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All posts for the month July, 2011

Adam Liaw…one year after winning Masterchef Australia Season 2

Posted by Norman on July 31, 2011
Posted in: 2 Shout-out-Looks, 5 TV Tales. Tagged: , , , , .

Adam Liaw's first published cookbook after winning Masterchef Australia Season 2

I know that this blog post is a spoiler (YouTube spoiled ahead of me) since Masterchef Australia Season 2 is still airing over Philippine Cable TV up to now (finals week is coming up) but I just had to write something about Malaysian-Australian Adam Liaw who won the whole thing. The guy reminisced in his blog on the first anniversary of his victory and everything is really happening fast for him.

Check out his blog post “Post Masterchef Life: One Year On” and read on all the wonderful things that came his way within the last 365 days.

Adam (R) posing with Callum Hann whom he faced in the Final 2 showdown of Masterchef Australia Season 2.

And for those who still watch Season 2 on Star World, just stay glued because finals week (starting tonight at 7pm) is a real thriller! 🙂

Believe it or not, India has the World’s Most Expensive House

Posted by Norman on July 31, 2011
Posted in: 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , .

The Antilia House in Mumbai, India

I’d be a hypocrite if I say no to living in a place like Antilia House, but after knowing that the whole structure costs US$1 Billion to build, I just might reconsider. Talk about blowing off your money with a Tower Of Babel-like creation with 27 floors and a grand view of the slums surrounding the Mumbai skyline. And to top it off, the mind-boggling property is located in India where Blessed Mother Teresa spent her living years helping out the poorest of poor.

The owners of Antilia House: Mukesh Ambani (R) and wife Nita

Antilia House, owned by Mukesh Ambani – the World’s 4th Richest Man – is a family home for him, his wife and three children. I’m just wondering how they can still stay tight-knit, let alone in close physical contact. And just how do you call the househelp here? Domestic Support Specialists?

Anyways, I just thought of sharing because it simply amazes me that the extremes have been stretched even more. India may not be the poorest country in the world, but given its population, the poverty level on one end becomes extra highlighted as well.

Ain’t nobody gonna take the Miss Brasil 2011 crown from Priscila!

Posted by Norman on July 30, 2011
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, Blog Bites: Miss Universe 2011. Tagged: , , , .

Priscila Machado is still Miss Brasil 2011.

A dramatic-looking Priscila being crowned Miss Brasil 2011

When Priscila Machado was crowned Miss Brasil 2011, not a few eyebrows were raised. Heck, people were shouting ‘Peladona!‘ (naked woman) in protest. And for a good reason at that. The newly-crowned beauty queen had topless photos circulating the internet prior to the finals. There were talks that she will be dethroned for violation of pageant rules regarding such.

But Priscila kept her cool and insisted that the said photos were unauthorized for publication. And as far as she is concerned, the same images do not exist. A willful disposition is required to stick to such explanation. If I were in her place, it would be difficult, especially with the clear knowledge that I actually posed with breasts hanging out. So far, the crown is still hers to keep as Sao Paulo will start welcoming the Miss Universe candidates in just a couple of weeks.

So how to rise from such controversy? Well, since Brazil is the host country of Miss Universe 2011, she should work double time to exude the highest level of warmth and graciousness in the competition. And instead of acting diva-esque in front of the delegates, she should be her friendliest self, short of winning Miss Congeniality. Humility is a virtue. Notwithstanding the fact that winning the crown is foremost in the minds of everyone, Priscila needs to take a calculated backseat for the meantime and focus on her hosting duties. Anyways, if she is destined to do a Denise Quinones and become Miss Universe right at home, then it will happen no matter how big the odds are.

Ladies, the deadline for Miss World Philippines 2011 is on Monday, August 1!

Posted by Norman on July 29, 2011
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , .

Erina Lightholder, Miss Beauty of the Philippines USA 2011 will represent the Filipino community of US West Coast in Miss World Philippines 2011.

Attention, beautiful ladies! Just a final reminder that the deadline for submission of application for Miss World Philippines 2011 will be this coming Monday, August 1. If you can’t make it, then might as well prepare for the 2012 edition instead.

The organizers have already finished their formal searches in the NCR, Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and US West Coast. The ladies who submitted/will submit their entries online will most probably be screened at the PICC.

If you’re interested but still middling on whether to join or not, click on the application HERE, print and fill it out the soonest.

National finals will be on September 18 to be telecast live from the Philippine International Convention Center over at GMA-7. The winner, who will represent the Philippines in the 60th Miss World 2011 to be held in London on November 6, will take home PhP1 Million in cash, a condo unit from SM Development Corporation and more!

Miss Resorts World Manila 2011 “Choose Your Finalist”

Posted by Norman on July 28, 2011
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Miss Resorts World Manila 2011 will have its final screening of candidates on August 6, 2011 where 30 ladies will be short-listed to become this year’s official contenders for the coronation night scheduled on August 27 at the Newport Performing Arts Theatre inside the complex.

If you want your favorite to make it to the Top 30, just click HERE or on the “Choose Your Finalist” image above to go straight to the beauty contest’s FB app where you can cast your vote until August 5, 2011.

There are some familiar faces in there – ladies who previously joined Bb. Pilipinas (Ladylyn Riva & Gizelle Rivamonte), Miss Philippines Earth (Margo Midwinter & Goldy Baroa), Mutya ng Pilipinas (Jo Ann Peria & Lorraine Erum) and Ms. Eco-Tourism Philippines (Sabrina Watts). There’s also a former Miss Bikini Philippines (Princess Abella) who already represented the country in Miss Bikini International 2010.

Let’s see which girls will make it to the 2011 roster and get the chance to win the crown currently being held by last year’s winner, Wendy Tabulsalla. The eventual winner will take home more than PhP1 million worth of prizes plus a multi-page spread on Mega Magazine.

Miss Supranational Philippines 2011 is Lourenz Grace Remetillo

Posted by Norman on July 27, 2011
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages. Tagged: , , , .

Lourenz Grace Remetillo, Miss Supranational Philippines 2011

Lourenz Grace Remetillo is officially Miss Supranational Philippines 2011 and will represent the country in Miss Supranational 2011 to be held in Plock, Poland on August 27.

The 21 year-old Iliganon, who stands 5’9″, is now getting ready to pack her bags and fix her travel documents before leaving for Central Europe early August. She now has the recognition of being the first Filipina to participate in Miss Supranational and the first Miss Supranational Philippines at that.

Good luck in the competition, Lourenz Grace!

Enjoy the experience! 🙂

Alyssa Campanella is out to wow them Brazilians in Sao Paulo!

Posted by Norman on July 26, 2011
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, Blog Bites: Miss Universe 2011. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Miss USA 2011 Alyssa Campanella

Smiling or not, Alyssa remains to be a striking beauty!

When Alyssa Campanella won the title of Miss USA 2011, she realized the dream of nailing a national title. Curiously, she achieved this by representing California and not her beloved New Jersey. Regardless, the US has a very strong chance of clinching another Miss Universe crown after Brook Lee became the 7th victor back in 1997.

The green-eyed redhead who stands 5’8.5″ is a native of Manalapan, NJ. She was Miss Teen New Jersey 2007 and placed 1st Runner-Up in Miss Teen USA of the same year. Thereafter, she started a modelling career that saw her gliding the ramp in creations by Sherri Hill, Scala, Serendipity Prom, Mon Cheri Bridals, Sophia Tolli, James Clifford, Rina di Montella, Nordstrom, Macy’s, and Tilly’s. What amuses me a bit is that she also posed for book covers of romance and thriller novels.

Shapely Alyssa has the catwalk-savvy that can make her a pasarela standout.

But back to the subject at hand, gut feel tells me that Alyssa is going to be one of the hot favorites for Miss Universe 2011. Aside from her gorgeous face, curvaceous figure and vibrant disposition, she can steal the show from the Latina Divas, Asian Hotties and Euro Babes with an inner personality that speaks of warmth and sincerity. If you ask me, she could be a great winner and perfect spokesperson for Donald Trump’s pageant.

I can already see Alyssa making heads turn in Sao Paulo. She may not have the exotic skin and dusky features of a girl from Ipanema, but she certainly makes up for it big time with all the winning attributes of a woman who just might become the most beautiful in the universe in less than two months from now.

Lots of luck, Alyssa! 😉