Miss Universe rivals leave politics out of competition

BEHIND all the hugs and smiles, the 80 Miss Universe contestants are engaged in a fierce competition.

But two contestants with perhaps the greatest reason for hostilities have become fast friends.

Miss Kosovo and Miss Serbia, representing one of the world’s most ethnically torn regions, seem a little bit weary of people asking whether they get along.

“We are friends, we go everywhere together,” said Bojana Boric, this year’s Miss Serbia. “We are the girls who want to talk with each other.”

The 2008 Miss Universe pageant, co-hosted by Jerry Springer and Mel B from the Spice Girls, was broadcast by NBC last night from Vietnam.

Among the 80 women hoping to seize the crown will be Boric and Zana Krasniki of Kosovo, which declared its independence from Serbia in February. Dozens of countries support Kosovo, but others argue that Kosovo should remain part of Serbia.

Vietnam is among those nations that has not recognised Kosovo, and the Vietnamese compere at a recent Miss Universe event introduced Krasniki as “Miss Kosovo-Serbia”.

“I’m so proud to represent Kosovo, the newest country in the world,” said Krasniki.