ON Saturday 13th of October, 2007, 23-year-old, Miss Lebanon, Nancy Afiouny, was crowned the new Miss Intercontinental 2007 at the International Conference Centre (ICCS) in Mahe, Seychelles – in a spectacular show with the legendary singer, Keith Tynes (ex-Platters), the beautiful TV host from Lebanon won the crown after a two-hour show which was broadcasted by Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). The two runners-up were Miss Korean, Miss Han na Yoo and Miss Margarita Island, Emily Fernandez. The contest was organized by the World Beauty Organisation – a Panama registered company whose European Director is Detlef Tursies.
It is to be noted that the Miss Intercontinental Pageant began in 1971 on the island of Aruba – where it was for many years the main event of the island’s annual tourism promotion programme. After Aruba, it has been hosted in Africa, South America and China. The pageant was held in Germany in 1991. Last year, Miss Intercontinental Pageant was held in the Bahamas where Seychelles was represented by Miss Wendy Boniface.
The Miss Intercontinental Beauty Pageant is still an adolescent when compared to Miss Uni-verse and Miss World – both of which started in the 50’s – and are considered to be the two most prestigious international female beauty pageants.
Miss Universe has had a very interesting beginning. The winner of 1950s “Miss America 1951” pageant, Yolande Betbeze, refused to pose in a swimsuit from major sponsor Catalyna swimwear. As a result, the brand’s manufacturer Pacific Mills withdrew from Miss America and set-up the Miss USA and Miss Universe contests.
The first Miss Universe Pageant was held in Long Beach, California in 1952. It was won by Amy Kwusela from Finland, who gave up her title to marry a Philippino tycoon, Veirgilio, shortly before her year was complete. Miss Universe is now run by the Donald Trump organization in New York City.
Whereas Miss Universe was born in the USA, Miss World Pageant was a United Kingdom production. In fact, Miss World started as a festival for a bikini contest in honour of the then recently introduced swimwear of the time. At that time, Eric Morley, the founder of Miss World decided to make the pageant an annual event. Opposition to the wearing of bikinis led to their replacement of more modest swimwear after the first contest.
In 1969, the BBC started broadcasting the Competition. The pageant’s popularity was Reaching two billion viewers from almost every corner of the world.
In the 1960’s, the Miss World Pageant repositioned itself with the slogan, “Beauty with a Purpose”, with added test of intelligence and personality.
As a matter of fact, Seychelles has been host over recent times to two Miss World Annual Contests. In 1998, we saw Lynor Abargil winning the crown for her native Israel at the Berjaya Mahe Beach Resort in Port Glaud, Mahe, to replace Miss Diana Hayden of India, who had been crowned also at the Plantation Club Resorts & Casino in Baie Lazare, Mahe.
The 2007 Miss Universe Pageant was held in Mexi-co City on the 28th of May, 2007, with 77 candidates competing for the title. The winner of Miss Universe 2007 was Riyo Mori of Japan, who was crowned by the previous 2006 winner, Zuleyka Rivera of Puerto Rico.
Miss World 2007, the 57th Miss World Pageant will be celebrated in Sanya, People’s Republic of China on December 1st, 2007. It should be noted that Sanya, China, hosted Miss World consecutively in year 2003, which was won by Rosanna Davison of Ireland; in 2004 which was won by Maria Julia Mantilla Garcia of Peru and in 2005 by Unnur Birna Vilhjalmstdottir of Iceland.
The 2007 Miss World winner will be crowned by Miss World 2006, Miss Tatiana Kucharova of Czech Republic, who was herself crowned at the Warsaw Palace of Culture and Science, Warsaw, Poland last year.
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