A parade of hopeful young beauties signing up for Miss Thailand World 2013 beauty pageant last week marked the beginning of the annual competition in the search of a beautiful, talented woman who will be crowned Miss Thailand World 2013, the 23rd Miss Thailand World since the pageant began in Thailand in 1985.
Miss World CEO Julia Morley.
Miss World CEO Julia Morley was present at the press conference of Miss Thailand World 2013, which adopts the concept "Beauty with Values, Beauty to the Eyes of Asean". The final round will be held on April 9 at Centara Grand at CentralWorld.
While it seems like a contest of appearances, Morley corrected that it's what's inside that counts as beauty. After all, the beauty pageant's concept is "Beauty With A Purpose".
She gave an example of activities that Miss World has been involved in. The team and the reigning Miss World Yu Wenxia from China have just been to Mumbai, India, where they helped realise seven school projects.
"Beauty is when you can visit and see children that live in very difficult conditions or in slum areas, and really make a difference. They don't have the same opportunity to go to school. The mothers don't have the opportunity to have a nice home. They have to live in really difficult conditions," said Morley.
The concept was to help create schools for 200 children and their mothers to learn how to read and write.
"The change in the mothers and the children is so amazing. Those mothers are beautiful. They are proud and they have dignity. They are genuinely excited about learning with their children so they can get a job, so they can read. One of the mothers is now an assistant teacher and her child is studying at a school of science _ she wants to be a doctor. This, to me, is beauty," explained Morley.
"That's what beauty with a purpose is. That is the reason for me being in charge of Miss World. If Miss World did not have a reason, I wouldn't want to be a part of it."
The beauty pageant prides itself on helping children _ its crown represents the children of the world. While a Miss World might look pretty on stage, she has to have a pretty heart to match,because her main role is to help children in need.
Asked whether a beautiful, bikini-ready body is a must, Morley differed that a woman should not have to wear whatever she is not comfortable with and walk on stage.
"I think that for me as a woman, when I took over organising the show, I believe it's not necessary for young ladies to go on stage in a bikini. I'm not against bikinis but it's not necessary to make a girl feel uncomfortable when she should be looking beautiful. My belief as a woman is a woman can look much more beautiful and feel confident if she's beautifully dressed rather than gyrating on the stage in a bikini."
The 63rd edition of the Miss World pageant to be held on Sept 28 in Indonesia. This year, Morley said a record number of nations are coming to participate _ around 125 to 130 countries.
"We are honoured to have so many nations. There is nowhere else that so many nations come together and live under the same roof, share the same itinerary for one month. Even in the Olympic Games they cannot do that!"
_ Napamon Roongwitoo
