UNIVERSAL HEADLINE - 22 YEARS AGO TOMORROW

AND IT'S ... MISS HOLLAND Wednesday, 24-May-1989, AP: Angela Visser of Holland was crowned Miss Universe on Tuesday night after being chosen from a field of 76 contestants from around the world. Visser, 22, who is a model and beautician from Rotterdam, won $300,000 in prizes. Miss Universe 1988, Porntip Nakhirunkanok of Thailand, presented the crown to the winner after swimsuit and evening gown competitions and personal interviews at the contest in Cancun, Mexico. Visser, who has studied piano and classical ballet for eight years, has already traveled extensively representing her country as Miss Holland. First runner up was Miss Sweden, Louise Drerenstam, 19; second runner up, Miss USA., Gretchen Polhemus, 24, of Fort Worth, Texas; third runner up, Miss Poland, Joanna Gapinsak, 21; and fourth runner up, Miss Mexico, Ardiana Abascal, 18.

VERTICAL FILES

Dean Harris gave the following miscellaneous year-end tidbits of beauty news to Lorraine to put in the library's vertical files, along with these hand-written instructions, because he knows how much hairspray she has snorted in her life:

"Vertical files in a library are a great research resource. Often overlooked in favor of the internet, these files provide valuable, accessible information. Librarians keep vertical files updated as information on a variety of topics arrives. Photos, articles, and newspaper clippings are all items that can be found in vertical files.

"Please be reminded that the vertical files are not to be used for storing your hair rollers, old cans of half-used Aqua Net, mascara, and other beauty supplies. For that, please use your pink Caboodles that you got at Miss Teen USA 1988's yard sale!

The new Mister Lebanon 2010-2011 is Roy Imad, 21. He won the title on December 15, during a glitzy gala at the Casino du Liban in Beirut. Among his prizes is a king ring - oh my! We hope they got the ring size right for this massive, 1m85 stud!

The new Mister Nicaragua 2010 is Yasser Baldelomar, 25, of Granada. Topping six other guys, the gorgeous lawyer won the title on December 3. Also, yummy Yasser won the titles of Míster Fashionista, Mejor Cuerpo (we can see that!), and Mejor Sonrisa.

Miss Tourism International 2010 is Miss Netherlands Nathalie Den Dekker, 21. She won the coveted title just yesterday, during a glittering New Year's Eve gala celebration in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. Miss Australia Holly Anne Visser was first runner-up. Miss Venezuela Stephany Gonzalez, Miss Philippines Barbara Salvador, and Miss Mongolia Borgoljin Bayarsaikhan rounded out Nathalie's court of honor.

ZEN ON SUNDAY

Paulien Huizinga, Miss Universe Netherlands 1991 and first runner-up to Miss Universe 1991

MISS UNIVERSE NETHERLANDS 2009

The new Miss Universe Netherlands 2009 is Avalon-Chanel Weyzig. She won the title this weekend. (Photos: RTL Niewus.nl)

STOP THE WORLD, I'LL TAKE THE UNIVERSE

In 1988, at the 38th annual Miss World Pageant held in London, England, Angela Visser represented Holland. She was not one of the ten semi-finalists at the pageant. This is a photo of Angela at the Miss World Pageant. One has to wonder if her choice of gown might have had some impact on her not placing, its pink with what looks like black spiders decorating it. One year later, she'd switch to a white gown, and having skipped the world, she just took the Universe.

"DO YOUR OWN JUDGING"

A great pastime at Beauty School is to leisurely peruse old pageant programmes. This weekend we unearthed the programme book for the 1963 Miss International Pageant with the lovely Stanny Van Baer of Holland on the cover after winning Miss International in 1962. We were particularly tickled by the full page instructions on how to judge the contestans. Excerpts follow: "Evening Gown, special attention should be to given to each contestant for the beauty and contour of her face, her ankles !!!, her feet !!!, the lines of her shoulders and ...her personality." "Play Suits, is primarily for beauty of figure, form proportion, the fine balance of feminine loveliness, along with poise, grace and personality." And finally "Speech, take into consideration the contestants charm, her personality,her poise, but chiefly her method of speaking, her style of delivery and above all, the intelligence of her remarkes." Given these criteria it's a wonder anyone could have won. You got to love it.

FIRST LADIES IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Our occasional feature about favorite first runners-up finds us remembering a young lady from the land of tulips and wooden shoes, Miss Universe Netherlands 1991, Paulien Huizinga. Paulien was not the typical beauty pageant type; she was refreshingly natural and appeared to be having the time of her life during the live final of Miss Universe 1991. Her interviews were priceless. First we found out how her family rented a car and drove across the US with a Miss Netherlands banner on their car (Paulien flips her hair). Then when asked about a co-worker making untoward advances, she replied, "You touch me I'm out of here" (Paulien flips her hair). In the final question, she was asked something about the most important issue facing her country today or some such (Dean Di Maggio is old and can't quite remember the actual question). She was doing fine answering the question but stumbled on the English word for the environment. Her father yelled out the word from the audience, "the nature," and Paulien giggled and said "That's my daddy." (Paulien flips her hair). She was a total delight, so the spotlight is on you, Paulien, and go ahead, flip your hair.

ANGELA AND HER LITTLE SISTER

Angela Visser, Miss Universe 1989 of Holland, and her little sister pose for the photographers moments after her coronation.

A ROYAL FLUSH

First names alone will suffice for this royal flush of beauties at the 1992 Miss Universe pageant, Apasara, Porntip, Michele, Lupita & Angela. 'Nuf said.