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)