Saudi beauty pageant's fully-veiled line-up get judged on 'ethics'

Saudi beauty pageant's fully-veiled line-up get judged on 'ethics' - A beauty pageant in Saudi Arabia? Yes!... with actual women participating, a panel of judges a winner and two runners-up.

Welcome to the third annual Saudi “Miss Congeniality” contest, whereby the winning lady isn’t crowned based on looks, measurements or physical beauty; but on her “ethics”.

This year, the pageant took place under the theme “my ethics, my identity” as the event took place on Monday at the grand King Abdullah Ballroom in the Eastern province of Qatif.

The winner, Maram Zaki al-Saif, a was chosen as the new Saudi “Queen of Ethics” after her notable piety apparently had a mesmerising affect on the panel.

In addition to the title, Saif handed in an award worth approximately ten thousand Saudi Riyals (2,6666 USD), according to local daily newspaper, Sharq.

The queen – who hails from the Saudi island of Tarout - was among the top five finalists who made it through the competition that initially had 285 contestants, all between the ages of 16-24.

At the same competition, Fatema Abdel Jaleel Al Abad, 17, from the Saudi region of Al-Ahsa was crowned first runner-up whilst Fatema Saeed Al Baik, 23, from Al Qatif was the second runner-up.

In addition to a contestant’s ethics and good behaviour, the competition’s executive director Khadra’a Al Mubarak said the electoral criteria focused on the participant’s charisma and theatrical performance, in addition to herself confidence and literacy, reported Sharq newspaper.

The queen of ethics had to answer two main questions, initially directed to all five finalists. The questions were: What will the title add to you if you were qualified? What will you add to the title in return?

Al Saif said winning will encourage her to achieve her ambitions and goals, along with inspiring her compatriots to believe in their ability to form a change in the society as a whole. The queen also noted that she aims to establish a vocational rehabilitation project for people with special needs that would help them find suitable job opportunities.

The inauguration event was attended by several women, celebrities and media figures, alongside the contestants’ mothers. ( albawaba.com )

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The mysteries of the 2012 Olympic Closing Ceremony

The mysteries of the 2012 Olympic Closing Ceremony -The Closing Ceremony of the London Summer Olympics was full of music, stars, and culture. Below, a recap of some of the moments that may have had non-Brits saying, "Wait, what just happened?"

Is it Prince Henry or Prince Harry?

When Prince Harry made his grand entrance at the start of the Games, you might have done a double take when his name was announced. "Prince Henry," the announcer said.

timothy spall

Did somebody just make an epic mistake, calling the redheaded prince by the wrong name? Nope. While the English may know this already, for those who don't, the prince's official name is Henry Charles Albert David. Folks call him Harry for short.

Who was the guy playing Winston Churchill?

That was popular character actor Timothy Spall. The London-born actor has appeared in several "Harry Potter" flicks as well as "Sweeney Todd," "Enchanted," and "The King's Speech" (in which he played Churchill).

Spall wasn't quoting Churchill after he emerged from the top of Big Ben. The words were from Shakespeare's "The Tempest." "I dreamed of clouds opening up and dropping such riches on me that when I woke up, I cried because I wanted to dream again." Indeed, dreams and imagination came back again and again as themes of the Closing Ceremony.

What's with Batman and Robin?

At an early part in the Ceremony, Michael Caine's iconic voice echoed through the stadium. "Five, four, three, two, one," Caine said, a line from "The Italian Job." A small car in the middle of the stadium exploded, and out came rotund versions of Batman and Robin.

Great Scott! Had Christian Bale gone to seed? Negative, Alfred. Those were actors David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst, reprising a famous moment from their sitcom, "Only Fools and Horses." You can watch the original clip here.

Why did they single out the marathon in the middle of the ceremony?

One word: Tradition. Every four years, the Summer Olympics Closing Ceremony also serves as a medal ceremony for the winner of the Men's City Marathon. The winner's national anthem is performed. Medals are awarded. The whole deal. Hey, after running 26.2 miles in August, they deserve something special, right?

Why was Naomi Campbell there?

No clue.

Why don't the athletes march out behind their flags?

They used to. But then in the 1956 Melbourne Games, at the height of the Cold War, there was so much tension that organizers were worried about fights between athletes. A young Chinese man, John Ian Wing, who was an apprentice carpenter in Australia, suggested that the organizers mix the athletes together. It worked. And the Peace March has been a tradition ever since.

Who was that awesome dancer/street sweeper in orange near the end of the Ceremony?

That would be Renato Sorriso of Rio. Sorriso was an actual street sweeper from Brazil. He became famous for his spectacular dance moves during Rio's Carnival. Now, thanks to his performance in London's Closing Ceremony, he's gonna be really, really famous. ( Fourth-Place Medal )


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Mystery woman appears in ceremony

Mystery woman appears in ceremony — A mysterious woman in red has caused an international incident at the London Olympics.

Indian officials are mystified — and miffed — after an unknown young woman managed to march with the country's athletes and officials during the opening ceremony Friday night.

Games organizers on Sunday downplayed security concerns around the unscripted moment, saying the interloper was a ceremony cast member and had screened before entering the Olympic Park.

Images from Friday's ceremony showed a young woman in turquoise jeans and a red jacket marching alongside Indian flag bearer Sushil Kumar at the head of the delegation of 40 athletes in bright yellow and navy blue.

"We are totally dazed," Indian press atttache Harpal Singh Bedi said Sunday. "How can a person without any accreditation walk past?"

Indian officials said they had no idea who the woman was. The country's Deccan Chronicle newspaper said she was likely Madhura Nagendra, a graduate student from the southern city of Bangalore who had been living in London.

The newspaper said she had displayed her Olympic passes on her Facebook page, which used the name Madhura Honey. It said the page was later deactivated.

The case of the ceremony's mystery woman dominated Indian media's coverage of the opening of the games.

"Who's That Girl?" asked the front page of The Hindustan Times.

"Leaky London: Unaccounted presence in march past," said a headline in the Times of India. The newspaper said the mystery woman had "brazenly gatecrashed the party, raising security concerns and adding to the anger over India's blink-and-miss appearance on global TV screens."

Bedi said India's acting chef de mission, P.K.M. Raja, had sent games organizers an official letter of complaint about the intrusion.

"I think this is definitely a security lapse," Bedi said. "You cannot have flawless security everywhere, but this is not flawless."

But London organizing chief Sebastian Coe insisted the woman had not posed a threat to the ceremony. He told reporters she was "a cast member who clearly got slightly over-excited."

Some 10,000 volunteers performed alongside professional musicians, actors and dancers in director Danny Boyle's ceremony.

Coe stressed the woman had been screened to get into Olympic Stadium so there had been no security breach.

"Don't run away with the idea that she walked in off the street," Coe said.

Coe said games officials "will have our own discussions" about the incident. (Associated Press )

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‘Miss Holocaust Survivor,’ contest held in Israel

‘Miss Holocaust Survivor,’ contest held in Israel - Israel played host to a controversial new beauty pageant, the "Miss Holocaust Survivor" contest, featuring 14 Jewish women who survived World War II.

"I have the privilege to show the world that Hitler wanted to exterminate us and we are alive. We are also enjoying life. Thank God it's that way," Esther Libber, a 74-year-old runner-up in the contest and a Holocaust survivor, told the Associated Press.

Contestants in the "Miss Holocaust Survivor" contest take the stage. (Sebastian Scheiner/AP)

The contest, which was held on Thursday in the city of Haifa, was billed as a "celebration of life" but drew criticism over the act of judging aging Holocaust survivors on their physical appearance.

"It sounds totally macabre to me," Colette Avital, chairwoman of Israel's leading Holocaust survivors' umbrella group, told the AP. "I am in favor of enriching lives, but a one-time pageant masquerading (survivors) with beautiful clothes is not what is going to make their lives more meaningful."

However, pageant organizer Shimon Sabag disagreed with Avital's take. Sabag, who runs "Helping Hand," a group that provides assistance to Holocaust survivors, pointed out that the nearly 300 competitors and 14 finalists were chosen based on their personal stories of overcoming tragedy and rebuilding their lives after the war.

"They feel good together. They are having a good time and laughing in the rehearsals," he said. "The fact that so many wanted to participate proves that it's a good idea."

The 14 finalists were aged 74 to 97. About 600 spectators were in attendance, including two Israeli Cabinet ministers, Moshe Kahlon and Yossi Peled. Seventy-one-year-old Peled is an Israeli general and member of the Likud party and is himself a Holocaust survivor.

The contest's eventual winner was 79-year-old Hava Hershkovitz. "This place is full of survivors. It puts us at the centre of attention so people will care," she said. "It's not easy at this age to be in a beauty contest, but we're all doing it to show that we're still here." ( The Sideshow )

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HBO suspends filming with horses on 'Luck' drama

HBO suspends filming with horses on 'Luck' drama — A horse was injured and euthanized Tuesday during production of the racetrack drama "Luck," the third death in connection with the series, and HBO agreed to suspend filming with horses while the accident is investigated.

The humane group that oversees Hollywood productions had issued an immediate demand "that all production involving horses shut down."

In this image released by HBO, horses race in a scene from the HBO original series "Luck." HBO says a horse used for the racetrack drama "Luck," was euthanized after suffering an injury. The animal was being led to a Los Angeles-area racetrack stable when it reared and fell back Tuesday morning, suffering a head injury, according to HBO. The horse was euthanized at the Santa Anita Park racetrack in Arcadia, where "Luck" is filming its second season. It's the third horse death to occur during production of the series starring Dustin Hoffman and Nick Nolte. (AP Photo/HBO, Gusmano Cesaretti)

"We are also insisting that this stoppage remain in full effect pending a complete, thorough, and comprehensive investigation," the American Humane Association said in a statement. It noted that the accident didn't occur during filming or racing.

The animal was being led to a Santa Anita Park racetrack stable by a groom when it reared and fell back Tuesday morning, suffering a head injury, according to HBO. The horse was euthanized at the track in suburban Arcadia, where "Luck" is filming its second season.

In the series, which was created by David Milch ("Deadwood," ''NYPD Blue") and looks at racing's seedier side, Dustin Hoffman plays a crime kingpin who's scheming to gain control of a racetrack and introduce casino gambling.

During season-one filming in 2010 and 2011, two horses were hurt during racing scenes and euthanized. HBO defended its treatment of the animals, saying it's worked with the American Humane Association and racing industry experts to implement safety protocols that exceed film and TV industry standards.

The American Humane Association's film and TV unit, the group sanctioned and supported by the entertainment industry to protect animals used in filming, called for a production halt at the Santa Anita Racetrack in suburban Arcadia after the second horse's death.

Racing resumed after new protocols were put in place and proved effective, Karen Rosa, the AHA unit's senior vice president, said in February.

On Tuesday, Dr. Gary Beck, a California Horse Racing Board veterinarian, said he had just examined the horse as part of routine health and safety procedures before it was to race later in the day. The horse passed the inspection, the AHA said.

"The horse was on her way back to the stall when she reared, flipped over backwards, and struck her head on the ground," Beck said in a statement. An attending veterinarian determined that euthanasia was appropriate, he said.

Dr. Rick Arthur, medical director of the state racing board, said such injuries occur in stable areas every year and are more common than thought. A necropsy will be conducted, he said, which is routine with all fatalities at racing board enclosures.

An American Humane Association safety representative was at the track when the accident occurred and "as always, all safety precautions were in place," HBO said in its statement that said it was "deeply saddened" by the horse's death and was working with the AHA on its inquiry.

The first two horse deaths drew criticism from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which said that safety guidelines used in filming failed to prevent the deaths "so clearly they were inadequate."

Kathy Guillermo, a PETA vice president, said at the time the group didn't consider the matter closed.

"Racing itself is dangerous enough. This is a fictional representation of something and horses are still dying, and that to me is outrageous," she said.

On Tuesday, Guillermo said PETA sent complaints about "Luck" to Arcadia police and an animal humane society in nearby Pasadena.

"Three horses have now died and all the evidence we have gathered points to sloppy oversight, the use of unfit, injured horses, and disregard for the treatment of thoroughbreds," Guillermo said, calling for an immediate halt to filming. ( Associated Press )

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Parsons Dance is eclectic yet accessible in Harriman performance

Parsons Dance is eclectic yet accessible in Harriman performance - Visually arresting by way of incredible physicality, dynamic lighting and eclectic movement vocabulary, Parsons Dance is a proudly accessible modern dance company. Its debut performance Saturday night in the Muriel Kauffman Theatre of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts marked the company’s 11th appearance as part of the Harriman-Jewell Series.

Kansas City native David Parsons, co-founder and artistic director of the company, selected a representative overview from the company’s wide repertoire for the evening’s program. All choreography was by Parsons. The lighting design, an integral part of the performance, was by Howell Binkley.

Parsons dancers, shown here in a publicty photo, performed Saturday at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts

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The program opened with “The Envelope” (1984). It’s a fun, goofy piece that follows the journey of an envelope as it is alternatively discarded and sought, rejected and fought over. The bombastic bravado of Rossini’s operatic scores contributed to the humor. The dancers, wearing black hooded bodysuits and sunglasses, examined the envelope with birdlike curiosity, their chests sunken, framed by elbows akimbo. A male soloist with strong-shouldered carriage executed broad, gangly turns, at odds with the other dancers’ twitchy gestures.

This was followed by two pieces set to music by Kenji Bunch. “Slow Dance” (2003) was elegant, limpid. Three couples, staged in a dusky block of light, sinuously wrapped around each other. Delicate melodies from piano and violin rose and entwined in an arced structure; the dancers emulated with twisting corkscrew turns which ended with a raised arm. The piece was capped, though, by a coda of sharply accented phrases.

“Swing Shift” (2003) had a similar sonic pallet, but was contrasted by warm lighting, velvety red and peach costumes and driving, pulsating rhythms. The steps were reminiscent of traditional social dances of ballroom, Latin and swing. Fiery duets, an articulated solo by Sarah Braverman and inventive transitions created a stunning, abundant visual feast.

Parsons’ newest piece, “Portinari” (2011), was dedicated in memory of Richard Harriman, the founder of the series. Set to Samuel Barber’s “Adagio for Strings,” it was the most theatrical piece of the evening, a Pygmalion tale of a painter whose work comes to life, though the duet was stagey and had some uneven transitions.

“Caught” (1982) is a stalwart of the repertoire and an audience favorite. It featured repetitive electronic layering from guitarist Robert Fripp. Soloist Steven Vaughn appeared suspended in air through a series of jumps captured in strobe-light, his vigorous performance leaving the audience, too, gasping for breath.

A party atmosphere ended the evening with a tribute to Milton "Nascimento" (2003). The Brazilian musician’s breezy, wordless singing inspired a joyous work of athletic leaps and tosses, exuberant heel clicks and loose-bodied turns with wide-swung arms. ( kansascity.com )

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Miss Venezuela wins Miss World crown

Miss Venezuela wins Miss World crown - Miss Venezuela, Ivian Sarcos, was crowned the 2011 winner of the Miss World beauty pageant on Sunday at a glittering final ceremony in London.

Wearing a pink dress with diamante studs that had a giant cascade of frills slashed below the waist, the 22-year-old gasped and threw her hands to her face as she was declared the winner.

"I felt the most gorgeous woman in the world. I was so happy and I wanted to shout, to cry, to stand still and to smile. So many emotions," she told AFP.

"I'm incredibly happy for this moment, for this opportunity and for winning and I'm grateful with my life."

Sarcos, who was brought up in a nunnery after being orphaned aged eight, has a human resources degree and works for a broadcasting company.

Miss Venezula Ivian Sarcos (C) reacts after winning Miss World 2011 at Earls Court in London

Last year's Miss World, Alexandria Mills of the United States, took off her sparkling crown and placed it on her successor's head as Sarcos sat in a shimmering silver throne.

Miss Philippines, Gwendoline Ruais, was named the runner-up, while Miss Puerto Rico, Amanda Perez, came third in the contest, which was back in its home city to celebrate its 60th anniversary.

Some 113 beauty queens from Albania to Zimbabwe took their place on the stage at the Earls Court Two auditorium in west London, with the show being broadcast live to an estimated audience of more than one billion viewers in 150 countries.

Around 50 feminists rallied outside, waving placards reading "Objectification won't achieve world peace", "Being a woman is not a competition" and "Sexism is pretty ugly".

A handful were veterans of the infamous 1970 Miss World final protest, when stink bombs were hurled on stage during a noisy demonstration.

The thousands of fans inside -- many dressed to the nines -- cheered, waved flags and shouted for their favourites.

Several point-scoring rounds were held over the previous two weeks during the contestants' tour of Britain, with the results revealed on stage and the top 15 going through to the semi-finals.

While beauty remains central to the event, brains, skills and good causes also play a major role. The majority of this year's have degree-level education and can speak at least three languages.

Miss Venezuela topped the interview round; Miss Dominican Republic, Marianly Tejada Burgos, was named the sports champion; home favourite Miss England, Alize Lily Mounter, won beach beauty, the classic swimwear contest, while Miss Kazakhstan, Zhanna Zhumaliyeva, was named top model.

The crowd were played clips from the talent round -- where performers sang, danced and gave piano recitals -- won by Miss Chile, Gabriela Pulgar Luco.

Miss Ghana, Stephanie Karikari, and Miss Indonesia, Astrid Yunadi, were the joint winners of the beauty with a purpose category, where contestants can highlight a charity project.

With the scores collated, Miss Puerto Rico topped the leaderboard, ahead of Miss Venezuela, Miss Philippines, Miss Ukraine and Miss Scotland.

The final seven -- chosen by the judges, who included nine former Miss Worlds -- were Miss England, Miss Korea, Miss Philippines, Miss Puerto Rico, Miss Scotland, Miss South Africa and Miss Venezuela.

Just before the winner was announced, a message of support from former South African president Nelson Mandela was read out on stage by one of his grandsons, backing their work "empowering young people to be of service to their communities."

The contest's charitable programme, set up 40 years ago, has raised $800 million (580 million euros) to date.

Sarcos's victory means that Venezuela now tops the all-time leaderboard alone with six titles, pulling clear of India and the United Kingdom.

"Winning means everything to me and I hope to take advantage of being a winner in a productive manner," the 61st Miss World said.

"I first and foremost want to help people in need.

"I would like to help people like me. I am an orphan. I would also like to help the elderly and troubled teenagers. As many people as I can."

The pageant was first held for the 1951 Festival of Britain and was staged in London until 1989.

Former contestants include Oscar-winning US actress Halle Berry, a 1986 finalist, and 1994 winner Aishwarya Rai, the Indian movie star.

It was announced that the Miss World final will go straight back to China for 2012, this time to Ordos in Inner Mongolia. ( AFP )

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Crowds cheer Monaco's Prince Albert and new bride

Crowds cheer Monaco's Prince Albert and new bride - With a wink and a smile, Monaco's ruler Prince Albert married South African swimmer Charlene Wittstock on Saturday in a ceremony attended by a who's who of European royalty and the international elite.

The 53-year-old married Wittstock, 33, in the courtyard of his palace at the foot of a vast white-marble double staircase lined with white flowers. Some 3,500 guests sat outside to watch the service on giant TV screens.

Albert's sisters, Princesses Caroline and Stephanie, both dressed in pink, smiled as they watched the couple marry in front of a crowd that included French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld and opera singer Renee Fleming.

The long white train of Wittstock's Giorgio Armani duchess satin gown, encrusted with thousands of tiny crystals, spilled over the red carpet. The groom wore the white dress uniform of Monaco's Carabinieri royal guard.

"It was very elegant, very moving," supermodel Naomi Campbell, in a one-shouldered pale green dress, told TFI television.

After they exchanged vows, Albert winked at his bride, who smiled shyly. Sitting on red velvet chairs, they held hands as a South African singer sang the Click Song, made famous by the late Miriam Makeba.

CURSE OF THE GRIMALDIS

The wedding is the first of a ruling prince in Monaco since Albert's father, Prince Rainier III, married Hollywood star Grace Kelly in 1956. Rainier transformed Monaco from a faded gambling center into a billionaires' haven, using his marriage to Kelly to infuse the tiny principality with film-star glamour.

Her death in a car crash in 1982 revived talk of the legendary 13th-century curse of his dynasty -- the Grimaldis -- that has haunted his family during its seven centuries of rule. According to legend, a Flemish woman raped by a Grimaldi cursed the family for eternity never to find happiness in marriage.

Caroline and Stephanie have had a series of high-profile and disastrous marriages. Albert himself has been linked with a succession of models and actresses, and has admitted to fathering two illegitimate children.

Just days ago, rumors of discontent threatened to mar the festivities. The palace strongly denied a report in the French weekly L'Express that Wittstock tried to skip town on a one-way flight to South Africa, and that it took "infinite persuasion" by the prince and his entourage to change her mind.

The couple married in a civil ceremony in the palace throne room on Friday.

"WONDERFUL CHOICE"

Wittstock, whose champagne blonde hair and sculpted figure draw comparisons with Kelly, is a former national champion swimmer who stopped competing only four years ago. Albert met Wittstock at a swimming competition in 2000.

"I think she's beautiful and she shows a lot of class and nobility and I think he made a wonderful choice," said Steven Pomeranz, who had lined up to cheer the couple.

After the ceremony, well-wishers showered the newly-weds with rose petals as they left the palace. Church bells pealed and horns sounded from the yachts docked in Monaco's port.

Crowds lined their route, waving flags in Monaco's red-and-white colors as the couple drove to a nearby chapel, where a tearful Wittstock left her bouquet.

The couple headed off to a wedding dinner prepared by chef Alain Ducasse, to be followed by a ball at the Monte Carlo opera and fireworks. ( Reuters )

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'Super 8': Meet the kids

'Super 8': Meet the kids -- Get to know the bright young actors who play the wide-eyed filmmakers within the J.J. Abrams film.

Elle Fanning

• Age: 13
• Hometown: Los Angeles
• Character: Alice Dainard, the leading lady

Since her film debut in 2001 as a younger version of her sister Dakota's character in "I Am Sam," Fanning has appeared in such films as "Babel," "Reservation Road," and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." The Georgia-born actress had a star-making turn last year in Sofia Coppola's "Somewhere," and she will be seen in Francis Ford Coppola's upcoming "Twixt Now and Sunrise," and Cameron Crowe's "We Bought a Zoo" (due in December), opposite Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson. But the one star she'd love to act with happened to grow up in the same house. ''I really want to work with my sister,'' she says. ''I think just now people are starting to realize that I'm acting too.''

Joel Courtney

• Age: 15
• Hometown: Moscow, Idaho
• Character: Joe Lamb, makeup, sound, and special effects

Like Henry Thomas, who played Elliott in "E.T.," Joel Courtney was an unknown before being cast as the lead in a Spielberg film. He didn't have a single acting credit when he went to L.A. last June to visit his brother and possibly land some auditions. ''I really wanted a commercial and $100, and I got 'Super 8,' '' he says. For now, he and his family are keeping small-town life and Hollywood separate. ''We've decided to leave my acting career out of Moscow. Home is home, and if we want to do acting stuff, we can go to L.A.''

Ryan Lee

• Age: 14
• Hometown: Austin
• Character: Cary, the cameraman and lead zombie

After over 50 short films and a handful of guest spots on TV (including one on costar Kyle Chandler's "Friday Night Lights" in 2006), Lee finally scored his first major motion picture with "Super 8." It was all very top secret. Lee and the rest of the actors (and their families) were asked to sign confidentiality agreements after the first audition. ''I didn't tell my grandma until two months in,'' says Lee. ''She would call and I'd be like, 'Yep, just chillin' in Austin.'''

Gabriel Basso

• Age: 16
• Hometown: St. Louis
• Character: Martin, the leading man

Basso's credits include "iCarly," a few indie films, and a regular spot alongside Laura Linney on "The Big C," but his premier vomiting skills are what landed him the role of soft-stomached Martin. They were looking for a guy with that ''perfect liquid-solid combination,'' Basso jokes. He was also famous on set for giving golf-cart joyrides.

Zach Mills

• Age: 15
• Hometown: Nashville, TN
• Character: Preston, actor and lighting supervisor

Mills is no stranger to elaborate movie sets ("Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium," "Changeling," "Hollywoodland"), but "Super 8" was by far the most immersive. ''It really felt just like a summer camp,'' he says. He especially enjoyed making the zombie film-within-the-film, which rolls during the final credits. ''J.J. let us write a lot of the scenes that we were in. It felt like we actually made that movie.''

Riley Griffiths

• Age: 14
• Hometown: Seattle
• Character: Charles, the obsessive director

An actor since the first grade, Griffiths has an affinity for Shakespeare and prank-pulling, and he got director J.J. Abrams good on April Fools' Day. ''On the verge of crying, I told him I had my script, lost it at a mall in L.A., somebody took it, and it's online. He totally fell for it,'' Griffiths says. ''I think I might have been more scared than J.J. I was trembling.'' ( cnn.com)

Young actors play wide-eyed filmmakers in "Super 8."

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21-year-old Californian wins Miss USA crown

21-year-old Californian wins Miss USA crown — America's latest Miss USA winner is a California model and self-described history geek, obsessed with Britain's monarchy of centuries past but also a fan of "Star Wars."

Alyssa Campanella of Los Angeles says on Twitter that she was born in the wrong time period and played the popular pig-exploding game Angry Bird backstage on her iPad before the pageant Sunday night.

She hopes to keep modeling after her run as Miss USA is finished, depending on how she does representing the country at Miss Universe in September in Brazil.

The celebrity she'd most like to meet, now that she's one herself? Pastry chef Buddy Valastro of TLC reality show Cake Boss.

"I love to bake cakes, and he's an Italian, and he acts like I do in the kitchen," the 21-year-old said after beating 50 other hopefuls in Miss USA's 60th pageant at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip.

"Right now, I'm still kind of like — whoa," Campanella said.

Alyssa Campanella, Miss California, is crowned as the 2011 Miss USA by Miss USA 2010 Rima Fakih, Sunday, June 19, 2011, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Alyssa Campanella, Miss California, competes in the swim suit competition during the 2011 Miss USA pageant, Sunday, June 19, 2011, in Las Vegas. Campanella was crowned Miss USA 2011. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

She strutted across the stage in a blue bikini with white polka dots, then donned a dark turquoise Sherri Hill evening gown with beading on its top. After making the final four, she answered a question about legalizing marijuana by saying she didn't think it should be fully legalized as a solution to help ailing economies.

She also professed a love for history after E! News anchor Giuliana Rancic asked her about it during the pageant.

"I'm obsessed with the Stuart and Tudor era," Campanella said. "Whenever I go to Barnes & Noble I'm always in the history section and that is where you will find me."

"I watch 'Game of Thrones,' I watched 'Camelot' — I know those are fantasy but I also watch the Tudors, so I'm a huge history geek," she said.

She said she grew up watching "Star Wars."

Campanella said during a news conference after the pageant that the win validated her decision to quickly move to Los Angeles from New Jersey after losing an apartment more than a year ago.

"The downs happen for a reason," she said. "The path that I'm on now is the path that's been meant to be."

Campanella, a former Miss Teen USA runner-up from 2007, when she represented New Jersey, said she has been competing in pageants since she was 15 because of her mom.

"I was going through a tough time in high school and she thought it'd be a great way for me to meet other girls throughout the state," she said. "It's Mom's fault."

Originally from Manalapan, N.J., Campanella began modeling at age 16, graduated from high school a year early and received a scholarship to the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, according to her personal website.

Campanella said she thought the marijuana question posed to her from "Real Housewives of New Jersey" housewife Caroline Manzo was fair, given that she represents California.

"Well, I understand why that question would be asked, especially with today's economy, but I also understand that medical marijuana is very important to help those who need it medically," she said during the pageant.

"I'm not sure if it should be legalized, if it would really affect, with the drug war," she said. "I mean, it's abused today, unfortunately, so that's the only reason why I would kind of be a little bit against it, but medically it's OK."

Marijuana has been legal for medical use in California for about 15 years.

Miss Tennessee Ashley Durham was the first runner-up, while contestants from Alabama and Texas placed third and fourth.

Campanella, a natural blonde, said she dyed her hair six years ago for a part in a play, for a "fiery" character with whom she found she had traits in common.

"It's really brought out the true Alyssa Campanella, I feel, and that's why I really enjoy being a redhead," she said.

Campanella replaces Miss USA 2010 Rima Fakih. The 25-year-old from Michigan teared up as she walked across the stage for a final goodbye.

The pageant had three competitions: swimsuit, evening gown and interview question.

The contestants were whittled to 16 after the show's opening number, in which the beauty queens introduced themselves one-by-one. The top 16 were picked by preliminary judges through competitions and interviews during the week before the telecast. Celebrity judges picked the top eight after the swimsuit competition and the top four after the evening gown portion.

Durham appeared to stumble as she answered a question from celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito about whether the First Amendment should protect burning religious books, as it protects burning the flag.

"I know that some people view it as a freedom of speech, however, burning the American flag is not patriotic at all," Durham said. "No American citizen should do that, and you should also respect other religions. I'm a Christian and a faithful person. I would personally not appreciate someone burning the Bible, and that's just a line you do not cross."

Miss Kentucky Kia Ben-et Hampton won Miss Congeniality USA, while Miss Arizona Brittany Dawn Brannon won Miss Photogenic USA.

The Miss Universe pageant is scheduled for Sept. 12 from Sao Paolo, Brazil. Last year's winner was Mexico's Jimena Navarrete. ( Associated Press )

READ MORE - 21-year-old Californian wins Miss USA crown

Israeli desert opera festival becomes a "tradition"

Israeli desert opera festival becomes a "tradition" - An Israeli opera festival's center-piece at the revered historical site of Masada this month was a tale of betrayal, love and death in the shape of Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi's Aida.

The spectacular staging on the barren shores of the Dead Sea with the stark sandstone plateau as a backdrop, followed performances of Verdi's Nabucco at the same venue last year.

Masada strikes a special chord among Israelis. According to the ancient historian Josephus, it was the site of a Roman siege that ended in 73 AD when hundreds of Jewish rebels committed mass suicide rather than fall as slaves to the Romans.

In Aida, an Ethiopian princess kept as a slave in ancient Egypt chooses to die with her beloved, a young Egyptian warrior, after he is sentenced to death for betraying his country.

Members from Israel's opera perform Giuseppe Verdi's Aida during a dress rehearsal at the foothill of the historic mountain of Masada

At Masada, a huge stage was dominated by a Pharaonic statue. The open venue allowed American soprano Kristine Lewis who sang the title role to exit a scene on the back of a camel.

Israel Opera director Hanna Munitz said some 3,000 visitors from abroad bought tickets to the 12-day festival that began on June 1.

"(Had it not been for events in) Egypt, Libya and Syria, I think we could have had even more tourists coming from all over the world," Munitz said, referring to uprisings that have made the region appear more dangerous to visitors.

An Israeli Tourism Ministry spokeswoman said the number was down from some 4,000 who visited last year. The festival also includes a performance of another Verdi opera, Jerusalem, close to the walls of its Old City.

DESERT "MIRACLE"

Conductor Daniel Oren, an acclaimed performer of Italian opera, told Reuters the performances at Masada were "a miracle in the middle of the desert with ... the best singers in the world who perform at the Metropolitan (New York), in Vienna, in London."

Oren said that despite the technical shortcomings of Masada as a completely open-air site, it was a task worth pursuing because of the emotional ties with the venue.

"You cannot compare Masada even to the Arena di Verona which is a magical place where I conduct every year, but this is the most magical ... In Verona, the acoustics are there but here we have to create them with amplification," he explained.

Audience members at last week's dress rehearsal were impressed.

"It's a fabulous production. I think the word is 'dramatic', so much more than being inside. Just being here," said Aviva Lavi of Tel Aviv.

"It's a different experience. This is not an opera in La Scala or in New York's Met but it is a grand performance," said Ruben Shemer, who said he had seen many operas around the world.

Not all the reviews were positive. Critic Elyakim Yaron voiced disappointment that a "brilliant opera with incredible potential for theater should be performed on such a giant, empty stage."

Previous cultural events have been held at Masada, a UNESCO World Heritage site and for decades a source of archaeological fascination, but the opera festival is the most ambitious musical project there to date. ( Reuters )

READ MORE - Israeli desert opera festival becomes a "tradition"