In my country, around 120 beauty pageants (or reinados) are held every year. As in almost every Latin American country, these events are quite important. This year, Valerie Domínguez Tarud (1981.01.12, Barranquilla –wow, she’s one day older than me!), Miss Colombia 2006, was representing our troubled country in Miss Universe pageant. It was not a surprise she became one of the 10 finalists, but a lot of people got disappointed when she didn’t qualified into the top 5. So sure of herself, with a great attitude, the lovely Valerie played such a great role in this version.

I didn’t like the winner, Puerto-Rican Zuleyka Rivera (1987.10.03, Salinas), the reina de lo postizo ("queen of the false"). She seems so fabricated… Among the Latin contestants, Miss Bolivia, Miss Mexico and, of course, Miss Colombia, deserved to be at the top 5 more than Rivera and Paraguayan delegate Lourdes Arevalos. Maybe the presenter and one of the judges could have been a big influence for this choice. Swiss delegate, Lauriane Gilliéron, was a sophisticated blondie, I liked her. On the other hand, it seems that Miss USA, no matter if she is cute or not, must be at the top 5 as a rule, a permanent member.  

But the one that shocked me was the passionate, outspoken and polyglot Kurara Chibana (知花くらら, 1982.03.27, Naha), Miss Japan. What an attitude, what a smile, what a charm! I knew she was not going to win anyway, but once Colombia was out of the competition, I started cheering on her. What about that sexy samurai costume? She did so fine… I think she’s gonna be a very famous top model someday.

Anyway, these contests are more politics and advertising than something else. The real beauty can’t be chosen by 20 entertainers… And, as usual, the winner is not necessarily the most beautiful.