Up Close and Personal
November 7th, 2009 | 
Author: This year Miss Virtual World Organization had over 1200 entries, 161 semi finalists and finally 22 Official candidates. I would like to thank all the judges who did a great job choosing some of the most talented combinations of virtual content creation represented by these 22 talented ladies. For the first official press presentation today, the finalists were all given the same cocktail dress designed by Callie Cline and the liberty to modify and accesorize as they wished. As is tradional at this presentation, the participating members of the press and the judges were requested to pick the top 5 based on overall look, styling and answers.
Miss Puerto Rico, Miaa Rebane
Kate: Hi Miaa! (I’m talking to Miaa as she stands on the runway awaiting her interview)
Miaa: I am standing here in vaccum
Kate: trust me, you are the most beautiful lady out there!
Miaa: \O/ wish you could see me grin ear to ear lol
Kate: Its kind of amazing… its like SL picked you today… you rezzed first… you are still the only finalist fully rezzed
Miaa: Really? I was thinking of upgrading my laptop 
Kate: You did a MVW event on a LAPTOP??? I think there may be some crazy luck involved… but… do you think you did anything special today to make SL smile on you?
Miaa: I chose less laggy pieces. Like my shoes and fur and everything I am wearing — nothing is scripted
Kate: Your outfit is put together beautifully! Your jewelry matches the outfit
Miaa: Donna Flora rocks 
Kate: I LOVE the BOW!!!!!
Miaa: Me too, lol, its from AnaLee Balut’s Dior collection.
Kate: And the purse just carries the bow shape further… it is a completely finished look
Miaa: Thank you Kate!!! Your comment really boosted my confidence! I was freaking out becasue I couldnt hear anything.
Kate: It doesn’t look like a contest outfit… you know… take an outfit and accessorize… it looks like a complete thought. One other question while you are standing there… maybe its just me… but is the spelling of your first name unusual? Is there inspiration behind the unique spelling?
Miaa: I wanted a simple “Mia”. I am a big fan of Mia Farrow in RL but the combination wasnt available. Didn’t want to let go of the name so I added an extra “a”.
Kate: Ooo its your turn! Break a pixel.
Kelli: (Leitner of Vibrations Roc Magazine) Hi Miss Puerto Rico I would like to ask musically who is your favorite band and how have they inspired you?
Miaa: Hi Kelli! There are few bands that I like to listen to and follow dpeending on my mood and state of mind. It varies from Deff Leppard to musicals by Yiruma. If I’m painting, I listen to instrumentals and when I need to pep my mood its a fast number. Music has influenced my art and art is what defines me. Thank you.
Miaa (offstage after the interview): I am the queen of typos :-/
Kate: How do you feel right now?
Miaa: I couldnt remember any bands all of a sudden lol. Feels like I need some fries.
Kate: curly or cajun? maybe waffle cut?
Miaa: lol dont tempt me
Kate: no eating until after the pageant!
Miaa: lol
Kate: I didn’t know you painted in RL! Do you think that helps you with your avatar and fashion in SL?
Miaa: defenitely..I struggle with completing a look much like my paintings. It has to come together. There should be harmony even in mismatched pieces. I think my art really helps me there
Kate: Is there some place where fans could see some of your RL artwork?
Miaa: I can show you one now. The others are all on my other laptop.
Kate: The girl has two laptops!
Miaa: I paint as a hobby. I am not a professional. It runs in my family Dad used to paint
Miaa: My mom is Indian and dad is American so my art is influenced a lot by India. My parents met here in US..in grad school..my Mom is a bharat natyam dancer (classical Indian dance form). They moved to India and I was born there
Kate: amazing!!!!!
Miaa: We moved back when I was 7-ish
Kate: What a cool story, Miaa… Thank you for sharing. I think you rocked this contest today!!
Miaa: Thank you Kate!
Congratulations to all the finalists and Miss Virtual World Organization for yet another amazing Miss Virtual World event! Frolic Mills had this to say “I’ve been looking at the results very very carefully and I must say that the TOP FIVE has been redefined. And I loved it because that means that what you have to say actually counts!” The Grand Finals for the Miss Virtual World will be held at the Patch Thibaud Auditorium on December 19, Saturday. See you there!
Kate Stockholm is a senior staff writer for Best of Second Life Magazine and a Miss Virtual World Organization executive. She was last year’s Miss Sweden and winner of Miss Congeniality.
Posted in Articles
Dear Ms/Mr Dismiss Congeniality,
Thank you for taking the time to comment. Obviously you are a SL-er that is why you know about BOSL. SL as you may know is a world created by content creators. From a content creator’s point of view, MVW is simply a contest to judge who can put together this content to make a beautiful AV. For those selected for MVW, it is a fun contest to play around with this content to create a flawless look is the name of the game. Sure there may be people who peruse second life and MVW because they are in search of some real life fulfillment but categorizing everyone is plain ignorant. You are narrowly focusing your comment to that rather than SL and MVW’s potential.
To your second point that “most of these girls aren’t shining stars in real life”, I suspect its coming from self judgment or simply because you have only met or chose to meet mediocre people in SL. SL for several organizations and schools is a powerful tool for conferencing and training. I personally came to SL through a research paper at my school. If doing a Masters in Human Computer Interaction makes me non-shining in your definition then I would rather be that than be posting hate comments in blogs using pseudo names.
Lighten up and applaud content creators, not pathologize it. Good Luck!
Miaa
It sickens me that beauty pageants have creeped their way onto SL’s grid and that BOSL has led the way with Miss Virtual World.
Considering the lack of actual, tangible pay-off, it’s clear these girls, most of whom I assume aren’t shining stars in real life, are out for recognition and a false sense of celebrity. They shouldn’t relish in their e-accomplishments, but be embarrassed for taking this shit so seriously. At this point, I’m embarrassed for them.
X-out and go play outside, girls.
Miaa – you were definitely beautiful in every way at the presentation. Excellent styling, as always! Keep up the good work my very special friend!