TT in top 10 countries for beauty in world

Trinidad and Tobago shot nine points ahead of 42 countries to earn the eighth spot in the Global Beauties Grand Slam Ranking, and third spot in Grand Prix of Beauty according to the popular Global Beauties online magazine. These results were based on each country’s standings as at December 2004. Globalbeauties.com measures the performance of each participant country in the four most acclaimed pageants in the world, Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International and Miss Earth, in the last ten years. Heading the list is Venezuela, followed by India (2nd), United States (3rd), South Africa (4th), Colombia (5th), Spain (6th), Russia (7th), TT (8th), Philippines (9th), and Puerto Rico (10th).

In 2003, Trinidad and Tobago jumped five places from 22 in 2002, to 17 in the Grand Slam Ranking and is currently third, behind USA (1st) and Australia (2nd) in the Grand Prix of Beauty. In the latter, points are earned by each country in the current year of competition. Local franchise holder of the three pageants, Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss Earth, a proud Peter Elias of Peter Elias and Associates said that the results are a reflection of “hard work, commitment and amazing discipline. Ask any delegate who has represented us about what has contributed to theirs and Trinidad and Tobago’s success and they’ll tell you its serious commitment.

It doesn’t come with a pretty face and a pretty dress. It comes with a toned body, a pleasant disposition and attitude. It comes with great stage performance, being styled suitably, these are all the components,” said Elias. Trinidad and Tobago has never participated in the Miss International beauty pageant held annually in Beijing, China, Elias said, because of failing to raise sufficient funds for it. Beauty queens who have done well in recent years in the Miss Universe pageant include Danielle Jones who placed third (2004), Faye Alibocas who finished among the ten finalists of 2003 and Wendy Fitzwilliam, who won the Miss Universe title of 1998.