Miss Nippon (Japan) 2009 is Marino Miyata

The 17 year old Marino Miyata won the Grand Prix Miss Nippon 2009 Beauty Pageant (Miss Japan 2009) held at the Keio Plaza Hotel in Shinjuku, Tokyo last January 26. Marino is a student from Tokyo and she was the 4th high school student in the history of the Miss Nippon Contest to win crown.

Special Awards:
* Sponichi Special Prize (Ms. Internet) - Yusa Kato, 19
* Miss Kimono - Ran Matsumoto, 25
* Miss Nature - Ayasa Sadahiro, 25
* Miss Marine Day - Yu Ikenaga, 20
* Miss Sky Day - Yayoi Hamachi, 24

Maja Jamnik was crowned as Miss Slovenia Earth 2009

Crowned as Miss Casino Kongo 2009, Maja Jamnik will represent her country at the Miss Earth 2009 Beauty Pageant later this year. Sponsor of the contest was Casino Kongo in Ljubljana.


Close to the title was the 1st run-up Katja Lekan, while Tara Prodnik was named as the 2nd run-up.

More photo of Maja:

Miss Tanzania Bikini International 2009

Jamillah Nyangasa was selected to compete at the Miss Bikini International 2009 later this March. She first represented her country at the Miss International 2008 Pageant last year. Jamillah was 23 years-old and stands 5'11" tall. She was from Kilimanjaro.

* See also Miss Tanzania 2008

Eliana Quintero, Miss Ecuador is Miss Atlantico Internacional 2009

The 22 year-old Miss Ecuador, Eliana Quintero won the Miss Atlantico Internacional Beauty Pageant held last January 24 in Punta del Este, Uruguay where she beated other 16 lovely contestants.

Finishing at 1st run-up was Miss Costa Rica, Nazareth Cascante while Karina Pinilla, Miss Panama was declared as the 2nd run-up to the title.

Special Awards:
* Miss Internet: Miss England - Amanda Capote Miles
* Best Fantasy Costume: Miss Panama - Karina Pinilla
* Best National Costume: Miss Paraguay - Claudia Aquino

Watch the Miss Atlantico Internacional 2009 Crowning Moment:

16 Candidates

Brazil won Supermodel of the World 2009

The 14 year-old Brazilian Tayane Leao was named the 2009 Ford Supermodel of the World held last January 24 in Budva, Montenegro where 44 gorgeous models all over the world have competed.

Tayane was born in the northern state of Para, Brazil. She is the second Brazilian to win the Supermodel of the World title. The first one was Camila Finn back in 2004. As the newest supermodel, she will recieve a two year contract worth US$ 250,000 from Ford Models.

Finalists:
1st Place:Brazil - Tayane Leão
2nd Place:Israel - Alisa Gourari
3rd Place:Venezuela - Rachelle Garzon
4th Place:Canada - Shelby Farber
5th Place:Russia - Julia Pyankova

Semi-finalists:
Australia -
Lithuania - Gabrielle Doveikaite
Norway - Johanne Riis
Phillippines - Giselle Pagueo
Poland - Magdalena Fiolka
Serbia - Anastasija Ruzdic
USA - Clara Buchanan

Miss Indiana, Katie Stam is the new Miss America 2009

Katie Stam, a 22 year-old stunner from Indianapolis, Indiana won the title of Miss America 2009. She was crowned by the last year's winner Kirsten Haglund of Michigan.

Stam is a student of University of Indianapolis taking up Major in Communications, she plans to work in television news someday.

Katie battled a throat infection and laryngitis throughout the week of Miss America Competition but still drew loud applause for her rendition of "Via Dolorosa" during the talent round.

The new beauty queen started joining pageants at the early age of 15. She is a former Miss Kentuckiana Teen 2002, Indiana's Junior Miss 2005 and 2nd runner up at America's Junior Miss 2005 before being crowned the new Miss America 2009.

Runners-up:
1st run-up - Miss Georgia, Chastity Hardman
2nd run-up - Miss Iowa, Olivia Myers
3rd run-up - Leigh Taylor-Smith
4th run-up - Sierra Minott

Official Candidates:   Page 1   Page 2   Page 3
Preliminary Awards:   January 20   January 21   January 22
Winners:   Top 15   Top 12   Top 10   Top 7

Top 7: Miss America 2009

After the very entertaining talent competition of the top 10 semi-finalists, only seven candidates are chosen to compete in the next part. Here are the top 7 finalists of Miss America 2009 Pageant (in random order):

* Miss New York - Leigh Taylor Smith
* Miss California - Jackie Geist
* Miss Georgia - Chasity Hardman
* Miss Tennessee - Ellen Carrington
* Miss Indiana - Katie Stam
* Miss Iowa - Olivia Myers
* Miss Florida - Sierra Minott

As the night becomes more exciting, the the 7 finalists will be asked a random question from an American viewer. This part, the last part of the competition plus the delegates over-all performance will determine who will wear the crown of the 2009 Miss America titleholder.

Official Candidates:   Page 1   Page 2   Page 3
Preliminary Awards:   January 20   January 21   January 22
Winners:   Top 15   Top 12   Top 10   Miss America 2009 Crowning

Top 10: Miss America 2009

The third cut of the night, only the top 10 delegates from the previous round which is the evening gown competition will move one step ahead to be crowned. Now here's the Miss America 2009 Beauty Contest's Top 10 Semi-Finalists (in random order):

* Miss District of Columbia - Katie Marie Grinold (talent: Ballet)
* Miss Georgia - Chasity Hardman (talent: Vocal)
* Miss New York - Leigh Taylor Smith (talent: Vocal)
* Miss Hawaii - Nicole Fox (talent: Traditional Hawaiian Dance)
* Miss Indiana - Katie Stam (talent: Vocal)
* Miss Florida - Sierra Minott (talent: Jazz Dance)
* Miss Tennessee - Ellen Carrington (talent: Classical Vocal)
* Miss California - Jackie Geist (talent: Ballet)
* Miss Iowa - Olivia Myers (talent: Tap Dance)
* Miss Michigan - Ashlee Baracy (talent: Lyrical Dance)

Top 10 contestants will now compete in the live talent competition. Only 7 top scorer's will be chosen to the next round of competition.

Watch video of some top 10 contestants in their live talent presentation:
Miss Hawaii, Nicole Fox performing a traditional Hawaiian Dance

Miss Indiana, Katie Stam performing a vocal performance

Miss Florida, Sierra Minott in a jazz dance performance

Official Candidates:   Page 1   Page 2   Page 3
Preliminary Awards:   January 20   January 21   January 22
Winners:   Top 15   Top 12   Top 7   Crowning

Top 12: Miss America 2009

After the evening's first cut (top 15) and they have competed in the swimsuit competition, the judges have made their choices for the Miss America 2009 Pageant's top 12 Semi-Finalists (in random order):

* Miss Georgia - Chasity Hardman
* Miss Indiana - Katie Stam
* Miss Michigan - Ashlee Baracy
* Miss Arkansas - Ashlen Batson
* Miss Hawaii - Nicole Fox
* Miss District of Columbia - Katie Marie Grinold
* Miss Iowa - Olivia Myers
* Miss New York - Leigh Taylor Smith
* Miss California - Jackie Geist
* Miss Florida - Sierra Minott
* Miss Kentucky - Emily Cox
* Miss Tennessee - Ellen Carrington



Top 12 contestants will now battle for the Evening Gown Competition. They will be judged according to their class, poise, elegance and personal style.

Official Candidates:   Page 1   Page 2   Page 3
Preliminary Awards:   January 20   January 21   January 22
Winners:   Top 15   Top 10   Top 7   Crowning

Top 15: Miss America 2009

The night starts with 52 contestants already judged in a preliminary competition where they compete in interview based on their platform issue, swimsuit competition, evening gown and talent competition.

Also, the delegates participated in three nights of preliminary competition, where preliminary award winners were chosen in each category.

Now, the final night, the 52 delegates will be narrowed down to the first cut. Here are the Miss America 2009 top 15 Semi-Finalists (in random order).

* Miss South Dakota - Alexandra Hoffman
* Miss Georgia - Chasity Hardman (Wednesday's Preliminary Talent Winner)
* Miss Indiana - Katie Stam (Tuesday's Preliminary Swimsuit Winner)
* Miss Alabama - Amanda Tapley
* Miss Michigan - Ashlee Baracy
* Miss Delaware - Galen Giaccone (Tuesday's Preliminary Talent Winner)
* Miss Arkansas - Ashlen Batson
* Miss Hawaii - Nicole Fox
* Miss District of Columbia - Katie Marie Grinold
* Miss Iowa - Olivia Myers
* Miss New York - Leigh Taylor Smith (Thursday's Preliminary Swimsuit Winner)
* Miss California - Jackie Geist
* Miss Florida - Sierra Minott
* Miss Kentucky - Emily Cox
* Miss Tennessee - Ellen Carrington



These chosen fifteen candidates will compete in the swimsuit round.

Official Candidates:   Page 1   Page 2   Page 3
Preliminary Awards:   January 20   January 21   January 22
Winners:   Top 12   Top 10   Top 7   Miss America 2009 Crowning

Chuna Okaka was Crowned Miss Ethiopia 2009

The 22-year-old Chuna Okaka was named as the new Miss Ethiopia 2009 and was crowned by Miss Ethiopia 1963 winner Ejigayehu Beyene. She is a university student from Gambella and a sophomore at the faculty of business and economics, Addis Ababa University, outranks all of her 20 competitors.

By winning the Miss Ethiopia 2009 Beauty Pageant, Chuna will recieve a diamond ring worth 60,000 Birr, according to competition organizer Ethiopian Village Adventure Playground.

Chuna will compete at Miss World Cultural Heritage 2009 to be held in Namibia.

Miss America Preliminary Awards - January 22

Miss Vermont (left) and Miss New York (right) won the preliminary awards of Miss America 2009 Pageant.

Miss Vermont, Ashley Wheeler won the Thursday's Preliminary Talent winner for her Vocal performance of "God Bless America" during the third night of competition of the 2009 Miss America Pageant at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Ashley will receive a $2,000 scholarship.

While Miss New York, Leigh-Taylor Smith who was the Thursday's preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness winner in a black swimsuit by Winnwear. Leigh-Taylor will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

The crowning of the new Miss America 2009 will be on Saturday, January 24, at 8 p.m. EST and 7 p.m. Central and will be aired live on TLC.

Official Candidates:   Page 1   Page 2   Page 3
Preliminary Awards:   January 20   January 21
Winners:   Top 15   Top 12   Top 10   Top 7   Miss America 2009 Crowning

Miss America Preliminary Awards - January 21

Miss Georgia (right) and Miss Mississippi (left) won the preliminary awards of Miss America 2009 Pageant.

Miss Georgia, Chasity Hardman won the Wednesday's Preliminary Talent winner for her Vocal performance of "Home" from The Wiz" during the second night of competition of the 2009 Miss America Pageant at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Chasity will receive a $2,000 scholarship.

While Miss Mississippi, Christine Kozlowski who was the Wednesday's preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness winner in a black swimsuit by Winnwear. Christine will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

The crowning of the new Miss America 2009 will be on Saturday, January 24, at 8 p.m. EST and 7 p.m. Central and will be aired live on TLC.

Official Candidates:   Page 1   Page 2   Page 3
Preliminary Awards:   January 20   January 22
Winners:   Top 15   Top 12   Top 10   Top 7   Crowning

Miss America Preliminary Awards - January 20

Miss Delaware (right) and Miss Indiana (left) won the preliminary awards of Miss America 2009 Pageant.

Miss Delaware, Galen Giaccone won the Tuesday's Preliminary Talent winner for her Piano performance of "El Cubanchero," during the first night of competition of the 2009 Miss America Pageant at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Galen will receive a $2,000 scholarship.

While Miss Indiana Katie Stam who was the Tuesday's preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness winner in a black swimsuit by Winnwear. Katie will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

The crowning of the new Miss America 2009 will be on Saturday, January 24, at 8 p.m. EST and 7 p.m. Central and will be aired live on TLC.

Official Candidates:   Page 1   Page 2   Page 3
Preliminary Awards:   January 21   January 22
Winners:   Top 15   Top 12   Top 10   Top 7   Crowning

Dayana Mendoza, Miss Universe 2008 visits Nicaragua

As a Miss Universe 2009 titleholder, Dayana Mendoza is entitled to promote the HIV/AIDS awareness. And now, she is in Managua, Nicaragua and have been participated in a press conference last Wednesday, where she spoke about the importance of AIDS prevention and treatment.
To set an example for millions of people, Dayana is expected to take AIDS test in public. She has also been visiting poor communities and hospitals in Nicaragua.

Dayana Mendoza: Life After Being Crowned as Miss Universe