The countdown continues! Only 5 days until the MISS VIRTUAL WORLD 2010 pageant Grand Finale and the next, deserving lady is recognized. The Grand Finale for MISS VIRTUAL WORLD 2010 will be held at the Patch Thibaud Auditorium on December 19, Saturday 11AM SLT. There is nothing else like this in Second Life. See you there!

Miss Japan, Marry Eel

Marry: I have been registered with Agata Model Agency ever since it was established.  Right now, I do about 1 or 2 shows a month, but I also get involved in planning, getting brands, venue management….etc together with other models. Overseas and Japan has a big time difference.  So the opportunities for Japanese users to watch an overseas show are limited.  In that sense also, we are trying hard to create shows where we target not only Japan but overseas people so that Japanese users and overseas users can both enjoy the shows. I also feel that the time I spend to create something together with my fellow models is important.  I look forward to working with more people.

Kate: Lovely pictures! What else do you do in Second Life?
Marry: Right now, I am focusing on MVW and to get it over with, but I like to dance.  So I have a group with my friends and I dance sometimes with Afro hair.  Lol. The group name is Afro Regiment.  Lol
Kate: My favorite Japanese musician is Motimotimoti Campese. His band is Step UP! I love his voice!
Marry: Yes, I know him Kate!
Kate: I think he is getting famous.
Marry: I think he WAS famous in Japan but now getting famous outside of Japan too.
Kate: Touché! Marry, yours is a wild and wonderful name in English. What was the inspiration?
Marry: Thank you, Kate. RL dog’s name is Merry. I wanted to take that name but I made a typo and ended up Marry, LMAO.
Kate: Funny! How did you learn about MVW?
Marry: I heard about this contest from my model friend Apollo Call. I thought I would try it.
Kate: It must have been very challenging! What would you say has been most difficult so far?
Marry: It’s the most difficult to think how I can show my inner side, and how I can get people to understand me.
Kate: How have you tried to overcome this challenge?
Marry: As Miss Japan, I try to communicate the Japanese culture. I want to show the discreteness of Japanese in this contest. I think how I should interpret that myself.
Kay Fairey: Not sure if that answers your question, Kate.
Kate: I think she means she wants to convey something of the Japanese esthetic. Took me a while to look up yukashi.
Kay Fairey: Yes, but was that what you wanted?  I mean to overcome the challenge?
Kate: Well, I think fans would like to know if she was doing anything specific or deliberate… mindful that there is this challenge to overcome… does she have a plan?
Marry: For me, the hardest thing is the language barrier. Even if I can’t speak English, fortunately I have had people who are willing to help me. I am grateful to them. They are the reason I have been able to come this far. I am also trying types of outfits and hair that I had never worn before and rediscovering myself.
Kate: What are your thoughts and feelings about the grand finale coming up? Are you ready? Do you think the judges will see and appreciate your inner side and the Japanese culture you represent?
Marry: I have been working on MVW over this past 3 months towards the Grand finale, and now I am in preparation of my national costume and evening gown. I am looking forward to showing my national costume and Japanese esthetics for the fans.  I believe that the costume will express Japanese culture well.
Kate: Have we missed anything; anything else you would like people to know about you?
Marry: Yes, I think that in SL the most important thing is to enjoy SL.  Everybody is equal in SL. I hope all others enjoy SL too.  First and foremost, I want others to enjoy themselves. 
Kate: Do you have any advice for future MVW participants, perhaps from your side of the world?
Marry: No matter how hard the issue may be, if its fun, it can be overcome and we can continue.  I think it’s important to always think how to express ourselves.  But for those who might apply next, I hope they will get used to English as much as possible.  The rest will be their will power.
Again, many thanks to Kay Fairey for her skill in translation. Without her gracious help I would have been unable talk as freely and easily to our asian finalists and would not have had the opportunity to get to know these gracious ladies.

Kate Stockholm is a featured columnist for Best of Second Life Magazine, a retired SL Mentor and a Miss Virtual World Organization executive. She was last year’s Miss Sweden and winner of Miss Congeniality.