Riyo Mori may have done her country proud by winning the Miss Universe crown, but it seems her countrymen are not exactly proud of her apparently non-Japanese ways. One major gripe is that she is not kawaii - cute - enough. Nor is the cosmopolitan-looking woman deemed a good representative of conventional Japanese standards of beauty. Some quarters were also 'annoyed' that she dressed as a geisha during the National Costume segment, saying that doing so was 'too much like Hollywood glitz'. Now, the 21-year-old dancer has drawn media flak for being 'arrogant and dumb', Mainichi Daily News reported last week, quoting Shukan Shinco magazine. An entertainment news scribe told the magazine that 'loads of reporters' were surprised by Ms Mori's win because 'making up her eyes to emphasize her 'oriental exoticism' isn't a look that really appeals to Japanese'. But the bigger shock was how the beauty queen, who was born in Japan but spent a few of her teenage years learning ballet and attending school in Canada, was clueless about Japanese etiquette and yet was - according to reports - so full of herself. Returning to her hometown after her win, Ms Mori apparently left a 'bad impression' on the local media by placing her hands on her hips while talking and pointing her microphone at reporters who were asking her questions. Both acts were deemed impolite. Said one reporter: 'That might be the way they do things in America, but a female Japanese performer would never act that way.' And when Ms Mori said she did not have a favorite Japanese performer, it was interpreted as 'looking down' on her own country. When asked how it felt to be chosen as the most beautiful woman in the world, she apparently cracked everyone up by retorting: 'That's a mistake. Miss Universe is not a beauty contest.' Her reported 'arrogance' was observed as early as during the Miss Universe competition in Mexico City in May. Apparently, she was not the most popular or well-liked contestant. Ms Kirby Ann Basken, who is half-Norwegian and half-Filipino and who represented Norway at the pageant, revealed to Philippine Daily Inquirer that only half the candidates had been happy for Ms Mori after her win. That did not include runner-up Miss Brazil, whom Ms Basken claimed did not congratulate Ms Mori. Ms Basken also spoke about how Ms Mori drew criticism for declaring on her online diary that she would definitely win the crown because 'other favorites were losing steam'. Ms Basken said that Ms Mori 'could have done better', even though 'the way she presented herself during the pageant was outstanding'. So how did Ms Mori turn out to be so different from most Japanese people, who are commonly deemed to be humble and polite? Fingers were wagged at Frenchwoman InesLigron, the national director of Miss Universe Japan since 1998. Shukan Bunshun magazine reported that the assertive woman - everything about her screams The Devil Wears Prada - grooms her charges to be independent, confident, goal-oriented and glamorous, instead of conforming to Japanese traditions of being cute, humble, earnest and mild-mannered. Ms Mori herself said in an e-mail interview with US-based Centredaily.com that training under Miss Ligron has changed her. 'I learnt how to have confidence, pose, and be myself. The toughest thing is not in Ines' training, but in bringing ability and confidence to yourself. Her teachings help to do that. It worked for me.' And Miss Ligron, 44, is not a fan of the typical 'cute' Japanese look. She told The Japan Times that the Japanese notion of kawaii and sekushii (sexy) is 'long mistaken'. 'The kawaii concept is for 12-year-old girls,' she said. 'Real beauty for women comes from the inside. It's a mental thing. It's about sensuality and intelligence.' Despite lamenting that those who stand out in Japan tend to get punished, Miss Ligron seemed confident that Ms Mori's transformation from 'chubby dancer' to Miss Universe would break Japanese mindsets about beauty. 'Men might become upset that we killed the kawaii trend, but women are going to feel liberated. They can finally look like a woman and not like a 12-year-old girl.' But maybe not, judging by the flak Ms Mori has been hit with back home, not just from men but also women. When Tokyo-based English news website Japantoday.com went to the streets last month to gather public feedback about the newly-crowned Miss Universe, it got more criticism than praise. Some felt that she was too westernized and overtly confident. Some of the eight respondents felt she was not as attractive or classy as Miss Kurara Chibana, last year's Miss Japan who emerged first runner-up at the Miss Universe contest. But it seems no amount of bad press will stop Ms Mori from chasing her dream of getting into show business. She had earlier auditioned for the upcoming second season of the US sci-fi serial ‘Heroes’, to play the love interest of time-travelling dude Hiro Nakamura. Now, there is talk she will star as herself in a new US reality show entitled ‘Pageant Place’. According to E! Online, the show follows three beauty queens - Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA - as they engage in promotional activities and charity events during their reign. Back in Japan, Ms Mori has reportedly been contacting major talent agencies in the hope of emulating the success of her predecessor Ms Chibana, now a broadcast journalist for a TV current affairs program, News Zero. But industry insiders are not so optimistic about Ms Mori's showbiz prospects. One of them told Shukan Shincho: 'Considering she won the title, (Ms Mori) has fair grounds to think she'll do better (than Ms Chibana). 'But she's not really the best speaker in the world... And with the arrogance that she's got, it makes the average woman working on TV look a lot more attractive.' Source: Electric
I didn't expect her to win. There were hotter women in that pageant (sp?) and i dunno, I just didn't expect her to win. But I do have to say, she's sorta pretty. And as for the being born in Japan, and moving to Canada thing? Well, most japanese here don't really even speak japanese anymore, especially if they are not in Japan anymore.
I didnt watch the show. So i really dont know whether she deserve it or not. But i think she is kinda pretty ...
yeah shes not the best looking japanese girl out there, but in saying that, i wouldn't kick her out of my bed either hahah
i thought that ms korean was prettier ... i wanted ms korean to win ms universe =/ btw she doesnt really look jap at all
That did not include runner-up Miss Brazil, whom Ms Basken claimed did not congratulate Ms Mori. This phrase is funny!! because Miss Brazil was thrown off the crown, of course she didn't congratulate her! I still like Kurara Chibana if you ask me lol..
I agree that she's not kawaii, but I think she's pretty. Let's see whether her prettiness holds up for another 5 years haha. We can then truly know whether she has the proper Japanese gene
Riyo looked very so so when she won at that day. Now, she is looking better. Does anyone have Miss Universe Japan 2007 that Riyo also won? I really want to see why she wins the pageant in Japan?
She's not kawaii, but she is pretty, will admit to that Hm...seems as though she picked up American characteristics, which is never fun since Americans, especially celebs, are ridiculously arrogant (I'm American, I know 0_0) Well, she won, and we can't do much about it, now can we?
she's pretty but the article isn't surprising since a lot of pageant girls are probably arrogant or self-centered
She is gorgeous. I don't really know if she "deserved" to win, didn't watched or cared about the contest. But at least after reading this article I am kind of on her side. I don't think just because she is japanese she should "act" the way her countrymen expect her to. I mean, do we honestly want to play the cliched role that is mostly representative of our contry? I personally wouldnt do it.
I like the way she walked down the platform waving her skirt but that's about it... don't really follow pageant because they are lots of politics involve that only the contestants know and they are not allowed to say anything... My friend paticipate in one (full stop)
