MU2013 POD - BOLIVIA

Miss Universe Bolivia 2013 Alexia Viruez

BNC SNEAK PEAK

A sneak peak at the national costume of Miss Russia! BS Librarian would kill to wear that headdress during tonight's Halloween festivities!

Miss Russia is clearly wondering how she is going to balance herself with that headdress on! We suggest she get advice from the Latinas - they always have huge, out of this world headdresses. 

CAMPUS REGULATION: ALL BS STUDENTS MUST WEAR BNCs FOR HALLOWEEN

Happy Halloween to all BS students! Please be advised that campus regulations require that all students who trick or treat on campus wear what we fondly refer to as Best National Costumes (BNCs)! Please refer to the following BNCs for guidance and inspiration. 

Mister International 2008 Ngo Tien Doan of Vietnam

Miss Namibia 2009 Happie Ntelamo

Miss Universe Australia 2005 Michelle Guy

Candido Torres, Puerto Rico's delegate to Manhunt International 1999

 Mister Brasil Tur 2013 Mauro Emiliano

 Miss Universe India 2008 Simran Kaur

Miss Universe New Zealand 2008 Samantha Powell

A group shot.
We can only positively identify Mister Eco Brasil2013 Rafa Toro and
Mister Rio Grande do Sul 2014 Bruno Vasconcellos

A special note to all Brazilian exchange students (of the male sex):  If you trick or treat at Dean Harris' office, he will give lots of candy to those who wear costumes a la Bruno.

MU2013 POD - GREECE

Miss Greece 2013 Anastasia Sidiropoulou shows off her National Gift at the National Gift Auction at Crocus City Mall in Moscow October 30, 2013. Miss Universe 2013 will be crowned on November 9, 2013. REUTERS/Darren Decker/Miss Universe Organization/Handout via Reuters (RUSSIA - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT) ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS. NO SALES. NO ARCHIVES. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS

MU2013 PODs - ECUADOR AND SWEDEN!

Miss Ecuador 2013 Constanza Baez poses for a photo with FC Dynamo Moscow and Ecuador national team midfielder Christian Noboa and his wife Olga Romanova (L) at the President Hotel in Moscow on October 29, 2013. Miss Universe 2013 will be crowned on November 9, 2013. REUTERS/Darren Decker/Miss Universe Organization/Handout via Reuters (RUSSIA - Tags: SPORT SOCCER SOCIETY ENTERTAINMENT) THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS. NO SALES. NO ARCHIVES. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS

Miss Sweden 2013 Alexandra Friberg poses for photos in front of the Crowne Plaza Moscow World Trade Center in Moscow October 29, 2013. Miss Universe 2013 will be crowned on November 9, 2013. REUTERS/Patrick Prather/Miss Universe Organization/Handout via Reuters (RUSSIA - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT SOCIETY) ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS. NO SALES. NO ARCHIVES. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS

MU2013 POD - GERMANY

Marlene Schmidt-worthy! Miss Universe Germany 2013

Miss Germany 2013 Anne Julia Hagen poses for photographers at Moscow Raceway October 28, 2013. Miss Universe will be held at Crocus City Hall in Moscow on November 9. REUTERS/Darren Decker/Miss Universe Organization/Handout via Reuters (RUSSIA - Tags: SOCIETY ENTERTAINMENT) ) ATTENTION EDITORS - NO SALES. NO ARCHIVES. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

MISS ITALIA 2013

The final two - Fabiola Speziale and Giulia Arena

Gazzetta del Sud, 28-October-2013: Jesolo, Giulia Arena, a 19-year-old Sicilian-born university student with a Dante quotation tattooed above her heart, was crowned the 74th Miss Italia in this seaside town near Venice Sunday night. Arena's triumph was the first shown on independent left-leaning broadcaster La7 after State TV RAI dropped it following a long row sparked by House Speaker Laura Boldrini accusing it of feeding perceptions of women as eye candy. Amid talks on who would carry the show, Boldrini slammed it as sexist and anachronistic, saying: "only 2% of women on television voice their opinions or even talk. The rest are dumb and often scantily clad". The 63 contenders responded by parading along Jesolo's seafront in T-shirts saying "Neither nude nor mute". One of the presenters, Neapolitan comedian Alessandro Siani, denied the show was a waste of taxpayers' money, telling the audience Italy needed to cut taxes, political corruption, bank aid and the influence of the mafia before "dashing these girls' dreams".

Arena, the green-eyed, light-brown-haired daughter of a tax-police officer and a homemaker in Messina, has just enrolled at Milan's Catholic University to study law. She said she was influenced in her choice by a "passion" for English fuelled by trips to the United States, Canada and Malta. Arena is an animal lover who has two dogs, two parrots, two squirrels, a rabbit and several tanks of fish at her parents' home in the southeastern Sicilian city. The Dante tattoo just below her left shoulder bears some of the most famous lines in the Inferno, a stirring exhortation by Ulysses to his veteran crew to make one last daring trip in search of knowledge beyond the Pillars of Hercules. "I'm a proud daughter of Dante," said Arena, who succeeds another Sicilian, Giusy Buscemi from Agrigento, as Miss Italia. Audience figures Monday showed that, far from flopping as many media critics had predicted after its migration from RAI's flagship channel, the pageant won a sizeable 16% of ratings when the crown was placed on Arena's head. 

MU2013 POD - COSTA RICA

Miss Universe Costa Rica Fabiana Granados gets the POD honor today! 

MISTER SINGAPORE 2013

The new Mister Singapore 2013 is Edwin Heng (Mister Yishin), 22 and 1,79m. He won the title last night at the RELC Auditorium in RELC International Hotel. According to Yahoo! Singapore:

As a child, Edwin grew up a victim of bullying and in a family that faced financial difficulties. He's an active volunteer and organises activities for lower-income families in the Teck Ghee community. He also enjoys reading, playing basketball, hitting the gym, and hopes to be an equity dealer in the financial sector when he graduates from university.

Rounding out the top six were Ian Chua (Mister Tampines), Jonathan Seah (Mister Serangoon), Ryan Lee (Mister Woodlands and first runner-up), Ow Ham Huo (Mister Choa Chu Kang and second runner-up), and Tyler Lim (Mister Marine Parade).

The new Mister Singapore 2013!

MISTER COSTA RICA 2013

The new Mister Costa Rica 2013 is José David Vargas, 20. He won the title on Friday night at the climax of a gala event at the teatro Eugene O’Neill in the Centro Cultural Costarricense-Norteamericano in San José. He beat off seven other competitors for the title and will now represent his Central American nation at Mister International 2014. 

MU2013 POD - DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Miss Universe Dominican Republic Yaritza Reyes is today's POD. What a stunning ice queen she makes! Yaritza took a nasty tumble yesterday during the Yamamay fashion show, but she recovered in great style. It was luck that she wasn't hurt. Dean Harris and Prof. Chandni both had the same reaction when watching the video of Yaritza's fall: "WTF, Paula Shugart!?!?!? Who the hell thought it was a good idea to put a big f*ing hole right in the middle of that embarrassingly small stage?!?!? They have better stages at contests held in malls for local titles in Spain and Germany! Maybe it is true what we are hearing about all aspects of the contest this year - totally on the cheap! If they don't watch out, other girls could really get hurt!" (Photo: MUO)

MU2013 POD - CROATIA

Now that Miss Universe 2013 is in full swing, we start our traditional Pic(k) of the Day (POD). Taking the first POD 2013 honor is fab Miss Universe Croatia Melita Fabecic.

Miss Croatia 2013 Melita Fabecic poses in her 2014 Yamamay for Miss Universe swimwear collection at the Rio Leninsky Mall in Moscow October 26, 2013. Miss Universe will be held at Crocus City Hall in Moscow on November 9. REUTERS/Darren Decker/Miss Universe Organization/Handout via Reuters (RUSSIA - Tags: SOCIETY ENTERTAINMENT) ATTENTION EDITORS - NO SALES. NO ARCHIVES. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

FROZEN MEMORIES

Frozen Memories. The Miss Universe 2013 delegates will definitely have those, as it is very cold now in Moscow. Frozen Memories. The name of Tony Ward's show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Russia (MBFWR), in which dozens of Miss Universe 2013 delegates cat walked today. Here is how the MBFWR website described Tony Ward's Frozen Memories collection:  "...a chronicle of life moments...skillfully transferred to the luxury fabric: brocade, lace veil. Models are flying down the runway in elegant gowns that reflect the spirit of antiquity, wanderlust and a bold vision for the future. Innovative solutions in the use of perforated leather, silicone beads, hand painted flowers and silk embroidery." Tony Ward established his haute couture line in 1994 and has become known for his evening gowns. Watch out, Sherri Hill!

We loved the look worn by Miss Universe Spain 2013 Patricia Yurena 

A revelation on the runway - Miss Universe Turkey 2013 Berrin Keklikler

Sheer perfection - the dress, the styling, the walk! 

Miss Universe Ukraine 2013 Olga Storozhenko

SALVE REGINA

Salve Regina. Latin. For Save the Queen. We use it here in reference to storied and vaunted Miss Italia contest, which has been rescued by Italian private television network La7 after being unceremoniously dumped by RAI1. La7 will televise the contest live on 27-Oct, from the Pala Arrex di Jesolo, in Jesolo, near Venice. The contest begins at 8:40 p.m. local time and will be live streamed on La7's web site. In addition to a new broadcaster, Miss Italia has new hosts - Massimo Ghini, Cesare Bocci and Miss Italia 2003 Francesca Chillemi. 63 women are competing for the Miss Italia 2013 title. See tg.com24 for the complete list of contestants. In addition to a new broadcaster, Miss Italia has new hosts - Massimo Ghini, Cesare Bocci and Miss Italia 2003 Francesca Chillemi.

The sashes are ready!

INSTA CURE FOR MISS UNIVERSE FEVER

That annual plague - Miss Universe fever - is starting to slowly affect everyone here on the BS campus. Not even flu shots at the local CVS are any help! If you are starting to feel the fever, Instagram may just be the medicine you need to help alleviate, or even cure, the symptoms, especially when you are on the go with the mobile phone. Here is a list of some of the Instagram accounts we follow, either because the feeds are excellent or because we love the account holder or both! 

Miss Universe Organization

Crocus City Hall

Miss Universe Russia 2013 Elmira Abdrazakova

Miss Universe Argentina 2013 Brenda Gonzalez

Miss Universe Austria 2013 Doris Hofmann

Miss Universe Brazil 2103 Jakelyne Oliveira

Miss Universe Germany 2013 Anne Julia Hagen

Miss Universe Great Britain 2013 Amy Willerton

Miss Universe Indonesia 2013 Whulandary Herman

Miss Universe Israel 2013 Yityish Aynaw

Miss Universe Malaysia 2013 Carey Ng

(special mention for one of the best IG accounts chronicling a titleholder's year, and her on-site coverage in Moscow promises to be among the best, too!)

Last year, Dean Harris had a really vicious case of the fever!

These are among the symptoms of the fever. These symptoms do not include excessive jingoism.

SPECIAL REQUEST: 

Please let us know of other really good IG accounts to follow!

All suggested cures for the fever are welcome! 

STATELY RECEPTION FOR MISS WORLD AFRICA 2013

The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts; Miss Ghana 2013;
and Miss World Africa 2013

Ghana Web, 20-Oct-2013: A stately welcome reception jointly put together by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, and Exclusive Events Ghana, has been held in Accra for Naa Okailey Shooter, Ghana’s representative at this year’s Miss World beauty pageant.

The strictly-by-invitation event held at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel on Friday, was to honour and celebrate Miss Shooter’s achievement at the event.

Ghana placed a historic third place position, with Miss Shooter becoming the new Miss World Africa. She also is the first Ghanaian representative to get far in the competition’s 63rd history.

Some of Ghana’s finest corporate heads and dignitaries including the Mayor of Accra, Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, Mr Reginald Laryea, former franchise holder, Togbe Afede, and Constance Swaniker of Accents and Arts, among a host of media personalities and known faces, attended the event.

The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, tasked Miss Shooter to work hard to “uplift the Miss Ghana brand, and its beauty with a purpose agenda.”

“We also trust that you will continue to work with your management here in Ghana to continue to promote tourism and other related industries.”

The honourable Minister used the occasion to reiterate her outfit’s belief that Ghana was ready to host the world event, adding, “I can confidently say that Ghana is ready to host such a prestigious event.
“We boast of a wonderful hospitality industry, rich culture and breath-taking tourist sites.”

“In addition, “she said, “The creative industry is booming. The huge revenue generation capacity for tourism and related sectors cannot be over emphasized.”

Miss Naa Oakiley Shooter, who was elegantly dressed on the night, relived her experience at the World event, saying “the greatest part of this entire experience was the privilege to share the rich cultural heritage and beauty of Ghana with the rest of the world.”

“This victory,” she said, “is not for me alone but for all Ghanaians and Africans at large.”

She also thanked persons, institutions, her parents, family and friends for their support throughout her journey to the event.

Inna Maryam Patty, CEO, Exclusive Events Ghana, organizers of the Miss Ghana pageant, told the gathering that her outfit was “determined to work hard to ensure that the Miss Ghana platform is one that continues to be respected and revered.”

She also re-echoed the honourable Minister’s position on Ghana’s hosting of the world event in the coming years, insisting “Exclusive Events Ghana shall beat the drum in every way and at every opportunity that we can.”

“The time has come,” she said.

Entertainment was provided by the Ghana Dance Ensemble and young acts Nino and Kobi Rana.

The event was hosted by Prince Ato Turkson and Precious Kyei Bonsu.

MISS Y MISTER C.C. EL OSITO L'ELIANA 2013

You know we love a co-ed contest, and this past weekend (Saturday, 12-Oct to be precise) saw the election of what has become one of our faves - the third annual Miss and Mister C.C. El Osito L'Eliana. This contest is named for the mall in which it takes place. This year's Miss C.C. El Osito L'Eliana is Laia Leon Zaragoza, 16 and 1m75. Runners-up for the Miss title were Sara Angulo, 22 and 1m75; and Nerea Baldrés Enrique, 19 años and 1m70. Mister C.C. El Osito L'Eliana 2013 is Daniel Tarazaga Carretero, 24 and 1m85. Runners-up for the Mister title were Sergio Aucejo Santos, 22 and 1m82; and Miguel Semper Ibañez, 25 and 1m92. All six qualify to compete in the next Miss and Mister Valencia contest. In 2011, Mister C.C. El Osito L'Eliana David Roca won the Mister Valencia title.