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November 21, 2008 7:09:13 PM CST


beauty pageant

beauty pageant news stories

12 Stories

Palin's Old Pals Wonder: Where Did That Shy Girl Go?

Political career a surprise move for quiet youngster

(Newser) - Those close to Sarah Palin as she was growing up remember her as quiet and reserved—“almost a wallflower type,” said one friend, a far cry from the tough, outspoken campaigner she has become. “I don’t think Sarah ever wanted to lead,” notes a college buddy. But somewhere between high school basketball, beauty pageants, a sportscasting job, and the Wasilla City Council, something changed, the New York Times reports in a profile. More »

More about:  Election 2008 basketball Sarah Palin Wasilla beauty pageant city council childhood

 Palin's 
 Swimsuit 
 Footage 
 Surfaces 

Veep nominee fell short of Miss Alaska in 1984, but footage survived

(Newser) - Footage has surfaced of the 1984 Miss Alaska competition, in which Sarah Heath—soon to become Palin—struts her stuff in the swimsuit competition, reports the New York Daily News . The blurry video captures an announcer explaining that "Sarah Heath says that she wants to prepare for a career in television broadcasting." Palin took third place. More »

More about:  Election 2008 Sarah Palin Alaska beauty pageant swimsuit

Pressured Priest: We'll Have Nun
of Catwalks

'Miss Sister' beauty contest canceled

(Newser) - An Italian priest's plans for a nun beauty pageant have been nixed by his higher-ups, the BBC reports. Father Antonio Rungi, who said the idea was to highlight the inner beauty of nuns and smash stereotypes of the sisters as old and dour, decided to draw a veil over the idea after the local bishop and other church officials expressed their displeasure. More »

More about:  Italy fashion priest beauty pageant bishop Catholic church nuns

 Italian Priest Plans Nun Pageant

Online contest pits sisters against each other for 'Miss Sister 2008'

(Newser) - An Italian priest and theologian is out to show the fun side of the sisterhood with “Miss Sister 2008,” an online beauty pageant for nuns. The Rev. Antonio Rungi hopes the contest, which he’ll begin on his blog next month, will fight the stereotype that nuns are universally old and dour. “Being ugly is not a requirement for becoming a nun,” says Rungi. More »

More about:  Catholic Church beauty pageant nuns

Heather Mills
to Judge
Miss USA

New divorcee goes from appearing before bench to behind one

(Newser) - Heather Mills, fresh from starring in her own divorce-court drama, is back in the limelight already. Having gone bravely before the judge herself and come away with $48 million of Paul McCartney's money, she's about to judge in the upcoming Miss USA pageant. Donny and Marie Osmond will host the pageant, which airs April 11 on NBC. More »

More about:  Paul McCartney Heather Mills beauty pageant Miss USA

Vandal Scandal Mars Another Pageant

Florida beauty queen overcomes mystery dress mess to win

(Newser) - The crime wave besetting American beauty pageants continued this weekend as Miss South Florida Fair had to overcome some skullduggery before claiming her crown, the Palm Beach Post reports. Cops were called after contestant Jessica Wittenbrink  found her ruined dress backstage, vandalized with four red lipstick streaks. Police quizzed her 13 rivals but couldn't come up with a suspect. More »

More about:  Florida beauty pageant beauty queen

It's All Greek to Miss Belgium

Beauty queen is no Dutch treat; caretaker PM tries to mend government

(Newser) - The new Miss Belgium sparked fury in Flanders this weekend with her admission that she doesn't speak Dutch, AFP reports. In a country already torn over the Flemish-French conflict that's derailed the government for months, 20-year-old Alizee Poulicek's attempt to speak the language of the country's majority was met with boos and mockery—but she still emerged victorious. More »

More about:  Netherlands language Belgium beauty pageant Flanders Guy Verhofstadt

Beauty
Pageant
Turns Ugly

Would-be Miss Universe overcomes pepper spray sabotage

(Newser) - Ingrid Marie Rivera looked hot at the Miss Puerto Rico Universe pageant—but not in the good way. Pageant officials are investigating who doused the eventual winner's gowns and makeup with pepper spray, the AP reports. Rivera kept her composure before the judges, but once backstage she ripped off her clothes and applied ice packs to her face and body because her skin was swelling and breaking out in hives. More »

More about:  Puerto Rico beauty pageant sabotage Miss Universe beauty queen pepper spray allergic reaction Ingrid Marie Rivera

Teen Contestant All Over Map
in Geo Gaffe

Miss SC explains rambling response
to 'US Americans'

(Newser) - Miss South Carolina Teen USA will have a second crack at answering the question that made her an internet laughing stock. Asked why some Americans cannot locate the US on a map, she launched into a rambling response, referring to  “US Americans," South Africa and “the Iraq.” She's trying again on this morning's "Today Show," People magazine reports. More »

More about:  South Carolina beauty pageant geography Lauren Caitlin Upton Miss South Carolina

Mexico Apologizes for Booing Miss USA

Letter comes months after incident at
Miss Universe pageant

(Newser) - Over 2 months after a Mexico City crowd booed Miss USA during the Miss Universe pageant, a national tourism official today apologized for the “incorrect behavior of a small group.” The blink-and-you-missed-it international incident started during the interview portion of the competition and crested after Rachel Smith fell backward in her evening gown. More »

More about:  Mexico apology Mexico City beauty pageant Miss Universe Miss USA Rachel Smith pageant

Miss New Jersey Survives Racy Photo Furor

Garden State beauty queen keeps her crown despite Facebook leak

(Newser) - Miss New Jersey can keep her tiara, say pageant officials who ruled unanimously that risqué photos of the beauty queen leaked from her Facebook page aren't that bad. The images, which Amy Polumbo revealed on the Today Show yesterday, contained no nudity or underage drinking, but did show Polumbo in some mildly suggestive positions. More »

More about:  Internet Facebook photography beauty pageant Today Show beauty queen Miss New Jersey Amy Polumbo

Garden State Beauty Queen Claims Blackmail

Miss New Jersey says private photos came from Facebook page

(Newser) - The reigning Miss New Jersey says an uncongenial blackmailer is trying to muscle her out of her tiara with untoward photos, the Star Ledger reports. Amy Polumbo, 22, received as many as 12 pictures in the mail last month with a letter demanding she surrender her title to the runner-up. The photos were apparently lifted from a private Facebook page. More »

More about:  Internet Facebook New Jersey beauty beauty pageant extortion blackmail Miss New Jersey Amy Polumbo

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