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Soraya Edith Hogonaga Serrano, 19, from Guayaquil, was crowned Miss Ecuador on March 21 at the Teatro Nacional de la Casa Ecuatoriana de la Cultura in Quito. The professional model who is fluent in English, French, and Spanish, will now represent her country at Miss Universe on May 12 in Hawaii. Hogonaga loves to paint and plans to travel to France to study art. The first runner-up at the glittering pageant was Vanesa Graf, also of Guayaquil, who will represent Ecuador at Miss World in the Seychelles this November. Our thanks to Ed Dominguez and Matthew Fischer.
Retha Reinders, 20, of Windhoek, was crowned Miss Namibia on March 8 at the Windhoek Country Club Resort. She will now represent her country at Miss Universe in Honolulu this May. The new Miss Namibia is a sales assistant for an automobile dealership in her city. The first runner-up was Salome Cartens, 19, of Windhoek, a psychology student from the University of Namibia. The second runner-up was Eloise Freygang, 23, of Lüderitz. Namibia's auditor general, Fanuel Tjingaete, acted as master of ceremonies, and the pageant was attended by the country's Prime Minister, Hage Geingob. Thanks to Steve Yonack for the update.
Singapore's night for beauty for 1998 was March 20, and JPP has the results for you. Alice Lim, a 23-year-old undergraduate was chosen as Miss Singapore Universe 1998 and will represent Singapore in Honolulu in May. Bernadine De Britto, a 22-year-old Administrative Executive won the title of Miss Singapore Intercontinental 1998 and represent Singapore in Leipzig, Germany in April. Paulyn Teo, a 21-year-old undergraduate was named Miss Singapore Queen of the World 1998 and represent Singapore in Baden-Baden, Germany in the Queen of the World Pageant this November. Jacqueline Chew, a 26-year-old Flight Attendant with Singapore Airlines was chosen as Miss Singapore Petite International will represent Singapore in Miss Petite International in Houston, Texas in July. Charlotte Tong, a 24-year-old Accounts Executive won the title of Miss Singapore Tourism International 1998 and will represent Singapore in Miss Tourism International Pageant in Turkey later this year. The gala pageants raised more than S$180,000 for the terminally ill patients of Singapore's Dover Hospice. Our sincerest thanks to Alex Liu for the information.
Sherine Wong Sook Ling, 18, of Kuala Lumpur won the title of Miss Malaysia Universe on March 15 in Kota Kinabalu. She is a national junior long and triple jump champion who competed in the 1997 Asian Junior National Meet in Thailand for her country. Ms. Ling, who also won the title of Miss Elegant at the pageant, will now represent Malaysia at the 1998 Miss Universe Pageant this May in Honolulu. The first runner-up was How Cheok Kuan, 22, a model from Ipoh. The second runner-up was Linda Jane Louis, also 22, a model from Kuala Lumpur. The third runner-up was Angeline Dison, 19, of Sabah, and the fourth runner-up was Maria Julius, also of Sabah, who won the titles of Miss Photogenic and Body Beautiful. The Miss Beautiful Face and Best Traditional Costume awards went to Priscilla Wong May Lee, 18, of Malacca. Our thanks to Matthew Fischer for the update!
Tisha Silang, 23, representing the Filipino communities of North America, was crowned Binibining Pilipinas Universe on March 14 in Manila in the Areneta Colisseum. She's a 5'7" nursing student who hails from Canada, and will now represent the Philippines in Miss Universe 1998 in Hawaii in May. Rachel Soriano was crowned Binibining Pilipinas World and will represent her country at the Miss World Pageant in the Seychelles in November. Colette Centeno, 17, a student studying in London, England, was elected Binibining Pilipinas International, and will represent the Land of Smiles in the Miss International Pageant this September in Japan. The pageant's first runner-up was Jewel Mae Lobaton of Bacolod City, and the second runner-up was Elsie Sicat, who also won Miss Photogenic. Our thanks to Martin Tordesillas for this update.
Claudia Patricia Alaniz, Miss Managua, a brown-haired, green-eyed 21-year-old, won the title of Miss Nicaragua in Managua's Teatro Nacional Rubén Darío on March 14. She will now represent her country in the Miss Universe Pageant in Hawaii in May. The first runner-up was Lillyana Sofía Pilarte, Miss Río San Juan, who will now represent Nicaragua in Nuestra Belleza Internacional in Miami, Florida in November. The second runner-up was Luisa Argentina Rodríguez Zeledón, Miss Matagalpa, who will represent her country in the Miss América Latina Pageant later this year, also in Miami. The Miss Congeniality award went to Abril Dayana Pérez Zepeda, Miss Masaya. Our thanks to Ed Domínguez and Matthew Fischer for this report.
Claudia Patricia Alaniz, Miss Nicaragua 1998 (at right)Kelly Pfaff, Miss Belgium won the Queen of the Clubs International Pageant in Penang, Malaysia on March 12. The first runner-up was Kellyn Cheah, Miss Malaysia, and the second runner-up was Inessa Charalambous, Miss Greece. The remaining three finalists were Marika Svensson, Miss Sweden, Olivia Turner, Miss New Zealand, and Manon Elleire, Miss Holland. Miss Photogenic was Diandra Sorres, Miss India. Our thanks to Anuar bin Othman for this great report!
Veruska Ramirez, Miss Venezuela 1997 made a recent visit to Brazil to take part in the world's biggest party, Carnival, in Rio de Janeiro. She took part in the Grande Rio Samba School parade. Our thanks to Paulo Galvão for the update!
Ivana Grzetic, 20, of Dubrovnik, was crowned Miss Croatia Universe on March 8 in Opatiji. She is a university student majoring in business administration who also won the Miss Photogenic award. The first runner-up was Marini-Ivi Kajmar, 20, of Velike Gorice, and second runner-up was Amira Kostic, 23, of Siska. Our thanks to the amazing Jimmy Harris for this report!
Lana Buchberger, Miss Canadian Universe 1995, who finished third in the 1995 Miss Universe Pageant, is engaged to be married to the NHL Calgary Flames' goalie Rick Tabaracci. We wish bride and bridegroom all the best. Thanks to Jason Smith for this wonderful news.
MISS USA UPDATE: Sonja Glenn, Miss South Carolina USA won the Miss Photogenic prize at the pageant, which was presented to her at the preliminary show on Friday, March 6. The Miss Congeniality award will be presented on the pageant telecast on Tuesday, March 10.
Patricia Onweagba, 17, of Nigeria, won the 1998 Face of Africa modelling competition in Lagos, Nigeria on March 1. JPP would like to again thank Jimmy Harris for this wonderful information!
Cynthia Belliveau, who represented the twin cities of Kitchener/Waterloo (Ontario) in the 1980 Miss Teen Canada and 1983 Miss Canada Pageants, has earned a 1998 Gemini Award nomination for her achievement in Canadian television. The Gemini Awards are the Canadian equivilent of the United States' Emmy Awards, which recognize the best of television in numerous categories, ranging from acting, make-up, sets, and direction. Ms. Belliveau received a nomination in the category of Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role for her portrayal of the widow and mother Honey Bailey in the acclaimed Canadian drama "Wind At My Back" (one of the Jimmy's Pageant Page's staff's favourites), about life during the Great Depression of the 1930s in small town Ontario. This is her second Gemini nomination, having also received a nomination in 1995 for her role as hard-hitting reporter Terry Morgan in the newsroom drama "E.N.G". She is the only woman to have represented Kitchener/Waterloo at both the Miss Canada and Miss Teen Canada Pageants. Our congratulations and best wishes to her as Gemini night fast approaches on March 1.
Cynthia Belliveau, at right, from the Miss Teen Canada 1980 program bookAnne Marie Blackburn was crowned Miss Edmonton on February 19, and will now represent the home of the Miss Canadian Universe Pageant in its 1998 competition next month. This was the first time that an organized pageant was held for the city title in six years. In a bit of history, Ms. Blackburn previously competed for the title as Miss Morinville (Alberta) in 1996. Our thanks to Jason Smith for the update!
Julianna Thiessen, an 18-year-old student at the University of Calgary, won the title of Miss Calgary on February 15, and will represent the Alberta city celebrating its tenth anniversary of hosting the Winter Olympics at the 1998 Miss Canadian Universe Pageant in Edmonton next month. The first runner-up was Amber Graburn, who will represent Calgary at the Miss Oktoberfest Pageant in Kitchener/Waterloo, Ontario in November. The second runner-up at the pageant was Lacey Elliot. Our thanks to Ludovick Uy Chong for the update!
Jonna Kauppila, 21, won the title of Miss Finland 1998 on February 14 in Helsinki. The first runner-up was Mandi Malek, and the second runner-up was Piia Hartikainen. Ms. Kauppila will now represent Finland at the 1998 Miss Universe Pageant in Honolulu in May. Our thanks to Kaarina "Katie" Hautaniemi for the update!
Aloha Miss Universe fans! It has been confirmed that the 1998 Miss Universe Pageant will be held in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin reports that the state of Hawaii will pay $3 million and the local tourism industry will kick in an additional $2 million is good and services bringing the pageant to the islands. The exposure from the two-hour Miss Universe telecast (to be held May 12), is estimated to be worth $100 million, and Governor Ben Cayetano sums up the investment by saying, "You can't buy this kind of exposure." The agreement with the Miss Universe head office also includes the possibility of staging the pageant in Hawaii again in 2001 and/or 2004. TV producer Al Masini, who created such shows as "Solid Gold" and "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" will be the Hawaii producer of the pageant. The pageant will be held at the 10,000-seat Stan Sheriff Center on the University of Hawaii-Manoa campus, which is the alma mater of the reigning Miss Universe, Brook Mahealani Lee.
Eva Neri, a 22-year-old student, was crowned Miss San Marino on January 18 at the Teatro Nuovo di Dogana. It is unlikely that she will represent her tiny country in any international pageants. Our thanks to Jimmy Harris for the great update.
Some late but great news... Pamela Semanche, Miss Martinique won the title of Miss Caribe Hibiscus 1998 on November 29th in Saint-Martin. The first runner-up was Patricia Sellin, Miss Guadeloupe, the second runner-up was Marisela Fernandez, Miss Puerto Rico, and the third runner-up was Leslie Miller, Miss Bahamas. Thirteen Caribbean and South American nations competed. Our thanks, as always, to the illustrious Jimmy Harris!
Susan Doss, 19, has been crowned Miss Appalacian Valley, and will now compete for her first time in the Miss North Carolina Pageant this summer. Good luck to you!
Louisa Luk, of San Francisco, California, won the title of Miss Chinese International on January 18 in Hong Kong. The first runner-up was Lisa Satita Vongthong, 18, of Bangkok, Thailand, and the second runner-up was Kalyane Tea, 20, of Montreal, Quebec. Ms. Luk is the first American to win the pageant, which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. Our thanks to Alex Liu!
At the Palmolive Femina Miss India Pageant, which was held on January 24, India's representatives for various international pageants were chosen. Lymaraina D'Souza, 19, won the title of Miss India Universe and will now represent her country at Miss Universe 1998 in May. Annie Thomas, 22, was crowned Miss India World and will represent India at Miss World in the Seychelles this year. Vithika Agarwal was chosen Miss India Asia Pacific and will represent her country at Miss Asia Pacific late this year. The pageant's web site is located at www.feminamissindia.com.
Emily Ryan of Kentville, Nova Scotia has been dethroned as Miss Canada International 1997-98 for apparently not fulfilling the agreements in her contract. Second runner-up Brooke Ross of Chatham, Ontario has taken over the title and the responsibilities of the titleholder. Meanwhile, the pageant's first runner-up Mandi Hochbaum of Winnipeg, Manitoba has gone to the press with the fact that she was not contacted that the titleholder has stepped down, and that the title and year of appearances rightfully are hers. In addition, Ms. Ryan is denying the allegations that she did not fulfill her duties. This is the second titleholder in the pageants' three-year history to be stripped of her crown. Miss Canada International 1996-97, Danielle House of Daniel's Harbour, Newfoundland, lost her title after being found guilty of assault following a fight in a university tavern.
Alicia Machado, Miss Universe 1996 has been implicated in a homicide in her homeland of Venezuela. Ms. Machado allegedly drove the getaway car away from a murder scene and took her boyfriend, who has been charged with murder, away from the scene. She will stand trial in Caracas. Both Ms. Machado and her lawyer claim that she was taping scenes for a Venevision soap opera at the time of the murder.
Jairam Caric Navas Domínguez, Miss Venezuela won the title of Reina Internacional del Café (International Coffee Queen) on January 10, in Manizales, Colombia. The first runner-up was Ana Belen, Miss Spain, and the second runner-up was María Luisa Ureña, Miss Costa Rica. The three remaining finalists were Verónica Larrien, Miss Bolivia, Nadya Hausmann, Miss Germany, and Natalí Sacco, Miss Peru. Ms. Navas is the first Venezuelan to win the pageant in its 27-year history. In addition, Miss Congeniality was elected as Miss Dominican Republic, Milspry Orbe; the best hair award went to Nazarena Almada, Miss Argentina; and the Most Beautiful Face award went to Ymak Fagundo, Miss Puerto Rico. Our thanks to Ed Dominguez for the update!
Michalina Koscielniak, 19, of Delmenhorst, won the title of Miss Germany (Queen of the World) in Berlin on January 14. She will now represent her homeland in the 1998 Miss Queen of the World Pageant. The first runner-up was Geraldine Renna, and the second runner-up was Yvonne Biedermann. Our thanks again to Michael Knittel!
Katharina Mainka, Miss Rheinland-Pflaz, 22, of the city of Neustadt/Weinstrasse, won the title of Miss Germany (Universe) 1998 in Trier on January 12. She will now represent Germany in the 1998 Miss Universe Pageant, and has the opportunity to represent her country in many other international and regional pageants, including Miss International, Miss Intercontinental, Miss Europe, and Miss World University. The first runner-up was Vanessa Koemann, Miss Nordrhein-Westfalen, 19, and the second runner-up was Romy Cordes, Miss Mecklenberg-Vorpommern, 20. Our thanks to the great Michael Knittel for the information.
Blanca Delfina Soto Benavides, representing Mexico, won the title of Miss Verano Viña Internacional 1998 in Viña del Mar, Chile. The Aztec beauty also won the awards for Best Smile and Miss Personality. Ms. Benavides is also the reigning Nuestra Belleza México Mundo, and represented Mexico at Miss World last November. The first runner-up in the pageant was Paola Villaroel of Chile. Our thanks to Arturo Garcia for the information!
Caroline Lubrez, representing France, has won the title of Miss Model of the World in Istanbul, Turkey. The first runner-up was Maria del Carmen of Spain, and the second runner-up was Assael Isabaeva of Kazakhstan. Our thanks to Andrew Gayo Smith for the update.
Cathering Swing, Miss Canada 1978, one of Canada's busiest and most prolific broadcasters, has a new gig. She's now the announcer for the new game show "Time Chase" on History Television, a Canadian cable television channel.
The Best Model of the World finals were held in Istanbul, Turkey on December 13 and 14, 1997, and in the women's category, Joanne Bradbury of the United Kingdom was declared the winner. The first runner-up was Oumy Bah of Senegal, and the second runner-up was Jacqueline Lienard of the Congo. In the men's division, the winner was Kenan Imirzalioglu of Turkey, with Marc Grosy of France as the first runner-up, and Gerald Suitner of Austria as the second runner-up. Our thanks to Jimmy Harris!
News from Mexico: The Señorita México Pageant has been cancelled for 1997. Pageant president Carlos Guerrero had problems with the principal sponsor of the pageant, Mexicana Airlines, and the pageant has been halted: whether permanently or temporarily has yet to be determined. The 32 representatives for the pageant, each representing one of Mexico's states, will now not have the opportunity to compete to represent Mexico in the Miss International Pageant for 1998. The pageant has been wracked with problems for the past few years, which culminated in 1996 when they lost their transmission rights to televise the pageant. Our thanks to Arturo Garcia for the update.
Pan Shao Yu was named Miss Singapore Chinatown in a glittering tenth-anniversary pageant on December 17. The lovely young woman of Indonesian-Chinese decent, whose Indonesian name is Suriyanti Sugianto, is a flight attendant with Singapore Airlines, and will now represent Singapore at the Miss Chinese International Pageant in Hong Kong on January 25. Our thanks to Alex Liu for the update.
Kim Foley of Georgia was crowned Mrs. US Globe in Palm Springs, California. The first runner-up was Lisa Carr-Yeagle, Mrs. Louisiana, and the second runner-up was Juanita Lee, Mrs. South Carolina. The third runner-up was Sheryl Lee Wilson, Mrs. Utah, and the fourth runner-up was Shirley Walters, Mrs. Arkansas. The remaining semi-finalists represented Alabama, California, Florida, New Jersey, and New York. The new Mrs. US Globe now competes in the Mrs. Globe Pageant, which will be held on Crete Island, Greece in September. Crowning the new winner was Mrs. US Globe 1996-97, Dawn Foley of California. Our thanks to J.S. Reid, Indiana and Kentucky state director, for the information.
Caroline Frolic won Metropolitan Toronto's Search for Miss Universe on November 29. She now has the opportunity represent Canada's largest city in the 1998 Miss Canadian Universe Pageant in Edmonton in April. Ms. Frolic is also the reigning Miss Renaissance USA World.
Nicole Schoenhofen, a 19-year-old student who is deaf, was crowned Miss Saarland Universe on November 15 in Voelklingen. She will now represent her state in the Miss Germany Universe Pageant to be held in January. She is originally from the state of Rheinland-Pfalz and was second runner-up in that state's preliminary one week previous. Our thanks to Michael Knittel!
Katharina Mainka won the title of Miss Rheinland-Pfalz on November 8. She will now compete in the Miss Germany Universe Pageant on January 13, 1998. Many thanks to Michael Knittel for the update.
The December 1997/January 1998 issue of the American magaine A: Inside Asian America has listed Miss Universe 1997, Brook Mahealani Lee as one of the 25 most influential Asians in the USA. She is ranked 11th on the list. Her fellow listed members are golf prodigy Tiger Woods, tennis player Michael Chang, U.S. news anchor Ann Curry, and film director Ang Lee. The assessment is an extremely positive and inspiring one. Thanks to Jimmy Harris for bringing this great news to light!
Varalat Suwanalat, Miss Thailand won the title of Miss Asia Pacific in Davao, Philippines on December 6. The first runner-up was Divya Chauhan, Miss India, and the second runner-up was Nancy Veronica Poema Agnieray, Miss Tahiti. The third runner-up was Kerry Anita Lucas, Miss Australia, and the fourth runner-up was Gabriela Maria de la Luz de Heeckeren Lagos, Miss Chile. The remaining semi-finalists were Andrea Joan Verhoel, Miss Canada; Iovannia Cox Alvarado, Miss Costa Rica; Rachael Jean Davie Martin, Miss New Zealand; Sheryll Moraga, Miss Philippines; and Jilian Guzman, Miss USA. Delegates from 25 nations competed for the crown, which was held for 1996-97 by Gabriela Aguilar of Costa Rica. The thirtieth edition of this popular pageant was broadcast live on Philippine and Asian television. Our thanks to Martin Tordesillas for the complete results, with special thanks to Donald West.
Felicidad Aveleyra won the title of Reina de la Atlantida in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands this past month. She was crowned from a field of 17 representatives of Europe and Latin America. Ms. Aveleyra was second runner-up in the latest edition of the Nuestra Belliza Mexico Pageant. Our thanks to Arturo Garcia.
Aicha Melissa Rami Keita, Miss Cote d'Ivoire, was crowned Miss CEDEAO (Miss Economic Community of West African States) on December 6 in Lome, Togo. The first runner-up was Shiela Zoumtaba, Miss Ghana, and the second runner-up was Manuella Lawson-Body, Miss Togo. Nations from 12 of the 16 members of this African trade bloc competed for the title. CEDEAO is the French acronym for the group. Our thanks to Jimmy Harris for the update!
Bakir Halima was named Miss Algeria recently in a pageant noted for its lack of a swimsuit competition. Though contestants modeled cocktail and evening wear, swimsuits were not worn by the contestants in this largely-Muslim country. Our thanks to Arturo Garcia for this great tidbit.
Patricia Fuenmayor, representing Venezuela, won the title of Reina Sudamericana on December 5 in Bolivia. Our thanks to Ed Dominguez!
Adriana Zúñiga, 19, of Costa Rica has been crowned Reina Mundial del Banano (International Banana Queen) in Machala, Ecuador. Ms. Zuniga is a Modern Languages student at the University of Costa Rica and was crowned Miss Teen International last April in her homeland. The first runner-up was Karla Beteta, 24, of Guatemala, and the second runner-up was Karla Cadena, 18, of Ecuador. The third runner-up was Jackeline Negro, 19, of Puerto Rico, and the fourth runner-up was Lisette Moran, 18, of the Dominican Republic. Ms. Zúñiga of Costa Rica won the Miss Photogenic prize at the prestigious pageant, and Valentina Placeres of Venezuela was named Miss Congeniality. An interesting incident occured when the host accidentally misread the name of the first runner-up to be Karla Morales, representing Bolivia; the name confusion was resolved and Ms. Beteta was rightfully declared the first runner-up. Eighteen nations competed in the pageant. The city of Machala, 375 km (240 miles) southwest of Quito, is internationally renouned as the banana capital of the world. Ecuador is also the largest banana-exporting nation worldwide. Our thanks to Ed Dominguez for his dedication!
Joey Tan, a 20-year-old marketing executive won the title of Miss Malaysia Chinatown on December 5. She will represent Malaysia in the Miss Chinese International pageant in Hong Kong on January 28, 1998. The first runner-up was Jackie Lim, 23, and the second runner-up was Sherlyn Foo, 20. Our thanks to Alex Liu for the great info!
Uzmin Everts, a 6' tall model, was crowned Miss Universe Bonaire on November 29 on the diver's paradise island in the Caribbean. At the same pageant, Julina Felida was named Miss World Bonaire and Geraldine Juliet won the title of Miss International Bonaire. All three lovely ladies will compete at their respective pageants in 1998. Our thanks to Richard John Isa for the info!
Diana Pereira of Portugal won the title of Supermodel of the World in New York City on November 24. Twenty finalists from twenty countries competed for a $250,000 contract with the internationally-known Ford Model Agency. Our thanks to Matthew Fischer for this update.