Miss Kosovo at Miss Earth beauty pageant

The Republic of Kosovo is participating for the first time with the other 90 nations at the international beauty pageant Miss Earth, which is being hosted in Philippines.

Yllka Berisha, the winner of Miss Kosovo 2007, is in Philippines representing the newlyborn nation at Miss Earth 2008.

Miss Earth is one of the three largest beauty pageants in the world in terms of the number of national level competitions to participate in the world finals along with Miss World and Miss Universe.

The reigning Miss Earth titleholders dedicate their year to promote environmental projects and to address issues concerning the environment. The final night of this event will take place on November 9, 2008 in Manila, Philippines.

Miss Kosovo is being sponsored by Agnesa Vuthaj Association, a beauty pageant association owned by the former Miss Kosovo, Agnesa Vuthaj.

Winners Crowned at the West End Beauty Pageant

WEST END, Grand Bahama Island– Thirteen young ladies charmed their way into the hearts of judges and well-wishers as they vied for the titles of Little, Junior Miss and Miss West End. Capturing the crowns were, Ansonique Hanna, Ashanti Stuart and Mariah Williams, who each received $1,000 scholarships.

Sponsored by Ginn sur Mer, contestants were judged on speech, talent and evening gowns.

Runners-up in the Little Miss division were: Trevesia Rolle, 1^st runner-up and Kaiden Hepburn, 2^nd runner-up. In the Junior Miss category, 1^st runner-up was Breneka Stubbs, and Jean Hanna placed second. Runners-up in the Miss category were: Shaquel Hepburn, 1^st runner-up and Taveka Russell, 2^nd runner-up.

Receiving special awards were: Kaiden Hepburn, Miss Amity and Little Miss Photogenic; Breneka Stubbs, Junior Miss Photogenic; Mariah Williams, Miss Photogenic; Ashanti Stuart, Best Float, Miss Popularity and Junior Miss talent winner; Trevesia Rolle, Little Miss talent winner; and Taveka Russell, Miss talent winner.

Highlights of the pageant included special performances by 10-year-old Clarissia Smith as Lil Miss Jessie Pearl (a younger version of the infamous Miss Daisy); the West End Marching Band; and soloist Lashando “Ace” Burnside.

Pageant organizers were pleased with the overwhelming support received from the West End community and announced that the three winners will travel to Atlanta, Georgia, in July, to compete in the Sunburst International Beauty Pageant.

Beauty pageant Saturday

BRANDON - The 2009 Miss South Dakota USA and Miss South Dakota Teen USA pageants are slated to take place this weekend at the Brandon Valley Performing Arts Center.

Seventy-eight of South Dakota's women will compete for both titles and the opportunity to represent South Dakota at the Miss Teen USA national pageant and the Miss USA Telecast live on NBC this April.

On Saturday, each contestant in this year's pageant will compete in three categories: evening gown, swimwear and a personality interview.

Both the preliminary and finals show are open to the public. The preliminary event will be held Saturday at 8 p.m. and the finals show will take place Sunday at 4 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at the door or preordered by visiting www.misssouthdakotausa.com or by calling 952-440-4550.

Miss International Beauty Pageant contestants visit Hong Kong

With the 48th Miss International Beauty Pageant 2008 taking place at the Venetian Macao on November 8, the contestants were taken on a trip to Hong Kong where 30 of the contestants visited Megabox the key shopping landmark in East Kowloon. Mr Valiant Leung, Senior Executive Vice President and Executive Director of Sun Innovation Holdings Ltd. kick off the event with a welcome speech followed by a greeting from Ms Czarina Man, General Manager, Marketing of MegaBox Development Co., Ltd. Ms Priscila Perales, Miss International 2007 also came to support the contestants and say hello to the audience in Hong Kong.

Lastly was the self-introduction by each member of the delegation. During the event, the contestants helped distribute the Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children charity Christmas card order forms to the audience.

Quake worries Pakistan's Miss Earth candidate

Subic Bay Freeport, Philippines – Two weeks before the contest, Pakistan’s representative to Miss Earth beauty pageant looked elegant and poised.

However, she admitted that earthquake that rattled her native land earlier that day worries her.

“My heart bleeds for them but these things happen," Nosheen said. “I just hope that help with reach them."

Nosheen’s worry stemmed from the pre-dawn earthquake that rocked Pakistan's south-western Baluchistan province.

Reports said, the 6.4 magnitude earthquake that occurred at about 5:10 a.m. claimed more than 200 lives and injured hundreds of others.

Nosheen, the 23-year-old beauty queen from Brierfield, United Kingdom, said she has yet to hear from the Pakistan Embassy in Manila about the real condition in her country.

News reports said that Dilawar Kakar, the mayor of Ziarat town - the place that was gravely hit by the disaster - has been persistently asking for help.

While waiting, Nosheen said that she constantly updates herself via the internet. In fact, “after this (interview), I will surf the net to get a better sense of what is happening."

“But after the pageant, I hope to go around the Pakistani communities in Britain and gather as much help as I can," she added.

Nosheen, who arrived in the country with the other contestants last October 19 was introduced before the members of the press at the Lighthouse Hotel in Subic Bay Wednesday evening.

Pageant contestants were also toured at the various tourist attractions in Subic Bay as part of the promotional tour of the environmentally-orientated beauty pageant.

When asked if she would consider pulling out of the pageant, Nosheen explained that her decision would really depend on the outcome of the situation.

“It is a very personal question. I will decide if and when any news puts me on that situation," Nosheen explained. “But as of the moment, I am praying for my people and I am hoping for the best."

Nosheen, a communications student in Sheffield University, was only runner-up in the Miss Pakistan World 2008.

However, since the winner was unable to participate in pageant, Nosheen was chosen by the pageant organizers to represent Pakistan in the eight Miss Earth beauty pageant, which will be held on November 9, at the Clark Expo Amphitheater in Angeles, Pampanga.

S'pore beauty wins

SINGAPORE air stewardess Lilian Lee has clinched the Miss Intercontinental Asia Pacific title at the 37th Miss Intercontinental Pageant held in Zarbse, Poland, last Saturday.

The 24-year-old competed with 56 beauties from all over the world. Colombia's Cristina Carmago, 23, was the overall winner, taking the Miss Intercontinental title.

Local pageant organiser iGlamour Singapore helped Lee to prepare for the pageant and her gowns were sponsored by boutique Blum & Co.

The former Singapore Polytechnic student was chosen as the Singapore representative after winning the Miss Singapore Sweetheart pageant here.

She told online portal Stomp: 'When you're there, they don't call you by your name but by your country's name. So it was an extremely proud moment for me when they called for 'Miss Singapore' in front of an international audience.'

The pageant started in 1971 on the island of Aruba in the Caribbean as a way to attract tourists. It was held there for 10 years and has since been held in different countries each year, says the organiser, World Beauty Organization.

Green babes beauty contest

WHAT do we want? Girls in bikinis. When do we want it? Now!

Who said eco-campaigning had to be boring?

These girls stripped off in the name of the planet for the Miss Earth beauty contest 2008.

It helps raise awareness of green issues around the world and is being held in the Philippines.

The competition - now in its 8th year - has attracted 85 gorgeous environmentally-conscious cuties from around the world.

Heats were held around the globe to whittle down the finalists.

Yorkshire's Caroline Duffy is flying the flag for the UK at the event, where tasks have included tree planting and visiting local schools to speak about nature.

The 21-year-old teaching assistant, pictured here, loves orang-utans and her ambition is to work with them in Borneo.

She added: "I want to show people that with determination, together we can all move forward into living healthier, happier and more sustainable lives."

We're right behind their message at The Sun Online - even if their skimpy bikinis result in temperatures going up even more.