It’s so cool seeing your mates on TV. Last month, it was Paolo Zampolli and a real estate venture on BBC World. But I did not think Miss Sweden would make it on to our airwaves for the midday news with Peter Williams today. Here is the original clip, from ABC News, and my friend Panos:
Show-off name-drop behind-the-scenes time: I helped secure this pageant for Panos in 2003 and endorsed it with the Trump Organization. Feminists saw to its cancellation in 2005, so Sweden missed sending a delegate to Miss Universe for the first time ever. In 2006, Panos revamped the pageant, launching Nya Fröken Sverige. The winner, Josephine Alhanko, has two master’s degrees and is about to start her Ph.D., so you need brains to get anywhere with the competition.
Interestingly, even though Panos owns Panos Emporio, the swimwear company, there is no swimsuit competition.
The New Zealand one which I will fly to Auckland for soon is still the traditional beauty pageant, though it is interesting this was on the news here. Makes me think that there is more interest in Miss New Zealand than the networks admit (that’s right: news of Miss Sweden can get on to TV One, but they won’t show our pageant), and I certainly will bring a few of these more advanced thoughts to my judging this coming weekend.