How I Save the World » Pageantry

Miss Italia 2007 – Silvia Battisti

Paul — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 01:54:35 +0000

Alright, it’s about time for me to start my build up to Miss Universe 2008 in Vietnam. Here’s a gorgeous contestant, who I think should definitely be in the semi finals. She’s fresh-faced and an absolute delight judging from her wonderful smile.

Does she have what it takes? Take a look for yourself!

And if you want to email Silvia and drop her a friendly “Buon giorno!”, email her here!

Riyo Mori and Honey Lee

Paul — Wed, 30 May 2007 02:01:11 +0000

And the debates begin about which candidate is more beautiful – Miss Korea Honey Lee or Miss Japan Riyo Mori. The Internet is rife about how the translator messed up Miss Korea’s answer and cost Honey Lee her Miss Universe tiara.

We’ll never know the judges reasoning as to why Miss Korea placed 3rd runner-up, but what we do know is that Honey Lee is one of the most beautiful contestants ever to grace Miss Universe’s stage. Both girls were absolutely breathtaking, but Japan was fun loving and had this sassy energy, while Korea was more reserved. In the end, they both made history as the only Far Eastern beauties to place in the top 5 for a long time (barring Kurara Chibana’s 1st runner-up placement last year). Well done, girls! You both have the Universe at your feet!

Miss Universe 2007 Riyo Mori

Paul — Wed, 30 May 2007 01:46:07 +0000

And so we have our second winner from Japan! Riyo Mori is the second Japanese woman to win the pageant. The first Japanese, and indeed the first Asian, to win the Miss Universe pageant was Akiko Kojima in 1959. It took almost 50 years for another Japanese woman to be crowned Miss Universe. It was about time!

Miss Universe 2007 Live Blog

Paul — Tue, 29 May 2007 00:48:33 +0000

In fifteen minutes, we will begin.

In the meantime, here’s Miss Korea in national costume

Miss Universe 2007 Live Blog Coverage

Paul — Mon, 28 May 2007 22:57:27 +0000

We have just over two hours to go before our live coverage of Miss Universe 2007 begins on this show. As a run-up, here are some things to note about this year’s competition.

The hosts of the show are Vanessa Minillo and Mario Lopes. Vanessa was teen Miss USA 1998 and host an MTV show Total Request Live. She is an entertainment reporter with Entertainment Tonight. Mario was in a sitcom Saved by the Bell, and was the celebrity dancer in season 3 of dancing with the stars. Neither has done this before, so be kind!

The judges are

Miss Universe 1953 Christiane Magnani Aleman
Mexican actor Mauricio Islas
NBC’s “Heroes” James Kyson Lee
NBC’s “Deal or No Deal” briefcase model Lindsay Clubine
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo
Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Dave Navarro
Olympic figure skating champion Michelle Kwan
Fashion designer Marc Bouwer
“Project Runway” judge and Elle magazine fashion director Nina Garcia
Former Miss Universe (1993) Dayanara Torres.

There might be 16, not 15 semi-finalists are reported earlier. Rumors surface of a tie. And you do know that those rumors are always a good thing!

Here’s a picture of the stage and some of the girls in their Tadashi outfits.

So think Victoria Secrets show circa November 2006, and you’ll have a good idea of the level of energy this show might have.

Don’t be too harsh on the musical acts. They do their best.

My favorites are Italy and Korea. I’d also be happy with USA, Japan, or Thailand winning the title and I think they can!

Miss Universe 2007, Miss Korea and Globalbeauties

Paul — Mon, 28 May 2007 19:00:17 +0000

The month-long love fest between Miss Korea Honey Lee and Globalbeauties continues right up to the final hours of the Miss Universe pageant in Mexico City. What’s not to love about Honey Lee. She’s one of the most adorable and beautiful candidates ever to have graced the runways of the Miss Universe pageant.

Honey Lee walked away with most of Globalbeauties’ special awards, and this is what they have to say:

Honey Lee of Korea has swapped most GB special awards in this year’s Miss Universe pageant and appears as the #1 favorite for the crown. Some pageant historians go as far as saying that she is one of the most perfect beauties to have ever stepped on a Miss Universe stage. Second place went to Miss Venezuela, another huge favorites who is close to perfection.

See the complete results HERE.”

With Miss Korea and Miss Japan in hot contention for the title, along with Misses USA, Italy, Venezuela, and Thailand, it’s anyone’s guess who will win the coveted title of Miss Universe 2007 pageant. Stay tuned to this blog to get live commentary of this evening’s pageant starting from 9pm EST.

Miss Universe 2007, Miss Japan

Paul — Mon, 28 May 2007 18:32:44 +0000

Ines Ligron is the national director of the Miss Japan pageant, and she’s on the ground in Mexico City schmoozing with the girls, the media, and other pageant officials. She has this to say about Miss Japan Riyo Mori’s chances:

“Everybody expect Japan to win, it is very exiting to be here.

The show ill be incredible this year, with a runway like the Victoria Secret fashion show in New York. The lighning is speactacular. Riyo will shine on the stage, she is very ready for tomorrow. Many delegates themselves are telling her that she is going to be the winner tomorrow!!

After seeing the delegates personally and on stage, talking to them, I made my choice as follow:

JAPAN – USA – VENEZUELA

KOREA – BRAZIL – SLOVENIA – SERBIA – ITALY – SPAIN – ANGOLA”

It is indeed very exciting, as we reveal all the sizzle, sparkle, and dazzle of the Miss Universe finals tonight on this blog. Don’t forget to tune in at 9pm for live commentary on all the glamour and excitement of the 2007 Miss Universe pageant.

Miss Universe 2007, Top 15

Paul — Mon, 28 May 2007 16:47:52 +0000

So we’re down to crunch line. It’s 9 hours to the live telecast and who will be Miss Universe 2007 top 15 line up. Who are the Miss Universe 2007 favorites for the title?

Top 5 – Miss Korea, Miss USA, Miss Italy, Miss Japan, Miss Guatemala

Top 10 – Miss Venezuela, Miss Tanzania, Miss Slovenia, Miss Thailand, Miss Paraguay

Top 15 – Miss Angola, Miss Spain, Miss Estonia, Miss Serbia, Miss Greece

The ones that can also make and impact:

Miss Peru, Miss Mexico, Miss Bolivia, Miss Russia, and Miss South Africa

So these are my 20 favorites, and I think that I should have a pretty good hit rate and that a lot of these girls will end up as Miss Universe 2007 top 15 candidates. I will providing live commentary for the two hours of the show. Just check back here for updates.

Miss Universe 2007, Miss Korea, Honey Lee

Paul — Mon, 28 May 2007 15:01:26 +0000

Miss Korea, Honey Lee, is all over the Universe at this very moment. Leading beauty pageant experts Globalbeauties declared her their winner this year, just a hair’s breadth ahead of traditional pageant powerhouse Miss Venezuela, the lovely Ly Jonaitis.

Honey was also Globalbeauties best in evening gown and best in interview. Miss Korea is also on the pole position of Globalbeauties’ starting grid. She was also their Face of the Universe. And their’s more. Honey won GB’s national costume award, too!

This is a phenomenal feat given how Far Eastern beauties have not really caught the attention of the pageant world until last year, when Miss Japan Kurara Chibana took home the 1st runner-up prize at the 2006 Miss Universe pageant.

Now that we are less than 12 hours from the pageant, Globalbeauties’ website is experiencing tremendous traffic, so don’t be too concerned if the links above take too long. Just click on the video links below to see other videos!

Her Miss Universe interview is awesome. And she’s adorable in this video and stunning in this one. She also spent some time at the Korean embassy in Mexico City and looked simply breathtaking in her traditional gown. And her Miss Universe interview was just so sweet! She is indeed sweet as honey!

Miss Universe Top 15 and Globalbeauties

Paul — Mon, 28 May 2007 13:49:59 +0000

For their 2007 coverage of the Miss Universe pageant, pageant pundits globalbeauties constructed what they call a starting grid. This was in reference to a formula 1 race, with the top delegate in “pole position”. The starting line-up changed every couple of days depending on new pictures of the delegate that came out, as well as through correspondents that were supposedly on site in Mexico City.

Interestingly for us, over the course of the month of competition no less than SIX , yes 6, different girls shared that coveted pole position spot. They were Miss Greece, Miss Venezuela, Miss Tanzania, Miss Japan, Miss Korea, and Miss Spain.

But today, the final day of competition, sees Miss Korea Honey Lee claim the final pole position. Many, many fans and pundits alike are rooting for Honey Lee and we wish her the best of luck tonight!

See the final starting gridand see if your favorites made the cut!