen began in 2004 with the aim of building international awareness of transgender rights. The event, now in its tenth year, kicked off with a press conference last week, and the final will be held on November 7 at Tiffany’s Show Theatre, Pattaya.

It’s not the only transgender pageant in the world, but it is the biggest and the most international: this year’s 25 finalists hail from 21 different countries.

▼ Contestant Piyada Inthavong, from Laos, posted this selfie backstage with Poy, one of Thailand’s most famous ladyboys.
https://igcdn-photos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/10729303_347908292035671_343808026_n.jpg

Contestants in Miss International Queen can be pre- or post-operation transgender, but must have been born biologically male. Candidates are competing for a top prize that includes US$12,500, and any surgery they wish to have, be it gender reassignment, or other cosmetic surgery.

Having surgery as the grand prize sounds a bit like those guys who get their wife a boob job for Christmas, but there’s no pretence that this contest is about inner beauty. And in its acceptance of that fact, Miss International Queen actually somehow comes off looking more honest than other, more conventional women’s beauty pageants.

▼ 2013 winner Marcelo Ohio, from Brazil, with some of the contestants at this year’s press launch.
https://sociorocketnewsen.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/miss-international-queen.jpeg?w=580&h=435

The participation of transgender women in mainstream pageants, meanwhile, remains a source of controversy. The Miss Universe Organisation faced criticism in 2012 when they disqualified candidate Jenna Talackova from Miss Universe Canada after learning that she was transgender. While the organisation later reversed the decision and allowed Talackova to compete, the winner of Miss Universe 2013 Gabriela Isler said transgender people should have their own pageants because the Miss Universe pageant was “made for women”.

If the major objective of Miss International Queen is visibility of transgender women, the glitzy televised ceremonies seems to achieve that. That’s not to say that the contest is particularly politicised, though: in the Talent Quest event, the rules expressly forbid “any display of nudity, foul language, innuendo, political, and transgendered & gay statements.“

So is Miss International Queen doing enough to increase awareness of transgender issues? It’s hard to say. But the glitzy ceremonies – and the contestants’ Instagram pages – are certainly gaining attention.

You can watch some of the extravagant press conference in a video from MissLadyBoys below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUpBnL4t00s

GeneChing

11-24-2014, 04:39 PM

Life as a Fake Beauty Queen in Small-Town China (http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/11/life-as-a-fake-beauty-queen-in-small-town-china/382409/)
I came to Beijing to model. Then I found myself playing Miss America in Inner Mongolia.
Meredith Hattam Nov 8 2014, 8:00 AM ET

http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/newsroom/img/mt/2014/11/models_in_national_costumes_inspired_by_flowers/lead.jpg?nemfyo
The author (second from left) and fellow models pose in flower-inspired national costumes. (Courtesy of Meredith Hattam)

It was November 2011, and I was in a fluorescent-lit hotel room in the Chinese city of Ordos, on the outskirts of Inner Mongolia. Next to me, my 17-year-old Brazilian roommate, Anna, was tucking into bed. I set our alarm for 6 a.m., when singing, dancing, and talent contests awaited us. All would be broadcast on China Central Television.

“Open your eyes and smile,” called Anna from her bed, using the phrase our choreographer had been shouting for the past two days. “Ugh. Goodnight.”

Back home in Brazil, Anna was a high-fashion model, represented by agencies in Milan and New York. I was a 24-year-old recent college grad who, having difficulty finding a full-time job, took a year off to travel by unconventional means (modeling, though of the questionable variety that lands a person in a hotel room on the outskirts of Inner Mongolia).

This wasn’t a reality show, nor was it one of the elite bookings Anna enjoyed back in New York or Milan. We were there for a fake beauty pageant, one our Beijing modeling agency had booked us for, telling us it was a “fashion show” and providing no further details. It was only after we boarded our early-morning flight to Ordos that the true nature of the event was revealed.

“We’re on our way to another ‘Miss’ thing,” a Ukrainian girl said from her seat with a groan.

I was hired as Miss America; Anna, despite being Brazilian, as Miss Chile. It would have been the strangest 36 hours of my life—if, over the previous two months, I hadn’t done it twice before.

* * *

My first stint as Miss America for hire had been that September, in the desert oasis of Dunhuang, for the city’s International Grape Festival. It was a surreal experience in which 40 models, including me, were paid to walk down a catwalk for about 2,000 locals. Later, we rode camels across the dunes of the Gobi Desert, crisscrossing the sand in single file. The photos of all 40 of us on camelback—some only in bras, to dodge tanlines—are wonderfully absurd.

http://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/posts/2014/11/desert_models/2d5d38c38.jpg
Models on camels (Meredith Hattam)

For the second pageant, in October, I was hired to cruise around Dalian in a fake gold Mercedes golf cart with five other girls for three days, in an effort to lure potential buyers into investing in a miniature replica of Versailles. A printed guide to the event offered fictitious backstories in Chinese about each contestant, and her purpose there. We wore dresses whose colors the organizers must have thought somehow corresponded to our countries of origin. As Miss America, I strangely, and perhaps unpatriotically, wore a teal-tinged baby blue.

Pageants like these typically serve as glittery infomercials for the cities where they take place—“Visit Ordos, or Dunhuang, or Dalian, or Chengdu: wealthy enough to import foreign pageant queens!” The events are usually funded by investment-hungry real-estate developers, city tourism departments, or, in the case of my pageant in Ordos, China Central Television. Photos and film captured during the event can live on via promotional materials for months, even years. In Dunhuang, billboards advertised the pageant using images of models from the previous year’s event.

Models booked for these pageants aren’t actual beauty queens—they’re aspiring runway models sent to Asia by their “mother agencies,” which are usually based in their home countries and serve as their main managers. In return for placing them abroad, mother agents take a cut of models’ pay (typically 10 percent). Once in China—popular cities for work include Beijing and Shanghai—models often build their portfolios with magazine spreads, runway shows, and catalogs. Most contracts stipulate that a model can’t reject jobs, however dubious, or her contract will be broken and she’ll be sent home.

Less reputable agencies in China provide models with few details about the jobs they'll be doing, calling gigs “fashion shows” and sending them on their way. Of the nine “fashion shows” I booked while in Beijing, only two were on a runway. The rest were fake pageants, car shows, and trade shows—but I was not informed of their nature until I was en route to the events. Models flagged as having low earning potential will do fake pageants frequently, as they’re easy to book. I once met a Russian teenager who was stuck traveling on a bus for 10 days across rural China as “Miss Argentina.”

When models are chosen as mock pageant queens, they head to their destinations (usually one of the smaller cities in China), where they're handed sashes, crowns, and heels, and instructed to be on their best behavior. At the pageant I attended in Dunhuang, the models were forbidden to smoke, swear, or wear clothing that fell above the knee—though, in my experience, no punishments were inflicted for slipping up.

Continued next post

GeneChing

11-24-2014, 04:43 PM

Life as a Fake Beauty Queen in Small-Town China (http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/11/life-as-a-fake-beauty-queen-in-small-town-china/382409/2/)
Meredith Hattam Nov 8 2014, 8:00 AM ET

http://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/posts/2014/11/dunhuang/541c0747f.jpg
Preparing for the International Grape Festival in Dunhuang (Maria Kompf)

Most models in these pageants are from Eastern Europe or Latin America, and often everything in their biographies is fictionalized—from home countries, names, and national costumes to elaborate personal stories. In the case of the Ordos pageant, Anna from Brazil was “Annabella” from Chile, while I was “Mary Ann” from America. In another pageant, I had played “Mary, from New York.” I wish I knew my narrative (was I fresh from an upstate farm, or a hardened city girl?), but it was written in Chinese.

“I’ve been Miss Brazil, Miss Poland, and Miss America, and I’m still ****ed I was never Miss Canada,” Lora, a model from Toronto whom I met in Beijing, told me recently. “Some Polish girl got it instead.”

Lora once fell through the stage during dress rehearsal for a pageant in Guangzhou. The runway had been so flimsy that it couldn’t hold her weight in 5-inch heels. “They gave me three days paid vacation after that,” Lora told me. “But I still had to do the pageant.” (The pageant's organizers rebuilt the runway.)

* * *

These pageants echo China’s larger affair with Western knockoffs. In the city of Wuxi, an entire street is lined with stores like H&N, Sffcccks Coffee, and Zare, while fake Apple stores have been shut down in the city of Kunming. Attractive Caucasian men are paid generously (sometimes up to $1,000 a week) to lend validity to new businesses by posing for store openings and ribbon-cutting ceremonies. Nor is architecture immune: A replica of Paris lies empty in Tianducheng, while in Beijing, there’s an Amsterdam-like area where roommates of mine traipsed merrily down a cobblestone alley to shoot a Chinese beer commercial.

http://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/posts/2014/11/RTR3HZOW/5f4c30785.jpg
A farmer near a replica of the Eiffel Tower in Hangzhou's Tianducheng development (Lang Lang/Reuters)

For models, nationality-switching gigs aren’t limited to pageants. A photographer friend of mine relayed a tale of young foreign models hired to stroll up and down the street of a fake Italian villa, greeting potential investors with a cordial buon giorno. According to a model I met in Shanghai, fake Victoria’s Secret fashion shows are also common: The lingerie may be Chinese, but the choreography, wings, and footage are ripped straight from American television. “Sometimes they’re outside in zero degrees,” my friend said. “All it takes is fake wings and underwear.”

Although models are often contractually bound to do these strange jobs, their employment papers are usually as fake as their pageant sashes, leaving them with little legal protection. A work visa is expensive and hard to obtain in China, so agencies often recommend models visit on a tourist visa and work illegally (though China has begun to crack down on the practice—around 60 models with nonwork visas were arrested in Beijing earlier this year). Eager to build a career, models consent to this, winding up in China and similar markets—such as Thailand, Singapore, and Japan—because cities like Milan, New York, and Paris are more competitive.

Many models I met during my time in China were as young as 14, and working to send money home to countries like Russia and Ukraine. As captured in the documentary Girl Model, scouts scour these countries for the next big face, sometimes sending young girls abroad with big dreams and no legal protection.

From a financial perspective, the allure is understandable: The fake pageant queens notwithstanding, models can make hundreds an hour posing for expensive catalogs and Taobao (the Chinese equivalent of Amazon). But even with jobs like that, modeling isn’t lucrative; agencies in China take around 40 percent of your pay, your mother agent back home takes 10 percent, and expenses, including a plane ticket and rent, can reach upwards of $10,000. With their cash flow intact thanks to their few high-earners, most agencies cover some of these expenses, but they also make it hard for models to turn a profit. Leaving with money in your pocket is rare. For more savory jobs, you need to have the right look, at the right time—otherwise you’re stuck paying rent as Miss America.

The going rate for a fake pageant queen? Around 2,000 RMB ($325) a day, almost twice the average monthly salary of an entire Chinese family, which is currently around $175. This means that after a little over a week’s worth of work, a model will have earned what the average Chinese family makes in one year, though she herself will likely take home less than half of that income. The disparity is striking: Young girls being paid to woo wealthy locals and expats to invest in novelty real estate, the likes of which the average Chinese citizen will never, ever obtain. How much are these knockoffs—pageants, Sffcccks, et al—really worth?

* * *

My pageant in Ordos, with Anna, was my most elaborate by far, and its backdrop only made things more surreal. Chinese urban planners developed the city to accommodate China’s ever-growing population, and it’s designed to house 1 million people. But barely anyone has moved in. Instead, it’s a ghost town perched on the edge of the Inner Mongolian plains, its architecture a futuristic fever dream. Giant horse sculptures stand in the shadow of buildings that look like falling dominoes, while the Ordos Museum, an undulating copper orb designed by the architecture firm MAD, glints bizarrely over empty streets.

http://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/posts/2014/11/original/06574c06a.jpg
A scene from a pageant in the desert oasis city of Dunhuang (Maria Kompf)

Our pageant was hosted in the Ordos Grand Theater, which borders the Mongolian plains. We rehearsed for three days straight, struggling to perfect our dance moves in sequined miniskirts and Plexiglas stilettos. With three costume changes, a song and dance routine, and a talent competition, practice was essential.

"Open your eyes and smile, girls!" our choreographer yelled dutifully from the front of the stage. Next to me, a young Ukrainian girl translated this command to her peers. At least half of the 40 or so models in attendance did not speak English.

On the night of our pageant, the theater was nearly empty. A few Ordos residents who had been invited (it was free) clapped idly in the audience. Our pageant mirrored the trademarked international beauty contest, Miss Universe, precisely—complete with national costumes, a talent contest, and the announcement of the top 10 finalists.

In reality, the top 10 had been chosen days before, when we’d piled off a dusty tour bus into the amphitheater where the pageant was held. We’d lined up in rows as a polished woman coordinating the event strolled by, inspecting us closely. Ten were asked to step forward, then five, Anna among them. The winner was kept a secret until the night of the pageant.

And there we were: in the final moments. The chosen five huddled onstage in anticipation, Anna grasping hands with the other finalists in mock excitement. For no discernible reason, footage from a real, American Victoria’s Secret fashion show streamed above us as our host, a tow-headed, middle-aged Westerner-for-hire, pulled an index card from his pocket. Miss Universe, he announced proudly, was Kristina, Miss Montenegro.

I waved at Anna from backstage. Had she wanted to win? Was she disappointed? She laughed, shrugged, and gave me a tiny, pageant-style wave. Wrist left. Wrist right. Then she turned towards the audience, opened her eyes, and smiled wide. I suppose I could have posted this on the Chinese-Counterfeits (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?57980-Chinese-Counterfeits) thread. :p

GeneChing

01-15-2015, 10:23 AM

...but a ttt 4 2015! ;)

See the gorgeous top-ranked Miss Campuses from universities across China (http://en.rocketnews24.com/2015/01/14/see-the-gorgeous-top-ranked-miss-campuses-from-universities-across-china/)

Krista Rogers 2 days ago

Meg Sawai, an editor for our Japanese sister site and all-around Chinese news liaison, was browsing the net last week when she stumbled upon the recently released Top 30 Face Ranking of all Miss Campuses across China. Intrigued, she opened the list to see who would take the top spot. Get ready to meet some of the lovely–and intellectual–ladies from universities across China!

The definitive Top 30 Miss Campus Ranking was revealed on a special university page at Chinese web portal Weavi. Below, we’ve listed the university names and locations of the Top 10 Miss Campuses in English:

1. Chongqing University (重慶大学), Chongqing

2. Fudan University (復旦大学), Shanghai

3. Renmin University of China (中国人民大学), Beijing

4. Sichuan University (四川大学), Chengdu

5. Peking University (北京大学), Beijing

6. Shanghai Jiao Tong University (上海交通大学), Shanghai

7. Xiamen University (厦门大学), Xiamen/Amoy

8. Nanjing University (南京大学), Nanjing

9. Zhejiang University (浙江大学), Hangzhou

10. Tsinghua University (清華大学), Beijing

▼Here’s the complete Top 30 Ranking for our Chinese-reading visitors:

https://sociorocketnewsen.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/134.jpg?w=580

And there you have it. According to Meg, Chinese people have traditionally said that women from Chongqing and the Sichuan region of China are famous for being especially pretty, so let’s keep our eyes peeled on Miss Campuses Numbers 1 and 4. Supposedly, the high humidity and spicy foods consumed in these regions lead to high metabolisms and smooth-looking skin (whether these general beliefs are scientifically accurate or not remains to be seen).

Based on the chart, the No. 1 Miss Campus in all of China is Miss Li Yun Xi (李韻熙). The 23-year-old is actually from Gansu Province in the northwestern area of the country, but she is more than happy to be called “a girl of Chingqing.” She is also said to be an unassuming, intellectual woman who is currently enrolled in graduate school. When she was judged the Most Beautiful Miss Campus in all of China, her humble response was: “My tests are coming up so I would be really happy if everyone cheered for me!”

▼ The No. 1 Miss Campus in all of China, Miss Li Yun Xi

https://sociorocketnewsen.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/314.jpg?w=580&h=773

https://sociorocketnewsen.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/414.jpg?w=580&h=435

▼ Would you mind sitting next to her in class every day?

https://sociorocketnewsen.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/513.jpg?w=580&h=873

Let’s take a look at the other top five winners as well!

▼Here are the second place winners (presumably tied), Miss Sun Yu Meng (孫雨朦) and her twin sister, Miss Sun Yu Tong (孫雨彤), from Fudan University in Shanghai.

https://sociorocketnewsen.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/613.jpg?w=580&h=582

▼In third place is Miss Kang Yi Kun (康逸琨) from Renmin University of China in Beijing.

https://sociorocketnewsen.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/78.jpg?w=580&h=606

▼Fourth place goes to Miss Fu Meng Ni (付夢妮), a student at Sichuan University in Chengdu.

https://sociorocketnewsen.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/87.jpg?w=580&h=784

▼And in fifth place, we have Peking University’s Miss Yuan Jia Yi (袁佳怡).

https://sociorocketnewsen.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/98.jpg?w=580&h=626

▼By the way, Miss Zhang Ze Tian (章澤天) aka “Milk Tea Girl” of Beijing’s Tsinghua University is in tenth place. She became a hot topic a few years back for showing her armpit hair during a cheerleading routine.

https://sociorocketnewsen.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/107.jpg?w=580&h=788

Let’s hear it for all the ladies with beauty and brains! Good luck with your future studies.

Original article by Meg Sawai
Sources/Images: CQNews (1, 2), MSN Photo Eastday, Sina Weibo (all Chinese)

GeneChing

01-23-2015, 10:32 AM

Srsly? Wth?

miss universe 2015: Contestants take part in national costume show, in pictures (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/worldnews/11362505/miss-universe-2015-contestants-take-part-in-national-costume-show-in-pictures.html?frame=3173211)

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/03173/Miss-Universe-cana_3173211k.jpg

jolly hockey sticks: Miss canada, chanel beckenlehnerpicture: Splash news

sanjuro_ronin

01-23-2015, 11:40 AM

Nice pucks.
:D

-N-

01-23-2015, 01:38 PM

Srsly? Wth?

I thought it was a photoshop when I first saw it.

GeneChing

01-26-2015, 10:05 AM

Miss Indonesia Wins Best National Costume At Miss Universe 2014 (http://hollywoodlife.com/2015/01/25/miss-indonesia-wins-best-national-costume-miss-universe-pic/)
Sun, January 25, 2015 11:46pm EST by Avery Thompson
https://pmchollywoodlife.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/miss-indonedia-universe-2015-costume-lead.jpg?w=600

After 88 amazing and outrageous Miss Universe costumes, only one could be deemed the winner. Miss Indonesia took home the top prize for her stunning costume!

Miss Indonesia Elvira Devinamira is the world’s pick for Best National Costume at the 2014 Miss Universe pageant. The gorgeous lady was awarded the honor for her breathtaking costume inspired by a Buddhist temple in her home country!

Inspired by a Buddhist temple. :rolleyes: Man, they should make one inspired by the Vatican, or maybe Mecca. :eek:

Of course, Miss Colombia won.

Paulina Vega: Miss Colombia Wins Miss Universe 2014
Sun, January 25, 2015 11:50pm EST by Caitlin Beck

https://pmchollywoodlife.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/miss-colombia-winner-miss-universe-2015-lead-1.jpg?w=600
Paulina Vega Wins Miss Universe
Getty

Congratulations, Paulina Vega! The Colombian beauty was crowned the 2014 winner of the Miss Universe pageant!

So exciting! Miss Colombia Paulina Vega, 22, was named 2014’s Miss Universe! After a rigorous competition starting with 88 girls from around the world showing off their stunning beauty and talent at the FIU Arena in Miami, Florida, the stunner went home the ultimate winner over Miss USA Nia Sanchez!

And just for the record here (FOR ALL YOU COSTUMED CANADIANS), our own Miss U.S.A. place second. And we luv her because she's a TKD (http://www.martialartsmart.com/tae-kwon-do-styles.html) black belt.

Nevada's Sanchez a runner-up at Miss Universe (http://www.rgj.com/story/news/2015/01/25/nevadas-sanchez-final-five-miss-universe/22332861/)
Kelli Kennedy 8:45 a.m. PST January 26, 2015

http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/97c6a849d7e26eaa90c230075822a07af5b42924/c=1542-103-3548-1611&r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/Reno/2015/01/25/B9316002930Z.1_20150125230227_000_GIS9P6Q8U.1-0.jpg
(Photo: AFP/Getty Images)

MIAMI – Miss Colombia Paulina Vega has been crowned Miss Universe in pageant in Miami, beating out contestants from 88 other countries.

Miss USA Nia Sanchez of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Miss Ukraine Diana Harkusha were the runners-up during Sunday's competition in Miami.

Vega is from Barranquilla, Colombia and is studying business administration. She said the contests leading to MIss Universe were the first she'd participated in and will be her last as she's eager to return to her studies in business administration.

The 22-year-old is the granddaughter of a legendary tenor, Gastón Vega.

Miss Colombia Paulina Vega has been crowned Miss Universe, beating out first runner-up Miss USA Nia Sanchez and contestants from more than 80 other countries. (Jan. 26)

Earlier this week she said, "It will be a dream come true to represent the woman of today. A woman that not only care about being beautiful and being glamorous, but also cares about being a professional, intelligent, hard-working person."

The other finalists chosen from among the 88 contestants were Miss Jamaica Kaci Fennell and Miss Netherlands Yasmin Verheijen.

Sanchez, a 24-year-old contestant from Las Vegas, Nevada, said she was looking forward to the often-dreaded interview portion. She had been running practice questions all week with her roommate Miss Australia Tegan Martin, who made it to the top ten.

Sanchez has a fourth-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and has traveled the country teaching others. She spoke earlier in the competition about equipping women to defend themselves against crime.

"It's just something that's so prevalent in our society and why not empower women to take control of a dangerous situation into their own hand," she said.

"Today Show" personality Natalie Morales was hosting the show. And before Miss Universe, Gabriela Isler of Venezuela, crowned the next winner, viewers were to hear performances from singers Nick Jonas and Prince Royce.

Miss Jamaica Kaci Fennell has stood out during the competition with her short, spiky haircut.

"I don't have long tresses like everyone else, I'm just representing myself and that's what beauty pageants are all about," said Fennell, who wore a long, red beaded evening gown. "You don't have to look a certain way … and I feel like I represent that."

Crowd favorite Miss Venezuela Migbelis Lynette Castellanos was cut after the top ten. She had tremendous support and pressure locally and back home. The Miami suburb of Doral, which is hosting the women during their stay, is also known as "Doralzuela" for its many Venezuelan residents. Three of the last six Miss Universe titles have gone to Venezuela, where beauty pageants are big business.

GeneChing

02-26-2015, 04:56 PM

Beauty pageant runner-up rips crown from winner's pretty head (http://mashable.com/2015/02/03/beauty-pageant-brawl-brazil/)
By Annie Colbert Feb 03, 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UfGUam-TCA

Smile, turn and rip the tiara off any sequin-clad lady who stands in your way.

The Miss Amazonas beauty pageant in Manaus, Brazil, looked more like a UFC fight on Friday when runner-up Sheislane Hayalla violently grabbed the crown off winner Carol Toledo's head and strutted off stage. Before sashaying behind the curtain, Hayalla blew a kiss to the crowd because, well, she still had a chance at Miss Congeniality. Or at least Miss Back the Eff Up.
Gotta luv Brazilian beauty queens!

fimed

03-06-2015, 11:48 PM

I don't believe in this kind of beauty.. Which come from wrong places.. The beauty queens whatever it is miss India, Miss africa, Miss world and Miss Asia.. They always come from dump places or dirty places.They are not pure by their soul and work too..

GeneChing

03-10-2015, 09:25 AM

wtf = world taekwondo federation. ;)

Vietnam Taekwondo player faces fine for entering beauty pageant in Thailand (http://www.thanhniennews.com/arts-culture/vietnam-taekwondo-player-faces-fine-for-entering-beauty-pageant-in-thailand-39463.html)
Thanh Nien News
Friday, March 06, 2015 07:00

http://static.tnn.epi.vn/uploaded/danghanh/2015_03_06/mr1_gnqb.jpg?width=840
Nguyen Van Son, 21, competes in the Mister Global contest in Thailand. Photo courtesy of Mister Global.

Authorities on Friday said they have never granted any permission for Nguyen Van Son, a member of the national Taekwondo team, to compete in an ongoing male beauty contest in Thailand.
The 21-year-old athlete will face a fine of up to VND30 million (US$1,500) for the violation, local media reported.
Over the past two years, nearly a dozen of Vietnamese women have entered beauty pageants without any official endorsements and then faced penalties soon after their homecomings.

http://static.tnn.epi.vn/uploaded/danghanh/2015_03_06/mr_ngdh.jpg?width=840
Nguyen Van Son poses in an army uniform for the Mister Global contest.

Under a rule, those who want to compete in a beauty contest abroad must have at least one national title before being selected by the culture ministry to represent the country.
Son, who has won 15 medals at national and regional Taekwondo tournaments, did not have any beauty title.

Mister Global
Despite the pending fine, Son is still preparing for the final gala on Saturday of the Mister Global pageant, organized for the second time in Bangkok.
He said he was invited by the contest’s organizers, asking for support from his fans from home.
The man, who is 1.93 meters tall, has been considered one of the front runners.
At the national costume competition, Son chose to wear a uniform of the Vietnamese army, which sparked controversy among many Vietnamese.
There have also been rumors that he underwent plastic surgeries

I don't believe in this kind of beauty.. Which come from wrong places.. The beauty queens whatever it is miss India, Miss africa, Miss world and Miss Asia.. They always come from dump places or dirty places.They are not pure by their soul and work too.. Speaking of Indian beauty queens, I'm still in love with Ash. And let's not forget that Michelle Yeoh started as a beauty queen. A lotus arises from a muddy swamp.

GeneChing

05-01-2015, 08:42 AM

There's a vid if you follow the link. The vid really makes this story. :cool:

Miss USA Nia Sanchez shows off martial arts moves (http://www.myfoxny.com/story/28946885/miss-usa-nia-sanchez-martial-arts)
Posted: Apr 30, 2015 3:33 PM PST
Updated: Apr 30, 2015 3:36 PM PST
By BARUCH SHEMTOV, Fox 5 Reporter

NEW YORK (MYFOXNY) -

Miss USA Nia Sanchez is also a fourth-degree black belt in tae kwon do, so who better to teach us some self-defense?

She learned martial arts when she was a child. And after being crowned Miss USA last year, Nia is spreading her message of empowerment by teaching self-defense classes like this one at Hunter College.

Miss USA demonstrated her top three moves on the students and on me.

As she prepares to pass her crown to the next Miss USA in July, Nia Sanchez hopes to pursue a career in television.

-N-

05-01-2015, 10:42 AM

There's a vid if you follow the link. The vid really makes this story. :cool:

Lol. Those were some pretty poor body mechanics.

Does she get sued by victims with false sense of confidence against real attackers?

GeneChing

05-01-2015, 11:44 AM

I'd like to see you teach TKD in heels and a tight skirt.

Okay, wait, nix that. :eek:

http://www.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/201458/rs_634x1024-140608204314-634-2miss-usa-nevada-bikini.ls.6714.jpg

You really think you could sue for that? :rolleyes:

-N-

05-01-2015, 12:29 PM

I'd like to see you teach TKD in heels and a tight skirt.

Okay, wait, nix that. :eek:

Lol. Ok, that pic makes up for everything :)

But seriously, she talks about using body weight, and she just muscles it.

I'll feel sorry for the ones that find out too late when some big guy grabs them.

Tight skirt no excuse. She still could have turned and dropped her weight without taking a wide step on the grab escapes.

Even a wide step behind the attacker with the fake headlock would turn her counter from wishful thinking to something that actually might work. Maybe immodest if her skirt hikes up, but part of self defense is not to be embarassed about shouting or whatever it takes.

Really, that video was just an eye candy entertainment piece for people that don't know anything.

boxerbilly

05-01-2015, 04:42 PM

...or perhaps totally on T.

I like this one,

GeneChing

05-28-2015, 02:15 PM

And once again, this random topic becomes on topic. :cool:

Miss World 2015: Beauty pageant to be held in China (http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/miss-world-2015-beauty-pageant-be-held-china-1503130)
By Simi John
May 27, 2015 11:46 BST

http://d.ibtimes.co.uk/en/full/1440657/miss-world-2015.jpg
Rolene Strauss of South Africa (C) is crowned Miss World 2014 by Miss World 2013, Megan Young of the Philippines (C rear), as Elizabeth Safrit of the US (R) and Edina Kulczar of Hungary (L) who were placed third and second respectively, look on at the ExCel Centre in east London, December 14, 2014 Reuters

The 65th annual Miss World pageant final will take place on 19 December at the Beauty Crown Grand Theatre in Sanya, China.

"We warmly welcome the Miss World family to our forever tropical paradise - Sanya, China. The Beauty Crown Complex offers a breathtaking combination of stunning architecture, luxurious accommodation, exquisite cuisine and world class entertainment. What better way to celebrate our 65th year," Julia Morley, Chairwoman of the Miss World Organisation said.

According to the pageant's website, the country will be hosting the annual event for the sixth time this year.

At the coronation night, Rolene Strauss of South Africa will pass on the crown to her successor.

The Miss World contest is one of the oldest international beauty pageants and was first created in the UK in 1951 by Eric Morley. The original contest was introduced as part of the Festival of Britain celebrations.

In 1951, 26 women competed for the crown, with Sweden's Kiki Haakonson named the first Miss World.

Throughout the 1950s, the swimsuit outfits caught attention from the public. Within a few years, it garnered a global audience when it was televised by the BBC from 1959 to 1979 and then Thames Television until 1988. In 1970, the competition hosted by Bob Hope was the single most-watched show of the year in Britain.

Miss World contestants compete in various categories such as top model, sports, multimedia and Beauty with a Purpose. According to the tradition, the winner will spend the winning year in London and travelling to represent the Miss World Organisation (MWO) and its causes.

GeneChing

06-26-2015, 08:38 AM

Now he'd going to sue. You'd think a tycoon of his magnitude would have better business sense. :rolleyes:

Univision Cuts Ties With Trump After Comments About Immigrants (http://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2015/06/25/417586527/univision-cuts-ties-with-trump-after-comments-about-immigrants)
June 25, 2015 8:12 PM ET
Greg Allen 2010

http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2015/06/25/ap_714242070905_wide-51581559e77d69cba659c6bf245b0acbe03482c9-s800-c85.jpg
Donald Trump is just a week into his presidential bid, and he is in hot water over comments he made about a key voting bloc, Latinos.
Jim Cole/AP

Following comments Donald Trump made about Mexican immigrants during his presidential announcement last week, Univision, the nation's largest Spanish-language TV network, has announced it is cutting ties with Trump and dropping plans to broadcast the Miss Universe Pageant.

Trump, the businessman and now-presidential candidate, co-owns the pageant.

"When do we beat Mexico at the border?" Trump said during his lengthy presidential announcement speech at Trump Tower in New York. "They're sending people that have lots of problems, and they're bringing those problems with us. They're bringing drugs, they're bringing crime. They're rapists. And some, I assume, are good people."

Trump's main theme was that the country is in serious trouble. He talked about the need for America to begin beating China in trade and Japan in manufacturing.

But it was Trump's comments about immigrants from Mexico that have earned him the anger of many Hispanics.

"I was listening to it in the car on the way to work, and by the time I got to the office, everybody was talking about it," said Roberto Orci of Acento Advertising, a Hispanic agency in Los Angeles.

Trump's comments are just the type the Republican Party has been looking to avoid. The Republican National Committee underwent serious self-reflection following President Obama's re-election, initiating an "autopsy" of what went wrong. It determined it had to reach out to minorities to strike a more inclusive tone.

After Trump's speech, Sean Spicer, the RNC's chief strategist, said on CNN that Trump's "broad brush" on Mexican Americans is "not helpful to the cause."

Trump didn't limit himself to insulting Mexican immigrants and Mexican Americans. Later in the speech, he blasted immigrants coming from "all over South and Latin America."

"With one short speech about us," Orci said, "he tarred the entire Latino culture as being rapists and murderers and terrorists."

In the days following the speech, Hispanic leaders and commentators excoriated Trump. Jorge Ramos, Univision's news anchor, said Trump had become "the Hispanic community's most hated man."

Now, Univision has backed up Ramos' comments with action. The network announced it is ending its relationship with Trump and the Miss Universe Pageant, which he co-owns. It is an announcement that likely comes with a cost. Univision just signed a five-year deal with the pageant in January. The Los Angeles Times reports Univision has already paid $2.5 million for this year's pageant rights — rights the company now says it will not exercise.

With his comments, Trump has alienated a key part of the pageant's core audience. Viewership for the Miss Universe Pageant has declined steeply in recent years among every demographic group except one — Hispanics.

Carlos Santiago advises companies on how best to reach the growing Hispanic market. He said Trump's comments have hurt the pageant's connection to Latinos.

"Donald Trump himself has been extremely marketing-oriented and growing brands," Santiago said. "So, he must know the value that the pageant and the Miss Universe brand has among Hispanics."

Trump said he plans to sue Univision for breach of contract. And today, he blamed Univision's actions on the Mexican government. He claimed Mexico was putting pressure on the network because of his opposition to trade deals with that country.

Miss Universe is scheduled for January. But the Miss USA Pageant, a Miss Universe preliminary, is set for next month. Following Univision's decision, the pageant hasn't just lost a broadcaster; two of the event's hosts said they were also dropping out.

The controversy seems unlikely to fade, especially now that Trump is an official candidate for president. With his high name recognition, he places highly in many polls and is likely to be included in the first two Republican presidential debates scheduled for August.

NPR's Domenico Montanaro contributed to this report.

GeneChing

06-29-2015, 05:24 PM

Now where am I going to watch the pageant? :p

NBC dumps Donald Trump for making derogatory comments about immigrants (http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-nbc-dumps-trump-immigration-comments-20150629-story.html)

http://www.trbimg.com/img-5591946a/turbine/la-et-ct-nbc-dumps-trump-over-immigration-comm-001/750/750x422
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks to members of the City Club of Chicago on Monday. (Charles Rex Arbogast / Associated Press)
By Stephen Battaglio contact the reporter

NBCUniversal delivered a message to Donald Trump over his recent remarks regarding immigrants: "You're fired."

In a statement issued Monday, the company said it is severing ties with the real estate mogul and reality TV star who is pursuing the 2016 Republican nomination for president. He will no longer be a part of the reality competition "Celebrity Apprentice" and his two beauty pageants, Miss USA and Miss Universe, will no longer air on NBC.

"At NBC, respect and dignity for all people are cornerstones of our values," the statement said. "Due to the recent derogatory statements by Donald Trump regarding immigrants, NBCUniversal is ending its business relationship with Mr. Trump."

NBC added it will continue to be in business with Mark Burnett's United Artists Media Group, which produces "Celebrity Apprentice." It will likely air with another high-profile entrepreneur as the star, according to an NBCUniversal executive not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

Trump has been under fire since his June 16 presidential campaign announcement in which he made derogatory comments regarding Mexican immigrants while criticizing U.S. government efforts to secure the U.S.-Mexican border.

“The U.S. has become a dumping ground for everybody else’s problems,” Trump told supporters last week during his nearly 45-minute speech at Trump Tower. “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us.

http://www.trbimg.com/img-5580a54d/turbine/la-donald-trump-poses-with-family-after-candidacy-announcement-20150616/750/750x422

"They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists," Trump went on, adding, "And some, I assume, are good people.”

Spanish-language broadcaster Univision was the first to take action in response to the remarks, announcing it would not air the Miss Universe pageant scheduled for July 12. The network had recently signed a five-year deal to carry the event. Trump has said he will sue Univision for breach of contract.

Trump did not mention any legal action when the NBC announcement was brought up during his appearance at a City Club luncheon in Chicago, saying he was "OK" with the company's decision.

"As long as I was running for president, they were not happy with it," Trump said. "They wanted me to do 'The Apprentice.' And now with my statements on immigration, which happen to be correct, they are going to take a different stance so that's OK. Whatever they want to do is OK with me... I think as far as ending the relationship, I have to do that, because my view on immigration is much different than the people at NBC."

But in a statement issued by the Trump Organization, Trump later said “violating closure of Miss Universe/Miss USA will be determined in court."

He added a shot at disgraced NBC News anchor Brian Williams, who was recently deomoted from his job at "NBC Nightly News."

"[NBC] will stand behind lying Brian Williams, but won’t stand behind people that tell it like it is, as unpleasant as that may be,” the statement read.

UPDATE

12:55 p.m.: This post has been updated with comments from Trump.

The post was originally published at 11:54 a.m.

GeneChing

07-02-2015, 04:06 PM

Ninjas shouldn't replace beauty queens. Beauty queens should train to be ninjas (http://www.martialartsmart.com/ninja-styles.html).

NBC Names Miss USA Timeslot Understudy; Mexico Bails On Miss Universe (http://deadline.com/2015/06/nbc-miss-usa-timeslot-donald-trump-mexico-bails-miss-universe-1201464655/)
by Lisa de Moraes
June 30, 2015 11:41am

https://pmcdeadline2.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/donald-trump.jpg?w=446&h=299&crop=1
Image: Fox News

Donald Trump’s campaign comments about Mexican immigrants continues to cause beauty-pageant chaos.

NBC just announced it will air its “USA Vs. The World” episode of American Ninja Warrior on July 12 in the timeslot where it was to have aired the Miss USA Pageant. Fitting, somehow. NBC announced yesterday it would not air either the upcoming Miss USA pageant, scheduled for July 12, or the Miss Universe pageants, both of which it co-owns with Trump, and was ending its relationship with Trump in the wake of his radioactive comments.

Meanwhile, Reuters reported last night Mexico is not sending a contestant to this year’s Miss Universe pageant after part owner and POTUS candidate Trump made comments about Mexican immigrants. The announcement was made by Mexican broadcaster Televisa which, Reuters explained, organizes the pageant to select a Mexican candidate for the pageant.

“For Televisa, any commercial relationship with the Miss Universe pageant and with the companies of the Trump organization is unacceptable,” Televisa said last night in a statement. Four days earlier, Spanish-language Univision, which is part-owned by Televisa, said it would not air the Miss USA pageant on July 12 and cut ties to the Miss Universe Organization, Reuters said.

NBC’s scheduling update comes hours after the 2015 Miss USA pageant organizers issued a statement saying the pageant still will take place on July 12, though NBC and Univision both have bailed on broadcasting the annual event in the wake of Trump’s controversial remarks.

Yesterday, in announcing its decision, NBC said, “At NBC, respect and dignity for all people are cornerstones of our values.”

“Due to the recent derogatory statements by Donald Trump regarding immigrants, NBCUniversal is ending its business relationship with Mr. Trump.”

Univision beat NBC to the punch by a week, which left some industry pundits wondering what took NBC so long; the day Trump made his controversial remarks, NBC issued a statement saying it did not endorse them.

The real estate tycoon, who has said he will sue Univision and may sue NBC as well, made the radioactive remarks earlier this month as he announced his POTUS candidacy:

“When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re not sending you. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”

GeneChing

07-02-2015, 04:08 PM

Macys pulls out too. Nice move, Donald. Very presidential.

First on CNN: Macy's dumps Donald Trump (http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/01/politics/donald-trump-macys/)
By MJ Lee, CNN Politics and Finance Reporter
Updated 6:35 PM ET, Wed July 1, 2015

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150701115834-donald-trump-close-up-2015-medium-plus-169.jpg

(CNN)Macy's is pulling Donald Trump brand merchandise from its stores after the Republican presidential candidate's recent controversial remarks created a public uproar.

The department store has come under intense pressure to cut ties with the real estate magnate and businessman after he referred to immigrants from Mexico and other countries "killers and rapists."

In a statement Wednesday morning, Macy's said the company "stands for diversity" and that it had no tolerance for discrimination.

"We are disappointed and distressed by recent remarks about immigrants from Mexico. We do not believe the disparaging characterizations portray an accurate picture of the many Mexicans, Mexican Americans and Latinos who have made so many valuable contributions to the success of our nation," Macy's said. "In light of statements made by Donald Trump, which are inconsistent with Macy's values, we have decided to discontinue our business relationship with Mr. Trump and will phase-out the Trump menswear collection, which has been sold at Macy's since 2004."

Macy's carries a variety of Donald Trump brand attire, including dress shirts, neckties and cuff links. Trump has also appeared in Macy's commercials.

A MoveOn.org petition calling on Macy's to sever its relationship with Trump had collected well over 700,000 signatures as of Wednesday morning.

"Donald Trump does not reflect 'the magic of Macy's,'" the petition reads. "Macy's says it has a strong obligation to be 'socially responsible' and that 'actions speak louder than words.' Indeed. It's time to act."
Real estate developer and entrepreneur Donald Trump has been in the spotlight for years. From producing and starring in TV shows to campaigning for the U.S. presidency, see how he's shaped his empire.

Angelo Carusone, who started the "Dump Trump" movement in 2012 to protest Trump's "birther" theories about President Barack Obama and launched the Macy's petition, lauded the department store for making the "right decision."

"The statement itself (from Macy's) basically confirms what we've been saying since day one: His brand, which is bigoted bullying, is inconsistent with Macy's brand," Carusone, the executive vice president of Media Matters, told CNN. "There's a line between being very opinionated and expressing yourself and communicating that and being reckless and destructive."

This is not the first fallout for Trump, who launched his White House bid in mid-June.

Last week, Univision announced that it would cancel its telecast of the Miss USA pageant, which is partially owned by Trump, and that it would cut all business ties with him.

NBCUniversal, which had jointly owned the Miss USA pageant and Miss Universe pageant with Trump, has also severed its relationship with the brash White House candidate. Trump was also the host of "Celebrity Apprentice," which airs on NBC, and will no longer be a part of the reality TV show.

Others are also openly chastising Trump.

Former New York Gov. George Pataki, who is also seeking the GOP presidential nomination, circulated a letter Wednesday calling on his party's fellow White House candidates to "denounce" Trump's remarks.

"Here we are in 2015 and a leading candidate for the GOP nomination for president is calling Mexicans criminals, rapists and drug dealers," Pataki wrote. "This is unacceptable."

Meanwhile, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that he will review the city's contracts with Trump, calling the business mogul's recent comments "disgusting," "offensive" and "hateful" in a statement.

A city official explained that the review will at least in part focus on the Trump Gold Links at Ferry Point in the Bronx. Trump won the contract to build this golf course under the city's previous mayor, Michael Bloomberg. The course opened earlier this year.

Trump said in a statement that it was his decision to terminate his relationship with Macy's, and accused both the department store and NBC for supporting illegal immigration.

"Both Macy's and NBC totally caved at the first sight of potential difficulty with special interest groups who are nothing more than professional agitators, who are not looking out for the people they purport to represent, but only for themselves. It is people like this that are actually running our country because our leaders are weak and ineffective," Trump said.

Macy's denied the claim that it was Trump's decision to sever ties.

"It was Macy's decision," a spokesman said in an email to CNN.

CNN's Jeremy Diamond and Brian Stelter contributed to this report

GeneChing

08-12-2015, 11:34 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mn_eK0ZdlRU
facebook tells me she is competing in Miss California. I know her coach.

GeneChing

09-14-2015, 09:28 AM

I was curious if there were any martial artist candidates in the recent Miss America pageant. Didn't find any but stumbled upon Jade. :cool:

Consett beauty queen turned gold medallist pulls no punches in fight for Olympic glory (http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/consett-beauty-queen-turned-gold-9902897)
12:00, 29 August 2015
By Will Metcalfe

Jade Slavin, 22, turned the tables on childhood bullies by using her tall frame to clinch Commonwealth gold as well as signing a modelling contract

http://i3.chroniclelive.co.uk/incoming/article9907646.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/JS48580457.jpg
Taekwondo champion Jade Slavin from Consett

You wouldn’t expect many models to pack a knock-out punch but one Consett lass does exactly that.

Jade Slavin has strutted her stuff modelling for online clothing giant Asos...but also won a gold medal in the Korean martial art of taekwondo at the 2014 Commonwealth championships.

And despite facing a fight back from a recurring hip injury, the 22-year-old now has her sights set on Olympic glory.

As a child, Jade’s tall frame left her the target of bullies. But the former pupil from St Bede’s, in Lanchester, County Durham, has put the name calling behind her.

She said: “Being tall and skinny makes you a target. But now I’ve used that to my strengths and being tall in taekwondo it really has its advantages.”

http://i4.chroniclelive.co.uk/incoming/article9908002.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/JS70390862.jpg
Jade Ashleigh Slavin practicing Taekwondo

Not only has Jade picked up Commonwealth gold, she was a finalist in the Miss Earth beauty pageant in 2013 - and the 6ft 2in athlete said the sport has helped boost her confidence as well as keeping her fit.

“I first started when I was nine and I got my black belt at 13,” Jade said.

“My dad took us initially as I started secondary school, he took me to help get some confidence as I was quite a shy child.

“I used to dream about doing this full time - I didn’t think I’d end up doing it.”

http://i1.chroniclelive.co.uk/incoming/article9908000.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/JS48581682.jpg
Model and Taekwondo champion Jade Slavin

Jade, who was born and raised in Consett, joined the GB Academy in Manchester after she completed her three-year sports exercise degree at Northumbria University.

After just four months as a full-time member she was selected for the prestigious World Grand Prix at Manchester Central.

With Rio 2016 less than a year away, Jade is realistic that a recurrent hip injury could get in the way of her qualifying this time around.

She said: “At the moment I’ve just had surgery on my hip so I’m out of training for a couple of months.

http://i2.chroniclelive.co.uk/incoming/article9907999.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/JS48581690.jpg
Gary Louth
Jade Slavin

“I’m just trying rehabilitation and physio it won’t be until January I’m competing again.

“Basically, training so much puts pressure on your hip.”

However, she is hopeful to fight back from fitness and said she may have an outside chance of reaching Brazil and, if not, there’s always the 2020 games.

She added: “With the injury it might be hard to get the right amount of points but there is a lot of competitions next year.

“If I don’t qualify then I might for the reserves and if not there’s always Tokyo 2020.”

And Jade hasn’t ruled out more modelling work in the future.

She said: “It is a strange combination and I’ve not done much since I started at the academy, but if anything did pop up I am sure I would be able to go for it.”

GeneChing

11-13-2015, 10:30 AM

More on Ms. Lin in our FALUN-GONG-Falun-Dafa (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?25214-FALUN-GONG-Falun-Dafa&p=1286402#post1286402)

Miss Canada says China is denying her Miss World pageant dreams because of her human rights advocacy (http://shanghaiist.com/2015/11/13/china_blocking_miss_canada_from_pageant.php)

http://shanghaiist.com/upload/2015/06/missworldcanada.jpg

Next month, China will host the finals for the 65th Miss World beauty contest at a seaside resort in Sanya, Hainan. However, with the deadline for registration a week away, it is still not clear if one particular contestant will be able to compete.

Anastasia Lin, the current Miss Canada, is reportedly being denied a Chinese visa, likely due to her advocacy of human rights causes in China, especially her speaking out against Beijing's persecution of Falun Gong adherents.
The 25-year-old Lin was born and raised in Hunan, but now has Canadian citizenship. She moved to the country at the age of 13 with her mother, going on to graduate from the University of Toronto and building a career as a model, actress and activist.

The cutoff date for entry into the beauty pageant is November 20th, but Lin, a follower of Falun Gong, has yet to receive an official invitation from inside China, without which she can not complete her Chinese visa application, reports Radio Canada International.

http://shanghaiist.com/attachments/alexlinder/missworldcanada2.jpg

According to The Globe and Mail, Lin says that all the other contestants already received their invitations last month. She believes that her outspoken views on human rights abuses in China have put her pageant chances in serious jeopardy and is calling for support.

“This is a moment when we show those who are trying to silence us who we are,” she said in an interview on Tuesday. “If everyone involved took a stance on this issue, I don’t think China would dare to bully.”
However, Ike Lalji, the chairman and chief executive of Miss World Canada, told Reuters that Lin's attitude has changed in the past two days and she is now willing to agree not to speak about human rights abuses in China if she is allowed to participate in the pageant finals. Reuters reports:

Ike Lalji, the chairman and chief executive of Miss World Canada, said he had assured officials at the pageant's London headquarters that Lin would focus on the contest and not "her cause" if she was allowed to attend the Dec. 19 contest final in Sanya, China.

"I guarantee if she goes there she will just focus on the competition, she will not get involved in her cause," Lalji said in a telephone interview. "It's a compromise."
Lin, who has consistently said she will not be silent told Reuters that she never agreed to any such arrangement.

"They can't guarantee anything without getting me involved, and this is the first time I've heard of this," Lin, 25, said in a telephone interview. "I have never agreed to such a thing."

http://shanghaiist.com/attachments/alexlinder/missworldcanad5.jpeg

When asked about Lin's delicate situation, Canadian officials have all said that they cannot comment, except to say that they strongly promote human rights.

However, The Globe and Mail got a more straight forward response from Lalji:

When asked about Ms. Lin’s status earlier this week, the legal associate at the group’s London head office, Jai Gillman-Smith, wrote, “I am at a loss to understand why you should be asking this question.” Ms. Gillman-Smith then pointed The Globe to its website, where Ms. Lin is still listed as a contestant.

Miss World Canada’s chief executive officer, Ike Lalji, however, acknowledged the visa wrinkle, saying that he will do his best to expedite the process through China’s consulate in Vancouver if Ms. Lin is approved for travel.

In the meantime, Mr. Lalji expressed uncertainty. “All the girls in the pageant are supporting some kind of cause: Human trafficking or bullying,” he said. “But her cause is directly related to China, so I don’t know how it will react.”

In an interview with RFA, Lin says she is still optistimic about her chances:

There are still 10 days to go, so we haven't given up hope yet. Miss World understands that I did a few things with the intention of helping some people out. I hope they will understand that was the whole reason I took part in this contest in the first place. Maybe they'll move the contest if the Chinese government doesn't give me a visa.

I am 25 years old, and I just graduated from college. I don't represent a threat of any kind to them. I just wanted to speak out on behalf of some Chinese people. I think that it would show the world how international they've become if they allowed me to go.

http://shanghaiist.com/attachments/alexlinder/missworldcanada3.jpg

Earlier this year, Lin penned an op-ed in The Washington Post claiming that her father, who still lives in China, had started receiving threats from Chinese security agents complaining about his daughter's human rights advocacy.

Despite the threats, Lin vowed to carry on her work. In the article she wrote:

Many people have asked me why I have continued speaking out after my father was threatened. The answer is simple: If I allow myself to be intimidated, then I am complicit in continued human rights abuses. If I and others who share my concerns allow ourselves to be silenced, the Communist Party will continue abusing its people with impunity.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@shanghaiist.com with further questions, comments or tips.
By Alex Linder in News on Nov 13, 2015 7:00 PM

GeneChing

11-23-2015, 10:04 AM

Taiwan/PRC relationships. As chummy as always...:rolleyes:

Taiwan Beauty Queen Refuses to Wear 'Chinese Taipei' Sash, Dropped Out from Miss Earth 2015 (http://www.chinatopix.com/articles/69246/20151123/taiwan-beauty-queen-refuses-wear-chinese-taipei-sash-dropped-out.htm)
By Charissa Echavez | Nov 23, 2015 09:43 AM EST

http://images.chinatopix.com/data/images/full/63877/taiwan-beauty-queen-carrying-her-taiwan-roc-sash.jpg?w=600
Ting Wen-yin Taiwan's representative for the 2015 Miss Earth has been sidelined from the pageant after insisting on wearing a sash written "Taiwan ROC" instead of one with the words "Chinese Taipei."(Photo : Ting Wen-yin Official Facebook Page)
Taiwan's representative for this year's Miss Earth in Vienna has reportedly been dropped out of the prestigious competition following her refusal to wear the "Miss Chinese Taipei" sash instead of one with the text "Miss Taiwan ROC" that she was carrying.

22-year-old Ting Wen-yin expressed her sentiments on her official Facebook page revealing that she had been summoned before going to Vienna over China's possible political pressure.
"I told them 30,000 times that Taiwan is Taiwan," Ting posted. "I was born in Taiwan, my sash now says Taiwan, I represent Taiwan, and I'm going to use the name of Taiwan in appearing at this pageant."
"Their response to me was, 'change your sash or just leave'. Today, they did not allow me to stand on stage and photographers were not allowed to take my pictures," she added.
Seemingly not too affected by the circumstance, the Taiwanese beauty queen further warned her fans about the deceiving photos they see. She divulged instances where she felt like they were "treated little better than prisoners."
She recalled two instances when they had to pay for their own lunch because the pageant coordinator failed to provide for them. And "Over the last three nights, we were shuffled from nightclub to nightclub, wearing beautiful clothes to talk and dance with men. I felt like a club hostess," she said.
Contestant from Taiwan have always carried the "Miss Taiwan ROC" name since the pageant began in 2001, according to the Shanghaiist. Instead of taking things negatively, Ting thought of it more as "a blessing in disguise."
Another beauty queen walking against the perilous path of politics is Anastasia Lin, Miss World Canada 2015, who was allegedly denied entry to China because of her human rights advocacy.
Just like Lin, Hunan-born Ting Wen-yin is also an advocate and a Falun Gong follower herself and her father has allegedly also been receiving threats from the Chinese authorities.

bawang

11-24-2015, 06:26 PM

Just like Lin, Hunan-born Ting Wen-yin is also an advocate and a Falun Gong

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzjtPtOH-Hg

GeneChing

01-19-2016, 02:06 PM

Saturday, 9 January 2016 Source: Livefmghana.com
Video: Inside Brazil’s biggest prison beauty pageant (http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Video-Inside-Brazil-s-biggest-prison-beauty-pageant-406384?ref=ghanacelebrities.com)

Brazil, known for its beautiful beaches and beautiful people, is home to the biggest pageants in the world. Each year, Miss World, Miss Universe, and Miss Earth are crowned in the country. And at the Penitenciaria Feminina da Capital in Sao Paolo—South America’s largest all-female maximum security prison—so is Miss Max.

Unlike traditional pageants, the contestants competing for the title of Miss Max are currently serving long sentences for crimes like drug trafficking, kidnapping, and even homicide. They are, however, judged using the standard pageant criteria: beauty, poise, and talent—plus their record of good behavior. This year, LGBTQ inmates can also vie for the title of Mr. Congeniality.

Broadly travel to Sao Paolo, Brazil, to capture the days of preparation leading up to the crowning of Miss Max, which includes runway training from a professional choreographer and a day of hair and makeup courtesy of some of Brazil’s best stylists. We also talk with the incarcerated contestants about how a beauty competition can help them temporarily escape the monotony of their lives behind bars.

Watch the video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3f-kl9l0bDw

Man, the Brazil Olympics (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?68588-2016-Olympics) are going to be great this year! :D

GeneChing

01-29-2016, 02:47 PM

Stormy Keffeler is a great name, like a Bond girl name.

Miss Washington USA resigns title after DUI disclosure (http://www.norwalkreflector.com/Art-Culture/2016/01/15/Pageant-winner.html?ci=stream&lp=12&p=)
BY CHRISTINE CLARRIDGE • UPDATED JAN 15, 2016 AT 8:17 PM

http://www.norwalkreflector.com/image/2016/01/15/640x/Keffeler5-jpg.jpg
http://www.norwalkreflector.com/image/2016/01/15/640x/Keffeler1-jpg.jpg
http://www.norwalkreflector.com/image/2016/01/15/640x/Keffeler6-jpg.jpg
http://www.norwalkreflector.com/image/2016/01/15/640x/Keffeler4-jpg.jpg

SEATTLE — Stormy Keffeler, crowned Miss Washington USA in October, resigned her title Thursday amid a scandal that she did not disclose a drunken-driving conviction before the pageant, according to an official with the Miss Washington USA Pageant.

First runner-up Kelsey Schmidt will assume the title immediately, according to Maureen Francisco, co-executive producer of Northwest Productions and Miss Washington USA. Schmidt will represent the state at the USA event later this year.

In an interview Thursday, Francisco urged people not to judge Keffeler, saying, “This is a very unfortunate incident, but I want people to remember some of the things they did at 20. We all do stupid things.”

Keffeler, 23, could not be reached for comment.

According to Seattle police, Keffeler was stopped by police on April 7, 2015, while driving a car with two flat tires.

Documents filed in Seattle Municipal Court indicate her blood-alcohol level was above the legal limit for driving and Keffeler pleaded guilty to DUI in September.

She was sentenced to two days in jail, which she served in the Kirkland jail, the records show.

Hailing from Monroe, Wash., Keffeler also is a football player for the Seattle Mist of the Legends Football League — a women's 7-on-7 tackle football league in which games are played in the spring and summer at NBA, NFL, NHL and MLS arenas and stadiums.

The concept of the LFL originated from a 2004 alternative Super Bowl halftime television special called the Lingerie Bowl, a pay-per-view event broadcast opposite the Super Bowl halftime show.

Keffeler was one of the Mist’s rookies during their 2013 season which saw them grab their first division title. Trying out among a field of 500 women, she earned a roster spot as a center and linebacker. In three games, Keffeler accumulated 2.5 tackles in limited playing time.

In March 2013, she was crowned Miss Washington Miss while Claire Sorgen of Sultan was crowned Miss Washington Preteen at the annual Miss Washington International Junior Miss pageant.

Competing in the 2014 Miss Washington USA beauty pageant, she was looking to become the first female football player to participate in the pageant’s semi-finals.

———

GeneChing

07-28-2016, 09:42 AM

https://thenanfang.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/colombian-model-china-drugs-arrest5.jpg

Colombian Beauty Queen Gets 15 Years in Prison in China For Smuggling Drugs (https://thenanfang.com/colombian-beauty-queen-sentenced-15-years-drug-smuggling/)
Cocaine found in her laptop

Charles Liu, July 28, 2016 11:36am

A would-be beauty queen has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for drug smuggling in China and will be deported after she serves her time.

Juliana Lopez Sarrazola, a Columbian citizen, had travelled to Guangzhou on July 18 to participate in the Miss World Medellin beauty pageant. When she landed, she was arrested with 610 grams of cocaine hidden inside her laptop computer, say Chinese authorities.

Sarrazola, 23, had agreed to smuggle the drugs for a Colombian drug dealer named “Sergio” in order to earn money to attend the Miss World pageant, reported the Yangcheng Evening Report.

According to the paper, Sarrazola was paid $776 in cash and given free air tickets and hotel accommodation. She would have received another $2,500 if she successfully smuggled the drugs into the country.

Sarrazola’s lawyers had asked the court for leniency on the grounds that Sergio had threatened to kill her family if she refused to comply with his demands.

According to official figures, more than a hundred Colombians are currently being held in China, almost all due to drug-related issues.

Source: Shanghai Daily
Photos: Next Shark, Fox News

Do NOT mess with drug smuggling in China.

GeneChing

08-18-2016, 12:01 PM

State-Run Chinese Bookstore Jumps In, Calling Miss Michigan “Ugly” and a “Traitor” (https://thenanfang.com/state-run-chinese-bookstore-calls-miss-michigan-ugly-traitor/)
Alleges Weibo account was hacked

Charles Liu, August 11, 2016 11:36am (updated)

China’s largest nationwide state-run bookstore chain is in hot water after calling Arianna Quan, the newly-crowned Miss Michigan, “ugly” and a “traitor” for betraying “her country”.

https://thenanfang.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/xinhua-bookstore-slams-miss-michigan-01.jpeg

The comments were made on Xinhua Bookstore’s Weibo account on July 31 in reference to Quan’s recent beauty pageant win. The Beijing Youth Daily reported that the bookstore’s Weibo account had been hacked, and their account stolen. Here is a translation of the post:

Having grown up to look the way you do, you are only fit to be exported to the USA. If you have any dignity at all, you will never return to Beijing or else you will make neighbors of your family sorry for ever meeting them. When you walk out on the street, you will scare young children. When you try to hail a ride, it’s likely no driver will stop for you. When you take public transit, it’s likely someone will report you to the police. Since you have adopted the enemy as your father, then please refer to yourself as ‘traitor’ (on this application form). Under ‘political affiliation’ please write ‘slave of a vanquished nation’.

The bookstore made another controversial post around the same time with regard to the release of JK Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. The post included a line referencing former US President Bill Clinton: “Clinton can’t control his genitals or his crazy, Nazi wife”.

https://thenanfang.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/xinhua-bookstore-slams-miss-michigan-03.jpg

Quan, 23, won the title of Miss Michigan on June 16. She immigrated to the US at age six and became a naturalized US citizen at age 14. Quan performed on the piano for the talent competition, and wore a yellow bikini for the swimsuit competition. Nonetheless, Chinese citizens were largely dismissive of her. A majority considers Quan to be “ugly” and made online jokes at her expense, while others simply accepted that East and West have different beauty standards.

Mark Zuckerberg has weighed in on the controversy. Global Times reports the US entrepreneur who has been wooing Chinese leaders for some time has said, “Physical beauty will diminish with age while inner beauty will grow with the years”. Zuckerberg’s wife Priscilla Chan had previously been targeted by Chinese citizens as being ugly.

Source: Global Times, NetEase
Photos: Freep, Next Shark, ViTalk

The Chinese netizens are vicious.

boxerbilly

08-18-2016, 01:15 PM

Do NOT mess with drug smuggling in China.

I'd bust her !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GeneChing

09-01-2016, 09:38 AM

Colombian pageant queen faces death penalty in China for allegedly smuggling cocaine
(http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/us-world/article/Colombian-pageant-queen-faces-death-penalty-in-6415127.php)By Mariah Medina, San Antonio Express-News Updated 12:07 pm, Thursday, July 30, 2015

http://ww3.hdnux.com/photos/37/77/04/8384822/3/920x920.jpg
Juliana Lopez was arrested on July 18 for allegedly attempting to smuggle cocaine into China. Her parents believe she was framed. Photo: Medina, Mariah, Courtesy Photo
Photo: Medina, Mariah, Courtesy Photo

http://ww4.hdnux.com/photos/37/77/04/8384831/11/1024x1024.jpg
Photo: Medina, Mariah, Courtesy Photo
Since her July 18 arrest, her parents have made plans to sell their home to get to China and hire an attorney and translator.

http://ww1.hdnux.com/photos/37/77/05/8384844/3/1024x1024.jpg
Photo: Medina, Mariah, Courtesy Photo
Lopez' family has not been able to communicate with her since her arrest and believe the trip and legal defense will cost approximately 150 million pesos, or over $52,000.

Her soccer coach told Diario.co she was headed to China to purchase bags, souvenirs and trinkets to resell in Colombia — but when her parents stopped hearing from their 22-year-old pageant queen daughter on July 14, they became nervous and called the Chinese Embassy to learn their daughter had been arrested for allegedly smuggling cocaine into China.
Juliana Lopez was making a second trip to China when she was stopped in Guangzhou airport, and was arrested when airport officials allegedly found a bag of cocaine in her laptop, Diario.co reported.
Unlike Colombia, the Asian nation's punishment for smuggling banned substances include death or life in prison.
Lopez' uncle, David Muñoz, told the Colombia news site that her mother has arranged to sell her home in order to get to China and hire a lawyer with the hopes of bringing her daughter home. Muñoz also said the laptop confiscated was not Lopez' laptop and that the family believes she was framed.
After already paying for the fall semester at St. Bonaventure University, winning the Miss Antioquia beauty pageant and being an involved member of the Divas Futbol Club, her family is skeptical of the accusations but has not been able to speak with her since her July 18 arrest, Diario.co reported.
Her family believes the trip will cost more than 150 million pesos, or approximately $53,000 Diario.Co said.
China executes the most criminals annually, putting 2,400 people to death in 2013 according to Newsweek. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working to provide legal assistance to Lopez and her family.
See photos of the soccer-loving model in the slideshow above, followed by photos of Anett Pikula — a model from Mexico who was caught smuggling drugs into the United States after a failed attempt at flirting.
MMedina@mySA.com
Twitter: @MariahMedinaaa

Like I said:

Do NOT mess with drug smuggling in China.

GeneChing

09-13-2016, 09:21 AM

Was it a white robot? :rolleyes:

A beauty contest was judged by AI and the robots didn't like dark skin (https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/sep/08/artificial-intelligence-beauty-contest-doesnt-like-black-people)
The first international beauty contest decided by an algorithm has sparked controversy after the results revealed one glaring factor linking the winners

https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/431da17e81eea83ea7148f67af34e37e473a1cf8/0_50_2048_1228/master/2048.jpg?w=1920&q=55&auto=format&usm=12&fit=max&
One expert says the results offer ‘the perfect illustration of the problem’ with machine bias. Photograph: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters
Sam Levin in San Francisco
@SamTLevin
Thursday 8 September 2016 18.42 EDT Last modified on Friday 9 September 2016 18.10 EDT

The first international beauty contest judged by “machines” was supposed to use objective factors such as facial symmetry and wrinkles to identify the most attractive contestants. After Beauty.AI launched this year, roughly 6,000 people from more than 100 countries submitted photos in the hopes that artificial intelligence, supported by complex algorithms, would determine that their faces most closely resembled “human beauty”.

But when the results came in, the creators were dismayed to see that there was a glaring factor linking the winners: the robots did not like people with dark skin.

Out of 44 winners, nearly all were white, a handful were Asian, and only one had dark skin. That’s despite the fact that, although the majority of contestants were white, many people of color submitted photos, including large groups from India and Africa.

The ensuing controversy has sparked renewed debates about the ways in which algorithms can perpetuate biases, yielding unintended and often offensive results.

When Microsoft released the “millennial” chatbot named Tay in March, it quickly began using racist language and promoting neo-Nazi views on Twitter. And after Facebook eliminated human editors who had curated “trending” news stories last month, the algorithm immediately promoted fake and vulgar stories on news feeds, including one article about a man masturbating with a chicken sandwich.

While the seemingly racist beauty pageant has prompted jokes and mockery, computer science experts and social justice advocates say that in other industries and arenas, the growing use of prejudiced AI systems is no laughing matter. In some cases, it can have devastating consequences for people of color.

Beauty.AI – which was created by a “deep learning” group called Youth Laboratories and supported by Microsoft – relied on large datasets of photos to build an algorithm that assessed beauty. While there are a number of reasons why the algorithm favored white people, the main problem was that the data the project used to establish standards of attractiveness did not include enough minorities, said Alex Zhavoronkov, Beauty.AI’s chief science officer.

Although the group did not build the algorithm to treat light skin as a sign of beauty, the input data effectively led the robot judges to reach that conclusion.

https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/614a5887f55ccf0103fda08b76638da0285ee6d0/137_63_1010_606/master/1010.jpg?w=620&q=55&auto=format&usm=12&fit=max&
Winners of the Beauty.AI contest in the category for women aged 18-29. Photograph: http://winners2.beauty.ai/#win

“If you have not that many people of color within the dataset, then you might actually have biased results,” said Zhavoronkov, who said he was surprised by the winners. “When you’re training an algorithm to recognize certain patterns … you might not have enough data, or the data might be biased.”

The simplest explanation for biased algorithms is that the humans who create them have their own deeply entrenched biases. That means that despite perceptions that algorithms are somehow neutral and uniquely objective, they can often reproduce and amplify existing prejudices.

The Beauty.AI results offer “the perfect illustration of the problem”, said Bernard Harcourt, Columbia University professor of law and political science who has studied “predictive policing”, which has increasingly relied on machines. “The idea that you could come up with a culturally neutral, racially neutral conception of beauty is simply mind-boggling.”

The case is a reminder that “humans are really doing the thinking, even when it’s couched as algorithms and we think it’s neutral and scientific,” he said.

Civil liberty groups have recently raised concerns that computer-based law enforcement forecasting tools – which use data to predict where future crimes will occur – rely on flawed statistics and can exacerbate racially biased and harmful policing practices.

“It’s polluted data producing polluted results,” said Malkia Cyril, executive director of the Center for Media Justice.

A ProPublica investigation earlier this year found that software used to predict future criminals is biased against black people, which can lead to harsher sentencing.

“That’s truly a matter of somebody’s life is at stake,” said Sorelle Friedler, a professor of computer science at Haverford College.

A major problem, Friedler said, is that minority groups by nature are often underrepresented in datasets, which means algorithms can reach inaccurate conclusions for those populations and the creators won’t detect it. For example, she said, an algorithm that was biased against Native Americans could be considered a success given that they are only 2% of the population.

“You could have a 98% accuracy rate. You would think you have done a great job on the algorithm.”

Friedler said there are proactive ways algorithms can be adjusted to correct for biases whether improving input data or implementing filters to ensure people of different races are receiving equal treatment.

Prejudiced AI programs aren’t limited to the criminal justice system. One study determined that significantly fewer women than men were shown online ads for high-paying jobs. Last year, Google’s photo app was found to have labeled black people as gorillas.

Cyril noted that algorithms are ultimately very limited in how they can help correct societal inequalities. “We’re overly relying on technology and algorithms and machine learning when we should be looking at institutional changes.”

Zhavoronkov said that when Beauty.AI launches another contest round this fall, he expects the algorithm will have a number of changes designed to weed out discriminatory results. “We will try to correct it.”

But the reality, he added, is that robots may not be the best judges of physical appearance: “I was more surprised about how the algorithm chose the most beautiful people. Out of a very large number, they chose people who I may not have selected myself.”

Jimbo

09-21-2016, 03:03 PM

This whole thing about how Japanese are supposed to look like is silly, IMO. I suppose most Japanese, like most Westerners, think all Japanese should have the stereotypically predominant Yayoi features. But there is no "pure" Japanese race or any other race. Even those in Japan who live in denial have admixtures. Heck, even being half-Indian, this girl looks as much as or closer to "pure Japanese" than my sister, brother or me. And much more than my dad. My dad's side had a clearly heavy aboriginal mix (Jomon, Ainu or Rykyuan characteristics). My dad and his brothers (who were born in CA) were sometimes mistaken for Native American Indians, except they had to constantly shave their beards. My older sister could pass for Polynesian. And I'm often mistaken for being mixed in some way.

In fact, many of the top celebrities in Japan, such as famous actors, athletes, etc., in the past and present, have had clear Jomon-type features, which set them apart. This isn't counting ones who have European admixture. Although any probable aboriginal admixture is never discussed in Japan.

And what is the "Asian look"? East Indians are south Asians. So for all intents and purposes, she is "pure Asian". Whatever that means.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGypStJx_1o&sns=em

bawang

09-21-2016, 08:18 PM

its not about japanese purity but about the mixed winner signalling belief that east asian features are ugly and inferior

Jimbo

09-21-2016, 09:56 PM

its not about japanese purity but about the mixed winner signalling belief that east asian features are ugly and inferior

I agree in that she chose her words very badly. "That Asian look." She sounded ignorant when she said that. She probably lacks awareness or maturity (or both). However, there are many Japanese people, like on my dad's side, who are naturally darker-skinned than the white, pale features traditionally favored as beautiful in Japan, especially for women. And, at least from her accent in the video, she DOES seem like a "guest" there, probably from the States, as opposed to an actual Japanese citizen. I can understand both sides to an extent.

I remember a few years ago, when an Indian woman won the Miss America title, she got a lot of racist hate not only here, but in India as well. Many in India said she was "too dark and ugly" to represent true Indian beauty.

I've always found it odd that in many (most??) Asian countries, paler and whiter skin is often the standard of beauty. When there are many, many more factors that make someone "beautiful" than the shade of their skin.

I'll tell you what I despise hearing people say: "When Asians marry _________ (insert race here), they have beautiful children." I don't see it as a compliment. That statement clearly means that Asian people, especially East Asians, are not beautiful unless they are mixed-blooded, especially with Caucasian blood.

My own extended family is mixed; I have relatives who are 50% or more Northern European, Mexican, Chinese or Korean admixtures. The point again is, there are many factors that determine beauty beyond how light or dark a person's skin is.

bawang

09-22-2016, 07:32 PM

I'll tell you what I despise hearing people say: "When Asians marry _________ (insert race here), they have beautiful children." I don't see it as a compliment. That statement clearly means that Asian people, especially East Asians, are not beautiful unless they are mixed-blooded, especially with Caucasian blood.

mix race in japan and asia has history of war brides and conquest. politically speaking to support mix race in asia is to support colonialism and imperialism

Cataphract

09-23-2016, 12:00 PM

I remember a few years ago, when an Indian woman won the Miss America title, she got a lot of racist hate not only here, but in India as well. Many in India said she was "too dark and ugly" to represent true Indian beauty.

I hate beauty pageants. They are like livestock shows for people. Little surprise both have breed standards.

wolfen

10-20-2016, 02:31 AM

Identity. Identity Manipulation and Image Identity.

This thread is an excellent opportunity to try and hammer out some common sense about racism and identity manipulation. Opportunistic identity manipulation is probably the worst manifestation of evil in modern society. No one, anywhere seems to teach about the simple facts of it, Early childhood education would prevent much grief in the world and teach people how to protect themselves from being manipulated by others and teach them how to take responsibility for their lives and direct them to be self-actualizing. Unfortunately every power in the world seems to take advantage of identity manipulation in people for their own use from magazine editors ;) to Presidents and no one wants to actually help people to set themselves free.
The subject is really big. I can't really cover it all here.

Just like anything else. eg like violence, there is good (constructive for self and others) and bad (destructive) uses of identification.
Team spectator Sports with its BIRG and CORF is the most obvious example of mass identity manipulation and is a sort of of early identity indoctrination in the masses preparing them to be used in other ways as it were. It's all an illusion - masses manipulated to feel emotions and do things (violence, celebrations etc) when nothing real has happened to them. In fact they have done nothing real to earn feeling good or bad they merely hooked their identity to something outside of themselves and lost control of it. They are taught to be passively affected.

10082

Identity Transfer: One thing = another thing = another thing = the ego (myself).
Love = My Parents = my Home = my Mountains = my leader = Stalin / Trudeau. Ego is all the same as the observed, The emotion transfers to all (no dis-identification).

Image Identification It's all over this forum. People identify an image of something.They identify that image as their actual self, their ego. The image must be upheld. The image is an illusion. Often it is subconscious, they rise to a defense of image without realizing what they are doing, they simply feel threatened, they cannot separate themselves from the image. They derive a happiness from the image and the image must never be damaged. But that happiness is false, it is an illusion,they have actualized nothing in themselves to achieve happiness, they have simply hooked themselves to an illusion and are pinned to that illusion. Anything that threatens to expose the illusion is a threat to the ego, to the self, There can be no critical inspection of anything relating to the illusion/image. This is the world of happy face fascism. . But that happiness is not genuine, not a genuine feeling only a vacancy. Happiness cannot exist without simultaneously experiencing or accepting the negative.

Dysfunctional Identity Inducement In the process of education and socialization , the person is induced with a dysfunctional identity which allows them to be manipulated by others. It's the worst. To undo the ties that bind, the person must self-challenge, self-criticize, A criticism of the process is a criticism of the person's ego and cannot be tolerated. An objective analysis of social indoctrination is a personal attack. To make matters worse, a happy face image must be maintained to cover it all.

Illusions versus Reality

Racism - I collectivize an object group as one thing - I use it for some identity purpose eg to pretend I am more important that that objectivization.
Someone invents the telephone, in another century - my skin color is the same - I feel wonderful, I am so important and smart (illusion)
I am in a culture that uses telephone technology, I feel good - (reality)

A beauty contestant wins a contest - is from my country/race I feel great (illusion - nothing to do with me)
A beauty wins a contest - I like their looks the best I feel good (reality)

Someone criticizes Black/Hispanic crime in a city, I am Black/Hispanic I feel angry (illusion) I'm identified
Someone criticizes Black/Hispanic crime in a city, I am Black/Hispanic I feel mild interest (reality) I'm dis-identified - nothing to do with me

What stands in the way of dis-identification? Maintaining the image of something (singular) agaisnt the reality of something (pluralistic) - to keep the blue meanies away - to have a pleasant heroin dream , an illusion. Losing the image is agony, Pain. The ego must suicide to escape the honey trap..
So to move on...

The Trump Phenomenon

Since Trump introduced myself and millions of Americans to the problem of of illegal immigration I listened to two audiobooks
Adios, America: The Left's Plan to Turn Our Country into a Third World Hellhole Paperback – Aug 22 2016 by Ann Coulter (https://www.amazon.ca/Adios-America-Lefts-Country-Hellhole/dp/162157606X)
and After America: Get Ready for Armageddon 2011 (https://www.amazon.ca/After-America-Get-Ready-Armageddon/dp/B0076TKQ8E) by Mark Steyn

I had previously known little about it. Trump did a big favor to America , he took this out of the closet when no one else would and showed Americans either their doom or their destiny. Whatever one they choose it will be soon irreversible.

Along with Islamification, (The deadly problem with Islam inside America) illegal immigration is the most serious problem America has or has ever had and is nation threatening.
10083

A Political Ploy - Shut him down!

When i first saw the reaction to Trump's first announcement as he cam on the scene I didn't realize that the negative reaction to him was in fact a political ploy just to shut down the conversation. The left has no argument for illegal immigration, the only argument is that it makes the Globalists rich and gives the Left millions! of votes (that will destroy America) but that last part is irrelevant to the power hungry left. Trump had brought up what the power elite was trying to hide, he exposed it baldly to millions of Americans and put in on the table. Thereafter everyone to this date has been forced to talk about it, Even Hillary at the third debate was forced to declare her position and she declared for open borders, a virtual promise to annihilate America as a country.

So when I saw at first reactions on blogs OMG! Trump is a horrible racist!!! I wondered What is wrong with these people? I didn't realize there was a big manipulation in place. I thought well, somehow people have lost the idea of what racism is, a lack of education? Racism is hating an entire group , generalizing to that entire group and often for the purpose of making one's self feel important. DJT criticized Illegal Immigration not Hispanics, Racism 's objectifying a human classification as one thing for many purposes. Being misogynist is another way of stroking one's own ego by objectification of an entire group. DJT made a scathing attack on Illegal immigration, not Hispanics. No, he wasn't that nice about it, he had to break down a closed and locked door and he used the appropriate tool, a "They aren't sending us their best" sledgehammer.

I feel hurt - You are a racist!

But then later I thought , no, most people are not so unintelligent or so intellectually dense. Then in all the outcry about safe spaces etc I realized that it was a retreat from responsibility, and identity dysfunction. A part of a group is criticized the person reacts identifying their ego as part of that group and therefore feels hurt. (I, my ego, my image is attacked) Then they falsely accuse the one who makes the criticism as a 'racist" and in the process they themselves act as genuine racists idnetifying themselves as the whole group of their race.
As for the non-Hispanics who feel 'outraged - they are the most hollow. They don't even feel anything or understand anything, they have just been told that to challenge the happy face narrative is wrong - or in this case 'racist' and they can virtue signal to feel good about their identity They are like automatons , totally divorced from experience,someone presses the button and they respond as they have been socialized. The real criminals here are their social engineers.
Or I feel hurt - it's your fault that makes you a racist!
As opposed to I don't feel hurt - that is not me (dis-identification)
Or, I feel hurt but my feelings are self-created and my responsibility
..
Now if I need an identity image of 'being Hispanic' to feel good and I've hooked my identity to that then I am in trouble. Wherever that ball rolls it will take me, I have no control whatsoever. The only thing I can do is shout a pejorative at whoever or whatever truth threatens the image.
Not a good place to be.

wolfen

10-20-2016, 02:36 AM

So with the former post in mind now regarding some anti-DJT posts here:

10087

Way to win the Latino vote

Now he'd going to sue. You'd think a tycoon of his magnitude would have better business sense. :rolleyes:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Univision Cuts Ties With Trump After Comments About Immigrants (http://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2015/06/25/417586527/univision-cuts-ties-with-trump-after-comments-about-immigrants)

Trump said he plans to sue Univision for breach of contract. And today, he blamed Univision's actions on the Mexican government. He claimed Mexico was putting pressure on the network because of his opposition to trade deals with that country.
...
"When do we beat Mexico at the border?" Trump said during his lengthy presidential announcement speech at Trump Tower in New York. "They're sending people that have lots of problems, and they're bringing those problems with us. They're bringing drugs, they're bringing crime. They're rapists. And some, I assume, are good people."
Trump's main theme was that the country is in serious trouble.

It's the way to win the Latino vote who are in America legally, because illegal immigration hurts them. He loses the Latino pro-illegal vote and the Latino racist vote but you can't win those anyway. One doesn't overcome evil by kowtowing to threats or oppressors. What Donald revealed is what the Globalists and the left have been keeping quiet that among other things outrageous crime including many rapes and murders and jails packed with illegal criminals are only one aspect of the enormous price of illegal immigration.

Univision acted under the influence of the regressive left and Mexicali Interests which oppose American Interests/ It's to be expected, They defined themselves as enemies of American existence. You lose an enemy you don't lose anything, you just define the boundaries.
Trump takes a loss in his bid to save America from extinction, it's a laudable sacrifice. But what does he really sacrifice? The illegal immigration problem is of such an nature that another year with "open borders" means the end of America. If he can save America , he can save his business. No America, no business. He knows what is going to happen to America as does the Dem. Administration and the Globalists - it's the public that didn't know . Hillary lectured to Wall Street: One face to the public, one face to the private.
10084

Macys pulls out too. Nice move, Donald. Very presidential.

"Trump's comments are just the type the Republican Party has been looking to avoid."

That would be the Globalist elements of the Republican Party - now exposed for what they are in the course of the candidate selection and thoroughly reviled and discredited The RINO's, the ones who were getting a glad hand under the table and a sackful of money to keep quiet about illegal immigration.

""With one short speech about us," Orci said, "he tarred the entire Latino culture as being rapists and murderers and terrorists.""
This comment is racism, this is the real racism. Using identity dysfunction he takes something about the part and applies it to the whole and incites racism in others. He probably doesn't believe even his own words, he doesn't have to , the purpose is to get political power by inciting racism and false outrage ain the Hispanics.

So who wins with this identity manipulation of the masses?. Not American Hispanics, not the illegal immigrants Not America, only the profiteering Mega-corporations who use the illegals as cheap labor at the price of destroying America permanently.

10085

Now where am I going to watch the pageant? :p

Trump has been under fire since his June 16 presidential campaign announcement in which he made derogatory comments regarding Mexican immigrants while criticizing U.S. government efforts to secure the U.S.-Mexican border.

“The U.S. has become a dumping ground for everybody else’s problems,” Trump told supporters last week during his nearly 45-minute speech at Trump Tower. “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us.

It's a small price to pay for having a country and having a genuine two-party system. If Trump can sacrifice, you can sacrifice. The alternative is to have no discussion about illegal immigration and a one party system.
If Hillary pardons 30 million illegals , I say congratulations to the progressive left, you have won a country (or actually a hell hole which won't be 'yours' for long) and there will never be a two party system again. Thirty Million +++ voters tips the scale permanently and makes America a totalitarian State. It totally will destroy American infrastructure. All previous American elections have been won by only small margins by either side and won by discussions on about the issues and the best ones that convinced the most voters usually won. This change in demographics ends that system. After that , it's a power struggle between the Blacks, Whites, Muslims and Hispanics to carve up sections of a failed state. And come on! who is kidding who? Islam will win, no other groups are as tough, as cunning and as ruthless. They are wining in Europe. Sweden, Germany, London are in effect, gone.
Look on your fate, that is you , soon to follow.

10086

Macys pulls out too. Nice move, Donald. Very presidential.

It's quite Presidential. .Presidential is not kowtowing to the the suicide of progressive leftism . Presidential is not the denial and hiding of a nation threatening problem just to appease the power elite so they can make lots of money. Or to appease the sensitivities of Kumbaya Hippie Culture It is the move of someone who has backbone and is advocating to protect Americans from Foreign Interests.

To expose a a person's identity manipulation is to threaten their core. They don't respond to logic . As illogical as it is they are getting "happiness' of a kind from that dysfunction they will hang tight to that ball even if it is made of iron and drags them to their death.
'Truth is threatening and evil'
Free speech is hate speech"
It's a difficult problem.
10088

The problem at the core core is the manipulation of identity and identity image by the masters of manipulation in society - the MSM. Black racism has been incited and gotten many people killed , just for one purpose - to get votes for the democrats. The same with Latino racism, for votes and to get wealth and power for the Globalists.

What is the worst, is that that no one dares point out the deception of the whole thing. even the Conservatives are too afraid to tell America and Latinos the truth. They can't handle the truth. The population hasn't been educated for truth, they have been socialized for manipulation.
They are being used and manipulated to be racist, to be divisive, to engage in internecine destructive suicidal behavior.
They they need to man up, woman up, step up and take responsibility for themselves and face up to the problem of illegal immigration because when America goes down the hole they will too and so will every other race, White Black Asian and Indifferent.

GeneChing

10-24-2016, 03:16 PM

How do you say 'fluffiness' in Japanese?

Japan’s most beautiful breasts chosen as winner of Bioppai Contest 2016 is selected 【Video】 (http://en.rocketnews24.com/2016/10/21/japans-most-beautiful-breasts-chosen-as-winner-of-bioppai-contest-2016-is-selected-%E3%80%90video%E3%80%91/)
Casey Baseel 4 days ago

http://sociorocketnewsen.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/bo-1.png?w=580&h=310

Fluffiness cited as a deciding factor by judge.

With its unabashed admiration of the female form, Japan has many ways to talk about breasts. One of the newer additions to the mammary-related lexicon is bioppai, “beautiful boobs,” and earlier this week a team of judges carried out the solemn task of picking a winner for Bioppai Contest 2016.

As one would guess from the name, the purpose of the contest is to determine the most beautiful breasts in Japan. The organizers additionally hold that the contest evaluates entrants’ breasts “from a female perspective,” although the accuracy of this claim is sort of suspect, seeing as how only three of the five judges for this year’s contest are women.

Nevertheless, the panel has reached its decision, and has awarded the Bioppai Contest 2016 grand prix to Ryoko Nakaoka.

▼ Nakaoka (wearing a tiara) appears with her fellow Bioppai Contest 2016 finalists.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FKLurVQJd8

▼ The final six

Bioppai 2016 (https://www.facebook.com/Bioppai-2016-1019386748142218/)
about 2 weeks ago
https://scontent.fsnc1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/p526x296/14720380_1104915939589298_2350457778054050429_n.jp g?oh=b0717637a741038c88ed72b332f33520&oe=5890F3D5
日本1の美おっぱいがついに決定
#BIOPPAI
美おっぱいコンテスト2016...

Nakaoka, a 23-year-old Tokyoite, says in her self-introduction that she spent much of her childhood playing sports, including swimming and table tennis. As such, she was concerned that the quality of her skin would be too rough to secure a high evaluation from the judges, but such fears proved unnecessary.

▼ The judges pose with this year’s winner.

https://instagram.fsnc1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/t51.2885-15/e35/14709530_1762932497282703_7251137885053648896_n.jp g
ryoko1792
Follow (https://www.instagram.com/p/BLsuvceDthf/)
美おっぱいコンテスト2016…
グランプリに選ばれました👑💕 緊張しました。足もすごく震えました。でもただただ嬉しい。素直に喜んでます。

今まで応援してきてくれた人達や裏で支えてくれた人達に心から感謝しています！

#BIOPPAI#グランプリ
#peachjohn#FREEMAGAZINE
#マギー#米原康正#尾藤裕子
359 likes

“Her breasts have a good shape,” commented panel member and media personality Maggie, seen standing to Nakaoka’s left in the above photo, “and you just want to touch them because they’re so fluffy, which was really the deciding factor.”

https://instagram.fsnc1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/t51.2885-15/e35/14591054_652766068231339_955042014703910912_n.jpg
ryoko1792
Follow (https://www.instagram.com/p/BLtVDTqDA6V/)
今日の#美おっぱいコンテストの記念として#米原康正さんに#チェキで撮っていただきました💕

#貴重な経験#とても大切なものになりました！
#写真のポーズ決めれない#ただの恥ずかしがり屋
392 likes
6d
ryoko1792今日の#美おっぱいコンテストの記念として#米原康正さんに#チェキで撮っていただきました💕

▼ The Bioppai trophy is surprisingly conical for something honoring such spherical physical assets.

https://instagram.fsnc1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/p750x750/14677474_1790050167878621_1057146834872434688_n.jp g
ryoko1792
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As part of her prize package, Nakaoka will be appearing in the pages of fashion publication Free Magazine, but if you can’t wait for that, you can also see more of her on her Instagram and Twitter accounts.

Source: Sankei Photo
Top image: YouTube/SankeiNews

GeneChing

01-10-2017, 10:03 AM

http://i2.cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/170110144910-miss-world-anastasia-lin-new-tease-super-169.jpg

Barred from China and silenced in the US, this beauty queen isn't backing down (http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/09/asia/miss-world-anastasia-lin-china/index.html)
By James Griffiths, CNN
Updated 3:24 AM ET, Tue January 10, 2017

Hong Kong (CNN) Anastasia Lin just wanted her father to see her face.
Prevented from taking part in Miss World 2015 when China refused to allow her to enter the country, where the final was being held, she tried again this past December.
The Canadian was under no illusions about coming home with the 2016 crown. Getting on stage would be enough: the Miss World final is broadcast around the globe, including in her native China, where her father has been harassed and prevented from leaving.
In the end she appeared on screen for all of six seconds, during her introduction. For the rest of the show she was tucked away at the back of the crowd of contestants, or at the corners of the stage.
"It was really too naive to think that my father could see me," Lin said.
If she is slightly bitter, it's with good reason. Her sliver of screen time was bought with months of practice and rehearsal, and, most painfully for an outspoken human rights activist, her silence.
During the competition, Lin said she was placed under a communication blackout and forbidden from speaking to journalists, part of what analysts say is a pattern of western companies cooperating with China to silence critics overseas.
Miss World chairwoman Julia Morley said the organization did "our best to assist Miss Lin and have done absolutely nothing to prevent her doing everything she wanted to do."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvEw6ganosk

Good little Communist

http://i2.cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/170106143938-china-young-pioneers-medium-plus-169.jpg
Chinese students wearing the uniform of the Young Pioneers.

Lin, 26, was born in China's Hunan province. As a child, she wore the iconic red scarf of the Young Pioneers and vowed to "struggle for the cause of Communism."
One of her duties in the state-run youth organization was to corral other children to watch propaganda broadcasts, which at the time were intently focused against Falun Gong.
The spiritual movement, which has roots in the ancient Chinese meditative martial art qigong, exploded in popularity in the 1990s, growing to an estimated 30 million members by the end of the decade, according to the US State Department.
In 1999, after upwards of 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners staged a peaceful demonstration in Beijing -- the largest mass protest the Chinese capital had seen since the Tiananmen Square massacre a decade before -- the movement was banned and a brutal crackdown launched, with tens of thousands of people arrested.
Now a prominent spokeswoman against the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, Lin said she was largely unaware of the crackdown at the time. It wasn't until she moved to Canada at age 13 that she "learned that what were told in China was completely different to reality."

http://i2.cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/170106144550-miss-world-2016-super-169.jpg
Contestants on stage during Miss World 2016 in Washington DC.

Speaking out

"I didn't start as an activist at all," Lin said.

As a teenager, she was focused on acting and modeling, eventually studying theater at the University of Toronto.
It was there that she was approached by a Chinese producer who was looking for someone to play the role of a student killed during the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. Thousands of children died during the disaster, as shoddily built schools collapsed on top of them.
"He said they couldn't find anyone to play this role, because it was too sensitive," Lin said. "I jumped on the opportunity."
Similar offers quickly followed: "At one point I really had a monopoly on these types of roles."
At the same time, she began competing in beauty pageants to raise her profile and get on-camera experience. She placed third in Miss World Canada in 2013, going on to win the competition outright in 2015.
That's when the trouble started.

Blocked

As Canadian champion, Lin was due to take part in Miss World 2015, to be held that year in Sanya, on China's southern island of Hainan. But as the event approached, her visa request went ignored and she was left hanging, unsure if she could take part in the competition.

She also began receiving distressing messages from her father, who still lives in China. Lin said he was approached by security officers and told that if she didn't "stop her political and human rights activities" her family members would be arrested.
These threats did not stop her speaking out -- "my personality is that I can't really hide things" -- but she and her father no longer talk due to fears for his safety.
Many activists have made similar allegations. Ilshat Hassan, president of the Uyghur American Association -- which advocates for members of China's Turkic-speaking Muslim minority -- told CNN last year that his family has faced repeated harassment over his activism. "Just months ago my mum says please stop what you're doing, or don't call us," he said.
Determined to at least try and take part in Miss World, Lin flew to Hong Kong -- where Canadians do not require a visa to enter -- and attempted to get a flight to Sanya.
"They declared me persona non grata and prevented me from boarding the plane," she said.
Her denial of entry was quickly reported worldwide, massively raising her profile, and earning her a denouncement in the state-run Global Times, which accused her of lacking "reasonable understanding of the country where she was born" and warned her against "being tangled with hostile forces against China."

http://i2.cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/170106143854-miss-puerto-rice-stephanie-del-valle-super-169.jpg
Miss Puerto Rico Stephanie Del Valle (center) reacts after winning Miss World 2016.

Silenced

Given a second chance to participate in Miss World 2016, Lin vowed to toe the line, not wanting to be denied a place in the final again. "I wanted to do things by the book," she said.
Nevertheless, she chose as her "Beauty with a Purpose" project to shine the light on organ harvesting in China, a topic with which she had become familiar with after acting in the Canadian film "The Bleeding Edge."
In June, a report by former Canadian lawmaker David Kilgour, human rights lawyer David Matas, and journalist Ethan Gutmann claimed, based on publicly reported figures by hospitals, that China was still engaged in the widespread and systematic harvesting of organs from prisoners, including prisoners of conscience.
Arriving in Washington DC, Lin received multiple media requests. Keen to play by the rules, she said she forwarded them all to Miss World officials, only to have them all initially denied, though several were later granted.
Lin said she was also angrily rebuked after an official spotted her chatting with a reporter in the lobby of her hotel.
"They said I was breaking rules, telling lies," she said. "I felt like a criminal."
During this period, at least six other contestants were allowed to give interviews.
After Miss World allowed her to give press interviews, Lin said she was still carefully monitored when talking to reporters.
Morley said that all contestants were chaperoned and denied that Lin was prevented from speaking in any way, saying she "had full access to any interviews without exception."

Censorship

Western companies and governments are facing increasing pressure from Beijing as it attempts to sideline overseas critics, said Amnesty International researcher Patrick Poon.
CNN has previously reported how Beijing has reached across borders in its hunt for dissidents, working with cooperative governments to deport critics back to China.
Economic pressure has also been brought to bear on companies that depend on revenue from China.
Last week, Apple removed the New York Times from its Chinese app store on the grounds the paper's app "(violated) local regulations," a move anti-censorship activist Charlie Smith characterized as "actively enabling infringements of human rights."
"Foreign governments and foreign organizations should rethink whether what they have been doing in kowtowing to China's influence means that they compromise (dissidents') freedom of expression and freedom of movement," Poon said.
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond to a request for comment.
Miss World's Morley denied Lin's accusations that her treatment was related to pressure from Beijing, pointing out that this year's competition, unlike Miss World 2015, did not have any Chinese sponsors.
Despite her experiences, Lin said she was grateful to the competition for giving her a platform.
"It's not Miss World's fault they're so nervous, they're a vulnerable pageant organization," Lin said. "The entire world is economically tied to China."
There are a few more embedded vids that I couldn't cut&paste, assuming you want to know more here.

GeneChing

06-06-2017, 10:12 AM

Miss Tibet wins crown for most controversial beauty pageant (http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/05/asia/tibet-beauty-pageant/index.html)
By Sugam Pokharel, CNN
Updated 5:16 AM ET, Mon June 5, 2017

http://i2.cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/170605103606-tibet-beauty-pageant-2-exlarge-169.jpg
Nine contestants of the Miss Tibet Pageant 2017 pose for a photo during a press conference on 30 May 2017.

Story highlights
Miss Tibet draws objections from exiled community, feminists and China
Organizer Lobsang Wangyal says its intended to empower Tibetan women

(CNN)This is no ordinary beauty contest.

There are virtually no sponsors, judges are hard to find -- and so are the participants. Moreover, it is embroiled in a hefty dose of controversy.
Welcome to Miss Tibet.
The 15th edition of the beauty pageant for exiled Tibetan women wrapped up on Sunday in the small town of Dharamsala in northwestern India -- home to the Dalai Lama and the headquarters of Tibetan government-in-exile.
This year the contest saw a record number of nine participants. None of the contestants have ever been to Tibet and are part of India's 100,000-strong Tibetan community that was established 1960 after the Dalai Lama fled across the border.
Tenzin Paldon, 21, claimed the crown in the grand finale attended by more than 3,000 people, according to organizers.
"With this title, I will try my best to take it to an international level -- to speak up regarding my country, Tibetan causes, and culture as much as I can," she told CNN.

http://i2.cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/170605103505-tibet-beauty-contest-1-exlarge-169.jpg
Miss Tibet 2017 Tenzin Paldon poses for a photo after winning the crown on June 4, 2017.

Culture clash

The contest though faces controversy on multiple fronts: conservative members of the Tibetan community, and feminists object to the pageant on moral grounds, and China, which regards Tibet as an integral part of its territory and objects to winners participating in any international event.
It's been organized by Lobsang Wangyal since 2002 with the motto "Celebrating Tibetan Women."
He used $10,000 of his own in money to stage the event plus $1,300 raised via Generosity.com.
This year, said Wangyal, two Tibetan businessmen living in Taiwan and US provided the cash prizes for the winner ($1,550) and runner-up ($775.)
Wangyal told CNN many Tibetan women want to participate but are held back by Tibetan culture -- which is deeply religious and conservative.
"[Tibetan women] think what will society have to say? Will people call me different names? Will they talk behind my back? They are so scared and they latch onto that fear," Wangyal said.
Tibetan elders aren't happy about the contest either. They see it as a cultural betrayal to Tibetan culture and not compatible with Buddhist culture. Traditionally, Tibetan women wear modest, full length robes.
The three-day event included a swimsuit round.
"Yes, this is a democratic society but the young generation should remember that we don't have a country, we don't have a home, we are refugees - all we have is our tradition and religion. They should focus on conserving and nurturing that," said Dharamsala-based Tibetan shopkeeper Thinley Kalsyang, 67.
"Also remember, Buddhism focuses on inner beauty and not your skin and petite body," he added.
Paldon says the older generation is not well educated.
"They find it problematic for showcasing our skin. I believe that if you are good in heart, nothing else matters. If you wear a traditional attire, if inside you are a bad person, that is not good," said Paldon.

http://i2.cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/170605103919-tibet-beauty-contest-3-exlarge-169.jpg
The nine contestants of the Miss Tibet Pageant 2017 pose for a photo during the Swimsuit Round at Asia Health Resorts in Dharamshala, India, on 2 June 2017.

Tenzin Lungtok, Secretary of Culture and Religion for the exiled Tibetan government, declined to comment when asked if he supported the event.
2016 Miss Tibet winner Tenzing Sangnyi faced a backlash for her poor knowledge of Tibetan language. She told CNN she took that as a constructive criticism.
"I cannot blame them. They are concerned about our culture. As refugees, we have to conserve our culture and language. So, if I'm representing a modern Tibetan woman, I should have been more fluent with my language," Sangnyi said.

Weird, especially for Tibet.

GeneChing

07-06-2017, 09:29 AM

Yes, there is a vid. Follow the link.

China copies Brazil's 'Miss BumBum' contest with its own 'celebration of women's beautiful buttocks' (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4654142/China-copies-Brazil-s-Miss-BumBum-contest.html)

Dozens of women shook their shapely buttocks in skimpy thongs in Shenyang, China, on June 24
They were competing at the 'Beautiful Buttocks Contest', a copy of Brazil's famous beauty pageant
Contestants were judged by the 'roundness, curviness and firmness' of their bums, organiser said
The final competition is set to take place at Bird's Nest, the Chinese national stadium, on December 24

By Tracy You For Mailonline
PUBLISHED: 09:22 EDT, 30 June 2017 | UPDATED: 09:40 EDT, 30 June 2017

Writhing, wiggling and shaking, dozens of scantily-clad women did whatever they could to show off their shapely bottoms at a packed Chinese mall.

Crowd were restless, cameras were flashing and the young winner was hailed by the onlookers.

Welcome to the Communist version of 'Miss BumBum', likely the most surreal beauty pageant in the world.

China hosts own Miss Bum Bum competition in Shenyang show

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/30/13/41E892E800000578-4654142-image-a-8_1498825179190.jpg
About 50 contestants flaunted their shapely backsides at the Yulong Shopping Centre in Shenyang, China, on June 24

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/30/13/41BB7DB900000578-4654142-image-a-7_1498825140654.jpg
They were competing at the 'Beautiful Buttocks Contest', which is China's answer to Brazil's famous 'Miss BumBum' pageant

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/30/13/41E720AE00000578-4654142-image-a-4_1498825137771.jpg
The competition will be held in five cities around China and the final competition is set to be held in Beijing on December 24

So called the 'Beautiful Buttocks Contest', the event is China's answer to Brazil's lavish and fiercely-contended 'Miss BumBum' competition.

But the irony is there.

In a culturally conservative country where just 20 years ago wearing a bikini on the beach would draw a woman disapproving stares, young female contestants now sport skimpy thongs and twerk their backsides at a shiny shopping centre.

A series of five contests have been organised by Saipu, a Beijing-based fitness club, to impress spectators around the country.

'With the development of the times, men are looking for more visual stimulation, and the public want more entertainment,' Zang Zhichao, an employee in charge of the contest from Saipu Fitness Club, told MailOnline.

Mr Zhang claimed that he had not heard of the 'Miss BumBum' contest in Brazil.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/30/13/41E8929C00000578-4654142-image-m-34_1498826445439.jpg
The regional Chinese 'Miss BumBum' contests were held in Beijing on June 18 (pictured) and Shenyang on June 24

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/30/14/41E892A700000578-4654142-More_competitions_would_be_staged_in_Xi_an_Wuhan_a nd_Shenzhen_be-m-39_1498827697592.jpg
More competitions would be staged in Xi'an, Wuhan and Shenzhen between July and December when the final contest is

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/30/13/41E892DC00000578-4654142-image-a-14_1498825202883.jpg
Female contestants did whatever they could to show off their shapely bottoms in order to catch the judges' attention
continued next post

GeneChing

07-06-2017, 09:29 AM

He said the 'Beautiful Buttocks Contest' was a part of a bodybuilding competition his company had organised.

'Compared to other bodybuilding contests, showing off the bums has the lowest requirements, so more people could enter,' Mr Zhang explain.

'And it didn't need much publicity, people would just come and see it. '

Around 50 contestants participated in the latest contest in Shenyang.

Mr Zhang said each candidate was required to have 'a natural bum' without having any buttock augmentation.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/30/13/41BB7E0100000578-4654142-image-a-27_1498825415818.jpg
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/30/13/41E6DEE400000578-4654142-image-m-26_1498825406846.jpg
The winner of the Chinese 'Miss BumBum' contest in Shenyang (pictured, left and right) was awarded 5,000 yuan (£568)

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/30/13/41E90CCB00000578-4654142-image-a-33_1498825454781.jpg
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/30/13/41E90C6200000578-4654142-image-m-32_1498825444989.jpg
A seven-member jury judged the contestants by the 'roundness, curviness and firmness' of their bums in Shenyang

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/30/13/41E720C300000578-4654142-image-a-21_1498825262388.jpg
'With the development of the times, men are looking for more visual stimulation,' said Mr Zhang who works for the organiser

A seven-member jury judged the contestants by the 'roundness, curviness and firmness' of their bums.

'But of course if you look pretty, that would also help,' Mr Zhang said, adding that contestants could choose to compete with or without a facial mask.

The regional Chinese 'Miss BumBum' contests were held in Beijing on June 18 and Shenyang on June 24 and more competitions would be staged in Xi'an, Wuhan and Shenzhen.

Compared to Brazil where the champion last year walked away with an £18,000 modelling contract, the prize of Saipu's competition was relatively small.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/30/13/41BB7DF100000578-4654142-image-a-16_1498825231404.jpg
The final competition of China's 'Miss BumBum' is set to have the top six contestants from each of the five cities

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/06/30/13/41E720BE00000578-4654142-image-a-18_1498825259074.jpg
Mr Zang said the company is planning to host the final competition at the Bird Nest, the Chinese national stadium in Beijing

The winner of the regional contest in Beijing and Shenyang was each awarded 5,000 yuan (£568) in cash.

But at the same time, they were given the opportunity to showcase their proud bodies at the Chinese national stadium, a great honour considered by the country's people.

Mr Zang said the company was planning to host the final competition at the Bird Nest in Beijing, the grand stadium which China built to host the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics.

The final competition of China's 'Miss BumBum' is set to have the top six contestants from each of the five cities and is scheduled to take place on December 24.

China has come a long way, baby.

GeneChing

11-20-2017, 09:54 AM

Indian medical student, 20, is crowned Miss World 2017 in China – making her country equal with Venezuela as most successful nations in its history (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5096077/Indian-student-wins-Miss-World-2017-China.html)
By Charlie Bayliss For Mailonline
PUBLISHED: 14:09 EST, 18 November 2017 | UPDATED: 08:24 EST, 19 November 2017

An Indian medical student has been crowned Miss World following a glamorous event in China today, making her country the joint-most successful nation in the pageant's history along with Venezuela.

Manushi Chhillar became India's sixth winner of the prestigious beauty show, following in the footsteps of successful Bollywood actresses Priyanka Chopra and Aishwarya Rai.

Chhillar's win means that India and Venezuela have both won the competition a record six times each over the course of its 67 year history.

The 20-year-old beauty winner is a trained Indian classical dancer who enjoys painting. The Miss World website also says that she hopes to open a chain of non-profit hospitals in rural areas.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/11/18/18/46793D8800000578-5096077-image-a-13_1511030552203.jpghttp://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/11/18/18/46793DE000000578-5096077-image-a-14_1511030552204.jpg
Miss India Manushi Chhilar wins the 67th Miss World contest final in Sanya, on the tropical Chinese island of Hainan on November 18, 2017

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/11/18/18/4677BB4300000578-5096077-image-a-15_1511030566670.jpg
Contestants hold hands and pose during the 67th Miss World contest final in Sanya, Chinese on Saturday

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/11/18/18/4677971300000578-5096077-image-a-17_1511030684042.jpg8
During the competition, the contestants perform and try to wow the judges in the hope of being crowned the winner

Following her success, she tweeted: 'Thank you, everyone, for your constant love, support. This one's for India.'

She has retweeted a number of different articles relating to success and has become a trending topic on the social media site Twitter.

Among those to come out and congratulate her include Manohar Lal Khattar - the minister of her home state of Haryana.

She was crowed the winner by last year's winner, Stephanie del Valle of Puerto Rico, at the ceremony in the Chinese coastal city of Sanya.

Britain's Stephanie Hill and Mexico's Andrea Meza completed the other podium place finishes.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/11/18/18/46793A0A00000578-5096077-image-m-23_1511030843694.jpghttp://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/11/18/18/467937E400000578-5096077-image-a-24_1511030857325.jpg
Miss India Manushi Chhilar poses during the 67th Miss World contest (left) while Miss Mexico lma Andrea Meza Carmona walks on stage during and tries to impress the judges

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/11/18/18/46793E5800000578-5096077-image-a-27_1511030924736.jpg
Miss World 2016 Stephanie Del Valle, from Puerto Rico (top) puts the crown on Miss India Manushi Chhilar (bottom) during the crowning ceremony in China

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/11/18/18/4677A0F300000578-5096077-image-a-26_1511030915365.jpg
Contestants dance during the 67th Miss World contest final in Sanya, on the tropical Chinese island of Hainan

It was the fifth time in 10 years China has held the prestigious competition. At the previous time the compeition was held in Sanya, controversy erupted after officials in Hong Kong stopped Miss Canada, Anastasia Lin, from boarding a plane bound China's Hainan Island, saying she would not recieve a visa.

And last year, Lin was reportedly told not to speak by pageant bosses not to speak out about human rights abuses in China.

She did not compete in this year's event, with China represented by high school student Cynthia Menard.

Most wins in the Miss World competition

India: 1966, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2017

Venezuela: 1955, 1981, 1984, 1991, 1995, 2011

United Kingdom: 1961, 1964, 1965, 1974, 1983

South Africa: 1958, 1974, 2014

United States: 1973, 1990, 2010

Iceland: 1985, 1988, 2005

Jamaica: 1963, 1976, 1993

Sweden: 1951, 1952, 1977

Puerto Rico: 1975, 2016

China: 2007, 2012

Russia: 1992, 2008

Peru: 1967, 2004

Austria: 1969, 1987

Germany: 1956, 1980

Argentina: 1960, 1978

Australia: 1968, 1972

Netherlands: 1959, 1962

Spain: 2015

Philippines: 2013

Gibraltar: 2009

Czech Republic: 2006

Ireland: 2003

Turkey: 2002

Nigeria: 2001

Israel: 1998

Greece: 1996

Poland: 1989

Trinidad and Tobago: 1986

Dominican Republic: 1982

Guam: 1980

Bermuda: 1979

Brazil: 1971

Finland: 1957

Egypt: 1954

France: 1953

We posted on Ms. Lin previously (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?57280-Beauty-Pageants&p=1288702#post1288702). Should I post about this year's protests too or is this enough?

highlypotion

11-27-2017, 07:07 AM

Wow! This is an amazing thread! So what can you say about the recently crowned Ms. Universe 2017?

GeneChing

06-05-2018, 02:28 PM

Miss America Scrapping Swimsuit Portion; 2018 Miss Arkansas Pageant Not Impacted By The Change (http://5newsonline.com/2018/06/05/miss-america-scrapping-swimsuit-portion-from-its-pageant/)
POSTED 8:36 AM, JUNE 5, 2018, BY CNN WIRE, UPDATED AT 11:14AM, JUNE 5, 2018

http://localtvkfsm.files.wordpress.com/2018/06/s094664298.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&w=400&h=225&crop=1
The next edition of the Miss America pageant will scrap swimsuits and will be more inclusive to women of all sizes, the contest announced Tuesday. CREDIT: Donald Kravitz/Getty Images for Dick Clark Productions

(CNN) — The next edition of the Miss America pageant will scrap swimsuits and will be more inclusive to women of all sizes, the contest announced Tuesday.

Gretchen Carlson, the chairwoman of the Miss America board of directors, announced on “Good Morning America” that the event will no longer feature a swimsuit portion.

Miss America will be a competition, not a pageant, Carlson said on the show Tuesday.

“We will no longer judge our candidates on their outward physical appearance. That’s huge,” she said.

Carlson also said the new Miss America competition will be more inclusive to women of “all shapes and sizes.”

The official Miss America Twitter account tweeted a short video of a white bikini going up in a puff of smoke with the hashtag #byebyebikini.

The elimination of the swimsuit competition will begin at the national competition as some states have already completed selection.

“Change is rarely easy, and I think it will take some time for many people who have been invested in the Miss America Organization to make this adjustment,” said Maggie Benton, Miss Arkansas 2017. “With that being said, I’m hopeful that these changes will be positive. I so trust our Miss America leadership, and I know that there is a force of women working for the good of the organization at the end of the day.”

The change will not impact the Miss Arkansas competition that is scheduled to begin next week in Little Rock. Channel 5 will simulcast the 2018 Miss Arkansas pageant June 16 at 7 p.m.

“The decision to make this change was important because it allows us to embrace women differently to do what we ultimately are passionate about in providing exceptional opportunities and scholarships for education,” said Jessie Bennett, Miss America trustee. “I personally still believe that being mentally and physically healthy is an important component of taking on the responsibility of being a local, state or national titleholder, but my hope is that we work to continue to educate young women on healthy lifestyles.

It’s not the only change coming

But the elimination of swimsuits isn’t the only change coming to the 97-year-old event. The evening gown competition is being revamped as well. Carlson said contestants will be able to wear “whatever they choose.”

The big changes to Miss America had been expected since the Miss America organization is now being led entirely by women for the first time.

Just last month Regina Hopper was appointed president and CEO of the Miss America Organization, and Marjorie Vincent-Tripp was named as chair of the Board of Trustees of the Miss America Foundation. They joined Carlson, who was named chairwoman in December.

The female trio takes over for the leaders of the Miss America Organization who resigned in December after the Huffington Post revealed that leaders and employees had sent emails disparaging pageant contestants, including references to their weight and sex lives.

A new era for the organization

In the statement announcing the new leaders, Miss America said the all-female team signaled a new era for the organization, best known for its widely televised pageants.

In another first, all three leaders are former pageant winners in the Miss America system.

Hopper, former CEO of Intelligent Transportation Society of America, was Miss Arkansas 1983. Vincent-Tripp, an assistant attorney general at the Florida Office of the Attorney General, was Miss America 1991. Finally, Gretchen Carlson, the advocate and former Fox News host, was Miss America 1989.

The next Miss America competition is September 9 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Wait....whaaaaaaaaaaaaat?

boxerbilly

06-09-2018, 09:29 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okZ0jctQWXg

boxerbilly

06-10-2018, 08:55 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2XdmyBtCRQ

boxerbilly

06-10-2018, 09:00 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Hihge6FFVw

boxerbilly

06-10-2018, 09:05 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sky1tt8vLA

GeneChing

07-09-2018, 07:47 AM

GRETCHEN CARLSON OUT AT MISS AMERICA? MEMBERS CALL FOR RESIGNATION AFTER SWIMSUIT COMPETITION CANCELLATION (http://www.newsweek.com/will-gretchen-carlson-be-removed-miss-america-board-members-want-her-out-1013252)
BY KELLY WYNNE ON 7/8/18 AT 12:17 PM

The Miss America Organization has decided to eliminate the swimwear portion of the yearly event, but not without complaints on the pageant's new direction, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Chairwoman Gretchen Carlson is under fire for the decision, which is said to be inspired by the #MeToo movement. Carlson herself was an early leader of the movement and continues to be a voice for victims of harassment and assault. In April, the former Miss America and Fox News host announced her participation in creating a Lifetime documentary surrounding the voices of the movement, as Politico reported in April.

In the wake of the pageant-wide changes, eliminating both swimwear and evening gown segments, almost half of the pageant's nine-person board have quit or been forced to resign. National pageant directors are rallying against Carlson, hoping to have her removed from the board.

http://s.newsweek.com/sites/www.newsweek.com/files/styles/full/public/2018/07/08/gettyimages-141146202.jpg
Kate Shindle performs at the 2nd annual Grand Slam Charity Jam at the Potawatomi Bingo Casino on March 10, 2012 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
MIKE MCGINNIS/GETTY IMAGES

Former Miss Americas Kate Shindle and Laura Kaeppeler Fleiss listed “toxic culture” as their reason for departing from the board in June. Former Miss North Carolina Jennifer Vaden Barth and Former Miss Maine Valerie Crooker Clemens, detailed they were forced to resign when Carlson issued a letter stating they were trying to gain control of the organization, the Wall Street Journal reported.

On June 5, Carlson announced she’d be replacing the swimwear and evening gown portions of the Miss America Pageant with an interactive, onstage interview. She announced the decision on Good Morning America saying, “We’re not going to judge you on your appearance, because we are interested in what makes you you.”

The decision to change the pageant's format was decided in a unanimous vote, which the Miss America Pageant stated to the Wall Street Journal, though some former directors and state pageant heads said they felt pressured to vote for the changes in order to keep the pageant televised.

http://s.newsweek.com/sites/www.newsweek.com/files/styles/full/public/2018/07/08/gettyimages-927272638.jpg
Gretchen Carlson attends the 2018 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 4, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California.
DIA DIPASUPIL/GETTY IMAGES

Former Miss America Leanza Cornett spoke positively on the changes, detailing how she hated the swimsuit portion to begin with.

“In the climate of #MeToo, I think it’s a really wise decision,” she told the Wall Street Journal. “We’re living in a different era now, and when we move forward for the empowerment of women, we will be taken much more seriously, and I think that’s huge.”

The changes come less than a year after an internal shake-up in which 2014 emails exchanged between CEO Sam Haskell and lead writer Lewis Friedman, were leaked. The emails detailed Friedman calling former contestants “****s” in addition to ****-shaming and fat-shaming the contestants, as reported by The Huffington Post.

The changes will be reflected in the 2018 Miss America Pageant in September.

I'm curious how this might affect Miss Universe now.

Jimbo

07-09-2018, 08:13 AM

I'm not sure how relevant these Miss America/Miss Universe pageants have been for some years now. I really don't see the correlation between swimsuit competitions and sexual harassment. I wonder how many of the women who believe that swimsuit competitions objectify women are among those who clamor to see Dwayne Johnson, Chris Hemsworth, Zack Efron, Channing Tatum, etc., take off their shirts to show off their "abs" (I'm betting a lot of them).

There's a lot of talk about female body-shaming, but there's also a lot of male body-shaming in popular culture, and nobody seems too upset about that. Maybe women will consider adding Zack Garifalakis, Kevin James, Ken Jeong, and Steve Buscemi to their annual '50 Hottest Men In The World' list. Lol.

Keep in mind, I'm very much against body-shaming and sexual harassment. But 'what's good for the goose is good for the gander' and all that.

GeneChing

07-18-2018, 07:58 AM

I'm not sure how relevant these Miss America/Miss Universe pageants have been for some years now. I'm not sure how relevant they ever were. That being said, if I was channel surfing and came across a swimsuit competition, I'd likely watch it.

Here's more grist for the mill:

Becoming Chinese: how South Africa-born Mrs Hong Kong integrated into local culture (https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/2155838/becoming-chinese-how-south-africa-born-mrs-hong)
Natasha Clausen talks about meeting the love of her life on a plane and why she and her Cathay pilot husband decided to get Hong Kong passports
BY KATE WHITEHEAD
18 JUL 2018

https://cdn1.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/landscape/public/images/methode/2018/07/18/6b2f9538-8a32-11e8-8608-b7163509a377_1280x720_190046.JPG?itok=j_9IUEle

Country girl I was born on July 1, 1975, in a small diamond-mining town called Namaqualand, and raised in Cape Town, South Africa. Country life – sea, mountains and nature – has always been important to me. I was an only child raised by a single mum. My mum was in sales and watching her work hard made me want to help her. She instilled in me values of hard work, love and encourage*ment.

I was very studious because I realised she put her hard-earned money into my education. I studied at Cape Technikon and majored in marketing and communications. I went to work in a bank, but quickly realised I wasn’t cut out for that kind of nine to five. I needed to be out there, communicating and touching people. I went to night school and studied personal-fitness training and then felt drawn to prenatal, postnatal and baby yoga.

Stranger on a plane When I was 24, I entered the Miss South Africa pageant – I ended up getting into the final. I was at Cape Town airport, on my way to the competition, and had probably packed too many bags, when the man behind me in the queue at the check-in offered to help. I turned around and said, “No, thank you. I can do it.” I asked to be seated by myself, I wanted to read my book, Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway (self-help guru Susan Jeffers’ 1987 book).

The guy – who turned out to be a pilot, Richard – asked at the check-in if he could be seated next to me. He was told they couldn’t do that, but Richard managed to persuade them. When he sat down next to me I said, “I can see right through you, don’t even think about it.” It was a two-hour flight and we talked. It was real banter and people around us were listening to our conversation. Within 30 minutes he jokingly said, “Let’s go to the flight deck and ask the pilot to marry us.” I didn’t say yes or no. I described the place I wanted to get married, by the ocean, and said, “You find the place and then we’ll talk.”

A Hong Hong adventure On our first date, Richard said he wanted to meet my parents. It was surreal. He was living in Dubai at the time and we courted long distance. He moved to Johannesburg and worked for SA Express and we saw each other on weekends and got to know each other. We got engaged a year after we met and six months later we married.

A couple of months later Cathay Pacific offered Richard a job and we came to Hong Kong with two suitcases, 20,000 rand in our bank account and full of love. That was the start of our adventure in Hong Kong. I began running wellness seminars, teaching infant massage, baby yoga and first aid, much of the time through the YWCA and Kids’ Gallery (a youth arts organisation). Our daughter, Savana, was born in 2003 and Hunter was born in 2007. We wanted names from Africa, made in China. We put them through local school and kindergarten to learn the language.

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Photo credit: courtesy of Natasha Clausen
Clausen just after being crowned Miss Cape Technikon, in South Africa, in 1994.

Queen bee We’ve lived in Tung Chung since we arrived in Hong Kong 17 years ago. We wanted to understand local traditions and the culture and get to know the local elders. It was through working with village elders and our neigh*bours, helping them clear the land, that we got into farming. We wanted to realise our love of country life in Hong Kong and make it more of what we felt we had grown up with – Richard grew up on a farm (in South Africa) and I love nature.

We sourced land, cultivated it, grew crops and got into bee farming. Richard and I both have day jobs and then we have farming passion projects. The idea of beekeeping has always been there and we now have a bee farm on South Lantau and we also do bee rescues, where we safely relocate unwanted bee colonies. We’ve been learning from Chinese beekeepers who have been doing it for 30 to 40 years and are at the end of their trade – their kids aren’t interested and want to pursue city life. The goal isn’t to make massive amounts of honey and money, but to invigorate the environment and enjoy the life*style of being outside and share that as a family and a community.

Home in every way Ten years ago, my husband suggested we get Hong Kong passports. I laughed, thinking it was a crazy idea, and he took that as a yes and did the paperwork. Since 2011, we’ve been Chinese citizens. I needed to have a certain level of proficiency in Cantonese to get the passport; I’m learning Cantonese – I can buy things in the market. We’ve integrated into the culture, it’s important to us to make Hong Kong home in every way. We’ve invested heart, soul and finances in Hong Kong.

At about the time that we got our Chinese passports, I was getting ready for a seminar and I heard these words in my head: “I can.” It resonated so strongly – I can do things. The message I love to share with kids (through I Can World, her social outreach initiative) is that they can do, be and have anything they want in life. I film kids who are doing really wonderful things and then I show those films in schools.

https://cdn4.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/images/methode/2018/07/18/ee65363e-8a31-11e8-8608-b7163509a377_972x_190046.jpg
Clausen and her husband Richard harvesting raw organic honey in Hong Kong. Picture: courtesy of Natasha Clausen

Photo opportunity In November last year, Savana, who is 14, did a runway walk for charity and was spotted by a talent scout. She joined an agency and the deal was that I would chaperone. She needed a Z card for modelling and a friend connected us with a photographer. It was a fun shoot and the friend suggested that I do a shoot as well. I did the next day.

It turned out the photographer was on her way to shoot the Mrs World competition. I’d heard of the contest, but didn’t realise 30 countries [and territories] participate, including Hong Kong. It was an opportunity and within a week of knowing about it, I had applied.

Feel the fear but do it anyway The interviews were a grilling experience. I had an inkling of what it might mean from my experience in Miss South Africa. I learned that if you put your foot forward, if you show up, then life shows up for you. The portfolio isn’t just about a pretty face – it’s about what’s in the heart, how you can connect and inspire people and create something magical and dynamic. I was so excited when I learned in June that I’d been made Mrs Hong Kong.

The current Mrs World (Alice Lee Giannetta) is Mrs Hong Kong; she lives in New York and is a lawyer. Canada has a black Mrs Canada (Solange Tuyishime) and Wales had a Vietnamese Mrs Wales (Peng Jasmine Lin). I love the sense of inclusion; I feel I am a global citizen. I want to use the platform for I Can World, sharing the message about children with innovative ideas that can help save and sustain the planet. The Mrs World competition will be in November or December. I’m not nervous yet, but I will be closer to the time. I’ll be thinking “feel the fear but do it anyway”, the message of the book I was reading when I met my husband.

boxerbilly

07-18-2018, 09:19 AM

remove up to post 122.

boxerbilly

07-18-2018, 09:20 AM

311 is ****ING HOT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GeneChing

09-19-2018, 07:35 AM

Real or fake news? When it comes to Russian news nowadays, who can tell?

Russian social network hosts ‘Miss Hitler’ beauty pageant (https://www.timesofisrael.com/russian-social-network-hosts-miss-hitler-beauty-pageant/)
VKontakte, home to half a billion users, blocks page after hundreds vote in competition to ‘show beauty of Hitlerian culture’
By TOI STAFF
14 September 2018, 8:53 am 11

https://static.timesofisrael.com/www/uploads/2018/09/miss-640x400.jpg
Advertisement for Miss Hitler competition 2018, hosted on Russian VK social media network. (Screen capture via Hadashot news)

A page on a popular Russian social media network devoted to Adolf Hitler was suspended Thursday for hosting an online beauty pageant dubbed “Miss Hitler.”

The competition, hosted by the Adolf Hitler page on VKontakte (also known as VK), Europe’s largest social media network with half a billion users — a Russian equivalent of Facebook — drew contestants from Germany, Italy, Russia, and the US, Hadashot television news reported.

After the Israeli TV network contacted VKontakte, the company suspended the competition and issued a statement condemning hate speech.

The competition site was replaced with a page saying, “This community has been blocked due to calls to violence.”

https://static.timesofisrael.com/www/uploads/2018/09/blocked-400x250.jpg
Russian social media network VK blocked a ‘Miss Hitler’ competition hosted on its site. (Screen capture: VKontakte)

The group had encouraged women to enter the competition by posting sexy Nazi-themed selfies together with an entry explaining why they “love and revere the Third Reich of Adolf Hitler.”

Hundreds of users voted in an online poll while thousands viewed the competition’s pages. Entrants used their full names and unabashedly wrote of their neo-Nazi values and the organizations to which they belonged.

Women sent in photographs of themselves performing Nazi salutes, at neo-Nazi rallies, or posing with Nazi memorabilia.

One of the now-blocked pages had outlined the objectives of the competition, which included: “Promoting Hitlerian culture; encourage interaction between the Hitlerian community; clear the image of Adolf Hitler, show beauty of Hitlerian culture” and to “protect and defend women.”

https://static.timesofisrael.com/www/uploads/2018/09/hit-640x400.jpg
Entrants in a’ Miss Hitler 2018′ competition hosted on Russia’s VKontakte social media network. (Screen capture via Hadashot news)

The competition was uncovered by the Israeli company Vocative which analyzes online content in 15 languages, Hadashot reported.

In 2014, Vocative uncovered a similar competition hosted by the same social media network, which was also eventually blocked.

GeneChing

09-24-2018, 09:01 AM

‘Miss Tattoo Hong Kong’ to be judged on art, poise and personality, not looks: convention organisers (https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/2165327/miss-tattoo-hong-kong-be-judged-art-poise-and-personality-not)
Hong Kong China International Tattoo Convention’s new segment draws mixed views from attendees of three-day event expected to draw 25,000
PUBLISHED : Saturday, 22 September, 2018, 7:01pm
UPDATED : Saturday, 22 September, 2018, 10:21pm
Stephanie Tsui

https://cdn3.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/980x551/public/images/methode/2018/09/22/6575443a-be49-11e8-8bc4-fc59ff6846aa_1280x720_174301.JPG?itok=SpCDG9HT

Organisers of this year’s Hong Kong China International Tattoo Convention will stage a “Miss Tattoo Hong Kong” contest for the first time on Sunday as the climax of the three-day event.

Organising committee member Gilbert Chung said unlike beauty pageants, the seven finalists drawn from dozens who applied to take part, would not be judged by their looks.

“Unlike other tattoo contests, which look at the artists’ skills, we will be judging the girls based on how they ‘carry’ their tattoos and how the tattoos complement their personalities,” said Chung, a channel strategist at media outlet HK01, one of the organisers of the convention.

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This year’s Hong Kong China International Tattoo Convention is expected to draw 25,000 people. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

The event, which opened on Friday, is expected to attract about 25,000 people in total, but some among the thousands of visitors on the first day were not impressed with the “Miss Tattoo Hong Kong” segment.

A French woman who only gave her name as Manon questioned why there wasn’t a “Mr Tattoo Hong Kong”, saying: “We girls want to check out some nice-looking tattooed guys as well!”

We girls want to check out some nice-looking tattooed guys as well! MANON, CONVENTION VISITOR

“Tattoo culture is about being forward-thinking, but this contest still objectifies women,” Michael, a local university student, pointed out.

Meanwhile, two other visitors, Po and W.K. expressed confusion about whether the girls would be judged on their tattoos – or their appearances. “I think the organisers are just trying to attract more people to join the convention using the contest,” W.K. said.

Chongqing tattoo artist Blacky however said: “The beauty of a girl can complement tattoos nicely, and it’s human nature to appreciate beautiful things.”

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Japanese tattoo artist Horidai Yuki inks a client. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Carli, who is from Hong Kong, said she believed the contest was a good way to celebrate alternative culture, given the growing popularity of tattoos among women.

HK01’s Chung said if this year’s contest did well, there might be a “Mr Tattoo Hong Kong” next year.

The convention is in its sixth year and features 270 artists from around the world. This year, local studio Freedom Tattoo and the China Tattoo Development League teamed up for the first time to stage the event.

https://cdn2.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/images/methode/2018/09/22/e35d3384-be2c-11e8-8bc4-fc59ff6846aa_1320x770_174301.JPG
Artist Gabe Shum, founder of Freedom Tattoo. Photo: Felix Wong

Gabe Shum, founder of Freedom Tattoo, said: “As Asia’s most prominent tattoo convention, many mainland Chinese artists have expressed interest in participating in and attending our convention.

“We hope to see further collaboration with mainland and international counterparts to promote cultural exchange and nurture a new generation of professional tattoo artists and practitioners.”

Besides daily tattoo competitions and live band music, there is also an art exhibition showcasing the “Bad Girl” series of contemporary Chinese artist, Song Yang.

“People around the world are familiar with traditional Chinese characters like the Monkey King. But ‘Bad Girl’ is willing to make mistakes, she loves to shop, and she has many boyfriends.

“I want to show the world what contemporary Chinese youth culture is really like, where tattoos are also popular and appreciated,” Song said.

The convention runs from September 21 to 23 at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal.

There are some really odd beauty pageants in the world. :)

GeneChing

12-04-2018, 09:50 AM

There are several embedded instagram pics that I didn't cut&paste. They are worth a click. Date is gorgeous.

Miss World Japan: The great-times-20-granddaughter of samurai lord One-Eyed Dragon (https://soranews24.com/2018/12/02/miss-world-japan-the-great-times-20-granddaughter-of-samurai-lord-one-eyed-dragon/)
Casey Baseel 3 days ago

https://sociorocketnewsen.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/dd-0.png

Direct descendant of Date Masamune becomes first Japanese entrant to win talent portion with her beautiful opera vocals.

Recently, Miss Universe Japan turned heads by cosplaying as Sailor Moon. It turns out, though, that fellow beauty pageant contestant Miss World Japan also has a connection to a famous icon of Japanese culture, and one who’s an actual historical figure.

https://sociorocketnewsen.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/dd-21.png

Tokyo native Kanako Date has a name that might sound familiar to Japanese history buffs, because one of her ancestors is Date Masamune, lord of the Date samurai clan during Japan’s feudal Sengoku era. Nicknamed “One-Eyed Dragon” after losing an eye to smallpox as a child, Masamune ruled the area near present-day Sendai, in Miyagi Prefecture, until his death in 1636.

▼ Date Masamune
https://sociorocketnewsen.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/dd-1.png?w=768&h=509

While they’re obviously many generations removed from each other, there’s not much lateral space between Kanako and her famous ancestor on the Date family tree. She’s a direct descendant of Masamune, and is in fact his great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-granddaughter, with the two of them spanning 21 generations.

Given her aristocratic samurai lineage, it’s not so surprising that Date looks regal dressed in traditional Japanese attire or armed with traditional Japanese weaponry. The 22-year-old lists Japanese dance, archery, and playing the koto (a stringed Japanese instrument) among her hobbies as well.

However, Date’s interests and ambitions go beyond the borders of her homeland. She speaks multiple languages, including English, French, German, Spanish, and Korean, and also has studied abroad in China. Currently a fourth-year law student at Japan’s prestigious Keio University, she hopes to work for an international organization in the future, and has also been involved in charity activities with the Red Cross and World Vision.

Her cultural interests have an international element to themselves as well, as Date is also an amazingly talented opera singer, as you can hear for yourself in the video below.

It’s not just her online followers who’re impressed with her vocals, either. During the talent portion of this year’s Miss World finals, currently taking place on Hainan Island in China, Date elected to sing the aria “Vissi d’arte” from Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca, and her performance wowed the judges so much that she was awarded first place in the talent portion, a feat no other Japanese contestant has achieved since the pageant’s first iteration in 1951.

https://sociorocketnewsen.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/dd-31.png

Due to the multi-day nature of the pageant, an overall winner won’t be chosen from among the 118 contestants until December 8, but regardless of how that turns out, Date’s unprecedented talent portion win is something to be proud of.

Sources: IT Media, PR Times, Miss World Japan
Top image: PR Times
Insert images: Miss World Japan, Wikipedia/Panoramio upload bot, PR Times

One-Eyed Dragon? srsly?

GeneChing

12-10-2018, 08:55 AM

Dios mio, Espana. :eek:

DECEMBER 05, 2018
First transgender Miss Universe contestant poised to win over rest of biologically female contestants (https://www.theblaze.com/news/first-ever-transgender-miss-america-contestant-poised-to-win-over-rest-of-biologically-female-contestants?utm_content=bufferf52d4&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=theblaze)
Somehow it doesn't seem very fair, does it?

https://assets.rbl.ms/18970583/1245x700.jpg
Angela Ponce, 2018 Miss Universe Spain, is favored to win the Miss Universe pageant on Dec. 16 in Bangkok, Thailand. (JAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images)
SARAH TAYLOR

Angela Ponce, the winner of the 2018 Miss Universe Spain pageant, is now the "clear favorite" to win the Miss Universe pageant, according to some bookmakers.

What are the details?

Ponce, 26, who is the first transgender contestant in the Miss Universe pageant, is poised to win by a large margin, according to reports in The Blast and the Daily Mail. Ponce was born a male, but underwent gender reassignment surgery.

Ponce says that if she wins, she intends to make the message known to President Donald Trump in particular, and the world at large.

"As the competition nears, online bookies are taking action, and Ponce has grown to become the clear favorite with current odds of +600," The Blast reported on Tuesday. "The folks at MyBookie.ag compiled their list of where all the countries currently stand. To put it in perspective, the Miss USA Sarah Rose Summers has odds of +2,000 if she wins the whole competition."

The 2018 Miss Universe pageant will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 16, in Bangkok, Thailand.

In a recent interview with Time, Ponce said that if a transgender contestant won the competition, it would sent a message of inclusivity that would resonate around the world as a "win for human rights."

"More than a message to [Trump], it would be a win for human rights," Ponce said. "Trans women have been persecuted and erased for so long. If they give me the crown, it would show trans women are just as much women as cis women."

Anything else?

In 2012, the pageant announced that it would permit transgender women to compete after Canadian transgender model, Jenna Talackova, filed a lawsuit.

Talackova, a former finalist, was initially disqualified from competing because she is a transgender woman.

The contest, at the time, was run by Trump's New York City-based organization, and had stipulated that contestants must be natural-born women.

In a 2012 statement, GLAAD spokesperson Herndon Graddick said, "The Miss Universe Organization and Mr. Trump made it clear to GLAAD that they were open to making a policy change to include women who are transgender."

"We appreciate that he and his team responded swiftly and appropriately," the statement added. "The Miss Universe Organization today follows institutions that have taken a stand against discrimination of transgender women including the Olympics, NCAA, the Girl Scouts of America and The CW's 'America's Next Top Model.' "

Editorial update: This post has been updated to reflect a new headline. The first iteration of the article's headline posited Talackova as the "first transgender Miss America contestant." Talackova is the "first transgender Miss Universe contestant."

GeneChing

12-17-2018, 09:05 AM

This year was interesting - not only the transgender but the racism.

Just who is Catriona Gray? Meet the Australian-Filipino singer and model who has just won Miss Universe 2018 (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-6502841/Australian-Filipino-singer-wins-2018-Miss-Universe-pageant.html)
Catriona Gray is an Australian-Filipino television host, singer and model
The betting favourite was crowned 2018 Miss Universe in Bangkok on Sunday
She beat out Miss Australia who was slammed for role in 'racist' video
By MATILDA RUDD and ALICE MURPHY FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA
PUBLISHED: 00:10 EST, 17 December 2018 | UPDATED: 01:34 EST, 17 December 2018

Australian-Filipino TV host and model Catriona Magnayon Gray has won the 2018 Miss Universe pageant in Bangkok.

Born in Queensland to a Scottish-Australian father and Filipino mother, the 24-year-old vision represented the Philippines on Sunday and took out the top prize, wowing judges with her final answer.

Ms Gray, who boasts more than half a million Instagram followers, said her experience working in the slums of Tondo, Manila, taught her to 'look in the beauty of the children' and be grateful.

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2018/12/17/04/7509504-6502841-Australian_Filipino_TV_host_and_model_Catriona_Mag nayon_Gray_pic-a-46_1545020955144.jpg
Australian-Filipino TV host and model Catriona Magnayon Gray (pictured) has won the 2018 Miss Universe pageant in Bangkok

Who were the top 11 at 2018 Miss Universe?
1. Miss Philippines Catriona Gray

2. Miss south Africa Tamaryn Green

3. Miss Venezuela Sthefany Gutiérrez

4. Miss Puerto Rico Kiara Ortega

5. Miss Vietnam H'Hen Niê

6. Miss Canada Marta Stepien

7. Miss Costa Rica Natalia Carvajal

8. Miss Curacao Akisha Albert

9. Miss Nepal Manita Devkota

10. Miss Thailand Sophida Kanchanarin

11. Miss Australia Francesca Hung

'And I will bring this aspect as a Miss Universe to see situations with a silver lining and to assess where I could give something, where I could provide something as a spokesperson.

'And this I think if I can teach people to be grateful, we can have an amazing world where negativity could not grow and foster and children will have smiles on their faces,' she said.

The brunette beauty edged out first runner-up Tamaryn Green of South Africa and third-place Sthefany Gutierrez of Venezuela on the day, and succeeds the 2017 winner, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters of South Africa.

Miss Australia, Francesca Hung, didn't make the top ten after she and two other contestants were seen in a video allegedly mocking Miss Vietnam for her lack of English.

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2018/12/17/05/7509508-6502841-The_brunette_beauty_edged_out_first_runner_up_Tama ryn_Green_of_S-a-54_1545023376722.jpghttps://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2018/12/17/05/7509622-6502841-The_brunette_beauty_edged_out_first_runner_up_Tama ryn_Green_of_S-a-49_1545023376464.jpg
The brunette beauty edged out first runner-up Tamaryn Green of South Africa and third-place Sthefany Gutierrez of Venezuela on the day

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2018/12/17/06/6678724-6502841-Catriona_Magnayon_Gray_is_an_Australian_Filipina_T V_host_singer_-a-39_1545028476916.jpg
Catriona Magnayon Gray is an Australian-Filipina TV host, singer and model who represented the Philippines at the Miss Universe final in Bangkok, Thailand on December 17

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2018/12/17/06/7509514-6502841-Miss_Australia_Francesca_Hung_didn_t_make_the_top_ ten_pictured_d-a-37_1545028476904.jpg
Miss Australia, Francesca Hung, didn't make the top ten (pictured) - despite being tipped as a crowd favourite - after she and two other contestants were seen in a video allegedly mocking Miss Vietnam for her lack of English

She has since explained on social media that the comments were taken 'out of context'.

This year's contest is not the first foray into the world of pageantry for multi-talented catwalk queen Catriona Gray.

Ms Gray was previously named Miss World Philippines in 2016, and is the first woman in history to have been awarded both World and Universe national titles.

Before her departure to Bangkok to prepare for the final, Ms Gray released her new music video 'We're in This Together', an anthem highlighting the plight of poverty stricken children in the slums of Manila.

The song shot straight to number one in the Philippines iTunes chart.

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Ms Gray works as a commercial model and singer, and recently released a track called 'We're in This Together' to raise awareness about child poverty in the slums of Manila

Ms Gray is vocal about her belief in the importance of education and is a passionate advocate for gender equality, social justice and human rights.

The Cairns-born beauty explained her passion for education to CNN Philippines, saying: 'Why education? Because if you give them food, they will go hungry the next day.

'If you give them medicine, they might hurt themselves again. But education will stay with them for a lifetime.'

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Ms Gray is vocal about her belief in the importance of education and is a passionate advocate for gender equality, social justice and human rights

She has expressed opposition to the idea of the Tagalog (Filipino) language being removed from state school curriculums, saying: 'I think it would be really sad if we were to reach that point.

'I feel when you reach a certain age, you develop an appreciation for what Tagalog is - the poetry of it and history of it as well as how it represents our culture.'

Ms Gray regularly campaigns for HIV/AIDS awareness, documenting her own HIV test on Instagram.

She is currently in a relationship with 24-year-old Filipino-German model Clint Bondad and is an ambassador for global technology brand Huawei.

Speaking to ABS-CBN News, Ms Gray previously revealed three women she admires: Broadway star Lea Salonga, fashion blogger Kim Jones and Filipina-French actress Solen Heussaff.

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The multi-talented beauty queen campaigns for HIV/AIDS awareness and previously documented her own HIV test on Instagram

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The Cairns-born beauty reportedly designed her own costume for the national section of the pageant which will take place on December 17

One segment of Miss Universe involves a national costume parade where entrants dress as famous icons and symbols from their home countries.

Ms Gray designed her national costume for the domestic heat of the pageant, and has reportedly done the same for the final.

Since its early days, the Miss Universe pageant has grown increasingly diverse.

Now in its 67th year, the 2018 competition included Miss Spain, Angela Ponce, the first ever trans woman to take part.

GeneChing

03-11-2019, 07:42 AM

So young. So tragic. :(

Miss Teenager Universe Lotte Van Der Zee Dead at 19 After Suffering Heart Attack (https://www.eonline.com/news/1022023/miss-teen-universe-lotte-van-der-zee-dead-at-19-after-suffering-heart-attack)
by ALYSSA MORIN | Fri., Mar. 8, 2019 1:09 PM

https://akns-images.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/201928/rs_864x1080-190308123113-1024-2Miss-Teen-Universe-Lotte-Van-Der-Zee-.jpg?fit=inside|900:auto&output-quality=90Instagram

A former Miss Teenager Universe has passed away at the age of 19.

The Dutch model, Lotte van der Zee, was on a family ski trip when she suffered from a heart attack. Her parents, Bert van der Zee and Eugeniek van het Hul, took to their daughter's Instagram account to share the devastating news.

"Our pearl, our everything passed away on Wednesday evening March 6th at 22:47," they captioned the post with a picture of Lotte. "It is incredibly surreal that our dearly beloved Lotte is not around us anymore. Our hearts are truly broken."

The pageant queen passed away a day before her 20th birthday, according to reports. During their trip in Austria, they recalled "Lotte started to feel unwell throughout the course of the afternoon." It "swiftly escalated in sudden cardiac arrest."

The teen fell into a coma, where she was "kept a sleep under intensive supervision of the doctors in order to monitor her health," her parents said.

Since their daughter's passing, her parents have received an overwhelming amount of messages.

"We would like to thank you all again for all the support and heartwarming messages."

https://akns-images.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/201928/rs_1024x1024-190308123114-1024-4Miss-Teen-Universe-Lotte-Van-Der-Zee-.jpg?fit=inside|900:auto&output-quality=90Instagram

The 19-year-old model won the Miss Teenager Universe title back in 2017.

The pageant's social media account sent their condolences, writing, "Losing someone we loved is not easy, but knowing that we have been able to be part of her life, it has been [an] amazing journey," they wrote. "Our deepest condolences to your family and friends."

https://akns-images.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/201928/rs_864x1080-190308123112-1024-3Miss-Teen-Universe-Lotte-Van-Der-Zee-.jpg?fit=inside|900:auto&output-quality=90Instagram

It's unclear what caused the model to suffer a heart attack.

Speaking to a Dutch newspaper, Lotte's parents said their daughter had been out the night before with friends. They recalled she returned "cheerfully and without health complaints." And at one point said, "until breakfast."

They told the publication they noticed Lotte looked ill in the morning when she didn't show up for breakfast. In the afternoon, her condition got worse.

The parents told the Dutch newspaper they plan to do tests to see what caused their daughter's heart attack.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Lotte's family and friends at this time.

GeneChing

04-08-2019, 03:39 PM

https://s1.r29static.com//bin/entry/3dc/0,0,2000,750/1800x675,85/2151489/i-got-plastic-surgery-to-2151489.webp

I Got Plastic Surgery To Compete In Pageants — & I'm Not Alone (https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/pageants-plastic-surgery)
In the pageant world, breast implants and nose jobs don't just come with the territory — they're offered for free to contestants who want a leg up.

THATIANA DIAZ
LAST UPDATED MARCH 28, 2019, 5:15 AM

Barbara Santana was nervous, the good kind of nervous, as she prepared for her very first pageant in 2014: Miss Dominican Republic US, which takes place in New York City. She had found the perfect gown, dedicated herself to working out, and practiced her catwalk in the weeks leading up to the competition. Then, the pageant finally came around, and she walked away with the crown, never expecting what came next.
High off her win, Santana was ready for the next step, which included traveling to the Dominican Republic to compete on the national stage. She was meeting with her new pageant director to discuss her upcoming training schedule when the topic quickly shifted to plastic surgery.
“The very first thing he told me was that I needed a nose job and a breast reduction,” she tells Refinery29. “That’s when I began to ask myself what I was willing to do and how far I would go in the world of pageants.”
Santana, who had just turned 19 at the time, followed through with the surgeries without giving them a second thought. “The pageant had a sponsored plastic surgeon, so the surgery would be completely free,” she says. “I was already very insecure about my breast size, and I was young, so I instantly agreed and went through with both procedures.”
Santana went on to compete in Miss World 2014 and Miss New Jersey USA 2018, but she wishes she would’ve postponed her decision to go under the knife. “I have nothing against plastic surgery, as it helps many people to boost their self-esteem," she says. "But I feel as though I only wanted it at the time so that I could be more accepted by the people constantly criticizing me — not for myself."
It’s no surprise that plastic surgery is common in beauty competitions. Despite the preliminary interviews with judges, the community service platforms, the on-stage questions, and many organizations’ efforts to the contrary, there is always a physical element that comes into play as the women take the stage to compete. In many cases, both a swimsuit and evening gown portion count towards a contestant’s total score.
According to the Miss Universe website, the swimsuit section is meant to display “dedication to a healthy lifestyle,” and the evening gown portion reflects how “confidently each woman presents herself.” Technically, confidence and lifestyle choices could reflect a range of physical appearances, but looking at the winners' circle, that's clearly not the case.
Across pageants, both in the U.S. and abroad, there remains a cookie-cutter image of what a beauty queen is supposed to look like: long hair, a slim waist, and curvy (but not too curvy) hips and breasts. And if a contestant doesn't fit that, surgery is the fastest solution. “If I’m working with a contestant who feels that a tweak here or there will boost her confidence, then we will do it,” Edgar Payano, former director of the Miss Dominican Republic US pageant, says. “Confidence is key when you’re competing in pageantry.”
As someone who competed in pageants for eight years, I can say that, just like Santana, I felt the same pressure to go under the knife to fit the judges’ narrow standards of beauty. And that pressure starts at a young age. In countries like Venezuela, which holds 23 victories in major international competitions, girls as young as 12 years old are getting surgeries as they enter the pageant circuit.

https://s1.r29static.com//bin/entry/8c0/720x490,85/2147710/i-got-plastic-surgery-to-2147710.webp
PHOTO: FRAZER HARRISON/GETTY IMAGES.
Left to right: Miss South Africa 2017 Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, Miss Canada 2017 Lauren Howe, Miss Philippines 2017 Rachel Peters, Miss USA 2017 Kara McCullough, and Miss Venezuela 2017 Keysi Sayago

And it’s not just in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic. Vivian Herscovitz felt compelled to get plastic surgery while competing for Miss California Teen USA, which accepts applicants between the ages of 14 to 19. “I had fitness instructors and pageant coaches telling me that I should look into other options to help my stomach look more toned,” she says. “When I competed, I met multiple women that were explicitly told that they would need plastic surgery in order to win.” Herscovitz never went through with any of the surgeries, but she still can’t believe it was even a suggestion. “To this day, I am appalled that anyone would even hint at plastic surgery for a 16 year old,” she says.
While directors aren’t necessarily forcing these surgeries, they do feel a responsibility for their delegates to win. “I have suggested surgery to my titleholders, but I've never forced it,” says Payano, adding that he recognizes his influence as a coach. “The contestants have the final say, but my opinion does matter to these girls as a director.”
Shanna Moakler, executive director of Miss Nevada and Miss Utah USA, and Miss USA 1995, says that at the end of the day, it’s always the contestant’s choice. “It should be made with a lot of consideration as the pageant is just one night,” she says. “You will have to live with these changes forever.”
continued next post

GeneChing

04-08-2019, 03:40 PM

https://s1.r29static.com//bin/entry/1bf/340x408,85/2022597/i-got-plastic-surgery-to-2022597.webp
ILLUSTRATION BY LOUISA CANNELL

But with surgeries available for free as part of the prize winnings, it can be hard to tell if contestants are getting the procedure for the right reasons. “I always speak to the contestant again without the director present to ensure it’s what she wants,” says Jeffrey S. Yager, MD, a New York-based plastic surgeon, who has sponsored pageants in the past. “I make it quite clear that it is the contestant who makes the decision on her own.”
The most popular surgeries among titleholders, as seen by Dr. Yager, are breast augmentation and nose reshaping, with the occasional request for liposuction. For the doctors, sponsoring these surgeries can lead to referrals and good publicity. For pageant contestants, it could mean getting one step closer to the crown.
While some contestants regret getting plastic surgery, there are other women who are ultimately satisfied with their decision. Migbelis Castellanos, who competed in Miss Universe 2014 representing Venezuela and is the latest winner of Univision’s reality show Nuestra Belleza Latina, says that she didn’t feel the same pressure when she opted for breast implants and a nose job. “It was a personal decision," says Castellanos. "For these kinds of cosmetic changes to be successful, a woman needs to be happy with herself at the outset, because this is an enhancement of the beauty that is already there."

“The pageant is just one night. You will have to live with these changes forever.
SHANNA MOAKLER”
For Keysi Sayago, Miss Venezuela 2016 and Top 5 at Miss Universe 2017, the decision to get rhinoplasty and liposuction at the age of 22 was a mixture of both personal and external factors. “Many times we believe that if we don’t do it, we won’t achieve the goal. That’s why we say yes to the suggestions of procedures that are brought to us," she says. "Although I had my doubts at first, I liked the result and appreciate how natural it looks.”
Five years later, I'm also happy with the results of my surgery. While my coach initially suggested I shave down my hips and get a brow lift — which was horrifying to me as a 21 year old — I did accept a free breast augmentation. At the time, I knew it wasn't a temporary decision, but something I'd be satisfied with in the long run. Going from an AA- to a C-cup allowed me to fit more proportionally into my clothes and, ultimately, gave me a new sense of confidence that I didn't have before the procedure. I definitely felt pressure to fit a physical standard while competing, but enhancing my breasts wasn't for anyone but myself.
While there are mixed reactions to plastic surgery among pageant contestants, the larger organizations are facing heightened scrutiny over the narrow definition of beauty that they tend to promote. Last year, Miss America scrapped its swimsuit portion to be more inclusive — a move that proved to be controversial. Miss Universe flipped the script with a woman-led panel of judges. And Nuestra Belleza Latina recently changed its format to welcome women of all ages, sizes, and skin tones. “I think there are strides being made in the right direction towards promoting inclusivity,” says Miss Universe Canada 2017 Lauren Howe. “The standard of beauty being promoted is no longer the tall, thin, Caucasian, blonde woman.”
It's a conversation that could change the landscape, and the rates of plastic surgery among both the competitors and the young women watching. “Women with purpose and strong stories are being considered, and it’s not just the girl with the perfect height and body anymore,” says Santana. “For many years, women have felt ashamed of who they are because they don’t fit a mold, and I look forward to seeing things change.”
But Payano says that it’s not quite perfect yet. “Yes, pageants are sending a new message that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. However, the same type of beauty keeps winning,” he says. Howe echoes this sentiment and knows that these pageant queens are sending a message that affects young women all around the world. “We are setting a standard that trickles down and results in people developing an insecurity because they don’t look like the women they see on television, which means they may have an increased desire to go under the knife," she says. "Breaking that mold could spark an incredible wave.”
We have reached out to the Miss Universe organization for comment, and will update this piece when we hear back.
No Filter is a week-long series of frank, honest stories about cosmetic procedures — without judgment, sugar-coating, or stigma.

"surgeries available for free as part of the prize winnings" - there's a twisted evolution happening here with beauty queens. Think about it.

GeneChing

05-07-2019, 08:09 AM

This, of course, got me thinking. Have there been any Asians who have won any of these? I can't remember (I don't follow it that closely - not beyond this thread).

BLACK VOICES 05/03/2019 04:08 pm ET
Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, Miss America Are All Black Women For First Time In Pageant History (https://www.huffpost.com/entry/miss-usa-teen-america-black-women_n_5ccc8e28e4b0d1239553098c?guccounter=1)
New Miss USA Cheslie Kryst is a lawyer who does pro bono work with incarcerated people.
By Sarah Ruiz-Grossman

Cheslie Kryst contributed to pageant history when she was crowned Miss USA on Thursday: For the first time, Miss USA, Miss Teen USA and Miss America are all black women.

Kryst, who represented North Carolina in the pageant, is a lawyer who practices civil litigation and does pro bono work to help get reduced sentences for incarcerated people.

Miss Teen USA 2019, Kaliegh Garris, was crowned Sunday. The high school senior from Connecticut plans to attend college and pursue a degree in nursing. Miss America 2019 Nia Franklin, who won her competition in September, hailed from New York.

Both Kryst and Garris were applauded for wearing their natural hair during their pageants.

“There were a few naysayers saying, ‘You look better with straight hair,’ or ‘You should put in extensions and straighten your natural hair,’” Garris told Refinery 29, later adding, “I feel more confident and comfortable with my natural hair.”

Both Miss USA, Nana Meriweather, and Miss Teen USA, Logan West, were black in 2012. But Miss America that year, Laura Kaeppeler, was not.

At Thursday’s final Miss USA event, Kryst expertly answered a question on whether the Me Too and Time’s Up movements against sexual harassment and assault had “gone too far.”

“I don’t think these movements have gone too far,” she said. “What Me Too and Time’s Up are about are making sure that we foster safe and inclusive workplaces in our country.”

“As an attorney, that’s exactly what I want to hear,” she added. “That’s exactly what I want for this country.”

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D5nHxbFWkAA9cfp.jpghttps://pbs.twimg.com/media/D5nHxbEWwAACA6z.jpghttps://pbs.twimg.com/media/D5nHxbHW0AAlxxk.jpghttps://pbs.twimg.com/media/D5nHxbGX4AUn4C1.jpg

View image on Twitter (https://twitter.com/Juylianafowlkes/status/1124149241209815040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5 Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1124149241209815040&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffpost.com%2Fentry%2Fm iss-usa-teen-america-black-women_n_5ccc8e28e4b0d1239553098c)

Abuela 🦋
@Juylianafowlkes
Miss Teen USA 2019 AND Miss USA 2019 are both Natural Queens! Black women for the win yet again. Breaking boundaries and redefining the beauty standard! My heart is full! 😭💕😭💕

276
8:10 PM - May 2, 2019
110 people are talking about this

mawali

05-08-2019, 09:44 AM

There appears to be not many Asian women who compete in that venue i.e. Ms America, Miss USA, Ms Teen USA, etc
There are also levels of augmentation that some (more than others) go through to come out ahead in those types of competitions. The breasts, the hips, the lips and only god know what else..though I have seen stories of women who get down under plastic surgery. That's what I have read only so don't take my word:D

GeneChing

05-31-2019, 08:25 AM

Photograph of Miss India finalists stirs debate over country's obsession with fair skin (https://www.cnn.com/style/article/miss-india-fairness-intl/index.html)
Published 31st May 2019

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Credit: Debajyoti Chakraborty/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photograph of Miss India finalists stirs debate over country's obsession with fair skin

Written by
Tara John, CNN
Swati Gupta, CNN

What began as an innocent collage of this year's Miss India finalists has evolved into a heated social media debate about India's obsession with fair skin.
The image, published in the Times of India newspaper, had 30 head-shots of glossy-haired finalists who all appeared to share the same fair skin tone.
In a country with 1.3 billion people, hundreds of languages and myriad ethnic groups, Twitter users suggested that beauty pageant organizers were only choosing contestants that perpetuate Eurocentric beauty ideals.
"They all have the same hair, and the SAME SKIN COLOUR, and I'm going to hazard a guess that their heights and vital stats will also be similar," another Twitter user Prasanna Ratanjankar wrote.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D7jpbLbUcAATZkr?format=jpg&name=medium
View image on Twitter (https://twitter.com/labellagorda/status/1132911972968673280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5 Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1132911972968673280&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2Fstyle%2****icl e%2Fmiss-india-fairness-intl%2Findex.html)

labellagorda
@labellagorda
Miss India contestants. They all have the same hair, and the SAME SKIN COLOUR, and I'm going to hazard a guess that their heights and vital stats will also be similar. So much for India being a 'diverse' country.

1,490
12:30 AM - May 27, 2019
900 people are talking about this
Twitter Ads info and privacy
While the contestants' skin tone looks particularly light and appearance especially uniform in the collage that caused a stir online, other photographs and videos of the contestants reveal them to be not as fair-skinned as the Times of India's image. The Times of India and Femina, the organization that hosts the pageant, have the same parent company -- Bennett, Coleman & Co.
The controversy around the Times of India's photograph, however, highlighted a sensitive issue in India, where Miss India is a huge cultural event.
The competition helped to launch the careers of actress Priyanka Chopra and Bollywood icon Aishwarya Rai, and has become a beacon of national pride when winners go on to bring home international titles, such as Miss World.
The winner of Miss India titles are typically "groomed for the global beauty stage," said Radhika Parameswaran, a professor at Indiana University's Media School. "There is a perception they have to emulate Western beauty standards to win."
The organizers of Miss India declined to comment.
The fact that India has won the Miss World contest six times could have convinced pageant organizers to stick to a type, says Kavitha Emmanuel, founder of the Indian NGO Women of Worth, which campaigns for gender equality and against the bias toward lighter skin.
The infatuation with fairness now goes much deeper than pageants. "It is a toxic belief that has become part of our culture," Emmanuel explained.
Parameswaran is currently researching the backlash against colorism, a term that means "a form of skin color stratification and skin color discrimination that assigns lighter-skinned individuals and particularly women greater worth and value." It's an issue, she said, that is very much alive in India.
"Colorism and racism are Siamese twins and cannot be separated," she added.
National obsession
The obsession with fairness can begin before a baby is even born in some parts of India, with some pregnant Indian women drinking saffron-infused milk to make their infant's skin fairer. Others avoid iron supplements in the misplaced belief it will make their unborn child darker. These practices, however, have become far less common in areas where wealth and education levels have improved.
"We still have matrimonial adverts in newspaper which say, 'wanted: fair, slim brides,'" Emmanuel said.
Escape the corset: How South Koreans are pushing back against beauty standards
It is a problem that primarily affects women, as men's financial worth is generally deemed more important than their beauty. "Women's bodies are their currency," Parameswaran said.
Cosmetic brands globally have profited from the insecurity, cashing in on a multi-million dollar industry of creams, skin bleaches and invasive procedures that promise to lighten skin. The demand for whiteners is projected to reach $31 billion by 2024, up from $18 billion in 2017, especially in Asia, the Middle East and Africa, according to market intelligence firm Global Industry Analysts. Routine skin whitener use ranges from 25% in Mali to 77% in Nigeria, and it's 40% in China, Malaysia, the Philippines and South Korea, according to the World Health Organization.
"Very little of the world is untouched by colorism," Parameswaran said.
A 2017 study found that more than half of 1,992 men and women surveyed about product use in India had tried skin whiteners and close to half (44.6%) felt the need to try such products due to media such as TV and advertisements.

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Priyanka Chopra won Miss World when she was 18 years old. Credit: HUGO PHILPOTT/AFP/Getty Images

The country's enduring legacy of caste is often credited as a root cause of the problem, with those from the lower caste group, known as the Dalits, being associated with darker skin, Parameswaran said.
"That is because caste is an occupational-based hierarchy with the lowest of the caste being assigned the tasks of manual labor," she added, which is often outdoor work. The Dalits are discriminated against as being "unclean," are considered untouchable by the higher castes, which are associated with fairness.
There are also regional differences, especially between North and South India, at play as well.
Both Parameswaran and Emmanuel said the obsession with fair skin could lead to a range of socio-economic problems, including low self-worth and mental health issues, as well as have an impact on job and marriage prospects.
"A small survey we did found children are affected the most," Emmanuel said, adding that some three-year-olds were being told they were "not fair enough" at school.
Paradigm shift needed

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The demand for whiteners is climbing and is projected to be worth more than $30 billion in the next five years. Credit: SAJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP/Getty Images

Within this landscape, there are voices pushing for change. Emmanuel founded the Dark is Beautiful campaign, which includes advocacy programs to address color bias and has been endorsed by Bollywood actor Nandita Das.
In a series of posts in 2017, another Bollywood star, Abhay Deol, called out his fellow actors for endorsing skin-whitening brands. Since then, a number of Instagram influencers and brands have jumped on the inclusivity bandwagon.
"There is no one face that represents India," Anushka Kelkar, the 22-year-old photographer behind the Instagram account browngirlgazin, which won plaudits for its honest portrayal of Indian women from different backgrounds.
"I have friends from Kashmir who are asked if they are Indian and friends from Kerala who have been asked if they are African. People look different and it is time we started embracing that," she said.
But the fact there is a conversation about color bias in India means things are moving forward, Kelkar added.
Still, Emmanuel and Parameswaran said they believe the country is a long way off real change. "We need a paradigm shift in the way we think about what people look like," Emmanuel said.
"Indians have not only misrepresented what Indians should look like to themselves, they have misinterpreted Indians to the rest of the world," Emmanuel added. "We have not represented our country well."

CNN's Marian Liu and Tanzina Vega contributed to this report.

THREADS
Beauty Pageants (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?57280-Beauty-Pageants)
yellow face/white washing. (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?66153-yellow-face-white-washing)

GeneChing

07-01-2019, 08:24 AM

Biochemist crowned 2019 Miss Virginia after performing science experiment as talent (https://www.southernthing.com/biochemist-crowned-2019-miss-virginia-after-performing-science-experiment-as-talent-2639016914.amp.html?__twitter_impression=true&fbclid=IwAR0nZn9lICSrprczRd8VMB1INzASPC4B5Di0kME2b G1SKlZYU7AiJLYmXNw)

https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6I mh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTYzMDMyNS9vcmlnaW4 uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTU2MjM1NTA5N30.rtHXcWQL1 qkwcA2NVAzH51xbL3ct_2R5L7JquTNgZiw/img.jpg?width=1200&coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C0&height=800

Amber Sutton
Jun. 28, 2019 12:11PM EST
This year's Miss Virginia was crowned recently after breaking from tradition and performing a science experiment during the talent portion of the competition.

Miss Dominion Camille Schrier, 23, was named Miss Virginia 2019 on June 22 after a week-long competition. She won more than $21,000 of $75,000 in scholarships.

Schrier is a Virginia Tech biochemist and systems biologist as well as a Doctor of Pharmacy student at Virginia Commonwealth University, and chose to use her knowledge of science during the competition so she performed the "catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide" as her onstage talent.

"Now was the time for me to create a mind shift about the concept of talent by bringing my passion for STEM to the stage," said Schrier in a press release. "To me, talent is not a passion alone, but also a skill which is perfected over years of learning."

Schrier was selected from among 24 women by a panel of five judges who scored candidates in the areas of personal and onstage interviews, talent, evening gown and social impact initiative.

As Miss Virginia, Schrier will travel the state promoting her social impact initiative, Mind Your Meds, which aims to help educate and spread awareness about prescription drug safety. She will also go on to compete in the Miss America competition.

You can find out more on the Miss Virginia website (https://missva.org/).

https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6I mh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTYzMDMzMi85ODB4Lmp wZyIsImV4cGlyZXNfYXQiOjE1NjI2MDQ1MDB9.UTijq8qI_1FF FST_W1UZQ5pUHVIm-8SWBU4oxb8_Ezk/img.jpg?width=980&height=1470
John Herzog Photography

https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6I mh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTYzMDMzNC85ODB4Lmp wZyIsImV4cGlyZXNfYXQiOjE1NjI0NTcyMzV9.N3uCaDYICkwU HwgOgSvrI_aZK-r0RTXTFz1gY1Z1Edk/img.jpg?width=980&height=1470
Rick Myers Photography

https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6I mh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTYzMDMzNS85ODB4Lmp wZyIsImV4cGlyZXNfYXQiOjE1NjIzNzQwNjF9.m5CeOHvEc2hz loHSxINylBVLkXNmdq_M1Jq22d7cIy8/img.jpg?width=980&height=653Rick Myers Photography

https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6I mh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTYzMDMzNy85ODB4Lmp wZyIsImV4cGlyZXNfYXQiOjE1NjI1NDQ3ODR9.Zhiu2Cdv7Kl9-8rmwJQMCLGID69meNBhU3Z0sQTKUHE/img.jpg?width=980&height=1473
Miss Virginia

https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6I mh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTYzMDMzOC85ODB4Lmp wZyIsImV4cGlyZXNfYXQiOjE1NjI2NDQ3NjV9.eKAGIzk2nDVM v5wboXkARyRAbyTG4syZAMfF5eeBP6w/img.jpg?width=980&height=1470
Miss Virginia

I poked around to see an action video but could only find these same still shots.

GeneChing

10-25-2019, 10:08 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZDkETTGyN0

THREADS
Beauty Pageants (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?57280-Beauty-Pageants)
Sword Hotties (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?41007-Sword-hotties)

GeneChing

10-29-2019, 08:25 AM

Stuck in an airport for almost two weeks, Iranian beauty queen says she will be killed if she is deported (https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/28/asia/iran-beauty-contestant-philippines-asylum-intl-hnk/index.html)
CNN Digital Expansion Shoot, Joshua Berlinger
By Helen Regan and Joshua Berlinger, CNN
Updated 10:36 PM ET, Mon October 28, 2019

https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/191025153445-01-bahareh-zare-bahari-exlarge-169.jpg
Bahareh Zare Bahari has requested asylum in the Philippines.

(CNN)An Iranian beauty queen who has spent almost two weeks inside Manila's international airport says she will be killed if she is sent back home and is seeking asylum in the Philippines.
Bahareh Zare Bahari, a contestant in the recent Miss Intercontinental pageant in Manila, claims Tehran is attempting to silence her because of her public stand against the government.
In a press release last week, the Philippines Immigration Department said the international police agency Interpol issued a worldwide request to arrest Bahari, known as a red notice. The statement did not specify which country requested the red notice, but Bahari told CNN that an immigration official told her Iran requested one in 2018.
"I have been living here since 2014 and I've not gone back to Iran. I explained to them many times, how can I have a criminal case in Iran when I've been living here?" she told CNN by phone.
Bahari said she has been confined to a passenger room in Terminal 3 of Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport since she arrived from Dubai 12 days ago. "I'm really mentally sick," she said, adding that the uncertainty over her case is wearing her down.
Bahari believes she is being targeted for supporting the exiled Reza Pahlavi, the son of the Shah of Iran overthrown in the country's 1979 revolution.
The beauty queen blamed the situation on Iranian authorities, saying it came up because she used an image of Pahlavi and the flag of the former Iranian monarchy as props during a recent competition. Bahari said she made the statement "to try and be the voice of my people."
She also believes she may be targeted because of her social activism in Iran. Bahari said that she became a teacher there because she wanted girls to learn "they are not things, they are not toys, they are human and they have same right as boys."
The Philippines Department of Immigration and Department of Justice have not responded to CNN's request for comment. Requests for comment made to the Iranian embassy in Manila and the Iranian government in Tehran have not been answered.
Bahari said she moved to the Philippines about five years ago to study dentistry and has since been on a student visa that renews annually. She said her existing visa is valid until January 2020.
She told CNN by phone from the airport terminal that she was denied entry when she returned to the Philippines on October 17 from a trip to the Middle East, upon which she claimed asylum.
Bahari said that if a legitimate red notice had been issued for her arrest, then she would not have been able to acquire other visas for her trip to the Middle East.
In its statement, Philippines immigration authorities said Bahari was also accused of assault and battery in the Philippines city of Dagupan. The statement did not say whether this was the reason a red notice had been issued, or if the complaint originated in Iran. Not all red notices are made publicly available due to the confidential nature of international criminal investigations. Interpol's press office said the agency does not comment on specific cases or individuals "except in special circumstances and with the approval of the member country concerned."
Asked about the assault allegations, Bahari said they were "a big lie" and designed to force her back to Iran. She said there were no pending cases against her in the Philippines.
Human Rights Watch deputy director Phil Robertson said in a statement that "there have been repeated incidents where rights repressing states in the Middle East have abused the (Interpol) process to try to force the return of dissidents overseas."
He said the organization was concerned about the "mysterious" red notice, "especially since under Interpol rules a red notice is null and void if the person named in the notice is found to be a refugee fleeing from the state that issued it."
Dramatic scenes at immigration
Bahari said she was returning from Dubai earlier this month when immigration authorities in Manila stopped her from entering the country. What exactly happened next is contested, but both Bahari and immigration authorities describe a tense, dramatic standoff.
The pageant contestant told CNN that when she was first denied entry she was taken to a room where officials explained there was issue with her visa. After a brief wait, she was told she had to return to Iran. She said she then called a nearby friend for help.
Bahari said airport authorities tried to convince her to take a flight back to Iran. Instead she sat on the floor and told them she wasn't going anywhere.
She said she feared they would force her to get up, so she started shouting. About 10 minutes later, her friend came in and tried to convince airport authorities that she would be jailed or killed if they returned her to Iran. The friend then began crying and shouting, Bahari said, before he was arrested.
The Bureau of Immigration said the friend was "unruly" and breached airport security in order to "fetch his compatriot."
"Foreign nationals should respect our laws when they are in our country. Improper behavior and derogatory remarks gave the officer further reason to deny Zare Bahari's entry," Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said in a statement.
Authorities accused both of "causing a scene," saying they had to be forced apart by airport authorities. The Immigration Bureau also alleged that Bahari shouted "Jesus kill you all Filipinos!"
Bahari said she was yelling because she was trying to get the attention of people due to fears that she would be sent back to Iran. She thought invoking Jesus' name would get people's attention, as many people in the country are devout Catholics.
Not the smartest way to get attention. :rolleyes:

GeneChing

12-05-2019, 08:48 AM

Tragic. And in a new Mercedes. You'd think that would be a safe ride.

Former Miss Pakistan World Zanib Naveed Tragically Dies at 32 in Maryland Car Crash (https://people.com/human-interest/former-miss-pakistan-world-zanib-naveed-dies-car-crash/)
Naveed was ejected from her 2018 Mercedes CL2 after she hit a curb and flipped her vehicle over
By Joelle Goldstein December 05, 2019 12:49 AM

https://peopledotcom.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/zanib-naveed.jpg
Zanib Naveed GOFUNDME

Zanib Naveed, a former beauty queen who was crowned Miss Pakistan World in 2012, died over the weekend after she was involved in a car crash.

Naveed, 32, was driving her 2018 Mercedes CL2 on Sunday afternoon in Prince George’s County when she struck a curb on Route 1’s curve and overturned her car into oncoming traffic, Maryland State Police confirmed in a press release.

Authorities said the Pomona, New York resident was ejected from her vehicle and declared dead at the scene.

No other vehicles or people were involved. Naveed was the only person inside her car when the crash occurred.

State Police also noted that a preliminary investigation determined that alcohol did not appear to be a factor in the fatal crash, but the incident remains under investigation.

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Zanib Naveed FACEBOOK

Naveed graduated from Pace University in 2011 before going on to compete in the Miss Pakistan World pageant, which was held in Toronto, Canada. On Aug. 24, 2012, she became the 10th person to win the pageant’s title.

She then went on to represent Pakistan in the 2012 Miss Earth pageant in the Philippines, which is the third-largest pageant after Miss World and Miss Universe.

Her accomplishments also included being the president of Miss and Mrs. Pakistan USA, a dedicated activist, and an entrepreneur, her Facebook profile states.

In a statement to PEOPLE, the current Miss Pakistan World, Sonia Ahmed, spoke to Naveed’s many accolades and praised her for holding the important roles with such poise.

“As the President of Miss Pakistan World, we gave Naveed an amazing platform to represent Pakistan internationally and hearing about her death is very upsetting to all of us,” Ahmed says. “Being a beauty queen to a country like Pakistan where there have been no beauty pageants on the soil of Pakistan is a tough job!”

“Naveed along with other winners of Miss Pakistan World had a huge responsibility of carrying the title of a Muslim Nation,” she continued. “It is a very upsetting time and terrible news and we can all hope and pray that her family gets through this painful situation.”

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Zanib Naveed FACEBOOK

In the wake of the fatal crash, a GoFundMe for Naveed was set up by her loved ones to assist her family with any financial burdens.

On the page, the former beauty queen was remembered for her “smile that could light up a room, a powerful personality, captivating eyes, a voice that demanded attention and beauty like no other.”

“Zanib was truly a force to be reckoned with, always standing by her beliefs. All who knew Zanib can attest to her strong will, always accomplishing her goals in life,” the page reads. “She paved her own path to success, and had a promising future ahead of herself.”

“Zanib touched many lives, she was always making friends and meeting new people. She spread her laughter and her sense of humor to all she encountered,” the page continues. “She was unique in more ways than one. She had a beautiful soul and she will forever be missed. Our lives will never be the same without her.”

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Zanib Naveed FACEBOOK

Many of Naveed’s loved ones, including her husband Ali-Haider Shah, have also been left heartbroken since the tragedy.

On Sunday, Shah wrote an emotional Facebook post about the death of his wife, revealing that his “heart is shattered.”

“i cant find u my love …. hv been screaming ur name out… ur always active on social media… so plzzz reply me back ….. plz come backkkkkkk u cant leave my life and the world like this !!!!! Zanib Ali Haider please come back to me ….. why didnt god take me instead,” he wrote.

A few days later, Shah posted a photo with Naveed and captioned it, “Comeback Zanib …. i need u ….. ur always there for me …. and i need u badly right now !!! I promised to protect u from everything……im sorry this time wasnt able to”

He also shared two photos of himself on Wednesday, shortly after Naveed was laid to rest, kissing her burial site. Alongside the devastating photos, he wrote, “Bye bye my love… I will meet you there.”

Multiple tributes poured out on GoFundMe, as well, with many remembering Naveed for her “beautiful soul”, “warm heart” and being a “lovely person both inside and out.”

GeneChing

12-26-2019, 10:13 AM

'This Crown Is Yours,' Miss World Toni-Ann Singh Tells St Thomas Girls (http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20191214/crown-yours-miss-world-toni-ann-singh-tells-st-thomas-girls)
Published:Saturday | December 14, 2019 | 3:56 PM

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Miss World 2019 Toni-Ann Singh in the winner's chair at London's ExCel Arena.

Moments after her hair raising crowning as Miss World 2019, Jamaica's Toni-Ann Singh took to Twitter to pay tribute to young girls with backgrounds like hers determined to make a difference.

"To that little girl in St Thomas, Jamaica and all the girls around the world - please believe in yourself," Singh tweeted.

"Please know that you are worthy and capable of achieving your dreams. This crown is not mine but yours. You have a PURPOSE," she wrote.

Jamaica Gleaner
@JamaicaGleaner
WATCH: She was probably Jamaica's biggest cheerleader. Nigeria's Nyekachi Douglas could not contain her elation at the announcement of Jamaica's Toni-Ann Singh as @MissWorldLtd 2019. Singh was crowned today at London's ExCel Arena at the 69th staging of the global beauty pageant.

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The St Thomas native had earlier made history, becoming the fourth Jamaican to be crowned Miss World behind Carol Joan Crawford in 1963, Cindy Breakspeare in 1976 and Lisa Hanna in 1993.

She told broadcaster Piers Morgan she was grateful for the crown.

"This feels like a dream," she said.

Jamaica Gleaner
@JamaicaGleaner
Replying to @JamaicaGleaner
"This feels like a dream," says Miss World 2019, Jamaica's Toni-Ann Singh. "I'm ready to get to work," she added during an interview with Piers Morgan on the ExCel Arena stage after she was crowned the global beauty queen. The 23-year-old Jamaican is an aspiring doctor.

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"I am ready to work, I'm ready to get to work."

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ELxekk4WkAAgPrm?format=jpg&name=900x900
IN PHOTO: Toni-Ann Singh hugs her mother Jahraine Bailey

An aspiring doctor, after making to top-five, Singh said her mother was the most influential woman in her life.

Who Is Toni-Ann Singh?

Born 23 years ago in St Thomas in eastern Jamaica, Toni-Ann is a women’s studies and psychology student at Florida State University who aspires to be a medical doctor.

Previously, she has worked as president of the Caribbean Students' Association on campus.

In her free time, Toni enjoys singing, cooking, vlogging, volunteering and singing.

Her special talent is singing classical opera.

The most important thing in her life is her mother, whom she says has facilitated her dream by supporting her in every way possible. I remember Cindy Breakspeare because of her connection with Bob Marley.

GeneChing

12-27-2019, 08:23 AM

‘Miss America can be a scientist’: Camille Schrier of Virginia wins after onstage chemistry experiment (https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/12/20/miss-america-can-be-scientist-camille-schrier-virginia-wins-after-onstage-chemistry-experiment/)
Miss Virginia Camille Schrier, a 24-year-old scientist from Richmond, won the 2020 Miss America competition after putting on a chemistry demonstration. (Miss America Organization)
By Emily Yahr
Dec. 19, 2019 at 9:53 p.m. PST

The Miss America competition has had a rocky couple of years, public-relations-wise, but the annual show returned to NBC on Thursday night and doubled down on its new message: This is Miss America 2.0.

In other words: Instead of bikinis or evening gowns, the focus is on interviews and social impact initiatives. For the second year in a row, the competition stayed away from even alluding to physical appearance. At the start of the two-hour broadcast, the 51 women were introduced by career category: science, business, arts and education.

So it was quite fitting for this revamped show that the winner (of the crown and $50,000 scholarship) was Miss Virginia Camille Schrier, a 24-year-old scientist from Richmond studying to earn a doctor of pharmacy degree at Virginia Commonwealth University. She certainly stole the show during the talent portion — as the other four finalists performed jazz dances, twirled batons and sang songs, Schrier put on a chemistry demonstration.

“Science is all around us! I’ve loved science since I was a little girl,” she said, beaming, dressed in a white lab coat. “It’s my mission to show kids that science is fun, relevant and easy to understand.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/U2SCKLBC4YI6VMBU3Z64FNIZTM.jpg&w=1440
Schrier performs a science experiment before winning the Miss America competition. (Charles Krupa/AP)

She then poured potassium iodide into three separate flasks that contained concentrated hydrogen peroxide, food coloring and dish soap.

“What we are about to watch is the catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide,” she said. “But be careful! Don’t try this at home.” Foam started pouring out everywhere. The judges were in awe.

“Camille, that was so fun,” said actress Lauren Ash of NBC’s “Superstore,” who judged along with singer Kelly Rowland and “Queer Eye” star Karamo Brown. “I feel like if my science teachers were half as vivacious as you, maybe I would have paid more attention.”

Schrier, who won over runner-up Victoria Hill of Georgia and second runner-up Simone Esters of Missouri, also impressed the judges with her platform (drug safety and abuse prevention) and her interview answers. In response to various questions, Schrier advocated for awareness about mental health; agreed that Miss America should not post anything controversial on social media; and argued that Miss America should always be a single woman without children, because being in a relationship or having kids could distract from the demanding job.

One answer in particular drew a lot of applause, as Rowland asked, “How do you handle those who might make fun of Miss America?”

“I think that what I’m doing by being a woman of science and redefining what it means to be Miss America in 2020 is how I deal with those people,” Schrier said. “I’ve had people that don’t think that what I do is necessarily a talent. But you know what? Miss America is someone that needs to educate, be able to communicate with everyone, and that’s what I do as a woman of science. And we need to show that Miss America can be a scientist and that a scientist can be Miss America.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/VJJD4KRC4YI6VMBU3Z64FNIZTM.jpg&w=1440
The Top 3 finalists: Miss Georgia Victoria Hill, Miss Missouri Simone Esters and Miss Virginia Camille Schrier. (Charles Krupa/AP)

I kinda do want to try that experiment at home... ;)

GeneChing

01-13-2020, 10:56 AM

Karyn Turk, pundit and ex-Mrs. Florida, sentenced to prison for social security fraud (https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/palm-beach/fl-ne-karyn-turk-social-security-fraud-nursing-home-20200110-xqbxcnkjhffvrnnqjh55v65fru-story.html)
By DAN SWEENEY
SOUTH FLORIDA SUN SENTINEL |
JAN 10, 2020 | 3:59 PM

Karyn Turk, a conservative commentator, was sentenced to a month in federal prison after pleading guilty to social security fraud.

Karyn Turk, a former Mrs. Florida beauty pageant winner turned conservative commentator, was sentenced to a month in federal prison plus five months of house arrest Thursday after pleading guilty to social security fraud in September.

The charge stemmed from Turk pocketing her mother’s social security checks rather than sending the money to the nursing home in which her mother was receiving care for dementia. Turk’s mother died June 10.

In separate cases in civil court, the nursing home, the mother’s court-appointed guardian and the guardian’s lawyers are all suing Turk to collect money they say she owes them as the representative of her mother’s estate. The total amount owed according to the three lawsuits is more than $320,000.

Turk is suing the nursing home for negligence.

On Friday, the day after she was sentenced to prison and ordered to work 100 hours in a nursing home, Turk noted on Twitter, “Look beyond the headlines. There’s always more to the story. Nursing home neglect is real.”

Karyn Turk
@KarynTurk
Look beyond the headlines. There’s always more to the story. Nursing home neglect is real. The elderly in America are not well cared for in many nursing... https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/jury-hits-lawyers-with-for-doing-senior-wrong-guardianship/6CnikAZ7x3K9z960lz09BN/ …

https://pbs.twimg.com/card_img/1215620523838918656/qLaAXjq-?format=jpg&name=600x314
Jury hits lawyers with $16.4M for doing senior wrong in guardianship
Advocates for guardianship reform clamored in vain for years that Florida’s system failed to properly protect incapacitated seniors, that its primary purpose had been perverted to line the pockets of...

palmbeachpost.com
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Turk, who lives in Palm Beach County, will remain free while she appeals her case, but she is due to report to prison March 2.

Turk pleaded guilty in federal court Sept. 27, just a day after she hosted a fundraiser for Republican political consultant and self-proclaimed “dirty trickster” Roger Stone to raise money for his legal defense in staving off charges of lying to Congress, obstructing a congressional investigation and witness tampering. Stone has since been found guilty on all counts and is due to be sentenced Feb. 20. He faces up to 50 years in federal prison.

Tickets for the fundraiser, held at Delray Beach’s Bull Bar, cost $75 and included a photo.

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/resizer/qqG4YsJiQvsxQBPNpWDiZY8yhUg=/800x533/top/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-tronc.s3.amazonaws.com/public/D2KFEF5NFND2XJWI6ZT7HIYHIY.jpg
Karyn Turk defends Roger Stone to Darrell Gill, center, and Benjamin Gleason, while they argue back holding signs saying “Lock him up” outside the Federal Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, Jan. 25, 2019. On Thursday, Turk was sentenced to a month in prison for social security fraud. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Turk has a syndicated show, “Behind the Headlines,” and has made appearances on RT, the internationally distributed television network funded by the Russian government.

On her website’s “about” section, Turk, 47, boasts that she is “Bold, tenacious and always ready for some fun ... not your average grandma!”

In a 2016 story on the Mrs. Florida pageant entrants in one of the Sun Sentinel’s community publications, Turk was asked, “What quality do you value most in yourself?”

“My chutzpah,” she said.

On Thursday, the day she was sentenced, Turk uploaded a picture to Instagram, where she has 70,000 followers. In it, she stands in a red dress in front of Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump’s Palm Beach estate.

According to prosecutors, Turk began stealing from her dementia-ridden mother’s social security account soon after being appointed as her representative payee in January 2015. The nursing home bill ballooned to almost a quarter-million dollars, and as demands for payment became more insistent, Turk stopped visiting her mother.

Finally, in July 2018, the nursing home requested a court-appointed guardian. This request was granted, and a month later, the court ordered Turk to buy clothes for her mother.

“A lot people make New Year’s resolutions to diet and exercise but this year I encourage you to start the year off by celebrating all that you overcame on your journey. Negativity is so 2019!” Turk wrote on her blog on Dec. 30, 10 days before her sentencing. “Starting this January, it’s time to shift perspective and start envisioning the future that you can help create. There is no greater gift that you can give yourself than that of a clear-mind, open-heart and desire to bring some good into the world.”

Dan Sweeney
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Dan Sweeney is the author of "Sound Off South Florida," where he covers our readers' view on local news and solicits your comments and opinions on various topics. Previously, Dan covered the state legislature and statewide political issues. He graduated from the University of Missouri in 2000 and has lived in South Florida ever since.

I must say that I'm fascinated when pundits get busted for something really heinous, like stealing from their dementia-ridden mom. :mad:

GeneChing

01-31-2020, 09:52 AM

México Crowns First Differently-Abled Pageant Queen, Mexicana Born Without Arms (https://www.wearelatinlive.com/article/13386/mexico-crowns-first-differently-abled-pageant-queen-mexicana-born-without-arms?fbclid=IwAR1_TBzQpYWdhMhVQHKCON_f8-m1qbZOCiYAo2hRyzVuNcuzftzdbqLR6Ao)
CULTURE & COMMUNITY By O. DELGADO

https://www.wearelatinlive.com/media/CACHE/images/hero/83102214_186882519366540_1367641780320731136_n/bbc0cb7e1bf5187b0ba7b142996bb7e1.jpg

No arms, no problem.
Ana Gabriela Molina has just been crowned Miss Nanchital 2020 - and is determined to make history as the first differently-abled Miss México.
Ana Gabriela Molina was born with phocomelia, a condition that causes malformations of the arms and legs -- but the 24-year-old psychology grad hasn't let her disability stop her from living her life to the fullest.

On the contrary, it has motivated the future criminologist to challenge stereotypes and advocate for children and others with disabilities.

"I’ve managed to overcome everything that has happened to me in my whole life," she says. "My disability is not a limit."

NowThis
✔
@nowthisnews
‘My disability is not a limit’ — Meet Ana Gabriela Molina, a 24-year-old model who was born without arms and is on a mission to become Miss Mexico

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The Veracruz native has lived her life as normally as possible, using her perfectly manicured feet to do everything: eating, writing, using her cell phone, researching and typing up her college assignments, even doing a full face of makeup, brows and all.

"When I wake up and look in the mirror, I see it, it’s there," Molina told Reuters. "It’s physical. But, I’ve been living 24 years with this disability so, for me, it’s not a disability. I feel like any other normal person because I’ve lived my life like that."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCSsJkHIlVc

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Molina has been participating in beauty pageants since childhood, challenging beauty standards.

gabrielamolinads (https://www.instagram.com/p/Byh-2XvARvG/?utm_source=ig_embed)
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gabrielamolinads
¡¡ MIL GRACIAS !! Fue una noche maravillosa, y ya estamos a una semana para la gran final! 🤗😍😍 👗@rukmini.mx 💄 @omyort
#Sisepuede
#GabrielaMolinaSIP2019
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33w
https://scontent-sjc3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/e35/61192402_2291970927725259_4833449393342073287_n.jp g?_nc_ht=scontent-sjc3-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=103&_nc_ohc=UoNE-ohXsRUAX-JZ-wb&oh=fe3877533f061792cbc522f5892cfb1e&oe=5EBB43F1

gabrielamolinads (https://www.instagram.com/p/B6JLNScAVoV/?utm_source=ig_embed)
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gabrielamolinads's profile picture
gabrielamolinads
Presentación de candidatas @missveracruzorg
Muchas gracias a todos sobretodo a mi familia que pudo acompañarme y a los que a pesar de la distancia y estando en sus hogares me han mostrado siempre su apoyo ❤
El dia de ayer fue todo un éxito, vamos con todo a la semifinal y por esa corona azul e inclusiva 👑💙♿ Miss Nanchital 💙

https://scontent-sjc3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/e35/79388986_212734266393159_6367507444499903979_n.jpg ?_nc_ht=scontent-sjc3-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=103&_nc_ohc=gmhfa2ZkVMAAX-s0bta&oh=fd93009c42b7790b3ca57ff71aae9e12&oe=5ED59CEA

And her determination has paid off; the young model and motivational speaker has been crowned Miss Nanchital, the region's first ever differently-abled queen.

gabrielamolinads
• (https://www.instagram.com/p/B5-kG67gkqq/?utm_source=ig_embed)

gabrielamolinads's profile picture
gabrielamolinads
Ningún soñador es pequeño y ningún sueño es demasiado grande... Vamos a darlo todo 👑💙♿ Rumbo a @missveracruzorg 2020
Mil gracias a @alondraaguirre__
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@missmexicoorg
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#missnanchital #missveracruz #agenciamodelos #mxmodels #modelo #modelaje #pasarela #fotos #fotografia #arte #modelos #moda #diseñodemoda #pasarelas #modainclusiva #modasinclusivas #modelajeinclusivo #maquillaje #maquillajes #arte #mujer #artistico #modelajearte #boutique #beutymakeup #makeup #mexicanmodels #modelos #models #mexico #belleza #bellezasinlimites
7whttps://scontent-sjc3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/e35/79451483_2539654289624950_8473467113874668666_n.jp g?_nc_ht=scontent-sjc3-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=110&_nc_ohc=870CgnPvu3sAX8tn32r&oh=c9bc265e6297a72b6213a735409ef1a5&oe=5ED7934F

"No dreamer is too small and no dream is too big...we're going to give it all," she writes on Instagram. "On our way to Miss Veracruz 2020."

And from there, to make history as the first differently-abled Miss México.

"Sometimes the only disability, is the one we put on ourselves. Sometimes the barriers are just in our minds," says Molina. "But when we truly want to triumph, no disability can stop us on the road to success."

Suerte Ana! Impressive. Makes me feel weak whining about my injured wrist.

GeneChing

01-25-2021, 05:16 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCDICMiL0-I&feature=emb_logo

GeneChing

03-26-2021, 09:27 AM

MY TURN
'I'm Nevada's First Transgender Beauty Pageant Winner' (https://www.newsweek.com/im-nevadas-first-transgender-beauty-pageant-winner-1578389)
KATALUNA ENRIQUEZ
ON 3/26/21 AT 6:13 AM EDT

In the Philippines, where I was born, pageantry is huge. But I was never really exposed to it until after I moved to America when I was 10. I recall watching Miss Universe and hearing the story of a contestant from the Philippines. She had grown up in poverty and her family couldn't always afford food. I had thought that pageantry was objectifying women, but that particular contestant inspired me to look beyond the superficial layer of beauty and into contestants' personal stories and what they advocate for.

In 2016, I competed in my first pageant; an international transgender pageant called Queen of the Universe. I didn't know a lot about pageantry at the time and I was amazed with the production, costumes, and dresses that the girls wore. One contestant was wearing a costume that was must have been more than 15ft tall. I was just wearing pieces I had put together as I didn't yet know how to sew properly, so when I got on stage my top was falling off and I was having to hold it up. It was embarrassing and afterwards I remember thinking that perhaps pageantry wasn't for me.

Then I learned that I had been just a few points away from making it into the competition's top ten. That gave me a bit of a push and over the next few years I began competing more and improving.

Trans pageants tend to really focus on glamour and in my experience they are a little more competitive. I understand, because we're in a community that is small, often targeted with hate and there aren't as many opportunities. Cisgender pageants have been a little intimidating for me. I was scared when I first decided to participate in cisgender pageants, because I knew I was different and would most likely be the only trans person competing. It would be new territory where I did not know anyone and I was conscious that I would compare myself to the other women and question whether I was enough.

My first experience of a cisgender pageant was exciting but unfortunately, it was also humiliating. I have always been open about who I am as a person and always disclose that I am trans. It's a choice that I made because I don't want anyone saying I am a liar. And more importantly, it's my way to embrace myself.

I applied to this particular pageant three years in a row before receiving a response. Perhaps they hadn't paid attention to my fourth application, because their first email said that they had looked at my social media and discovered that I am trans. They told me that they needed documents providing proof that I am a woman. That was perfectly fine and I had everything ready, but after I submitted court documents and my name and gender change certificates I was told I needed to provide further proof that I was female. Essentially I was being asked to go to a doctor and get a letter to show that I am a woman.

I decided not to let that stop me, and I was hoping the competition itself would be different. But when it came to assigning roommates, I was told by the organizers that I wasn't going to be sharing a room with anyone. I tried to see it as a positive: I had more space and I didn't have to worry about anyone else. But when I got to my room I cried. I felt like they didn't want me there.

During the competition I would also hear contestants saying they didn't think I should be there, which was hurtful. But some of the girls became good friends and we are still close now. I didn't place at all in that pageant which was surprising to me because I was fairly seasoned at that point and believed that I could easily secure a spot, at least as a semi-finalist.

https://d.newsweek.com/en/full/1764093/transgender-beauty-pageant-women.webp?w=790&f=38eb327eaebe07fedc8a486ad22f4b58
Kataluna Enriquez at her personal interview at Miss Silver State USA.
KATALUNA ENRIQUEZ
I've now competed in seven or eight pageants in total and I went to Miss Silver State USA in Nevada this year with the intention of competing for myself and focusing on overcoming my insecurities. I wanted to overcome my fears of rejection, having to second guess myself and changing who I am for other people.

Like most pageants, Miss Silver State USA has a personal interview, an evening gown round, a swimsuit round and an on stage Q&A session. In my personal interview I was asked what my goal was as a trans woman competing in a cisgender pageant. I told them that oftentimes people think that my experience is different to a cisgender woman, and in some ways it is, but it's also very similar. As a trans woman I have experienced abuse, discrimination and inequality because of my gender.

Typically we think pageantry is for women who are slim, tall and have nice teeth, but I'm not just a body, I am also a person who struggles with mental health and I am a survivor; I grew up in poverty and have had to forge my own path. A lot of women share the same stories and I think we need to highlight that rather than focusing solely on beauty.

I wasn't expecting to win but I was also too busy trying to calm my nerves to be fully aware of what was happening. So, when my name was called as the winner I was really surprised and didn't know how to react. It was overwhelming but I was really happy.

I wasn't aware at the time that I was the first transgender woman to win a beauty pageant in Nevada, but it's amazing. I'm now an automatic entry for Miss Nevada which is in June and my goal is to then go on to Miss USA. I think it's about time we see a trans person on the Miss USA stage and I'd like to make that history.

I've had a mixture of reactions to my success. My friends and people from the LGBTQ+ community are always supportive, but I've had a lot of messages saying that I'm a man, or I'm not a real woman because I don't get periods and I can't give birth. I've been told that I'm a sin and I'm taking something away from little girls. People have their opinions and when it comes to people calling me a man, it doesn't hurt me. I've heard that so many times.

There was a point in my life where I would cry myself to sleep hoping that I wouldn't wake up. I don't know what happened, but one day I just decided I wasn't going to listen and instead, I was going to pay attention to what makes me happy.

I have always wanted to become the person I needed when I was younger, when I knew I was different but I didn't know what or who I was. I was very feminine but I didn't know anyone who was trans, even when I moved to America and saw TV shows where they would present trans people.

https://d.newsweek.com/en/full/1764095/transgender-beauty-pageant-women.webp?w=790&f=1e47fb0c804fd9b475cab80844b64b87
Kataluna Enriquez (center) after winning Miss Silver State USA 2021.
COURTESY OF KATALUNA ENRIQUEZ/MISS SILVER STATE USA

After I won Miss Silver State USA one contestant messaged me to say she was really happy that I had won. She told me that she had been feeling insecure at the competition because she is a person who identifies as pansexual. I was so glad that I had been able to give her some light and positive energy.

It's so important because even now, people are still hurting or afraid to be their true selves, and I understand why they are afraid. That's why we need to continue having discussions and sharing our stories and our authentic selves.

I just want to continue having conversations, sharing my story and advocating for mental health awareness, representation, inclusivity and diversity.

Kataluna Enriquez is the winner of Miss Silver State USA 2021 and will be competing in Miss Nevada in June 2021. You can follow her on Instagram @mskataluna and follow her fashion line @katalunakouture.

All views expressed in this article are the author's own.

As told to Jenny Haward.
This thread has gone a lot of different directions, hasn't it?

GeneChing

04-11-2021, 06:32 PM

Mrs. World Gives Up Crown & Speaks Out After Being Arrested for Snatching Tiara Off Mrs. Sri Lanka (https://people.com/human-interest/mrs-world-gives-up-her-crown-after-being-arrested-for-snatching-actual-crown-off-mrs-sri-lanka-winner/)
“I will always stand up for what I believe is right,” former Mrs. World Caroline Jurie said

By Naledi Ushe April 09, 2021 08:13 PM

https://imagesvc.meredithcorp.io/v3/mm/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstatic.onecms.io%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F20%2F2021%2F04%2F09%2F Caroline-Jurie53.jpg
CREDIT: CAROLINE JURIE/INSTAGRAM

Reigning Mrs. World Caroline Jurie announced on Friday that she has given up her crown amid controversy surrounding her behavior at the Mrs. Sri Lanka pageant.

Pushpika De Silva won Mrs. Sri Lanka, but during the crowning ceremony on Sunday, Jurie snatched the tiara off De Silvia's head, claiming De Silva was divorced which is against the pageant's rules. De Silva, however, clarified in a Facebook post that she is separated, not divorced and said she was injured during the incident.

While taking off De Silva's crown she was allegedly injured and Jurie was arrested and released on bail Thursday in relation to the incident.

Jurie discussed the drama in a video post about her decision to step away from the pageant that has been "tainted" by the crowning ceremony.

https://imagesvc.meredithcorp.io/v3/mm/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstatic.onecms.io%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F20%2F2021%2F04%2F09%2F Caroline-Jurie54.jpg
CREDIT: CAROLINE JURIE/INSTAGAM

"I will always stand for what I believe is right," the former title-holder said in a video while wearing her crown and sash. "Every beauty pageant has a set of rules and regulations. What I was pushing for from the beginning was a fair stage. The rules and regulations are equal to all. Rules aren't there so that we can find loopholes so that we can win at any cost. I believe rules and regulations are there for a reason."

She continued, "The Mrs. World pageant was not created to discriminate divorced or separated women but to celebrate the dreams of the married women." Jurie also implied that there are other pageants De Silva could have applied to as a separated woman.

"I know I burst a few bubbles, created conversation and even a discussion about class and values that a queen wearing [a] crown should stand for," Jurie said. "If class is defined by how one behaves in the eye of the public, I will let you draw [your own] conclusion [on] that. But if class is also defined by how you behave when no one is watching you and what values you stand by, that is the true test of character."

The former Mrs. World stressed the importance of standing up for "values even if it means to stand alone in the front of disaster."

"My only intention was to stand up for the injustice caused to the competitors throughout this competition which was tainted with heavy politicization," she said.

At the end of the clip, Jurie said, "I am now ready to hand over the crown," before removing the crown from her head.

On Thursday, Jurie along with model Chula Padmendra were arrested on "charges of simple hurt and criminal cause" related to the crowning ceremony incident, police spokesman Ajith Rohana told BBC. Reps of Jurie and Padmendra did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's requests for comment.

They both are expected to appear in court on April 19, according to the Associated Press.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5rTt60PT90

In a video of the crowning ceremony, published by the Colombo Gazette, Jurie told the audience, "There is a rule that you have to be married and not divorced, so I am taking my first steps in saying that the crown goes to the first runner-up."

She then removed the crown from the winner's head and placed it on runner-up, prompting De Silva to walk offstage, the video shows.

De Silva later said she suffered "injuries to my skull" when Jurie "snatched" her crown.

"So, even though that symbolic crown has been snatched from my head, I would like to inform you that I have already taken the necessary legal action for the injustice and insult that has taken place," she wrote in a statement translated from Sinhala.

https://imagesvc.meredithcorp.io/v3/mm/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstatic.onecms.io%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F20%2F2021%2F04%2F08%2F mrs-sri-lanka-2000.jpg
CREDIT: AFP VIA GETTY

The chief organizer of Mrs. Sri Lanka pageant, Chandimal Jayasinghe, also condemned Jurie's actions, telling BBC, "We are disappointed. It was a disgrace how Caroline Jurie behaved on the stage and the Mrs. World organisation has already begun an investigation on the matter."

This thread still delivers, yes?

highlypotion

04-13-2021, 02:14 AM

I heard that Miss Colombia was in trouble for not wearing any underwear.
:D
no underwear means no trouble :D

GeneChing

05-17-2021, 09:08 AM

Spoiler alert

miss mexico andrea meza crowned miss universe 2021 (https://www.eonline.com/news/1269842/miss-mexico-andrea-meza-crowned-miss-universe-2021)
after the pageant was delayed for a year due to the coronavirus pandemic, a winner of the 2021 miss universe pageant was crowned on may 16, 2021.
By mike vulpo, kaitlin reilly may 16, 2021 8:09 pm

and we have a new miss universe!

After more than a year delay due to the coronavirus pandemic, the miss universe competition was finally held on may 16 at the seminole hard rock hotel & casino in hollywood, fla. It was hosted by mario lopez and former miss universe olivia culpo, who won the crown in 2012, and featured a special performance by luis fonsi.

Taking home the ultimate crown this year was miss mexico andrea meza who wowed the selection community with her beauty and brains.

During the final statement round, miss mexico was asked to address the topic of changing beauty standards. "we live in a society that more and more is more advanced and as we have advanced as a society, we have advanced with stereotypes," she shared via translator. "nowadays, beauty is not only the way we look. For me, beauty radiates not only in our spirits, but in our hearts and the way we conduct ourselves. Never permit someone to tell you that you are not valuable."

and just minutes before, miss mexico also faced the final question round where she was asked to share how she would have handled the covid-19 pandemic.

"i believe there is not a perfect way to handle this hard situation such as covid-19," she explained. "however, i believe that what i would have done was create the lockdown even before everything was that big because we lost so many lives and we cannot afford that. We have to take care of our people. That's why i would have taken care of them since the beginning."

https://akns-images.eonline.com/eol_images/entire_site/2021415/rs_634x1024-210515130454-634-miss-universe-mexico-mp.jpg
benjamin askinas
before the show, paula m. Shugart, who serves as the president of the miss universe organization, addressed the pandemic and how the pageant was staying safe. In a statement, she explained, "we have spent months planning and preparing safety precautions to develop this edition of miss universe—one that will be memorable, special and totally innovative."

beauty queens from 74 countries and territories competed in tonight's pageant, however just 21 contestants advanced to the final round. After first competing in the swimsuit contest, which you can see photos from here, 10 moved on to the evening gown competition. Five contestants were selected to participate in the question and answer round.

The last time the miss universe pageant was held was in 2019, when miss south africa, aka zozibini tunzi, took home the ultimate prize. Miss puerto rico madison anderson was the first runner-up and miss mexico sofía aragón was the second runner-up.

https://akns-images.eonline.com/eol_images/entire_site/2021416/rs_634x1024-210516202915-634-miss-universe-mexico.ct.jpg
rodrigo varela/getty images
at the time, zozibini really impressed the judges with her answer to the question, "what is the most important thing we should be teaching girls today?"

she replied, "i think the most important thing we should be teaching young girls today is leadership. It's something that has been lacking in young girls and women for a very long time. Not because we don't want to, but because what society has labelled women to be. I think we are the most powerful beings in the world."

of passing the torch to her successor, zozibini said in a statement, "i always knew that my reign as miss universe would be unlike any other. While it was nothing like what i had imagined my year to be, this year has opened doors for me i could never have imagined. I am so grateful for the opportunity to connect virtually with people all over the world and elevate the causes i care most about."

miss universe 2021 airs sunday night at 8 p.m. On fyi.

bummer, the images are blocked.
Here:
https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/1200x800/public/d8/images/methode/2021/05/17/b632f57e-b6c7-11eb-9461-e80e43f535ad_image_hires_124417.jpg?itok=swhd_k3Z&v=1621226665

GeneChing

06-29-2021, 07:19 PM

NEWS
Transgender woman wins Miss Nevada USA pageant, making history (https://nypost.com/2021/06/29/transgender-woman-wins-miss-nevada-usa-pageant-making-history/)
By Jackie SaloJune 29, 2021 | 1:10pm | Updated

A transgender woman has been crowned Miss Nevada USA — for the first time in the pageant’s history.

Kataluna Enriquez, 27, who only began competing last year in cisgender pageants, was named the winner Sunday in the competition at the South Point hotel-casino in Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.

“One thing that is important for me is inclusivity, diversity and representation. It’s something I did not have growing up and is still lacking in today’s world,” Enriquez said.

“Today I am a proud transgender woman of color. Personally, I’ve learned that my differences do not make me less than, it makes me more than,” she continued.

She beat out 21 other candidates to represent Nevada at the Miss USA pageant that will be held on Nov. 29, the outlet reported.

https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/06/kataluna-enriquez-0.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=2048
Kataluna Enriquez was crowned Miss Nevada USA.
Instagram
Enriquez — who previously was crowned Miss Silver State USA in March — competed in several gowns that she designed herself, including a shimmering number with rainbow sequins.

“I did not always have money and it’s hard for women to find dresses that fit their bodies,” she said. “Pageantry is so expensive and I wanted to compete and be able to grow and develop skills and create gowns for myself and other people.”

https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/06/kataluna-enriquez-5-1.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=1462
Kataluna Enriquez only began competing last year in cisgender pageants.
Unique Nicole/Getty Imageshttps://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/06/kataluna-enriquez-4.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=894
Kataluna Enriquez beat out 21 other candidates to represent Nevada at the Miss USA pageant.
Instagram
Enriquez said that she joined the competition to share her story and show that she’s more than “just a body.”

“With pageantry, people think it is only about beauty. But it’s how you present yourself, what you advocate for, what you’ve done and the goals you have,” she said.
I wonder how the losers feel...

GeneChing

10-21-2021, 09:28 AM

Miss France pageant faces lawsuit for requiring all contestants to be at least 5-foot-5, unmarried and child-free (https://www.cnn.com/style/article/miss-france-lawsuit/index.html)
Updated 20th October 2021
https://dynaimage.cdn.cnn.com/cnn/q_auto,w_1972,c_fill,g_auto,h_1109,ar_16:9/http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.cnn.com%2Fcnnnext%2Fdam%2Fassets% 2F211019141050-02-miss-france-lawsuit.jpg
The five finalists (LtoR) Miss Guyane Alicia Aylies, Miss Languedoc-Roussillon Aurore Kichenin, Miss Tahiti Vaea Ferrand, Miss Lorraine Justine Camara and Miss Guadeloupe Morgane Thérésine, pose on stage in swimsuit during the Miss France 2017 beauty contest on December 17, 2016 in Montpellier. / AFP / Pascal GUYOT (Photo credit should read PASCAL GUYOT/AFP via Getty Images)
Credit: Pascal Guyot/AFP/Getty Images

Written by
Leah Dolan, CNN
Miss France, the country's 101-year-old beauty pageant, is being sued by a feminist activist group and three unsuccessful applicants over alleged discriminatory entry requirements.
An appeal has been filed against the pageant's parent company, Endemol Production, by Osez le féminisme (Dare to be feminist), who in a news statement issued on Tuesday said Miss France contestants perform a work service and therefore should be protected from prejudice under French employment law.
Discrimination against employees on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, family situation or genetic characteristics is considered unlawful in France. A 2021 application form for the national beauty pageant revealed candidates would not be considered if they were not at least 5-foot-5, or if they had ever been married or had children.
https://dynaimage.cdn.cnn.com/cnn/q_auto,w_727,c_fit/http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.cnn.com%2Fcnnnext%2Fdam%2Fassets% 2F211019141236-05-miss-france-lawsuit.jpg
Miss Guadeloupe Clemence Botino is crowned Miss France 2020. Credit: Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images
Further disqualifiers for potential contestants include wearing weaves or hair extensions, having tattoos and smoking. The application also asks for clothing size, and it requests that prospective beauty queens do not undergo any major physical changes after they are accepted into the competition. Failing to comply could land the contestant with a 5,000-euro ($5,822) fine, according to Miss France's terms and conditions.
While the mission statement of the competition is to find "the young woman most representative of beauty and elegance," the strict registration requirements mean contenders for the crown are somewhat limited.
"Beyond exploiting women for economic gain, this contest, through the violations of the law of which it is guilty, has a negative and retrograde impact on the whole of society," wrote Osez le féminisme in its news statement. "It is high time Endemol Production finally removes all sexist clauses from its regulations."
Miss France and Endemol Productions have not responded to CNN's request for comment.
Alyssa Ahrabare, the head of Osez le féminisme, wrote on social media that Miss France currently "feeds stereotypes that stand in the way of equality."
"The competition rules are discriminatory: marital status, age, attitudes, choices of women, everything is subject to injunctions from another time! Candidates must be single and respect the rules of "elegance", stop these sexist rules!" she added.
The three applicants involved in the lawsuit against Miss France were rejected from the competition for their "age, height, drinking and smoking in public and having tattoos," Ahrabare told CNN.
https://dynaimage.cdn.cnn.com/cnn/q_auto,w_727,c_fit/http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.cnn.com%2Fcnnnext%2Fdam%2Fassets% 2F211019140948-01-miss-france-lawsuit.jpg
Suzanne Angly, Miss France 1969, posing in a bathing suit. The competition began in 1920. Credit: AFP/Getty Images
This is not the first time in recent years that the pageant world has been criticized for its outdated codes of conduct and culture. In 2013, France decided to ban competitions for children under 16 over concerns of promoting the hyper-sexualization of minors. But few countries followed suit, despite an accruing number of petitions. In 2018, model Veronika Didusenko had her Miss Ukraine title revoked when organizers found out she was a mother. Miss India came under scrutiny, too, in 2019 for perpetuating colorism by exclusively choosing fair-skinned contestants. And earlier this year, Miss United States of America (a separate pageant to Miss USA) won the right to ban transgender women from competing.
While there have been some instances of positive change -- in 2019, Zozibini Tunzi became the first Black woman with natural hair to win Miss Universe, and last year India crowned their third Miss Transqueen -- progress is often clouded by pageantry's controversial history.
Yet appetite for beauty contests, at least in France, appears to be on the up. Miss France 2021, which aired December 2020, received the best television ratings since 2006 with 8.6 million viewers tuning in to watch the crowning, according to local reports. The next Miss France competition is set to take place December 11.
Top image: Five finalists pose on stage for the swimsuit segment of Miss France 2017.
Times they are a'changin'

GeneChing

11-30-2021, 09:24 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BgdcT2Uya0

GeneChing

12-10-2021, 10:05 AM

This is now my favorite post on this thread.

Saudi camel beauty pageant cracks down on cosmetic enhancements (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-59593001)
Published 1 day ago
https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/15EB6/production/_122028798_gettyimages-1234621165.jpg
IMAGE SOURCE, AFP
Judges used "advanced" technology to uncover tampering with contestants in the pageant
More than 40 camels have been disqualified from Saudi Arabia's beauty pageant for receiving Botox injections and other cosmetic enhancements.
The contest is a highlight of the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival, where $66m (£45m) in prize money is at stake.
Key attributes include long, droopy lips, a big nose and a shapely hump.
Judges used "advanced" technology to uncover tampering with camels on a scale not seen before, the state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
All contestants were first led into a hall where their external appearance and movements were examined by specialists, it said.
Their heads, necks and torsos were then scanned with X-ray and 3D ultrasound machines, and samples were taken for genetic analysis and other tests.
Twenty-seven contestants in the cup for Majaheim camels alone were disqualified for having stretched body parts and 16 were ejected for having received injections, according to SPA.
The organisers of the pageant, the Camel Club, were cited as saying that they were "keen to halt all acts of tampering and deception in the beautification of camels" and promising to "impose strict penalties on manipulators".
They described how Botox was injected into camels' lips, noses, jaws and other parts of their heads to relax muscles; collagen fillers were used to make their lips and noses bigger; and hormones were given to boost muscle growth.
Rubber bands were also used on animals to make body parts bigger than normal by restricting the flow of blood, they said.
Jason Baker, senior vice-president of animal rights group Peta Asia, described the beauty contest as a "cruel farce".
"Subjecting any animal to a cosmetic procedure, from ear cropping to declawing, dehorning, and filler injections, is hideously cruel and shows the humans who use such tactics to be extremely ugly," he said.
Mr Baker said animal welfare issues needed to be addressed throughout the Middle East and Asia, and called on Saudi authorities to crack down on any event that exploits or abuses animals.
Some 33,000 camel owners from as far away as the US, Russia and France are participating in the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival, which is the largest in the world and lasts 40 days.
As many as 100,000 tourists are also expected daily at the 32 sq km (12 sq mile) festival site, 100km (62 miles) north-east of the Saudi capital Riyadh.

GeneChing

12-14-2021, 12:35 PM

India’s Harnaaz Sandhu wins Miss Universe contest held in Israel (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/12/13/india-harnaaz-sandhu-miss-universe-pageant-israel)
Sandhu, a 21-year-old model, tops a field of some 80 contestants in a pageant that was touched by politics and the pandemic.

https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/AP21347132643243.jpg?resize=770%2C513
India's Harnaaz Sandhu waves after winning Miss Universe 2021 during the 70th Miss Universe pageant in Eilat, Israel [Ariel Schalit/AP]
Published On 13 Dec 2021
13 Dec 2021
Harnaaz Sandhu of India has been crowned the 70th Miss Universe, topping a field of some 80 contestants in a pageant that was touched by politics and the pandemic.

The previously reigning Miss Universe, Andrea Meza of Mexico, crowned her successor, a 21-year-old model, early on Monday in the Israeli Red Sea resort town of Eilat.

The pageant was held in the middle of the night, wrapping up at 5am (0300 GMT) on Monday to accommodate the primetime schedule in the United States.

The pageant included traditional displays of national costumes, swimwear and a series of interview questions to test contestants’ public speaking skills. The top 10 showed off intricately bedazzled full-length gowns in either gold, silver or bronze.

https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/AP21344781065930.jpg?w=770&resize=770%2C517
Sandhu performs in the National Costume portion of the Miss Universe pageant in Eilat, Israel [Ariel Schalit/AP]
The Philippines’s Beatrice Luigi Gomez wore an asymmetrical cut dress with one sleeve, highlighting a new tattoo she said “celebrates her womanhood”.

Before Sandhu, two Indians have won the Miss Universe title: Bollywood actresses Sushmita Sen in 1994 and Lara Dutta in 2000.

Boycott calls
The contest also drew attention in recent weeks for other reasons, with several contestants defying pressure to boycott in support of the Palestinians.

A grassroots Palestinian-led boycott movement had urged contestants to skip the event to protest Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians.

The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel wrote: “We urge all participants to withdraw, to avoid complicity in Israel’s apartheid regime and its violation of Palestinian human rights.”

The 80 contestants also included Miss Morocco Kawtar Benhalima and Miss Bahrain Manar Nadeem Deyani, whose Muslim-majority nations normalised ties with Israel last year.

In the end, only Indonesia and Malaysia, nations that do not have diplomatic relations with Israel, did not send a representative, citing the global COVID-19 situation, not Israel’s rights record.

South Africa, which also strongly supports the Palestinian cause, withdrew support for the country’s representative over her participation, citing “atrocities committed by Israel against Palestinians”.

The United Arab Emirates, which also normalised ties with Israel last year and where Prime Minister Naftali Bennett made a historic visit on Sunday, has also not sent a candidate.

But the UAE said that was “due to time constraints” in selecting its national winner.

‘Colonialism, racism’
Contestants for the pageant landed in Israel late last month and have since toured sites, sometimes coming under criticism for cultural insensitivity.

In one stop in the Bedouin city of Rahat, the candidates wore robes with traditional Palestinian embroidery while rolling grape leaves – which Gomez tweeted was a “Day in the life of a Bedouin”.

The Bedouin are traditionally nomadic Palestinians who have long complained of discrimination in housing and education by the Israeli government.

“Colonialism, racism, cultural appropriation, patriarchy, whitewashing, all in one place,” tweeted Ines Abdel Razek of the Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy, an advocacy group.

In an interview last month, Meza urged contestants to leave politics out of the pageant, saying the gathering was meant to bring together women from different backgrounds.

“When you are in there, you forget about politics, about your religion,” she told The Associated Press news agency at the time.

Sara Salansky, an official with the Israeli tourism ministry, said the country was selected to host the contest earlier this year because of Israel’s successful coronavirus vaccination programme.

https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/AP21347089633240.jpg?w=770&resize=770%2C513
South Africa’s Lalela Mswane, from left, India’s Harnaaz Sandhu and Paraguay’s Nadia Ferreira advance to the top 3 during the Miss Universe pageant [Ariel Schalit/AP]
The contest suffered a last-minute hiccup with the arrival of the Omicron variant, which forced Israel to close its borders to foreign tourists late last month.

Most of the Miss Universe contestants were already in the country before the new regulations came into effect. But those who came afterwards were given special permission to enter, albeit with a mandatory 72-hour quarantine period.

Throughout the run-up to Sunday’s contest, all contestants were tested for the coronavirus every 48 hours and required to obey strict mask requirements.

Amid all the safeguards, France’s contestant, Clemence Botino, tested positive for COVID-19 shortly after arriving in Israel. After 10 days in quarantine, she was declared virus-free last week and allowed to rejoin the competition.

Last year’s pageant was delayed due to the pandemic before Meza was crowned in May of this year for her abbreviated tenure.

Participants in the pageant, which was co-owned by Donald Trump before he became US president, must be between the ages of 18 and 28 and should not be married or have a child.

SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES Steve Harvey needs to be done here. He can stick with Family Feud.

GeneChing

12-18-2021, 11:14 PM

First Korean American wins Miss America title (https://asamnews.com/2021/12/17/she-lives-with-adhd-and-a-condition-which-causes-her-to-constantly-pick-at-her-skin/)
https://asamnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Broyles-Emma-696x571.jpg
By @Jencadyphoto via Facebook
POSTED BY
LEN PATEL
DECEMBER 17, 2021
Emma Broyles made history Thursday night becoming the first Korean American and the first Miss Alaska to be crowned Miss America.

The Insider reports the milestones took place at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut, in the 100th Miss America pageant.

“As a Korean American, I am so grateful for the opportunity to compete alongside so many brilliant, talented women,” she said, according to Alaska Public Media. “I hope to live up to the legacy, serve as a positive role model for women of all ages and make the Miss America Organization proud. It’s been an honor to represent the great state of Alaska and I look forward to making a significant impact through my social impact initiative on the national stage.”

Broyles lives with Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder as well as dermatillomania. The condition causes her to constantly pick at her skin.

“One thing that I’ve really tried to do, especially as Miss Alaska, is show people that I’m real. I have flaws. I have ADHD, I have dermatillomania, which is a form of OCD,” Broyles said. “I’ve struggled with all of those things, and because of that, I am a better person.”

According to the Insider, Broyles studies biomedical science and voice performance at Arizona State University.

She says her victory represents positive change in the Miss America pageant. She described the organization as progressive. She says what counts is “who you are as a person” and not what you look like.

“It doesn’t matter what your background is. It doesn’t matter who you love. None of that matters,” she said. “What matters is who you are as a person, who you want to be, and what change you want to make in the world.”

That's a lot of disorders...

GeneChing

01-31-2022, 10:04 AM

Cheslie Kryst, Miss USA 2019 And ‘Extra’ Correspondent, Dies At 30 (https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/cheslie-kryst-miss-usa-2019-162026827.html)
Natasha Decker
Mon, January 31, 2022, 8:20 AM·2 min read
https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/AEspW1fn0DpBCwChQp7wsg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY5Mg--/https://s.yimg.com/uu/api/res/1.2/91Hi8wNA55sxKEbHq9qekg--~B/aD00NTA7dz02MjQ7YXBwaWQ9eXRhY2h5b24-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/madame_noire_180/505ff46bdf4430de20522691335e6585
Source: Dia Dipasupil / Getty

Former Miss USA, attorney and Extra correspondent, Cheslie Kryst, has passed away, confirmed by both her family and authorities on Jan. 30.

Kryst’s body appeared to have fallen from an elevated position. It was found outside the Orion building around 7:15 AM at 350 West 42nd Street in New York City, according to the authorities who identified it on the street below. It’s been reported that her death was most likely a suicide.

Kryst is said to have been last seen on the 29th-floor terrace of the 60-story building, where she lived on the ninth floor, detailed by The New York Post.

Additionally, sources who spoke with the outlet claim Kryst, Miss USA 2019, left a note behind saying she wanted to leave everything to her mother, also a former pageant winner.

“In devastation and great sorrow, we share the passing of our beloved Cheslie,” Kryst’s family told PEOPLE in a statement. “Her great light was one that inspired others around the world with her beauty and strength. She cared, she loved, she laughed and she shined.”

“Cheslie embodied love and served others, whether through her work as an attorney fighting for social justice, as Miss USA and as a host on Extra,” they added. “But most importantly, as a daughter, sister, friend, mentor and colleague – we know her impact will live on.”

Extra also offered its “deepest condolences” to Kryst’s loved ones. The TV program’s statement read: “Our hearts are broken. Cheslie was not just a vital part of our show, she was a beloved part of our Extra family and touched the entire staff.”

Kryst posted a photo of herself with the caption, “May this day bring you rest and peace ❤️ ,” in her last Instagram post. It was shared over the weekend, allegedly shortly before her death.

Her win as Miss USA 2019 contributed to the history-making feats of Nia Imani Franklin (Miss America), Kaliegh Garris (Miss Teen USA) and Zozibini Tunzi (Miss Universe) being the first group of Black women to hold those titles in a single year, according to PEOPLE.

Kryst’s shine and influence will be missed by many. As a known and vocal mental health advocate, her passing is that much more heartbreaking.

RIP. So tragic...

GeneChing

02-22-2022, 10:07 AM

MISS ALABAMA 2021 ZOE SOZO BETHEL DIES FROM SEVERE BRAIN DAMAGE 8 DAYS AFTER CAR ACCIDENT (https://www.blackenterprise.com/miss-alabama-2021-zoe-sozo-bethel-dies-from-severe-brain-damage-8-days-after-car-accident/)
by Atiya JordanFebruary 22, 20222377
https://a9p9n2x2.stackpathcdn.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2022/02/zoe-sozo-bethel-dead.jpg-960x540.jpg
Instagram
Zoe Sozo Bethel, who was crowned Miss Alabama for America Strong 2021, has died after succumbing to injuries from an unspecified car accident. She was 27.

Bethel’s family announced her passing three days after the news of her confirmed accident, saying that she “may not have much time left” on her official Instagram page. The statement revealed that the beauty queen had been in an accident “Thursday night, February 10th, & sustained severe damage to her brain/brainstem & is in a coma.”

Eight days later, Bethel’s heartbroken family updated her Instagram with the following announcement:

“On Friday, February 18, 2022, at approximately 5:30AM Eastern time in Miami, Florida, our beloved Zoe Sozo Bethel passed from this life into the next as a result of succumbing to her injuries.”

They went on to say that Bethel “touched the hearts of many people and was involved in several organizations. At the time of her passing, she remained as a political commentator for RSBN, a Brand Ambassador for Turning Point USA, and Liberty University’s Falkirk Center. She was also a spokeswoman for Students for Life, which has become one of the leading pro-life advocacy organizations in the world and is affiliated with the nonprofit journalist enterprise, Project Veritas.”

Bethel’s family asked for “effectual and fervent prayers” and privacy as they take this time to grieve. Bethel’s family has also extended an invitation to supporters to donate to their GoFundMe page to assist with medical and funeral expenses. The campaign has garnered more than $40,000 of its $500,000 goal.

Tributes have been pouring in on social media platforms since news took over the internet.

“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our dear friend and reigning Miss Alabama for America Strong, Zoe Bethel,” the pageant said in a statement on its Facebook page, changing its cover photo to one of her. “She was a light in this world, and we are heartbroken over the loss of such a bright and beautiful woman.”

Upon hearing the news, Grace Saldana, editor-in-chief of RSBN, where Bethel was a political commentator, also paid tribute on Twitter.

“In loving memory of Zoe,” Saldana wrote alongside a series of photos. “Besides the fact that she was always incredibly stunning, I’ll always remember how convicted Zoe was in her faith in God, how dedicated she was to her beliefs in protecting life, and how much she cared for others. May she rest in peace ❤️.”Also tragic.

GeneChing

03-01-2022, 07:08 PM

Former Miss Grand Ukraine swaps glamour for guns by joining army to fight Russians (https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/world-news/former-miss-grand-ukraine-anastasiia-26337504)
A former Miss Grand Ukraine has pledged to risk her life to defend her nation against Vladimir Putin's Russian invasion by ditching modelling to join the armed resistance
ByCharles Wade-PalmerReporter
17:54, 26 FEB 2022 UPDATED20:34, 27 FEB 2022

A former Miss Grand Ukraine beauty queen has joined her nation's army to fight off invading Russian forces.

Anastasiia Lenna was crowned a national pageant winner aged 24 in 2015, as she dazzled in dresses and high heels but the model has swapped her glamorous lifestyle to put her body on the line for Ukraine.

The brave model's step into the battlefield to defend her country is a far cry from her previous job working across Turkey as a public relations manager.

According to her Instagram highlights titled Airsoft, Anastasiia is no stranger to wielding a weapon albeit those that typically fire plastic projectiles rather than real bullets.

https://i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk/incoming/article26338003.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_anastasiialenna_274488603_1540933839626795_70626 3574934676984_n.jpg
Anastasiia shared this snap on Wednesday with the hashtags #standwithukraine and #handsoffukraine (Image: instagram.com/anastasiia.lenna)

Streams of snaps show her in full military gear in wooded arenas and indoor training grounds over the past couple of years but now she will be hoping her experience comes in handy.

Since Vladimir Putin waged war on Ukraine this week, the former beauty queen has been using her platform of over 40,000 social media followers to rally support for her country.

Saturday saw Anastasiia share various patriotic content on Instagram as well as her own captions to photos of war.

https://i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk/incoming/article26338004.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_anastasiialenna_227246419_886932231895154_917255 3474788104531_n.jpg
Anastasiia was 24 when she won Miss Grand Ukraine in 2015 (Image: instagram.com/anastasiia.lenna)

Another post expressed her pride in Ukraine's resistance so far which has already seen Russia lose more men than Putin had encountered for, according to intelligence.

Anastasiia said: "Our army is fighting in such a way that NATO should apply for entry into Ukraine."

https://i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk/incoming/article26338005.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_anastasiialenna_272343213_350161670265543_747204 5573251453950_n.jpg
Anastasiia has previously shared action shots from her Airsoft training (Image: instagram.com/anastasiia.lenna)

Sharing content praising the example set by Ukraine's former comedian president by walking among soldiers, she wrote: "A true and strong leader. This is the President of Ukraine"

Anastasiia also shared a plea from world champion boxer Usyk Oleksandr who appealed to his Russian social media followers to not send loved ones into battle with Ukraine.

The marketing and management graduate from Slavistik University in Kyiv has called on her follow country people to remove all road signs to make it harder for invading troops to navigate through Ukraine.

https://i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk/incoming/article26338008.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_anastasiialenna_242070791_389700922784950_417525 3772064528732_n.jpg
The model has made rallying cries to support Ukraine's defence (Image: instagram.com/anastasiia.lenna)
For more incredible stories from the Daily Star, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here

A translation of her call to action reads: "Dismantling road signs on all roads of the country. The enemy has a pathetic connection, they don't orientate the terrain. Let's help them go straight to hell.

"Ukravtodor calls on all road organisations, territorial communities, local authorities to immediately start dismantling road signs nearby.

https://i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk/incoming/article26338002.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_anastasiialenna_243277842_294354915833736_204907 8117898183045_n.jpg
Anastasiia Lenna has a huge online following thanks to her glamorous pictures (Image: instagram.com/anastasiia.lenna)
Among her numerous Instagram stories shared on Saturday was encouraging followers to donate to the Ukrainian army.

Anastasiia reminded her followers of the importance to stick to Kyiv's curfew on Saturday evening, requiring the city's streets to be "vacated urgently".

threads
Ukraine (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?72272-Ukraine)
Beauty-Pageants (https://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?57280-Beauty-Pageants)

GeneChing

06-26-2022, 10:45 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWDfv7D7oKg

Beauty-Pageants (https://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?57280-Beauty-Pageants)
Breastaurants (https://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?54808-Breastaurants)

GeneChing

08-01-2022, 01:13 PM

Woman dubbed ‘Miss Garbage’ wins Miss Universe Thailand 2022 (https://nextshark.com/miss-universe-thailand-miss-garbage-win/)

Ryan General
6 hours ago
https://nextshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/MissThai.jpg.webp
Anna Sueangam-iam, a 23-year-old woman known as “Miss Garbage” due to her being the daughter of former garbage collectors, was crowned Miss Universe Thailand 2022 on Saturday night.

As this year's Miss Universe Thailand, Sueangam-iam received the new "Power of Resilience" crown by renowned jeweler Mouawad and several prizes including 1 million baht (approximately $27,663), a condominium and a new car.

Born in Bangkok, she reportedly played with toys her parents found in the trash while working for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

A woman dubbed “Miss Garbage” for being the daughter of former garbage collectors is set to represent Thailand in the Miss Universe 2022 pageant.

Anna Sueangam-iam, 23, was crowned Miss Universe Thailand 2022 on Saturday night, besting 28 other women vying for the title.

For the final Q&A session of the competition, Sueangam-iam was asked what she would do to empower people around the world who “feel hopeless.”

“You’re not the only ones facing despair,” she responded. “I used to be in despair too. We learn from our troubles to adapt and survive. I would call on all of you to have confidence in yourselves and rise to fight again. If I can, so can you.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HneoTU8VEsE&t=8042s

Despite winning the coveted title, Sueangam-iam was reportedly not popular among viewers and came in sixth with just 3.2 percent of public votes on the Miss Universe Thailand website. Thai Italian contestant Renita Veronica Pagano, who was the fourth runner-up, received 28.1 percent of public votes while Thai American contestant Nicolene Limsnukan, who was the first runner-up, got 25.2 percent.

Prior to Sueangam-iam’s win, social media users cast doubts about her chances as she “does not have a foreign parent” unlike other contestants who are “luk khrueng,” a colloquial Thai term that refers to a person of mixed heritage.

“I think I will do my best,” she told local platform Komchadluek Online in an earlier interview. “I think being luk khrueng or not is not the main criteria to being chosen as Miss Thailand Universe.”

On top of the new “Power of Resilience” crown crafted by luxury jeweler Mouawad, the new Miss Universe Thailand also received several prizes including 1 million baht (approximately $27, 663), a condominium and a new car.

Born on November 10, 1998, Sueangam-iam grew up in Bangkok in poverty and was was bullied by classmates who would call her “Miss Garbage.” She reportedly played with toys her parents found in the trash while they worked for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

Through hard work and determination, Sueangam-iam was able to study hotel and tourism management at Bangkok’s Kasetsart University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree.

She is now hoping to obtain Thailand’s third Miss Universe crown after Porntip Nakhirunkanok who won the title in 1988 and Apasra Hongsakula who won it in 1965.

Featured Image via TPING Nothing cattier than a beauty pageant, I imagine...

GeneChing

09-26-2022, 11:37 PM

Beauty pageants say they are changing — don’t believe them (https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2022/9/23/beauty-pageants-say-theyre-changing-dont-believe)
Their attempts at inclusivity are nothing but makeup to hide their ugly realities. It’s time to abolish them.
Raquel Rosario Sánchez
Writer, researcher and campaigner
Published On 23 Sep 2022
https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AP21344648517405.jpg?resize=770%2C513
Bahrain's Manar Nadeem Deyani at the Miss Universe pageant in December 2021, where she wore a fully-covered outfit during the swimwear competition (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
Something is not well in the land of sequins and hairspray.

In August, the Miss Universe contest announced that it would expand its pool of eligible contestants to include married women and mothers at its next pageant in 2023, scrapping a 70-year-old rule barring them.

An internal memo announcing the policy change stated: “We all believe that women should have agency over their lives and that a human’s personal decisions should not be a barrier to their success.” The move was welcomed as a nod to inclusivity and a move away from sexist expectations.

Also in August, a Miss England contestant broke with that pageant’s history to become the first to compete barefaced. By ditching makeup, 20-year-old Melisa Raouf said she was “embracing blemishes and imperfections”. This is not the first time that women have tried to defy norms in pageants. Last year in the Miss Universe contest, Miss Bahrain Manar Nadeem Deyani refused to wear a bikini during the swimsuit competition, choosing instead to stay fully covered in a black outfit.

That’s all good, but here’s the harsh truth. Policy adjustments and small acts of rebellion from participants cannot obscure the fact that beauty pageants have become increasingly jarring and out of place in our modern age.

In order to be eligible for Miss Universe, the highest profile beauty pageant internationally, women applying in each country must be between 18 and 28 years old. Contestants are technically judged on three categories: an evening gown, a personality interview and a swimsuit competition. Yet the most important requirement, which is rarely acknowledged in writing nowadays, is that the women must be thin and stereotypically beautiful.

Their skin colour may vary, but amid all the changes and nods to inclusivity, there is still no room for wide noses, disabilities or stretch marks in beauty pageants.

Officially, the Miss Universe organisation would have us believe that beauty is not a requirement at all, let alone the basis of this money-generating enterprise, which earns $5m in annual revenue. It describes itself as a global, inclusive organisation “that celebrates all cultures, backgrounds and religion” and provides participants “with the tools to affect positive change personally, professionally, and philanthropically”.

In other words, a very noble-sounding mission.

Other beauty competitions take their cue from Miss Universe. The tagline for the Miss South Africa pageant, for instance, is similar: “Face your power. Embrace your future.” Nodding to the advancements women have made in society, beauty pageants are quick to remind us that contestants are professionals with careers and ambitions.

However, to watch a revolving door of women be judged based on how well they perform femininity and parade across a stage inevitably feels like stepping back into a distant past in which women were seen but rarely heard.

After all, the expectation that contestants must be childless and unmarried had a fairly explicit historical basis: using pretty and virginal young women as bait to attract business is how beauty pageants started.

In 1920, the owner of the Monticello Hotel in Atlantic City came up with a marketing plot to extend the business season beyond Labor Day in the United States. He sold the idea to fellow businessmen who saw the monetary potential for all of them: How about a parade made up of 350 beautiful maidens to draw tourists? Incidentally, 1920 was also when the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution granted women the right to suffrage, after a century of oftentimes acrimonious feminist campaigning. Subsequent years saw this parade transform into the spectacle that it is today.

Of course, beauty pageants have been trying to remain current in societies that are more likely than before to see women making up the majority of university graduates, breadwinners and world leaders.

A notably misguided attempt to adapt the contest to modern times took place during the Miss Peru 2018 competition. During the swimsuit segment, contestants paraded around the stage in gold bikinis while a massive screen behind them projected newspaper headlines reporting real-life stories of male violence against women. “Man murders woman and her baby”, “Man strangles woman with a cord”, “Stalker stabs pregnant woman, runs away”, “Drunk man beats his wife to death”, and “63 women raped every day” read the headlines while a local artist sang a heart-wrenching song about female empowerment.

Clearly troubled by its awkward place in the modern world, the contest tried to present itself as alive to the Latin American and Caribbean regional awakening against male violence targeting women, otherwise known as the “Ni Una Menos” movement.

At the end of the day, though, these superficial policy changes represent marketing strategies that have an expiration date. These must surely be indicators that organisers know the future of beauty pageants is untenable.

Viewership for Miss Universe contests worldwide has been steadily declining for decades. Disinterest from the public is the clearest sign that this archaic institution and its hundreds of offshoots — where women are presented to be ogled at and discarded one by one — have overstayed their welcome.

No amount of lipstick or makeup will change that. It is time to abolish them.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.

Next Miss Universe pageant to be broadcast from New Orleans (https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/miss-universe-pageant-broadcast-orleans-90226958)
The Miss Universe Organization says New Orleans will be the site of its 71st contest, drawing nearly 90 women contestants from around the world in January
ByThe Associated Press
September 20, 2022, 2:09 PM

https://s.abcnews.com/images/Entertainment/WireAP_66f461be29494ec0aceee58f347b79c3_16x9_992.j pg
FILE - Miss Universe 2020 Andrea Meza, right, crowns India's Harnaaz Sandhu as Miss Universe 2021 during the 70th Miss Universe pageant, Monday, Dec. 13...Show more
The Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS -- New Orleans will be the site of the 71st Miss Universe contest, bringing together nearly 90 women contestants from around the world in January, the Miss Universe Organization said.

“The City of New Orleans and the Miss Universe Organization share common values of celebrating inclusion, culture and the empowerment of women,” New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said Monday.

She noted in a news release that former contestants and winners have gone on to become surgeons, diplomats, politicians and business leaders, adding “they all champion social causes that are important to them."

The competition will be aired on Jan. 14, 2023 — a Saturday — at the city's convention center, according to the statement. The live broadcast will culminate with the 70th Miss Universe — Bollywood actress Harnaaz Sandhu of India — crowning the winner.

“There is no place like New Orleans. This vibrant city has been at the top of our list to host for quite some time due to its rich cultural history, as well as its unique arts, entertainment, and culinary scene,” said Paula Shugart, president of The Miss Universe Organization.

Last year's pageant in Eilat, Israel, was held in the middle of the night to accommodate the U.S. primetime TV schedule.
Will you watch?

GeneChing

10-21-2022, 09:22 AM

Meet Miss England 2022! Aerospace engineering student, 26, who was bullied in school over her ginger locks becomes the first redhead to be crowned at the beauty contest (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-11327469/Meet-Miss-England-2022-26-year-old-model-aerospace-engineering-student-crowned.html)
Jessica Gagen, 26, has become the first redhead to claim Miss England title
She was crowned at the prestigious pageant final held in Birmingham last night
The aerospace engineering student will now represent England at Miss World
By ELMIRA TANATAROVA FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 08:51 EDT, 18 October 2022 | UPDATED: 11:13 EDT, 18 October 2022

An aerospace engineer who was bullied for her ginger locks in school has become the first redhead to be crowned in Miss England's 94-year history.

Jessica Gagen, 26, beat 30 other beauty queens to take the title at the final of the prestigious pageant held in Birmingham.

Her victory comes after overcoming school bullying in secondary school - including being punched, spat on, and even burned - all because of her naturally ginger locks.

Jessica - who will now represent England at Miss World - was also subjected to name-calling, having things thrown at her head and was forced to eat her school dinner in the toilets in a bid to escape the abuse.

Her confidence - shattered by cruel classmates - slowly grew after the student was signed up by a modelling agency following her A-Levels.

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/10/18/12/63590707-11327469-image-a-24_1666093949591.jpg
Jessica Gagen, 26, beat 30 other beauty queens to take the title at the final of the prestigious pageant held in Birmingham

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Her victory comes after overcoming school bullying in secondary school - including being punched, spat on, and even burned - all because of her naturally ginger locks

Jessica took to catwalks across the globe as she overcame her past issues.

She went on to enter Miss England and was runner-up in the grand final last year, narrowly losing out to Rehema Muthamia.

Now, she has gone one better and silenced the bullies to take the title of Miss England 2022 at the glitzy final held at the Holiday Inn Birmingham Airport.

Jessica, who is studying for an integrated master's degree in aerospace engineering at the University of Liverpool, said she was determined more than ever to win.

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/10/18/12/63590723-11327469-image-a-26_1666093985443.jpg
Her victory comes after overcoming school bullying in secondary school - including being punched, spat on, and even burned - all because of her naturally ginger locks

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Jessica, who is studying for an integrated master's degree in aerospace engineering at the University of Liverpool, said she was determined more than ever to win

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Jessica - who will now represent England at Miss World - was also subjected to name-calling, having things thrown at her head and was forced to eat her school dinner in the toilets in a bid to escape the abuse

Jessica, originally from Skelmersdale, Lancashire, said: 'Throughout secondary school I was teased for being a redhead.

'I didn't mention it much during last year's competition as I'm a big believer in leaving negativity in the past, but with there never having been a red-haired Miss England.'

The winner stressed she believes it's 'important to educate people about what redheads face in school' to empower children who may be experiencing what she did.

'I was name-called on the daily, and although I don't think the kids were being malicious in doing so, there were definitely times they were,' she added. 'I used to get really upset about it all, but I'm determined to show kids who are facing the same thing that it won't happen forever.'

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/10/18/13/63590731-11327469-Chess_champion_Emily_Cossey_left_24_from_Chelsea_L ondon_and_HGV_-a-2_1666097294954.jpg
Chess champion Emily Cossey (left), 24, from Chelsea, London and HGV driver Milly Everatt (right), 22, from Eastoft, Lincolnshire, were announced as second and third place runners up

Jessica signed with multiple agencies and started modelling internationally at 18 and will now compete on the world stage representing England.

She revealed that while her campaign both this year and last was to get girls into STEM subjects, the experience made her realise the importance of empowering girls who look like her.

'I looked back and I was thinking there are not many that redheads on TV,' she said. 'I think it would be so good if there could be somebody in that kind of position who is a redhead. Even last year there wasn't one redhead in Miss World.

'I thought if I could win this, I could empower kids who being bullied for the way that they look and the colour of their hair.'

Miss England finalist to contest without wearing any make-up

She admitted that, being the only redhead in her family, she was 'always looking for somebody who kind of understood the bullying through school'.

'It is nice to be able to represent the younger kids and say "I have been through it and you can use that pain to raise your game",' she said. 'Make it your superpower.'

Alongside modelling, Jessica has helped raise over the £6,000 for local charities and, in 2021, she raised funds for Beauty with a Purpose.

She ran 5k in fancy dress every day consecutively for 96 days in Liverpool, and is known locally as Fancy-Dress Jess.

Chess champion Emily Cossey, 24, from Chelsea, London and HGV driver Milly Everatt, 22, from Eastoft, Lincolnshire, were announced as second and third place runners up.

There are more pix behind the link because Daily Mail always runs a ton of pix especially when it comes to hawtties.

GeneChing

10-26-2022, 10:40 PM

Thai transgender businesswoman buys Miss Universe pageant for $20 million (https://nextshark.com/thai-transgender-businesswoman-acquires-miss-universe/)
Michelle De Pacina
1 hour ago
https://nextshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/thai-businesswoman.jpg.webp
Jakapong “Anne” Jakrajutatip, a Thai transgender businesswoman, has acquired the Miss Universe Organization pageant for $20 million.

Jakrajutatip, the CEO and biggest shareholder of JKN Global Group, made history by becoming the first woman to own the beauty pageant organizer.

Jakrajutatip is a celebrity media tycoon and a transgender rights advocate who has been outspoken about her experience as a transgender woman.

The JKN Global Group views the acquisition as “a soft power to build a reputation for Thailand to be known and outstanding around the world.”

A Thai transgender businesswoman has acquired the Miss Universe pageant for $20 million.

Jakapong “Anne” Jakrajutatip, the CEO and biggest shareholder of JKN Global Group, sealed the deal with IMG Worldwide, her company announced on Wednesday.

Jakrajutatip, who is a celebrity media tycoon and a transgender rights advocate, made history by becoming the first woman to own the beauty pageant organizer.

“We are incredibly honored to be acquiring The Miss Universe Organization and working with its visionary leadership team,” Jakrajutatip reportedly said in a statement on Wednesday. “The global reach of the Organization, its relationships with global partners and brands, and its wealth of content, licensing, and merchandising opportunities make this a strong, strategic addition to our portfolio.”

“We seek not only to continue its legacy of providing a platform to passionate individuals from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and traditions, but also to evolve the brand for the next generation,” she added.

The Thai mogul, who has been outspoken about her experience as a transgender woman, previously set up the Life Inspired For Thailand Foundation as a way to advocate for the rights of transgender people.

The JKN Global Group, which distributes self-produced and international films and TV programs, views the acquisition as “a soft power to build a reputation for Thailand to be known and outstanding around the world.”

The beauty pageant, which has been running for 71 years, was previously co-owned by Donald Trump between 1996 and 2002 before IMG acquired it in 2015.

The organization will be holding its 71st Miss Universe pageant in January 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. It will be broadcasted in 165 countries.

Featured Image via @annejkn.official (left, right) Didn't see that one coming...

GeneChing

11-02-2022, 08:35 AM

Miss Argentina and Miss Puerto Rico 2020 reveal they are married
Miss Argentina and Miss Puerto Rico 2020 reveal they are married
November 2 2022

ENTERTAINMENT

by:
Asiya Ali

https://ik.imagekit.io/uwaknajbdrm/https:/img.vt.co/2022/11/engagementring-1024x532.jpg?ik-sdk-version=react-1.1.0&tr=w-900

Mariana Varela and Fabiola Valentín - who represented their countries as Miss Argentina and Miss Puerto Rico respectively - have proclaimed their love for one another.

The beauty queens met at the beauty pageant Miss Grand International 2020 and remained friends following the end of the contest, per Hola.

Despite being inseparable ever since, they kept their love a secret, and have now just declared their romance on social media by sharing a heartwarming post on Monday (October 31).

The 22-year-old model shared a loving message (translated from Spanish to English) about her partner accompanied by a reel, writing: "After deciding to keep our relationship private, we’re opening up the doors to you on a special day."

She also added the date "28/10/22" and a heart and a ring emoji in her caption.

Valentín's reel offered a touching snapshot into the duo's relationship such as photos and clips taken throughout their relationship, including holidays, videos on the beach, pictures of their rings, and a video of their marriage proposal.

The footage also displayed the two dressed in white, celebrating their union in the steps of the Marriage Bureau in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The warm news was met with joy on the social media platform, amassing more than 131,500 likes and over 5,900 comments in just three days.

Abena Akuaba, a Miss Grand International winner, commented under the post, writing: "Omg congratulations MGI brought together a beautiful union."

Samantha Bernardo, another Miss Grand International 2020 pageant representative for the Philippines, also wrote: "Omg! Congratulations sisters! Lovelovelove!"

The 26-year-old model also gushingly replied to her partner's video and praised commenters: "Thanks for all the love! We are very happy and blessed. Hoping that all the love you’re sending us comes back to you multiplied! Endless thanks."

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Credit: Instagram

The two beautiful women come from two of the most progressive Latin American countries when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights.

Argentina became the first country in the area to legalize same-sex marriage in July 2010 and Puerto Rico is now planning on introducing a bill that will safeguard same-sex couples under its domestic violence law.

While neither Varela nor Valentín was victorious at the beauty contests, they achieved excellent results with Miss Puerto Rico making it into the top three at Miss Universe 2019, and both women advancing into the top 10 at MGI.

However, it's very obvious that the greatest prize of all was finding love. We need a beauty contest for married women couples...

GeneChing

12-07-2022, 12:52 PM

Dec 6, 2022 7:00am PT
Miss Universe Pageant Moves to Streaming via Roku Channel, as Deal With Fox and Steve Harvey Ends (EXCLUSIVE) (https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/miss-universe-pageant-stream-roku-channel-2023-1235451201/)

By Michael Schneider
https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GettyImages-1237202909.jpg?w=681&h=383&crop=1&resize=681%2C383
13 December 2021, Israel, Eilat: Harnaaz Sandhu (Miss India) reacts to being crowned Miss Universe during the 70th "Miss Universe" beauty pageant in Israel's southern Red Sea coastal city of Eilat. Photo: Ilia Yefimovich/dpa (Photo by Ilia Yefimovich/picture alliance via Getty Images)
dpa/picture alliance via Getty

After decades on broadcast — most recently on Fox — the 71st Miss Universe competition is the latest TV event making the move to streaming. The Roku Channel has sealed a one-year deal to be the official English-language home for Miss Universe, which will stream live from New Orleans on January 14, 2023, at 7 p.m. ET.

Among the changes in the move: Steve Harvey, who had hosted for five years as part of the pageant’s deal with Fox (with the exception of 2021, when that pact was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic), also won’t be back. According to Miss Universe Organization CEO Amy Emmerich, a new host — expected to be a female — will be announced in the coming weeks.

“My goal was really to make sure we led with a female lens this next go-around,” Emmerich says. “We should hopefully have that to talk about soon… It was a rare opportunity to be able to kind of restart in a whole new place.”

Emmerich had just joined Miss Universe in January, and has been busy looking at ways to reform and refresh the organization. And with the U.S. English-language deal up (it continues to also air in Spanish on Telemundo), Emmerich said she was looking to reimagine Miss Universe’s global distribution.

“I would love to offer one large package and go global because the global audience is so massive, but we’re tied up in a lot of different territory deals,” she says. “That won’t end for another year. So, we said, OK, the best thing that can happen for this brand is go to a place that’s also starting anew. Right away WME suggested Roku. I’m familiar with [Roku originals head] David [Eilenberg] from the past and he had just joined there. From the first conversation, you kind of knew it was the place to be. Roku just always had a personality. They really are consistent with who they are, even with the original programming to come. And Miss Universe needed take some chances.”

The news comes as Roku continues to expand its stable of original offerings on its ad-supported service, including the second season of Nasim Pedrad’s comedy “Chad” and the recent TV movie “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.” And it also joins a list of live broadcast events that have previously migrated to streaming, including “Dancing with the Stars” (ABC to Disney+) and the ACM Awards (CBS to Amazon Prime Video).

“As more and more marquee events move to streaming, we’re excited to bring these exclusive experiences for free to our audience,” said Roku programming VP Rob Holmes.

Because it’s on a streamer, the Miss Universe event will be seen live across the country. Emmerich said Miss Universe and Roku are currently looking at unique ways to play with commercial breaks and other telecast elements.

“Now that we have Roku, what exclusively can we do for them during this commercial space that that audience can feel like they’re seeing more of the inside, behind the scenes,” she says. “I joined here hoping to bring a level of transparency that I don’t think exists at the organization and Roku kind of loved that idea. It’s also a great time to just watch the data and see what works.”

The new U.S. TV partner and new CEO aren’t the only fresh starts for Miss Universe this year. The organization was just purchased in October by Thailand-based JKN Global Group PCL (run by CEO Anne Jukapong Jakrajutatip) from previous owner IMG.

“The first woman to own the brand, that’s going to be a change in and of itself for 70 years,” Emmerich says. “And I think especially because of Anne’s backstory, and what she feels transformational leadership is and how she can really fight for a future borne by women a little bit more than possibly a man at IMG could. I think she came in wanting to know early on, what was the vision on how we want to shape shift the brand. I think she sees it as a year-round more than one-woman, one-night event.

“I thought that was a great sign that she was asking, what are we providing women? What else do they gain when they go through the organization? It’s not about winning the title, what else are they going to walk away with? How are we providing a service that we can create more future leaders? I think she’s a visionary. She’s got a lot of ideas and she takes a lot of risks. The idea that we can beta test a lot more in Thailand before rolling it out across the globe, I think is actually going to be easier than trying to beta test in the States and then roll it out.”

Emmerich admits that there wasn’t much transparency in the Miss Universe selection criteria, and the explanation of the job that comes with being Miss Universe was also vague. She began her tenure as CEO trying to redefine all of that, while also looking at the global franchisees — currently at about 55% run by women, she says. (“I thought it was important to highlight that.”) Emmerich doesn’t shy away from calling Miss Universe a “pageant,” but she does refuse to call the women appearing from countries around the world “contestants.”

“This one’s a big argument always at the office,” she says. “Because I really see it as a live job interview. They’re already winners in their local or national pageants. They are the title holder of that place, Miss Universe Venezuela, Miss Universe Columbia and so on. So, it really comes down to who will get the job for Miss Universe. Language matters and how we refer to them. So, a lot of that will shape shift. And then just finding more time to learn about their stories. Most likely it will be the top 16 and packages around who these women are, what they faced, and really trying to highlight different stories from around the world. How these women stand for their culture, their countries. It’s not about beauty anymore. I’m hoping people start to recognize the first of these changes.”

But Emmerich says she’s also cognizant of not moving too fast — which is why the swimsuit competition will remain.

“I did not eradicate swimwear,” she says. “That’s a big question. It was pretty obvious that that moment was more about the power of their voice, even more than the power of their body. But being able to own the power of your sexuality was really interesting to me. And as a woman, we basically are raised to hate our bodies from birth. And in this moment, they own it. And they own it in an interesting way. Of course, I’d love more body positivity and plus-size women to be represented but I think that’s going to take a little time. I think we need to show that audience that we have a safe space for them. And that’s the work that we have to do.”

Miss Universe president Paula Shugart and Emmerich are also looking to improve transparency when it comes to the voting process.

“In the past they have put the scores on the television screens, but the audience is so aggressive, they will basically bully the selection criteria if they don’t like the score on the moment,” she says. “We had to take that away and do something that was at least transparent for the delegates who are performing. But yes, it has to evolve. We work with Ernst and Young, which has been an eye opener for me, thinking about all the different ways that we can select someone but the ways that you need to mathematically prove that. So hopefully we’ll have a little bit more to talk about in January.”

Emmerich has learned the importance of this as the Miss Universe Organization continues to investigate this year’s Miss USA pageant. After contestants this year accused Miss USA of rigging its results, Miss Universe has suspended its contract with Miss Brands (which runs Miss USA under a licensing agreement).

“There was some questioning around the judgment and the judging,” she says. “I’m able to say, we’re going to stop right now and make sure we take a true look at this. I did not want social media dictating the outcome. I wanted to get some facts behind it before we made any decisions.”

Emmerich says she also expects to turn some heads over the decision to allow delegates from both Russia and Ukraine into this year’s Miss Universe. (It’s still unclear if Miss Russia will be represented on the show, however.)

“Miss Universe Organization tries to say apolitical, but we do believe in pushing and creating a platform for the delegates’ voices as loud as they may be, for whatever it is they believe,” she says. “I didn’t feel like that we should basically hold Miss Russia accountable for something that was out of her control. So that’s why we said yes.”

The 71st Miss Universe event will be held at New Orleans’ Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, where almost 90 women representing countries from around the world. Besides swimwear, categories include interviews, evening gown and community impact. The 70th Miss Universe, Harnaaz Sandhu, will crown her successor at the end of the night.

I'm not exactly sure why I keep feeding this thread. Perhaps it's because it surprises me now and again. Not that this news bit was surprising, or rather that notable...

GeneChing

12-19-2022, 09:28 AM

Wausau native Grace Stanke named Miss America 2023 (https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/wausau-native-grace-stanke-named-miss-america-2023/)

BY WCCO STAFF
DECEMBER 16, 2022 / 1:46 PM / CBS MINNESOTA

MINNEAPOLIS -- A Wisconsin woman is the next Miss America.

Grace Stanke, a native of Wausau, was crowned Miss America during a ceremony in Connecticut on Thursday. The 20-year-old is a senior at University of Wisconsin-Madison studying nuclear engineering.

"Being crowned Miss America 2023 is impossible to put into words – it is a dream come true and has literally changed my life in an instant," Stanke said. "I hope to live up to the impeccable legacy of Miss America, serving as a positive role model for women of all ages and my community."

Stanke was awarded a $50,000 cash scholarship and will earn a six-figure salary, benefits, and will travel roughly 20,000 a month during her reign as a representative of the Miss America Organization.

She said she will use her national platform to advocate for clean energy. She won the talent portion of the competition for her classical violin performance.

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MISS AMERICA

Stanke's achievement also marked 50 years since the first Miss Wisconsin, Terry Meeuwsen, won Miss America.

Rachel Lane Evangelisto competed for Minnesota, as the first Indigenous woman to represent the state. She told WCCO's Marielle Mohs in June that pursuing the title was all about representation.

"I'm going to come right through and break all those barriers and say that I need to be authentic, I need to be truthful and just share my experiences," Evangelisto said.
Not sure how to pronounce her last name and I'm just going to leave it to my imagination...

GeneChing

12-28-2022, 09:37 AM

The network showed the national costume of Viktoriia Apanasenko for the Miss Universe (https://odessa-journal.com/the-network-showed-the-national-costume-of-victoria-apanasenko-for-the-miss-universe/)
CULTURE The Odessa Journal 21 December, 2022 4 Comments 11,355 2 minutes read

https://odessa-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/victoria-apanasenko.jpg
This costume is called “Warrior of Light”. Ukrainian costume designer Lesya Patoka created it.
Photo: @danilyukart

The network showed the costume of the winner of the Miss Ukraine Universe, Victoriia Apanasenko.

It is known that the costume of Victoria was named “Warrior of Light”. The designer of the incredible look was Lesya Patoka, who collaborated with Jamala, ONUKA, and other famous personalities.

https://odessa-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/321179161_860162995304098_119736605970352769_n-819x1024.jpg
https://odessa-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/320938494_1515310005641009_1779883842178621006_n-819x1024.jpg

The «Warrior of Light» costume symbolizes Ukraine nation’s fight against darkness. Like Archangel Michael, who defends Ukraine with a sword, it protects us. Viktoriia has a weapon in her hands, her body is covered in armor, and at the same time, she carries light through the darkness that came to our peaceful lands with the aggressor.

The monolithic jumpsuit symbolizes armor and wraps Viktoriia like a second skin.

The white dress consists of a stylization of a vyshyvanka with puffy sleeves and a skirt that has more than 10 meters of fabric to it. The headwear is decorated with spikelets, which are traditional in Ukraine. Symbolic wings are burned in battle, framed in blue and gold armor in the colors of the Ukrainian flag, and decorated with various mirror ornaments, opened for the decisive battle.

Here is how Lesya Patoka herself commented on her work:

“It was very important for us to create the image of not just a beautiful, but also a strong-willed girl who personifies the whole of Ukraine – unbending, courageous, free. Despite all the difficulties and challenges, we coped with creating the image on time, because each of us is a Warrior in his business.”

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“Warrior of Light” costume is a personification of the inner strength of Ukrainians, our courage, determination and love of freedom flowing in our veins. In this costume, I wanted to embed the idea that war cannot break our strength and discolor our hearts. Even on a fire, like a phoenix, Ukraine will blossom and shine with bright rays of kindness and faith,” says Viktoriya Apanasenko.

Lesya worked on the costume for four months to the sound of sirens and without electricity.

Victoria Apanasenko will present this outfit at the National Costume Show on January 11, 2023 in New Orleans, USA.

Beauty-Pageants (https://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?57280-Beauty-Pageants)
Sword-hotties (https://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?41007-Sword-hotties)

Victor708S

12-30-2022, 07:36 AM

Zoe Sozo Bethel was so beautiful((
so sorry for her family

GeneChing

05-30-2023, 08:29 PM

Miss Universe Philippines Michelle Dee comes out as bisexual: ‘I have so much more to offer’ (https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/05/29/michelle-dee-bisexual-miss-universe-philippines/)
May 29
Written by Sophie Perry
https://www.thepinknews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Michelle-Dee.jpg?resize=1584,832
Miss Universe Philippines, Michelle Dee, has shared publicly that she is bisexual. (Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Privé Alliance)

Michelle Dee, the newly crowned Miss Universe Philippines, has publicly come out as bisexual, saying she is “attracted to all forms of beauty, all shapes and sizes”.

The 28-year-old, who is set to represent the Philippines at upcoming Miss Universe 2023 competition in El Salvador, told Mega Magazine that she has been bisexual “for as long as I can remember”.

The beauty queen made the decision to come out publicly after pictures resurfaced of her in her younger years, where she had more of a “boyish” style, leading people online to speculate about her identity.

“I have so much more to offer the world and the universe than how I identify myself,” she told the magazine, citing her advocacy for autism awareness as more important than her sexuality.

She is not the only LGBTQ+ woman in the pageant world, with Miss Argentina and Miss Puerto Rico tying the knot in 2022 and trans tycoon Jakapong “Anne” Jakrajutatip buying out the Miss Universe franchise for a cool $20 million in the same year.

Explaining the pressure she was under to share her sexuality with the world during the competition, she said: “This is not about me. This is about the cause I’m fighting, advocating for: autism awareness. That’s my main goal. My identity is not what I want to be remembered for.

“I felt like coming out during the competition would shock everyone, and cloud everyone’s judgement. I also wanted to do that within my own timeline, and it wasn’t the right time. Because I want all of my focus and everyone’s focus to be on all the good causes.”

She added: “I acknowledge that it was so malicious that I felt – and this applies to everyone – when somebody takes away your story, then you should take control of that narrative. Turn it around and make it an empowering story.

“So that’s what I’m doing. I feel that it’s so important when somebody tries to knock you down and use your past against you.

“We all have to realize that we’ve come such a long way to just let our past define us. Again, how old was I? That was 2014, and it’s 2023.”

Dee also told the magazine about her first experience of queer attraction, when she was around 12 years old.

She explained that she was close with a female family friend after moving back to the Philippines from the United States. One day, they were out together in town and her friend had to leave early, making her extremely upset – an experience she described as “weird”.

Dee mused: “Was it my love for our friendship or attraction? It was confusing. Who really knows the concept of love at 12 years old?”

Later, she felt a similar attraction for AI boyband member Ben Adams, an “‘aha!’ moment” which explained her feelings towards her friend.

“I was like, ‘Okay, it was the same kind of feeling’,” Dee said.

Dee was crowned Miss Universe Philippines on 13 May at the SM Mall of Asia Arena and will compete at the international competition in El Salvador at the end of the year.

She won Miss World Philippines 2019 and placed in the top 12 at the Miss World 2019 pageant in London.

Good for her.

GeneChing

06-14-2023, 02:02 PM

First Chinese American wins Miss Utah pageant (https://asamnews.com/2023/06/12/first-chinese-american-wins-miss-utah-pageant/)
https://asamnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/sarah-sun-696x402.jpg
via Facebook

BY AKEMI TAMANAHA
JUNE 12, 2023
Sarah Sun is officially the first Chinese American to be crowned Miss Utah. Sun entered the Miss Utah 2023 competition as Miss Aspen Hills and won the state title on Saturday, June 10.

According to ABC 4, the competition began on Thursday, June 8, and concluded Saturday evening. Forty-seven contestants were judged in five different categories: private interview, onstage conversation, health and fitness, evening gown, and talent. Sun is a classical pianist and performed “La Campanella” for the talent portion.

The new Miss Utah is currently a student at Brigham Young University, where she is studying music and international strategy and diplomacy, FOX 13 News reports. Her goal is to pursue a Juris Doctorate (a law degree) or an MBA from Harvard University.

“So my goal is to share love and light to those who are struggling and to show that anybody can achieve their dreams regardless of whether or not they fit into a mold,” Sun told FOX 13 News.

Sun will receive over $10,000 in scholarships. The Miss Utah Organization gave $70,000 in scholarships to contestants this year.

Each Miss Utah winner develops their own initiative to help the community. Sun’s initiative is “Reducing Recidivism Through Art Education,” ABC 4 reports. Its goal is to use art education to reduce the chance that an inmate released from prison will re-offend and return to prison.

“I’m so excited to serve because I don’t see this as a crown, but as a mission to help people and to love people,” Sun said during her speech to the other candidates at the afterparty, ABC 4 reports.

AsAmNews is published by the non-profit, Asian American Media Inc. Please consider making a donation and following us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. Information about interning, joining the staff or volunteering is here. We are supported by a grant from the California Library Commission and its Stop the Hate program. Congratulations Sarah

GeneChing

07-27-2023, 05:06 PM

Miss Italy organizers defend ban on trans contestants (https://www.cnn.com/style/miss-italy-bars-trans-contestants/index.html)
By Oscar Holland and Jacqui Palumbo, CNN
Published 3:06 PM EDT, Thu July 27, 2023

https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/230727120418-01b-miss-italy-bars-transgender-contestant-restricted.jpg?c=16x9&q=h_720,w_1280,c_fill/f_webp
MIss Italy's official patron, Patrizia Mirgliani, caused controversy with her comments about trans women earlier this month.
Stefano Mazzola/Awakening/Getty Images
CNN
—
Organizers of Miss Italy have defended their ban on transgender contestants after the entrepreneur behind the competition appeared to criticize other beauty pageants’ efforts to welcome trans women.

“Lately, beauty contests have been trying to make the news by … using strategies that in my opinion are a bit absurd,” the pageant’s official patron, Patrizia Mirigliani, said in a recent radio interview. “Since it was founded, my contest has stipulated in its regulation (that contestants)… must be a woman from birth.”

The comments — which have been widely reported, and have become a source of controversy for the pageant — came shortly after Rikkie Kollé became the first openly trans contestant to win the title of Miss Netherlands.

(Miss Italy is not affiliated with the Miss Universe organization, and Kollé will compete against the winner of the 2023 Miss Italy Universe pageant, a separate contest.)

Mirigliani, who is the daughter of Miss Italy’s former head Enzo Mirigliani, later told radio station RTL 102.5 that her comments had been “misunderstood.” But in a statement provided to CNN on Tuesday, the Miss Italy organization reiterated that “currently, the competition is open to candidates of ‘female sex since birth.’”

https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/230727120422-03-miss-italy-bars-transgender-contestant-restricted.jpg?c=original&q=w_1280,c_fill
Carolina Stramare was crowned Miss Italy in 2019.
Stefano Mazzola/Awakening/Getty Images

Organizers did not respond to CNN’s query on how the eligibility criteria was enforced. Nor did they explicitly rule out future rule changes, saying in the statement that the contest has “always known how to adapt to the times and has never been rigid on any front” but that “the subject (of trans women participating) at this moment does not constitute a priority.”

The organization added: “Miss Italy has been defined by the public as the competition of the girl next door, the simple girl, who, with the participation in Miss Italy, can assert herself in the world of show business, journalism, politics, and entrepreneurship.”

Mirigliani’s initial comments sparked outcry earlier this month, and she later elaborated on her position, telling RTL 102.5, “I’m just saying that things have to go gradually; Italy is a delicate and particular country.” She also told the radio station that only two transgender people had ever asked to participate in the contest.

In response to the comments, Federico Barbarossa, a member of the Italian nonprofit association Mixed LGBTQIA, said via Instagram that he had successfully entered the pageant because — as a trans man assigned female at birth — he met the pageant’s entry requirements.

“When I heard about the absurd regulation, it came spontaneously to me!” read a statement posted to Mixed LGBTQIA’s Instagram account alongside what appeared to be a screenshot of an acceptance email from Miss Italy. “I was assigned to the female gender at birth, but I have always felt like a boy. We hope that this gesture will spark the media attention needed to put these issues back at the center (of the debate).”

He encouraged other trans people assigned female at birth to “register en masse for the competition” to “make fun of these outdated positions.”

https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/230725142842-02-miss-italy-bars-transgender-contestants-kolle-restricted.jpg?c=original&q=w_1280,c_fille.
Announcement | Miss Netherlands 2023, Leusden - 08 Jul 2023
Rikkie Kolle was crowned Miss Netherlands 2023, becoming the pageant's first out trans contestant to win.
Hollandse Hoogte/Shutterstock

Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera has reported that other trans male contestants have since applied. A spokesperson for Miss Italy confirmed that the contest had received “some” such applications, and that trans men “will participate” in local castings. “If they are judged suitable by a technical jury they can then parade in public,” he added.

Having been crowned Miss Netherlands on July 8, Kollé will go on to compete in Miss Universe — and will make history again if she wins the international pageant. Elsewhere, Daniela Arroyo González is hoping to become the first openly trans woman to win the Miss Universe Puerto Rico pageant, and will also advance to the global Miss Universe pageant if she secures the title.

Miss Italy has, since its inception in 1939, featured several contestants who have gone on to have influential careers in film and television. Among them were Sophia Loren, who participated in 1950 at 15 years old but was not crowned, and Lucia Bosè, who won the contest in 1947. Last year’s winner was 18-year-old Lavinia Abate from Rome.
You gotta wonder how the snd place runner up feels losing to a trans competitor.

GeneChing

08-27-2023, 09:26 AM

Former Miss Texas Averie Bishop challenges Republican Angie Chen Button for state House seat (https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/house/miss-texas-challenging-republican-house-seat)
by Brady Knox, Breaking News Reporter
August 22, 2023 10:14 PM

The liberal former Miss Texas, Averie Bishop, is challenging Texas GOP state Rep. Angie Chen Button for her seat.

Bishop, 26, drew national attention for her outspoken criticism of conservatives in a generally conservative state, using her position to advocate liberal causes such as abortion access, gun control, and diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Her outspokenness regarding politics was a break from pageant tradition. She is now running for public office against a longtime Republican representative.

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Miss Texas 2022 Averie Bishop pauses on the red carpet during the Miss America competition at the Mohegan Sun casino, in Uncasville, Conn., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Steven Senne/AP

In a statement obtained by the Texas Tribune, Bishop let the direction of her campaign be known.

“I know what it’s like to grow up in a small town and never see leaders who looked like me, let alone who fought for me,” it said. “It’s time for the next generation of Texans to lead — to protect our state’s environment and economy, to safeguard our schools and our right to education, and to truly represent the majority of this great state.”

The influencer grew her platform through the use of the social media platform TikTok, through which she advocated liberal causes to a large audience. She has personally lobbied the state legislature for several issues, including support for DEI programs.

Bishop's opponent, Button, has held her seat since 2009. In 2020, she won by roughly 300 votes in a district that voted for President Joe Biden by a margin of 9 percentage points.
This sounds like a race worth watching...

GeneChing

09-29-2023, 09:08 AM

Candace Kanavel to become 1st law enforcement officer to compete in Miss USA (https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/living/story/candace-kanavel-become-1st-law-enforcement-officer-compete-103559562)

By Yi-Jin Yu
September 28, 2023, 6:48 am

Candace Kanavel wears many hats and ... a tiara!

The Tempe, Arizona, SWAT team member is set to become the first law enforcement officer to compete in the Miss USA pageant Friday, according to a press release from the Tempe Police Department.

"I want to give people who aren't in law enforcement a little insight into what officers are like," Kanavel told Phoenix ABC affiliate KNXV. "We have hobbies, we have families, we have all these different things outside of what we do for a living."

https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/candace-kanavel-2-ht-bb-230928_1695905996502_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg
In a photo posted to her Instagram account, Candace Kanavel is seen holding her tiara and sash while wearing her police uniform.
@candacekanavel/Instagram
The 27-year-old, one of Tempe Police Department's SWAT hostage negotiators, was crowned Miss Arizona in May and said the roles share many things in common.

"When I'm in my police uniform, I'm empowered to help people. And when I'm in my sash and crown, I'm empowered to help people," Kanavel, who is Japanese American, said. "And so I'm doing the same job, just in a different uniform."

https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/candace-kanavel-1-ht-bb-230928_1695905882755_hpEmbed_4x5_992.jpg
In a photo posted to her Instagram account, Miss Arizona USA, Candace Kanavel, is seen wearing her tiara and sash on the Arizona State University campus.
@candacekavanel/Instagram

MORE: For the first time, Texas represented by Asian American women in Miss USA and Miss America pageants
Kanavel said she encourages others to embrace all their interests and to live fearlessly.

"I think in society, we get put in boxes a lot and we're confined by that box but I think what my message is to people is that you don't have to be limited to that box," she added. "I can do it all and so can everybody else."

In addition to vying for the crown, Kanavel revealed in an Instagram post that one of her next goals is to meet "Miss Congeniality" star Sandra Bullock, who portrayed FBI Special Agent Gracie Hart who goes undercover at a beauty pageant in the 2000 film.

The 2023 Miss USA pageant will be held at Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada, and the winner will be crowned by Miss USA 2022, Morgan Romano of North Carolina.

Hello officer! :)

GeneChing

11-28-2023, 10:08 AM

Nicaragua's Miss Universe Title Win Exposes Deep Political Divide (https://www.voanews.com/a/nicaragua-s-miss-universe-title-win-exposes-deep-political-divide-/7368336.html)
November 26, 2023 3:12 AM
Associated Press

https://gdb.voanews.com/01000000-0a00-0242-9d05-08dbec9e38f8_w1023_r1_s.jpg
Miss Nicaragua Sheynnis Palacios reacts after being crowned Miss Universe at the 72nd Miss Universe Beauty Pageant in San Salvador, El Salvador, Nov. 18, 2023.

MEXICO CITY —
Nicaragua's increasingly isolated and repressive government thought it had scored a rare public relations victory last week when Miss Nicaragua Sheynnis Palacios won the Miss Universe competition.

But the "legitimate joy and pride" President Daniel Ortega's government expressed in a statement Sunday after the win quickly turned to angry condemnation, after it emerged that Palacios graduated from a college that was the center of 2018 protests against the regime — and apparently participated in the marches.

Ordinary Nicaraguans — who are largely forbidden to protest or carry the national flag in marches — took advantage of the Saturday night Miss Universe win as a rare opportunity to celebrate in the streets.

Their use of the blue-and-white national flag, as opposed to Ortega's red-and-black Sandinista banner, didn't sit well with the government.

Palacios' victory — along with photos she posted on Facebook in 2018 of herself participating in the protests — overjoyed Nicaragua's opposition.

Roman Catholic Rev. Silvio Báez, one of dozens of priests who have been jailed or forced into exile by the government, congratulated Palacios in his social media accounts.

"Thank you for bringing joy to our long-suffering country!," Báez wrote. "Thank you for giving us hope for a better future for our beautiful country!"

With clunky rhetoric reminiscent of North Korea, Vice President and First Lady Rosario Murillo lashed out Wednesday at opposition social media sites (many run from exile) that celebrated Palacios' win as a victory for the opposition.

"In these days of a new victory, we are seeing the evil, terrorist commentators making a clumsy and insulting attempt to turn what should be a beautiful and well-deserved moment of pride into destructive coup-mongering," Murillo said.

Thousands have fled into exile since Nicaraguan security forces violently put down mass anti-government protests in 2018. Ortega says the protests were an attempted coup with foreign backing, aiming for his overthrow.

Ortega's government seized and closed the Jesuit University of Central America in Nicaragua, which was a hub for 2018 protests against the Ortega regime, along with at least 26 other Nicaraguan universities.

The government has also outlawed or closed more than 3,000 civic groups and non-governmental organizations, arrested and expelled opponents, stripped them of their citizenship and confiscated their assets.

Palacios, who became the first Nicaraguan to win Miss Universe, has not commented on the situation.

During the contest, Palacios, 23, said she wants to work to promote mental health after suffering debilitating bouts of anxiety herself. She also said she wants to work to close the salary gap between the genders so that women can work in any area.

But on a since-deleted Facebook account under her name, Palacios posted photos of herself at a protest, writing she had initially been afraid of participating. "I didn't know whether to go, I was afraid of what might happen."

Some who attended the march that day recall seeing the tall, striking Palacios there.

The protests were quickly put down and in the end, human rights officials say 355 people were killed by government forces.
So many scandals...seems as if that's how pageants get press nowadays.

GeneChing

01-02-2024, 10:18 AM

Miss Nicaragua pageant director announces her retirement after accusations of ‘conspiracy’ (https://apnews.com/article/nicaragua-miss-universe-pageant-director-arrested-ortega-a2f8ed8d38a7d707be4e8c0664740d8d)

https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/5375219/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5487x3658+0+0/resize/1440x960!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2Fe9%2F6b%2Fc 949e11131fb402063bdc9ef136a%2F9df7ecfc2b714ae88f35 0b69010c37e0
1 of 2 | Miss Nicaragua Sheynnis Palacios participates in the evening gown category during the 72nd Miss Universe Beauty Pageant in San Salvador, El Salvador, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023. The 23-year-old communicologist went on to win the competition, the first to wear the crown from her country. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

BY GABRIELA SELSER
Updated 8:39 PM PST, December 11, 2023

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The director of the Miss Nicaragua pageant, Karen Celebertti, on Monday announced her retirement from the organization, nine days after the Nicaraguan police accused her of “conspiracy” and other crimes along with her husband and son, who are detained.

“The time has come for my retirement,” Celebertti wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “I know that there will always be more opportunities for us.”

It was Celebertti’s first public statement after the scandal that followed the coronation of Sheynnis Palacios as Miss Universe on Nov. 18 in El Salvador.

The businesswoman said that she worked for 23 years “with zeal and effort” until Nicaragua won the world beauty crown this year, which she described “as an achievement for everyone” and “for every Nicaraguan, without political distinction.”

Palacios’ surprise victory in the contest unleashed demonstrations of joy in the streets of Nicaragua, prompting criticism by the government of Daniel Ortega.

According to the local press, immigration authorities prevented Celebertti and her daughter Luciana from entering the country on Nov. 22, after they attended Palacios’ coronation and accompanied her on a short trip to Mexico.

Later it was announced that the police raided Celebertti’s home in the southwest of Managua and arrested her husband, Martín Argüello, and their son, Bernardo.

Without confirming the arrest, the authorities accused the three members of the Argüello Celebertti family on Dec. 2 of the crimes of treason, conspiracy and “organized crime.”

A statement by the National Police claimed Celebertti “participated actively, on the internet and in the streets in the terrorist actions of a failed coup,” an apparent reference to the 2018 protests.
Man, what is up with Nicaragua?

GeneChing

01-16-2024, 10:21 AM

Miss Colorado, US Air Force Officer makes history as Miss America (https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/colorado-miss-america-madison-marsh/73-ceb70846-c166-4071-a251-0ec7f1f5eafe)
Author: Alexander Kirk
Published: 10:17 AM MST January 15, 2024
Updated: 10:17 AM MST January 15, 2024

ORLANDO, Fla. — Miss Colorado is now Miss America.
Miss Colorado Madison Marsh was crowned Miss America during the competition's ceremony Sunday night in Orlando.
A 2nd Lieutenant in the Air Force, Marsh is the first active duty servicemember to ever win the title.
Marsh is a 2023 graduate of the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs with a degree in physics and is a graduate student at the Harvard Kennedy School.
"Congratulations to our very own Airman, 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh, aka Miss Colorado — who was just crowned Miss America 2024!" the U.S. Air Force said in a statement. "Marsh is the first active duty servicemember to ever win the title."
"Miss Colorado has been crowned Miss America!" Colorado Gov. Jared Polis congratulated on social media.
Marsh is also the president and founder of the Whitney Marsh Foundation, named after her late mother, helping to raise more than a quarter-million dollars for pancreatic cancer research at the foundation, according to Marsh's website.
Marsh is the first Miss America winner crowned from Colorado since 1974.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAMvW6ZoOXg

Congrats! Nice to have a positive post here. :)

GeneChing

01-25-2024, 10:11 AM

Model of Ukrainian descent becomes Miss Japan 2024, sparking debate
Model of Ukrainian descent becomes Miss Japan 2024, sparking debatevia YouTube/maidigitv
Carolina Shiino’s victory sparked skepticism, with some questioning the choice of crowning someone who is not of Japanese descent
Michelle De Pacina
JANUARY 24, 2024

https://nextshark.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Carolina-Shiino.jpg?width=640&auto_optimize=medium

CAROLINA SHIINO, A 26-year-old Japanese model of Ukrainian descent, became the center of controversy after winning the title of Miss Japan 2024 on Monday.
About Shiino: Shiino was born in Ukraine and moved to Japan at the age of 5 after her mother remarried a Japanese man. She became the first naturalized Japanese citizen to win the Miss Japan Grand Prix pageant.
“I’ve had to face barriers that often prevent me from being accepted as Japanese, so I am filled with gratitude to be recognized at this competition as a Japanese person,” Shiino said on stage, according to The Independent.
Online skepticism: Despite declaring herself Japanese in “speech and mind,” her victory sparked skepticism on social media, with some questioning the choice of crowning someone who is not of Japanese descent.
“This person who was chosen as Miss Japan is not even a mix with Japanese but 100 percent pure Ukrainian. Understand she is beautiful, but this is ‘Miss Japan.’ Where is the Japaneseness?” one person said.
“I think that Japanese people naturally (would) get the wrong message when a European looking person is called the most beautiful Japanese,” another noted.
“As a non-Japanese person living in Japan, I also think that the choice of someone with no ethnic connection to Japan is beyond ridiculous,” one weighed in.
Judges’ defense: However, event organizers justified the selection of Shiino, highlighting that the judges were impressed by her “confidence.” Ai Wada, the pageant organizer, also emphasized that “Japanese beauty exists not in the appearance, not in the blood, but it exists firmly in our heart,” urging viewers to contemplate on the essence of Japanese beauty.
“She speaks and writes in beautiful and polite Japanese,” Ai Wada added. “She is more Japanese than we are.”

Michelle De Pacina
is a New York-based Reporter for NextShark Back to pageant controversies...:rolleyes:

GeneChing

02-06-2024, 07:47 PM

Karolina Shiino: Ukraine-born Miss Japan gives up crown following affair (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-68213223)
24 hours ago

By Frances Mao
BBC News

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/233D/production/_132412090_unnamed-8.jpg.webp
Carolina Shiino Miss Japan 2024Instagram
Ms Shiino had proudly announced on social media that she became a naturalised citizen of Japan in 2022
The Ukraine-born winner of the Miss Japan beauty pageant has given up her crown after a tabloid report revealed her affair with a married man.
Karolina Shiino, 26, was crowned Miss Japan two weeks ago but her win sparked public debate due to her heritage.
While some welcomed the naturalised citizen's crowning, others said she didn't represent traditional Japanese beauty ideals.
Amid the furore, a local magazine published an expose alleging an affair.
The article in the Shukan Bunshun reported that Ms Shiino had engaged in a relationship with a married influencer and doctor. The man has not provided any public comment.
In its initial response to the report last week, the pageant organisers defended Ms Shiino, saying she hadn't known the man was married.
However on Monday, organisers said she had confessed to knowing about the man's marriage and family.
She had apologised for being misleading and organisers had accepted her title resignation, the Miss Japan Association said.
Ms Shiino also apologised to her fans and the general public in a statement on Monday, where she said she had acted out of fear and panic in response to the report.
"I am truly sorry for the huge trouble I have caused and for betraying those who supported me," she said.
The Miss Japan title will now remain vacant for the rest of the year, although there were several runners-up.
Controversy after Ukrainian-born model crowned Miss Japan
The competition had crowned Ms Shiino on 22 January - the first person of European descent to be given the honour. She was born in Ukraine before moving with her mother to Japan when she was five and taking on her step-father's Japanese last name.
She speaks and writes fluent Japanese and became a naturalised citizen in 2022.
Upon receiving the title, she had said in her speech: "I had not been accepted as Japanese many times, but I am filled with gratitude to have been recognized as Japanese today."
Sounds a bit suspicious, but controversy put to rest.

GeneChing

02-29-2024, 10:16 AM

Miss Universe’s Thai owner breaks silence on leaked video belittling inclusivity, says clip was ‘manipulated’ (https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3253507/miss-universes-thai-owner-breaks-silence-leaked-video-belittling-inclusivity-says-clip-was#:~:text=Thai%20transgender%20activist%20and%20 Miss,manipulated”%20to%20tarnish%20her%20reputatio n.)
Thai transgender activist Jakapong Jakrajutatip has blamed an unnamed person for the ‘unlawful act’, saying the edited clip was used to tarnish her reputation
Jakapong says she does not know why the unnamed person ‘would jeopardise me and the organisation’, and insists she is a staunch proponent of gender equality rights
SCMP’s Asia desk
Published: 4:43pm, 28 Feb, 2024

https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/1200x800/public/d8/images/canvas/2024/02/28/a749938f-2694-4f5e-b281-e868045f6d64_fd0014fa.jpg?itok=jhgXIlD4&v=1709109785

Thai transgender activist and Miss Universe Organisation owner Jakapong Jakrajutatip has broken her silence on a video in which she belittled efforts to boost inclusivity at the beauty pageant, saying the clip was “manipulated” to tarnish her reputation.

Jakapong reportedly said the decision to remove the age limit and allow transwomen, mothers and married women to take part in the event was a “communication strategy”.

“This is a communication strategy because they can compete, but they cannot win,” she said in the video that was leaked online and widely circulated on social media.

https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2024/02/28/93492d00-d83e-4163-98d1-c834d80c5ab4_b00726b0.jpg
Jakapong Jakrajutatip during the Miss Universe pageant in New Orleans, Louisiana, on January 14, 2023. Photo: AFP
Jakapong, who bought the platform for US$20 million in 2022, blamed an unnamed person for the “unlawful act”, adding the brand’s supporters believed in our “core value of promoting diversity” and would not be fooled by the controversy.

“The malicious edited video was out of context and used to manipulate other people which led to the public confusion, misunderstanding, misinterpretation and wrong conclusion,” she said in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

“I still don’t comprehend why this man, who I was so nice to, would jeopardise me and the organisation while we were talking about one of the new reality show episodes, not the pageantry itself.”

Jakapong is a celebrity in Thailand, starring in local versions of reality shows Project Runway and Shark Tank.

Acknowledging that she identifies as a transwoman and mother, Jakapong also said she was a staunch proponent of gender equality rights.

“Why do I have to live my life up against what I believe? God gave me the purpose to live, to inspire and to spread kindness. I do have the strength to forgive this man and show the desire to the universe that love is what we need in this world,” she said.

Thai media company JKN Global Group, run by Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip, that owns the Miss Universe beauty pageant brand said it has filed for bankruptcy: Photo: AFP
Jakapong, who is known for being Thailand’s first transgender CEO, runs the Life Inspired For Thailand Foundation that advocates for the rights to dignity and opportunities for transgender people.

But Nepali beauty queen Jane Garrett was not convinced by Jakapong’s explanation, alleging last year’s pageant was “rigged”.

“Honey, I knew it was rigged from the moment I was onstage. I realised us ‘inclusion’ girls weren’t ever gonna get a real chance to win,” Garrett, the first plus-sized woman to compete at Miss Universe, said on Instagram last week.

Some social media users criticised Jakapong for championing fake inclusivity, arguing the video could “wreck” the organisation.

Others rallied behind her, saying “all those slanderers would finally be defeated by their own malicious deeds”. I love when someone prefaces a comment with "Honey"

GeneChing

03-12-2024, 06:49 PM

Krystyna Pyszková of the Czech Republic crowned Miss World 2024 (https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/09/style/czech-republic-krystyna-pyszkova-miss-world-2024/index.html)
By Alex Rees, CNN
2 minute read
Updated 10:06 PM EDT, Sun March 10, 2024

https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/ap24069643529121-copy.jpg?q=w_1480,c_fill/f_webp
Krystyna Pyszková of Czech Republic waves after being crowned as the new Miss World at the pageant in Mumbai, India on March 9. Rajanish Kakade/AP
CNN
—
Besting 111 of her fellow titleholders from across the globe, Krystyna Pyszková of the Czech Republic was crowned Miss World 2024 on Saturday in Mumbai, India, where the international pageant was held this year.

Across a series of events during the pageant’s preliminary competition, including fitness, beauty, talent and public speaking, several contestants won “fast track” places in the top 40, a cohort announced at the start of the show.

https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/2024-03-02t221853z-62403100-rc2rd6a2l01n-rtrmadp-3-india-missworld.JPG?c=original
Krystyna Pyszková, the newly-crowned Miss World, models during the "Best Designer Award" contest at the 71st Miss World pageant preliminaries on March 2. Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters
From there, the field was quickly slashed to top 12 and then top eight, at which point the contestants participated in the classic Q&A round, addressing topics discussed at the most recent G20 Summit. Asked to shed light on an issue impacting women’s health care specifically, Pyszková, a 23-year-old law student and model, spoke about removing the stigma and shame surrounding menstruation, saying that “being a woman is a gift” and that periods should not be a taboo subject.
After one final cut, four contestants were left to “pitch their purpose” (or philanthropic platform) to a trio of business moguls from “Shark Tank India.” Each of these four finalists represented a different region of the world: Africa, the Americas and Caribbean, Asia and Oceania and Europe.
Pyszková’s victory came over these three runners-up — Yasmina Zeytoun of Lebanon, Aché Abrahams of Trinidad and Tobago and Lesego Chombo of Botswana. (These women, along with Jessica Gagen of England, are considered the pageant’s “continental winners.”)
Miss World is widely viewed as the oldest international beauty pageant, first founded in the United Kingdom in 1951 as a “bikini contest.” Perhaps its two best-known winners are both from India: the actors Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (Miss World 1994) and Priyanka Chopra Jonas (Miss World 2000). Chopra Jonas appeared at the pageant in a video message, paying tribute to both Miss World owner Julia Morley and Nita Ambani, winner of the pageant’s Humanitarian Award.
Pyszková replaces the outgoing Miss World, Karolina Bielawska, of Poland, whose reign dates back to March 2022. (Due to scheduling issues, no Miss World pageant was held in 2023.)
Congrats to Krystyna!

GeneChing

04-10-2024, 01:00 PM

Johor Unduk Ngadau queen stripped of crown over 'wild' holiday video (https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/04/08/johor-unduk-ngadau-queen-stripped-of-crown-over-039wild039-holiday-video)
By SANDRA SOKIAL
SABAH & SARAWAK
Monday, 08 Apr 2024

5:09 PM MYT

KOTA KINABALU: TikToker turned beauty queen Viru Nikah Terinsip has been stripped of her title after her “wild”’ holiday video received public backlash.

The 24-year-old pageant winner, who won the Unduk Ngadau Johor title last year, has been stripped of her title by the Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA) despite apologising publicly through a 53-second long video posted on her TikTok account @_duyung.darat.

The matter was confirmed by KDCA president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, who said such behaviour was uncalled for in a beauty queen that supposedly represents the spirit of Huminodun, a mythological maiden who has the total beauty of heart, mind and soul.

“We were made to understand that she went on a private holiday with her family to Thailand. We do silly things and get carried away when holidaying.

“If the video did not go viral, no one would know it happened.

“This would not be an issue if she was just an ordinary person, but she is an Unduk Ngadau (beauty queen), and a public figure. There were a lot of mixed reactions, some saw the humour in her video, some sympathised, others were unhappy and complained. We (KDCA) do not want to be the target and attract unnecessary attention.

https://apicms.thestar.com.my/uploads/images/2024/04/08/2634741.jpeg
Viru Nikah Terinsip was crowned Unduk Ngadau Johor last year. - Viru Nikah Terinsip's Facebook picture

“We hope that she will accept this decision well. Let this serve as a warning to all Unduk Ngadaus to not repeat the mistake,” he said.

Unduk Ngadau is a cultural beauty pageant that is one of the highlights of the Kaamatan (harvest) festival in Sabah.

In the video, Viru, was seen responding to several male dancers’ suggestive dance while holidaying in Thailand.

It was understood that KDCA central had proposed to KDCA Johor to strip Viru’s title following the controversial video.

Viru, who is a popular content creator and entrepreneur, in her apology video, indicated that she would humbly accept if her title is revoked, and apologised for her carelessness in posting such a video.

“I am thankful for all the beautiful words coming from netizens, and let’s focus on other issues and more forward.

“Most importantly, please leave my family and friends out as they are not involved in this matter. It is up to you whether you would accept (my explanation) or not, but this comes sincerely from my heart. Thank you for listening,” she said.
Kinda wanna see that vid, right?

GeneChing

04-16-2024, 09:01 AM

World’s First AI Pageant To Judge Winner On Beauty And Social Media Clout (https://www.forbes.com/sites/lesliekatz/2024/04/15/first-ai-beauty-pageant-to-crown-winner-based-on-looks-and-social-clout/?sh=60b427371a55#:~:text=Yup%2C%20the%20world's%20 first%20AI,appraised%20for%20their%20online%20pull .)
Leslie Katz
Contributor
I write about the intersection of art, science and technology.

Apr 15, 2024,05:12pm EDT
https://imageio.forbes.com/specials-images/imageserve/661d91efada4d3cfb00f7f64/AI-generated-influencer-with-long-brown-hair-and-full-lips-smiles-in-front-of-a/960x0.jpg?format=jpg&width=1440
Popular AI-generated influencer Emily Pellegrini, a Miss AI judge, is uniquely qualified for the ... [+]WORLD AI CREATOR AWARDS
Models and influencers crafted from artificial intelligence can now jockey for the title “Miss AI.” Yup, the world’s first AI beauty pageant has arrived to crown faux humans for their pixelated perfection.

AI-generated contestants will be judged on their looks and polish, but they’ll also be gauged on the technical skill that went into creating them, and also appraised for their online pull.

“AI creators’ social clout will be assessed based on their engagement numbers with fans, rate of growth of audience and utilization of other platforms such as Instagram,” according to the World AI Creator Awards. Miss AI marks the program’s inaugural contest, with others to come focusing on fashion, diversity and computer-generated men. Fanvue, a subscription-based platform that hosts virtual models, some of whom offer adult content, is a WAICA partner.

Miss AI (well, the creator behind Miss AI) will win a $5,000 cash prize, promotion on the Fanvue platform and PR support worth more than $5,000. The runner-up and third place winner will also snag prizes. The virtual victors will be announced on May 10, with an online awards ceremony set to take place later in the month.

https://imageio.forbes.com/specials-images/imageserve/661d9365a9caa98bf15ee4ea/A-young-AI-generated-woman-with-long-blond-hair-and-full-lips-looks-into-the-camera/0x0.jpg?format=jpg&crop=1080,921,x0,y40,safe&width=1440
AI-generated humans like Lexi Schmidt, who's on Fanvue, now have their very own beauty pageant. WORLD AI CREATOR AWARDS
The competition opened online to entrants on Sunday as AI influencers increasingly grab attention and paying gigs. One, named Alba Renai, recently announced she’d been hired to host a weekly special segment on the Spanish version of Survivor. She’s not the only employed AI-generated influencer, either.

Aitana Lopez, one of four Miss AI judges, can pull in more than $11,000 a month representing brands. The AI-generated Spanish model and influencer has upward of 300,000 Instagram followers, many of whom shower her with adoring comments. She’s joined on the judging panel by another AI-generated model, Emily Pellegrini, who has more than 250,000 followers on Instagram and has caught the attention of sports stars and billionaires who want to date her.

Two judges on the panel, however, can include arteries and veins on their resumes. They’re Andrew Bloch, an entrepreneur and PR adviser, and Sally-Ann Fawcett, a beauty pageant historian and author of the book Misdemeanours: Beauty Queen Scandals.

“It’s been a fast learning curve expanding my knowledge on AI creators, and it’s quite incredible what is possible,” Fawcett said in a statement.

The World AI Creator Awards said entrants “must be 100 percent AI-generated,” though there aren’t any restrictions on the tools used. “Miss AI welcomes creations produced from any type of generator, whether it’s DeepAI, Midjourney or your own tool,” the rules read. The competition said it expects thousands of entries.

But How To Judge Fake Beauty?

Beauty pageants have drawn criticism for promoting unrealistic beauty standards, and most AI influencers don’t do anything to expand narrow cultural ideas about what’s deemed attractive. Both AI-generated contest judges, for example, are young women with dewy skin, high cheekbones, full lips, big breasts and the kind of bodies that suggest they have a personal trainer on call 24/7.

The Miss AI pageant, however, is more about recognizing artistry than reinforcing cultural standards of beauty, a spokesperson for the WAICA insists.

“This isn't about beauty in the stereotypical sense,” the spokesperson said in an email. “It's about championing artistic creative talent and the beauty of creators’ work. Just like traditional pageantry, there's even a question contestants are asked to answer: ‘If you had one dream to make the world a better place, what would it be?’”

Given that Miss AI candidates only exist in a world of bytes, their answers won’t come from personal experience. They’ll come from prompts.

https://imageio.forbes.com/specials-images/imageserve/661d93151fb9b6e17030c41b/An-AI-generated-model-sits-by-a-window-looking-into-the-camera/0x0.jpg?format=jpg&crop=1197,646,x0,y0,safe&width=1440
Miss AI launches almost 200 years after the world’s first real life beauty pageant took place. WORLD AI CREATOR AWARDS

Leslie Katz
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I'm a journalist with particular expertise in the arts, popular science, health, religion and spirituality. As the former culture editor at news and technology website CNET, I led a team that tracked movies, TV shows, online trends and science—from space and robotics to climate, AI and archaeology. My byline has also appeared in publications including The New York Times, San Jose Mercury News, San Francisco Chronicle and J, the Jewish News of Northern California. When I’m not wrangling words, I’m probably gardening, yoga-ing or staring down a chess board, trying to trap an enemy queen.

AI-Responses-to-Common-Kung-Fu-questions (https://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?72458-AI-Responses-to-Common-Kung-Fu-questions)
Beauty-Pageants (https://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?57280-Beauty-Pageants)