Recently in Pageant Category

This Saturday in Thailand, 37-year-old Japanese television host Haruna Ai was crowned "Miss International Queen 2009 in Thailand, the fifth annual beauty pageant aimed at promoting the tolerance of transsexuals and transvestites. Haruna beat out 17 other contestants to win $10,000 in the competition's final round, which was held at the Tiffany's Show (billed as the world's largest transsexual cabaret) last Saturday. Apparently, the event is quite a big deal in Thailand -- a culture highly tolerant of transsexual culture -- and millions tuned in. Did anyone catch it? What did you think?

This Carrie Prejean drama just will not end: Apparently, the Miss California pageant is counter-suing the shamed former title-holder (who is suing THEM because she believes that she was dethroned due to her position on gay marriage) because she hasn't paid back the money they loaned her. For a... breast augmentation. Um. Okay. First a breast implants-related injury at Miss Plastic, now this?? I sort of think that if Miss California USA is going to practice such ridiculous policies, they should just deal with the consequences. Also? It does not take a genius to know that "oral agreements" carry basically zero weight. Make a real contract next time you give a 21-year-old 5 grand for fake boobs and expect her to pay you back! Just saying. 

This weekend, at the Miss Plastic competition (a beauty pageant in which all contestants have had breast implants and facelifts), 23-year-old woman fell off the stage because she was too top-heavy. Apparently, she had not yet grown accustomed to her newly enlarged breasts, and also because her hair extensions got in her eyes. Um. Actually, I guess that those are two understandable hurdles, and for that reason I feel bad for the girl. She tore a ligament! And, um, talk about humiliating. BUT, more importantly, what was a 23-year-old woman doing getting a facelift?! This Miss Plastic thing totally confounds me. Women in their 20s getting breast implants is not, I guess, so unusual these days. (Although personally, I would not in a million years put my own body through the medical risk. But then again, as you may have noticed, I'm a fan of a sort of gamine androgyny when it comes to fashion -- so my board-flat figure suits my sartorial preferences.) But getting facelifts?! What a sad, and scary concept. Sad because, you know, feminism, etc. Scary, because:


Think about the future, ladies!!

Looks like Miss California USA will doing away with the famed swimsuit UNIFORM this year -- but the ever-controversial portion of the evening will  remain. So instead of having all of the competitors wear the same suit, Miss Cali 2010 contenders will be able to choose from a variety of designs from one yet-to-be-named designer. (Too bad Sherri Hill doesn't make bathing attire!) Even weirder, there will be TWO winners of the pageant this year. Normally I would find that surprising, but judging from what happened with Ms. Carrie Prejean last year... I guess a backup can't hurt? What do you guys think? Leave your comments below!

Wow. This is some crazy business. Two days after having been crowned the first-ever non-black winner of Hampton University's annual beauty pageant, 22-year-old Nikole Churchill actually wrote a letter to... President Obama? Asking that he chide her black classmates for walking out of the ceremony after she won, and for making "negative comments regarding [her] win."

Think you've got what it takes to take the crown? You're one click away to owning your own Miss USA 2009 gown designed by Tiza's own Sherri Hill. Find out which winning dress best fits your personality. From peppy and posh to diva demure, Tiza has you covered in all that glitters. Miss Arkansas' dress is for the girl who won't wait for her genie. She makes her own dreams come true in a daring mirage of exotic hot fuscias and pinks. The judges do a double take at Miss West Virginia's dress. Classy on top and super sassy waist down, a girl in this dress knows how to make the grade and take a walk on the wild side. Miss Vermont looked like a Valentine's dream come true in this heart-shaped, hot pink, hip-hugger that splits just where you need wiggle room. For the glam girl who's always armed with lip gloss, this gown's for her. Miss Tennessee's gown comes sewed with sophistication. Chic and all-woman, a girl who owns this dress expects nothing less than the best. She takes her coffee black, her chocolate dark and gets the job done before going out. Get yourself wrapped in royalty in nationally-acclaimed dresses right here at Tiza.com.