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Thread: Beauty Pageants

  1. #136
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    Miss Tattoo Hong Kong

    ‘Miss Tattoo Hong Kong’ to be judged on art, poise and personality, not looks: convention organisers
    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



    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.


    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.”


    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.


    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.
    Gene Ching
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  2. #137
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    Date Masamune

    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
    Casey Baseel 3 days ago



    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.



    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


    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.



    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?
    Gene Ching
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  3. #138
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    Angela Ponce

    Dios mio, Espana.

    DECEMBER 05, 2018
    First transgender Miss Universe contestant poised to win over rest of biologically female contestants
    Somehow it doesn't seem very fair, does it?


    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."
    Gene Ching
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  4. #139
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    Miss Universe 2018 - Catriona Gray

    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
    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.


    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.


    The brunette beauty edged out first runner-up Tamaryn Green of South Africa and third-place Sthefany Gutierrez of Venezuela on the day


    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


    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.


    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.'


    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.


    The multi-talented beauty queen campaigns for HIV/AIDS awareness and previously documented her own HIV test on Instagram


    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.
    Gene Ching
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  5. #140
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    RIP Lotte Van Der Zee

    So young. So tragic.

    Miss Teenager Universe Lotte Van Der Zee Dead at 19 After Suffering Heart Attack
    by ALYSSA MORIN | Fri., Mar. 8, 2019 1:09 PM

    Instagram

    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."

    Instagram

    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."

    Instagram

    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.
    Gene Ching
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  6. #141
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    Plastic



    I Got Plastic Surgery To Compete In Pageants — & I'm Not Alone
    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.


    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
    Gene Ching
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  7. #142
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    Continued from previous post


    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.
    Gene Ching
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  8. #143
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    American Beauty Queens

    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
    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.”


    View image on Twitter

    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
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  9. #144
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    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

  10. #145
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    not Miss India...nooooooooooo

    Photograph of Miss India finalists stirs debate over country's obsession with fair skin
    Published 31st May 2019


    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.

    View image on Twitter

    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
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    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.


    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


    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
    yellow face/white washing.
    Gene Ching
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  11. #146
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    Miss Virginia 2019 = Camille Schrier

    Biochemist crowned 2019 Miss Virginia after performing science experiment as talent



    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.


    John Herzog Photography


    Rick Myers Photography

    Rick Myers Photography


    Miss Virginia


    Miss Virginia
    I poked around to see an action video but could only find these same still shots.
    Gene Ching
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  12. #147
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    Sword Dance by Ariel Cao from Miss World Canada 2019 Pageant

    Gene Ching
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  13. #148
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    Bahareh Zare Bahari

    Stuck in an airport for almost two weeks, Iranian beauty queen says she will be killed if she is deported
    CNN Digital Expansion Shoot, Joshua Berlinger
    By Helen Regan and Joshua Berlinger, CNN
    Updated 10:36 PM ET, Mon October 28, 2019


    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.
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  14. #149
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    RIP Zanib Naveed

    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
    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


    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.


    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.”


    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.”


    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.”
    Gene Ching
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  15. #150
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    Miss World 2019 Toni-Ann Singh

    'This Crown Is Yours,' Miss World Toni-Ann Singh Tells St Thomas Girls
    Published:Saturday | December 14, 2019 | 3:56 PM


    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."


    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.
    Gene Ching
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