1988 Miss Universe Pageant -- Conquered by Eastern Asian Beauties

The 1988 Miss Universe Pageant was a shocker.

It broke the status quo where Southern Americans would usually dominate the top positions in the competition.

Instead, 4 out of the top 5 came from Southeast & East Asia: Thailand, Korea, Japan, Hong Kong. The odd one out was Miss Mexico. The beautiful Miss USA was denied entry into the top 5.

According to a Wikipedia entry, after the preliminaries, the pretty Miss Korea, Jang Yoon-jeong, was the highest-placed Asian delegate who ranked third behind USA and Dominican Republic. During the actual pageant, she placed 1st runner-up behind Thailand's Porntip Nakhirunkanok. She was actually my favourite, favourite contestantof 1988. I so so loved her cute and adorable face.

I have to give special mention to Miss Hong Kong, Pauline Yeung, who until today is highly-regarded as the lady who had achieved the highest beauty accolades for Hong Kong in the international pageantry circuit.

The year Pauline Yeung won Miss Hong Kong, her 1st & 2nd runners up were equally popular.



Lam Wing Han, the cute and adorable 2nd Runner Up, quickly became a much-loved actress in HK dramas. After gaining some popularity as an actress, Wing Han disappointed so many fans when she decided to retire to pursue her master's degree in the US. 



Pauline was not the most beautiful. But the 20-year-old was so elegant and regal that you just knew the title belonged to her. She competed in Miss World and won the Queen of Asia title, then went on to grab the 4th Runner Up position in Miss Universe. Wow!

Elizabeth Lee Mei Feng, the 1st runner up, was so sexy and attractive that she was quickly snapped up as the leading lady in HK movies. She still makes spokesperson appearances today, looking equally as sexy even though she has retired from acting.

Pauline Yeung (in white) is still so beautiful & regal till today.

Miss Universe 1987 Opening -- Great Energy, Great Song!

I loved this song in the 80's. And I loved this opening then.

Re-live it. Let's go!

Two Miss Universes

How lovely! This is a photo of two gorgeous Mexican women who have won the Miss Universe crown.

Lupita Jones, Miss Universe 1991, so gorgeous till now.

Ximena Navarette, Miss Universe 2010, a gorgeous reign begins.

Lupita runs the Miss Mexico beauty pageant and I'm sure she's extremely proud that under her organization, Mexico has produced another Miss Universe winner.

The world is in need of more reasons to celebrate beauty -- which is God's gift.

What a lovely sight to behold.

Barbara Palacios Teyde, Miss Universe 1986

Her name was Barbara. Funny, she didn't look like a Barbara to me, but she won the Miss Universe title in 1986. I thought she was elegant and regal and had a quiet but captivating beauty. Her evening gown was simple but so interestingly cut that she looked arresting in it.

I loved watching the pageant that year. Miss USA was 1st Runner Up. Christy Fitchner was almost winning all the way with her great body, looks and evening gown.

But in the end, Barbara won, and I agreed with the judges all the way. She didn't have the most stunning face to me, but there was definitely something about her and she had the aura of a leader.



Apasra Hongsakula, Miss Universe 1965

She was Miss Universe 1965 -- one of the rare Miss Universes of Asian descent. All of 5ft 4 inches tall, she probably did not know what was going on or could even imagine that she could have a future so bright when she won the crown in 1965. Quite intriguing, really.

Time changes everything? If she was competing in 2010, I'm not sure she would have been noticed at all by the judges.

MY MISS UNIVERSE 2010 PREDICTIONS

Snapshots of Ximena, Miss Universe 2010

A photographer's delight

More of Ximena Navarette -- congrats to the Miss Universe Organization

I have a feeling that the Miss Universe Organization will have a great year with Ximena Navarette as Miss Universe.

She may probably be the Winner that's most requested for interviews, photo shoots, commercials etc.

Every TV and public appearance of hers so far has given the universe such a lovely sight to behold, and our universe is a better place when she shares her charm, laughter and beauty!



She's so cute! Perfect --- didn't fluff up her lines in English at all! She is made for the world of entertainment and celebritydom!



Gorgeous -- everyone is entranced by just looking at her.



A great step for her to go on American TV alone and without any interpreter. She really speaks English well.

Jimena Navarette, Miss Universe 2010

She won. Smile. Or jump up and down.

Do you think Miss Mexico can still win?

Jimena Navarrete had so many great photographs from Mexico. But some of the photos I've seen of her during the Miss Universe events were a little disappointing.

So even if she wins or loses, I hope to keep her beauty here for all of us to appreciate.

My Miss Universe 2010 predictions

I don't necessarily like all the girls here, but I think they will be there based on crowd popularity.

This is a competitive bunch as it looks like there is no clear winner, so it will be very interesting to see who wins.



Miss Universe 2010: Mexico ( my fave)



2. Spain (loved her mysterious look, but I hated the blue cloth she wore in the Preliminaries -- she might even fall off my top 5, what a pity.)

3. USA (She is Miss USA, Muslim, Arab, controversial, funny, what can I say?)

4. South Africa (she looks like she should be another Charlize Theron)













5. Ireland (i think she is too much of a model & doesn't really look good up close, but she is hot favourite to win!)

6. Albania (where is Albania? What do they do to make girls like that?)













7. Puerto Rico (not my type of girl -- but she is very aggressive)

 8. Russia (so sweet, but too sweet to win)

9. Trinidad & Tobago (she went topless for her missuniverse.com glamshot -- that's enough to get some attention + pretty good looking except for this dress & those runway shoes)

10. Venezuela (she is like Miss Teen USA trying to look grown-up: or rather Miss Teen Venezuela & I can't take her seriously. I hope she is not in the top10 but the judges may like her better than I do.)

11. France (really pretty, but she may not be able to cope with the pressure of being Miss Universe)

12. Ukraine (classic European muse who would look good starring in a countryside-setting movie, she looks like some French actress, who's that in "Chocolate")

13. Slovak Republic (blondes haven't won the crown for years. They can't be taken too seriously. But she is very pretty.)

14. Colombia (i hate her nose that makes her look like an alien & i don't like her at all, but she is getting a lot of attention with her confidence)

15. Jamaica (she has a lot of presence)













16. Peru (hmmm....no. 16 -- she is very sexy, but I didn't like her looks, but she impressed during the prelims)