THE SEARCH IS ON FOR BEYOND ESSENCE' BB. PILIPINAS BET 2003
December 25th

Beyond Essence, in cooperation with Miss Universe Critic, is proud to present the first ever search for our bet to Binibining Pilipinas 2003 pageant.

If you know someone who is a potential beauty queen, you can join us and win P20,000; at the same time helping the Philippine pageantry in discovering our next Miss Universe, Miss World or Miss International.

If you are a potential beauty queen and wish to join the Bb Pilipinas pageant in 2003, be our bet and undergo Beyond Essence' one-year extensive training program. Plus P100,000 cash prize.

Deadline of filing of application will be on March 30, 2002.

For more information visit the BEYOND ESSENCE website at http://www.beyondessence.net.

Nicole Brink of Indiana points her husband out in the audience after she was crowned Mrs. World Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2001 at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas. Brink beat out 37 other married women from around the world for the title. (AP Photo/Joe Cavaretta)

A CHARMING FILIPINO IS THE NEW MR. INTERNATIONAL 2001
December 15th

Thirty-year-old Manila-based professional model Alexander Aquino did Philippines proud when he won the crown at the Grasim Mr International male pageant on Saturday night in the lake city.

A panel of judges adjudged the Filipino the best from among 36 entries. Leroy Visser of Holland was the second runner-up, while Venezuela’s Anibal Martignani was adjudged first runner-up. Indian entry Bathena reached the last 11 before getting eliminated. Aryan Vaid is the only Indian to win the crown and that was last year at Jodhpur.

‘‘I am shocked. It came as a big surprise to me. All through I tried to be just myself.I was never nervous. It’s a great day for me and the happiest person would be my mother in my home town Manila. I think this honour would help me in building a career in the world of cinema and I intend to take some training before entering Hollywood with a bang,’’ said Aquino with a broad smile. It was his first major contest.

The mega show which was held in the spacious Manek Chowk courtyard of the 400-year-old City Palace from where the Suryanvanshi rulers ruled Mewar region.

The show’s theme of valour and chivalry was in ample evidence with most of the participants displaying their muscles.

The judges were dream girl Hema Malini, veteran film actor Jitendra, hotelier Arvind Singh Mewar, socialite and columnistShobha De, three times Olympic gold medallist in gymnastics Gina Goaden of Romania, RoxanaDorbantu, Unicef ambassador and super model from Romania, Catherine Demonteferrand wife of French ambassador in India, Evvah Dafaranosof World Heritage Society,Ivone De Beers, president of World Aids Foundation, industrialist Harsh Goenka and Sathya Saran, editor of Femina.

By: PRAKASH BHANDARI, TIMES NEWS NETWORK