Seychelles to host Miss Intercontinental beauty pageant 2007 |05 September 2007

The event is slated for October 13 at Le Meridien Barbarons Hotel.
This was announced by the WBO’s European director, Detlef Tursies, during a press conference on Monday at Le Meridien Fisherman’s Cove Hotel.

Also present were representatives of Le Meridien & Starwood Hotels & Resorts; the chief executive officer of the Seychelles Tourist Board Maurice Loustau-Lalanne; Ahmed Didi of Universal Enterprises; and Suzy Pierre, the country manager handling the logistics of the international pageant in Seychelles.

Some 50 contestants from around the world are to meet here for a week during which they will participate in photo shoots and filming in their national costumes at both Le Meridien hotels and at Labriz Silhouette Resort.

Two panels of independent jury made up of international showbiz personalities (among whom Miss Intercontinental 2001, Lydia Petit, better known here as Barbarita from the telenovela Le Couleur de L’amour) and local Seychellois will form part of the panel of judges for personal interviews, pre-judging and the final judging and crowning night on October 13.

Seychelles will be represented in the contest by Miss Seychelles 2007, Solana Domingue.
Both Le Meridien Fisherman’s Cove and Barbarons hotels will accommodate the contestants during their stay here.
According to Mr Tursies, “The natural beauty and environment of the Seychelles has convinced us to host this international pageant here as this event will be broadcast worldwide and will generate more interest for visitors to come here once they have seen the scenic landscape of these islands”.

Noting that the WBO is a non-profitable organization, Mr Tursies said that all proceeds from the pageant will be used for charitable causes, adding that plans are already being considered to provide hearing aids for the hearing impaired in Seychelles with money raised from the event.

For his part, Mr Loustau-Lalanne said: “From a tourism aspect, by bringing such an international event to our shores with worldwide telecast, this is bound to add value to our tourism goals and objectives, as the reputation of the WBO is known to be excellent and we are sure they will promote this event and Seychelles as a venue and destination at the same time”.

The general manager of Le Meridien Fisherman’s Cove, Dietmar Koergel, said that “Le Meridien & Starwood Hotels are proud to be associated with Miss Intercontinental 2007 as this event will be promoted throughout all our hotels worldwide through our in-house television circuit, which will promote the two hotels in Seychelles as well as the destination”.

A raffle is also to be organized by Le Meridien Fisherman’s Cove as part of activities related to the Miss Intercontinental beauty pageant. Winners of the lottery will be awarded stays in Le Meridien’s chain of hotels around the globe.

According to an official press release from the WBO, negotiations for broadcasting rights with national and international television networks are being finalised.

The Miss Intercontinental Pageant began in 1970 on the island of Aruba and for many years was a main event on the calendar of events to promote tourism on that island. From there it has also been hosted in Africa and was held in Germany for the first time in 1991. Last year the pageant was held in the Bahamas and Seychelles was represented by Miss Seychelles Islands 2006, Wendy Boniface.

The WBO organizes three international pageants annually – Miss Intercontinental, Mister Intercontinental and Top Model of the World and most of its winners have now become international showbiz and television personalities.