Showing posts with label Beauty Queens. Show all posts

Monday, 3 June 2013

Miss England finalists hit the beach to show off their bikini bodies

Baywatch beauty queens! Miss England finalists hit the beach to show off their bikini bodies

Sixty beauty queens gathered in Torquay, Devon
Joined by last year's winner Charlotte Holmes
The Miss England grand final will take place on 15th and 16th June

PUBLISHED: 14:43, 3 June 2013 | UPDATED: 14:55, 3 June 2013

British beauties hoping to set sail to the Miss World final in Indonesia have arrived in Torquay, Devon, to compete for the coveted Miss England crown.

Sixty beauty queens from across the country are vying for the title in a four day contest where they will have to participate in various rounds including the eco-fashion round - where contestants have to make their own green outfit - and the evening gown round.

The models were still given the opportunity to show off their figures today as they hit the beach and posed on a yacht in the English Riviera to promote the competition.

Watch out, Pamela Anderson! Finalists of Miss England 2013 competition gather on Torre Abbey Sands, Torquay for a photo shoot

All together: The finalists showed off their swimwear in preparation of the Beach Beauty competition

The final will be held in Torquay this year as it is the home of last year's winner, Charlotte Holmes.

She joined the pretenders to her crown at the beach today where the finalists took part in a Baywatch-style shoot running along the sea front in red and white swimwear.

She has relished her year as the reigning title-holder as the role has given her the opportunity to travel the world as an ambassador for a number of charities.

She also travelled to the Miss World final to represent England - as will this year's winner who will have the chance to take part in the beauty pageant in Indonesia.

Jump! The glamorous girls will compete for the title of the 'Beach Beauty' and the winner will go through to the top 15 finalists at the Miss England Finals

Glamorous: Finalists of Miss England 2013 competition, Miss Newcastle, Rachelle Graham, 22, left, Miss Liverpool, Jade Bulmer, 18, centre, and Miss North London, Kirsty Heslewood, 24, make a splash

Big day: Finals will be held at the Torquay Riviera International conference on the 15th and 16th of June 2013

But Charlotte warned the Miss England wannabes that there's more to the role than just 'parading around in swimwear or a glamorous gown.'

She said earlier this year when the hunt for the 2013 finalists was launched: 'The contestants, who range in both height and dress size, are required to take part in a series of enduring challenges during the four day final, aimed at testing and developing their physical fitness, mental creativity, styling, interview skills, individual talents, model potential and social skills.'

Beach babes: The winner will also win a holiday in Mauritius as well as the much coveted crown

Competitors: Miss North London Jade Bulmer aged 18 and Miss Newcastle Rachelle Graham aged 22 frolic on the beach

All aboard! Contestants for Miss England 2013 pose together in swimwear in Torquay

Jet setter: The girls were joined by last year's winner, Charlotte Holmes (centre) who has since travelled the world

Jet setters: The girls were joined by last year's winner, Charlotte Holmes (centre) who has since travelled the world

Those in the running for the Miss England title this year include Louise Bakewell, 19, from Somerset.

The glamorous competition is a far cry from her usual everyday life training in medicine along side working as a cattle farmer on her parents' farm and trainee mechanic.

Another hopeful is Jade Power, 19, from East Sussex who used to be bullied at school for being 'tall and ugly'.

The Miss England grand final will take place on 15th and 16th June at the Riviera International conference centre, Torquay. Tickets are available for both evenings. Visit www.missengland.info/the-finals for more information.

Ahoy sailor: The girls posed up a storm aboard a luxury yacht

Winner: The final will be held in Torquay this year as it is the home of last year's winner, Charlotte Holmes (front)

Thursday, 25 April 2013

Has plastic surgery made these Korean beauty queens all look the same?

Has plastic surgery made these beauty queens all look the same? Koreans complain about pageant 'clones'

A picture of 20 beauty queen hopefuls went viral on Reddit
More than 3,000 users debated the wisdom of plastic surgery

By STEVE NOLAN

PUBLISHED: 14:10, 25 April 2013 | UPDATED: 16:45, 25 April 2013

South Korea's growing obsession with plastic surgery became apparent when pictures of a group of aspiring beauty queens posted online prompted claims that cosmetic procedures have left all the contestants looking the same.

Pictures of the 20 Miss Korea 2013 finalists were posted on Reddit fuelling speculation that many of them had undergone surgery and prompting users to criticise the Asian nation's growing trend to go under the knife.

South Koreans currently have more plastic surgery than in any other country according to recent figures, with the craze particularly popular among 19 to 49-year-olds.

Beauty queen hopefuls: A picture of the Miss Korea 2013 hopefuls went viral after a Reddit user posted it online claiming that plastic surgery had left all the finalists with the same look

Beautiful: The Reddit post spoke fierce debate on Reddit with more than 3,000 users choosing to comment

The popularity of surgery, particularly among the young, has been blamed by some on a desire to look more 'western' fuelled by an obsession with celebrity culture.

All of the women vying for the crown of Miss Korea 2013 have dark, perfectly trussed hair, either tumbling over their shoulders or neatly tied up, pale skin, bright eyes and a perfect bright white smile.

And their apparent similarity prompted Reddit user ShenTheWise to post their pictures online, suggesting that many of those vying for the Miss Korea title this year have had similar surgery.

He captioned the image: 'Korea’s plastic surgery mayhem is finally converging on the same face.'

The post saw more than 3,000 people comment in response, debating the merits of widespread plastic surgery.

Reddit user HotBrownie, who claims to hail from Seoul, said: : 'Those women in fact do look unnervingly similar and yes, Koreans think so too.

'This is called the Korean plastic face look. In certain areas of Seoul, you would think all the women are sisters because they look so similar due to same surgeries.

'Without the plastic surgery, korean women are very diverse looking and easily can be told apart.

Finalists: All of the finalists have similar coloured hair and bright smiles

Debate: Many questioned the wisdom of plastic surgery and blamed an obsession with celebrity culture for an upsurge in procedures in the country

'The surgery takes away their individuality and uniqueness and its sad. Most are beautiful without it but telling them that their Korean ethnic features are in fact lovely is as effective as screaming at a brick wall.

'They wont believe you because they've been brainwashed to think westernization of their features is superior, I don't think they want to look white, but a mix of white and Asian and definitely less Korean.'

Another Reddit user, Forevertraveling, added: 'I live in Korea and older women complain how girls don't look Korean anymore because of all the plastic surgery.

'It's so common to the point if I meet a girl, I just assume she has had something done.

Stunning: Two of the Miss Korea 2013 hopefuls are pictured

Beautiful: A montage of all of the contestants for Miss Korea 2013 was posted on Reddit

'Girls here consider eye surgery just like using make up. '

But others on the social networking site said that all the pictures served to prove was that there is a 'cultural divide' between the east and west in terms of plastic surgery.

HerpDerpDrone commented: 'Western women want to exaggerate their features with plastic surgeries (fuller lips, bigger boobs, bigger butts) while Asian women want to refine their features (smaller chins etc) so there is definitely a cultural divide when it comes to plastic surgery.'

Miss South Korea Yu-Mi Kim admitted having cosmetic surgery saying: 'I never said I was born beautiful'

The pageant sparked controversy last year when pictures emerged of winner Kim Yu-Mi before she had undergone plastic surgery, with many claiming that cosmetic procedures give contestants an unfair advantage.

The student revealed her plastic surgery secret after photos emerged of her looking very different at school, but she said she hadn't misled anyone.

But she defended her crown telling the Korean media: 'I never said I was born beautiful.'

South Koreans have more plastic surgery than any other nation according to figures released in January.

Those in the Asian country have more treatments per members of the population, with one in every 77 turning to the knife or needle.

The figures, from the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ISAPS), show that in 2011, 15 million people across the globe turned to plastic surgery to enhance their looks.

While the popularity of cosmetic surgery in South Korea may come as a surprise to many, the industry there is in fact booming.

Last year, 20 per cent of women aged 19 to 49 in the capital city of Seoul admitted to going under the knife.

One of the most popular surgical procedures is double eyelid surgery - which reduces excess skin in the upper eyelid to make the eyes appear bigger and make them look more 'Western'.

It is believed that the rise of the country's music industry is behind the boom, and many patients visit clinics with photos of celebrities, asking surgeons to emulate American noses or eyes.

Singer PSY, whose song 'Gangnam Style' became a global hit, said his record label had urged him to get plastic surgery.

Outspoken: South Korean rapper PSY said that his record label urged him to undergo cosmetic surgery

Monday, 4 June 2012

Rhode Island stunner, 20, crowned Miss USA Olivia Culpo topped a field of 51 beauty queens to take the title

The cellist who became a beauty queen: Rhode Island stunner, 20, crowned Miss USA

Olivia Culpo topped a field of 51 beauty queens to take the title

By ASSOCIATED PRESS and DAILY MAIL REPORTER

PUBLISHED: 04:55, 4 June 2012 | UPDATED: 10:06, 4 June 2012

A 20-year-old cellist from Rhode Island won the Miss USA crown and will represent the United States in this year's Miss Universe pageant, after she made it clear that she embraced all beauty queens- transgender or otherwise- during the interview portion of the competition.

Olivia Culpo topped a field of 51 beauty queens on Sunday to take the title at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip.

She strutted across the stage in a purple bikini and a purple evening gown with sparkly belt.

Winner: Olivia Culpo, 20, from Rhode Island won the title of Miss USA on Sunday night during the live broadcast

Surprise! Miss Culpo, who is trained as a cellist, looks thrilled when she was announced the winner

Hearing her side: Hosts Andy Cohen (left) and Giuliana Rancic (center) and Miss Culpo speak during the ceremony

In the dreaded final question round, Ms Culpo was faced with the most difficult question of the night: would it be fair for a person born a man to be named Miss Universe after becoming a woman?

Ms Culpo never stumbled as she embraced the Miss Universe Organization's recent decision to admit transgender contestants.

‘I do think that would be fair,’ Ms Culpo said. ‘But I could understand how people could be apprehensive to take that road.’

Ms Culpo said she was short and chubby as a girl, but blossomed after a growth spurt.

I can't believe it: Miss Culpo said she was short and chubby as a girl, but blossomed after a growth spurt

Standing out in the crowd: Miss Culpo, center, won out of the 51 contestants

Well done: Miss Culpo, is congratulated by Miss Maryland Nana Meriwether after she is announced as the pageant winner

Showing off the outfits: Miss Culpo won two stunning gowns during the ceremony

Looking pretty for The Donald: The Miss USA competition is half-owed by Donald Trump

Serenade: Pop star Akon performs in front of the final five

Rather than spending all her time primping and focused on her looks, she attended band camp in the summer, devoting much of her time to her cello.

Miss Iowa USA Rebecca Hodge was named Miss Congeniality, and Miss Oregon USA Alaina Bergsma was named the most photogenic. They both won $1,000, but didn't make the top 16.

The pageant at the Planet Hollywood casino on the Las Vegas Strip had three competitions: swimsuit, evening gowns and interview question.

Body of work: Miss Culpo stuck to purple as her color in both the bikini portion (pictured) and the evening gown segment of the competition

Top five: (From left) Miss Ohio, Miss Maryland, Miss Rhode Island, Miss Nevada and Miss Georgia

Top ten: The finalists pose on stage during the 2012 pageant. Miss Culpo will represent the United States at the 61st Miss Universe pageant later this year

Miss Ohio Audrey Bolte, walks along the stage after being announced as one of 16 finalists

Contenders: Miss Texas Brittany Booker and Miss Ohio Audrey Bolte, walk along the stage after being announced as making the 16 finalists

Hosts: Andy Cohen, center left, and Giuliana Rancic opened the pageant

Hanging out: (L-R) Miss Wisconsin Emily Guerin, Miss Oklahoma, Lauren Taylor, Miss Kentucky Amanda Ashlee Mertz, Miss Arizona, Erika Lane Frantzve, Miss Arkansas, Kelsey Dow, and Miss Louisiana Erin Edmiston

Backstage pass: (L-R) Miss Virginia, Catherine Ashley Muldoon, Miss Wisconsin Emily Guerin, Miss Vermont, Jamie Lynn Dragon, Miss Utah Kendyl Carol Bell and Miss Wyoming Holly Allen wait during the final rehearsals

Midway through the contest, pop band Cobra Starship performed as the beauty queens modeled their string bikinis. The show also featured performances from Akon.

The judge's panel included chef Cat Cora, TV personality Arsenio Hall, singer Joe Jonas and reality TV star Rob Kardashian. Andy Cohen and Giuliana Rancic were on hand as the hosts of the evening.

Swimsuit round: Some of the contestants parade in swimwear by Kooey Australia and fashion footwear by Chinese Laundry

Rearly lovely: The pageant at the Planet Hollywood casino on the Las Vegas Strip had three competitions: swimsuit, evening gowns and interview question

Intelligence test: Miss Culpo knew the name of Vice President Joe Biden when asked (right) during an appearance on Cohen's talk show (left)

Miss USA 2011 Alyssa Campanella crowned her successor at the end of the night.

Ms Culpo will represent the United States at the 61st Miss Universe pageant later this year. An American has not been named Miss Universe since Brook Lee won the title in 1997.

The Miss Universe Organization is co-owned by NBC and Donald Trump and is not affiliated with the Miss America pageant.

KATCHING MY I

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