By Armin Adina
Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines–Filipino-Jordanian Nadia Lee Cien Shami — model, radio jock, dancer and photographer — is out to add another entry to her long list of occupations.

The 19-year-old native of Cotabato left for Tokyo, Japan, on Sept. 30 to compete for the Miss International title, which has been held by Philippine beauties Precious Lara Quigaman (2005), Melanie Marquez (1979), Aurora Pijuan (1970) and Gemma Cruz (1964).

“I have butterflies in my stomach now,” Nadia revealed during her sendoff at the Araneta Coliseum Gazebo last Thursday, where she displayed her winning form. “I’ve seen the pictures of the other contestants. They are all so beautiful and everyone has a big chance to win. That is why I am asking for your prayers and support.”

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POOR Miss South Carolina.

It’s bad enough to give a confused answer on national television to the question posed to her during the Miss Teen USA 2007 beauty pageant. Now she’s all the rage on YouTube.

In fact, this particular clip — just one of many showing her infamous answer or posted in response to videos of her — has been viewed over five million times just three days after it was posted.

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SURE, she may have represented Norway in the recent Miss Universe pageant, but Fil-Norwegian Kirby Ann Basken is promoting Philippine tourist spots and fulfilling her responsibilities as last year’s Mutya ng Pilipinas.

Here’s an excerpt from Armin Adina’s story for the Philippine Daily Inquirer:

Basken, born to a Filipino mother and Norwegian father, was crowned Mutya ng Pilipinas last year. In April this year, she bagged the Miss Norway crown making her the European country’s representative to the Miss Universe pageant.

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BEAUTY is in the eye of the beholder, but of course we all had our own picks for Miss Universe 2007.

The beauty pageant is over and we’d like to extend our congratulations again to Miss Japan Riyo Mori. Here’s a pic courtesy of Agence France-Presse.

But if you could be one of the judges, who would you have crowned Miss Universe 2007? Who impressed you most among the contestants? And why do you believe your pick should have won? This is all just for fun, OK?

In my case, apart from our own Anna Theresa Licaros, my pick was actually Miss Korea Honey Lee, heh Ah, well.

Update: The Miss Universe 2007 pageant has ended. Scroll down to see our blog account of the telecast.

(Keep refreshing this page to get the latest updates as we blog the Miss Universe 2007 pageant. The ABS-CBN live telecast of the Miss Universe 2007 pageant is scheduled to begin today, May 29, at 9: 30 a.m., Manila Time.)

THE 77 beauties vying to be crowned Miss Universe 2007 are already backstage, preparing for the opening number, Dyan Castillejo, reporting live from Mexico City, said in ABS-CBN’s Magandang Umaga Pilipinas program.

Magandang Umaga Pilipinas showed video clips of some of the contestants backstage and the preparations for the show.

This year’s pageant will be hosted by Vanessa Minnillo and Mario Lopez.

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