Erica Nego, Miss Universe Ghana 2011

I just got myself updated on this year's Miss Universe contestants. When I saw the above photo, I was blown-away cos this lady really is breathtaking in this photograph. 

She is Erica Nego, representing Ghana. Straightaway, I thought she would be the frontrunner for Miss Universe. And if she had the height and the personality too, she could wrestle the crown from Alyssa Campanella, Miss USA, whom I think is the one to beat.

As I googled for more info, to my amazement, I found that Erica Nego was Miss Minnesota 2009, competing in the United States. I assume she is American, having been born and raised there, but I read that she is half-German and half Ghanaian. 

Well, if the rules allow, I'm all for it. It would be nice to see her in the top 3 of Miss Universe 2011. 

Last year, I liked Ximena Navarrette very much, and then she actually won! 

This year, I think it's a little bit tough. There are some very beautiful contestants. 

Zhang Zi Lin, Miss World 2007

Even though I've said I will never follow the Miss World competition again, let me take the time to pay a little tribute to some deserving winners from the past.

Miss World 2007 was held in China, the year before China was due to host the greatest Olympics the world had ever seen. The contestant, Zhang Zi Lin, was also the greatest Chinese woman who had ever competed in the pageant.

Why the greatest? She won. But even if she was Chinese and her winning might have something to do with the Beijing Olympics, she won it hands down. Nobody could come close to her shining star that night.

Tall, graceful, with a sweet, gorgeous face, I wondered if she would amount to more than a beauty queen with her Amazonian height, otherwise she would be a good face on the big screen.

In the Asian movie business, most leading actresses are of petite or average height.

But it was with pride that I saw her photos attending the 64th Annual Cannes Film Festival, turning heads and making reporters ask who she was. Well, most of them would not have followed the Miss World competition to know she actually was the winner in 2007.

But her star continues to shine and we'll wait to see more of her.

Natalie Vertiz, Miss Peru Universe 2011

This girl has just won the Miss Peru crown and will compete in Miss Universe 2011. From her photographs and the youtube crowning video, she seems fierce and all too-assuring -- which is a good thing if you want to win the most prized crown in the industry of beauty.

 

There's a little bit of Miss Universe 1991, Lupita Jones, in her. I think she will be a frontrunner for the crown. It WILL be a fierce competition, and it will be FUN!