Miss Earth 2003 | |
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Date | November 9, 2003 |
Presenters | Ariel Ureta |
Venue | University of the Philippines Theater, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines |
Broadcaster | ABS-CBN, The Filipino Channel, Star World |
Entrants | 56 |
Placements | 10 |
Debuts | Afghanistan, Antigua & Barbuda, Cyprus, Ecuador, France, Israel, Serbia & Montenegro, Slovenia, Sweden, Tahiti, Vietnam |
Withdrawals | Barbados, Czech Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Great Britain, Greece, Nepal, Paraguay, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Yugoslavia |
Returns | Brazil, Japan, New Zealand |
Winner |
Dania Prince Honduras |
Congeniality |
Yodit Getahun Ethiopia |
Best National Costume | Jessica Doralis Segui † Panama |
Photogenic | Claudia Cecilia Azaeda Bolivia |
Miss Earth 2003, the third edition of Miss Earth pageant, was held on November 9, 2003 at the University of the Philippines Theater in Quezon City, Philippines. Fifty-six delegates from all over the globe participated in the event. The pageant was broadcast live via ABS-CBN in the Philippines and to many countries worldwide via Star World, The Filipino Channel and other partner networks. At the conclusion of the final night of the competition, outgoing titleholder Miss Earth 2002, Winfred Omwakwe from Kenya crowned her successor Dania Prince of Honduras. Brazil's Pricila Zandona was selected Miss Air 2003 (first runner-up), Costa Rica's Marianela Zeledon Bolanos was chosen Miss Water 2003 (second runner-up), and Poland's Marta Matyjasik was Miss Fire 2003 (third runner-up). The pageant was hosted by Television show host Ariel Ureta. The candidates were initially presented at the poolside of Hotel Intercontinental Manila in Makati City on October 22, 2003.
Beauty for a Cause Award was awarded to Vida Samadzai the first Afghan woman to compete in an international beauty pageant in almost three decades, for helping found a US-based women's charity that seeks to raise awareness of women's rights and education in Afghanistan by “symbolizing the newfound confidence, courage and spirit of today’s women and representing the victory of women’s rights and various social, personal and religious struggles”.
Final Question in Miss Earth 2003: "At the end of each rainbow, so the saying goes, is a pot of gold. As a woman of the earth, instead of a pot of gold, what else would you rather find at the end of the rainbow?"
Winning Answer of Miss Earth 2003: "Honestly, there are things that are much more important than gold. For me personally, the most important is the sentiments of the people. To give love and smile to a human being, to be able to give them a hand when needed, to give help to someone who needs your presence, and also God is always with us which is very important. The first thing I think when I open my eyes is heaven. When we have Him in our hearts and mind, everything is better. And I can see people how they really are inside, not if they have gold or not. For me the rainbow means life, God and happiness." - Dania Prince, represented Honduras.