Miss Globe International 2008Tirana, ALBANIA - Almeda Abazi, Miss Albania (center), was crowned Miss Globe International 2008 competing at home. The 1st runner-up was Miss Estonia (left) and Miss Russia (right) was the 2nd runner-up.
Rounding out the top 5 were Misses Thailand (4th) and Canada (5th).
In the top 12 were the representaives of the United Kingdom, Venezuela, Colombia, China, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Turkey.
It was the 5th consecutive year that Albania hosted the pageant, and Albania's first ever victory.
(Thank you, credits and to Damian Stroinski)
Miss Japan 2009
(Nakayama (2nd right) and Sasaki (2nd left) after being crowned winners, with their runner-ups) Fukuoka model Yuka Nakayama wins the crown over 40 contestantsKYOTO, October 25, 2008 - The 2009 Miss Japan pageant took place at the Kyoto International Conference Hall in Kyoto, on October 25th. 41 beautiful candidates competed in several categories to earn the right to represent the country in the Miss International and Miss World pageants for 2009.
The winner was Yuka Nakayama (18), a 1.73 cm model from Fukuoka, who won the Miss Japan 2009 title and will compete in Miss International 2009.
Also, Eruza Sasaki (20), was crowned Miss World Japan 2009 and will represent the country in the Miss World 2009 pageant.
The 64 contestants of Miss International 2008 also took part in the event, with the reigning titleholder, Priscila Perales of Mexico. On Sunday, the 61 beauties left Japan for the round two of the competition, to take place in Macau. The final will be held next November 8th at the Venetian Resort.
Miss Intercontinental 2008 - Miss ColombiaZABRZE, October 25, 2008 - Cristina Camargo (23, photo), Miss Colombia, was crowned Miss Intercontinental 2008 at the annual event held in Zabrze, Poland. Contestants from Poland (Milena Lutrzykowska) and Belarus (Yakovina Lubov) came in 1st and 2nd place, respectively.
About 60 women competed in the contest.
Miss Intercontinental - COLOMBIA
1st RU - Poland
2nd RU - Belarus
TOP 5:
Czech Republic
Venezuela
Belarus
Poland
Colombia
TOP 15:
Georgia
Venezuela
Mexico
Brazil
Belarus
Serbia
South Africa
Canada
Scotland
Korea
Colombia
Seychelles Islands
Ukraine
Poland
Czech Republic
SPECIAL AWARDS:
Miss Congeniality - Thailand
Best National Costume - Georgia
Best Body - Czech Republic
Miss Photogenic - Ukraine
Miss Intercontinental Europe - Belarus
Miss Intercontinental Asia Pacific - Singapore
Miss Intercontinental Africa - Seychelles Islands
Miss Intercontinental Americas - Brazil
Miss Intercontinental Caribbean - Dominican Republic
(Courtesy of Dawid Baraniak and Martina A.)
Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2009
Mayra Matos will represent Puerto Rico in Miss UniverseSAN JUAN, Oct. 22 - Mayra Matos, a 20-year old student of Literature representing Cabo Rojo, was crowned Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2009 during a live televised ceremony held October 22nd.
Matos, who is also a professional model, stands 1.80 m tall and will represent Puerto Rico at the Miss Universe 2009 pageant next summer.
The 1st runner-up was Miss San Juan, Jennifer Colon; and the 2nd and 3rd runner-ups were Sharon Gomez from Santurce and Haydil Rivera from Adjuntas, respectively. Both women competed in the Miss International pageant in 2006 and 2007, where they were semi finalists.
Completing the top 6 were Miss Cataño and Miss Vega Baja.
Reigning Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza, Miss USA Crystle Stewart and Miss Dominican Republic Marianne de la Cruz attended the contest as special guests. Mendoza was one of the judges.
Miss Bhutan 2008Thimphu, BHUTAN - While the audience looked on with unabated breath, 24-year-old Tshokey Tshomo Karchung was crowned Miss Bhutan 2008 at a contest held in Thimphu yesterday. Miss Bhutan also walked away with two other titles: Miss Talented and Miss Photogenic.
“I kept every confidence to compete and I am so relieved,” said Tshokey Tshomo who will be representing the country for Miss Earth 2008.
Among other prizes, the Miss Bhutan took home a cash prize of Nu 0.1 million.
She was crowned by Miss Thailand 2006 Charm Reya Osthanond, one of the five judges. Fifteen women competed for the title at the contest that lasted past midnight.
Tshokey Tshomo Karchung is the first Miss Bhutan in history.
Special thanks to Kuensel Online.
Photo, right: The Top three: From left 1st runners up Shelkar Choden and 2nd runners up Tshering Pem)
Miss New Caledonia 2008Nouméa, NEW CALEDONIA - The new Miss New Caledonia was crowned, and Aurelie Maureli from Nouméa took the title. The runner-ups were Julie Tabet and Stéphanie Dubant.
After winning the title, Aurelie said she entered the pageant "in order to experience something new and different", and it surpassed her expectations: "I encourage young women to participate in pageants, it is definitely a terrific and growing experience", she believes.
Aurelie will now get ready to represent New Caledonia in Miss France 2009.
Special thanks to Grégory Courtoussamy
Miss Tennessee USA 2009Clarksville, USA - Her smile shined throughout the Austin Peay State University Mass Communications Theatre as Kristen Motil, Miss Williamson County, was crowned Miss Tennessee USA 2009 Saturday.
Miss Tennessee USA 2008 Hailey Brown placed the crown on the winner’s head as the audience stood, cheering.
As vocalist Rodney Williams sang “She’s Got Legs” the more than 60 contestants showed theirs and shimmied and shook onstage while wearing black long-sleeved shirts and shorts.
Clarksville’s own Miss USA 2007 Rachel Smith hosted the pageant along with the host of several CMT shows, Allison Alderson DeMarcus.
“By the end of the night one lady will begin the most amazing year of her life,” Smith said, adding that time has flown by since she was crowned Miss Tennessee USA 2007.
DeMarcus then chatted with Brown onstage, asking her of the many memorable experiences her crown brought her, especially the Miss USA 2008 competition in Las Vegas, Nev.
“So so many (good memories) but definitely fulfilling my dream of being on the Miss USA stage,” Brown said, adding that she has some big things planned for the future.
And then, the competition was narrowed down to fifteen: Miss Blue Raider Jessica Hibler, Miss Brentwood Meredith Weiss, Miss City Lights Cali Tucker, Miss Davidson County Brenna Mader, Miss Franklin Katy Ridenour, Miss Golf Capital Melissa O’Neal, Miss Lebanon Katie Hoppel, Miss Liberty Adrian Campbell , Miss Nashville Shaela Sisco, Miss River Queen Catherine Werne, Miss Southern Tennessee Lora Gallagher, Miss Spirit of the South Krystal Waters, Miss Sycamore Valley Stacy Reigle, Miss West Nashville Tucker Perry and Miss Williamson County Kristen Motil.
All contestants, strutted onstage in black swimsuits showing off their beach-ready bodies while carrying multi-colored silky fabrics breezing in the wind.
After another musical number, the remaining contestants shined in a flurry of colors and sparkling adornments in the evening gown competition.
The contestants were then narrowed down to five: Motil, Werne, Sisco, Perry, Hibler.
During possibly the most unnerving portion of the night for the contestants, the question and answer session, each candidate was asked a question by a different judge.
A farewell tribute to Brown was played shortly before she took the stage in her gleaming crown and shining white smile and handed down her crown.
Courtesy of tennessean.com
Miss Earth China 2008Shanghai, China - Twenty-two-year-old Ying Kun Zhou (2nd from right) was crowned Miss Earth China 2008 last weekend, in Shanghai, China. Photo courtesy Xinhuane
She stands 1.82M and will represent China in Miss Earth 2008. (Thank you and credits to Xinhuanet photo)
Miss BeNeLux 2009Sabrina Anijs from the Netherlands (20) was crowned Miss Benelux 2009 during an event held on October 4th, that reunited 40 contestants from Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg. Sabrina, who is 1.75 m tall, is a Law student.
Crowned as Miss Benelux Belgium was Isabel Van Hoof, and Theodora Banica was crowned Miss Benelux Luxembourg.
The 1st runner up was Analda Winkel (NL), the 2nd runner up Debby Gommeren (BE), the 3rd runner-up was Eva van Binsbergen (NL) and the 4th runner-up was Selina Zakeriesen (BE).
Miss Photogenic was Marlinda Mariman (NL), Miss Friendship was Manuela Saboko (BE), and the Beauty For A Cause award went to Eva van Binsbergen. Courtesy Jean Vandecasteele (Thank you and credits to Photo by Miss Benelux Org.)
Miss Earth South Sudan 2008Juba, South Sudan - South Sudan proudly debuts at Miss Earth 2008 with beautiful Nok Nora Duany, who is a model and stands 1.81 m tall.
South Sudan is a region of Sudan, comprising ten of that country's states. The Sudanese government agreed to give autonomy to the region in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed in 2005 in Naivasha, Kenya, tentatively bringing an end to the Second Sudanese Civil War 1983-2005 and the massive genocide which took place in the region.
A referendum is scheduled for 2011 on whether to remain in the greater Sudan or to become an independent nation.
(Thank you and credits to http://www.globalbeauties.com, tennessean.com, Miss Benelux Org., Xinhuanet, Grégory Courtoussamy, Kuensel Online and all sources for the information and pictures )