Miss People's Republic of China - The New Times of China

">women weren't allowed to compete in beauty
A Brief History of Miss Chinapageants. That's why China, on the other hand, decline
When Zhuo Ling, a native of Shangai, was namedto participate in the global contests in the 1990s.It was
Miss China Universe of 2002, she, an attractive fashionnot until 2002 that the Marxist country held its first
model, became the first Chinese woman to win abeauty contest. Since then, China was one of the last
modern beauty contest in the People's Republic ofplaces, apart from the likes Vietnam, Cambodia and
China, one of the world's last Marxist nations in the 21stMongolia, in the world to hold a contest. Before the
century. But there's more, of course. In the previousCommunists came to power in 1949, this nation had
decades, the Communist rule, as a number of Marxisthad several beauty queens.
states in Eastern Europe, among them the USSR andZhuo Ling -- A Pioneer in China
the Democratic German Republic, did not send entriesAgainst all odds, Zhuo Ling was crowned Miss China
to Miss Universe and Miss World.Universe in the early 2000s. After winning the crown,
China Under Mao Zedongshe went to San Juan de Puerto Rico, host to Miss
After China's independence in 1949, Madame ChiangUniverse 2002. Without the financial advantages of so
Ching, "First Lady of the Cultural Revolution" (1966-76),many of the world's beauty queens producers, Miss
and Mao Tse-tung (or Mao Zedong), who said whichChina participated in Miss Universe, where she had
"women hold up half the sky", proclaimed total warthree tests: firstly, a physical fitness evaluation, (finished
against the capitalistic traditions: tourism, beautyfourth); an evening gown competition (first place);and
pageants, and western clothes. During that time, thefinally an exhaustive personal interview with 12
cult of beauty was replaced by the cult of Maointernational judges, among them Tatjana Patitz
Tse-tung. The People's Republic underwent over 25(fashion model), Marisol Malaret (former Miss Universe),
years of Maoist government.and Christopher McDonald (performer). During an
In contrast to the People's Republic, Taiwan sent ainterview for the New York Times, she told, "Generally
handful of contestants to Miss Universe and otherwhen you're picked as your country's representative
international pageants in the 1960s. Against all odds,there are some special events and you're given some
Taiwan became one of the world's beauty pageanttutoring, I didn't have a chance to help my country. And
superpowers, along with the United States, Argentina,I didn't have a former Miss China at my side. It made
and Britain. On November 9, 1961, Grace Li Shiu-yingme pretty sad.''
was first runner-up to Miss World in the UnitedBut China gave a more than satisfactory showing in its
Kingdom. During that year, Lily Wang Li-ling was afirst-ever involvement in MU in the Commonwealth of
semi-finalist at the Miss Universe contest in America. InPuerto Rico. Surprisingly, Ms. Zhung, who speaks fluent
addition, Dolly Ma was one of 15 semi-finalists in theEnglish with an Asian accent, made history when was
First Miss International in Long Beach, California. On Julyfirst runner-up, ahead of some of Latin America's most
14, 1962, Miss Taiwan Universe Helen Liu Shiu-manbeautiful girls, among them Vanessa Mendoza
finished in the Top Four in Miami Beach, Florida. Nine(Colombia's representative) and Cinthya Lander (Miss
months later, Helen was first runner up to MissVenezuela). According to the new results, she finished
Asia-Pacific in Tokyo.second, behind Justine Pasek, Miss Panama (Russia's
At the end of 1964, Taiwan's delegate Linda LinOxana Fedorova had won but she was disqualified by
finished third in London, behind Great Britain andthe Miss Universe Organization).
Argentina. Meanwhile, four months ago, Lana Yu YiMiss China
made the Top Five in Miss Universe 1964. Otherwise,Once the People's Republic of China became a
Macy Shih earned the 1968 Miss Asia-Pacific title inmember of the Miss Universe Pageant, several beauty
Quezon City, Philippines. Finally, Patsy Wu wascontests popped up like never before in Shangai,
crowned Miss Queen of the Pacific Quest in AustraliaBeijing and other Chinese metropolises, as well as
in 1969.Tibet. At the same time, Amelia Vega, 2003 Miss
During Cold War, Taiwan was not the only ChineseUniverse, arrived in China for a visit. Likewise, it hosted
territory in the pageants. Hong Kong, a Britisha host of global events, including Miss International
dependency from 1842 until July 1, 1997, also competed(2004, 2006, 2008, 2009 ), and Miss Tourism Queen
in the United States and London. But there's more. TheInternational (2004-2009 ). Since November 2003, up to
24th Miss Universe was held in 1976 in Hong Kong, a800 foreign beauty queens have arrived to Beijing and
few kilometers from the People's Republic. In theother cities, including entries from countries which does
subsequent decade, Eric Morley, Chairman of the Missnot have diplomatic ties with the People's Republic.
World Organization, chose HK to host the 1989 MissFrom 2003 to 2005, Hainan, a tropical island in the
World.Chinese Sea, hosted the Miss World competitions.
Goodbye Madame Chiang Ching!Two years on, at the end of 2007, Zhang Zi-lin, a
After the fall of Madame Chiang Ching, an admirer ofwell-trained contestant, was crowned as the new Miss
Sweden's actress Greta Garbo, the new ChineseWorld, making it the first Communist country in the
leaders, among them Deng Xiaoping, put an end to theworld to produce a Miss World title since 1989.
Maoist policies. However, despite the end of Maoism,