200 DAYS, 20 CITIES, 5,000 APPLICANTS

China Daily, 16-Aug-2012: After more than 200 days, more than 20 cities and 5,000 applicants, China is about to choose who's the fairest in the land. The Miss Universe China 2012 beauty pageant kicked off in December 2011 and is now entering its final stage, as the national director Yue-Sai Kan presents 22 beauties for the final on Sept 1, in Shanghai. With an average height of 1.75 meters and age of 22, the women come from diverse backgrounds, including an opera singer, dance teacher and college students. "The forthcoming month will be critical for what Kan calls the"creme de la creme", as they undergo a month-long intensive training course at the Kerry Hotel in Shanghai Pudong. Kan calls this a "phoenix-from-the-flames" process". They will take a 12-course "Chinese lady" training class that includes table manners, English speaking, yoga, and performing arts, under the care of a galaxy of teachers from Japan, France and Italy. READ MORE.