On June 30 the Miss International Regional Qualifying Pageant was held in Chongqing, China.  However, as the winners (pictured above) were announced, backlash from scores of confused spectators and an allegation that the contest was fixed has prompted organizers to hold a second pageant.

The decision came after weeks of outrage expressed on the internet, saying that the winners “couldn’t possibly be the most beautiful women of Chongqing” or more bluntly “they’re way too ugly.” To add fuel to the fire, one judge is now declaring that he was “under pressure” to choose the three women.

Pageant organizers deny claims of match-fixing and are asserting that this second contest is not in response to the public’s comments.  Also, the previously chosen winners will remain as such and they will still move onto the national round representing Chongqing.

Organizers claim that the second contest is simply to “increase the range of contestants” meaning that now 6 women in total will move onto the next level.

Public reaction to the second contest was mixed, with some welcoming a chance “to choose the real beautiful women of Chongqing” and others claiming that extending the number of finalists is “unfair to the original winners.”

Pageant officials continue to defend their original choices, saying that “everyone has a different sense of what is beautiful” and “the winners met the international requirements of beauty.”  This begs the question; why have a second contest?  When asked this by the media, pageant organizers had no comment.

It’s a tough situation for these three ladies thrust into the international spotlight under such circumstances, and by holding a second contest the organizers are indirectly saying that they don’t have faith in their choices.  However, as of yet, there is no proof that the contest was fixed.  This may just be a matter of different strokes for different folks.

Source:  Dayoo, NJ Daily, CK 101 (Chinese)

▼From left to right: the runner-up, first place, and third place

▼It seems the third place winner has been getting most of the attention. She certainly does make you look at her.

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• Japanese High School Girl Beauty Pageant Open to Online Voting, May Not Accurately Represent Japanese High Schools
• Japan Tourism Agency Photo Contest Offers Awesome Prizes for Photos of Japan

Origin: Controversial Results of Beauty Pageant Lead to Do-Over, Previous Winners Deemed “Way Too Ugly” by Public
Copyright© RocketNews24 / Socio Corporation. All rights reserved.

At Japanese universities, female science and engineering majors are definitely in the minority. Even in Tokyo, it’s not uncommon for ladies to make up less than 10% of enrollment for science departments. But the elusive rikei joshi, or “science girl,” does exist and Japanese student organization CURIE is holding a pageant called “Miss Rekei Contest” to give them a chance to prove they’ve got beauty as well as brains.

The pageant will be held on September 12 at the Kitazawa Town Hall located about 10 minutes from Shimokitazawa station in Tokyo. An unveiling ceremony will also be held at Club Maruyama59 in Shibuya on August 12 where you can meet the 6 lovely contestants and mingle with fellow rikei joshi enthusiasts over a buffet dinner.

The contestants hail from some of Tokyo’s top universities and are majoring in fields from programming to biology.

1. Shiho Nakaoka
Waseda University Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry (1st year masters candidate, biochemistry)

2. Akira Hayashi
Keio University Department of Administrative Engineering (Undergraduate senior、administrative engineering)

3. Ryoko Suwa
Toho University Department of Biology (Undergraduate senior, biology)

4. Mariko Uchida
Chuo University Department of Mathematics (Undergraduate junior, mathematics)

5. Mayumi Hino
Ochanomizu University Department of Information Sciences (Undergraduate junior, programming)

6. Yuri Minami
Tokyo Institute of Technology Department of Material Science & Engineering (1st year masters candidate, chemistry)

So which rikei joshi gets your beaker boiling?

For more information and pictures of the contestants be sure to check out the contest page over at the CURIE website.

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• Japan Tourism Agency Photo Contest Offers Awesome Prizes for Photos of Japan
• Food Fight! McDonald’s ‘artistic’ contest winner sparks debate online

Origin: Six University Cuties to Face Off at “Miss Science” Beauty Pageant in Tokyo
Copyright© RocketNews24 / Socio Corporation. All rights reserved.

Here at RocketNews24, we get a lot of complaints from people about how, despite all the stories we run on beautiful half-naked Asian women, we never write anything about beautiful half-naked Asian men.

Don’t get us wrong. We appreciate the beauty of a toned human physique, whether it be male or female. When we see a nice pair of man glutes, we’ll let you know. It’s just that ladies, in general, seem to be in the internet spotlight more than gents.

Which is why we wasted no time in seeing what all the fuss was about when we heard that some of the contestants in this year’s Mister Asia Contest, an annual televised male beauty contest held in Hong Kong, have bodies you have to see to believe.

While some 200 men entered this year’s competition, only 24 lucky contestants were left after the first round of judging, which took place on September 22.

During the judging, contestants were asked to strut their stuff in their casual wear and then, because it wouldn’t be a beauty contest without some skin, their swimsuits.

However viewers at home may have been puzzled as to how many of these contestants made it through initial screening because half of what lined up on the stage were not hot-bodied young men but flabby, balding middle-aged Asian men.

One of them was even holding two bananas connected by a string. “These are my handmade banana nunchucks,” he explained, arranging his fanny pack before demonstrating his best kung-fu moves.

While there were certainly a few guys who actually looked like they belonged in the contest, no amount of flexing could direct the attention away from the televised mid-life crisis denial fest that Mister Asia had become.

If you’re interested to see who will come out on top, be sure to tune in to ATV on November 18 for the final round of judging. Ladies, you can thank us later

Source: Sina Weibo (Chinese)

▼ Our vote goes to Mr. Banana Nunchuks

▼ “WOOOOO-oooooOOOO-WAHHHHH!”

▼This guy was apparently the crowd favorite. We’ll see how that perfect figure holds up ten years from now buddy.

▼For comparison, here’s last year’s lineup

▼Being very subtle with their message

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Origin: Is this the Sexiest Man in Asia? 2012 Mister Asia Contestants Raise Eyebrows
Copyright© RocketNews24 / Socio Corporation. All rights reserved.

The photos above are the contestants for the upcoming Kanto Miss JK Contest, a beauty pageant to be held on December 27 in Shibuya, Tokyo to decide on the cutest Japanese high school girl in Kanto, the region on the main island of Japan encompassing Tokyo and the prefectures around it.

Before we say anything too malicious, we’d like to acknowledge that perceptions of beauty—or “cuteness”, in this case—can vary greatly among different cultures. However, as many Japanese netizens have pointed out, a thick mask of makeup and hair dyed brown or blonde is hardly representative of a typical Japanese high school girl, let alone a cute one.

“I had no idea Kanto wasn’t part of Japan”, quips one commenter in a thread on Japan’s largest internet message board, 2channel. “Wait. I thought this was a cute high school girl contest, not a prostitute contest…”, remarks another.

The thread is full of similar comments lamenting the lack of a single contestant who looks like an actual high school student, or “joshi-kosei” (JK); that is to say, a girl with little to no makeup and natural black hair. Most high schools in Japan have strict rules against students dying their hair, though many girls still do so as an act of defiance—and end up being called to the teacher’s room during lunch as a result.

Sure the contestants don’t necessarily have to look like stereotypical Japanese high school girls to be considered cute, but they probably shouldn’t look like they work at hostsess clubs either.

^Typical sign outside a hostess club

So what constitutes a “cute high school girl” in Japan?

Here are a few of the top search results we got from typing the term (in Japanese) in Google Images:

^Safe Search was on, I swear

You may be wondering about this last image. This is Moe Iwase, winner of the last Kanto Miss JK Contest, held only a few months ago in August. 15-year-old Iwase was crowned “the cutest high school girl in Kanto” after acquiring the majority of 1,200 total online votes. While she does appear several times at the top of the Japanese “cute high school girl” results, much of that is 2channel saying, “are you kidding me?”

There were 1,600 applicants for this month’s contest, which was finally whittled down to 40 after three rounds of judging in November. On December 6, photos of the final 40 were posted to the contest site and the internet masses were asked to cast their vote for who they think should be the next Miss JK.

The final judging will be based on five factors: (in order of importance) number of popular votes received, number of tweets sent to the contestant by supporters using the hashtag #D1JK2012, number of retweets the contestant receives for tweets that include the same hashtag, number of views their profile on the contest site receives, and number of views to the contest site redirected from the contestant’s personal blog.

To vote, just click the pink button with a heart symbol on the profile of your favorite girl. Your vote will then be sent through Twitter, so make sure to pick someone that won’t cause your friends to judge you any more than they already do.

My vote went to “Yukaipi” (Senior/158cm/Sagittarius/A blood type), because she’s wearing a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Shirt, obviously.

Source: D-1 Dream Project

▼ I don’t think I would have guessed half of these girls are underage. Single guys best beware on their next trip to Tokyo.

▼And then there’s “Nenepiyo”, who looks like she’s 14. We just don’t know what to believe anymore.

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• Netizens fall in love with Miss Hong Kong 2013 contenders, praise them for looking like normal women
• Is this the Sexiest Man in Asia? 2012 Mister Asia Contestants Raise Eyebrows

Origin: Japanese High School Girl Beauty Pageant Open to Online Voting, May Not Accurately Represent Japanese High Schools
Copyright© RocketNews24 / Socio Corporation. All rights reserved.

Ukraine is known for being home to some of the most beautiful women in the world, and also these two.

It seems the gene pool is so refined in Ukraine that even their soldiers and gorgeous, and the military must know it because every year they hold the “Miss Trooper” contest, a beauty pageant to determine the most stunning soldier female soldier in the Ukraine army.

^Footage from Miss Trooper 2011

Now in its third year, the contest is open to any of the 18,000+ women currently enlisted in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. And it isn’t just about looks: contestants are also judged on their pistol and rifle marksmanship, RPG proficiency, and handling of armored vehicles. There is also a swimsuit competition.

The crown (a blue beret in this case) goes to the soldier with the highest marks across the board. That means even an uggo can win if she’ proves she could top the other girls in a firefight—which, if you think about it, is a pretty fair deal.

Have a look at the photos from this year’s competition, as well as the winners from 2010 and 2011, below. The final stage (swimsuits) will be held next week and the winner announced in early January.

Source: Hachima Kiko, FACTS ICTV

▼ 2010 Winner

▼ 2011 Winner

▼ 2012 Contestants

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• Japanese Model Crowned “Miss International 2012″ in Beauty Contest Held in… Japan

Origin: Armed Forces of Ukraine Holds Beauty Pageant for Soldiers
Copyright© RocketNews24 / Socio Corporation. All rights reserved.

Every year the Miss Hong Kong beauty pageant is held and 2013 is no exception. It’s a high stakes affair with the winner moving on to the Miss World pageant, so naturally beautiful women from all over Hong Kong are looking to enter.

Around 2,000 women applied to enter Miss Hong Kong 2013. From these, 129 were selected after reviewing the applications and moved on to the first stage of interviews. Following these interviews photos of the contestants were published and released on the internet. Ever since, net users in Hong Kong have been enchanted by the looks and spirits of these women.

The topic of Miss Hong Kong 2013 has gone viral in the country with a largely positive reaction to these women. More than simply saying they were beautiful, commenters were taken by their naturalness saying, “This is way better than every woman having the same face,” and, “It looks like no plastic surgery here!”

Moreover, these women who look like regular women seemed to have exuded personality that netizens were picking up on with comments such as, “These women have self-confidence and that’s beautiful,” and, “They just seem like nice people.”

They could be on to something too. Reports indicate that this year’s Miss Hong Kong has seen an increase in graduate students among which a few hold PhDs. The age range of contestants moving through the first interview also range widely from 19 to 27.

From this point the women will have to proceed through the second interview, swimsuit shoot, and semi-final pageant to select the 18 women who will take part in the finals which will be held on 1 September.

Will one of the internet’s favorite women earn the crown? Will these women all end up looking exactly the same after getting heavily made-up as we saw in South Korea earlier this year? The answer to these questions and more will be revealed in September!

Source: ET Today, Miss Hong Kong Official Site (Chinese)

▼ Here are some of the candidates that captured hearts on the internet.

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• Japan Tourism Agency Photo Contest Offers Awesome Prizes for Photos of Japan
• ‘More than 90 Percent’ of Hong Kong Citizens Long to Return to British Rule

Origin: Netizens fall in love with Miss Hong Kong 2013 contenders, praise them for looking like normal women
Copyright© RocketNews24 / Socio Corporation. All rights reserved.

Usually being called a witch is an insult, but a Japanese beauty magazine reclaimed the word a few years ago and declared a new category of woman: “Beautiful Witches.” To celebrate the women over 35 that possess an almost “magical beauty untouched by age,” the fourth annual National Beautiful Witch Contest was held last week, with a 39-year-old housewife from Aichi Prefecture taking home the top prize in a Halloween-themed pageant.

The Japanese magazine Bisuto coined the phrase “Beautiful Witch” in 2009 to bring attention to the fashionable women over 35 whose might feel overshadowed by younger models and the preference for youth in the industry. The pageant started soon after and the concept of “ageless beauty” has caught on. Every year, the magazine holds a nationwide search to find who can serve up the best spell-casting middle-age realness.

Despite describing herself as a “normal housewife,” Mayumi Nishimura came out ahead of the 19 other finalists and 2,400 applicants, many of which were professional models. The judges said that the “B85-W64-H89″ woman stole the stage with her big smile and cheerful disposition as she sashayed down the runway.

Nishimura said that to keep in shape, she puts on a DVD from the K-pop group Girls’ Generation and dances a long at least twice a week, despite her husband’s embarrassment. The home cook also keeps a balanced diet and stays away from carbs, especially during late-night meals with her husband who often works late.

▼ Nishimura accepts a bottle of champagne from last year’s winner, Reiko Monma

Take a look at the video below to see the other finalists work the catwalk!

 Source: Tokyo Sports, Wikipedia
Images/Video: YouTube

• “And the winner is…” Kanto region’s Miss Cutest High School Girl announced
• Miss World 2013 pageant labelled “pornography” and a “whore contest” by Muslim protestors
• Japanese High School Girl Beauty Pageant Open to Online Voting, May Not Accurately Represent Japanese High Schools
• Natural beauties! Check out the finalists in the Kanto Region Miss Cutest High School Girl Contest!
• Netizens fall in love with Miss Hong Kong 2013 contenders, praise them for looking like normal women

Origin: Housewife wins pageant for “bewitching” middle-aged beauties
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

Last April, a case of overdose on Photoshop caused a group of ‘Miss Korea’ contestants to look like cloned beauties produced by the same plastic surgeon. Though it is now clear that the ladies were not high technology clones created to take over the pageant, the incident made some of us feel that beauty pageants these days are geared towards finding a certain type of beauty standard, rather than celebrating the beauty in different women.

Is it really necessary to “enhance” the beauty of these already stunning women? Let’s take a look at the Miss Korea pageant ladies before the era of Photoshop and cosmetic surgery!

The first Miss Korea beauty pageant reminiscent of the current contests was officially held in 1957, though selections for ‘Miss Korea’ dated back to as early as 1952, and Korea making its debut in the Miss Universe pageant in 1954. Pictures from the early years of the annual national beauty pageant show that contestants were judged based on a procedure similar to what we’re familiar with today, with several judging phases which required the ladies to wear different outfits.

▼ Even as early as in the 1960s, the Miss Korea pageant was a considerably large-scale event.

▼ Contestants had to dress in various outfits.

▼ One-piece swimsuits were the norm back then, before bikinis took over the stage.

▼ The winner gets the parade of her life in this funky vehicle.

In the 1970s to 1980s, women with fuller faces and figures were preferred, but when it got to the 1990s, smaller faces with sharper outlines were considered to be the most beautiful. In the 2000s, the trend seemed to shift towards healthy, lean figures and characteristic faces. Though the standard for “beauty” changes over time, some of these past contestants still stand a good chance in today’s pageants, don’t you think?

▲ Sun-Hee Park (Miss Korea, 1982)
Height: 166cm
Weight: 50kg
Bust-Waist-Hip measurements: 88-58-88cm

▲ Sang Myeong Gim (Took part in 1979)
Height: 165cm
Weight: 51kg
Bust-Waist-Hip measurements: 86-58-89cm

▲ An-Na Baeg (Took part in 1975)
Height: 167cm
Weight: 49kg
Bust-Waist-Hip measurements: 91-58-91cm

▲ Hwa-La Jang (Took part in 1977)
Height: 169cm
Weight: 55kg
Bust-Waist-Hip measurements: 89-55-90cm

▲ In-Suk Hwang (Took part in 1976)
Height: 167cm
Weight: 50kg
Bust-Waist-Hip measurements: 89-64-92cm

▲ Yeon-Joo Park (Miss Korea, 1972)
Height: 170cm
Weight: 58kg
Bust-Waist-Hip measurements: 88-59-88cm

▲ Ji-Hye Seo (Miss Korea, 1975)
Height: 168cm
Weight: 56kg
Bust-Waist-Hip measurements: 91-57-91cm

▲ Chang-Hwa Jeong (Took part in 1976)
Height: 168cm
Weight: 50kg
Bust-Waist-Hip measurements: 89-58-91cm

▲ Yeong-Seon Jang (Took part in 1971)
Height: 167cm
Weight: 57kg
Bust-Waist-Hip measurements: 89-62-90cm

We think they looked pretty good even without Photoshop and clone-producing cosmetic surgery, but what do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

Source: Zhaizhai News
Images: Photo.Korea.kr, Nazababa

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• Miss Korea 2013 entrants transformed into world’s toughest puzzle game
• Miss World 2013 pageant labelled “pornography” and a “whore contest” by Muslim protestors
• Marshmallow girls unite! Meet Chubbiness, Japan’s latest “chubby” girl idol group!
• Netizens fall in love with Miss Hong Kong 2013 contenders, praise them for looking like normal women

Origin: ‘Miss Korea’ ladies in the 1970s looked different, beautiful long before Photoshop existed
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

Is this the best-looking guy in the Philippines? You might think he’s an actor from some detective drama, but he’s actually a real life cop, and now also a male beauty pageant participant. The muscular man in uniform (and often out of it) has captured hearts across the Philippines and is currently enjoying a burst of celebrity, although he swears show business isn’t for him.

Mariano Flormata, Jr. is a police officer with the Philippine National Police (PNP). He currently works with the Aviation Security group, is a trained expert in bomb disposal and aircraft anti-hijacking, and has earned 13 medals during his 6 years of service.

And he’s also damn gorgeous.

Although his true calling is being a cop, with his chiseled features and banging body he’s often been told that he should give show business a go. Admitting to being interested in modeling, he’s finally given in and entered the Misters of the Philippines 2014 male pageant. He still intends to carry on being a policeman, which he says is his childhood dream, and to him the contest is more about spreading the word about health and fitness and showing that he is capable of things other than being a cop, rather than being the start of a glitzy new career. The PNP are fine with him entering the contest so long as it doesn’t interfere with his duties as a policeman, and his superior has even given him his support and encouragement.

It’s his first time competing in such a contest, but he’s easily made it to the 20 finalists, under the stage name Neil Perez.

The finals will be held on September 7 at the Grand Theater of the University of Makati. Winners will be decided for four titles: Mister International Philippines, Mister Model International Philippines, Mister Tourism International Philippines, and Mister Global Philippines. Those who take the top spots will then go on to represent the Philippines in male beauty pageants internationally.

Do you think he’ll win? You can check out his competition here at the Mister of the Philippines official website. We’re cheering for you, Mr. Officer!

▼ His smile is always camera-ready.

▼ “Oh hi, I didn’t see you there.”

▼ Rocking a relaxed, casual look.

▼ And the shirt’s gone again. Not that we’re complaining.

▼ Check out the video for a clip of a press conference with Flormata in his uniform.

Source: Kicker Daily News
Images: Neil Perez for Mister Philippines 2014 Facebook Page

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• Japan Tourism Agency Photo Contest Offers Awesome Prizes for Photos of Japan

Origin: Bomb-diffusing cop is also finalist in male beauty pageant, looks gorgeous both in and out of uniform
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

Perceptions of beauty pageants in modern society have definitely changed since the 1960s. While we’re sure that there are plenty of varying opinions out there regarding beauty pageants’ place in modern society, we can certainly get behind the idea that there’s more to a person than how physically attractive they are. That said, we’re sure that for winners of the pageants, like Apasra Hongsakula here, who was 18 when she won Miss Universe in 1965, the shows are source of tremendous pride and happiness.

But winning an international beauty contest isn’t the only thing that separates Apasra from the rest of us ugly shmoes–if recent photos are any indication, she’s been practically reliving her glory days for the last 47 years, since the 1965 Miss Universe still looks like Miss Universe today even at the age of 67!

▼18-year-old Apasra

We’re not sure what the life trajectories of most beauty pageant winners are like, but it seems that Apasra has kept busy. In addition to being a judge for various beauty competitions and marrying (and later divorcing) a cousin of the Thai queen, she’s also a businesswoman, running Asapra’s Spa.

Her win in 1965 was a first for Thailand, though she wasn’t the first contest from the South East Asian nation or the first winner from Asia (that would be Akiko Kojima). However, she did have a minor impact on the host nation, the United States, where five baby girls were given the name “Apasra” in 1965.

Oh, and despite being 67 years old, she still looks like a beauty queen today! Just look at this recent photo that has refocused the spotlight on Apasra.

Former #MissUniverse 1965 Apasra Hongsakula from Thailand Latest !! so beautiful. http://t.co/zz0t8VTMwa

—
Sabye Koedthawee (@Sabyehappiz) October 12, 2014

Sure, it’s a good photo, and the makeup probably helps, but we’re starting to wonder if Apasra isn’t actually a robot. Or maybe a vampire? Though you wouldn’t mistake her for an 18-year-old now, she certainly looks younger than me–and I’m only 31.

Of course, with all the recent attention on the beauty queen’s youthful looks, the rumors have started flying. As Coconuts Bangkok has reported, some have suggested that she’s been through an “anti-aging course” that cost THB2.5 million (about US$77,150). The rumors have been fueled in part thanks to this comparison of another recent photo of Apasra below.

Percaya nggak percaya nih kawula muda, Apasra Hongsakula mantan miss universe ini berumur 67 tahun! #HitsTheDay http://t.co/YRleCJAC3S

—
98.4 FM Prambors BDG (@PramborsBandung) October 23, 2014

Naturally, this has been denied, though the former champion’s manager has conceded that she did straighten her hair. Gasp!

While we’re sure that there are plenty of people who care very strongly about whether or not recent photos of the 1965 Miss Universe have been photoshopped or are the result of “anti-aging” courses, we’re not sure it really matters. Obviously, it would be absurd to expect everyone on the planet to look like Apasra does in her 60s, but as long we can accept that fact that everyone ages differently, can’t we just appreciate the fact that she’s looking healthy and happy well past retirement age?

And let’s hope that she’s working on a magic anti-aging pill so we can all experience the joys of youth when we’ve retired too!

Sources: Nancy’s Baby Names, Coconuts Bangkok, Elite Daily, Facebook (Apasra’s Spa), Facebook (Apasra Hongsakula), Asapra’s Spa
Images: Facebook (Apasra Hongsakula), Facebook (Apasra’s Spa)

▼ We’ll leave you with are a few photos of Apasra from the 1965 Miss Universe contest…

▼ …and here are a few recent photos of Apasra.

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• Housewife wins pageant for “bewitching” middle-aged beauties
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Origin: Is the Fountain of Youth in Thailand? 1965’s Miss Universe still looks pretty incredible
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

In many ways, Miss International Queen is just like any other pageant: finalists parade in evening gowns, swimsuits and national dress, and the winner will perform twelve months of promotional and charity duties. There’s one major difference, though: all the contestants are transgender women, and the top prize includes cosmetic surgery for the winner – if she wants it.

As the world’s largest transgender pageant hits the stage in Thailand (where else!) for its 10th anniversary year, we take a look at this unique contest.

Miss International Queen began in 2004 with the aim of building international awareness of transgender rights. The event, now in its tenth year, kicked off with a press conference last week, and the final will be held on November 7 at Tiffany’s Show Theatre, Pattaya.

It’s not the only transgender pageant in the world, but it is the biggest and the most international: this year’s 25 finalists hail from 21 different countries.

▼ Contestant Piyada Inthavong, from Laos, posted this selfie backstage with Poy, one of Thailand’s most famous ladyboys.

Contestants in Miss International Queen can be pre- or post-operation transgender, but must have been born biologically male. Candidates are competing for a top prize that includes US$12,500, and any surgery they wish to have, be it gender reassignment, or other cosmetic surgery.

Having surgery as the grand prize sounds a bit like those guys who get their wife a boob job for Christmas, but there’s no pretence that this contest is about inner beauty. And in its acceptance of that fact, Miss International Queen actually somehow comes off looking more honest than other, more conventional women’s beauty pageants.

▼ 2013 winner Marcelo Ohio, from Brazil, with some of the contestants at this year’s press launch.

The participation of transgender women in mainstream pageants, meanwhile, remains a source of controversy. The Miss Universe Organisation faced criticism in 2012 when they disqualified candidate Jenna Talackova from Miss Universe Canada after learning that she was transgender. While the organisation later reversed the decision and allowed Talackova to compete, the winner of Miss Universe 2013 Gabriela Isler said transgender people should have their own pageants because the Miss Universe pageant was “made for women”.

If the major objective of Miss International Queen is visibility of transgender women, the glitzy televised ceremonies seems to achieve that. That’s not to say that the contest is particularly politicised, though: in the Talent Quest event, the rules expressly forbid “any display of nudity, foul language, innuendo, political, and transgendered & gay statements.“

So is Miss International Queen doing enough to increase awareness of transgender issues? It’s hard to say. But the glitzy ceremonies – and the contestants’ Instagram pages – are certainly gaining attention.

You can watch some of the extravagant press conference in a video from MissLadyBoys below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUpBnL4t00s

YouTube

Sources: Coconuts TV, Normannorman, Instagram, YouTube, Miss International Queen (1, 2)
Images: Miss International Queen unless otherwise stated

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Origin: Queens of stage and screen: Thailand’s transgender beauty pageant kicks off for 10th year
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Tuk tuks aren’t the cheapest or the safest way to get around Thailand, but as one of the more iconic local and tourist symbols of the country, they’re worth taking for a ride around town at least once.

Decked out with flashing lights and homages to the Thai flag and royal family, they’ve even recently become a fashion icon in the least likeliest of places, like the upcoming Miss Universe Pageant.

After 63 years of Miss Universe beauty pageants, coming up with a new annual theme to explore for the national costume portion of the show can be quite the challenge. This year, however, Thailand thinks they have a winning design that will really rev up the event.

Earlier this month it was announced that Aniporn Chalermburanawong, who won the honor of representing Miss Thailand in the upcoming Miss Universe contest, will be donning a tuk tuk-inspired dress as her native costume.

Designed by Hirankrit Paipibulkul, the dress was selected among eight finalists as the best design to represent Thai culture at the next competition. The outfit will include chromium parts and working lights for a realistic feel. Look at how cool the tire print tights are, too!

Even if the costume doesn’t come with a horn, we’re sure Aniporn will have no trouble making a grand entrance in this awesome, fun costume. Will the contestants from other countries be able to strut out in something just as amazing? We’ll have to wait for the upcoming Miss Universe 2015 contest, scheduled to air from Las Vegas, Nevada, to find out!

Judging by the positive reactions the tuk tuk costume has gotten from Thai fans, if you haven’t already decided on your Halloween costume this year, dressing up as a tuk tuk might be something to consider yourself!

Source: Coconuts Bangkok, Facebook/Miss Universe Thailand (FanPage)
Feature/top image: Miss Universe Thailand (edited by RocketNews24)
Insert image: The Hot Pot Blog

Beauty pageants for boys dressed up as girls are kind of a thing in Japan now. Whether you think they’re awesome or kind of confusing, you can’t help but admit that the entrants usually manage to pull off the cute girl look surprisingly well.

This month marks the annual Miss Komaba High School Pageant, a contest that has been going on for several years now and which invites young men to dress like their female peers . Last year’s contestants were pretty good, but can this year’s pretty boys give them a run for their money? Let’s find out!

Komaba High School is an all-boys school in Tokyo, which perhaps helps explain why every year for the past several years in late October/early November they’ve held a contest to have the “prettiest” boys dress up as girls and be voted on in a pageant.

When you think about it, it either makes complete sense or zero sense at all, but either way here’s a look at some of the previous years’ winners:

▼ The winner from 2012, with the potent ugly-sweater-plus-bowler-hat combo.

ミス筑駒2012かわいいな～　まぁ男だけど http://t.co/CJNWCqUk

—
ジャーニー (@KURAO72) November 05, 2012

▼ And last year’s winner. That smile tho.

今年もミス筑駒のレベルがやばい！ ※筑駒は男子校です http://t.co/ziZrZ9C6qi

—
YAMIKOMA (@YAMIKOMA_PR) November 04, 2013

That’s some pretty stiff competition. Do this year’s contestants have what it takes to run with the best? Let’s take a look and see:

▼ Here’s the youngest entrant, 9th grader Yukina Shimizu.

今日からついに、今年のミス筑駒候補者を紹介していきます！ まずは中三からの出場、清水優希菜ちゃん！ 最年少ながら気合い、実力ともに十分な彼女が今年の台風の目となること間違いなし！ どんどんリツイートしちゃってください！ http://t.co/rG1116a8H7

—
2015年 ミス筑駒アカウント (@ms_tsukukoma) October 18, 2015

▼ And here’s 10th grader Mahiro Hayashibara.

二人目は高１からの出場、林原まひろちゃん！ 彼女の不思議な雰囲気に会場もメロメロ。 天然な彼女愛くるしさは必見です。 どんどんリツイートしちゃってください。（文責ミス筑駒Ｄ岩崎） http://t.co/uKELqRK2H0

—
2015年 ミス筑駒アカウント (@ms_tsukukoma) October 19, 2015

▼ And another picture of Mahiro-chan being all like, “hey… what are you looking at?”

全員の紹介が終わりましたので、エントリー番号順に写真を上げていきたいと思います！ Entry number 4 林原まひろ (文責ミス筑駒Ｄ岩崎) https://t.co/BhKbEpJ6Zi

—
2015年 ミス筑駒アカウント (@ms_tsukukoma) October 27, 2015

▼ Here’s 11th grader Aoi Nakano. Aoi-chan, you’re looking a little, uh, defensive. Let’s relax a bit.

三人目は高２からの出場、中野葵ちゃん！ 和服に身を包み艶麗なまなざしをたたえた彼女。 凛としたふるまいに注目です！ どんどんリツイートしちゃってください（文責ミス筑駒Ｄ岩崎） https://t.co/GLFszA51q8

—
2015年 ミス筑駒アカウント (@ms_tsukukoma) October 20, 2015

▼ Ah, much better. Oh, why yes, I would like some tea, thank you.

全員の紹介が終わりましたので、エントリー番号順に写真を上げていきたいと思います！ Entory number ２ 中野　葵 リツイートよろしくお願いします　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（文責ミス筑駒Ｄ岩崎） https://t.co/CLjJnIbDdC

—
2015年 ミス筑駒アカウント (@ms_tsukukoma) October 25, 2015

▼ Here’s 12th grader Shiori Kondo.

四人目は高3からの出場、近藤詩織ちゃん！ 制服姿がお似合いの、ちょっぴりクールな見た目の彼女。 その見かけとは対照的な、性格の明るさにご注目！ ではど、リツイートお願いします！（ミス筑駒D岩崎） https://t.co/PZ8BCTZ0GV

—
2015年 ミス筑駒アカウント (@ms_tsukukoma) October 21, 2015

▼ “What? Pfft, no way. It’s not like I was waiting here for you or anything….”

全員の紹介が終わりましたので、エントリー番号順に写真を上げていきたいと思います！ Entry number 3 近藤詩織 (文責ミス筑駒Ｄ岩崎) https://t.co/Q4SvZLqr7G

—
2015年 ミス筑駒アカウント (@ms_tsukukoma) October 26, 2015

▼ Here’s 11th grader Yuko Yoshimura.

五人目は高二からの出場、吉村裕子ちゃん！ あどけなさの残るその笑みは、まさに天使そのもの！ 昨年度準ミスに終わった彼女、見つめる先はミスの座のみです！ リツイートよろしくお願いします！ https://t.co/CHfAwUdblN

—
2015年 ミス筑駒アカウント (@ms_tsukukoma) October 22, 2015

▼ Yuko-chan… too bright… like an angel….

全員の紹介が終わりましたので、エントリー番号順に写真をあげていこうと上げていきたいと思います！ Entry number 1 吉村裕子 リツイートよろしくお願いします　　　　　　　（文責ミス筑駒Ｄ岩崎） https://t.co/VI9oLfhK53

—
2015年 ミス筑駒アカウント (@ms_tsukukoma) October 25, 2015

▼ And finally we have 11th grader Kotoha Fujiyama, who was the winner of the contest for the past two years (the two pictures at the top are of the same person). He’s going for three in a row, but will the competition prove too strong this year?

最後は高２からの出場、藤山琴颯ちゃん！ 今年三連覇のかかる彼女、去年より美しくなりまさに女王の風格！ ミス筑駒のＦＵＪＩＹＡＭＡここに見参！ リツイートおねがいします 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（文責ミスＤ岩崎） https://t.co/3XwXSyWt57

—
2015年 ミス筑駒アカウント (@ms_tsukukoma) October 23, 2015

Unfortunately it seems that you actually have to go to the school in order to vote in the pageant, but hey, they still can’t stop us from picking a favorite! I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty partial to the distant and mysterious Shiori. That said, Yuko’s girl-game is pretty fierce. And then there’s the sassy-looking Mahiro… bah! I can’t choose.

Let us know who you’d vote for and we can all feel confused-yet-oddly-excited together!

Source: Twitter/@ms_tsukukoma via My Game News Flash
Images: Twitter/@ms_tsukukoma (1, 2, 3, 4) (Edited by RocketNews24)

An MC from a Japanese variety show recently visited the prestigious Miss & Mr. Aoyama Contest and discovered some very tough competition.

On the December 1 episode of NTV’s Tokui to Goto to Uruwashi no Shelly ga Konya Kurabete Mimashita variety show, host Yoshimi Tokui detailed his recent trip to Aoyama Gakuin University. This university, located in Tokyo’s Shibuya neighborhood, is particularly famous for its annual Miss & Mr. Aoyama Contest, which is considered to be Japan’s oldest university beauty pageant and is now holding its 40th iteration.

In fact, the very purpose for Tokui’s visit was to check out this year’s competition–and competition there was! Just take a quick glance below at three of the lovely ladies competing for the coveted title of 2015’s Miss Aoyama.

◇◆出演情報◆◇ 12月1日（火）23:59〜 『今夜くらべてみました』 青学ミスコンに徳井さんが潜入した様子が放送されます😊✨ 是非チェックしてみてください💕 https://t.co/cImKeIEiBS

—
ミス・ミスター青山コンテスト (@aoyama_misscon) November 30, 2015

However, Tokui had a deeper incentive for viewing the competition besides just fawning over some pretty (and handsome) faces. He was also present to scout out potential recruits for entertainment agency cent.FORCE, which he’s a personal fan of. This particular agency has signed in no fewer than 27 former beauty pageant winners and runners-up. Many of them have gone on to become famous TV announcers in Japan, including Christel Takigawa, Minami Tanaka, and Erina Arai, who were all former participants in Aoyama Gakuin University’s Miss Aoyama Contest.

On the day of the big event, the 600-seat venue was filled to capacity and all 1,000 yen (US$8)-admission tickets were reportedly sold out within ten minutes. When the six female contestants took to the stage, Tokui got to work evaluating them as potential future announcers.

Here are the final winners and runners-up for the 2015 Miss & Mr. Aoyama Contest, along with their individual introductory videos:

◇◆ご報告◆◇ 第40回ミス・ミスター青山コンテスト ■ミス青山 No.4 山賀琴子 ■ミスター青山 No.1 山本将大 ■準ミス青山 No.5 冨田麻実 ■準ミスター青山 No.4 柴田コーリー https://t.co/9h5rGV3qb9

—
ミス・ミスター青山コンテスト (@aoyama_misscon) November 01, 2015

▼ 2015 Miss Aoyama (Kotoko Yamaga)

▼ 2015 Mr. Aoyama (Shota Yamamoto)

▼ 2015 Miss Aoyama runner-up (Mami Tomita)

▼ 2015 Mr. Aoyama runner-up (Cory Shibata)

Although she didn’t make the top three finalists, second-year literature student Seika Inoue caught Tokui’s eye in particular. He commented that she had a particular spark which could be a good fit for cent.FORCE, and in his eyes she stood out from all of the rest. Check out her introductory video as well:

Do you think Inoue and the others have what it takes to become successful broadcasters? If their participation in Aoyama Gakuin University’s annual contest directly leads to careers in the entertainment world, then kudos to them!

Sources: AOL News Japan, Twitter/@aoyama_misscon
Top image: Twitter/@aoyama_misscon

Participants from the recent Miss Universe pageant tweeted photos of themselves au naturale to encourage women everywhere to love the skin they’re in.

Pia Alonzo Wurzbach, recently crowned Miss Universe 2015, certainly hasn’t wasted any time getting to work after receiving her tiara as the rightful winner of last year’s televised pageant following Steve Harvey’s announcement bumble.

But before she started the new year by calling for more action to prevent the spread of STDs and AIDS in the Philippines, as well as promoting more aid to help areas that have been affected by natural disaster, the beauty queen, along with other Miss Universe participants, took part in the pageant’s #ConfidentlyBeautiful selfie campaign in to show that being confident in the skin you’re in is the most important part of any woman’s beauty routine.

Of course, in Wurzbach’s case, it doesn’t hurt that she’s just as beautiful without make-up as she is all dolled up.

My 1st day as #MissUniverse has officially begun! Starting it off fresh-faced and #ConfidentlyBeautiful 👑 https://t.co/cA3aU40Vmb

—
Miss Universe (@MissUniverse) December 21, 2015

We would never want to take it off either! 👑 https://t.co/gqqjo2LB22

—
Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach (@MissUniverse) January 09, 2016

Curious to see how some of the other contestants look underneath all the glamour and glitz? We’ve rounded up some of our favorite before and after shots.

▼ Miss Australia, Monika Radulovic

Here is my no-makeup selfie to demonstrate that @missuniverse doesn't need makeup to be #ConfidentlyBeautiful !!! https://t.co/9L5aDq1aF4

—
Monika Radulovic (@Monika_Rad) December 16, 2015

CAN WE ALL TAKE A MOMENT PLSSS? @Monika_Rad WHY SO GORGEOUS? 😍 #MissUniverse2015 #MissAustralia https://t.co/h2JRT274tq

—
L (@LuibelDelaVega) December 22, 2015

▼ Miss South America, Refilwe Mthimunye

Being @MissUniverse means being #ConfidentlyBeautiful. Are u?Show me ur no-makeup selfies wit #ConfidentlyBeautiful https://t.co/h2iMSvZWxU

—
SA's 1st PRINCESS (@R_FiFi_M) December 16, 2015

Miss Universe South Africa 2015 @R_FiFi_M at Preliminary Competition https://t.co/n57oQXYaSc

—
UnivParadeOfBeauties (@UPofBeauties) December 19, 2015

▼ Miss Peru, Laura Spoya

Natural beauty 👑💃 @MissUniverse #ConfidentlyBeautiful https://t.co/vQN4sGbaiM

—
Laura Spoya (@lauraspoya) December 16, 2015

Miss Universe Peru 2015 @lauraspoya at Preliminary Competition https://t.co/anxDakNa29

—
UnivParadeOfBeauties (@UPofBeauties) December 19, 2015

▼ Miss Ghana, Hilda Akua

No makeup, no hair extensions #ConfidentlyBeautiful @MissUniverse https://t.co/WRk8bQePOO

—
Hilda Akua (@HildaAkua) December 17, 2015

CAN WE TALK ABOUT MISS GHANA'S NATIONAL COSTUME THIS YEAR FOR MISS UNIVERSE!?!?!!! https://t.co/0ufgbcnrji

—
Magical Space Negro (@TyTheRobot) December 18, 2015

▼ Miss Ireland, Joanna Cooper

My makeup free selfie in honour of the @MissUniverse confidently beautiful motto! #ConfidentlyBeautiful https://t.co/pnhrC27dIK

—
Joanna (@joannacoops) December 17, 2015

Our beautiful Joanna speaking with E! news @enews at last nights preliminary finals. #The… ift.tt/1mr5YJG https://t.co/pN00DIsHeG

—
Ms Universe Ireland (@MissUniverseIRL) December 18, 2015

 ▼Miss Indonesia, Anindya Kusuma Putri

Right before the @MissUniverse Preliminary, I was challenged by committee for no-makeup selfie #ConfidentlyBeautiful https://t.co/jnN2PyUmaz

—
Anindya Kusuma Putri (@anindyakputri) December 17, 2015

I proudly stand in top 15 of Miss Universe 2015 for #Indonesia. Thank You Yayasan Puteri Indonesia for entrusting me https://t.co/7KxC0GxwmH

—
Anindya Kusuma Putri (@anindyakputri) December 23, 2015

▼ Miss Argentina, Claudia Barrionuevo

#Missuniverse #ConfidentlyBeautiful #Argentina @MissUniverse https://t.co/1Lf9bT4BiN

—
Claudia Barrionuevo (@CLAUDIAMUA2015) December 16, 2015

#MissUniverse2015 sos hermosa claudia!!! ♥ #MissArgentina #ClaudiaBarrionuevo https://t.co/PgJdlDujYm

—
Martin Ramos (@tinocarp15) December 21, 2015

The #ConfidentlyBeautiful campaign was started by last year’s Miss Universe, Paulina Vega, and has inspired countless women to brazenly post happy pictures of themselves without make-up for the rest of the world to see.

No doubt many of you may have made New Year’s resolutions to get into shape or be as pretty as Mr. Sato, but we want all of our readers to know that as cheesy as it sounds, we agree with the Miss Universe crew and think you’re beautiful just the way you are. And hey, if you’re feeling brave, why not get in on the fun if you haven’t already?

Source: Twitter (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) via Grapee
Top/feature image: Instagram/missuniverse

And there’s been an uproar online about her looks… her “non-Japanese” looks.

Priyanka Yoshikawa feels like she represents modern Japan. She was born in Tokyo to her Japanese mother and Indian father, and grew up living in India, California and Japan. Her hobbies include kickboxing, traveling, reading and art.

In addition to being a licensed art therapist, she works as a model, a translator, volunteers as a medical interpreter, and oh, did we mention she also has an elephant trainer’s license?

▼ Watch out most Interesting Man in the World, you have a rival coming up.

8/25(木)FM79.1が私を紹介して下さいました😆とても嬉しい❤️ありがとうございます。投票期間〆まであと3日！皆様吉川プリアンカに投票お願い致します🙏 #FMラジオ #ミスワールドジャパン #吉川プリアンカ https://t.co/jaKmMk5Bro

—
PriyankaYoshikawa (@Miss_priyanka20) August 26, 2016

Priyanka was recently chosen out of a pool of 31 finalists to represent Japan at the 2016 Miss World beauty contest. While that’s certainly another accomplishment to add to her already impressive life resume, what’s polarized the Japanese internet is the fact that Priyanka is a “half,” someone of half-Japanese parentage.

Last year, when half-Japanese Ariana Miyamoto was crowned Japan’s Miss Universe contestant, there was an ugly racist backlash about it. People questioned how someone who wasn’t “pure” Japanese could possibly represent Japan, and some slurred insults such as “She has too much black blood in her to be Japanese.”

This year, as expected, there was criticism about Priyanaka and the judges that chose her as well:

▼ “Why do they only ever pick ‘halfs?'”

なんでハーフばっかり選ぶの？ RT @oricon 「ミス・ワールド2016」日本代表に22歳の通訳・吉川プリアンカさん oricon.co.jp/news/2077909/f… #芸能 #ニュース

—
disneyworld (@disneycruise200) September 05, 2016

▼ “Does Japan really need to participate in these Miss. World things? Our sense of beauty is different than the West, so it seems like you can’t win unless you’re a half or covered in makeup.”

ミス・ワールドなんとかって奴に日本が参加する必要あるんですかねぇ 美的感覚が欧米のそれとは違うからハーフだったり化粧バリバリじゃないと上位なれないとかいうクソグランプリじゃん

—
関根げん (@123vai83) September 08, 2015

▼ “I’m not trying to be racist here, but it seems like recently these contests have given priority to half contestants. I’d like to see what criteria the judges are making their selection on.”

【日本代表（）】「ミスワールド2016」吉川プリアンカさんが日本代表に : もえるあじあ(･∀･) moeruasia.net/archives/48385… 人種や容姿を差別する訳ではないが、最近のミスコンの選考基準はハーフに優遇措置があるのだろうか？ 選考委員の基準と見識を聞きたい。

—
チョックリー(sait) (@cyokuri) September 06, 2016

Yes, the fact that one half-Japanese contestant in the past 60 years has been selected for Miss World and one half-Japanese contestant in the past 18 years has been selected for Miss Universe means the judges are obviously biased.

Despite the naysayers, this time around things are a bit more evenly balanced for Priyanka. It seems just as many online are happy about the decision:

▼ “Priyanka Yoshikawa, congratulations on the grand prix win!”

吉川プリアンカさん、グランプリおめでとうございます！！ #missworldjapan2016

—
Takahiro Ishikawa (@sgr_mj) September 05, 2016

▼ “She has an elephant trainer’s license? That’s cool.
Good luck at the competition and congratulations!

ヤフーニュース。「象使い」の資格なんてあるのか。おもしろいなあ。世界大会がんばって。おめでとうございます。 「「象使い」の資格持つ日印ハーフの吉川プリアンカさん　ミス・ワールド日本代表に」 headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20160905-…

—
Katsunori Iwasaki (@k_iwap) September 05, 2016

▼ “Even in Miss. America, it’s not uncommon for someone of Mexican, Italian, or whatever descent to win. If Japan’s representative is a ‘half,’ that doesn’t make her any less beautiful.”

ミスアメリカでも、純血のアメリカ人が選ばれなあかんとかないって。笑 メキシコ系イタリア系の人多いし 選ばれてもおかしくない！ 日本はそこの偏見がありすぎ まず移民を受け入れも厳しい 国際基準の美しさを評価する それが、ミス・ワールド。 日本代表がハーフでも 美しいには変わりない👏

—
Yuzu Bambou (@Byuzu0301) March 13, 2015

▼ Agreed! How could anyone say bad things about
someone hanging out with their mom like this?

この前ママに会ったんだヾ(＠⌒ー⌒＠)ノかわいかった😘😚 今日はリハだよ〜！日本大会もう明日だ🇯🇵👑❣️30人に出会えてよかった。最高の夏をありがとう。 https://t.co/U4aS3YzvTP

—
PriyankaYoshikawa (@Miss_priyanka20) September 04, 2016

There’s only a few months left before the Miss World competition this upcoming winter. Will Priyanka manage to dazzle the judges there as she did in Japan? We can only hope. Be sure to give her a follow on Twitter if you want to keep up with what she’s doing.

Although would it be too much to ask of her to do an elephant training routine on stage? Now that would be a way to earn major points with the internet.

Source: Naver Maome, The Hindu
Featured/top image: Twitter/Miss_priyanka20

Shrine maiden cosplayers and a lifelike doll fashion model also on the list to be crowned “New Generation Girl” of the year.

From onion crying beauty contests to high school boy beauty pageants, there are some unusual competitions to be had around Japan. When it comes to celebrating alternative forms of beauty, though, nobody does it quite like the annual Miss iD contest, which specifically looks to discover “new-generation girls that nobody’s ever seen before“.

With this spirit in mind, “non-mainstream” beauties with tattoos, unusual personalities, or no sense of style are encouraged to audition for the contest, and this year the 4,000 applications received have been whittled down to 134 semifinalists, who have been revealed in a couple of video compilations released by the event organisers.

At just over 11 minutes long, the first clip shows a variety of unusual contestants, and judging by the semifinalists chosen, it seems the more bizarre the audition, the better, with girls giving memorable performances that range from strangely frightening…

▼ To just plain strange…

▼ And then back to weirdly frightening again.

Still, amongst this high calibre of unusual contestants is one girl that stands out for being a world away from the rest: computer-generated schoolgirl Saya, who’s not actually a living, breathing Miss at all.

And because there are over a hundred semifinalists, there’s a second compilation video with even more stellar performances.

This time around, we’re introduced to another batch of interesting semi-finalists vying to be crowned this year’s new-age girl, including a high-jumping gravure idol in a bikini.

And a couple of contestants representing the non-human race, including Japan’s AI schoolgirl, Rinna, who was developed by Microsoft Japan last year.

And Lulu Hashimoto, a character created by millna, who’s a “doll-er,” or a person who dresses up like a doll. With her unusual, non-human looks, Lulu has been described as “the very first doll fashion model to set foot on this planet“.

With so many unique personalities in the running to become Miss iD for 2018, one things for sure: you don’t have to be human to be a new-generation girl. To keep up-to-date with the ranking of the top contestants in the lead-up to the announcement of the winner on 3 November, head on over to the Miss iD website here.

If you prefer to wind back time for a look at girls of generations past, though, you might want to take a peek at these geisha, who look a world away from the Miss iD girls as they step out in kimono for Japan’s first beauty pageant. The world sure has changed over the years!

Source, featured image: MISS iD
Insert images: YouTube/ミスiD2018 (1, 2)