Miss Universe 2008: The new crown

Can you think about a beauty pageant without a crown? definitely not. So, here I bring you the news of the new crown of Miss Universe 2008. The former phoenix-rising crown, designed by famous Japanese jewelry maker, MikiMoto, has been used since 2002.

Price: This year, the winner of Miss Universe 2008 will wear a crown worth $120,000.

Designers and designing company: The crown is designed by two jewelers: Dang Thi Kim Lien and Rosalina Tran Lydster. Dang Thi Kim Lien works in CAO Fine Jewelry, a branch of Vietnam’s renowned jewelry producer Phu Nhuan Jewelry. Rosalina Tran Lydster is the founder of Jewelery by Rosalina.

Materials: Miss Universe 2008 crown contains 18k white and yellow gold. It contains more 1000 precious stones. These includes: 555 white diamonds, 375 cognac diamonds (14 carats), 10 smoky quartz crystals (20 carats). Nineteen morganite gemstones (60 carats) were used for embellishment purpose.

Trivia:

• The bright gold color symbolizes Vietnam’s rapid economic development.
• The hues of white, light pink and images of the traditional Vietnamese birds, the Lac, represents Vietnam’s spirit and culture.
• Every piece of the crown’s design signifies one of the vital characteristics of Miss Universe beauty pageant. For example, the curve of inland precious stones symbolizes robust development and potential of each participating nation.
• The heart symbolizes unity in breath, rhythm, vision. These are the powerful internal forces of faith, hope and unity.

Related articles:
Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee

India Server.com

VNS

IDEX Online

Miss Universe Official Website

Miss Venezuela 2008 Dayana Mendoza wins the Ao Dai event of Miss Universe 2008

Miss Venezuela:
Name: Miss Dayana Mendoza
Height: 5'10"
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Green
Hometown: Caracas
Age: 22 years old
Size: 178cm
Dayana Mendoza has already become one of the most favorite among beauty pageant bookies. She won the Ao dai (Vietnamese national costume of Women) event held on June 24 2008. According to Dayana, winning the competition has provided her more confidence. The event was held at the Ho Chi Minh City. Miss Venezuela Miss Dayana Mendoza enjoys interior designing, photography, advertising and meeting new people and learning other languages. She has been living independently since fifteen years of age. She also traveled many countries by herself. Once, she even got kidnapped in her own country. It was a very tough situation but she remained calm. Dayana wants to become an interior designer and build a career in advertising.

Miss Bolivia 2008 Katherine David Cespedes rocks Miss Universe 2008

Miss Bolivia:
Name: Miss Katherine David Cespedes
Height: 5'8"
Hair color: Dark brown
Eye color: Brown
Hometown: San Ignacio de Velasco
Age: 19 years old
A major in Business Administration, Miss Bolivia Miss Katherine David Cespedes enjoys playing basketball with friends, going to the country side and enjoy the blue sky and green and every other simple and little objects she can find in her life. For her Miss Universe is like a dream come true. Winning the pageant has become her biggest ambition now. Like Miss Israel, Miss Shunit Faragi, Katherine also did two years of military service which taught her discipline, moral, civic values, and team work. It is her proudest accomplishment. At this moment, Katherine is focusing on winning the beauty pageant Miss Universe 2008.

Maria Silvana Belli Miss Argentina joins Miss Universe 2008

Miss Argentina:
Name: Miss Maria Silvana Belli
Height: 5'10"
Hair color: Brown
Eye color: Green
Hometown: Rawson
Age: 19 years old
Size: 175cm
Miss Argentina Miss Maria Silvana Belli enjoys helping people and participating in social activities. Maria raised money to build a multi-purpose space for a poor school in San Juan which was her proudest accomplishment. Miss Maria wants to become a fashion designer.

Samantha Tajik aka. Miss Canada 2008: A contestant of Miss Universe 2008

Miss Canada:
Name: Miss Samantha Tajik
Height: 5'10"
Hair color: Brown
Eye color: Brown
Hometown: Toronto
Age: 25 years old
Size: 178cm
25 year old Miss Canada Miss Samantha Tajik is actually a Persian.Born in Iran, Samantha moved to Canada with her family when she was two years old. She grew up in Vancouver with her parents and younger brother. She then moved to Toronto and started as a model. A major in cosmetology, Samantha enjoys travelling, skating, keeping active, spending time with her puppies and dancing. Samantha wants to start her own business in the entertainment field. An ambitious and disciplined woman, Miss Samantha Tajik feels that her perseverance will be rewarded one day. After winning Miss Canada, she had the opportunity to fulfill one of her deepest dreams- making a difference in other people’s lives. She worked with S.O.S Children’s Villages and the American-Nicaraguan Foundation.

Maria Teresa Rodriguez: Your Miss Universe 2008

Miss Costa Rica:
Name: Miss Maria Teresa Rodriguez
Height: 5'10"
Hair color: Brown
Eye color: Brown
Hometown: Alajuela
Age: 21 years old
Size: 168cm
At this moment, Miss Costa Rica Miss Maria Teresa Rodriguez is focused on winning Miss Universe 2008. Maria also enjoys spending time with her family, working out, going to the beach, the mountains, horseback riding, reading, watching movies, listening to music, dancing, singing and spending time with friends. Before coming to Miss Universe, she participated in five other beauty pageants including: Miss Teen Costa Rica 2003, Miss Dream Girl of the year 2003, Las Vegas Miss Teen International 2003 Ecuador, Miss Pacifico 2007 Mexico, and Miss Costa Rica 2008. She won in all the five pageants. Maria dreams to open her own sletic center and spa and an animal shelter.

Will Crystel Stewart be the next Miss Universe?

Miss USA:
Name: Miss Crystle Stewart
Height: 5'9"
Hair color: Brown
Eye color: Green
Hometown: Houston,Texas
Age: 26 years old
Size: 175cm
Miss USA Miss Crystle Stewart is a teacher, a college graduate, a business owner and a professional teacher and a humanitarian. She taught autistic children in the Fort Bend County, Texas school district. She also enjoys fund raising activities, mentoring, performing style-make-overs and researching online. As a child, Miss Crystle got an opportunity to compete in the Jr. Olympics in track and field. She was highly focused on winning and her team received a medal in the relay event. Though she started as an athlete, she finds competing for the beauty pageant more enjoyable. Miss Crystle plans to open a resource center where young people between the age of 6 and 18 will be able to get necessary tools and resources to become productive citizens. Her proudest accomplishment is starting her own business.