10th October 2010 CONTESTS ADDRESS EXPO FORUM ON MULTICULTURALISM

The many aspects of beauty in a modern multicultural society were highlighted by ten Miss World contestants when they addressed a forum as part of Shanghai EXPO 2010.

The 39th Cultural Forum was a prestigious gathering of media chiefs and business leaders, which took place at the headquarters of the Jiefang Daily Group.  The forum is addressed only by their most prominent and respected peers so it was considered an honour for the ten chosen young women to be invited to speak at the Forum and they took the task quite seriously.

Representatives from United States, Egypt, England, South Africa, Botswana, Australia, Netherlands, Venezuela, Saint Lucia and China each spoke on the subject of ‘The Beauty of EXPO in a Multicultural Society’.  Each contestant prepared their own five minute talk, with conditions in their home nations and experiences of attending Miss World 2010 colouring their individual takes on the topic.  

Miss World Chairman Mrs Julia Morley also spoke to the audience, highlighting the values of mutual respect, tolerance and appreciation of others.   “One thing we have learned is tolerance,’ she said.  “Tolerance is the key for me.  Every country, every individual has its own point of view and we need to respect those views.  Each young woman is a person of substance.

“Beauty with a Purpose is the real soul of the competition.  Across the world we have a network of women who communicate when we need to help others.  Every person should feel beautiful.  Through Beauty with a Purpose these young women have raised hundreds of millions and every penny goes to people in need.”

Miss World 2009 Kaiane Aldorino told the Forum how her experience as a contestant had opened a world of opportunity and understanding.  She said:  “When I came home, I looked on a map and I didn’t see a mass of unknown countries.  I saw faces.  I saw friends.”

After the ten had spoken, they received a well-deserved standing ovation from their fellow contestants as well as the EXPO representatives and Shanghai leaders.

“I was a bit nervous addressing so many important people as well as the other contestants but I have some experience of public speaking so I tried to relax and speak from the heart,’ said Botswana.

Venezuela added:  “I had so much to say that I nearly forgot to leave time for the translation.  But it was so exciting to stand on that stage and tell people about my country and how beauty should be seen in everyone, regardless of race or religion or sexuality.”