MOST RELIABLE

Today we reveal the latest Class Celebrity, in the category of "Most Reliable." We love the fact that the students at Beauty School are always thinking outside of the box. Their suggestions for this award were all over the place and very interesting. We don't have a runner-up ranking, per se, as the ultimate winner won by a landslide. But we think we should share some of the student body's suggestions: The accounting firm of Ernst & Young, because you could rely on them to deliver the verdict; Miss Universe 1970, Marisol Malaret, who was called upon to crown the next two Miss Universes, when Georgina Rizk was unable to attend the ceremony in 1973; Sylvia Hitchcock, Miss Universe of 1967, because you could rely on her to be in the audience at many, many future ceremonies long after her reign; and finally Maria Cristina de la Vega, the interpreter for the pageant from 1985 to 1999, whom one could rely on to do a great job of translating especially for the Spanish speaking finalists. Our winner for the title of Beauty School's "Most Reliable" is none other than the superb Justine Pasek, Miss Universe 2002.

She ascended to the throne in September 2002 when Oxana Fedorova was dethroned. The circumstances of her ascension are legend. She was flown to New York, under the guise that the pageant had wanted her in town for a photo shoot. She was whisked away in a limousine and during the trip into the city she was informed she was the new Miss Universe. That simple! Within a week she was officially crowned by the Donald and she was off on a wonderful year. She reigned with grace, never missed a beat, and truly was the most reliable to step in as she did. We salute you, Justine Pasek. You can read more about this beautiful lady at
www.vivapanama.org/JustinePasek.htm