After it was announced that Miss Japan was Miss International 2012, a wave of complaints inundated the social networks, like Facebook and Twitter. Miss Japan was never considered a favorite of the crown, and some even believed she would not be in the Top 15. “Lack of facial beauty” is the main criticism she has been getting.
A comment in the social pages stated the following “I beg to disagree. She is out of my radar. My current top 16 include Belize, Brazil, Crimea, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Korea, Malaysia, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, Uruguay, USA, Wales.”
Although Belize did not place in the top 15 nor did she get any of the special awards she did return back home being a winner to all of us Belizeans. Destinee was very popular in most websites that kept coverage of the three week events leading to the grand final.
The Next Miss Belize Facebook page posted the following comment after the pageant on Monday, October 22, 2012.
“On behalf of team Belize we would like to congratulate Destinee Arnold – Miss Belize 2012 for her stellar performance at the 2012 Miss International Pageant in Okinawa Japan. Destinee was indeed a joy to all those who had the opportunity to work with her and there is no doubt that her intelligence and smile have left a lasting impression of our jewel. Special thanks to Belize Pageant Updates, Belize in America and Ambergris Today for bringing us continuous coverage. Thank you to all the fans who stayed awake to watch the pageant. Destinee we await your safe return home.”
Congratulations Destinee for a job well done, you made us very proud!
The Miss International event, one of the three major beauty pageants along with the Miss Universe and the Miss World competitions, was held in Japan for the first time in five years to mark the 40th anniversary of Okinawa’s reversion to Japan.
Miss Japan took the crown in the Miss International Beauty Pageant 2012 held this year in Okinawa; 25-year-old, Ikumi Yoshimatsu bested 59 other candidates in one of the most prestigious international beauty competitions in the world.
Viivi Suominen, from Finland, came in as first runner-up, followed by Madusa Mayadunne from Sri Lanka in the second runner-up position. The Dominican Republic’s Melody Mir and Paraguay’s Nicole Huber took the third and fourth runner-up positions, respectively, rounding up Japan’s court. Other Countries included in the top 15 were Columbia, Brazil, Japan, Sri Lanka, Finland, Namibia, Venezuela, United Kingdom, U.S.A., and the Dominican Republic.
Declared the “belle” of the night, Japan’s Ikumi was also named Miss Photogenic. Haiti was declared Miss JOICP (Social Work), while Mauritius won Miss Friendship elected by her fellow contestants; Myanmar was named Miss Internet, Honduras won Best National Costume and Russia walked away with the Best in Talent award.
This year’s six hour broadcast was shown live on the Internet streaming service Ustream, with as much as 200,000 viewers tuning in from all around the world.
Created in 1960 in Long Beach, California, the Miss International competition aims to promote world peace and understanding, especially among the participating nations. Hosting switched from Long Beach to Japan and back to Long Beach, but the beauty pageant has been annually held in Japan since 1971.
Contestants are called “Ambassadors of Peace and Beauty” and are expected to possess qualities such as tenderness, benevolence, friendship, beauty, intelligence, and a great international sensibility.