Miss Earth 2003 was the third edition of the Miss Earth pageant, held at the University of the Philippines Theater in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, on November 9, 2003.
Winfred Omwakwe of Kenya crowned Dania Prince of Honduras as her successor the end of the event. Brazil's Pricila Zandona was selected Miss Air 2003, Costa Rica's Marianela Zeledon Bolanos was chosen Miss Water 2003, and Poland's Marta Matyjasik was Miss Fire 2003.
Beauty for a Cause Award was awarded to Vida Samadzai the first Afghan woman to compete in an international beauty pageant in almost three decades, for helping found a US-based women's charity that seeks to raise awareness of women's rights and education in Afghanistan by "symbolizing the newfound confidence, courage and spirit of today’s women and representing the victory of women’s rights and various social, personal and religious struggles".
Final question and winning answer Final question in Miss Earth 2003: "At the end of each rainbow, so the saying goes, is a pot of gold. As a woman of the earth, instead of a pot of gold, what else would you rather find at the end of the rainbow?"
Winning answer of Miss Earth 2003: "Honestly, there are things that are much more important than gold. For me personally, the most important is the sentiments of the people. To give love and smile to a human being, to be able to give them a hand when needed, to give help to someone who needs your presence, and also God is always with us which is very important. The first thing I think when I open my eyes is heaven. When we have Him in our hearts and mind, everything is better. And I can see people how they really are inside, not if they have gold or not. For me the rainbow means life, God and happiness." - Dania Prince, represented Honduras.
Judges The following is the list of the nine-member board of judges of Miss Earth 2003:
No. Judge Background 1 Jose Cayetano da Silva Ambassador of Portugal to the Philippines 2 Evangeline Pascual Miss World Philippines 1973 3 Inno Sotto Premier Fashion Designer 4 Chito Macapagal General Manager of Unilever Philippines 5 Patricia Tancheong Senior Vice President of Air Philippines 6 Chin Chin Gutierrez TIME Magazine 2003 Asian hero 7 Stefan Voogel General Manager of Hotel Intercontinental Manila 8 Paul Lancos Beauty Expert, Vice President of Avon 9 Elisea Gozun Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Contestants List of countries/territories and delegates that participated in Miss Earth 2003:
- Vida Samadzai - Juany Gomez - Marisol Pipastrelli - Shivaune Christina Field - Sofie Ydens - Claudia Cecilia Azaeda Melgar - Mirela Bulbulija - Priscila Poleselo Zandoná - Brooke Elizabeth Johnston - Carolina Salazar - Dong Meixi - Emily de Castro Giacometto - Marianela Zeledón Bolaños - Krystiana Aristotelou - Marie Petersen - Suanny Frontaán - Isabel Cristina Ontaneda Pinto - Kadi Tombak - Yodit Getahun - Jenni Suominen - Jennifer Pichard - Jolena Kwasow - Ama Amissah Quartey - Justine Olivero - Marie Claire Palacios Boeufgras - Dania Prince - Aniko Szucs - Shwetha Vijay Nair - Moran Glistron - Asami Saito - Hazel Nzioki - Teuta Hoxha - Mary Georges Hanna - Ying Ying Lee - Lorena Irene Velarde Briceño - Katey Ellen Price - Marynes Argüello César - Eva Ogberor - Fay Larsen - Jessica Doralis Segui Barrios † - Danitza Autero Stanic - Laura Marie Dunlap - Marta Matyjasik - Norelis Ortiz Acosta - Katarina Vucetic - Adele Koh - Sabina Begovic - Catherine Constantinides - Yoo-mi Oh - Caroline Sonath - Catherine Waldenmeyer - Vairupe Pater Huioutu - Anongnat Sutthanuch - Diana Starkova (did not compete) - Jessica Schilling † - Driva Ysabella Cedeño Salazar - Nguyễn Ngân Hà
Further reading Newsweek: Kuntzman, Gersh.American Beat: Beauty is a Beast. Published on November 3, 2003. Retrieved December 27, 2009 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Associated Press. Miss Afghanistan wins award at Miss Earth contest. Published on November 10, 2003. Retrieved December 27, 2009 Los Angeles Times: Main News. . Published on November 9, 2003. Retrieved December 27, 2009 Sky News United Kingdom: . Published on November 10, 2003. Retrieved December 27, 2009 Rediff India: Agencies. Miss Afghanistan is 'beauty for a cause' Published on November 10, 2003. Retrieved December 27, 2009 Deseret News: The Salt Lake City, UT First Afghan in three decades to take part in a beauty pageant. Published on November 9, 2003. November 9, 2003 Retrieved December 27, 2009 The Tribune- Pittsburg: The Associated Press. Beauty's bikini agitates Afghan prosecutors. Published on November 9, 2003. November 9, 2003. Retrieved December 27, 2009 Philadelphia Daily News: Online News. Uh oh! Miss Afghanistan broke the law?. Published on November 9, 2003. November 10, 2003. Retrieved December 27, 2009 The Sunday Register Guard: Eugene, Oregon. Red bikini catches Afghans' attention. Published on November 9, 2003. Retrieved December 27, 2009 Bangor Daily News- Washington. Associated Press. Miss Afghanistan wins beauty contest award. Published on November 9, 2003. Retrieved December 27, 2009 New Straits Times: Associated Press. Miss Afghanistan Wins Special Award In Miss Earth Pageant. Published on November 11, 2003. Retrieved December 27, 2009 The Spokesman-Review: Fowler, Jonathan. Miss Afghanistan faces charges if she returns. Published on November 10, 2003. Retrieved December 27, 2009 Xinhua News Agency: chinaview.cn: Miss Afghanistan stirs criticism from home country. Published on October 207, 2003. Retrieved December 27, 2009 The Indian Express: Constable, Pamela .Barely bearable. Published on November 2, 2003. Retrieved December 27, 2009 The Toronto Star: De Castro, Erik/Reuters. Afghanistan Top court censures expatriate beauty pageant. Published on November 2, 2003. Retrieved December 27, 2009 The Washington Post/Island Packet: Woman's Appearance In Pageant Sparks Debate. Published on October 31, 2003. Retrieved December 27, 2009
References
External links
Miss Earth Foundation Miss Earth Foundation Kids' I Love My Planet