Miss Universe 2005 >
Beauty Talks
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Miss Universe Croatia
2005
•
What three words best describe you & why?
The first three words that come to my mind are ambitious, patient and
positive attitude. All my friends know that they can always turn to me
whenever they need someone to talk with over their problems. They will get
that kind of attention anytime. I always look on the bright side and I
believe that all my goals can be achieved.
• What was your childhood dream?
My childhood dream was to become a lawyer. I am presently fulfilling
my dream by pursuing a course that specializes in social law. My
parents manage a nursing home for elderly people. I've been working
with them ever since and it has given me the idea of what these people
needs and what should be done for them.
•
What were factors that led you to enlist at the Miss Universe Croatia pageant?
Miss Universe Croatia is the most prestigious and most glamorous
beauty pageant in my country. It is being broadcasted live on national
TV. I hoped that the pageant would contribute to my career as a
model..... but it turned out even better - I won!!!
•
What is your impression on beauty contests prior to participating in
one?
When I was a little girl, I always watched the Miss Universe Croatia
Pageant on TV with my parents. I loved seeing the beautiful evening
gowns that the delegates are wearing. All the glamour, possibilities
of meeting new people, making new exciting friendships with
contestants from other parts of my country, and of course the
possibilities to travel the world have always been great factors of
winning the pageant.
•
Can you put in picture the judging process that you went
through as a contestant of Miss Universe Croatia
pageant?
I first applied for the Miss Universe Croatia pageant then I was called back
for the casting in my home city. I was lucky enough to be chosen to
participate in the regional preliminaries of the Miss Universe Croatia
pageant. A couple of days before the final telecast of Miss Universe
Croatia 2005, we have had preliminary judging which included interview
with the judges, swimsuit competition and the evening gown
competition. The 20 finalists where picked from the preliminary
judging. Then the finalists were narrowed to Top 10 during the final
event and I was among them. After the swimsuit and evening gown
competitions, the Top 10 was narrowed to 5. Lastly, the final
interview round determined the runners-up & the winner. Right after
the moment they called my name as Miss Universe-Croatia, my world
changed......
• What do you think are your qualities that
helped you win the Miss
Universe Croatia title?
There were 20 beautiful ladies that
participated in the Miss Universe Croatia 2005 pageant, and I am sure
it was very difficult for the judges to choose just one. I would say
that personality and sophistication were my "winning combination".
•
Is winning a beauty pageant important? Tell us about your
responsibilities as
Miss Universe Croatia.
I don't think that winning a beauty pageant is only important in the
sense that it is just an avenue to prove that a certain woman is "the
most beautiful in the whole universe". I think that with the celebrity
status this woman gets, thanks to the world of media that covers
pageants, she is able to change things, even if it is protecting one
single life or providing medicine and care for one single patient.
Before winning the title in my country, I have participated in a
couple of humanitarian activities in my home city and I definitely
plan to continue doing so given the fact that there are great privileges &
media attention that go with my title as Miss Universe Croatia. Other
than this, I am also promoting major sponsors of the pageant
by participating in their promotional activities.
•
You are still very young and learning... but what do you think is
the best lesson life has ever taught you?
To always look on the bright side and I do practice that whenever I
deal
with life situations. I learned that there is always tomorrow, a
better tomorrow...
•
What is your most prized material possession?
The most prized material possession I have is a brand new Toyota
Yaris, the car I got as the winner of the Miss Universe Croatia 2005
Pageant.
•
What is your opinion on activists' point of view that exposure of too
much skin in the swimsuit competition disrespects women?
Each person in this world has the right to have opinion on any
matter. I think that exposure of beautiful women's body in the
swimsuit competition could only give more encouragement to those
aiming to have a great body through hard workout and discipline.
• If
you were the President of your country and right before you is a bill
passed by Congress allowing Human Cloning as a legal procedure in the
country, would you sign the bill or refuse the whole thing?
I would definitely refuse the whole thing because I think that
children should come to this world as a blessing of love between a man
and a woman.
•
What are your passions in life?
Above all, I really enjoy playing volleyball and riding a bicycle to
explore the nature & sceneries. Opposite to my other passions are
fashion shows and modeling.
•
Can you tell something that is so interesting about you?
I'd like to tell you about my virtue of patience. I have a lot of
patience for my school friends and for the elderly people. They come
to me knowing that I will patiently listen to them for as long as they
need me.
•
How are you preparing yourself for the Miss Universe beauty pageant?
After the finals of Miss Universe Croatia 2005 pageant, about a
month and a half later, I have spent most of the time in Zagreb, the
capital of Croatia. I was provided with a team of experts that include
hairdressers, make-up artists, designers and fitness trainers. We all
worked very hard together.
•
How will you describe your country to your co-candidates at Miss
Universe?
By its size, Croatia is quite small, yet it is big when it comes to
natural resources, culture and hospitality of Croatian people.
Situated in south-east Europe, I believe that we have one of the best
positions on the Mediterranean. We have pleasant climate with 4
seasons, beautiful, clean sea, thousands of islands, mountains, rivers
and lakes. For those who don't know, Croatia is sharing the Adriatic
Sea with Italy. Roman Arena in Pula is one of the biggest and
best-preserved Roman coliseums while the Diocletian
Palace in Split is also one of the best-preserved Roman palaces in the
world. It is 1,700 years old, with people still living in it. I've
mentioned only few unique details that many people probably don't know. And
maybe most important of all about my country during the 21st century
is that Croatia is among those lucky countries in the region blessed
with abundance of clean, drinking water.
•
Give us an idea of your "ideal man."
My ideal man should have a good heart and respect for women in
general. He should be able to build his professional career, and ready
to encourage me with my professional goals. It is also
very important that he has sense of humor so that he can make me laugh everyday.
•
How would you define "love"?
Love is the feeling that gives me strength to go forward. It makes
me happy, and gives me enormous energy. It gives me the thought that
I am not alone.
•
Do you have a motto or personal quote that you live by?
"Do something nice for somebody else." I believe that doing good
acts for others will also encourage them to do the same.
•
Aside from winning your local beauty pageant, what is the most
fulfilling thing you've done?
A couple of days ago, I successfully completed my last examinations
in high school and I am very proud of my self, because ever since I
won the Miss Universe Croatia 2005 title, I almost didn't attend my
classes in school, so there was a lot of work for me for the past
month. Now I am looking forward for my future studies that deal with Law.
•
Tell us about your fashion sense and style.
The clothes I wear have to be comfortable and it should be made out
of natural materials such as cotton or linen. I never wear something
just because of fashion. Wearing a pair of jeans gives me the same
great feeling as being dressed in a glamorous evening gown. It all
depends on the occasion. As per shoes, I also feel equally comfortable
wearing high-heeled sandals or snickers. Any color will do just fine
on me.
•
Why do you want do be crowned Miss Universe and how would you
define the title in your own terms?
Who wouldn't?!? Joking aside.... I am aware of the fact that even if
I am the most beautiful and most intelligent kid in my city, if I stay
at home, nobody will know that I even exist. But if I come out to
participate in an event like the Miss Universe pageant, I have the
chance to get noticed and to show to the world what I can do. By
winning the Miss Universe title, I would enter the world of
opportunities. I would be able to learn from prominent people and I
would be in a position of participating in activities that would
perhaps save somebody's life, not to mention the opportunities of
visiting unique places that I've never seen before. More importantly,
I would be able to spread good words about my country- Croatia. I am
aware that there are still millions of people who don't even know
where Croatia is situated. They have no idea that there is also a
beautiful country such as Croatia.
•
What should pageant experts, your fellowmen, fans and beauty
watchers expect from Miss Croatia at Miss Universe 2005?
Participating at the Miss Universe 2005 pageant will be one of the
most exciting three weeks in my life. Therefore, you can expect from
me that I shall be enjoying every moment of it, memorizing every
second & every new person that I will meet. I will be as natural as I
am and be as happy as I am right now. Whatever the future brings, I
will embrace it with my whole heart.
•
Finally, leave a message to your fans, supporters & our readers.
I am very much honored that I am among the lucky ones you chose to
be interviewed for the readers of Missosology. There are a few days
left before I board the plane and start the most exciting journey of
my life. This will be the first time that I will be away from my
family and my closest friends for a long period of time, so I hope I
can count on you and the readers of Missosology to be with me and
support me. I embrace you all.
Thank you
Jelena. Do your best in your
Miss Universe quest! Good Luck!
Special thanks to
Marija Kraljevic
Vice President of
Miss Universe d.o.o.
