It may sound ironic but it is indeed true. Even though a soon to be released film stars an ex-Miss World, it is an upcoming starlet and one of the most popular item girls on the circuit, Sambhavna Seth, on whose shoulders the film's publicity is being strategised.

The film in question is MEMSAHAB - LOST IN A MIRAGE and the ex-Miss World is Yukta Mookhey. In this low budget film, Yukta as a central protagonist seemingly plays the role of a prostitute.

Lee Honey, Miss Korea 2006 and Miss Universe third runner-up 2007, has been named the most outstanding beauty queen of 2007.

Online beauty pageant magazine GlobalBeauties of Sao Paulo, Brazil said Monday that it chose Lee as Miss Grand Slam 2007.

Lee was selected through an evaluation of 100 top contestants who participated in the world's five leading beauty pageants -- Miss World, Miss Universe, Miss International, Miss Earth, and Miss Tourism Queen International.

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.

Raquel Beezley, Barstow’s hometown girl, aspiring entertainment broadcaster, and current Miss California USA 2008, is on her way to the biggest challenge in her career.

Beezley heads to Las Vegas on Tuesday for two and a half weeks of preparation for April 11, when Beezley will vie against 50 other young women for the title of Miss USA 2008.

Beezley, representing California, will be competing against women representing every state in the nation and the District of Columbia in on-stage interviews, evening wear and swimsuit competition.

The 21-year-old has been preparing for that moment since the age of 13, when she began competing in beauty pageants. Beezley won the title of Miss Barstow in 2004 and Teen Miss Barstow in 2001 before she took the Miss California USA title in November 2007.

Since then, Beezley said, her life has been a non-stop flurry of coaching sessions and red carpet appearances. If she comes out on top of the competition April 11, she will go on to represent the United States at the Miss Universe competition in Vietnam in July.

Before taking off, Beezley talked about her life as Miss California and her preparations for the next step.