Strut for the universe

smh.com.au June 4 2003

Seventy-one contestants end more than two weeks of hectic preparations as they go before the judges and an estimated 600 million television viewers today for the 2003 Miss Universe title.

Among the favourites in the field of 71 contestants - 15 finalists have already been chosen, but their names won't be announced until the awards ceremony - are South Africa, the Dominican Republic, Colombia and Venezuela.

The winner will replace Justine Pasek of Panama, the first runner up last year who took the crown after the Russian winner surrendered the title voluntarily.

But many here are already betting on Miss Dominican Republic, a tall aspiring singer named Amelia Vega, 18, whose uncle is well-known Merengue singer Juan Luis Guerra.

Vega is following in the family footsteps in more than one way: her mother represented her country in the 1980 Miss Universe pageant.

Miss Venezuela, Mariangel Ruiz, is the Cinderella of the contest: the 22-year-old almost couldn't come to the competition, because of financial problems in her home country. A donor finally turned up to meet the costs of her trip.

Cindy Nell, 21, is a bit of a departure among the favourites; a refined South African tourism promoter in a field dominated by Latin Americans.

And the favourite among local photographers is another aspiring singer, Miss Colombia Diana Mantilla, who happily poses for photos and even released a record of her songs here.

It's also showtime for Panama, which will have a few minutes of prime time to promote itself as a new tourist destination after decades of living under the shadow of the US military that long protected the Panama Canal.

On December 31, 1999, the United States took its last soldiers home and handed Panama the canal administration.

The women arrived on May 15 and have visited schools and hospitals amid rehearsals for the finals.

"I am excited and anxious. I have been preparing for this for 10 months," said Vega. "It is partly because of confidence and the personal pride of representing your country."

Mantilla said the contest also has a social purpose, noting the winner promotes the fight against AIDS. "It is not just a search for a pretty woman."

Today's finals start at 9 pm (1500 AEST Wednesday), and will be hosted by television personalities Daisy Fuentes and Billy Bush. Puerto Rican Pop singer Chayanne and Bond, a female quartet, will perform.