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...

FIJI

Cassandra: Beautiful Fiji was represented by Aishwarya Sukhdeo in Miss World 2004.
Janet: She was unquestionably the best Fijian representative in the last 4 years.

FINLAND

Cassandra: Susanna Laine of Finland is such a doll, look at that smile!
Janet: She totally deserved to be 2nd runner-up at Miss International 2005! She resembles the incredible girls Finland used to send to Grand Slam pageants back in the 1960's and 1970's. Those were marvelous times for Finland!

FRANCE

Cassandra: France hasn't achieved anything major in international pageantry lately, but there was some fuss around Cynthia Tevere when she competed in Miss International 2005.
Janet: Yes, and she was a semi-finalist back then...

GEORGIA

Cassandra: Nana Mamasakhlisi came out of nowhere to claim a spot among Miss Earth finalists in 2007.
Janet: She did it, but with much class and sophistication. I actually like this girl a lot.
Cassandra: Maybe she needs to smile a bit more often!

GERMANY

Cassandra: Ignored by Miss Earth judges in 2003, Jolena Kwasow made an incredible comeback the following year in Miss Tourism Queen!
Janet: Yes, she was the 1st runner-up, nearly capturing the first Miss Tourism Queen crown in its Grand Slam days!

GHANA

Cassandra: Irene Dwomoh's performance in Miss World's Talent Competition last year was hilarious!!
Janet: She was so funny and talented that she won the Talent Award, which stamped her passport to Miss World's simi-finals.
Cassandra: Although a bit overweight, I find her to be stunning, very tall, elegant, with a radiant, bright smile.

GIBRALTAR

Cassandra: Gibraltar is still after its first placement in a Grand Slam pageant...
Janet: That is correct, Cassandra. Danielle Samantha Perez might not have been even close to achioeve it, but she was rather lovely, with that fresh look and sweet smile of hers!

GREECE

Cassandra: Although the winner of Miss Tourism Queen International 2005, Nikoletta Ralli is far from being an unanimity among Greek fans. They claim Greece had more competitive candidates in Miss World, Miss Universe and Miss International lately.
Janet: Maybe so, but Nikoletta was the only one to go all the way and win a major beauty title for Greece in the last 4 years. She is energetic and beautiful in a non-conventional way, which I must confess, I appreciate a lot!

GRENADA

Cassandra: There comes another Caribbean stunner, Grenada's Vivian Burkhardt!
Janet: Yes, and look at the smile at her face! Does it have anything to do with Lewis Hamilton's recent victory in Monte Carlo??
Cassandra: Oh Janet, you are a baaaad girl!!
(both laugh)

GUADELOUPE

Cassandra: When least expected, Guadeloupe finally got its first Grand Slam finalist with Meryta Melina.
Janet: She was a big surprise in Miss International 2006. Very poised and elegant young lady!

GUAM

Cassandra: We haven't seen much of Guam in pageant news lately...
Janet: Indeed, Cassandra. Felixia Yeap Chin Yee represented Guam at Miss Tourism Queen 2006, but she did not get much press attention.

GUATEMALA

Cassandra: Alida Boer could've made it for Guatemala both in Miss Universe and Miss International 2007, I don't know what went wrong for this girl...
Janet: I don't know it either. She was very popular in the pageant community. Hope she does well for her country here!

GUYANA

Cassandra: Is it me or Alana Ernest is 100% adorable??
Janet: It's not you, she is lovely indeed! I think the so-called sash factor plays against some stunners at times. She is a good example of that!

HAITI

Cassandra: Channa Cius represented Haiti at Miss Earth 2005, and although not a semi-finalist, she left a positive impression on me.
Janet: Cassandra, I've been to Haiti long ago, and take my word: even though it is probably the poorest country in the Americas, there are beautiful girls there, just waiting to get an opportunity to shine!
Cassandra: I believe you, and hope Haiti gets its act together soon in order to be shinning in all Grand Slam pageants...

HAWAII

Cassandra: Kellie Peterson is today a television presenter in Hawaii, if I am not mistaken...
Janet: I am not sure about that, but what I am sure of is that Kelly was a great contestant in Miss International 2004! I really thought she was going to make the cut...

HONDURAS

Cassandra: Just one year after winning the Miss Earth title, Honduras advanced to the semi-finals again with Gabriela Zavala Irias.
Janet: It was a surprising result back then, and nonetheless, Honduras' best result in the last 4 years.

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