Tierra Unica

Forrest Gump In One Minute, In One Take - Life Is Like A Box Of Chocolates!

Forest Gump - "Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get!"

Venezuela's Dayana Mendoza Is Miss Universe 2008: Pre-Event Interview, Crowning, & Backstage Moments!

Here you go folks,

Some of the latest photos and video clips of the new Miss Universe 2008 - "La Guapisima Venezuelana Dayanna Mendoza!" 

Photos (fotos) of the stunning Amazonian beauty during the Miss Universe 2008 pageant in Vietnam on July 14, 2008:

22 year old Dayana Mendoza, Miss Venezuela 2008 from Caracas wins the title of Miss Universe 2008 at the conclusion of the 57th annual Miss Universe competition at the Crown Convention Center in Nha Trang, Vietnam on July 14, 2008 at 8 AM UCT (airing LIVE on NBC in the United States on July 13, 2008 at 9 PM (ET/delayed PT). Dayana is crowned with the new Miss Universe crown by CAO Fine Jewelry (a division of PNJ), designed in Vietnam by Rosalina Lydster and Kim Lien. HO/Miss Universe L.P., LLLP 

 

Miss Venezuela's Dayana Mendoza Pre-pageant Interview - Don't you just love her response to the last question!

Miss Universe 2008 - Venezuela's Dayana Mendoza - Crowning Moment ( in internet HQ video)

Miss Universe 2008: Backstage - After Crowning Moments

As you can see and hear from the pre-event interview, Miss Mendoza is very Latina.  Very South American!  In the pre-event interview clip, she is very charismatic, playful, and fun loving.   In fact, she is from the southern province of Venezuela.  She is an Amazonian girl - a real Amazon!  If you have traveled to the Amazonian region of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil, the girls from those regions are more "Cliente" and"Cariñosa" than other Latinas....

PS.  Observation:  Look at the top 10 contestant photo (foto) below.  All of them brunettes, no real blonds!?!?  Of the top 10, six are Latin girls (4 Latinas from Latin America, 2 European Latins).  Of the 4 Latinas, the top 2 are South Americans (Venezuela & Colombia), then one from the Caribbean (Dominican Republic), and the other from North America (Mexico).  As predicted by the major bookmakers around the world, the Latinas did a "Trifecta" - Win, Show, and Place!  The dominance of the Latinas at world beauty contest (Miss world, Miss Universe, Miss International, & Miss Earth) has been happening for over two decades now.    

Interesting, for a world contest held in Asia, no Asian contestant made it in the top 10!  Even with the help of a couple Asian judges.  Has the standard of "global beauty" been changing over the years?  What is considered beautiful now different than it was in the 50s, 60s, and 70s?  Why are the Latinas so dominate?  Especially the South Americans and Caribbean beauties?    

Info about the photo (foto) below:

The Top 10 semi-finalists competing for the title of Miss Universe 2008 pose together in their evening gowns during the 57th annual Miss Universe competition at the Crown Convention Center in Nha Trang, Vietnam on July 14, 2008 at 8 AM UCT (airing LIVE on NBC in the United States on July 13, 2008 at 9 PM (ET/delayed PT). From left: Zana Krasniqi, Miss Kosovo 2008; Laura Dundovic, Miss Australia 2008; Claudia Moro, Miss Spain 2008; Elisa Najera, Miss Mexico 2008; Taliana Vargas, Miss Colombia 2008; Crystle Stewart, Miss USA 2008; Marianne Cruz Gonzalez, Miss Dominican Republic 2008; Vera Krasova, Miss Russia 2008; Claudia Ferraris, Miss Italy 2008, and Dayana Mendoza, Miss Venezuela 2008. HO/Miss Universe L.P., LLLP 

Vietnam Is A Country, Not A War - The Hidden Charm That Is Vietnam!

Hey Peeps,

All eyes were on Vietnam last night for the Miss Universe 2008 beauty pageant.  But unfortunately most images we have of this country is the war of the 60s and 70s; and their long history of tragedies and conflicts with China and France.  But here ar a few nice videos of this beautiful country.

Vietnam Is A Country, Not A War - The Hidden Charm That Is Vietnam:

Vietnam - The Hidden Charm

Vietnam - A Beautiful Country

Vietnam - Travel & Tourism

Vietnam is the economic miracle of Asia!  Just like Turkey is in Europe (Eastern Europe) and Peru is in Latin America (South America), Vietnam is position to be one of the leading emerging countries and economies in the world.  Within 20 years or less, Vietnam will be an "Asian Dragon" power in the region...   

Miss Universe 2008 Preliminaries - Bikini, Local Dress, Costume - Latinas Favorite To Win Again!

Okay folks,

Knock yourself out with this post.  Especially all you fellas out there!

Here in the United States, NBC will transmit live from Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa, Vietnam on Sunday, July 13, 2008 at 9 - 11PM (EST) - Miss Universe 2008!

According to the international press, the Miss Universe Pageant is the second most important beauty contest on Earth after the Miss World Pageant.  For several years now, the Miss World contest has beaten out the Miss Universe contest in all the important categories - more TV viewership world-wide, more contestants, more prize money, and more winners with successful modeling, acting, or entertainment careers.  In most parts of the world (outside of the US, Mexico, Venezuela, & the Caribbean), the Miss Universe contest is viewed as too "US centric".  Donald Trump owns the Miss Universe franchise.

Here are the Miss Universe 2008 top contestants, preliminary winners, and betting favorites as of Friday July 11, 2008 - Best bikini (swimsuit), local Vietnamese dress, and national costume.  According to all major bookmakers, the Latinas of Latin America are overwhelming favorite to Win.  Again!  They are predicting a possible outcome of Win, Show, and Place from the Latin America beauties.  A trifecta so to speak.  We'll see....

There are always upsets in these contests, but the Latinas are always favorite to win and fight for crown every year. 

Top 15 To Win @ Miss Universe 2008 Vietnam Pageant:

Top 5 Miss Universe - The All Star Latinas of Latin America:  

All Miss Universe 2008 Contestants - Preliminary Swimsuit Competition:

A Peruvian vlogger in Lima made this super photo-video called: Miss Universe 2008 - Top 15 Swimsuit Contestants:

Top six favorite to win by the bookmakers in the U.S. as of Friday, July 11, 2008:

Miss Venezuela - Danyana Mendoza

Miss Puerto Rico - Ingrid Maria Rivera

Miss Mexico - Elisa Najera

Miss Japan - Hiroko Mima

Miss France - Laura Tanguy

Miss Peru - Karol Cruz Castillo

Preliminary winner for best bikini (best body) - Elisa Najera of Mexico

A closer look at the Mexican beauty!  Elisa Najera, at 6' 0"', is tied with a couple other European contestants as the 2nd tallest in this year's competition.

Preliminary winner for best Ao Dai (traditional Vietnamese dress) - Dayana Mendoza of Venezuela

Video of favorite to win best national costume dress (video de la favorita para gana el mejor vestido nacional)  -  Karol Castillo Cruz of Peru

Picture (foto) of Peru's Karol Castillo Cruz - favorite to win best national costume

According to a major bookmaker the "Online Wire" as of Friday, July 11, 2008 - Favorites to win Miss Universe 2008 & Best Underdog.

A few more pictures (fotos) of Peru's Karol Castillo.  At 6' 1/2" (184 cm) and 18 years old, Miss Peru is the tallest and youngest contestant this year!  (Mas fotos de la guapisima y muy alta Miss Peru Universo 2008 - Karol Castillo):

The 2008 Miss Universe Contestants Group Photo on June 19, 2008

The 2008 Miss Universe Contestants take a photo with the staff of their "home away from home" in the lobby of the New World Hotel, in Ho Chi Minh City.

Enjoy & Chau - May the best beauty win!

PS.  My favorite to win this contest is between these two girls below (mi favoritas para ganar este concurso de belleza):

Miss Puerto Rico - Ingrid Maria Rivera

or Miss Brazil - Natalia Anderle