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Bangkok readies to crown Miss Universe
Beauty watchers around the globe are gearing up for Tuesday's glamour-infused Miss Universe finale in Bangkok.
Beauty watchers around the globe are gearing up for Tuesday's glamour-infused Miss Universe finale in Bangkok where one of 81 women, including India's Amrita Thappar, will be crowned after a flurry of events highlighting Asia's post-tsunami reconstruction.
With barely a day before one elated young woman replaces Australia's Jennifer Hawkins as the new Miss Universe, oddsmakers have the Latin Americans and Caribbeans as favourites to wear the crown.
Topping the list are Miss Puerto Rico Cynthia Olavarria, Renata Sone of Dominican Republic, Canada's Natalie Glebova and Miss Venezuela Monica Spear.
The US-run competition is being held in Thailand five months after giant waves decimated coastlines around the Indian Ocean and killed more than 217,000 people. About 5,400 died in Thailand, half of them foreign holidaymakers, and more than 2,800 are missing.
As part of a hectic three-week schedule here contestants showcased the country's recovery from the tsunami in an effort to convince tourists it is safe to return to the Land of Smiles.
The beauty queens travelled to the tourist islands of Phuket and Phi Phi, visited a hospital which treated tsunami victims, and inspected a new disaster warning system on a Phuket beach. Footage of the trip will be aired during Tuesday's show.
The Thai government said it paid some USD 6.5 mn for rights to host the pageant, which one organiser described as "a two-hour promotional vehicle for Thailand.
