The first elemental beauties (left-to-right): Miss Fire 2001 Daniela Stucan of Argentina, Miss Earth 2001 Catharina Svensson of Denmark, Miss Air 2001 Simone Regis of Brazil and Miss Water 2001 Margarita Kravtsova of Kazakhstan (Photo credit: Boyet Blas for Mabuhay Pageants)
Catharina as photographed by my friend Boyet Blas
I have quite a number of fond memories about Miss Earth 2001. I remember covering the first edition of the environmental beauty search for Mabuhay Pageants, visiting the ladies at Hotel Intercontinental Manila – their official residence, interviewing my favorites during a pre-pageant activity at Manila Polo Club, watching the (relatively crude-ishly staged) Preliminaries held at the then Mandaluyong City Gymnasium and witnessing the live coronation at UP Theatre.
I remember Misses Argentina Daniela Stucan and Miss Kazakhstan Margarita Kravstsova being the most fiercely-competitive among the 42 candidates and hoping to high heavens that they would nail the crown. Connected to that, I remember sitting down for a one-on-one with the latter who was starting to act up like a stilted presence, but eventually showed a more civil attitude.
Miss Earth India 2001 Shamita Singha (2nd from right) was one of the candidates I bonded with that year. (Photo credit: Boyet Blas for Mabuhay Pageants)
I remember the very warm and friendly Miss India Shamita Singha who had the right amount of confidence to figure out well in the finals. She made Top 10, but was disappointed when she no longer advanced to the Final 4.
Miss Earth Philippines Carlene Aguilar during the ME2001 Press Presentation at the Hotel Intercontinental Manila (Photo credit: Boyet Blas for Mabuhay Pageants)
I remember the non-English speaking but very gracious and beautiful Miss Bolivia Catherine Villarroel who profusely thanked me when I complimented on how “muy lindo!” she is.
I remember the kooky but happy-to-be-with Evelyn Mikomagi of Estonia who was very happy when she was named to the Top 10.
I remember Miss USA Abby Royce who, upon learning that I was constantly hunting her down for a quick interview, gave me the most profound environment-laced answers that would put any Miss Earth wannabe to shame.
But more than anyone else, I remember the statuesque, no-nonsense and cordial Catharina Svensson, the equestrienne, model and law student from Copenhagen who was named the very first Miss Earth. She was one of the earliest arrivals, had a very commanding presence and gave simple but sensible answers to any question thrown at her. Actually, she was only running to be one of the elemental court members. But when she answered the final Q&A, there was no question that the judges had found the most deserving inaugural winner of the competition.
The Press Photographers and some of the Miss Earth 2001 beauties at the Hotel Intercontinental Manila poolside (Photo credit: Boyet Blas for Mabuhay Pageants)
Oh, I really do have so many positive thoughts about Miss Earth 2001. 🙂
normannorman.com 
When the announcement of this new pageant came up, I laughed at the title – kasi parang mabantut pakinggan. But this pageant proved me wrong. after 14 years, this pageant showed it’s strength and endurance.
With so many new pageants, Miss Earth stood out from the rest. Maintaining the 80+ delegates unlike the other new pageants by which one website is heavily promoting and heavily bashing Miss Earth, which both are now going down.
Kudos to Carousel production. Yes the production is below par compared to Miss Universe, but the pageant’s dedication to it’s cause – which is the environment, made Miss Earth one of the top 3 pageants on earth.
I agree with you totally. To me it’s actually #2 next to Miss World if we talk about pageants that truly value women. But for pageant fanatics who love excitement and controversies, Miss Universe is unbeatable. And browsing at comments here, stories related to MU draw the biggest readership percentage. 🙂
Ms Brazil…Ms Brazil…..would you mind asking your bossom to stop staring at me?
Malaki na rin ang pinagbago ng patimpalak sa Ms. Earth magmula nang nabuo noong 2001. Kahit maliit sa tingin ng iba marami ng natulungan ng pamunuan ng Ms.Earth. Hindi gaya ng ibang patimpalak ng pagandahan sa ibang bansa mukhang palubog na yata. Buti pa sila, lahat ng nanalo sa Miss Earth ay naglilibot sa ibang bansa at hindi naka-angkla lamang sa isang sulok na naghihintay.
SA TOTOO LANG BEKS, ANO IPINAGLALABAN NATIN DITO? LOL.
Her simplistic projection brought out the best of her — truly mesmerizing and inspiring. Catharina Svernsson-Brink, indeed, was the rightful winner.
A terrific remembrance, Norman! 🙂
Thanks, Dex. 😉
Mornin’ to you, Norman! 😉
Likewise!
She has a familiar resemblance to Paris Hilton – only more classy, elegance, and wisdom
Paris has so many faces… Different styles. Somehow I really cannot see the resemblance. But maybe she does….
I’m browsing planet romeo through my mobile & i set my location to Copenhagen for i’m going there on saturday for a weekend holiday. As always, i can’t help but get mesmerized by all the hot blonde blue eyed gay guys. But for a moment, they look all the same to me. Is it just me or us being asians tend to generalize that all blondes are the same? And we usually associate the ones we see to the ones we know. The same generalization I made when i first came here in Italy, oh all these hot hairy bears! I was like did I just meet you yesterday at the sauna?! Stupid me. But according to my Italian bf, we asians, look all the same for him. So I guess it’s human nature. By the way Norman, how to post pic & a video clip here? We just crowned Miss Italia last week. The show was very dynamic, first time for Italy to it that way. More like a VS fashion show rather than a classic pageant.
There’s an HTML code used. But usually, the reply box already has buttons for images/vids. 🙂