It was a mix of green and glamour at the Miss Earth 2009 Swimsuit Competition cum Pre-judging held at the Bellini Grande on Saturday, 5 September 2009. Organized by C.T. Hansen International Pte Ltd, the annual pageant’s aim is to be a vehicle in creating awareness for environmental issues, as well as to raise up Green Ambassadors to be role models for Singapore youth. Differentiating itself from other beauty pageants, Miss Earth requires contestants to participate in recycling and conservation events, ensuring that they have not just beauty, but a heart for the environment as well. With plush booths, an in-house jazz band, complimentary house-pours for guests and service staff dressed in white shirts and black vests, the luxurious and glamorous atmosphere provided by the Bellini Grande was clearly apt for the grand event. In-house singer/comedian Gino, whose brand of comedy was brash and bawdy but side-splittingly funny nonetheless, put the crowd in a relaxed mood before the start of the program.
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| PHOTOS: Xavier Tan |
Hosts Genecia Luo and Elliot Danker did a good job keeping the energy going before introducing what the audience — made up predominantly of friends and family of the contestants — had been waiting for. As the bevy of beauties strutted on stage in their baby-blue two-piece bikinis sponsored by Change, the excitement (and temperatures) in the hall were sent soaring. The swimsuit round, a staple in all beauty pageants worth their weight, never fails to pull in the crowds — and this one was no exception. For the 13 contestants who have made it this far, the pre-judging and swimsuit round was their last chance to impress the judges before the Coronation on 17 September 2009 where the winner of the coveted crown would be announced. With the ‘formalities’ dispensed, it was back to serious business as the girls took to the stage in their evening gowns for the Question and Answer segments. With questions posed from the audience and judges surrounding the subject of environmental conservation, the girls’ sincerity and nerves were put to the ultimate test. Samuel Seow, guest judge and Managing Director of Samuel Seow Law Corporation, found the girls’ answers rather ‘refreshing and intelligent,’ showcasing the girls’ beauty and brains.
The excitement of the night over, Miss Earth 2009 contestant Ashley Ng, 19, was delighted with the response from the crowd. On the topic of being in a two-piece bikini on-stage for the first time, “I just told myself not to think about it too much and just get used to it. The support from the crowd really helped as well!” With the 13 contestants whittled down to the top 8 finalists, head on down to the uber-cool club, the Bellini Grande for the glitz and glamour of Coronation night on 17 September to witness the crowning of Singapore’s Miss Earth 2009. For more info, visit their website at http://www.missearthsingapore.com/
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