THE CONTESTANTS

Meet the 163 competitors as they enter the Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremony, with colorful comments by our very special guests Cassandra Porto and Janet Sullivan...

COSTA RICA

Cassandra: Nancy Soto caught the Universe by surprise when she became a semi-finalist in 2004.
Janet: That's right Cassandra. She did really well and went all the way to place among the Top 10 that year. I must say she looked amazing on stage.

CROATIA

Cassandra: Croatia is a country we can certainly expect more than what it has delivered in the past 4 years.
Janet: I agree, none of them placed in any Grand Slam pageant. Nonetheless, Jelena Glisic, Miss Universe Croatia 2005, was considered the best from there lately.

CUBA

Cassandra: It's important to stress that the Cuban candidates who have been participating at Miss Tourism Queen International were not sent by the Cuban nation, but rather by a Puerto Rican organizer.
Janet: Nevertheless, Melissa Cabral was quite beautiful and could've place in 2006...

CURAÇAO

Cassandra: Oh, look at that radiant smile! Isn't Shadee Braun of Curaçao amazing??
Janet: She is amazing indeed, full of Caribbean flavor and spark! She was 6th at Miss Tourism Queen 2007, being just 1 step short from becoming a Top 5 finalist!
Cassandra: Not to mention that she won the Talent Competition, dancing to the sound of calyyyypso!!!

CYPRUS

Cassandra: Constantina Evripidou represented Cyprus at Miss World 2004.
Janet: Although somewhat shy, she is pretty, I like her smile.

CZECH REPUBLIC

Cassandra: OK, make way for Tatana Kucharova, the Czech stunner who took Warsaw and the World by storm in 2006!
Janet: Look at her fans' reaction, she is literally putting the Olympic Stadium on fire! What a strong contestant, our Miss World 2006!

DENMARK

Cassandra: The best word to describe Zaklina Sojic is sexy!
Janet: Yes, isn't this Danish delight sizzling hot?? I loved her in Miss Universe 2007, and think she can do well here.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Cassandra: With a face and moves to die for, Claudia Julissa Cruz was very close to capturing the Miss World crown in 2004.
Janet: Yes, she was 2nd to Peru's Maju Mantilla.
Cassandra: Claudia told us off-stage that she would love to play against Maju at some point in the competition.
Janet: I guess it could happen! Looks like Claudia Cruz is thirsty for revenge!

ECUADOR

Cassandra: Susana Rivadeneira was an excellent hostesses in Miss Universe 2004.
Janet: And she did quite well in the pageant too. As a Top 10 semi-finalist, Ecuador had never gone so far in that competition!

EGYPT

Cassandra: Meriam George was among the 8 best delegates of Miss Earth 2006, a great accomplishment for her home country.
Janet: She was very elegant and bright, I love this girl!

EL SALVADOR

Cassandra: Irma Dimas of El Salvador has a very pretty face.
Janet: But her placing among the semi-finalists of Miss Earth 2005 was to many a surprise. She is cute though...

ENGLAND

Cassandra: Born in Afghanistan, Hammasa Kohistani was crowned Miss England 2005. Many people thought she was a sho-in for Miss World's semi-finalists that year.
Janet: Yes, and not only for political reasons, but because she was beautiful and exotic.
Cassandra: In the end she did not place. Can she do better now??

ERITREA

Cassandra: Eritrea debuted at a Grand Slam pageant when Amira Lula Issac Hategabre represented her country at Miss Tourism Queen 2006.
Janet: She was quite an interesting contestant, I loved her national costume!

ESTONIA

Cassandra: A 3rd-place in Miss Tourism Queen 2005 guaranteed Laura Korgemäe the right to represent her country at the Beauty Olympics.
Janet: Laura is beautiful and an experienced pageant veteran.

ETHIOPIA

Cassandra: Nefertiti returned to live in the shape of Dina Fekadu, a semi-finalist at Miss Universe 2006.
Janet: This girl lacked preparation, because in my opinion she had enough beauty do succeed in Miss Universe or any other pageant.
Cassandra: Yes, perhaps she needed to be more energetic on stage. Let's see if she learned her lesson at the Beauty Olympics...

FERNANDO DE NORONHA

Cassandra: Tamara Almeida Silva put this Brazilian paradise island on the world map when she became the 2nd runner-up at Miss Tourism Queen International 2007.
Janet: I think her beauty and class are mesmerizing, really difficult to match.

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