Wednesday 30 January 2013

Femina Miss India takes the Miss Universe franchise


Sushmita Sen
Femina Miss India gets back the Miss Universe franchise after they dropped it in 2009. The Miss Universe franchise of India was previously held by I am She, an pageant run by Miss Universe 1994 Sushmita Sen which choose the Indian representatives to Miss Universe from 2009 to 2012. After Shilpa Singh's placement at Miss Universe 2012, Sen announced that I am She will put into conclusion.

Femina Miss India produced two Miss Universe winners - Sushmita Sen (1994) and Lara Dutta (2000). Femina Miss India also holds the franchise of Miss World, Miss Earth and Miss International. Femina Miss India 2013 will be this March where they will crown the Femina Miss India Universe title once again.

Monday 21 January 2013

Pageant Vixen Talks: Natalie Korneitsik


From Miss International, this week, we will be featuring one of the contestants in Miss Universe 2012. We will have Miss Universe - Estonia 2012, Natalie Korneitsik in our "Pageant Vixen Talks" this week! Take note that we did this interview with her MONTHS before the Miss Universe 2012 pageant. Surely, you will learn something from her. 

 

UBC: Who is Natalie on a normal day?
Natalie: Ambitious woman, good friend and loving daughter. 

UBC: What was the life of Natalie before joining Miss Estonia - Universe 2012?
Natalie: I have been in fashion and beauty world for years. Before that I was an usual teenager who even didn't think about model career : I studied a lot and was interested in politics. At the age of 16 I was scouted and got my first contract to Milan.My life changed then. I traveled a lot from Asia to USA. I have chosen to study Fashion Marketing and PR in Milan, so all my model experience and connections might be useful in my future career.

UBC: What made you to join Miss Estonia - Universe 2012?
Natalie: It was not my first beauty contest. Before I was chosen to represent Estonia at Miss Globe International, where I made it into top 10 and got Miss Photogenic title. I got a great experience and felt the difference between modeling and beauty world. Then I thought to try myself in Miss Universe, so I participated in Miss Estonia Universe contest. 



UBC: Being a first runner up, how did it feel?
Natalie: Honestly, I was disappointed. There's only one winner for me. Only one name will be remembered as Miss Estonia 2012. 

UBC: Replacing Kaitlin Valdmets, what was your reaction?
Natalie: I didn't expect it to be this way. I even got my model contract right after the contest and was ready to leave Estonia, but then things changed. That's destiny, I thought. 

UBC: How are you preparing for Miss Universe?
Natalie: First of all, I need to find a financial support - sponsorship. It's hard to do in Estonia.I am taking acting classes, performance on stage and dancing.I am in the middle of negotiating with our designers about my future national and final dresses. Besides, we just started to shoot an official video. A lot of work to be done.



UBC: How do you balance time for family and time for pageant?
Natalie: My family supports me and helps with some questions, so they are in the middle of my preparation. 

UBC: What inspires you in being a titleholder?
Natalie: I think every beauty-queen has a mission to complete. I would like to use my title as an opportunity to be heard and seen to inspire others to do good things for society. Now I am working on charity projects in my country. Making happy others makes me happy as well. 



UBC: How will you develop friendly competition?
Natalie: I have already contacted Miss Russia and Miss Finland in order to get know each other even before Miss Universe and create some friendly activities. I am waiting for their replies. In general, I am tolerant and friendly person and always trying to skip conflicts. 

UBC: What activities will you get involve as a beauty queen?
Natalie: Charity program. Next week we already have an event, money from which we are going to use for forsaken children. Besides charity, there are fashion events in order to promote local designers and brands. In general, my aim is to be a good example for younger generation of the girls.

UBC: Will you still join another pageant?
Natalie: I think Miss Universe is like Olympic Games : cannot be higher, cannot be better. So, I was thinking it could be the logical ending of my participation in beauty pageants. 



UBC: How will you treasure this experience?
Natalie: The event like Miss Universe happens only once in life. It's already something you will be telling about your grandchildren. For me, personally, it's the best school of life. You learn how to be beautiful, tolerant and polite in any situation. How to be a face of your country. You learn responsibility. 

UBC: Beauty Tip To All.
Natalie: Keep yourself in shape, eat healthy and don't follow common stereotypes! And remember, happiness is a key. Nothing is more beautiful than a sincere smile on your face!

UBC: Message to the fans.
Natalie: I am representing small country, but I will do my best to make people know it better. The only thing I need from you - is your support and attention! Best wishes, your Natalie :)

Universal Beauty Council would like to thank Natalie Korneitsik for really giving her time for this interview. Despite of her preparations during the interview, she did answer all the questions. We wish you all the best of luck Natalie!

Sunday 20 January 2013

Miss Universe 2013 January Edition Hotpicks




1. Puerto Rico - Monic Perez
2. Colombia - Lucia Aldana
3. Mexico - Cynthia Duque
4. Bolivia - Alexia Viruez
5. France - Marine Lorphelin
6. Korea - Yu-Mi Kim



Saturday 12 January 2013

Miss America 2013 is New York


23-year old Mallory Hagan was crowned Miss America 2013 at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Mallory has been involved in the Miss America Organization for 10 years! She started as a teen in the Miss Alabama’s Outstanding Teen program, was the 1st Runner Up in Miss New York 2010 and 2011, and will now compete in the Miss America Pageant – a childhood dream! She performed tap dancing to James Browns' "Get Up Off Of That Thang"

1st Runner Up is South Carolina's Ali Rogers, 2nd Runner Up is Oklahoma, Alivia Clifton, 3rd Runner Up goes to Lexie Madden from Wyoming and Miss Iowa Maria Cary bagged the 4th Runner Up title. Completing the Top 10 who competed in the Talent portion are: Illinois, Maryland, Tennessee, Texas and Washington. Completing the top 12 who competed at the Evening gown competition are: Alabama and Indiana. Completing the Top 16 who competed in the Swimsuit competition are: Florida, Kentucky, Montana and Utah.

America's People Choice for the Semifinals award goes to Montana while for the special twist in this year's edition, the judges are given a time to choose a favorite who didn't make it to the semifinals and that's Washington.

Miss America 2013 Mallory Hagan will not compete in any international pageant but she will travel all across US for Miss America and her cause.

Miss America 2013 was aired at ABC and had a simultaneous webcast on websites including UBC. The show was hosted by Chris Harrison and Brooke Burke-Charvet for the second time. 

Friday 11 January 2013

Pageant Vixen Talks: Katarina Konow

Last time we had a very special feature on our "Pageant Vixen Talks." It was a great time to open the year wherein you got to know Miss Universe 2005, Natalie Glebova who has been a very successful woman. From a beauty queen turned into an advocate and now she's a dancer competing in Thailand's version of "Dancing With The Stars." This week, from Miss Universe let's go to Miss International. We'll take you back to her experiences in Okinawa, Japan. We did this interview with her before she left for the pageant. This week, we will be having Miss International Sweden, Katarina Konow.



UBC: Who is Katarina on a normal day?
Katarina: I don't really know if ther are any "normal" days in my life. One day in my life doesn't look like the other. I'm an active girl having two different jobs, one in the fashion business, and one with disabled children. I love both jobs - they add different values to my life. In addition to this I also do some modeling, so my schedule is quite full! As a healthy lifestyle is important to me, I also try to squeeze in some exercise every day. I love running and horse riding the most.

UBC: What was your life before being a titleholder?
Katarina: My life before being a titleholder was in general the same as it is now, only a little less hectic! I won the title only a few weeks before the competition in Japan, so I have a lot of preparations to make!



UBC: What made you to join Miss Sweden - International?
Katarina: When I got the opportunity to watch Miss Teen USA on the Bahamas last year I got to know some of the contestants. They really seemed to enjoy it, and they had so much fun together. This made me want to try to join coming back to Sweden.

UBC: How did winning the title changed your life?
Katarina: Winning the title has been great, mostly because of all the support I´ve gotten from a lot of fantastic people around me. It has also made me even more eager to learn more about other countries and cultures, as I know that I now have the opportunity to do so.

UBC: As a beauty queen, what is your advocacy?
Katarina: My advocacy in general is to be happy, friendly and to show people around me respect. Then I would really love it if I could do something to improve the conditions for disabled children. I have a little brother with a disability, and as many disabled children his somewhat different personality can sometimes really lighten up the lives of people around him, and I think this is something we all can learn from and cherish!



UBC: How did you preparing for Miss International?
Katarina: I'm preparing for miss International in many ways. Putting together the right wardrobe for the competition obviously takes some time and effort, I'm designing my national costume, and of course I'm trying to get as much knowledge of the hosting country as possible. I am also exercising and trying to get as much sleep as possible to be fit for those intense but hopefully very interesting and fun weeks.

UBC: How does your family help you in your preparations?
Katarina: Without my family's love and support I could never have done this. I have a big family with four brothers (at least in Sweden this is a big family!) and they and my parents are all helping me in different ways, practical or by giving me advice. I appreciate it so much and I really feel blessed!

UBC: How will you develop FRIENDLY COMPETITION?
Katarina: I think that being able to participate in Miss International is a fantastic opportunity to get to know a lot of girls from other countries and from different cultures, and I am really looking forward to this. We can learn so much from each other. You get back what you give to others, so I think it is absolutely possible to compete and being good friends at the same time.


UBC: Young as you are, will you still join another pageant?
Katarina: Beauty pageants is something completely new to me, but so far it has been really amazing, so I would definitely join another pageant if I had the opportunity.

UBC: How will you cherish this experience?
Katarina: I think that the weeks to come will be the most exciting in my life so far, and in many ways the most educating too. I am really looking forward to the time in Japan, and I will try to learn as much as I can from the experience, from the country and from the other contestants. I am certain I will make a lot of new friends, and that is so amazing!

UBC: What advice can you give to those girls who loves pageants?
Katarina: If you want to join a pageant - go for it! There is beauty in everyone, inside and outside, and it's a great experience.



UBC: Beauty Tip To All.
Katarina: My beauty tip is to skip the diets! Diets seldom work, and is no good for young girls. Eat the things you like, maybe in smaller portions, but skip the junk food. Then I think people really ought to embrace the happiness in their lives and think positive, if you do, this will show in your face and you will look beautiful as well! (Through my father who is a sea captain I have a few friends from the Philippines and they are all very beautiful, so maybe you ought to give me some advice instead, haha! )

UBC: Message to all.
Katarina: I hope you all will be watching Miss International and that you will enjoy it, I know I will! It is fantastic that a lot of people around the world take such interest in beauty pageants, I think swedish people who tend to be somewhat negative towards pageants should learn from this!


We would like to thank Katarina for giving us an opportunity to interview her despite of her busy schedules especially that this interview was done during her preparations for Miss International. Universal Beauty Council wishes you all the best Katarina! We are surely going to follow you in whatever paths you take. Universal Beauty Council loves you.

Tuesday 8 January 2013

I Am She No Longer Holds The Miss Universe India Franchise

        The title says everything and to prove it. We found a screenshot of Sushmita Sen stating about "I Am She" not holding the MU India Franchise.


But the question remains.. Who will be the next to hold the Miss Universe India franchise?
Source: Missosology


Miss Belgium 2013 is Noemie Happart!


                     Noémie Happart is the new Miss Belgium or as in the bi-lingual Belgium - Miss Belgique/Miss België. Outgoing Miss Belgium Laura Beyne turned over her crown in a televised event held in Casino van Knokke-Heist. Normally a Miss Belgium competes on both Miss World and Miss Universe however, Miss World lately had been demanding a separate national pageant. 




                    Noémie comes from Leige in the Waloon region of Belgium. In the previous editions of Miss Belgium, political chatter came alive when some French speaking candidates were unable to speak Flemish - the other language of Belgium. 
Completing the Top 3 are Shérine Dandoy who is the first runner up and Melissa Vingerhoed, second runner-up.

Sunday 6 January 2013

UBC Aphrodite Awards 2012


Not only does UBC have the "Goddess Of The Universe" award but we also have our "Aphrodite Awards" that acknowledges the different Pageants with what they got and what they had that makes them special in the world of pageantry.