THE UNIVERSAL APPEAL OF BEAUTY “I think beauty really comes from your inside. To me, beauty means to have a good heart. If you have a good heart, if you have a good soul, spirit, you can be someone special.
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| Riyo Mori, Miss Universe 2007. |
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As Salon City celebrates world beauty with this issue, it’s only fitting that we feature the Miss Universe Organization, which presents the Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA beauty pageants. The girls who participate in these competitions are not only the epitome of physical beauty, they are educated, goal-oriented, and highly driven individuals. Titleholders like Riyo Mori (Miss Universe 2007) and Rachel Smith (Miss USA 2007) become fulltime employees of the Miss Universe Organization during their reign, representing MUO both domestically and abroad. They also serve as ambassadors for the organization’s many official causes, which revolve primarily around women’s health issues (education, research and legislation) and HIV/AIDS awareness.
The 2007 Miss Teen USA pageant is scheduled to air on Friday, August 24th, on NBC.
RIYO MORI’S CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT
Riyo Mori has dreams as big as the world. And no wonder – this past May the 20-year-old stunner from Shizuoka, Japan was named Miss Universe 2007. The remarkably beautiful, poised young woman who has been dancing since she was four years old relinquished her spot at the Broadway Dance Center in New York when she made it to the finals of Miss Japan. “Having the chance to become Miss Universe was beyond any dream,” she says. “I had to do it.”
But dancing is still a part of her soul. Riyo’s ambitions include becoming the first Japanese Radio City Rockette and opening an international dance school in Tokyo. No doubt the resources and recognition she will gain this year – to say nothing of her skills and inherent talent – will help her to realize those dreams.
Still, it’s rather overwhelming to be declared, in essence, this year’s pinnacle of physical perfection. Says Riyo, “I'm supposed to be most beautiful woman in the world, 2007. It's so, like, honor, but kind of heavy to me because I am not perfect girl. I don't think anyone can be perfect. I'm not typical beauty queen; I'm, like, real woman. I can be making mistakes. I can be bad sometimes, but I'm trying.
“I think beauty really comes from your inside,” she continues. “To me, beauty means to have a good heart. If you have a good heart, if you have a good soul, spirit, you can be someone special.”
Riyo says that although her friends in Japan are happy for her success, they’re also taken aback by her newfound attention to fashion and cosmetics. “I change a lot because I never touched makeup,” she admits. “I didn't care about fashion. I'm a dancer, so how I walk is just like a ballerina. They are kind of surprised how I changed because I learn, I studied about fashion, makeup, hairstyle, you know? You can learn how to be beautiful. Everyone can be beautiful.”
The dancer got plenty of styling advice and fashion tips from MUO sponsors Farouk and YMI Jeans about how to enhance her natural good looks. “We have stylists, makeup artists, hair stylists,” she explains. “We are, like, team, so we have to trust each other. And they just did a good job. It was good atmosphere all the time.”
“I'm only 20 years old,” she adds, “and I can represent my country in the world. I have so many heavy responsibilities. What I can do is do my best, and then I'm still learning. This is only the beginning, so I don't know what's going to happen in the near future. I'm really excited. I don't have any negative thoughts right now. I'm really a positive person, so I'm only having hope for the future.”
Riyo also has a bit of advice for other young women who may one day find themselves in her position. “Don't be shy. Get out of your shells, break your shells, and then show your personality. Don't be afraid, and then you can shine."