2007 was considered a good year for Asian beauties as a lot of Asian girls were honoured at international pageants: Japan’s Riyo Mori won the crown of Miss Universe 2007; Canada’s Jessica Trisko, who is Filipino-Russian, took the Miss Earth 2007 title; and China’s Zi Lin Zhang became Miss World 2007.

The Miss Universe 2008 contest will bring together over 80 girls from every corner of the world, including 15 from Asian countries. At this moment, six of 15 Asian countries have chosen their representatives for this pageant: China, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, South Korea and the Philippines all have announced their representatives.

China’s contestant, Ziya Wei, is 24 years old, 1.75m high and 52kg in weight. She was born in Chongqing and graduated from the Chongqing Language Institute, majoring in secret text. She was working as a model in Shanghai when she won the Miss China Universe 2007 crown.

With her oriental beauty and the success of Miss China last year, the Chinese beauty may make history at Miss Universe 2008 like Zi Lin Zhang did at Miss World 2007.

Alfina Nasyrova, 20, is the representative of Kazakhstan at this year’s Miss Universe contest. Miss Kazakhstan have not usually done outstanding at international beauty contests but this year Alfina Nasyrova’s charming beauty and lovely face will possibly make an imprint for Kazakhstan on the international arena like Honey Lee did for South Korea at Miss Universe 2007.
Miss Indonesia Universe 2007 is Putri Raemawatsi, 22. Indonesia audiences gave her special support because she possesses a special beauty like Artika Sari Devi, a former Miss Indonesia, who entered the top 15 at Miss Universe 2005. Putri is now a student at the Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Surabaya, Indonesia. With international height, 1.79m, she will be a serious competitor at Miss Universe 2008.
Among Asian beauties who will attend Miss Universe 2008, perhaps Lee Ji Sun (South Korea) and Aruni Rajapaksa (Sri Lanka) have been preparing for the longest time.

Aruni Rajapaksa was crowned Miss Sri Lanka Universe 2007 last April while Lee Ji Sun took the Miss Korea Universe 2007 last July.

Lee Ji Sun, 25, 1.70m high, 49kg, graduated from the famous Parsons design school in New York, USA. In Miss Korea 2007, she won the Miss Photo title. It is expected that Lee Ji Sun will leave a strong impression at Miss Universe 2008 like her countrywoman Honey Lee did at Miss Universe 2007 contest because her appearance is not inferior to Honey Lee.

The latest Asian candidate is Jennifer Barrientos, who is one of the three most beautiful girls at Miss Philippines 2008. She will represent Philippines at Miss Universe 2008 while the two other girls, who won the same title as Jennifer, will participate in Miss World and Miss International 2008. Jennifer is a big candidate for Miss Photo title of Miss Universe 2008. In the past 12 years, 8 Philippine girls have won this title.

Meanwhile, the host Vietnam and some other Asian countries like Japan, Thailand, India, Israel, Lebanon, Guam, Malaysia, Singapore, etc are seeking their representatives for Miss Universe 2008.
Japan and India will announce their representatives in early April. Vietnam, particularly, will have its girl just two weeks before the contest.