THE CHEERLEADERS at Indian Premier League (IPL) matches, who had been facing criticism all these days, have got a respite. While many have already been questioning the authorities for using cheerleaders in the cricket field, it is the turn of beauty queens to join the debate on cheergirls and their brand of dancing.

Recently crowned Femina Miss India 2008, Tanvi Vyas, who was in Jammu recently, came out in support of the concept of cheerleaders and asked the audience to try not to see the act as vulgar but respect those girls, for they are only doing their job.

Interacting with media men on the sidelines of a function organised by Flying Cats to launch fresh courses inJammu, Tanvi gave a sound piece of advice to those who have raised ‘hullabaloo’ against the leg shaking cheer leaders – the most visible feature of the newly launched IPL T-20 cricket tournament.

The dancing cheerleaders are not promoting any kind of vulgarity but just entertaining audience gathered inside the cricket stadium to enjoy the game, she said. No one has asked the cheerleaders to promote vulgarity. Every individual has a choice and freedom to choose and watch programmes of his/her own interest, she added.

MISS Worcester could become Miss Universe after she beat more than 500 entrants to get to the UK finals - but she needs the help of Worcester News readers if she is to win it.

Jodi Edwards is all set to compete against another 45 glamorous girls at the prestigious charity event in London on Saturday.

The Miss Universe UK competition, which is owned and run by American business tycoon Donald Trump, is being held in aid of the Joshua Foundation - a charity that provides holidays and life experiences for children diagnosed with terminal cancer and their families Miss Edwards will get points for every penny she raises for the charity and she is urging readers to donate as much money as they can by logging on to www.justgiving.com/jodiedwards The 19-year-old of Fernhill Heath said she was not feeling nervous about competing.

The event was kicked off by a press conference on April 22 in Hanoi, where organisers announced basic information about the contest, the first of its kind in Vietnam.

According to Nguyen Chi Tan, chief organiser of Miss Universe Vietnam, the winner must meet three basic standards applied at Miss Universe: intelligent, skilful and beautiful. In addition, Miss Universe Vietnam must have good communication skills and good English.

The qualifier rounds will be held in Hanoi and HCM City, and be open to all Vietnamese citizens between the ages of 18-26, at least 1.62m tall, high-school graduates upwards who are single and possess natural beauty (no plastic surgeries, no sex changes).

As summer nears, so does the time when a panel of judges will be asked to select an attractive girl to represent Canada in the battle of cosmic supremacy known as the Miss Universe Pageant.

Fifty-nine would-be Miss Universe Canadas have gathered in Toronto ahead of this weekend's pageant, and met with media at the Rosewater Supper Club yesterday afternoon. The Post's Matthew Coutts attended, merely out of curiosity:

3:30 Rosewater's second-floor hall is nearly empty, save the fancy bottles of water and strawberries dipped in chocolate. The contestants are AWOL and so is the media, save for a Russian TV crew and a couple of photographers.

3:36 The cadre of Miss Canada hopefuls arrives, quizzically asking if they are in the right place. Soon, the tables are filled with girls dressed in cocktail dresses and designer jeans. One gown is complete with a sequined Canadian flag, either a fashion statement or a bold pledge of allegiance.

3:43 An organizer says feminist groups still have issues, but it takes more than beauty to win Miss Universe Canada. Elegance and intellect, he says. "Paris, Britney. We're the anti-that."

3:47 A brief scan through the delegate bios suggests a truth to that. There are engineering and finance students, premeds and multi-linguists. The number of would-be journalists also indicates a high-level of intellect.