Miss World the line of beauty

They were forbidden for 54 years – frowned upon for their bourgeois decadence. But three years after Beijing lifted a ban on beauty pageants, China is celebrating the capture of the Miss World crown for the first time.

The coronation – on home soil – of Zhang Zilin, a 23-year-old secretary who is 6ft tall and has a degree in business administration, was greeted with widespread public delight in a country whose people have taken to such competitions with abandon. Miss Zhang’s blog received well over a million hits yesterday as congratulations poured in from cyberspace.

The response was more muted from the Communist Party media. The triumph of Miss Zhang, her face wreathed in smiles and her slim form clad in a figure-hugging, ruffled evening dress, failed to push a meeting of senior politicians in grey suits from the front pages of most official websites and newspapers.

The result, though, will reinforce the importance of beauty as a powerful currency in modern China. One Chinese airline, China Southern, ran its annual recruitment drive over six months on a reality television show that required applicants to be aged 24 or under, be above average height and to have slender legs. Thousands lined up for 180 vacancies.

Beauty contests have rapidly gained popularity in China. There was the Miss Artificial Beauty contest, won by 22-year-old Feng Qian, who was able to produce four certificates confirming her plastic surgery, designed to create a more heartshaped face and double eyelids. Then there has been the “Grey Headed Group” – a pageant open only to those aged over 55.

Such is the rivalry over looks that internet portals regularly host contests where young beauties are invited to submit their photographs for votes. Websites provide prizes such as holidays to Italy or the US for winners.

One admirer’s message on Miss Zhang’s blog stated: “You’ve brought honour to our country. We’re all happy for you! We’re proud for China.”

The 57th Miss World pageant was held at Sanya, a seaside resort on the southern tropical island of Hainan, the third consecutive Miss World to be hosted by China.

Miss Zhang hails from Shijiazhaung, a gritty industrial city in the northern Hebei province, and says that her favourite foods are chocolate and ice cream. She is now certain to become a role model for a generation of Chinese women.

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Telemovie menarik - Katarsis, Janji Temu dan Janji Terbukti - bakal menemani penonton pada Disember ini menerusi slot Panggung Seri, setiap Sabtu, jam 8.30 malam di RTM1.

Hari ini jam 8.30 Malam.

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Persembahan dijadualkan bermula seawal jam 3 petang dan berakhir pada 10 malam, bertempat di Bukit Kiara Equestrian Park.

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Filem Across The Universe

Tajuk Filem: Across The Universe
Pelakon: Evan Rachel Wood, Jim Strugess, Joe Anderson, Bono, Salma Hayek
Pengarah: Julie Taymor
Penerbit: Suzanne Todd, Jeniffer Todd dan Matthew Gross
Genre: Drama/Romantik/Muzikal
Durasi: 131 minit
Tarikh Tayangan: 29 November 2007

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Pengacara Muda

Inilah kisahnya pasal seorang selebriti muda dan bergaya ni. Maklumlah sekarang ini ramai yang daripada berlakon dan menyanyi beralih angin sebagai pengacara. Perkara itu memanglah bagus, sekurang-kurangnya ada anjakan paradigma kata orang. Kalau asyik nak harapkan orang serupa untuk jadi pengacara, silap-silap hari bulan tak ada pula pelapis dalam bidang pengacaraan.

Bagaimanapun gara-gara nak beri peluang pada pelapis muda yang juga seorang selebriti ini mengacarakan sebuah program bikin orang di belakang tabir jadi pening kepala. Mana tidaknya si pengacara ini apabila bercakap main hentam saja. Penggunaan bahasanya, fuhh dahsyat sungguh. Silap-silap kalau orang Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) ada kat situ memang pengacara tu kena.

Lepas itu suka pula cakap merepek dan meleret sehingga rakan pengacara yang seorang lagi terpaksa bawa dia semula ke topik perbincangan yang sebenar sebab dia dah mula mengarut. Ikutkan hati syarikat produksi tu mahu saja mereka tamatkan khidmat pengacara tu serta merta tetapi ketuanya tak bagi. Kononnya suruh bagi peluang lagi pada pengacara tu.

Masalahnya dari awal program hinggalah program tu dah pun bergerak setengah, dia masih lagi tak berubah-ubah. Sudah ditegur pun masih lagi macam tu. Dengar katanya khidmat pengacara itu dalam program yang dikendalikan tak lama. Habis saja satu musim mungkin khidmat dia tak diperlukan lagi. Hai, harap muka saja cantik dan bergaya tapi apabila bercakap kosong tak berisi. Bukan sekali dua kita dengar rungutan pasal pengacara yang seorang ini, dah banyak kali.

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Hillary Swank penerima Anugerah Keamanan Time


WATAKNYA sebagai guru berdedikasi, Erin Gruwell menerusi filem Freedom Writers berjaya menarik perhatian sebuah jenama jam dari Swiss, Jaeger-LeCoultre untuk menganugerahi pelakon wanita tersohor Hollywood, Hillary Swank dengan Anugerah Keamanan Time.

Anugerah penuh berprestij berupa sebuah jam meja The Atmos itu disampaikan oleh pereka syarikat berkenaan, Janek Deleskiewicz dalam satu majlis resepsi koktel yang cukup meriah diikuti makan malam serta persembahan nyanyian di sebuah hotel terkemuka, Bel-Air, Los Angeles, baru-baru ini.