Chinese beauty undaunted by criticism

The Straits Times ^ | JUNE 13, 2002 THU

[Tai_Chung]

Crowned the third most beautiful woman in the world, Miss Zhuo Ling fields media questions about Oriental beauty in a Beijing hotel. --XINHUA

Indeed, at 1.76 m, the leggy beauty is no midget. She arrived at Beijing on Tuesday, riding on her newly attained glory that was all the more remarkable given that it was China's debut showing in the pageant.

Although Ms Zhuo knocked out other traditional pageant favourites, including host country Puerto Rica's contestant, to get to the top three, she was derided as 'too old' and 'ugly' by some Chinese netizens who said she was 'no real beauty'.

Nonetheless, she said she had the chance to strut the beauty of Chinese women at the pageant, reported Apple Daily yesterday.

'I had hoped to let the people see an image full of special Oriental qualities, wisdom and charm,' she said.

The Shanghainese professional model believes that if China hosts the Miss Universe contest in 2004, foreigners will have a chance to appreciate China as a land of beauties.

At a webchat organised by Chinese portal Sina.com, Ms Zhuo, who was raised by her father after her parents divorced, said she hoped to use her position as a public figure to do charity work.

When asked if her success meant that the world had now accepted Oriental beauty, the beauty queen reiterated that she did not represent just herself.

Her honour as second runner-up did not belong to her alone but to all the women of China, she said.

  

[medlarebil]

You posted a photo of the wrong girl!!!

[medlarebil]

Miss Russia was by far the most beautiful woman there...Miss S. Africa was one of the top five, but nobody could touch Miss Russia...that's why the ratings were so high...everyone wanted to see if their choice, Miss Russia, would actually win. And she did because she is a knockout -- as beautiful as Sophia Loren in her heyday.