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Subject: Conquering Cayman’s catwalk - Delisa Hernandez Author: Cayman Island Reporter [Edit] Date Posted: 03/27/05 7:14:10am Delisa Hernandez may be only 5’ 2 but she is bucking the trend on the catwalk According to some fashion gurus the height requirements for a major fashion model are not absolute, and that’s all Delisa Hernandez needs to know. So, even in an industry where the majority of showstoppers are 5 feet 10 inches and above, Delisa concentrates on her love for the stage and the camera, the successes she has had, and continues to buck modelling trends – standing at a mere 5 feet and 2 inches tall. Well known in the modelling circles in the Cayman Islands she has been on stage since Primary School. “I remember my first show was a fundraiser at George Hicks and ever since then people began asking me to do shows,” Delisa explained. Describing herself as being very comfortable on stage, Delisa feels that her love for acting and her involvement in plays reinforces her ability to wow her audience. “Once I get past those few nervous moments before I hit the stage for the first time in each show, I am fine. For me, modelling is all about communicating with, and having a relationship with my audience and with other models I am working with on stage,” Delisa explained. And if the real test of a model’s success on the catwalk is the number of crowns she has managed to secure, Delisa is without a doubt a real success already on the Cayman circuit, at only 20 years old. During the year 2002 to 2003 Delisa won most of her awards including “Ideal Miss” in the Our Little Miss Competition. In the Overseas Our Little Miss Competition, Delisa won the titles “World’s Living Doll” and “World’s prettiest hair.” During that period she also got the Miss Hawaiian Tropics and Miss Model of the Universe 2003 crown as well as the World’s Best Portfolio award. With parents who are supportive of her modelling goals and, a younger sister who is also involved in modelling while attending High School in the United States, Delisa has her sights set on modelling in one of the world’s most important centres - New York. “I have family in New York who are willing to help me pursue my modelling goals,” explained Delisa. She is already a busy girl as she is currently completing the last semester of a Business Administration course at the University College of the Cayman Islands while holding down a full-time job at Reliable Industries on North Sound Road. When Delisa puts on her modelling hat though and hits the stage she is usually seen in her five-inch high heels and she has strong ideas about what she likes to model. “I like modelling casual wear and evening wear most of all and heels go very nicely with those,” Delisa explained. “I am very interested in a variety of modelling assignments, including commercials, and I intend to work very hard to go as far as possible in the field. “Sometimes I have to go on a diet and cut back on my carbohydrates to keep my weight where I want it. Also, about five hours before a show I don’t eat anything. I want the designers to be pleased with the fit of the clothes and eating just before may make me a bit bloated.” Delisa who has also been one of the models in the popular Jet Around Cayman event said, “I like all aspects of the stage, I even want to do movies.” [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

Subject: Joelle Gabriel – the next Miss Universe? Author: Newcastle [Edit] Date Posted: 03/24/05 5:34:01pm Thursday, 24 March 2005 Presenter: Madeleine Randall and Aaron Kearney Newcastle's Joelle Gabriel with Aaron and Madeleine Could it be that Australia – even the Hunter – could produce back-to-back Miss Universe winners? Aaron and Madeleine think there’s every chance after meeting Joelle Gabrielle, the Hunter model who has been invited to compete in the finals of Miss Australia. The former Model For Life winner and radiation therapy student is in high demand as a model but insists she was not always beautiful. “I have grown into my body,” she told Mad and Aaron. Joelle admitted the modelling business had its share of nasty people but that she’d also met a number of friends and mentors in the industry. She believes the Miss Universe contest might be her chance to achieve her lifelong goal of “representing Australia at something.” [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

Subject: Former Miss Ireland launches search for Mayo’s beauties Author: Orla Hearns [Edit] Date Posted: 03/24/05 4:57:15pm Wednesday, March 23, 2005 When Irish girl, Rosanna Davison won the Miss World title in 2003, it signalled a new era for the beauty pageant in this country. It was the first time an Irish girl had won the international title and the Miss Ireland event, which had come under new management that year, became an aspiration for countless young girls around the country. People began to realise what a high profile event it was in the fashion and related industries and that it could afford participants with invaluable contacts and exposure. This year Mayo's beauties are in with a chance to vie for stardom. Former Miss Ireland, Emir Holohan, has just launched the Miss Mayo event. It's the first time that the event has been run in this county in several years. Emir is proud to be at the helm. Originally from Ballaghaderreen she proclaims herself to be a native of Mayo. While some Roscommon people might dispute that Emir confirmed her allegiance to the green and red in August 2003, when she married Ballina man, James Duffy. The couple are now based in Ballina with their two sons Joshua and Samuel. Emir is thrilled to get the opportunity to promote Miss Mayo: "When I got through to the Miss Ireland final I was representing Galway. There was no Miss Mayo entrant that year. It would have been nice to represent my own county. "I have always wanted to run a contest like this; whether it's judging or taking part these competitions are great fun and the contestants always have a ball." Emir explained. And Mayo has a strong track record in the pageant, with Emir taking the Irish title in 1999 and Glencorrib girl, Lynda Duffy wearing the crown in 2002 to name but two. But launching Miss Mayo was not just about flying the Mayo flag for Emir. She has organised the whole thing as a fundraiser for the Mayo Roscommon Hospice and hopes the pageant will be generously supported by local businesses. Emir wants to hear from as many beautiful 17-24 year old girls in Mayo or with Mayo connections as possible in the next few weeks. Contestants can enter themselves or businesses can sponsor an entrant. Emir stresses that Miss Mayo is not all about looks: "The girl we are looking for should have a personality that shines through. The competition involves a preliminary judging process consisting of interviews to find out about their backgrounds and interests." Modelling experience is not necessary for participants but it would be helpful if entrants have an interest in and a flare for it as the Miss Ireland event involves some modelling. Emir will help and advise contestants in this respect. The girl who is crowned Miss Mayo will go on to participate in the Miss Ireland Final later this year and a year long modelling contract with Assets modelling agency is just one of the amazing prizes that accompanies the title. Today Emir is grateful to her mother, who entered her for the 1999 Miss Galway event having read a newspaper article. "I got a letter in the post to say I had been selected for the Miss Galway event. I was absolutely mortified and I could not believe it when I won," Emir recalls. "I would not have had the confidence to enter myself but my mum was determined that I had what it took!" She spent the next few weeks following a strict beauty regime in preparation for the Miss Ireland final in Dublin. Emir was crowned Miss Ireland and the following year proved one of the best of her life: "I was studying in Dublin at the time. I took a year out and did a lot of work. I travelled abroad a lot, including a couple of trips to the United States on promotional jobs and a lot of charity work," she explains. It was the charitable aspect of Emir's role that proved the most fulfilling of the Miss Ireland experience. That is why she is now delighted to take on the Miss Mayo franchise in aid of the Mayo Roscommon Hospice. So the search is on. Emir elaborates on the Miss Mayo criteria: "The girl should feel she has the potential to be a model and to carry out all aspects of the Miss Ireland role. While this is a great platform for anyone who aspires to be a model you also become an ambassador for your country when you travel abroad so you need to be a confidant "people" person‚ and enjoy meeting new people all the time! You will come into contact with the fashion, media and tourism industries quite a bit and meet all types of celebrities it is a lot of fun and it is important to be yourself," Emir said. The Miss Mayo final will be held in Crocketts on the Quay in Ballina on Friday, June 17th next. Entrants will be interviewed by a panel of high profile judges including previous title holder Lynda Duffy and model agency boss Mandy Maher . The winner will go straight into the Miss Ireland event and will be provided with everything she needs to prepare for that. Prizes on the night will include a designer gown from Cobou, clothing from Milan, shoes from Mc Guires, hair care and grooming by Martha Galvin and beauty by Helen Molloy all in Ballina. Miss Ireland 2005 will go forward to participate in the Miss World pageant - a high profile and very glamorous competition. "The Miss Ireland contestant will have the most fantastic time in the Miss World host country. It is a cliché thing to say but this really is a once in a life time experience. The competition is very glamorous but the majority of girls who enter are very down to earth," Emir remarked. If you would like to sample some of that glamour and excitement be sure to book your tickets for the Miss Mayo final in Crocketts on the Quay in Ballina on Friday, June 17th next. All proceeds go to the Mayo Roscommon Hospice. Admission is €10 and tickets are available from Emir. Tel: (087)9772918 / 096 76615 And if you would like to enter the Miss Mayo competition or know someone with the potential to hold that title fill in the accompanying entry form on this page. You must provide two colour photographs of the entrant - one full length and one head and shoulders along with the form. Entries should be sent to No. 5 Quignalecka, Sligo Rd, Ballina and the closing date for the event is Friday 20th May. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

Subject: Beauty and the beasts? Walworth is crowned Mr. CHS at annual pageant Author: By Brian Umbarger/ Correspondent [Edit] Date Posted: 03/24/05 4:50:38pm Thursday, March 24, 2005 Mr. CHS pageant contests, from left, Joe Constantine, Greg Khirallah and Ben Walworth get their groove on in the opening number of Friday night's pageant. Walworth won the title. (Staff photo by Holly Schmidt) Dolled up in makeup and wearing long evening gowns, students at Chelmsford High School sang, danced, performed unique talents and answered tough questions Friday night all in an attempt to be crowned winner of the school's annual beauty pageant. Any student could participate as long as they were a senior and, here is the catch, male. The "Mr. CHS" pageant held at McCarthy Middle School's auditorium featured 19 enthusiastic performers in front of a sold out crowd of 600 plus students, parents, and teachers. "This is the big event you have been waiting for," said CHS teacher Bev Tucker. Tucker then introduced officers from DECA, the marketing club that sponsors the annual pageant. DECA Treasurer Krista Kolley and Vice President Ryan Donaher then introduced while poking fun at this year's slate of teacher judges - Michlyn Queenan, Josh Blagg, Michael Marshall, Debora Haywood, Kathryn Sullivan, Maura Devaney, Andrew Ames and Scott Robillard. Once the formalities ended, the contests streamed out on stage for the first judged event of the evening - a choreographed dance number. Some of the contests opted to wear white tuxedos, while others decided to don more traditional pageant wear including high heels, dresses and wigs. Next, every contestant along with a female escort was introduced as they walked down the auditorium aisle to the music of their choice. After reaching the stage, they each added their own little twist to their introduction. Some noteworthy introductions included Senior Class President James Richard walking in to the song "Hail To The Chief" accompanied by his date and two friends dressed as secret service agents. Arguably one of the crowd's favorite introductions of the night was when Garett Valcourt's strolled in carrying his little sister on his shoulders. During the next portion, the performers had a few quick minutes to show off their talents. The first contestant, Michael Flowers dressed in a colorful French revolution noble costume danced an original routine along with seven female students. Eric Zawada performed the next act when he sang Barry White's classic hit "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Baby." While wearing an afro wig and a fat suit, Zawada worked the crowd by pulling girls in the auditorium out of their seats and dancing with them. By the end of the song, he was dancing with more than a dozen girls. Thomas Buckley made the crowd laugh when he "rocked out" on his guitar, and told the audience not to forget "their daily rock sandwich" and to "follow your heart in everything you do." Later, William "Buzz" Busby wearing a traditional ballerina costume complete with a large tutu danced a ballet routine to classical and Irish music. The crowd giggled feverishly when the not so graceful dance was capped off with the "Hamster Song." There were also multiple stand-up comedy bits during the night. Scott Kurland made remarks up about his family life and, his self-described, weird relationship with his parents. He made the crowd giggle when he said the reason he was named Scott was because that is his parent's favorite brand of toilet paper. The crowd's favorite stand up shtick, however, appeared to be Chris McClure's. He cracked the audience up about the bathrooms at Chelmsford High School, and the smoking students that inhabit them. A widespread belief held by the audience was that McClure, who was not chosen as one of the final five contestants, "was too funny not to be chosen. He definitely deserved to be up there at the end," said senior John Callahan. The last performer of the talent portion of the contest was cowboy hat wearing Ben Walworth who sang Eric Clapton's "Layla." With a friend playing the guitar for him, Walworth waltzed up and down the aisles working the crowd. Senior Robby Normandin said, "It was incredible how much his voice sounded like the real thing." After the talent section, the contestants had a brief minute to impersonate a thing or person. Some exceptionally memorable ones were Matt Sousa's impersonation of his English teacher Mr. Bartos, Josh Wiebley's sprinkler system, Joe Constantine's bagpipes, and Greg Wellman's impersonation of a sack of potatoes. Other contestants included Jesse Alling, Cody Balestrieri, Greg Khirallah, Peter Francis, Robbie Russo and Mike Sullivan. After another dance number by the contestants and the Dance Team, the audience held their breath as the final five contestants were announced. The judges decided that James Richard, William Busby, Ben Walworth, Tom Buckley, and Garett Valcourt were the strongest performers in all the events of the night. The finalists were then asked to respond to the questions posed to them. When asked what his most memorable high school experience was, Garett Valcourt responded, "...definitely this. We were all talking back stage about how much nobody cares if they win this. Everyone just came out to have a good time." After the question section was over, the judges gathered to tally the votes. After a few minutes of deliberating, the emcees declared that James Richard came in third place, William Busby in second, and the 2005 Mr. CHS is Ben Walworth. After being cheered on by the crowd, and repeatedly congratulated, Walworth with a big grin on his face said backstage, "I won it you know, but I really don't care that much. It's a really good feeling to win, but everyone put so much effort into this, that everyone deserved to win Mr. CHS." Over hearing this, Eric Zawada jovially piped in, "This kid deserved it. He got out there and sang his heart out. I cried in joy when he was performing." [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

Subject: TnT: The new Trinidad & Tobago will be announced tonight Author: News Room 57 [Edit] Date Posted: 03/23/05 5:20:32pm The five delegates who competed at Trotters on Tuesday for the right to take Cheryl Ankrah's place as this country's representative for Miss Universe. From left: Lo Anna Laurie, Magdalene Walcott, Tanya Gomes, Jenna Marie Andre and Crystal Cunningham Ankrah never had to work for anything, says Elias Sateesh Maharaj Wednesday, March 23rd 2005 LOCAL Miss Universe franchise holder Peter Elias has said that ousted Miss Universe representative Cheryl Ankrah never fully applied herself because she had had a relatively easy life and never had to work for anything. Elias made the claim to reporters at Trotters, St Clair, after a mini-pageant to select a new representative for the Miss Universe pageant which will be held in Bangkok, Thailand, on May 30. "In one of Cheryl Ankrah's correspondences to me, she said her life had been relatively easy. 'I've never had to work for anything. This is why I didn't apply myself," Elias disclosed. Elias said he was told by the Miss Universe Organisation that this is the third replacement of country delegates this year, Aruba and Germany being the other two. "This is not unfamiliar territory," he stressed. "Last year I think they said seven delegates were replaced. In Trinidad, it's the first time it's ever happened." He added that the decision to fire Ankrah, though a difficult one, was done to maintain past levels of success by this country's delegates. Elias said he was surprised that Ankrah had filed an injunction but always felt certain of his legal standing. "It was an ugly ordeal. I felt very safe all along. I felt I was in good legal guidance. It took a month before we disqualified her. We didn't want to make any decision that was not legal. We were surprised that there was ever an injunction. "Based on the results of the day, it seems that they were crafty enough to create an injunction by not giving full evidence to the presiding judge, not showing necessary documents where she wrote to us apologising for wasting our time and promised to buckle up." Elias said his intention was never to embarrass Ankrah or bring details of the disqualification to light. "These are all things that we did not want to make public," he said. "At the end of the day, yes you did not fulfil your duties, but we don't want to embarrass. The epitome of what we do is celebrate women-not break them down." The newly selected delegate will leave on May 7. Elias said the committee now had to raise almost $100,000 to pay the licence fee and air freight to go to Thailand. Elias said he hoped to never have such an experience again but knew that most delegates did not like signing contracts. "It's a very difficult bridge to gap which my lawyers will now have to help me (deal with). I look forward to a continued feature in this business (of) promoting young women. I look at the situation as a learning experience, not as a bitter one." The new Miss Trinidad and Tobago Miss Universe delegate will be announced later today. Elias' parting words to Ankrah? "I wish her the very best. God speed be with her." [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

Subject: Judge to rule Monday in pageant row Author: Prior Beharry [Edit] Date Posted: 03/19/05 2:41:35pm Cheryl Ankrah Justice Amrika Tiwary-Reddy will give a ruling on Monday that will set the wheels in motion to determine whether dethroned Miss Trinidad and Tobago/Universe contestant Cheryl Ankrah or another contestant will represent this country at the Miss Universe pageant on May 30. Arguments were completed yesterday in the Port of Spain Chamber Court and Tiwary-Reddy said she will give her judgment at noon on Monday. Ankrah's attorney Denyse Gouveia has asked the court to extend an injunction that prevents Elias and Associates from selecting a replacement queen for the Miss Universe pageant. This country has until April 1 to submit a name for the pageant to be held in Thailand. The 26-year-old beauty queen was crowned Miss T&T/Universe last August but was stripped of her title on January 4 by the pageant company-Peter Elias and Associates. She then sued for breach of contract and was granted an injunction preventing a replacement queen until the lawsuit is determined. Elias and Associates is claiming that Ankrah was not prepared for the contest and did not attend walking and dance classes in preparation for it. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

Subject: UK’s beautiful Miss Earth hopeful Author: Local London [Edit] Date Posted: 03/19/05 2:24:15pm UK’s beautiful Miss Earth hopeful GLAMOUR GIRLS: Some of the competitors pose for a quick photograph during the contest on Saturday (SOC5351) THE future Miss Earth UK may have been found at the Prince Regent Hotel, in Woodford Bridge, on Saturday. Rosanne Miller, 19, beat 18 other hopefuls to claim the crown in the Essex heat of the global competition. More than 90 supporters attended the event where they enjoyed dinner and watched the competition between courses. Guests were treated to a casual wear display, followed by the swimwear event, and the finale saw the contestants modelling evening wear. Miss Earth managing director Ramon Sioponga was impressed by the elegance of winner Roseanne. He said: "This competition will offer her better opportunities than any other beauty pageant." This is the first time the UK will put forward a challenger for the Miss Earth title, which was won last year by Miss Brazil. The winner will receive US $20 000 and spend a month in the Philippines learning about the Earth and environmental issues. Most beauty competitions offer their winners modelling contracts as Miss Earth does, but the winner of this event will also be involved with ecological activities. The UK finals will be held in London's Leicester Square in July. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

Subject: Michigan Chaos Author: Minnesota Gopher [Edit] Date Posted: 03/17/05 12:14:53pm Just in case you all wanted to know, the MICHIGAN director cancelled all of their preliminaries. That's right no more regional pageants. It seems she's having problems, mutiny in the ranks. I understand she's had complains against her made to MUO. I read junk all the time about MICHIGAN on this board & others. Sad. Too bad for contestants. It gets so expensive for us. Prelims are great. I am probably a little late with this news, but hey, I'm not in Michigan. If you guys really do have that many problems, keep writing MUO. [ Post a Reply to This Message ] Replies: Re: The fact is, the director has FEW friends. She's most unpopular. The only people she calls "friends" in this state, are wanting to get somewhere in the pageant. (NT) -- Very sad. She thinks she this is awesome director for all she's done, but Michigan girls aren't contenders, anyone can hire out for production., 03/16/05 4:52:24am Re: DITTO! The quality of our contestants has dropped. The whole atmosphere is negative. You don't hear anything good anymore. So sad. It shouldn't be like that. (NT) -- Twins, 03/17/05 4:09:09am Why does Headquarters of MUO allow this behavior from a director? read on... -- Metro Gal, 03/17/05 12:14:53pm

Subject: Gloria Popelka finalist in Pageant Author: Santa Paula News [Edit] Date Posted: 03/15/05 3:41:23pm Gloria Popelka finalist in Pageant Gloria Popelka, age 15, has been chosen as a State Finalist in the National American Miss California Pageant to be held on August 28 at the Hyatt in Garden Grove. The pageant is held for girls ages 13 through 15. The winner of the pageant will receive a $1,000 cash award, the official crown and banner, a bouquet of roses, and air transportation to compete in the national pageant at Disneyland. Pageants are held for girls ages 4 to 18, in five age groups. Gloria’s activities include Santa Paula High School Theater Team, poetry, drawing, and dancing in the privacy of her own home. She also enjoys watching TV, movies, playing on her computer, playing her Game Boy Color, and she loves to read. The National American Miss pageants are dedicated to celebrating America’s greatness and encouraging its future leaders. The pageant program is based on in inner beauty, as well as poise and presentation, and offers an “all-American spirit of fun for family and friends.” Emphasis is placed on the importance of gaining self-confidence, learning new skills, learning good attitudes about competition, and setting and achieving personal goals. The pageant seeks to recognize the accomplishments of each girl while encouraging her to set goals for the future. Anyone willing to sponsor Gloria can contact her mother, Tina Popelka, at 525-0322. Families interested in receiving information about the National American Miss program may visit www.namiss.com. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

Subject: 'Beauty economy' questioned at NPC session Author: Xinhua [Edit] Date Posted: 03/14/05 12:49:27am 2005-03-14 08:54 The unfettered passion for beauty-centered activities in China was largely questioned by lawmakers attending the third annual session of the tenth National People's Congress (NPC) on Sunday, as it is considered likely to exert negative impacts on women's development. The 2004 Miss Chinese winner Li Shiqi (M) is greeted by first runner-up Yang Jie and Yin Yue, who ranked third in Hong Kong November 6, 2004. The beauty pageant was hosted by PhoenixTV . [Xinhua] "Government departments should wait no further to codify caution against rampant Miss contests being held across the country," said Li Yaping, a NPC deputy and chairwoman of central China's Henan Provincial Women's Federation, suggesting that policies be made to better regulate beauty pageants. Miss contests had remained a taboo in China for treating women like "unliving items" until a string of international beauty contests entered and mushroomed in the country at the end of 2003. With rainbow-colored bikini and enchanting figures of beautiful women from across the globe dotting the white-sand beach of Sanya, a seaside city in China's southernmost province of Hainan, the final contests of the widely-watched Miss World pageant being held in 2003 and 2004 have largely made the city known as an Asian paradise for holidayers. It is predicted the number of tourists to the city this year would increase by 20 percent to more than 3.5 million, with the total tourism earnings growing by 26 percent to 3.7 billion yuan (446 million US dollars), largely attributable to the beauty contests. The noticeable success of the Miss World pageant in Sanya not only attracted more similar international events to come but also spurred a considerable number of local beauty contests. Together with the fanfare and marked economic gains of beauty pageants also came a subconscious craving for obtaining overnight fame and fortune by taking advantage of one's physical or gender strengths among the country's young women, particularly those with a sound education background. In the regional contests of varied beauty pageants, at least half of the contestants are still in full-time education and it is just a "conservative estimate", said Gao Jie, project manager of Beautiful World Lit, a Hong Kong-based company in charge of the Miss World Contest in China, during a previous interview with Xinhua. While commenting on a popular belief among university girl students in that good academic scores weigh much less than a good looking in securing a bright future, Li Yaping said it should cause great concerns among government departments, educators and parents. "It may nibble away the youngster's adherence to values such as hardworking and honesty," said the expert on protection of women's rights. Idolizing physical beauty also lead to a surging demand for cosmetic surgery among Chinese women. In recent years, the sector has registered a double-digit growth with the annual production value hitting 168 billion yuan (20.5 billion US dollars) in 2003, largely attributable to women seeking to upgrade their appearances. In a proposal submitted by the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) to this year's session of CPPCC (Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference) National Committee, the country's top advisory body, regulations are urged to prevent government departments from involving in any beauty contests and limit media report on such contests to a "reasonable" level. According to the widely-heeded ACWF proposal, all unnecessary cosmetic surgery on underage people and on-campus beauty pageants should be banned. A floor age for taking part in beauty contests should be set as soon as possible. Li Yinhe, a noted sociologist from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said administrative moves in this regard should be cautious and suggested more scope be given to the beauty industry itself to handle similar problems, as saying quoted by the locally-based Beijing Times newspaper. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

Subject: Miss Guyana Universe now set for April 3 Author: News Room 57 [Edit] Date Posted: 03/13/05 3:29:26pm Sunday, March 13th 2005 The current Miss Guyana-Universe, Miss Odessa Phillips The Miss Guyana Universe 2005 pageant, which was twice postponed as a result of the floods, is now scheduled to take off on April 3 at the National Cultural Centre. The new queen will then have just over seven weeks to prepare for the Miss Universe Pageant which is billed for May 30 in Bangkok, and this will include training, putting together a wardrobe and travelling to Thailand for the pageant. Franchise holders in the various countries are expected to submit the names of the Miss Universe contestants by April to the Miss Universe committee. Odinga Lumumba, franchise holder for the Miss Guyana Universe pageant, told Stabroek News on Tuesday that the pageant would definitely be held in April despite the many postponements. According to Lumumba, the beauties will showcase their swimsuits on March 27, (Easter Sunday) at the Blairmont Community Centre Ground. "We are looking at broadcasting and exposing the pageant in various communities which we think lack entertainment," said Lumumba. Lumumba also said that the swimsuit competition is going to Blairmont so that interested persons would have a chance to see what the pageant is all about and to decide whether or not they want to compete the following year. The delegates have already travelled to Bartica, Linden and Anna Regina. Lumumba said the girls are still undergoing intense training with a private dance instructor and they are attending workout sessions at the Studio 2000 gym. The delegates completed the live 'Question and Answer' segment of the pageant in the studio of NCN 11 in December last year. Those vying for the crown are Bibi Azeez, Asha Pieters, Nadia Chung, Sonjie Marslowe, Emily Perreira, Mandy Charles, Miranda Todd, Alison Henry, Gillian Murray, Allison Isaacs, Wendy Walcott, Candacie Franklin, Tatum Reis, Margaret Khanhailall, Chelan Yhap, Keen Bowen, Ayanna Byron, Melesa Archer and Sharon Gilbert. Slinger Francisco 'The Mighty Sparrow' from Trinidad is invited as a guest performer on pageant night. Several scholarships are up for grabs along with other attractive prizes. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

Subject: BB beauty queen cracks Author: Ananova [Edit] Date Posted: 03/12/05 5:25:18pm BB beauty queen cracks A beauty queen pretending she couldn't speak German on the country's marathon version of Big Brother cracked after less than a day. Miss Russia Anna, 19, would have been paid 1,000 euros for each day she hoodwinked her rivals into thinking she couldn't understand them. But the stunning Miss Universe cracked after just 20 hours following a stream of abuse from her rivals. One housemate said she looked like "bare brickwork" without her make-up on. Another contestant described her as "a real bimbo". One of the men said: "I would give her a C in bed. She slept next to me and looked anything but sexy" before speculating on "who will get her into bed first." The furious model, who's lived in Germany for 10 years, told her fellow contestants: "I understood every word of the mean things that you've said." [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

Subject: Dancing beauty queen Author: Miss South Pacific [Edit] Date Posted: 03/10/05 4:32:22pm Beauty pageants are a big deal in parts of the South Pacific - so Sinahemana Hekau, 24, will be familiar to many when she dances at Pasifika. Ms Hekau, who works as a lawyer in Niue, became Miss South Pacific last October in front of an audience of 2000 in American Samoa. According to local media, among Miss Niue's winning attributes was "an intriguing Niuean action dance with reference to Cyclone Heta's devastation to her island" last year. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

Subject: Wendy backs Elias in 'beauty lawsuit' Author: Imran Ali Iali@trinidadexpress.com [Edit] Date Posted: 03/10/05 3:50:41pm Thursday, March 10th 2005 FORMER Miss Universe Wendy Fitzwilliam is among the list of notable locals who have sided with local Miss Universe franchise holder Peter Elias as he defends the lawsuit brought against him by beauty queen Cheryl Ankrah. Ankrah, who had been crowned Miss Trinidad and Tobago last August and was to compete in the Miss Universe 2005 pageant, was stripped of the title last month by the pageant company, Peter Elias and Associates. She subsequently sued for breach of contract, and an injunction preventing a replacement queen remains in effect until her lawsuit is determined. The parties reappeared yesterday before Justice Amrika Tiwary-Reddy in the Port of Spain Chamber Court, and Ankrah's attorney, Denyse Gouveia, asked for an adjournment to allow Ankrah time to file another affidavit. The judge granted the request and set the matter for trial on March 16 and 17. The Express understands that Fitzwilliam, who copped the Miss Universe title in 1998, has filed an affidavit on behalf of Elias, who has himself filed an affidavit in the case. Health promotional director Gerard Alfonso, who has served as personal trainer to Miss Trinidad and Tobago delegates and Guardian editor-in chief Dominic Kalipersad, who sat as chief judge of the panel which selected Ankrah, have also filed affidavits in support of Elias' case. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

Subject: A World Not Completely Without Sound Author: The Reporter (Gaborone) Morongwa Phala [Edit] Date Posted: 03/10/05 3:36:51pm Mahalapye-born, Albertina "Mmamane" Kanguatenge may be a little ungraceful in her dancing steps and without caution in the sounds she makes, as evident in her breathing rhythm. Now and then she wheezes and makes muffled sounds, but unlike most people she does not pay attention to these conscious movements and rhythms. Neither does her 23-year-old brother, Martin, who for the interview is Albertina's ears and Showbiz's voice. Interpreting for his sister seems to have become somewhat an odd job since she was chosen to represent Botswana at Miss Tourism World that was hosted by Zimbabwe on February 26. To Albertina, just being able to participate was an achievement enough in itself for a teenager born with certain limitations. The 19-year-old has both speech and hearing impairment. She, however, admits that she can hear loud noise and feel some sound vibrations around her. "With a hearing aid she can almost hear, or rather feel sound, completely. Normally she uses it when she is out and about," says her brother. When wearing a hearing aid she is able to respond to someone calling out for her attention, and she is also able to hear traffic to keep away from the danger of running into a car or being hit by one. But even with an aid, conversation can still be difficult to carry out without an interpreter to communicate in sign language. Albertina is alive to conversation and if she wants to respond to an issue she grabs a pen and paper to write some of the answers to the questions posed by Showbiz. It then becomes clear that Martin is not able to understand everything that his sister says (in sign language). "I can only understand some words, but not the difficult ones and I am not as fast as she is in the use of signs. Half the time she has to slow down for me to understand what she says," he explains. After scribbling autobiography-book-style, she passes the piece of paper to Showbiz. It reads, "Born in March 27, 1986. Read a lot of magazines and watch too much television. My favourite artists are Usher and Destiny's Child. Favourite destination: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Harare is the most beautiful place I have ever been to. Favourite sport: swimming. My favourite meal is rice with chicken and salad. Currently my vice is not exercising enough, but I am going to change that considering that my five-year plan is to become a professional model. That also means I must not gain weight. My ultimate dream is to go outside Botswana some day to try my luck in the United Kingdom (UK). UK is my first option because during my earlier school going days, a lot of white people came to our school bearing gifts and they spent time with us. They seemed to be a lot nicer than a lot of people in our surroundings." Though she appears to be like any average teenager, her life is nothing compared to that of others. Her brother interjects, "She sees the world much more differently than you and I. People treat her differently than you and I and that has shaped a certain perspective for her about different people and their behaviour." For instance, more often than not when she is around groups of people she feels that some of them do not like being around her because they feel uncomfortable. Then she signs as her brother deciphers, "It was my first international pageant and I experienced things I never thought I ever would. Everything was new to me. It was basically tough, much more so because of the communication barrier. Nonetheless, I was happy about it even if I did not win. I feel like I achieved something." During her stay in Harare for the pageant, even with the bevy of other international beauties she was still isolated because the other girls got more attention. Millicent Shunda, director of Culture and Heritage Botswana Pageant Trust and chaperone to Miss Tourism Botswana 2005 at the pageant, told Showbiz that she did not receive a lot of media attention because the media did not give her the opportunity to communicate with them. "As soon as they found out that she could not speak they moved on to the next beautiful girl," she says. To add to the communication problem, the interpreter that they had employed could not understand Albertina because of differences in the sign language. "The interpreter's sign and mine were like an English speaking person trying to communicate with a French speaking one. I was really disappointed. We did not understand each other at any point." Her new best friend, Miss Tourism Kenya, Grace Marina speaks sign. She became an important part of communication during the pageant," Albertina says. When Marina was not around she had to use her instincts to guess what was being communicated. Her brother agrees that this almost badgered her confidence. But to keep going she had to remember former beauty-queens such as the hearing-impaired and vocally-impaired Boitumelo Moanakwena once her senior at Ramotswa and Mpule Kwelagobe, both of whom achieved what was once thought impossible for them in the world of pageantry. Currently, Albertina has completed three years of secondary education. She will soon begin studies in textile, a subject not of her first choice. "I wanted to study computers, but government has not introduced that option for us yet in our education programme," she says. In the meantime studying is the most important factor in her life. Though she has had many suitors, she says that none have come close enough to being an actual boyfriend. "She is a Christian and she takes it seriously. Other than our Muslim brother she is the only Christian in the family. My other two sisters and I, along with our parents, do not pursue any religion," says her brother. Albertina signs, "I have tried to encourage them to join the Christian faith, but they do not seem to want to. I am okay with that." [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

Subject: Jelena Glisic, Miss Croatia Universe Author: News Room 57 [Edit] Date Posted: 03/ 9/05 10:18:55am Jelena Glisic, 18, of Plaskog was crowned Miss Croatia Universe on March 6, 2005. The first runner-up was Branka Raskovic, and the second runner-up was Olga Crvelin. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

Subject: We have a winner... Author: Carolina Linares de Sierra [Edit] Date Posted: 03/ 8/05 3:54:53pm Irma Dimas, 18, of Sonsonate, a law student, has been crowned Miss El Salvador Universe. She made it through various elimination rounds during a five-month "reality-show"-based pageant format, and will go on to compete at Miss Universe. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

Subject: Daisi Pollard Miss Jamaica International Author: Staff writer [Edit] Date Posted: 03/ 7/05 12:26:51pm Sunday, March 06, 2005 Daisi Pollard will compete as the first ever Miss Jamaica International in the Miss Asia Pacific International Pageant to be held in China, March 19. Daisi Pollard And in so doing, Jamaica will become the first Caribbean nation to be included in the competition, which includes the USA, Russia, the majority of the Asian continent and almost 509 other nations. The 36 year-old pageant is considered to be Southeast Asia's oldest and most respected. Pollard's fight for the coveted crown is however not based solely on self-serving aspirations. Her motivation comes from an immense love and passion for Jamaica and "all of its beautiful people". Christened Juel Daisi Pollard, she was born in New York City and raised between Jamaica and the US. She is of Jamaican and Israeli descent - quite a remarkable blend. Pollard has travelled the world, modelling in Miami, New York, Europe and South Africa. She has appeared in ads for the Gap and Old Navy and is also on her way to receiving her Master's in Business and E-Business. In addition, she has a diverse educational background including theatrical, vocal and dance studies at the Julliard School and other performing arts schools in New York City. With the recent achievement of being crowned Miss Jamaica International, Pollard has founded her own management company, Potential Management, with plans to set up performing arts camps in Jamaica "in order to help guide and influence more Caribbean youth to succeed in modelling, television and film". "I am a true advocate of education, physical fitness and health. I have a passion for the Performing Arts and Literature. A great deal of my contributions go to exposing Jamaican culture in the mainstream media of film and television," says Pollard. She got her first break in modelling at the age of 15. But the young Pollard was such a tomboy that modelling had never crossed her mind. That was until her grandmother walked her into a New York agency and pushed her to actually give modelling a chance. "It wasn't easy getting work and building my book, in the beginning, but I knew it would be worth it. I never imagined that modelling would give me so many opportunities and take me so many places. I contribute my success to the fact that I look at modelling as a business and that perspective keeps me grounded," says Pollard. Now you may recognise her from her appearances on networks like MTV, HBO, Playboy, E!, and the Fashion Network. And hopefully, before long, the first Jamaican queen of the Miss Asia Pacific International Pageant. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

Subject: Beauty Queen Back in Court Author: Trinidad Express [Edit] Date Posted: 03/ 6/05 3:41:47pm Beauty queen Cheryl Ankrah is set to square off with local Miss Trinidad and Tobago/Universe franchise holder Peter Elias again this week, when a lawsuit in which she accuses Elias and Associates of beach of contract comes back up in court. Hearing is set for Wednesday in the Port of Spain Civil Chamber Court before Justice David Myers, who, on February 19, granted an injunction against Peter Elias and Associates from choosing anyone to replace Ankrah until the case is decided. The lawsuit had come up for a full hearing on February 23, but did not proceed because Elias and his pageant company, Peter Elias and Associates, had not filed any response to Ankrah's claims. Justice Myers granted the adjournment to allow Elias and Associates to file an affidavit and also to allow time Ankrah to respond, if necessary. The fall-out between Elias and twenty-six year-old Ankrah reached a head on February 6, when Elias announced that Ankrah, who had been crowned Miss Trinidad and Tobago/Universe in August 2004, was stripped of her title. Ankrah had been out of the country at the time, and Elias refused to say why the decision had been reached mere months before the pageant was scheduled to come off. After failed attempts to reconcile their differences, Ankrah took her case to the High Court and obtained the injunction. The court order was served on Elias shortly after it was obtained--one day before he had planned to hold a mini-pageant to select Ankrah's replacement. The injunction prevents Peter Elias and Associates from taking away from Ankrah the title of Miss Trinidad and Tobago/Universe and from offering the right or entitlement to anyone else. If this country is to compete in the pageant, scheduled for May 30 in Thailand, the name of the local contestant must be supplied to the US-based Miss Universe Organisation by April [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

Subject: Georgia Beauty Queen Goes on Trial Author: Associated Press [Edit] Date Posted: 03/ 6/05 3:21:55pm 3/6/2005 11:22:25 AM SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) -- A beauty queen shoots and kills her two-timing boyfriend in a confrontation outside the other woman's home -- it's a story of soap-opera drama with a key question unresolved. Did Miss Savannah Sharron Nicole Redmond fire in a jealous rage or in self defense? A jury will be asked to determine the answer. Jury selection is set to start Monday in the murder trial of Redmond, 23, who has admitted firing the shot that killed boyfriend Kevin Shorter on Dec. 16, 2003. Her attorney says Redmond pulled the gun because she was threatened. Finding an impartial jury could prove impossible in this coastal Georgia city. Redmond's story lept from front pages of the Savannah Morning News to national news wires, Internet blogs, Web sites, and CNN's scrolling tickers. "Because of all the media attention, we may not be able to get a jury picked," Superior Court Judge Michael Karpf warned at a hearing last week. In that case, the trial would be postponed and moved to another city. Before the shooting, 2003 had been a year of success for Redmond, who grew up in a middle-class neighborhood on Savannah's west side. She had graduated summa cum laude from Spellman College, a historically black women's school in Atlanta, earning her degree in an impressive three years. She returned to Savannah to work as a high school teacher. Redmond also finished runner-up in the 2003 Miss Savannah pageant. Winner Andrea Bailey passed the crown to Redmond in August after winning the Miss Georgia pageant, a preliminary to the Miss America pageant. Four months later, Redmond was charged with murder, posting a $25,000 bond to stay out of jail. She faces an automatic life sentence, if convicted. Shorter, 25, had returned to Savannah to pursue a career as a music producer, after playing football at the City College of San Francisco. He had dated Redmond since she was in high school and had given her an engagement ring. But Shorter also had given a ring to Rachel Hall. "We were supposed to get married in July this year," Hall, 24, testified at a preliminary hearing in February 2004. Hall said Redmond learned in 2003 that she was also dating Shorter. On Dec. 16, Hall was at home when Shorter called with a warning. "He just called to tell me not to open the door, because Nikki is coming over. He said she was gonna kill me, then him," Hall testified, using Redmond's nickname. Hall said she didn't take the warning too seriously, noting Shorter had lied to her before. Soon after, Redmond pulled her car into the driveway and the two women began to talk on the porch. Redmond introduced herself: "I'm Nikki, and you know about me and Kevin. It's time for you to know about us, we were dating." Then Shorter arrived, furious at Redmond. Hall testified that Shorter shouted at Redmond: "I don't want to be with you. I'm with Rachel." Hall testified that Redmond then returned to her car and pulled out a pistol, a .40-caliber semiautomatic, before saying, "What, nigger, what?" as she cocked the handgun and walked toward Shorter. Redmond told police she only drew a gun after Shorter advanced to hit her. Hall denied that Shorter threatened anyone, but said she tried to stop Redmond from shooting. "I put my arm over hers and said, `Nikki, don't lose your life over Kevin. He's not worth it,'" Hall said. According to Hall, Redmond got into her car and began backing out of the driveway, while Shorter walked to his own car. Hall said she went back inside the house, then heard a gun shot. Redmond fired from her car window and drove away. The bullet scraped Shorter's car, struck him in the right buttock and passed through his upper thigh, piercing his femoral artery. "She said she didn't point it, aim it at him ... and she stated she didn't think she shot him," police Detective Frank Chisholm testified at the same hearing. "She stated that she shot the gun because she thought Mr. Shorter was reaching into the car for his gun." Redmond told police Shorter kept a gun in his car. However, the only firearm that investigators found was Redmond's - miles from the shooting scene by the front steps of her cousin's house. Shorter died three days after the shooting. Assistant District Attorney Ann Elmore and Redmond's defense attorney, Michael Schiavone, both have declined to comment on the case. A judge imposed a gag order on witnesses two weeks after the shooting. Immediately after the shooting, Schiavone launched an aggressive and public defense of Redmond. He said she had a permit for the gun and carried it because another man, a convicted killer, had been stalking her. Schiavone also said Redmond felt threatened by Shorter when he confronted her that night. "She was placed in the position where he physically and aggressively came at her," Schiavone told The Associated Press on Dec. 18. "And she felt compelled to defend herself." The Miss Savannah pageant never revoked Redmond's crown, at least not publicly. Citing negative publicity surrounding the shooting, organizers canceled the pageant last year. This year, the pageant is advertising a new title - Miss First City, a reference to Savannah as Georgia's founding settlement. Organizers declined to discuss the change, but said they won't crown a Miss Savannah in 2005. "No, we're not," said David Whidden, the pageant's co-director. "We are not having a Miss Savannah pageant this year." [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

Subject: Pageant Winner Aims for the Greens Author: By Triveni Sheshadri [Edit] Date Posted: 03/ 6/05 5:20:51am March 6, 2005 Molly Lindhart, Miss San Marcos SAN MARCOS – For about seven years, Molly Lindhart has worked hard to excel in her sport. "(Golf) is a game that takes years and years of practice to do well," said Lindhart, a senior at San Marcos High School. The long hours on the driving range have paid off in other ways. "I have learned to be patient, to focus and not let one mistake ruin the rest of my game," she said. Inspired by her golfer dad, Lindhart began playing while she was in middle school. She has been part of her high school's golf team for four years and was named most valuable player for three. Now Lindhart, 18, has bagged another title. She was chosen Miss San Marcos at a pageant Feb. 19. "I am still in shock. It hasn't sunk in," she said. When Lindhart entered the contest in January, she hoped to win. However, the goal soon faded into the background when she met her fellow contestants. The group spent time together volunteering in city events. "We helped out at a workshop for young girls and we hung out at Old Town," said Lindhart. "Toward the end, it really didn't matter who got the crown." Soft-spoken, Lindhart said the pageant was an exciting experience with its share of lighter moments. "I was on stage with my hands full and my tiara fell off," she said. "I couldn't pick it up." The contest was a confidence-builder. "I had to get up and speak in front of a crowd of more than 200," Lindhart said. The new Miss San Marcos wants to be an elementary teacher. She has lived in San Marcos since fifth grade, attending Alvin Dunn Elementary and San Marcos Middle School before high school. In the fall, she plans to attend Saddleback College in Orange County and play on the golf team. In her yearlong tenure as Miss San Marcos, Lindhart will be a part of the annual holiday parade, as well as events presented by the chamber of commerce and city. Along with the Miss San Marcos title, Lindhart was also judged most photogenic. She shared the Miss Congeniality award with fellow contestant Olivia Jara-Ratajsczak. Darlene Hinojosa won the award for best essay and Deborah Danover won the director's award for her hard work during pageant preparation. Jara-Ratajsczak and Juliana Rotta were chosen as princesses. The island-themed event drew an audience of 250. Pride of Polynesia, a dance troupe, provided the entertainment. Judges were former title holders Christina Sproule, Sharanda Barbosa and Dannelle Corrigan. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

Subject: Waterford entries sought for Rose of Tralee contest Author: By David O’Mahony [Edit] Date Posted: 03/ 6/05 5:01:36am Pictured at ‘Axis Mundi’ to celebrate their First Birthday Bash on Saturday night last were Lisa Kavanagh the newly crowned Waterford Rose who represented Faithlegg House Hotel and Kerrie McFadden, winner of “I’m A Celebrity - Get Me Out Of Here!” wife of Bryan McFadden, ex-Westlife. Lisa was crowned the Waterford Rose also on Saturday night at the Tower Hotel. Axis Mundi is no stranger to celebrities having had Manchester United’s John O’Shea and Yvonne Keating, Miss Ireland gracing their premises over the past highly successful year. WATERFORD girls are invited to take part in one of Ireland’s most loved competitions, the Rose of Tralee. This will be the first time all 32 counties will have a chance to be represented at the festival. Rose contestants are ambassadors for their local community. They give each county a chance to celebrate its heritage along with other Irish communities worldwide. In fact, the festival itself tries to connect Irish people from across the globe, wherever they find themselves. All contestants must be Irish by birth or ancestry. The Waterford winner will compete at a regional final at the Brandon Hotel in Tralee this June, along with the likes of Galway and Limerick. From this final, five girls will go forward to the televised event in August. The qualifying age is 18 to 27 years old, with the nomination fee just €100. In previous years, it could have cost a lot more to nominate a Rose. The new fee makes the competition much more accessible. The contestants must never have been married or have any dependants. Also, they must not have competed in the event before. The Rose of Tralee is not a typecast beauty contest. The winner is chosen more for her inner qualities, such as her charm, pride, independence, and genuine nature. Last year’s Waterford Rose, Lisa Kavanagh, will be on the selection committee for Waterford. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

Subject: Hunt is on for town's top beauty Author: South Warwickshire Article [Edit] Date Posted: 03/ 6/05 4:57:30am Jayne-Louise Slater Organisers are on the lookout for beautiful women to compete for the title of Miss Rugby 2005 next month. The contest is at the Masonic Hall, in Elsee Road, Rugby, on Saturday April 2 and women aged between 17 and 24 can enter. The contest is open to anyone - participants do not have to be from Rugby. Last year's winner, Jayne-Louise Slater, aged 23, who is a PE teacher at Harris CE School, in Rugby, and 43-year-old mum Diane are organising this year's competition. Mrs Slater, who is head receptionist at Travel Inn in Rugby, said it was the first time the Miss Rugby contest had been organised locally. She said it was usually organised nationally by the people behind the Miss England contest. Mrs Slater said: "We want to bring as much majesty and prestige to the occasion as possible and we're looking forward to a really entertaining, enjoyable evening. "It is a competition that carries a lot of weight and the winners can go on to compete in the national contest and in international competitions." The winner will go forward to compete at the Miss England competition which will be held in Liverpool in August. Entrants cannot be married or have children, because of travel commitments, or have a criminal record. Organisers are looking for up to 25 participants. During the contest they will have to complete three changes of costume, in a fashion-show style, and be interviewed on stage. Judges include Katie Huett, owner of NV Her Boutique, in Regent Street, Rugby, and Martin Cole, owner of Klickers Hair Salon, also in Regent Street. The winner will receive a modelling portfolio from top photographer Steve Wright, a hair makeover and colour at Klickers, and a goodie bag, including make-up and polish. Hair makeovers and good-ie bags are also among the second and third prizes. Miss Slater has gone on to star in an MTV Base video with P Diddy and Pink and won Miss Commonwealth England, following last year's Miss Rugby contest. For an entry form call in to NV Her or Klickers or call Mrs Slater on 07967 818439. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

Subject: Miss Belize 2005 writes to Belize Author: The Island Newspaper, Ambergris Caye, Belize [Edit] Date Posted: 03/ 6/05 4:28:20am Andrea Elrington, 22, is representing Belize in the 2005 Miss Universe pageant to be held in Bangkok, Thailand The Miss Universe event brings together beautiful women, important personalities, artists, designers, investors, the media and thousands of tourists; all of whom eagerly take part in what is considered possibly the biggest pageant in the world, and witnessed by billions of people. Nations worldwide will witness the beauty of this country and all that Bangkok has to offer. In a letter addressed to The San Pedro Sun, pageant consultant for Miss Elrington, Mrs. Margaret Johnson, stated, “We are aware and very proud of her [Miss. Elrington’s] accomplishments so far and should make one proud regardless of the outcome.” The most gorgeous women from all over the world are vying for the title to be crowned Miss Universe. These ladies go through a grueling process in order to get ready for the big night that promises to be full of glitz, glamour and poise. Mrs. Johnson went on to explain the intense training and strenuous preparation Miss Elrington is going through and asked The San Pedro Sun to share this information with our readers, Miss Elrington’s beloved Belizean audience. During her training period Miss Elrington is expected to be in many fundraising events, two of which will take part in San Pedro Town. The events are tentatively to be held at Ramon’s Village Resort and Captain Morgan’s Retreat, and the public will be notified of the details in the near future. Many people do not have the slightest idea what these ladies do everyday preparing for an international event as big as this. It is considered one of the biggest events broadcast on NBC’s television network, with over a billion viewers. The Miss Universe contest is not won just on looks; women who aspire to become contestants on Miss Universe must be intelligent, well mannered and cultured. Not only does Miss Elrington represent our country, but she is also making other countries aware of this beautiful Caribbean Jewel. Belize has always been an under dog in these pageants, but this year we are keeping our fingers crossed hoping that we are judged fairly and given a chance to be evaluated into further rounds. Miss Andrea is of slim build, standing about 5 feet 11 inches tall. She is planning on enrolling into the University of Southern California to earn her Master’s in Communications. She is currently attending a university in Atlanta, Georgia, and is the newspaper chief editor on campus. Her favorite pastimes includes reading, traveling and listening to Latin and Jazz music. You can catch the live broadcast of the pageant on NBC and Telemundo on May 31st, 2005 at 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The San Pedro Sun wishes Miss Andrea all the best of luck in her journey and we do not doubt that she will exemplify all that Belize is with all her pride and dignity. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

Subject: 7 questions for Maggie Cheung Author: TRALEE PEARCE [Edit] Date Posted: 03/ 4/05 4:41:01pm Friday, March 4, 2005 Updated at 7:26 AM EST Hong Kong film star in Toronto during the International Film Festival. Friday, March 4, 2005 Updated at 7:26 AM EST Actor, beauty, Asian film icon. Seventy-nine movies so far. Born Sept. 20, 1964, in Hong Kong; raised from age 8 in England. In 1983, began a modelling career after winning first runner-up in the Miss Hong Kong pageant. Chances are, Maggie Cheung could have passed you on the sidewalk and you wouldn't have rubbernecked. Given to wearing simple black attire and pulled-back hair, Cheung doesn't even immediately trigger visions of her graceful warrior turn in the international box-office blockbuster Hero or any of the dozens of kung-fu films she has starred in since taking on the role of Jackie Chan's girlfriend in 1985's Police Story. Her stark, everyday style is more akin to the look of Emily, her character in the new film Clean, for which she won the best-actress prize at Cannes. Written and directed by Cheung's now-ex-husband, Olivier Assayas, Clean is a British/Canadian/French co-production that opens with the heroin overdose of Emily's rock-star-has-been husband in a seedy motel room in Hamilton. With Nick Nolte playing her well-meaning father-in-law, we follow Cheung's punky drug addict as she struggles with a tenuous relationship with her son, in London and Paris, and speaking English, French and Cantonese. (In person, her faint British accent mingles with a dash of Hong Kong diction.) Clean is a quiet, poignant turn for Cheung, the kind of work that recently inspired The New York Times to ask, "Why Isn't Maggie Cheung a Hollywood star?" There are details in Clean, such as Emily's first meal after emerging from a prison term for drug possession, in which she voraciously devours a diner meal. It rang true as the action of a recovering addict. How did you find the mannerisms that would make Emily believable? Olivier and I have friends who have had this problem. They are what they are. They're not the junkies you see in films. One day one of them will be spaced out and smelling slightly bad. Then a few days later, you see him shaved and smelling better and you know he hasn't taken it for a few days. I didn't do any more research for the part. I've seen it and the data is in there. I just had to find the file and open it. Advertisements Nick Nolte has been very open about his own history with addiction. Did he offer you any insight about drugs? He did it in a very subtle way. He didn't say, "Oh I know what this is, let me tell you." It was never like that. But during a scene, he would suddenly say, "I know that. That's happened to me." And I would listen. It all helped. And he'd give me confidence. He'd tell me, "Maggie, that's good." The audience has to wait until near the end of the film for what is perhaps Emily's biggest emotional outburst, which happens when her life seems to be back on track. Why the wait? For me, it was, "At last, whoever is up there is finally giving me something good." It's her first realization that she can do it. All along she is trying and she thinks she can, but she never confirms it. She's never had any achievements in her life up to this point. It's almost like the end of Kill Bill when Uma Thurman was holding her teddy bear and crying "thank you, thank you." Throughout the film, we're just not convinced she'll succeed. Was it emotionally intense for you to keep her on the edge like that? Yes and that's the way it is for all junkies. Each day is a new day, a new struggle. And there's Emily's son, too. He gives her a reason to be strong. In the film, there is a shot of a letter she writes asking for help from [the musician and actor] Tricky. They wrote a dummy for the shoot. I said, "This is all fake. This isn't what Emily would say." I [wrote another] myself and Olivier was happy with it. There were little mistakes, and a "p.s. I found a job." It was a quick moment in the film. We don't really see it, but I wrote, "this child is important to me because it's my only link to sanity. Without this link I don't think I can go on." How does a film like Clean fit into your career thus far? Since Hero, the next movie was Clean. I used to do a lot, up to nine or 10 films a year. In 1994, I stopped for two years. Then I made three films back to back. Since then, I do one every two years. Because I do so little, they become more. People will remember them more because it's not every month that you see a film with the same actor -- it gets very boring. Nicole Kidman is so great as an actress, but I think she's doing too much. I'm bored with her [movie] posters. Up to Moulin Rouge, her choices were brilliant. Then there was Cold Mountain and they've all become one for me. I want to avoid that. The Chinese people see you as one of their own. There was a pointed question at a press conference about Emily not being particularly Chinese. Olivier Assayas has said that he wanted to write a film for you in which you were not an archetypal Chinese woman in a Western film. Still, do you feel people look to you to represent them? Cannes was a good example. When I went back to Hong Kong, you could feel everybody was proud that this Hong Kong local has done that. But I also felt their regret that Clean is not a Hong Kong film. And that struck me: "Wow, it makes a difference for you guys." For me it doesn't, because I'm just doing my job. Whether it's Hero or In the Mood for Love. I have no personal problem with doing a nude scene in a film; however I can't do it because it would go to my country, and the people are not going to accept that. I have to respect that. Even though we can say the European or North American market is bigger, no, for me, I want Hong Kong to be my main market. They want to own me and I want to own them. It's out of willingness. Was it surreal for you to have Hero open in Canada right around the same time as Clean was appearing at the Toronto International Film Festival? Since Cannes in May, I didn't control any of it. It just fell into place. It's my 15 minutes, as Andy Warhol would say. Also without these last few months [up to her birthday in September], turning 40 might have made me think I'm going toward the end of my career. But it's a great end to my 30s. It gives me nice hope for the future. I can go further in my 40s. Once you have that in mind you make different decisions. It gives me a lot of confidence to explore more of what I want to do. I need a break. Clean is perfect for the self-cleansing technique. Throw it all away and start again. And it worked. This kind of film is a risk. A lot of audiences will feel there's no story. In Asia, they'd find it boring. But we're not looking at the story; it's the approach of this person. These kinds of films don't work everywhere. I just have to choose. And once in a while, put a Hero in there. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

Subject: Anisha Hislop is Miss CUC Author: By SATEESH MAHARAJ [Edit] Date Posted: 03/ 3/05 4:43:18pm Friday, March 4th 2005 Anisha Hislop bested seven other regional beauties to become Miss Caribbean Union College 2005 at the inaugural scholarship pageant held at the Maracas, St Joseph venue last Sunday. Although plagued by technical difficulties, Anisha Hislop of Tobago bested seven other regional beauties to become Miss Caribbean Union College 2005 at the inaugural scholarship pageant held at the Maracas, St Joseph venue last Sunday. The 17-year-old emerged an early crowd favourite when she first appeared in a half and half costume which represented the old time Tobago wedding. Chants of "To-ba-go, To-ba-go!" resonated throughout the CUC auditorium as the petite girl won the hearts of supporters of other delegates. As Hislop prepared for the talent segment of the evening, the microphone malfunctioned. Cries of "Sabotage!" punctuated the loud murmur which followed. It took almost ten minutes for proper audio to be restored. The wait was worthwhile. Hislop sang sweetly and played the pan in a performance that resulted in a standing ovation from the packed auditorium. It was a night, as organisers put it, when the emphasis was not on physical beauty but on beauty in speech, modesty and attitude. The Tobago teen's closest competition came from Venezuelan representative Jenny Barrios. Her raucous supporters chanted for her every move and word. That would later earn her the prize of having the most supportive club. Though they waved the red, white and black, the Trini Posse somehow lost the shouting match to our Spanish speaking neighbours. Participants from Antigua and Barbuda, Guyana, Martinique, St Lucia, St Vincent, Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago each had their own groups of well wishers. Delegates spoke highly of their countries and each boasted of their homeland's attributes. No swimsuits here, but the girls appeared in cultural attire and evening gowns. Miss Trinidad, Tonia Robinson, chose to highlight the fight against rising kidnappings in this country. Her performance drew little attention until she incorporated the National Anthem as an ending note. The audience rose and sang it with her. Each representative seemed to own certain segments. Just as Hislop commanded the talent round, Miss St Vincent, Maeron Stephen glided with confidence across the stage in the evening wear category. Her stunning white and patterned gown seemed to glow as brilliantly as her confident smile. The question and answer class phased many. Some patrons thought that Hislop's, "What is the importance of the church within the cultural context of the Caribbean," was a tad on the tricky side. The biggest hiccup of the night came, however, when it was time for the judges to tally their scores. The deliberation process lasted close to an hour much to the frustration of the crowd. Finally, the results. Miss St Vincent was declared People's Choice. Martinique's Katia Caroujel was named Miss Congeniality. Delegates were required to research a paper on Caribbean Women in Leadership. This academic leg was won by Miss Venezuela. Miss Tobago won best cultural dress and best talented. Best evening wear was awarded to Miss St Vincent. Trinidad, Guyana, Antigua and Barbuda, Martinique and St Lucia were announced as runners up. Second Runner Up, Miss St Vincent. First Runner Up, Miss Venezuela. As supporters left the College, many were full of opinions as to why their representative did not win. No one, however, could fault the judging panel-led by former Miss Universe Janelle Commissiong-Chow - in their declaration of the winner. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

Subject: Zeta Tau Alpha raises money for breast cancer in BMOC competition Author: By Alysha Daytner Assistant Campus Editor [Edit] Date Posted: 02/28/05 11:20:04am Big Man On Campus is Zeta Tau Alpha sorority's annual fund-raiser for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and is a series of events throughout the week including penny wars, T-shirt sales and a male beauty pageant. The pageant portion of the competition was Friday evening and brought about 1,200 screaming students to Elliott Hall of Music, cheering for their favorites of the 21 contestants. The 21 men from various fraternities showed their skills in the talent and interview question portions of the program as the crowd waved banners, banged on pots and pans and started chants, creating an infective energy throughout the evening. The winner of the talent portion was Justin Dommer, a sophomore in the College of Liberal Arts and member of Phi Gamma Delta. Dommer's talent was a martial arts demonstration. The overall winner was George Hwang of Alpha Tau Omega. Hwang is a senior in the College of Liberal Arts and performed a choreographed hip-hop dance for the talent portion. He thanks all of the contestants and especially Zeta Tau Alpha for all of their efforts toward the fund-raiser. The goal of the fund-raiser was $20,000, said Megan Burke, a junior in the School of Civil Engineering and co-chair of this year's BMOC. They raised more than $32,000. "We completely surpassed the goal. Everyone totally surprised us with their participation," Burke said. Dan Mayer wanted to start a tradition. Mayer, a sophomore in the School of Management and member of Kappa Sigma fraternity, hoped to be crowned Big Man On Campus, as Kappa Sigma Ryan Labis was the year before. This is his story. Monday: Informal Dinner Mayer's week began with meeting the other BMOC contestants and his Delta Delta Delta sorority coaches at Zeta Tau Alpha's informal dinner. After the dinner, he began to prepare for his talent, singing Meatloaf's "I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)." "I have this affinity for liking stupid songs and singing along with them," said Mayer, whose nickname is Porkchop. His band, in search of a piano to practice on, ended up practicing at Delta Delta Delta, wooing members of the sorority in the process. Tuesday: Sheet Signs Mayer's week started to get crazy with BMOC events. After class he and other members of Kappa Sigma made a sheet sign to hang on their house, another portion of the BMOC competition. The sign was up by the 5 p.m. deadline, and then Mayer was off to the dress rehearsal to learn the contestants' opening number. Wednesday: Penny Wars A phone call got Mayer running around his house, as well as his sorority sponsor's house, to collect money for the penny wars in Stewart Center. "I got an early call that another house dumped all of their silver change in our bucket," he said. "It was all in good fun." Later in the evening, Mayer, his five-person band and 11 singers practiced at Delta Delta Delta. "We were probably there every night until 10. We spent more time at Tri-Delts than we did at our house for the week." Thursday: Boiler Market After class, Mayer and his fraternity brothers went to Boiler Market to purchase Boiler Pops in his name, earning points for Kappa Sigma in the competition. "I actually borrowed a car and was shuttling girls back and forth from Tri-Delts to Boiler Market because they wanted to help," he said. That evening Mayer mingled at a crowded Boiler Market where Greek men and women packed the restaurant supporting their contestants. Friday: Pageant Mayer went to lunch with friends to practice the interview questions when he began to feel the intensity of the competition. "We turned around for one second and someone had stolen my questions," Mayer said. That afternoon, Kappa Sigma opened its windows to blast Meatloaf while Mayer practiced riding on the mini-motorcycle he rode during part of his talent. The hard work earned Mayer and Kappa Sigma second place in this year's BMOC. And while he would have loved to win, Mayer said, "I couldn't have wished it for another house. (Alpha Tau Omega) came out and represented. I have nothing but respect." Printer-friendly version [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

Subject: CATWALK Queen Naomi Campbell has blamed her violent outbursts on taking too much cocaine. Author: THOMAS WHITAKER Showbiz Reporter [Edit] Date Posted: 02/25/05 1:41:33pm The super model claims the Class A drug is the reason she is so fiery and hot headed. The Croydon-born beauty said: “It’s a very nasty drug. Your little charm goes. The little glow in your face goes. “You become short-tempered. You know?” Naomi, 34, told US TV show Prime Time Live that the side effects of the drug terrified her. She went on: “What is very scary about cocaine is that you start to feel too confident and indispensable, although none of us is indispensable.” Naomi’s comments come just months after she battled to keep her addiction a secret. She won £3,500 after a newspaper printed photos of her leaving a Narcotic Anonymous meeting. Naomi was branded a hypocrite because she told chat show king Michael Parkinson how she got hooked on drink and drugs. Naomi has a legendary temper and has been sued by a number of staff in the past. [ Post a Reply to This Message ] Replies: What happened to her lip and her nose? (NT) -- This is not a good photo of her., 02/25/05 1:41:33pm

Subject: Dare to dream Former Miss Teen USA speaks about goals to area students Author: ERIN SNELGROVE,esnelgrove@newsreview.info [Edit] Date Posted: 02/25/05 1:00:04pm February 23, 2005 Tami Farrell likes to think big. During the next five years, the native Oregonian wants to act in a feature film and a television pilot. She wants to own two restaurants, have her own record label, attend cooking school and learn how to be a master chef. These dreams may sound ambitious to some, but Farrell, who was named Miss Teen USA 2003, is already well on her way. Farrell spoke to about 10 Douglas County middle schools Tuesday and today about the importance of goal setting. Her appearance was a part of the Celebration of Literacy program, which concludes this weekend. "When I tripped, I laughed at myself," Farrell said about competing for the crown. "I was who I was." Farrell, 20, grew up in Phoenix, near Medford. A self-proclaimed tomboy, she vied for the Miss Teen Oregon title over the span of her high school career. The first time she participated, Farrell said, she felt like Sandra Bullock in "Miss Congeniality." She was nervous and klutzy in front of the judges. Much the same happened the next year, so that by the time she was a senior, she decided the pageant scene wasn't for her. But her family and friends convinced her not to give up. This time around, Farrell said, she just had fun. Despite getting into a car accident on the way to the Miss Teen Oregon Pageant, staining her dress and arriving with platinum blond hair because of a bad dye job, she stayed true to herself. The judges liked it, and she won as a result. The same happened when she later took the coveted Miss Teen USA title. "I had fun at the pageant," Farrell said. "I won Miss Congeniality and Miss Teen USA." Reading, Farrell said, is a big part of her daily life. Now attending acting school in Los Angeles, Farrell said she spends a good chunk of her evenings readings scripts for films and television series. It's a talent, she said, that is needed in any career -- even for professional athletes. "You need to know how to read contracts," she said to a John C. Fremont seventh-grader who wants to become a basketball player. "I want to know who's getting my money, because they get a percentage of what I do." Farrell also spoke about the importance of overcoming challenges during her presentation. For her, this includes a heart ailment that prevents her from participating in sports. She could feel sorry for herself, she said, but she knows there are a lot of people out there whose health problems are much more serious. Instead, she chooses to be happy. This philosophy made a strong impression on Olivia Redmond, a Fremont seventh-grader. She said she was impressed by Farrell, and that she too has aspirations of becoming an actress. The most important thing she learned from Farrell's speech, Redmond said, is to never let anything get in the way of one's dreams. "I learned that you need to believe in yourself," she said. "Don't believe that others are better than you." Maxine Durst of Roseburg holds this same conviction. A member of Altrusa International, Durst helped coordinate the Celebration of Literacy events this year. She said she's excited with the response she's had from students during the past week, and she believes Farrell's message is an important one for people to hear. More than anything, she said, she wants students to know that reading is key to achieving success. "I think that if they dream big enough and work toward that dream, they can succeed at anything they want," she said. * You can reach reporter Erin Snelgrove at 957-4208 or by e-mail at esnelgrove@newsreview.info. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

Subject: Author: By JOHANNA CROSBY [Edit] Date Posted: 02/25/05 12:44:36pm Portrait of a contender Brewster woman, named Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts, sets her sights on a bigger competition By JOHANNA CROSBY STAFF WRITER WEST BREWSTER - From a wheelchair, everyday life takes on a different perspective. Stairs and doors that aren't automatic don't faze able-bodied people. A 1990 car accident left Laurel Labdon of Brewster a quadriplegic. (Staff photo by KEVIN MINGORA) They become obstacles for Laurel Labdon. Personal care is another challenge. The 34-year-old West Brewster woman can't get out of bed in the morning, dress herself or comb her hair without help. Then there are the attitudes. "People tend to think of a disability as always tragic and that they couldn't live like that," Labdon says. Despite the inconveniences, Labdon, a quadriplegic, puts a positive face on living with a disability. "I'm the same person I always was," she says, "only I can't walk." A car accident on July 22, 1990, a week before her 20th birthday, left her paralyzed from the neck down. Home from college for the summer, Labdon was driving to her waitress job when a storm kicked up. She swerved to miss a fallen branch on a road a mile from her house. The car hydroplaned and Labdon was knocked unconscious. Doctors didn't expect her to survive her injuries: a broken neck and fractured skull. Labdon was hospitalized for almost a year. Over the years she regained full sensation in her body and movement in her arms, but the accident changed her life plan. After college she had hoped to join the Peace Corps, then work as a deck hand on a charter boat. "I wanted to travel and save the world," she says with a smile. What it is: Ms. Wheelchair America program, created in 1972 Winner's duties: Travel, visit advocacy groups, make public appearances, promote awareness of "architectural and attitudinal barriers" Information: Write Ms. Wheelchair America, 8610 Glenfield Way, Louisville, KY 40241; call 1-877-MSWHEEL (679-4335); e-mail mswheelchairmass@yahoo.com; Web www.mswheelchairamerica.org. Labdon had to revise those plans. Yet she hasn't let her physical limitations get in the way of leading a productive life. She has a close circle of friends, dates and enjoys traveling. She's also found meaningful work as an advocate for others with disabilities. People often tell her she's inspirational, Labdon says, but she's not looking for credit for dealing with a catastrophic injury. "If I was given a choice, I'd choose not to be a quadriplegic," she says. "But I choose to do valuable things. When life doesn't give you a choice, you have to figure out a new way of doing things and deal with it the best you can." Besides, her disability has given her experiences and insights she never would have realized, she says. Like being named Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts 2005 last month. It was Labdon's outlook that impressed the judges. "Her special message is that women utilizing wheelchairs have many talents and abilities that are not always recognized," wrote Pat O'Bryant, executive director of Ms. Wheelchair America. The nonprofit program was started in 1972 by Dr. Philip K. Wood, a Columbus, Ohio physician, to increase public awareness of the achievements and talents as well as the needs of mobility-impaired individuals. Unlike other pageants, Ms. Wheelchair America "is not a beauty contest," says Denise Di Noto, secretary for the competition. Instead, contestants are judged on their platform speeches, communication skills, accomplishments and self-perception. The title will go to the contestant who can be the best spokesperson for more than 54 million disabled Americans, Di Noto says. Labdon will compete against contestants from 33 states at the national pageant July 19-24 in Albany. "I've never been in any kind of pageant," says the impeccably dressed, stunning looking woman who thinks the experience will be empowering. She also looks forward to meeting and exchanging ideas with other contestants from across the country. Since Massachusetts does not have a state pageant, Labdon applied to become an independent delegate. After meeting the requirements, including a personal interview before the judges, she was accepted by the executive board. Her job involves traveling the state speaking on behalf of the disabled and establishing a Massachusetts pageant. She is seeking sponsors, both companies and individuals, to lend their financial support. "We're very excited about having a Massachusetts pageant," Di Noto says. "Our goal is to have a spokesperson in every state" to improve the quality of life for disabled individuals and help breakdown physical and attitudinal barriers. As Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts, Labdon hopes she'll have greater clout in influencing social change and public policy. Her special concern is the hot-button issue of stem cell research. "I'd like to use the controversy," she says, "to foster a greater understanding of it." Her other mission is to dispel popular misconceptions. "The stereotype is pervasive that if you are disabled you are sick," she says. "Expectations for people with disabilities tend to be lower." Labdon's vivacious personality and experience fit the bill for her new role. She has worked for the Cape Organization for the Rights of the Disabled (CORD) and formed her own consulting and advocacy business for disabled individuals and their families last August. She also volunteered as a teacher's aide and counselor's aide at a local elementary school. Labdon returned to the University of Colorado at Boulder three and a half years after her accident to complete her degree in political science. As the only undergraduate in a wheelchair, she paved the way for making the campus wheelchair accessible. "If you are disabled you have to be an advocate for yourself every day," she says. Labdon lives with her parents and has a personal care attendant. "I've been blessed with amazing family and friends and the support I need to get through this," she says happily. The greatest challenge she faces as a quadriplegic is asking for help and being dependent on others. "I need help to get out of bed in the morning and get ready for the day. After that I'm pretty independent," says Labdon. "I want to be treated as a smart, capable woman who unfortunately needs some accommodations and special care." It has taken her years to overcome one emotional hurdle: getting behind the wheel again. Labdon wants to drive to attain more independence and has bought a van that will be modified with electronic hand controls. But even with all the technology and helpful aids, Labdon looks toward the future with hope tempered with realism. "I would love if they find a cure for spinal cord injury," she says. "But it's not a goal to live hoping for that. As long as I can do something that keeps me fulfilled, I'm happy." (Published: February 24, 2005) [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

Subject: Mia Rahaman pleads guilty to importing controlled substance Author: Stabroek [Edit] Date Posted: 02/25/05 12:30:02pm Friday, February 25th 2005 Mia Rahaman Nearly two years after she was held in Canada in a cocaine bust, former local beauty queen, Mia Rahaman has pleaded guilty to the charge of importing a controlled substance and sentenced to two years house arrest. The Guyanese admitted to the crime on February 18 in a Canadian federal court and had her passport and travel documents seized, according to reports yesterday out of Canada. She is not allowed to travel and was ordered to do 240 hours of community service as well as seek employment. The court further ordered that Rahaman, a first offender, must first seek permission from the authorities before leaving home. House arrest means that Rahaman will have to remain indoors unless she has a valid reason for leaving. Whether she goes shopping or to work, Canadian authorities will monitor her activities at all times. It was on May 21, 2003 when Rahaman was detained at the Pearson International Airport outside of Toronto with 7.5 kilogrammes of the controlled substance which was believed to have been cocaine, in the false bottom and sides of her suitcase and smaller amounts in three jars of various cosmetics. Canadian Customs had placed the street value of the drug at cdn$1 million. She had posted cdn$5,000 (around 700,000) bail and cdn$20,000 surety several days later, and was placed in the custody of the person who put up surety. At age 22, Rahaman was crowned Miss Guyana/ Universe 2002 and went on to represent Guyana at the Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico that same year. According to the Toronto Sun, the sentence outraged the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) who wanted her sent to prison. Rahaman, the report pointed out, managed to obtain about two dozen adjournments that dragged out her court proceedings for almost two years. "We wanted something to deter young people from smuggling drugs," Const. Arlene Flynn of the RCMP said. Immigration officials said they'll try to revoke Rahaman's landed immigrant status in Canada. She can be deported to Guyana and not allowed to return due to the conviction. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]