Priyani Puketapu, Miss Universe New Zealand 2011

Road to Miss Universe 2011:
Below is more information about the newly crowned Miss Universe New Zealand 2011 Priyani Puketapu: Puketapu was the first runner-up in Miss Universe New Zealand 2009. She won Miss Wellington 2010 last October. Priyani is 20 year old and stands 5 ft 8 in. She is studying towards a Bachelor of Communication, majoring in journalism. Priyani also enjoys part-time promotional work. Her interests include dancing, modelling and caring for animals at the Horowhenua Animal Shelter. Priyani’s ambition is to become a New Zealand television presenter.

Chloe-Beth Morgan Crowned Miss Universe Great Britain 2011

Chloe-Beth Morgan was crowned Miss Universe Great Britain 2011 on may 1st, 2011 at the ICC in Birmingham. She is 25 year old and stands 5’7”. Chloe-Beth Morgan will represent Great Britain in Miss Universe 2011 pageant. She was the 2nd Runner-up of Miss International 2009 as Miss United Kingdom.
The first runner-up was Natasha Crook, the second runner-up was Summer Ghanavati.

Miss Universe Canada 2011 Pageant

Road to Miss Universe 2011:
Miss Universe Canada 2011 pageant, the 60th annual Miss Universe Canada Pageant, will be held at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts Theatre in Toronto. 60 delegates from across Canada will be in Toronto from June 17th to June 26th and will compete for the title of Miss Universe Canada 2011 awarded on Saturday, June 25th, 2011. The reigning Miss Universe Canada, Elena Semikina will assist in crowning her successor before a live audience. The winner will represent Canada in Miss Universe 2011.

The reigning Miss Universe Canada, Elena Semikina will assist 

in crowning her successor before a live audience.

With an established reputation, The Metro St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts Theatre has been chosen to be the host venue for the 2011 Miss Universe® Canada pageant for the first time.
The pageant consists of two separate audience attended events:

Pageant Presentation Show (Thursday, June 23rd, 2011)
All 60 delegates from across Canada compete before a live audience and a judging panel in the traditional categories (Swimwear and Evening Gown) for the chance to be selected as one of the Judges’ 15 semi-finalists. In addition, 5 segment winners will be joining the group of semi-finalists for a chance to win the title.

Miss Universe® Canada 2011 Pageant Finale Show (Saturday, June 25th, 2011)
The top 20 semi-finalists from Thursday’s Pageant Presentation Show will compete for the title of Miss Universe® Canada 2011 in front of a judging panel as well as our live audience in the traditional categories (Swimwear and Evening Gown), plus the addition of a live interview/question and answer segment. 

However, all 60 delegates will be involved in production numbers throughout the show.

Miss Universe® Canada delegates are selected each year by competing in local and regional casting calls and pageants held in select areas across the country. ‘Beauties of Canada’ has the exclusive rights to send a Canadian representative to the Miss Universe® Pageant.

Hollywood, fashion elite recall McQueen at gala

The who's who of Hollywood's elite and fashion's most coveted hit the red carpet in New York City on Monday night for the annual Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Gala Benefit. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

NEW YORK - THE who's who of Hollywood's elite and fashion's most coveted hit the red carpet in New York City on Monday night for the annual Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Gala Benefit.

This year's event, 'Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty,' honored the work of the late designer, who committed suicide in February 2010 at age 40.

'I miss him terribly, not only as a person but as a designer,' said a visibly emotional Madonna, who was wearing a gown by Stella McCartney. 'I think the fashion business is a little bit dull without him and I loved his provocative punk rock attitude. I think his designs were brilliant. I think he was brilliant. And I hope he's having fun wherever he is right now.'

Singer Taylor Swift (L) and designer J Mendel arrive at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit celebrating the opening of Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, in New York. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

News Corp CEO Rupert Murdoch and his wife Wendi Deng Murdoch pose on the red carpet at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit celebrating the opening of the exhibition 'Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty' in New York. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Designer Rachel Roy chose her own gown for the event with McQueen in mind. She said she picked a more refined design to showcase that part of his personality.

Jennifer Lopez and husband Marc Anthony, 'American Idol' host Ryan Seacrest with girlfriend Julianne Hough, Gwyneth Paltrow, Penelope Cruz, Jessica Alba, Fergie and Sarah Jessica Parker, who wore McQueen, were just some of the big names to walk the red carpet.

Also in attendance was the designer of Kate Middleton's critically acclaimed wedding dress, Sarah Burton. -- AP

Actress Blake Lively and designer Karl Lagerfeld arrive at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit celebrating the opening of the exhibition 'Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty' in New York. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Iconic supermodel Ines de la Fressange

Before anyone gets the wrong idea, Ines de la Fressange would like to point out that you cannot just spend your way into becoming a Parisian. -- PHOTO: AFP

PARIS - BEFORE anyone gets the wrong idea, Ines de la Fressange would like to point out that you cannot just spend your way into becoming a Parisian.

'I do think it's a state of mind,' says the original French supermodel turned designer and fashion consultant - and, more recently, and much to her surprise, best-selling style book author.

'There are people who want to buy a lot. I'm the one saying, 'Don't buy a lot - buy the good things'.'

Since it came out in France last fall, La Parisienne has sold well over 100,000 copies, entertaining readers with its chummy, cheery prose and prompting an English version - Parisian Chic - for an Anglo-Saxon market crowded with finger-wagging what-not-to-wear guides.

'I didn't write it to be a best-seller,' said De La Fressange, 53, who last October reappeared on the pret-a-porter runway for Chanel, where she attained iconic status as Karl Lagerfeld's androgynous muse in the 1980s.

'French women generally say they're not really interested in fashion, so when I was told that it had sold more than Harry Potter or Keith Richard's autobiography... it certainly was a surprise.' -- AFP

Photo taken on May 30, 1989, shows Chanel's French top model Ines de la Fressange posing with two ex-'Marianne', actress Brigitte Bardot (D) and singer Mireille Mathieu (G), in Paris. Ines de la Fressange was elected

Photo taken on October 5, 2010, shows French former model Ines de la Fressange presenting a creation by German designer Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel during the Spring/Summer 2011 ready-to-wear collection show in Paris. -- PHOTO: AFP

Photo taken on December 2, 2010, in Paris, shows French designer and ex top model Ines de la Fressange arriving at the celebration event for the French weekly magazine Madame Figaro's 30th anniversary. -- PHOTO: AFP

Ines de la Fressange, French fashion designer and former top model, attends the Chanel Fall-Winter 2011/2012 women's ready-to-wear fashion collection show by German designer Karl Lagerfeld during Paris Fashion Week March 8, 2011. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Laury Thilleman Crowned Miss Miss France 2011

Laury Thilleman was crowned Miss Miss France 2011 on December 4, 2010 in Caen, western France. Some 33 participants competed for the title on Saturday. Laury is 19 year old and stands 1.79 m. She will represent France in Miss Universe 2011 and Miss World 2011. (In 2010, the first runner-up represented France in Miss World 2010).

Laury Thilleman was crowned Miss Miss France 2011 on December 4th.

Laury is 19 year old and stands 1.79 m.

Laury Thilleman reacted when being announced Miss Miss France 2011

MISS FRANCE 2011 RESULTS
MISS FRANCE 2011 – Bretagne Laury Thilleman, 19, 1.79 m.
4th RU – Ile de France Sabine Hossenbaccus, 22, 1.70 m.
3rd RU – Picardie Anastasia Winnebroot, 20, 1.75 m.
2nd RU – Auvergne Clémence Oleksy, 19, 1.76 m.
1st RU – Languedoc Jenna Sylvestre, 22, 1.71 m.

Photo credit: Le Parisien

Deborah Henry, Miss Universe Malaysia 2011

Check out the latest photos of newly crowned Miss Universe Malaysia 2011 Deborah Henry. Deborah Priya Henry was born on July 7, 1985. She won Miss Malaysia World 2007 and represented her country in Miss World 2007. She is notable for having been selected in the top 16 Miss World Final, the highest achievement of Malaysian Miss World contestants since Lina Teoh in 1998.

Deborah Priya Henry has always been a prominent figure on the local modeling scene, and she’s taken new heights by claiming the throne of Miss Universe Malaysia 2011! The National Director for Miss Universe Andrea Fonseka was quoted as saying, “Deborah Henry personifies all of the values and attributes of a Miss Universe. This includes professionalism, intelligence, and dedication to her country, a strong work ethic, talent, grace and beauty.”