Miss Japan Riyo Mori wins Miss Universe 2007

Ahh.. finally! We knew that one day, a Miss Japan will win the Miss Universe title. If you're a loyal reader of Beautiful Newsmakers, you will notice that we've been featuring Miss Japan since 2005, it all started with Yukari Kuzuya (inspired the creation of beautiful newsmakers) and then in 2006, Kurara Chibaba. This year won't be any different, we have Riyo Mori.

Riyo Mori clasped her hands and trembled with joy as she received the crown from last year's winner, Zuleyka Rivera of Puerto Rico. News of Japan's first Miss Universe win in nearly 50 years was flashed across TV screens nationwide, sparking pride and pleasure.

Television stations showed Riyo Mori, a vivacious 20-year-old dancer from Shizuoka prefecture, near Mount Fuji south of Tokyo, being crowned winner of the contest, beating other finalists from beauty hothouses such as Brazil and Venezuela.

"My mind went blank," she said of the winning moment.

"I'm really happy, I cannot believe it yet," said Mori, whose ambition is to open an international dance school. Mori has been dancing since she was 4 years old.

The triumph came after months of preparation by Mori, who said in a recent interview with Metropolis magazine in Tokyo that she had been to France to learn the right mannerisms and how to handle interviews.

After hearing from friends that Japanese women often seemed suppressed, Mori told the magazine she wanted to show the world Japan also boasted "passionate women like me."

Congrats Mori!!

Leah Dizon: Makin' it big in Japan!

Leah Dizon was Beautiful Newsmakers' Readers Choice in 2006 and this stunning beauty has done it again! Dizon made her debut as a singer in Japan with her CD single and DVD package, Softly, in February this year. The single stayed at number 7 in the Oricon Charts for two days and then rose to number 5! At the same time, she also released her second photobook titled Hello! Leah.

Dizon will release her second single in a couple of days time... The title track of the single is said to be a 'grooving, up-tempo dance song'. The single will feature 2 B-sides like her debut single, Could you be that one? and Love Story. The title track, Koi Shiyo will be used in a commercial promoting Lotte starring herself.

Recently, Dizon attended the Japanese MTV Video Music Awards as a Guest Celebrity! Just as we predicted a couple of years back, Leah's made it... big time~!

Miss Korea Universe Honey Lee

Finally! Korea has a worthy contestant for Miss Universe! The gorgeous Honey Lee, 24 looks more Japanese than Korean with her cute, sexy image, but there is no denying that she is a total stunner!

The Seoul National University graduate is not the traditional Korean beauty with pale translucent skin and delicate features (think Song Hyegyo or Lee Youngae), she represents the best of what Korea has to offer- taking advantage all the excellent resources of the domestic beauty industry - plastic surgery to enhance her already gorgeous features, skincare, and perfect hair & makeup.

Honey holds a 3rd degree black belt in Taekwondo, a competitive skier and a scuba diver. Honey also does volunteer work includes work for UNI CEF, Compassion and Wrld Vision and she sponsor a child.

Weekend Babe: Hot Sexy Model Jarah Mariano

Wow! It's the weekends again! Hope you guys have something nice lined up. :D

This week, we have the beautiful and sexy Victoria's Secret model, Jarah Mariano as our weekend babe. It's interesting to note that we've already featured her as a weekend babe twice before.

She's starting to be one of our fave here on Beautiful Newsmakers. and... don't forget to vote in our Head to Head III competition, few more days left before voting close.

Gorgeous Bikini Model Jessiqa Pace

Jessiqa Pace was born on 20 April 1978 in San Diego, California. This gorgeous 5'9" babe is an American bikini model and holds a degree in film studies and art history! Wow! Beauty and brains!

Sexy Japanese Idol Natsuki Kumada

Natsuki Kumada was born on 6 October 1986 in Kanagawa, Japan. Besides her birthdate, enjoys cooking and that this 170cm Japanese babe is an AV idol, I can't find any additional information about her.

Anyone care to help?

Sexy Thai Model Sonia Couling

Sonia Couling or popularly known as Pim in Thailand is a fashion model and Cover girl. This sexy Thai babe was born on June 18, 1974, in Bangkok, Thailand and she leaped into the modeling and entertainment scene as a model in a 7-Up ad campaign before she turned 14.

Following that, she has acted in many Thai TV shows, been a VJ for MTV Singapore, and even starred in one movie. She was educated both in Thailand and England and is fluent in both Thai and English. Also, She hosted the first Next Top Model search in Thailand in 2005.

Sonia was once ranked No. 2 on FHM’s list of Sexiest Women In Asia and No. 23 on the magazine's list of the 100 Sexiest Women in the World... we can see why.

Weekend Babe: Cute Japanese Idol Ishizaka Chinami

Here we go again guys! It's the weekends! Hope you guys are havin' loads of fun.

This week, we have the cute Japanese Idol Ishizaka Chinami as our weekend babe. We've featured Ishizaka here in October 2006 and I think we will see more of her in the near future.

And... oh! Don't forget our Head to Head III competition. You've got until the end of the month to vote for you favourite babe. It's still too close to call. Have fun!

Sexy Taiwanese Model Patina Lim

Patina Lim was born on 10 September. This 180cm 29 year old beauty is a popular Taiwanese model and has appeared in many advertising campaigns for Warcoal and graced numourous covers of popular mags in Taiwan.

Talented Japanese Beauty Ayumi Ito

Ayumi Ito was born on April 14, 1980 in Tokyo. This sexy beauty is a Japanese actress who received her big break in 1996, when she was cast as the central character of a hit movie, Swallowtail Butterfly.

The following year, she won her first Japanese Academy Award for 'Newcomer of the Year'. She then went on to star in many movies, and receive much critical praise for her acting.

For a short time, Ayumi Ito was the lead vocalist in the all-girl rock band Mean Machine, along with Yuki and Chara. She recently had her seiyū debut as the voice of Tifa Lockhart in Final Fantasy VII Advent Children, as well as a cameo from the same character in Kingdom Hearts II.

anndd... If you've noticed, I've added a rate this feature for all the babes. :D With that, you can rate all the babes that are found on beautiful newsmakers! Cool!

Japaense Race Queen 2006/07 Midori Yamasaki

The 2006-2007 Race Queen of the Year award was presented Tokyo, Japan to 24-year-old ZENT race queen Midori Yamasaki. Yamasaki was born on 9 January 1983 in Kochi prefecture, Japan. This 167cm beauty enjoys snowboarding, travelling, shopping and archery.

With the recent award, Yamasaki remarked that even though "moe" and "pocchari" looks have become more popular among race queens, she aimed to maintain her style. Congrats! for being yourself!

It is interesting to note that the previous winners of the award includes Miho Yoshioka (2000-2001) and Chisato Morishita (2001-2002). I reckon we will see more of Yamasaki in the near future.

Weekend Babe: Sexy Chinese babe Mini Li

It's Saturday!! hahaha... I love the weekends! Just feel like lazing around today. How 'bout you guys?

Anyways, the weekend babe today is none other than the sexy Mini Li. Yups, we've featured her here numerous times and due to popular demand, here she is again. This is a very rare photo that I happened to stumble upon. ;)

Have fun... take it easy on the alcohol this weekend huh? :D

Beautiful Newsmakers: Head-to-Head 3

Wow! Can you believe it?! It's our third Head-to-Head already! Thank you for all the votes! I hope you guys are having fun picking your favourite babes as I have countint them. :)

This time round, we have Sexy Japanese Idol Haruna Yabuki challenging our defending champ, Carmen Soo! So pls vote for your fave and have fun!

To find out more on why we are running this competition, click here!

Haruna Yabuki | Profile | Featured on 28-Apr-07


vs

Carmen Soo | Profile | Featured on 08-Feb-07


Leave us a comment on who you prefer and votes will be tallied at the end of the month.

Miss Malaysia Universe Andrea Fonseka

Andrea Fonseka, 22 was born in Penang, Malaysia. This 180cm stunning beauty was crowned Miss Malaysia Universe in 2004. At that time due to her size, she was unkindly dubbed as one of the most chubby Miss Malaysia Universe in the pageant's history.

In 2006, Marie France Bodyline approached her and after completing the weight loss program, this National University of Singapore law student was totally transformed! Definitely hotter and sexier!

This transformation has opened up many new doors for this hottie! She has guest-starred on popular Singaporean sitcom Parental Guidance, played one of the lead characters on the popular series Housemates, a collection of six music videos, done several catwalk shows and appeared on countless magazine covers.

She was also voted one of Singapore's Female magazine Top 50 Gorgeous People 2006. With all her new found fame, she's still the smart, bubbly girl she used to be (yup, I've hang around her a couple of time during her college days in Subang) and she still loves chocolate and ice-cream.

Keep it up Andrea!

Head-to-Head II Winner: Carmen Soo

Hey guys! Thanks for voting in our Head-to-Head II competition. We have tabulated the votes and our defending champion babe Carmen Soo wins again by a landslide against her competitor in April, Debbie Wong.

Congrats to Carmen Soo. Her next competitor will be announced end of this week. Till then, enjoy all our beautiful newsmakers posted here.

Ohh.. pls vote if you want your babe to win! :)

Weekend Babe: Popular Korean Singer Hyori

Hey hey! It's the weekends again! Hope you guys have a relaxing one.

This week, our weekend babe is none other than the beautiful and sexy Korean singer Hyori. We've featured her here once before and I stumbled upon this gorgeous ad of hers and decided to make her beautiful newsmakers' weekend babe. :)

The results for the head-to-head II competition will be announced in a couple of days. Stay Tuned!

Japanese Cutie Miki Fujimoto

Fujimoto Miki was born on February 26, 1985 in Takikawa, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan. This 156cm Japanese cutie is a sixth generation member of the all-girl band, Morning Musume. Miki originally joined the Hello! Project as a solo artist and was later discovered during the audition for Morning Musume in 2000.

In a few days time, this talented beauty will become the Morning Musume's new leader, following the graduation of Yoshizawa Hitomi, the current leader. Also, Miki's nickname was Mikitty... She came up with this prior to her debut and derived from mixing "Miki" and "Kitty" as she is a big fan of Hello Kitty (how creative!).

Beautiful Newsmakers April Pick

Whoah! It's May already! Here are the Top 9 babes and models we've featured in April;