Pasek retains her passionate volunteerism
Pandaya, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Panamian beauty Justine Pasek has retained her passionate volunteerism after accomplishing her demanding duties as the 2002 Miss Universe.
Although she has returned to her homeland Panama from New York where she was based during her term, the 24-year-old beauty remains active in charitable activities and HIV/AIDS campaigns.
She arrived in Jakarta on Thursday representing the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences to give the International Five Star Diamond Award to Wisma Mulia, a 57-floor commercial building in Jakarta.
"I want to be my country's ambassador on conservation and culture," Pasek told The Jakarta Post. It was her first visit to Indonesia, but she had learned more about Bali thanks to the ubiquitous tourist brochures.
She said she was considering an offer to become a United Nations goodwill ambassador.
Pasek is the first Panamanian to have won the Miss Universe title, the annual world contest, which has been vary much dominated by Hispanic pageants over the past years. This year's title went to another Latin American beauty, Amelia Vega of the Dominican Republic.
As Miss Universe, Pasek had traveled extensively working with internationally reputed organizations on HIV/AIDS, such as the Harvard AIDS Institute, Global Health Council, AmFAR (American Foundation for AIDS Research) and the Center for Disease Control's Act Now campaign.
As a celebrity spokesperson, Pasek also worked with international media to improve people's awareness of HIV/AIDS. Despite all the international endeavors, little has been achieved in the fight against HIV/AIDS, she said.
"The government should spend more of their money on the HIV/AIDS prevention efforts," she said.
Back in her home country, where HIV/AIDS incidence is the second highest in Central America, Pasek dedicates much of her time to charitable activities. One of the organizations is Probidsida, a foundation campaigning for HIV/AIDS awareness.
Her commitment to help the disadvantaged remains so strong that she has no plans to settle and start a family. "Not for a couple of years so that I can concentrate on my activities."
Since being crowned Miss Panama, Pasek has also worked with Casa Esperanza, an organization that helps educate street children. She also organizes fashion shows for Panamian and international charitable organizations such as the Red Cross.
Like in other Latin American countries, where becoming a beauty queen is a childhood dream, fashion shows and beauty contests have become part of the local tradition, she said.
Pasek, a daughter of a software engineer for the Panama Canal Authority and a home maker, cherishes the hope she will complete a degree in environmental engineering and work for the Smithsonian Research Center some day.
In an interview with abilitymagazine.com, Pasek was asked if she had gone to collage, and she replied, "I haven't been through college yet, although I definitely plan to attend in the future."
Before winning the contest, Pasek worked in production for TV specials, charity events and, of course, modeling -- a profession that catapulted her to stardom.
The 1.67 meter native of Panama City was the first runner-up and a crowd favorite during the 2002 Miss Universe pageant contest in Puerto Rico last May.
She took the title after the winner, Oxana Fedorova of Russia, was stripped of the crown for failing to fulfill her large array of duties.
Looking back, Pasek said being "second best" never bothered her.
"I have no mixed feelings about," she said, laughing.
The most rewarding aspect of her once-in-a-life-time service as Miss Universe was helping people with HIV/AIDS and working with people from different backgrounds.
"The (Miss World) organization has spoken highly of me," she said. "In the beginning I was really intimidated by my duties but in the end everybody was happy with what I did."