WHERE have the all Asian beauties gone this year?

None made it to Miss Universe's top 15 list. Even the Top 20 favourites, Miss Thailand, Miss India and Miss Japan, were unplaced.

This was not the case in previous years, with Miss Japan winning the title in 2007, and Miss India taking the tiara in 1994 and 2000.

The only beauties who did Asia proud this year were Miss China Wang Jingyao, 19, who won Miss Congeniality, and Miss Thailand Chutima Durongdej, 23, who was Miss Photogenic.

Do we pale in comparison to the Latin Americans who seem to dominate the beauty pageant circuit?

Former Miss Singapore Universe (MSU) winners Bernice Wong-Casey and Jessica Tan told The New Paper on Sunday that it boils down to support and preparation.

Most Latin American contestants travelled with at least one chaperone and some had a team looking after their every need, they said.

They, on the other hand, travelled alone to the host countries.

Miss Wong, 31, who was Miss Singapore 2003, said MSU organiser Errol Pang flew over during the last few days of her competition. Though contact with their chaperones was limited, she said a familiar presence lends support to contestants.

Miss Tan, 27, who was Miss Singapore 2007, had to fly to Mexico a week after her win in Singapore, leaving her little time to prepare.

She even had to look for her own wardrobe sponsors. What she couldn't get sponsorship for, like her shoes, came out of her own pocket.

Miss Tan said: 'I felt like I was thrown into the deep blue sea. I was not mentally prepared. No one told me anything about the contestants or the contest.

'So while I was trying to grasp my reality, all the South American girls had it so easy. They could concentrate fully on the competition.'

Miss Wong said their preparations were immaculate.

She said: 'You can tell there's been rigorous training in their home countries before they arrived. They knew how to buff themselves, get their exact shade of bronzing. They even had makeup brushes for every purpose. Their wardrobes were perfect.'

Miss Wong and Miss Tan said some Asian delegates like Miss Thailand, Miss Japan, Miss Indonesia and Miss Philippines were just as well-prepared and equipped as their South American counterparts.

During their competitions, both said these Asian delegates travelled with chaperones.

Miss Tan said: 'Miss Japan's journey, for example, is very well-documented in Miss Universe Japan's (MUJ) French national director Ines Ligron's blog.'

Time magazine reported last year that Ms Ligron orders young Japanese women to strip in front of mirrors so that they learn to be comfortable in their own skins.

In four years, Ms Ligron produced three top five finishes - 2003's fourth runner-up Miyako Miyazaki, 2006's first runner-up Kurara Chibana, and Miss Universe 2007 Riyo Mori - the first Japanese in 48 years to win the title.

And in India, every year, 23 finalists of the Miss India pageant go through a 30-day course, which aims to create a Miss World or Miss Universe, reported online magazine India Together in 2004.

Organiser Femina magazine ropes in an army of experts including a dermatologist, dietitian, personal trainer, cosmetic dental surgeon and diction coach to prepare the contestants for the international stage.

The same article also reported that dermatologist Dr Jamuna Pai alters every Miss India contestant's skin by bleaching or laser treatment.

These methods appear to have worked, judging by the numerous victories at Miss Universe and Miss World by Miss India.

Sushmita Sen, now a Bollywood actress, was the first Indian woman to win the Miss Universe crown in 1994. Lara Dutta, also an actress, was Miss Universe 2000. Miss India has also produced a few Miss World winners, including 1994's Aishwarya Rai and 2000's Priyanka Chopra. Both are now Bollywood heavyweights.

Sighing, Miss Wong said: 'Organisers have to give MSUs more support, which in turn may change public opinion that beauty pageants are frivolous.

'On the other hand, MSU organisers may only grant more support when they see a change in public opinion.'

MSU organisers could not be reached for comment.

This article was first published in The New Paper