June 18, 2007
New Miss Universe Riyo Mori, seen here, said Monday she had confidence
in herself and knew she could win the title, unlike conventional Japanese women
who are often seen as timid. (AFP/Toru Yamanaka)
»
Japan's Miss Universe breaks with timid tradition
June 18, 2007
New Miss Universe Riyo Mori, seen here, said Monday she had confidence
in herself and knew she could win the title, unlike conventional Japanese women
who are often seen as timid. (AFP/Toru Yamanaka)
»
New Miss Universe Riyo Mori said Monday she had confidence in herself and knew she could win the title, unlike conventional Japanese women who are often seen as timid. "I was determined to bring back the crown and sash to Japan," Mori, 20, told her first news conference since returning to Japan. "I knew I could do it."
The ballerina by training who teaches jazz dance at her mother's studio in Shizuoka near Mount Fuji last month became the second Japanese to be crowned Miss Universe, after Akiko Kojima in 1959. "I was so happy and surprised that I don't even remember the moment" when her name was announced at the pageant in Mexico City, Mori said. "When I walked on the runway with the crown, I was so thrilled because I had decided to myself during a rehearsal that I was the one who would walk here," she said, still wearing the 250,000-dollar crown on her head. Mori, who dreams of performing on Broadway, said she wanted to use her tenure as Miss Universe to help fight HIV and AIDS. Mori was coached by Ines Ligron, who was hired 10 years ago to train Japanese girls for Miss Universe by Donald Trump, the real estate mogul and owner of the contest. The French woman said that Mori was strong enough not to be intimidated. "Normally what happens is when a Japanese delegate arrives at Miss Universe, she just goes down because she sees so many beautiful girls, and she just feels frightened," Ligron said.
"But Riyo was just going stronger and stronger until the very end, and that's why I'm very proud of her for this." Ligron also coached Kurara Chibana, the polyglot journalist who last year took second place in Miss Universe. As Miss Universe, Mori is given an apartment in New York for a year, an undisclosed salary, a complete wardrobe including a luxury watch and a scholarship for two years of film study in New York.
» KUDOS & DID YOU KNOWS:
- Kudos
to Noelle Johnson, Miss North Central FL USA 2008 who recently attended
the Florida Guardian ad Litem Association's Recognition Banquet to honor the
state volunteers for their time and effort.. I also met with the Honorable
Daniel P. Dawson who is a judge in Orange County and works towards reuniting
foster children with their family as well as finding foster homes for them!!
- Kudos to Angela Overton, Miss Oakland Park USA 2008 who volunteered along with Michelle Winter, Mrs. North Palm Beach at The First Family Fishing Tournament “Blue Ribbon Hugs For Kids”. The event took place this past Sunday at Peanut Island near Riviera Beach. Way to do a great thing and catch some fish Angela and Michelle!
Ms.
Overton and Mrs. Winter along with their fishing friends!
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PICTURES
& STORIES WANTED!
If
you enjoy reading the stories of our Miss Florida USA Family and want
us to know what great things are happening either during or after you
reign please email us at telair@aol.com.
We love touting our sorority of outstanding Florida women. Please send
us a paragraph (or two) on your appearances, awards or community
service and include pictures. We want you to have all of the support
of this great lifestyle we call Miss Florida USA!
»
Alumni News Wanted!
If you know of any Miss Florida USA alumni in the news please drop us an email to feature them in future articles. Email all info to info@missfloridausa.com! Until next week here to good pageantry!
PICTURE OF THE WEEK!
With our two week vacation falling right in line with our world championship of pageantry, The Miss Universe Pageant. The POTW Committee had a easy selection as we pay homage to our new Miss Universe Riyo Mori received her second honor in as many weeks as the recipient of our Picture of The Week. Congratulation Ms. Mori!
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