$3.60 » balkanization http://www.mp285.com wide world. in a web. Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:46:20 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= 0 for 2: another one hits the dust at Miss Universe http://www.mp285.com/2008/07/0-for-2-another-one-hits-the-dust-at-miss-universe/ http://www.mp285.com/2008/07/0-for-2-another-one-hits-the-dust-at-miss-universe/#comments Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:07:39 +0000 marisa http://mp285.com/2008/0-for-2-another-one-hits-the-dust-at-miss-universe/ Crystle Stewart 2008As usual, I tuned right in to the Miss Universe pageant last night. (It’s a work obligation, you see. All that national identity and gender and shiny dresses…). I swear, every year it seems a little bit shorter, a development for which I thought I would be grateful, except that this year shortening seemed to mean speeding up the national costume portion of event. No fair!

More to say on the costumes later, though to summarize: the Americas have arrived at some kind indigenous phase, the Balkans are still kooky, and Miss Thailand, who won for best constume, wore pants. Granted, they were Crouching Tiger Hidden Girlpower Fighting Pants, but still. Pants.

Crystle Stewart, Miss USABut today’s news is this: Miss USA (“hometown”? Texas) fell. Just like last year. This year, however,  Miss USA Crystle Stewart didn’t make it to the finals. Remember last year, when despite falling the other Miss USA made it to the finals? Mexico (yep, the whole country!), tried to boo her off the stage.

Having a whole country boo at you sucks. Especially after you’ve already eaten the stage in front of the whole world.

Yup, it’s clearly a curse.

]]> http://www.mp285.com/2008/07/0-for-2-another-one-hits-the-dust-at-miss-universe/feed/ 0 Crisis in the Balkans, and the problem with non-alignment in the Miss Universe http://www.mp285.com/2007/05/crisis-in-the-balkans-and-the-problem-with-non-alignment/ http://www.mp285.com/2007/05/crisis-in-the-balkans-and-the-problem-with-non-alignment/#comments Tue, 29 May 2007 01:56:39 +0000 marisa http://mp285.com/2007/crisis-in-the-balkans-and-the-problem-with-non-alignment/ Bloggin’ Live!:You know, I have all these fancy critiques of the Miss Universe pageant, but I’d be a liar if I didn’t admit to liking the costumes! Though everyone is not so ready or willing, it seems, to represent nationalism. What’s going on with Croatia, for instance?

Miss Croatia 2006 ↓

I must say, though, there is a serious lack of commitment coming out of the Balkans and Eastern Europe the last two years. Think prom dresses with flags stiched on their backs. Or very vaguely conveyed themes of fun and good will. I guess it’s harder to commercialize nationalism after balkanization?

↑Miss Croatia 2007

I’ve also noticed over the years that the European non-aligned states also often struggle with national costumes. I think Denmark is some kind of mer-person:

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