Miss Intercontinental 2007-Miss Lebanon wins title |15 October 2007

She took over from Slovak Katarina Monava, who crowned the new beauty queen before 41 fellow contestants, in a show that was beamed live to 12 countries.

The two-hour competition will now be rebroadcast to 280 million viewers through Fashion TV, Detlef Torsies of the World Beauty Organisation (WBO) who staged the event said of the 36th edition of the show that normally attracts between 60 and 70 contestants.

He told Nation that the number was cut this year in view of the fact that “Seychelles is in the peak tourist season,” and that WBO will consider hosting the event in Seychelles again. The chief organiser said that he was not at liberty yet to name the four countries that have offered to host the 2008 pageant.

Miss Korea was declared the first runner-up and said if she had the power she would fight for the reunification of the two Koreas.

The second runner-up’s position was taken by Miss Margarita Island.

Miss Seychelles, Solana Domingue, was among the 16 finalists and got the Best Evening Wear award, while Miss Venezuela was named Miss Photogenic, Miss Kenya declared Miss Congeniality as Miss Hungary got the “Best body” award and Miss Colombia took home the Best national costume prize.

Miss Afiouni said that she works for Lebanon’s private Sawsan El Sayet TV station as a presenter, and that she did her best to win and was therefore not really surprised by her victory.

Asked about her name and if she encountered any inhibitions on grounds of religion, the new Miss Intercontinental said there are 17 religions in Lebanon with a high degree of tolerance.

“I am a Muslim despite my Christian name, and a Christian can also carry a Muslim name,” she said.

A good audience that included Vice-President Joseph Belmont, Former President James Mancham and Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Herminie saw the contestants parade in their national gowns and evening wears, as well as in swim suits.

In between the different parades, a number of Seychellois performers offered different shows, including a team from the School of Dance. Michel Dan Ally sang, “Seychelles, another world,” as Dezil offered their international hit, San Ou. The group’s only female singer, Sandra Esparon, sang a new number entitled, “Danse sur la plage.”

Other local stars who performed included the quartet of Rez, Chicco, Fastidious and Ion Kid as well as the duet of Colin and Neesha.

Co-master of ceremony Keith Tynes also surprised the audience with three numbers.

Among the two questions that each of the five finalists had to answer one was related to Seychelles.

Besides the first three winners, Miss Greece and Miss Brazil also featured among the top five contestants.

During the evening, the first five winning numbers for a raffle organised by the pageant’s sponsors, Le Meridien hotels, were also drawn, with the two star prizes, Terios jeeps, going to holders of ticket numbers 17259 and 02028.

First prize, which includes a trip to Dubai was won by holder of ticket number 21145 while the holder of 01931 won a trip to Frankfurt and third prize winner with ticket number 17656 will go to Mauritius by Air Seychelles.

The rest of the prizes will be advertised this week in Seychelles Nation.