March 27, 2005
BANGKOK (AFP) - An engineering graduate who hopes to become a jet pilot has been crowned Miss Thailand Universe and will represent the kingdom when it hosts the Miss Universe pageant in May.
Chananporn Rosjan, 22, beat out 43 contestants to win the Miss Thailand Universe crown late Saturday night in Bangkok.
She holds a degree in engineering, and is preparing to start training as a jet pilot for Thai budget airline Air Asia.
Chananporn won the one million baht (25,975 dollars) prize along with diamond jewelry and the tiara.
Thai women have twice won the Miss Universe competition, in 1965 and 1988, and Thailand previously hosted the contest in 1992.
Beauty pageants are extremely popular in Thailand. One of the most famous is the annual Jumbo Queen for large-sized women, while Miss Tiffany crowns Thailand's top transsexual and Miss Spinster is for mature single beauties aged 28 or over.
(Accompanying photos by AFP)
