Miss Japan Is Miss Universe 2007

By Alejandro Guevara Onofre

In Miss Universe 2006, Japan´s Kurara Chibana was a big favourite until last second by experts and journalists. However, Miss Puerto Rico, Zuleyka Rivera, was crowned Miss Universe.There were protests in many different countries (Venezuela, Mexico, Canada, Sweden and Peru). John Steward said, “Kurara Chibana was beautiful in a very real, very natural way. More importantly, she was multi-dimensional, beauty balanced by intelligence and depth”. Carolina Lopez said: “Miss Japan was robbed. Japan was awesome!! I am not Japanese but I understand the translator did not do a good job”.

Miss Japan 2006 could not win the Miss Universe. It was a very unhappy day for Kurara Chibana. She did not like remembering it. However, her countrywoman won the Miss Universe in 2007.

Miss Japan, Riyo Mori, was elected Miss Universe in the 56th Annual Pageant help in Mexico City, Mexico´s capital. She was crowned Miss Universe 2007 by Miss Universe 2006 Zuleyka Rivera of Puerto Rico. Under the leadership of Inés Ligron, a Frenchwoman, Miss Japan, Riyo Mori, was the second person from Japan to win the Miss Universe. In 1959, Akiko Kojima, a model from Tokyo, was crowned Miss Universe.

Miss Universe 2007 was born on December 24, 1986, in Shizuoka, Japan. Like Janelle “Penny” Commissiong (Miss Trinidad & Tobago and Miss Universe 1977), she lived in North American. She studied ballet in Canada. She speaks three foreign languages.Her main interests are travelling , meeting new people and experiencing different cultures. However, she is passionate about dancing.Ms.Mori is a professional dancer. Like Paloma Herrera, Zhandra Rodriguez and Maria Tallchief, she loves dancing. Miss Japan and Miss Universe 2007 once said, “Definitely dancing! I have been dancing since I was 4 years old. I still have my first pair of ballet shoes that I keep as a memory of my many years and passion for dancing…”

Her dream is to open a dance school in Tokyo. “My mother runs a successful dance school outside of Tokyo and we plan to expand my family´s love for the performing arts by opening an international dance school in Tokyo, the capital of Japan and a crossroads for many cultures…”, Riyo Mori said to judges. “Opening my own school will allow me to live and teach my passion for dancing while being an independent businesswoman”, added Miss Japan 2007.

Like Miss Universe 2007, she will participate in a photo shoot with Fadil Barisha, one of the best photographers in the world. Furthermore, Ms.Mori will travel to Indonesia, India, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Russia, Dominican Republic and the People`s Republic of China.She will be in the United States to attend the Miss USA Teen 2007. Furtermore, Miss Universe 2007 meet with various politicians, leaders, and human rights activists to discuss the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

HISTORY: JAPAN IN MISS UNIVERSE PAGEANT

1953:Long Beach, California. Miss Japan, Kinuko Ito, was the 2nd runner-up…

1955:Long Beach, California. Miss Japan,Keiko Takahashi , was the 4th runner-up…

1957: Long Beach, California. Japan´s Kyoko Otani qualified for the semi-finals.

1958:Long Beach, California. Miss Japan, Tomoko Moritaki, qualified for the semi-finals.

1959:Long Beach, California. Miss Japan, Akiko Kojima, was crowned Miss Universe.

1960:Miami Beach, Florida.Miss Japan,Yayoi Foruno, qualified for the semi-finals.

1963:Miami Beach, Florida. Japan´s Noriko Ando qualified for the semi-finals.

1969: Miami Beach, Florida. Miss Japan, Kikuyo Osuda, was the 4th runner-up

1970: Miami Beach, Forida.Miss Japan, Jun Shimada, was the 3rd runner –up…

1971: Miami Beach, Florida. Miss Japan, Shigeo Taketoni, qualified for the semi-finals.

1972:Puerto Rico. Miss Japan, Hami Maeda, qualified for the semi-finals-

1973:Greece. Miss Japan, Miyoko Sometani, qualified for the semi-finals.

1975:El Salvador. Miss Japan, Sachiko Nakayama, was semi-finalist.

1988:Taiwán. Japan´s Mizuko Sakaguchi was 3rd

runner-up…

2003:Panama. Miss Japan was one of the favorites. Japan´s Miyako Miyazaki was the 3rd runner-up.

2006:Los Angeles, California. Miss Japan, Kurara Chibana, was the 1st runner-up.She was a big favourite until last second.

2007: Japan´s Riyo Mori was the second woman from Japan to win the Miss Universe title.