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Interview with Justine Pasek, Miss Universe 2002
 Justine Pasek, a crowd favorite during the 2002 MISS UNIVERSE competition, is a 22-year-old native of Panama City, Panama. She has been recognized all over the world for her supermodel looks and humble personality. Her natural beauty is indicative of the beauty in the new millennium. As Justine moves to New York City to take on the title of Miss Universe, she is ready to work hard as an ambassador for women around the world by representing the Miss Universe Organization.
 
Justine is the daughter of a software engineer for the Panama Canal Authority and a homemaker. She is the oldest of three; her two brothers are 12 and 14. Her Grandfather was a marine in World War II and a pilot for the Panama Canal Commission. She has a very close relationship with her parents and has been a mentor to her younger siblings. She has had her family¹s support as a competitor in swimming, basketball and volleyball and has enjoyed drawing, ballet, tap, and salsa dancing throughout her childhood.
LN: When does your reign officially end?
MU: June 3, 2003
LN: What kind of work do you have lined up after your reign?
MU: I will be participating with charity organizations in Panama as well as endorsements.
LN: Will you be living in Panama or the U.S.?
MU: I will be traveling between Panama and the U.S.
LN: Tell us about your production for television. Is that something you will continue to do?
MU: I am interested in pursuing work for television, and I will be doing Miami-based projects, which have already been offered to me.
LN: Do you intend to return to university to obtain a degree? If so, in what field will you be pursuing your degree?
MU: Yes, I will be pursuing a degree in business, Social Communications in Marketing. My first choice, is the University of Miami.
 
LN: Do you plan on, someday, getting married and having children? If so, by what particular time do you plan on getting married, and how many children do you plan on having?
MU: I am looking to getting married within the next five years [laughing out loud], and I plan on having three to four children.
LN: For the last nine months, you reigned as Miss Universe 2002. What was the most touching moment of your reign?
MU: Every event I attended was touched me in a special way, but the one that really stands out in my mind was a fundraiser which I attended for a Ukrainian organization based in Philadelphia, where they raise money for young kids and people infected with H.I.V.
LN: You really have your heart and soul into partaking in H.I.V./AIDS programs, particularly those that help adolescents. Why have you chosen this charity?
MU: Of the different charitable causes the Miss Universe Organization expects me to help in bringing more public awareness to, the H.I.V./AIDS programs amongst adolescents are the most prominent.
LN: How will the world remember you? Would it be as someone who stepped in at the last minute [being Miss Russia, the originally-elected Miss Universe 2002, could not fill her obligations] or as a first runner-up given a chance?
MU: I feel that the work I have sincerely done—representing the Miss Universe Organization and charities around the world, out there, trying to make a difference and bring attention to these worldwide causes—will cause people to remember me as a good will ambassador. Regarding people remembering me as Miss Universe 2002, I will let the people decide that.
 
LN: What do you like most about being Miss Universe 2002?
MU: I received lots of love from people all over the world. I enjoyed the worldwide charity functions I attended, as well as all that the traveling that I did—I learned much about the history of the countries I visited.
LN: Of the countries you visited you traveled, representing the Miss Universe Organization, which country did you like most, and why?
MU: The first country I enjoyed over and above of the rest that I’ve visited is Cambodia, because its people were very humble, the weather was beautiful, and Cambodia offers a lot of history, which I also enjoyed immensely. I also loved Spain, which I always wanted to visit. Being Miss Universe, I had the opportunity to experience all of the rich history Spain has to offer.
LN: You will be given a crown of your very own after your reign. Please describe it.
MU: Each Miss Universe title-holder, at the end of her reign, will receive a crown, designed by the world-famous jeweler, Mikimoto—the official crown designer for the Miss Universe Organization, of Japan, that is valued at $30,000.
LN: In terms of diet/fitness, what guidelines do you follow and suggest to a girl who is getting involved in the fashion and pageant business? How have you, yourself, benefited from these guidelines?
MU: I eat plenty of raw and grilled vegetables instead of hamburgers. I also eat sushi. I stay active with long distance walks and plenty of exercise. I recommend a healthy lifestyle to any aspiring fashion model or pageant contestant.
 
LN: In your own words, is there any other advice you would give to a girl who was starting out with pageants, modeling and the fashion business? If so, what advice would you offer?
MU: My first word of advice would be “Stay true to yourself (be yourself)”. It is also important that you be sure that this is really what you want to do, because modeling and pageants require lots of work, time and commitment.
LN: Do you have a motto?
MU: Yes. “Stay true to yourself.”
LN: Will you still be involved with pageants and modeling after your reign?
MU: I probably will be; pageants involve lots of emotions.
LN: Who are your role models?
MU: Every woman out there who, one way or another, has positive aspirations.
LN: Please tell us a little bit about your modeling career you had prior to being crowned Miss Universe.
MU: I did mostly catalog work in Panama, Italy (Milan), Asia (South Korea). I was not tall enough for runway modeling.
LN: What do you think of Roberto Duran, four-time World Boxing Champion, one of the greatest sportsman to come out of Panama?
MU: I had the opportunity to meet Roberto Duran on one occasion. He is a sports icon to all of the kids in Panama, even those getting involved in sports other than boxing (baseball, basketball, and other sports). All of them look up to him as a role model.
 
LN: Will we be seeing you, one day, run for the Presidency of Panama, your country?
MU: Well, I have given some thought to running for public office, but I would, initially, be interested in running for the mayor of Panama City in, maybe, the next ten to fifteen years. I will just have to see what will happen after that—maybe the Presidency.
LN: The chief editor of the Liberty News Online Magazine had the pleasure of meeting you at one of the Arts Festival openings at.BLo’s in early March of this year, at which time he presented you with an Official H.A.D. tee-shirt. The Help Against Drugs Organization of N.Y.C. (www.hadofnyc.org/store/success.html) has been founded to help those with disabilities of all types, who, as a result of those disabilitie, have low self esteem and shattered dreams of being a fashion model after being repeatedly denied the opportunity to fulfill those dreams. Would you give us your permission to post your picture on the Official H.A.D. website (www.hadofnyc.org/models) as an inspiration for those with low self-esteem, many with diseases and who’s dreams have been shattered because they were denied the opportunity to pursue them?
MU: Yes, I remember very well when you presented me with the tee-shirt. I will give you my permission because I endorse all charitable organizations that work diligently to help those in need—homeless people, those infected with H.I.V., those who have lupus and other disabilities, and of course, those with very low self esteem due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment, who need positive role models as yourselves.
 
You can see Miss Universe 2002, Justine Pasek, passing her crown on to the Miss Universe 2003 at the 52nd Miss Universe Competition, which will be held in Panama City, Panama, on Tuesday, June 3rd, 2003. Don’t forget to watch it live on NBC. Check your local times and listings for the live broadcast.
We would like to thank Ms. Esther Swan, the Supervisor of Public Relations for the Miss Universe Organization, for setting up the interview for the Liberty News Online Magazine. Without her help, this would not have been possible.
For more information about the Miss Universe Organization, log onto their website (www.missuniverse.com).
Betty Coker, Chairwoman of the H.A.D. Organization of N.Y.C., Inc & Senior
Editor of the Liberty News Online, will write articles about modeling, fashion
design, fashion events, and how she co-founded the World's Largest Community
Fashion & Modeling Organization.
If any of you models, designers, festival promoters, or fashion show promoters
are interested in having an article written about you in this section, please
feel free to contact us using any of the information below. If you are
interested in modeling with us, or interested in a free presentation (no
experience necessary--we are presently looking for models, for our New York Mega
Show 2003, ranging in age from 3 to 60--including male, female, and child
models, all sizes, heights and ethnicities welcome), please feel free to visit
my website.
Website:
www.hadofnyc.org/models.
Email:
LNSeniorEditor@hadofnyc.org
Phone: (718) 507-7616 (Mon - Fri 8:00am - 8:00pm)
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