How is Sun doing!??

Hi INeeeeSSS!!!!

Welcome back to Japan! I’m so happy to hear from you!!! We were all waiting for your update abt you, Hiroko and Sun! I am so glad that Hiroko made it to Top 15. Omedetou Gozaimasu! Can’t wait to hear more updates from you about Riyo and Hiroko in future!

By the way, Riyo looked so modern and classy in the tux! It is truly memorable and inspiring!
To Riyo, Hiroko, Sun and wonderful Ines who have worked so hard without giving up…. Otsukaresama Deshita—-!!!

Have a relaxing time tonight and a safe trip to LA and France!
bon voyage!

Love you always,
meko

Congratulations of Hiroko’s being one of the TOP 15☆　
Ostukaresama desu!

Riyo san will come back!! WOW! I hope Riyo take more active part in the world.

Please relieve your fatigue with your precious family☆　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
With Love, Momoko

I hope you get some rest….after that I guess there is another MU to work with for 2009 ^_^

****
One of the best things about this blog is how Japanese and Koreans are being so supportive of both candidates in all the comments. That’s what MU is about after all – cultural and social unity despite past grievances and celebrating different types of beauty.

I think that by far, Ines working with both Miss Japan and Korea has accomplished a lot more off stage this year than on stage. I hope this unified support of all fellow Asian countries continue for the years to come even if Ines does not work with Miss Korea next year.

Hi Ines! Now that Riyo’s year is over, I hope you can still update us on what’s going on with her life. She is the best Miss Universe EVER!

Ines recognizes true beauty,indeed! The photo with Natalia says it all! If she was in Japan, she (Ines)would make her Miss Japan, Miss Asia-Pacific ,Miss Shinkansen … Go Natalia(s) ,Go Sun , Go Hiroko!

Dear Ines,

Thank you for updating us. I was beginning to worry! We can’t wait to hear your updates! Hiroko looked beautiful on finals night and she really took me by surprise. I was very upset that Sun did not make the top 15. How did she handle that? Please let us know all the good details about the after-show and Coronation Ball. Was Miss Venezuela well received as the new Miss U? Riyo looked FIERCE! Thanks for you great updates.

Loyal Fan,

Re

Helo Ines!

It’snice tohear that you, Hirokoand Sun had a safe return to Japan….

How’s the two?

I’m really proud of Hiroko!!!!!Good job to her…

As well as to Sun….. She did a very good job… Well fought battle….I’m very very proud of her…

I hope toseemore updates about Hiroko and Sun in the future…..

Thanks Ines for sharing themand yourself to us…

I’m a fan…. Mabuhay ka!!!!!!!

I am a jealous person, sorry! … and I have no life. Do you want to be my friend?

I WILL ALWAYS LOVE SUN LEE!!! ANY NEWS ABOUT HER?

AND RIYO MORI’s FINAL WALK and SPEECH WAS PHENOMENAL!

HONESTLY, RIYO IS ONE OF THE FEW (IF NOT THE ONLY) MISS UNIVERSE WHO I CAN RELATE TO.

CONGRATULATIONS HIROKO! AND THANK YOU SO MUCH INES!

I just want to have my voice heard.
I completely understand what Gabriel is trying to say but I don’t think we should blame Ines because the bottom line is Sun chose to ask Ines to be her trainer and if she felt any (national costume, walking skills, dress) of her preparation for the competition was not to her liking, she could have stood up and told Ines I would like another outfit or walk another way.
I think Sun lost the main reason of representing Korea in Miss Universe. It is not to focus on the crown itself but it is to best represent your country.
Either way I don’t think we should blame anyone. We should take the results as they are and just accept that Miss Korea didn’t make Top 15 because she wasn’t Top 15.
That’s my thought.

INES!!
You are SO beautiful and chic! I love it, the girls are lucky to have you as their mentor!!
diane

If there is one thing that I would have to agree with Gabriel is that the oversized black EG was a mistake… I am not trying to blame anyone for Sun not making the top 15 but I do believe that she lost points during the EG presentation and that ultimately eliminated her from making the top 15. Sure, the gown caught everyone’s eyes but it was not suited for Sun or this competition… Just my opinion.

On the other note, I thought her SS presentation was Perfect!

Still can’t get over the fact that SUN did not make the cut!!!

JM,

Thanks for your comments.

To JM:

“I think Sun lost the main reason of representing Korea in Miss Universe. It is not to focus on the crown itself but it is to best represent your country.”

In your opinion, who do you think represented her country well among the top 15 girls? Venezuela? Do you think that she won because she represented her country perfectly? I sure haven’t learned anything about Venezuela and their culture throught Miss Venezuela winning the title…

Welcome back Ines

hi:

venezuela was a doll, too perfect that looks unreal. but her scores were way under colombia. colombia should had won. i think she was more of a complete balance package. also, venezuela was very nervous and stiff during the show. i am not colombian nor venezuela but i wish colombia would have won.

Hi Ines!

What a year! Honestly, last year was more enjoyable in terms of the results.

Good job Hiroko for breaking the top 15. Not bad for a girl who doesn’t want to win. joke!

As for Sun, good job as well. You were remarkable and I feel you deserve a top 15 slot, even a top 5 slot…. even the crown.

As a response to the guy blaming Ines for Sun’s exclusion in the semis, well that’s your opinion. For me, there were a couple of more deserving delegates who did not make the top 15. The thing is, there are only 15 slots and you just can’t fit more than 15 in those slots. Also, it is quite evident that some delegates were placed in the semis even though they don’t seem deserving of those spots.

I guess timing is everything. Had it been Honey Lee who’s competing this year and not Sun, Honey Lee would have been the 1st Korean Miss U. And the thing is, it’s a contest and you win some you lose some.

That’s what makes pageants enjoyable. Just watching beautiful women parade in swimsuits and evening gowns for me is enough. So most of my faves did not make the cut, however it was fun while it lasted.

So, as the saying goes, better luck next time.

Yeah, it was kinda ironic to see Sun, the most serious and well-prepared delegate not to make the semis and see Hiroko, someone who doesn’t want to win or Ines doesn’t want her to win make the semis.

That’s life… isn’t it ironic… don’t you think?

chrisy

LOL I like what Chrisy wrote… Life is indeed Ironic…

What Gabriel fails to realize is that it was a Korean costume after all. It only “looks Japanese” in the sense that to some ignorant Chinese the hanfu looks like the kimono even though it is the real original ethnic Han Chinese dress.
And you’re making it into a bigger deal than it should be. Miss China didn’t even wear an ethnic Chinese dress but quite obviously something of an ethnic minority tribe.
Sure the hanbok would’ve more clearly represented Korea, but that doesn’t mean the dress she wore becomes magically Japanese, nor does it mean the Japanese have a monopoly on the use of the colors red and white, LAME MUCH?!?!

Boo hooo hoo conspiracy theorists can’t get over the fact that it’s over and done and their choice contestant didn’t get in. Conspiracy theory this conspiracy theory that. Ever thought that your malicious defamations might actually not be true? Quite similar to how Ines posted that controversial bit about Riyo being slapped..none of us will know unless we were there ourselves.

riyo’s speech almost bought me to tears cuz it was just amazing and kakkoii!! i luv how she kept her promise as she answered last year during her interview, that she would like to pass on to the next generation about being patient, positive and happy

riyo! please start ur own new blog!!!
congratulations to dayana! u deserved it! hope u have an amazing year!

I luv Hiroko she should have been top 10, she was smart and chosed to be herself. It shown in interview. She was a Miss Japan with a booty

Hey Ines, would you please tell that photographer Fasil Berisha to do some ”modern” photoshoots with the new Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza? His photoshoots look very 90’s. Someone should give him a NUMERO or VOGUE magazine. Dayana Deserves a good stylish photoshoot and stylish clothes. I hope you can get involved with Dayana and give her advices. In that way we could have the first Miss Universe who looks like a model

bonjour Ines.en ce qui concerne Miss france enfin plutôt sa deuxième dauphine on ne l’a pratiquement pas vu lors de Miss Univers 2008 retransmis en France sur Canal Jimmy…et c’est la que je tenais à faire savoir l’attitude exécrable de Mme De Fontenay et la personne qui commentait Miss Univers 2008 avec elle…déja interdire notre ” vrai ” Miss France Valérie Bègues de participé à cet événement est ridicule surtout que ses chances d’être dans le top15 voir mieux était réel et plus grande que sa deuxième dauphine…mais le pire a été dans son attitude à critiquer les Miss des autres pays jusqu’au moment ou Miss Japon défilait en bikini…Mme De Fontenay et l’autre commentateur on dit qu’Hiroko avait une démarche de catcheuse et à la rigueur qu’elle avait des gros seins…ces commentaires m’ont mis hors de moi surtout qu’Hiroko est magnifique et n’a rien à envier à Laura Tanguy…ensuite Miss Venezuela est très belle mais elle avait déjà gagné avant même que le concours ai commencé…avant même que cela commence Miss Venezuela était annoncé gagnante…après quatre latine dans le top5 avec Miss Russie pour finir…Miss Korea qui n’accède pas au top15 alors qu’elle était beaucoup mieux que certaine du top15 ou du top5…enfin bon encore une fois ce concours reste pas mal décrié mais félicitation à Miss Venezuela pour avoir été élu Miss Univers 2008 et à Hiroko Mima pour son top15…et avant de critiquer Miss Japan il faudrait que Mme De Fontenay s’occupe de Miss France et surtout qu’elle arrête de penser que l’on est encore en 1950 que maintenant on est en 2008 alors qu’elle leur laisse plus de liberté et ne pas pensé qu’à cette élégance qui à elle ne seule ne mènera pas une Miss France plus loin que le top15 et encore…et juste une question un peu hors sujet je voulais prendre des nouvelles de Moe Aoki pour savoir si elle allait bien et ce qu’elle devenait…merci d’avance…

bisous

Happy that Hiroko made top 15. Sad that Sun didn’t make the cut. Here’s what I think.

Ines did a great job on both Sun and Hiroko. I can see somehow that there were two different approaches to these girls, though.

Fashionwise, both of them challenged the traditional pageant standard. Hiroko’s short bang is not typical pageant hair. Neither Hiroko’s or Sun’s EG was typical pageant dress. However, Sun’s EG was riskier since it does not show her curve at all. Typical pageant dress is always body hugging, thus showing the girl’s body shape, one of the most important factor all the girls were competing for.

As for catwalk, it seems Hiroko went for orthodox, yet refined catwalk, while Sun took a risk of exaggerating the Monroe walk.

It is just my personal thought, but I think Ines had to take more risk on Sun than on Hiroko. Since Riyo won MU last year, there is no chance/need that Hiroko make it to the crown, realistically. But, Sun, she really wanted to become MU after Honey Lee brought such an attention on Korean beauty to the world.

Sun is very beautiful girl, no question about it, but she is not Honey Lee.
I don’t know how to describe it, but to me, Honey Lee had it all… just like Miss Venezuela did this year. Sun is beautiful, but she had to work it just like Riyo had to last year. Riyo stood out among other mega beauties last year because of her well prepared stage performance.

I may be very wrong, but I think that, for Sun, maybe it was either the crown or nothing because of the risk she took. I personally loved her catwalk though!

What I want to say is , BRAVO for both Ines & Sun for taking such a risk. You really aimed for MU crown, didn’t you? Sun, you really could have had it. It’s too bad that judges this time around didn’t agree, but I respect your challenge spirit. That makes the whole pageant very enjoyable!

Best wishes for both of you.

hello everyone,

I juste read our comments at the lounge at the airport waiting to board my flight to Los Angeles. Interesting point of view Gabriel….. I will come back to you on this later, I cannot miss that flight because I will stop in 4 cities within the next 4 days! Taihen desu….

There is a possible and mst certain reason why Sun was not in the top 15,…. in Nha Trang, an anoctious fan has been calling the judges in their hotel room and then the MU organization, trying to promote a silly concept of charity using the name of Sun Lee….. someone crazy and who has hurt Sun very badly with his silly and bold actions. She is devastated…. She just arrived in Milan to visit her sister who leaves there.

Hiroko is now staying at my home, Riyo comes back tomorrow. We will be very busy in September…

Love you all, ines

Ines,

1. I LOVE LOVE LOVE that white dress! Where can I have it?

2. Are you really going to train Miss Indonesia next year? It’s going to be a BIG challenge, because Indonesians are very yappy about our representation in the MU. Y’know, the whole bikini/no bikini thing. I feel that your role, shall you receive that offer, will be very politicized. I don’t think that’s bad, infact, I have a feeling that you will love it. So do inform us about your decision!

I remember you mentioning 1 delegate who did some cheats in the “Charming Ao Dai” show, right? Who was she?

Hi everyone,

As a national director I must say that no Organization looks for the same qualities in a winner on an annual basis, you look for beauty, charisma and someone you can work with. some people are beautiful but they fail to communicate with other, some may not be Hollywood beauties but they exude confidence, great manners, polite, eloquent and charm which goes along way.

It also depends on what type of organization you are? I for instance own and run a model agency, so the winner’s of my contests get modeling contracts and of course there is the charity work and functions etc.

Training depends on the contestant as well, you work with what they want and make suggestions and improvements, you can’t force someone to wear what they don’t like, and no matter how hard you train someone, if they choose to over do it on stage they will lose or if they copy someone else they won’t make it, judges often look for originality and what makes you stand, especially at Miss World or Miss Universe, all these girls already won a National title and now what sets each girl apart from the other is what makes a winner.

It also depends on what MUO is looking for this year. Miss Venezuela was a great choice, I still loved Russia but I can’t disagree with the outcome.

Russia did very well, despite the fact that she was only second Runner Up at the Miss Russia pageant.

If people think that a certain director poses a threat or is regarded as competition then they shouldn’t approach him / her to train their delegates.

Miss Korea organizers can obtain past Miss Universe tapes and train their own delegate, Ines did he best and she is being polite and kind to accept such offers she is not obliged to train anyone other than Japan.

If she were biased she would have trained Miss France. She is not and people should treat her with the respect that any human being deserves.

Riyo is a natural , sweet sincere beauty and she is a classy lady, watching her at pageant place she was the only girl whom I respected, I think MUO should separate Miss Universe from MISS USA AND TEEN USA, i found that the USA girls often lack manners and class. especially Katie Blair and Rachel Smith, I would have fired them at once for such behavior. being a titleholder means grace, etiquette and classy manners.

if you are going to behave like riff raff then don’t compete in Pageants.

As for smoking , I think its a bad habit but you can’t ban someone from smoking you can only ask them to abide by guide lines as not to be annoying to someone else.

Love to all and hope that Miss Universe 2009 takes place in Moscow, I would love to be there next year.

I strongly agree with Gabriel.

Well, it is his opinion but in fact, many people felt same way with Gabriel’s…along Sun’s catwalk, national costume and eventually disappointing evening gown on the final day.

Furthermore, there was a headline-post about her “magical-black” evening gown titled with “WITCH-LIKE”in Korean web, which cannot be easily igonored as what the majority had viewed on her presentation.

For me, what Gabriel mentioned seems truly well-penetrating the issues in regard to Sun’s preparation for MU2008.

Although I have no doubt with Ines’s profession,was quite curious about her thoughts and decision-making on Sun’s style.

Did Ines sincerely try to help Sun, Miss Korea for getting closer step to the crown or is it Ines’s limitation as a director?

I hope it would be the former one.

However,many puzzling points are still left behind cause we all remember that Ines turned her thumb up about Sun during the interview held in Korea.

Anyway, it became past….
cheers everyone.

Best wishes for Sun, Hiroko and Ines.

I don´t care about what anyone says, Ines, you are wonderful and both of your girls made an excellent job! Have fun and remember: take a nice vacation once in a while, you must be exhausted!

Kisses from Venezuela!

Hello
So glad to see you,Sun and Hiroko again after the competition … everything has done, hope you enjoy your stay in Vietnam. You did a excellent job, i love both Sun and Hiroko and i’m so sad that Sun couldn’t make it T__T
About the result, what’s do you think about it Ines?
In my opinion, Venezuela is beautiful, perfect but somehow i feel she’s a little too perfect … i feel something unreal about her … but she want it so bad so congratulation … ^^
I love Colombia but seem like she’s too cute for the crow …
Love to see Mexico in the crow ^^ … she’s beautiful, charming and nature … ^^
well, just my opinion… never mind … i have to say it out … ^^
Bonne chance pour vous dans l’avenir …

To Gabriel and the others:

Ines really trained Sun well. I thought Sun was better than Hiroko! Blame the preliminary judges okay? Not Ines. The low scores during the final night are proof enough that the girls chosen were not Miss Universe material. Sun’s catwalk was the best, not exagerated. Hiroko did not walk like that because it was not her personality or choice to walk that way. Sun’s gown was superb. Gucci SS 2008. The preliminary judges were full of inexperienced people with no knowledge of the fashion industry. Ines did her best. Sun did too. The judges were just not convinced. To me, Sun deserved the crown itself, but the judges thought otherwise. So stop bashing Ines, she did her best and is the best. Ines could care less about politics between South Korea and Japan. Now go work or find another hobby. It is just a beauty pageant. It’s cool and fun but it’s sad when you form FBI-Files-type suspicion. The pageant world is not cynical. Somethings happen amongst the girl but the national directors are professional.

Now leave Ines alone.

Captain Moon

Gabriel,
Ines is not the first national director who took a foreign beauty queen under her wings. Quite a few national directors have done that in the past. If I’m not mistaken, Miss Universe 2003 was trained by a foreign director and won the crown!

dear Inés,

i luv you and your girls so much! kudos 4 the great work! hope 2 meet u girls one happy day…xoxo

That’s right! Miss Universe 2003 Amelia Vegas was trained my Osmel, the director of Venezuela.

Also, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico has the same directors . Look what happened in 2005, 2nd and first runner up. Moreover, Kosovo and Albania also have the same director.

リヨさんのファイナルウォーク、スピーチには感動しました！！ＭＵファン歴２５年ですが、あんなに知的でカッコイイＭＵは初めてです。あれほどタキシードの似合う女性がいるのでしょうか。リヨさんの更なるご活躍祈っております。
イネスさん、これからもリヨさんの情報宜しくお願いしますね。

Miss Philippines 1999 trained in La Quinta, Venezuela and she surpassed Miss Venezuela Carolina Indriago in Miss Universe.

That’s right Ruisu!!!!

That’ s Miriam Quiambao….. Ines loves her so much, her favorite Filipina according to her….. I thought she shuold have won the crown on that year just like Kurara…..

About the issue regarding Sun, i really love her costume… Not the traditional hanbok that their past delegate used to wear… Ofcourse, you wanted something different that best describes the culture and history of your country… And Korea is not just about Hanbok….. I may not be from that country but I know that it has a very colorful and diverse culture and that was represented by the “KOREAN WARRIOR” national costume of Sun…

I Love Sun….. I love her NATIONAL COSTUME!!!! She represented Korea with pride…… Mabuhay Sun Lee!!!!

QUESTION FOR INES AND VERYBODY ELSE!!!!!!

DO YOU THINK THE FINAL QUESTION SHOULD BE DIFFERENT TO EACH CONTESTANT OR IT SHOULD BE THE SAME FOR EACH OF THEM?

I PERSONALLY THINK THEY SHOULD ASK THE SAME QUESTIONS TO EACH OF THEM LIKE THEY USED TO BEFORE. IT WOULD BE EQUAL GROUND FOR ALL OF THEM, SO THE BEST ANSWER CAN BE THE WINNER.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

@ ME AND ONLY ME: if they ask the same question to each contestant, it’ll be fair if each one answer as the same time and don’t know the others answer. because if there’s difference time, some1 could have more time to think than the other, it’s not fair. Also, if they know the others answer, maybe i’ll be difficult for them to answer it an different way ot maybe easier because they know a part of the answer from the other …
so i think asking each contestant a different question is quite fair … nothing is 100% fair so i think it’s ok …

Hello Everyone!

I think that the questions that are usually asked are very silly. These women are intelligent, it would be nice to get questions from the judges that have more substance!

xoxo
oliva
thecheapgirl.com

To Ines:

“There is a possible and mst certain reason why Sun was not in the top 15,…. in Nha Trang, an anoctious fan has been calling the judges in their hotel room and then the MU organization, trying to promote a silly concept of charity using the name of Sun Lee….. someone crazy and who has hurt Sun very badly with his silly and bold actions. She is devastated….”

I don’t understand this part… Do you mean that someone was trying to jeopardize Sun’s chance of making it to top 15? Do you think the food poisoning incident might have been intentional and that someone might have tried to jeopardize her chances? If so, that person will be PUNISHED!!!!!!!

Cheer up SUN! You were the BEST! Kudos to you and Ines! The only reason why I followed this year’s MU was because of you two, plus Hiroko.

TO KENDA~

in the past all the contestants were asked the same question. they would wear headphones so they could hear the question the other was asked.

i just dont agree with the way they doing things now. th efinals question is what determines who miss universe will be. all the other scores are erased the moment they choose the top 5.

::::: TO INES :::::

I would like to thank you for taking the time and training Sun Lee. I thought she did absolutely FABULOUS this whole month, her not making it into the final round is a bit heart breaking, but at the same time understandable. You did your best. Sun did her best. I’m very proud of what you have done for her.
On another note. I’m so impressed with how you… almost single handed… turned the Miss Universe JAPAN organization around. (I’ve been watching MU pageants since I was 5 years old — I’m now 26). You never cease to amaze me.
I’ve always rooted for Asian contestants (of Course Korea since I am Korean — but other Asian countries as well) since I was a little girl. To see how much of a FORCE Asia is now… I applaud you, for how much you’ve done for Japan Universe organization.
I was very proud to see beautiful Hiroko in the Top 15. Well deserved. I was a bit saddened to not see Sun in the top 15, but every year judges look for something different.

I want to thank you so much for helping both these beautiful women out (along with Riyo, Kurara, etc.) and for putting Asian women out there.

=)

would anyone here mind telling me about the girl who did some cheats in the “Charming Ao Dai” show, plz?

Dear Ines,
you look like an Angel that white dress!
Fablous!

Otsukare samadeshita!

OMG, I was told that there is an interesting rumor around in relation to the selection of top 15 in MU 2008.

It is known to be created by one of MU committee members, Stephanie Clark(?). The birds said she revealed the actual top 15 results of MU 2008 and the final ranking of Asia regions has been dramatically changed just before the final day.

The rumor is suprisingly in detail attached with the data analysis:

Miss Brazil (Rank 11), Miss Panama, Miss India(Rank 13) and Miss Korea (Rank 12)were included in the top 15 in stead of Miss Japan (Rank 19) and Miss Vietnam (over Rank 20)…etc.

Miss Korea Rank 12
(Swimsuit 16
Interview 19
Evening Gown 10)

Miss India 13
(Swimsuit 9
Interview 4
Evening Gown 31)

etc.

I know a rumor is rumor but somewhat it was likely to be happened. I’m just wondering whether others hearld or read of this or not. If Ines can explain this, it would be much clear.

I do not feel that it can be the reason of not selecting Sun in the top 15 due to such prob-callings. It is so far from Sun’s willingness in that case and if the committe took the account for their judgement on her, it is much absurb and ridiculous. Even Sun did not know someone designed such a charity under her fame.

Anyway, have a great weekends, guys.
Cheers,

VN was this year’s host, so no doubt why Miss VN was in top 15. It was also rumored that Donald Trump Jr., on behalf of his father, put her in because of some business issue. Who knows?

First, let me say that I’ve always liked Hiroko and Sun.
I was very happy to see Hiroko in the Top 15 and thought that between her and Sun, she really had a better chance of entering the Top 15. Her look was very unique and there was always a sparkle in her eyes that made her stand out.

I also think Ines is the best national director there is for her sheer passion and dedication to her job. Really amazing!

My only quibble is about Sun’s catwalk in the swimsuit competition. I have to agree with an earlier post about it being “overexaggerated.” Her movements did not look organic, they look choreographed and unnatural. Sun looked like a caricature of a Victoria’s Secret model. Very different from Riyo Mori last year, who looked very comfortable in her own body. She moved like the dancer that she is and looked really amazing. For me, Riyo and Cynthia Olavarria have given the best swimsuit catwalk in recent Miss Universe history.