Miss Canada Bags Title With Positive Answer

[george]

Miss Canada bags title with positive answer

BANGKOK: -- Newly crowned Miss Universe, Canadian Natalie Glebova, defeated an array of Latin beauties in a close competition by answering a single question.

The only non-Latina contestant in the finals, the brown-haired, blue-eyed Canadian beauty queen won a big round of applause when she answered the question, “What’s your biggest challenge in life?” from fellow contestant Miss Dominican Republic.

Glebova was the only contestant to finish her answer before the bell rang.

“The biggest challenge in my life is always trying to think positive. I consider myself the kind of person who sees the world as a glass half-full, instead of half-empty. And even though sometimes it’s hard to look at life this way, I always try to maintain the positive side in life,” said Glebova, who is a motivational speaker and a model, before winning over spectators with a simple “kop khun kha” (thank you) and a wai.

Canadian Ambassador to Thailand Denis Comeau described the answer as a concise, articulate and cogent response to the question.

“From my point of view Miss Canada clinched it with that answer. She did it with a lot of grace. And people really appreciated it,” he said.

“I felt a lot of excitement in the crowd, and you could sense being in the audience sort of half way through just how people were encouraging her [Glebova].

“And every time she appeared the cheers from the crowd were getting louder and louder,” added the ambassador, who watched the live broadcast at Impact Arena.

It was a close competition to the very end, as the 23-year-old Canadian offered her answer flanked by Cynthia Olavarria from Puerto Rico, who also received strong support from the crowd. But it was Glebova’s answer that made her stand out.

Miss Universe 2005 migrated from Russia to Canada just 11 years ago.

The other four finalists in the 54th annual pageant included Renata Sone from Dominican Republic, Laura Elizondo of Mexico and Monica Spear from Venezuela (see related stories and official results on 8A-9A).

“I feel like this is all happening too fast and it’s unreal,” the stunning beauty queen Glebova told reporters as she waved a Canadian flag at the press conference after being crowned.

Miss Thailand, Chananporn “Nod” Rosjan, failed to make the finals. Miss Universe spokesperson Tom Kruesopon said she flopped at the preliminary interview.

The pageant was chaired by a panel of 12 judges, which included familiar faces such as America’s famous reality show “Queer Eye For The Straight Guy” host Carson Kressley, Boon Rawd Brewery executive vice president Chutinant Bhirombhakdi and the second Thai Miss Universe Porntip “Bui” Nakhirunkanok Simon.

Broadcast live to one billion people in 171 countries, the programme was hosted by Nancy O’Dell, a US television personality, and Billy Bush, a cousin of US President George W Bush. While O’Dell entertained the audience by arriving on-stage in a tuk-tuk, her co-host Bush rode on an elephant’s back through the cheerful crowd that included Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Tourism and Sports Minister Somsak Thepsuthin and BBTV Channel 7’s boss Surang Prempree.

During the show, contestants were surrounded by frolicking hanumans and Thai classical dancers and cameras panned over a backdrop of the Royal Barges at the opening and close of each segment.

In an attempt to help revive Thailand’s tourism industry after the tsunami disaster in the South, the government paid Bt265 million for the Miss Universe pageant to be staged in the Kingdom.

“We got ourselves advertised for a whole two hours. It’s worth it,” Miss Universe spokesperson Tom Kruesopon said.

Yesterday’s Cabinet meeting was postponed from 8.30am to 10am, as a few key members attended the beauty contest. After finishing the show, the PM went to Government House for the meeting.

Thaksin was convinced the country’s investment paid off. “The presentation was good as the organisers featured several provinces each time they cut back from commercial breaks. It’s worthwhile and the right timing because we want to promote tourism after the tsunami. They compromised and let us present our culture on stage, unlike previous contests where the stages were hardly related to the host country’s culture at all,” the premier said.

--The Nation 2005-06-01

[mnoorsapl]

Amazing, a simple “kop khun kha” (thank you) and a wai, does a lot of wonders.

[Abandon]

A simple picture would have done wonders more. thanks a lot george

Edited June 1, 2005 by Pandit

[Jai Dee]

A simple picture would have done wonders more. thanks a lot george 

Here ya go Pandit.

And the finalists were...

Edited June 1, 2005 by Jai Dee

[PETERTHEEATER]

They're all good looking girls but missing something.

The female staff at my local hospital get my vote!

The 'comperes' were awful with such memorable outputs as 'Waddaya doin on that elephant' and they imported them both from USA. I hope that they both had work permits!

Still, the PM was in the front row at 8am to see what Thailand was getting for its money so let's hope that the promotion will be beneficial for the tourist industry.

[cdnvic]

I've actually recieved two congratulatory phone calls.

cv

[The_Moog]

She didn't win because of her clever answer.

She won because she had a fantastic body.....great hooters.

To paraphrase Mao, 'a Beauty Contest is not a Dinner Party'.

[RDN]

She didn't win because of her clever answer.

She won because she had a fantastic body.....great hooters.

To paraphrase Mao, 'a Beauty Contest is not a Dinner Party'.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

She certainly didn't win because of her English: “The biggest challenge in my life is always trying to think positive."

All English teachers on this forum - I'm sure there are many - would give her a spanking for not saying: “The biggest challenge in my life is always trying to think positively."

[mnoorsapl]

"I consider myself the kind of person who sees the world as a glass half-full, instead of half-empty". Wonder what Miss Canada means, it could be one of those motivation speeches.

[Oleg_Rus]

I've actually recieved two congratulatory phone calls. 

cv

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

hey, she's not from Ch.Mai, man !

girl was born in Tuapse - small city in Kavkaz - Black Sea - Georgia area. Kinda latina anyway, but blue eyes came from russian parent.

what does it do with canada ? her parents moved there, but her sponsor is still in Moscow. Or was it you, cdnvic ? ;-)

[Oleg_Rus]

one of previous miss Universe, russian girl Fedorova, disgraced the title so much, they had to revoke it. interview with Stern on his radio station was the most dumb ever heard, including her sexual opinions and preferences. Was posted all around russia.

now, wait what new barbie will mumble...

Miss Nigeria - rules!

[maerim]

The biggest challenge in my life is always trying to think positive. I consider myself the kind of person who sees the world as a glass half-full, instead of half-empty. And even though sometimes it’s hard to look at life this way, I always try to maintain the positive side in life,” said Glebova, who is a motivational speaker and a model,

A motivational speaker, is she now?

I wonder how much she charges for gems such as these that are obviously on the cutting edge of motivational speaking, worth every penny if you ask me.

[Jai Dee]

All English teachers on this forum - I'm sure there are many - would give her a spanking...

Not just English teachers RDN...