Miss China, Luo Zilin, takes in the sights of New York's Times Square. In the last decade no Chinese woman has won the title of Miss Universe, yet this year's entrant is an odds-on favourite to take home the diamond-encrusted crown – thanks to a Rocky-style training regime.
For the past month TV personality Yue-Sai Kan (the most famous woman in China, according to People magazine) has been coaching and training Miss China, 24-year-old statuesque model Luo Zilin, to ensure she becomes Miss Universe on September 12.
"The girls are beautiful that we send but just being beautiful is just like telling me that your talent is to be a great swimmer. If I don't give you training you will never get the Olympic gold," Ms Kan told the Wall Street Journal.
"The problem with Chinese models at the Miss Universe contest is that they are just too Chinese.
"The girls cannot be all Chinese, it's Miss Universe. They've got to be quite savvy about the world. What I'm trying to do is expose them to as many savvy things as possible."
Like a modern day Eliza Doolittle, Ms Zilin has relocated from her home in Shanghai to Ms Kan's Sutton Place apartment in New York to complete a rigorous, round-the-clock beauty pageant boot camp before heading to Brazil to compete.
Ms Kan's regime for Ms Zilin, who now goes by her adopted English name 'Rosaline', involves daily catwalk, dance, English and Portuguese lessons and spontaneous 'Q&A' sessions at any time of the day or night, quizzing her about news and current affairs.
As well as shopping, she takes in shows on Broadway and mingles with Ms Kan's American friends and celebrity acquaintances in order to learn and perfect Western etiquette, attitudes and manners.
Miss Universe WA talent manager Sophia Barbagallo says regimented training and grooming leading up to the pageant is not unusual.
In fact, Australia's entrant, Perth girl Scherri-Lee Biggs, who was discovered by Mrs Barbagallo, has also been undertaking months of secret training to ensure she charms pageant owner Donald Trump and the expected one billion viewers watching around the world.
"Miss Universe is not just about being a pretty girl, she needs to be an ambassador for the year and ready to travel the world, mixing with dignitaries and speaking on behalf of, well, the universe," Mrs Barbagallo, a former Miss World Australia finalist, said.
"Among Sherri's preparations she has been learning new languages, being drilled on the perfect 'Miss Universe' walk and posture, as well as going over insider information with previous Miss Australia winners on questions she is likely to be asked."
While Miss China enjoys excursions to the Hamptons and Upper East Side cocktail parties, Miss Biggs continues to work closely with Miss Universe Australia director Deborah Miller and her "Aussie circle of trust".
"Our training, with its limitations, is working and has been demonstrated by our top placements over the last few years," Ms Miller told WAtoday.com.au.
Ms Miller dismissed an offer from pageant expert Miguel Martinez who requested to coach Ms Biggs in Venezuela in the lead up to the international final.
"It confirmed that Australia is now a leading contender in pageantry. I declined after deep consideration because of my own secret training formula," she said.
Ms Miller believes Australian contestants, including 2004 winner Jennifer Hawkins, have been successful in recent years by portraying an "endearing rawness" in contrast to "the perfectly polished Latino goddesses, who have very high expectations placed on them."
"They [the Australian finalists] come across as real and never contrived. Not too perfect. Not too trained. They don't lose, and we won't allow them to lose, that relaxed and refreshing Aussie sense of self," Ms Miller said.
Read more: http://www.watoday.com.au/lifestyle/fashion/gloves-off-for-miss-universe-training-20110819-1j12t.html#ixzz1VRibZ8Jg
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