March News

March 30

• FORMER MISS WORLD CANADA DEFENDS IRANIAN ON DEATH ROW (Ctv.ca)
  A former Miss World Canada is attempting to bring international attention to the plight of an 18-year-old woman sentenced to death in Iran.

  Nazanin Afshin-Jam, a B.C. resident who won the Miss World Canada pageant in 2003, has never met the Iranian woman whose life she is trying to save.

  "This is not just a case of an Iranian woman. This is a case of humanity," Afshin-Jam told CTV Vancouver.

  In early January, an Iranian court sentenced the 18-year-old, who is also named Nazanin, to death by hanging because she confessed to stabbing and killing a man who she said was trying to rape her and her niece.

  Nazanin, who was 17 at the time of the incident, was with her 16-year-old niece when she said three men pushed them to the ground and tried to rape them.

  She testified to taking a knife and stabbing one of the men in the hand. When the men continued to attack the girls as they tried to escape, she said, she stabbed one of the men in the chest. She said that she was defending herself and her niece and had no intention of killing the man.

  "She's not a criminal -- she's the victim," Afshin-Jam said.

  The former Miss World Canada and aspiring singer is not along in her efforts.

  Negar Azmudeh, a Vancouver-based immigration lawyer, has also taken up the girl's cause, alleging that this case demonstrates the unjust treatment of women in Iran.

  Azmudeh told CTV Vancouver had Nazanin been killed by a man, he would likely not receive a death sentence: "Because the value of his life would be twice as much as Nazanin's."

  Amnesty International is also lobbying for Nazanin's release.

  In the past, Iran has bowed to international pressure. In 1997, a woman who was sentenced to death by hanging for shooting a police officer who allegedly tried to rape her was later released.

  However, there are also cases where young women have suffered the death penalty.

  In 2004, a 16-year-old was hung for committing "acts incompatible with chastity."

  "I think cases like this are illustrative of the fact there is a serious, serious human rights crisis in Iran; the death penalty, discrimination against women and a whole host of other concerns," said Alex Neve, Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada, told CTV Vancouver.

  "It really is time for the international community to put those issues right at the top of the agenda."

  Afshin-Jam has started an on-line petition and hopes that people around the world will also take up Nazanin's cause.

  "If enough people get involved in this and we all gather together and take action then she can be free."

• JENNIFER HAWKINS - DANCING WITH THE STARS
  Round 5 - 3rd place
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ka_hDuxO9MI&search=jennifer%20hawkins
  
  
• MISS UNIVERSE CANADA ARTICLES
  MARCH 22: YORK U BEAUTY WINS MUC (Toronto Sun)
  
  MARCH 29: ALICE RISES ABOVE CROWD - 6 FOOT 1 BEAUTY TOPPED PAGEANT (Toronto Sun)
  A hushed awe descended on the room as Alice Panikian -- all 6-foot-1 of her -- entered the room.
  The new Miss Universe Canada silenced about a dozen reporters and photographers as she strolled into the Rosewater Supper Club yesterday for a press conference announcing a speaking tour across GTA schools starting next month.

  COMMANDING PRESENCE
  Panikian, 20, struck a commanding presence with her long, chestnut hair, dark eyes, flawless olive skin and most of all, her stature: The long-time model towered over most of the room in her stiletto sandals.

  Dressed in a sequined corset top and hip-hugging jeans, Panikian -- crowned March 21 in Montreal -- acknowledged she has big shoes to fill after her predecessor Natalie Glebova, also from Toronto, won the Miss Universe title last year.

  "It's important for me not to have any expectations," said the York University student and aspiring broadcast reporter. "I know there's a small possibility of two winners from the same country in a row. I'm doing this for the experience ... I'm going to be my own person."

  Despite beating out 48 other Canadian beauties for the title, Panikian said she wasn't always self-confident, especially because of her towering height and what she calls her natural weight -- 130 pounds.

  "I don't do a lot of maintenance. A lot of people speculate I'm anorexic and I can understand that, but if anyone spent time with me, they'd see the kind of stuff I eat," she said.

  'FEMINIST ATTITUDE'
  When asked to comment on beauty pageants, Panikian balked, saying the term offends her.

  "I think of it more as a competition, not a pageant," she said.

  "It's more about intelligence. Beauty is definitely a part of it, but now it's changing towards a realistic look as opposed to the Barbie look."

  But when it was noted that she's not exactly the girl-next-door, the Bulgarian-born beauty pointed out that her personality is.

  "I think I'm real, I'm not rehearsed ... I know I'm not a typical Canadian woman. I was born this way. But I can use it to my advantage, it's my right to do so. That's a feminist attitude for me."
  

March 21

• MISS UNIVERSE CANADA 2006 RESULTS
  WINNER: Alice Panikian (Toronto, ON)
  1st RU: Ana Zotovic (Toronto, ON)
  2nd RU: Angela Triantafyllakis (Calgary,AB)
  3rd RU: Fanny Samaniego (Toronto, ON) - 2nd RU MWC 05
  4th RU: Galyna Skrypnyk (Etobicoke, ON) - Semifinalist MWC 05
  Top 10 Semifinalists
  Claudia Cote (St. Jerome, QC)
  Shaileen Stanley (Peterborough, ON)
  Stephanie Cloutier (Thetford Mines, QC)
  Melanie Marcotte (Montreal, QC)
  Stacy McKinney (Whitby, ON)
  Top 15 Semifinalist
  Isabel Agar (Vancouver, BC)
  Maika Desnoyers (Marieville, QC)
  Tiffany Boulton (Okotoks, AB)
  Marie-Pierre Gonneville (Montreal, QC)
  Catherine Frechette (Blainville, QC)

  Special Awards
  Miss Congeniality: Abigail Lee
  Miss Christina Swimwear:
  1st Alice Panikian, 2nd Marie Pier Tremblay, 3rd Ana Zotovic
  Miss Photogenic: Alice Panikian
  Best Hair: Ana Zotovic
  People's Choice: Leslie Gauthier
  
  More at criticalbeauty.com next monday! Thank you & special thanks to Rafa (Critical Beauty) & Angie Labranche (Casino de Montreal). Full review will be featured in CB in April.

March 19

• MISS UNIVERSE CANADA PRELIMINARY
  Miss Congeniality: Abigail Lee (North York)
  Miss Christina Swimwear: Alice Panikian (Toronto)
  Miss Christina Swimwear 1st RU: Marie-Pier Tremblay (Levis)
  Miss Christina Swimwear 2nd RU: Ana Zotovic (Toronto)
  
  No surprises here! Abigail Lee is one of the sweetest girls on & off the pageant stage, while Alice is the clear frontrunner of the 2006 MUC competition.
  
  I will be attending the pageant in Montreal next week & will be covering the show for Critical Beauty. More pics coming soon!
  
  http://www.beautiesofcanada.com/2006/contestants06.htm
  
  
• MISS NEW YORK CHINESE NEWS *Courtesy of Nicole Wang
  http://cn.ent.yahoo.com/060310/322/27pfj.html
  
  
• MISS HK BABY
  Miss HK 1995 1st RU Sophie Rahman gave birth to a baby girl last week.
  
  
• JENNIFER HAWKINS - DANCING WITH THE STARS
  Round 4 - 2nd place (tie)
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0dbtT1CQWY&search=jennifer%20hawkins
  
  
• CAROL CHEN WINS MISS SAN FRANCISCO *Courtesy of the Examiner & Carol Chen
  Miss San Francisco Carol Chen was crowned Miss San Francisco on March 12th & will continue onto the Miss California contest, then competes for the Miss America pageant. Carol is a graduate of Columbi University and was Miss Chinatown USA for 2005. Carol competed against eight other candidates for the title at Fort Mason. She's also the first asian in the pageant's 60-year history to ever win the title.
  
  
• LACK OF UPDATES
  I just came back from a NYC trip & am clearly still in vacation mode!

March 11

• MISS SAN FRANCISCO SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
  Miss Chinatown USA 2005, Carol Chen will be vying for the Miss San Francisco title on March 12th. The pageant is an official preliminary to Miss California & Miss America.
  
  Click here for the 2006 contestants
  
  
• MISS USA 2006
  Little Pigs Genuine Pit gets ready for Miss USA :)
  
  
• JENNIFER HAWKINS - DANCING WITH THE STARS
  Round 3 - 5th place
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTx3zTb7M_M&search=jennifer%20hawkins
  
  
• MORE MISS HK BUMP WATCH
  Last week's Sudden.Atnext.com weekly (Issue 553) featured a piece on recent HK entertainment baby bumps. Including singing sensation Faye Wong, who's expecting her second child in May, Miss HK 1993 Semi-Final host/mc Sandra Ng Kwun-Yue, her first in July. Miss HK 1987 Chingmy Yau Sok-Jing, expecting her second in the coming months &....Miss HK 1990 Anita Yuen Wing-Yee who's expecting her first baby with Chilam in July! Pics coming soon...

March 7

• JENNIFER HAWKINS - DANCING WITH THE STARS
  Round 2 - Jennifer & Sergei are in 2nd. They were 3rd the previous week. It looks like Jennifer is becoming the Stacy Kiebler of US's Dancing with the Stars!
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjI4mhq1AIQ&search=jennifer%20hawkins
  
  
• TVB WEEKLY - FEB 28TH, ISSUE 454 *Special thanks to Em
  An article regarding the Miss HK overseas recruitment was featured in last week's TVB Weekly (pg. 44-47). Last year's winners Tracy Ip, Sharon Luk, & Carrie Lam reflected on the past year & why they joined the Miss HK pageant. There was also a list of past overseas contestants.
  
  Other 'pageant' pics
  pg. 12 - MHK 2005 Finalist #18 Erica Yuen
  pg. 18 - MHK 2003 contestant #18 Selena Li
  pg. 20 - MCI 2001 Bernice Liu
  
  

  YEAR	CONTESTANT	AWARDS	CITY
  1991	#7 Amy Kwok Oi-Ming	WINNER Miss International Goodwill Miss Humor	Los Angeles
  	#13 Maur Yeung Hoi-Sze	Miss Popularity	Los Angeles
  1992	#8 Patsy Lau Yan-Ling	1st RUNNER-UP Miss International Goodwill	Los Angeles
  	#14 Carol Lee Chau-Lam	Miss Popularity	Los Angeles
  1993	#20 Christina Lau Fei-Fei	Miss International Goodwill	Los Angeles
  1994	#18 Dorothy Ng So-Shan	Miss International Goodwill	Los Angeles
  1995	#12 Winnie Yeung Yuen-Yee	WINNER Miss Perfect Shape	San Francisco
  1997	#2 Virginia Yung Ka-Shui	WINNER Miss Photogenic Miss Cosmopolitan Miss Oriental Charm	Vancouver
  1998	#20 Anne Heung Hoi-Lam	WINNER Miss Photogenic Miss Hospitality Miss Universal Beauty	Vancouver
  	#14 Josephine Yan Lei	Miss International Goodwill	Los Angeles
  1999	#12 Sonija Kwok Sin-Nei	WINNER Miss Photogenic Miss Intelligence Miss International Goodwill	Vancouver
  	#15 Cindy Wong Sin	Miss Beautiful Legs	Los Angeles
  2000	#11 Vivian Lau Lai-Wun	WINNER Miss Photogenic Miss International Goodwill Miss Millenial Charm	Vancouver
  	#17 Margaret Kan Pui-Kin	1st RUNNER-UP Miss Competitive Strive	Toronto
  	#5 Maree Lau Ka-Wai	2nd RUNNER-UP	Sydney
  	#13 Edith Wong Ho-Wai	Miss Perfect Figure	Toronto
  2001	#9 Gloria Tam Hau-Ting	Miss Media Elect	Los Angeles
  2002	#11 Tiffany Lam Man-Lei	WINNER Miss International Goodwill Miss Modern Style	San Francisco
  	#20 Cerina Da Graca (Ka Bik-Yee)	Miss Photogenic Miss Svelte Beauty Miss Adorable Complexion	Phoenix
  2003	#2 Mandy Cho Man-Lei	WINNER Miss Diamond Skin Miss Swimsuit Miss International Goodwill Perfect Team	San Francisco
  	#11 Rabee'a Yeung Lok-Ting	1st RUNNER-UP Miss Tourism Ambassador	Vancouver
  	#18 Selena Li	Miss Photogenic Miss Talent	Toronto
  	#17 Carrie Lee	Finalist Miss Beautiful Figure Perfect Team	Vancouver
  2004	#1 Queenie Chu Wai-Man	1st RUNNER-UP Miss Tourism Ambassador	Seattle
  2005	#5 Camille Suen Wing-Sze	Miss Spa Culture Ambassador	Toronto