First beauty queen for East Timor

First beauty queen for East Timor

JAKARTA (JP): The latest hot issue in East Timor has nothing
to do with politics: It has selected its first beauty queen.

The first ever beauty contest in the youngest province was
held by the Citra Timor Workshop.

Sixty teenage-girls entered the Top Model Contest in the hope
of becoming the reigning beauty to represent the province in the
1997 Elite Lux Model pageant.

First, second and third place winners will represent East
Timor in the Elite Lux Model 1997 contest which will be held in
Jakarta in June," said pageant organizer Sitorus during the
contest's final round Sunday in Dili.

Humbelina Borromeu Duarte, 22, beat 11 other finalists to take
the throne.

"A model must have a strong character and her identity firmly
planted in the roots of her local culture," said Humbelina who is
in her seventh semester of agriculture studies at the local
university.

As reported by Antara she said the modeling profession was a
potential means of promoting Timorese culture.

She stressed a need for similar events to cultivate the
potential of East Timorese youth.

Meanwhile the commander of the East Timor military resort,
Col. Mahidin Simbolon, as advisor to Citra Timor Workshop,
pointed out that winners of the pageant will be come ambassadors
of the province and introduce its culture to other areas ignorant
of the arts and traditions of the land of Lorosae. (mds)