All ready for Miss World 2009 in Johannesburg, South Africa

Update: Miss Gibraltar, Kaiane Aldorino is crowned Miss World 2009. First runner-up was Miss Mexico, Perla Beltran Acosta while second runner-up is Miss South Africa herself, Tatum Keshwar.

Image via The Times of India

Photo credit: globalbeauties.com

The Miss World title has been elusive to the Philippines, for the most part. In decades of joining the pageant, our Binibining Pilipinas-World candidate still has to be acclaimed the fairest of them all. Still, we send our representative year after year, and this year it’s the turn of DLSU College of St. Benilde tourism student Marie Ann Umali. I have to admit she’s really lovely and has in fact been named a favorite by some internet sites. Question is, how will she fare with the rest of the 111 beautiful contestants in today’s Miss World 2009 finals at the Gallagher Convention Center in Johannesburg, South Africa?
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NUKS NUMUN moment: my digital perm at a Korean salon

NUKS NUMUN! is a popular phrase I hear from fellow bloggers these days. I figure that in this age of icanhazcheezburger, it’s a variation of the old and jaded Tagalog term of exclamation “naks naman!” (Wow!) As in “NUKS NUMUN! Buhay pa ba ang gumupit ng buhok mo, sis?”

Barely a month after getting the famous Ricky Reyes haircut, I was itching for change again. It was because my natural curls were showing themselves in their full unflattering glory, which made for an uneven field. It didn’t help that the hubby told me he wanted to see me get a perm before he flew home. So off I went to a Korean salon I’ve been eyeing for a long time, but haven’t tried, and conveniently located at the ground floor of the Pan Pacific hotel in Manila. Have to admit that I tried it just for kicks, as it wasn’t as busy as Tony and Jackey a few blocks away. And I really wanted to try a Korean digital perm.

It’s something that I won’t regret doing, as it made the whole process seem effortless. None of the icky smell that we traditionally know of the cold perm. I forgot the step-by-step process now but it did involve the usual procedure of shampooing/rinsing my hair, cutting (if necessary), drying, twirling my hair under curlers or hot rods and placing it under a rectangular heating machine.

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Make-up class with Artistry’s Victor Ortega

Last weekend, I was up early for one class I didn’t want to miss – make-up lessons with Victor Ortega of Artistry, the high-end make-up brand of Amway. Prior to this event, I’ve been canvassing make-up schools in Manila, more out of interest than anything else. Am not about to open a beauty salon soon, but it is one thing I really want to learn.

Even though I hardly use make-up myself, except for the reliable lipstick, I do believe that it goes a long way in enhancing one’s looks and aura. We should approach it like art, and used wrongly, it can make us look like zombies, hehe.

Thankfully, Mr. Ortega is a proponent of the “natural look,” and this has made him popular in these parts (plugging:he has his own eponymous salons in Boracay).

For our class, he taught about how to do daytime make-up and transforming it with a few touches for the night. I caught a few precious lessons along the way.
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Brazilian Wax-ed! An hair-y, ouchy kind of funny story

Ever since reading last year the Bergdorf Blondes, I’ve been obsessed with getting a Brazilian Wax and am glad I was finally able to find time last night. The Brazilian was something that mystified me and this time being a summer, it is absolutely a must! However, the procedure is not really cheap and it’s not something that is offered by every spa in Manila. I had to choose between the Oasis in Hyatt and Sanctuario, which are both found in Malate. I finally had to settle for the latter because it’s nearer my workplace and ’twas about 200 pesos cheaper (…as my son says, “cheapskate!”)
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