Candidates from 58 countries and regions will compete for the global final of the 44th International Beauty Pageant on October 16 in Beijing.
   
The competition, founded in 1960 and known as the "Beauty Olympics", is staged in China for the first time, according to the event's organizer CITIC (China International Trust and Investment Corp.) Cultural Industry Co., Ltd., a major culture company in China.
   
In the global final, candidates will show themselves in traditional national costumes, bikinis and evening garments, and will attend a series of activities like visiting rest homes and local communities. They will also exchange opinions on issues like world peace, social problems and China impression.
   
The organizer hopes to show the world an open and earnest Beijing that has succeeded in the bid for hosting the 2008 Olympic Games, thus to highlight a modern China in an era of cultural exchanges.

In the Chinese regional final for the 44th International Beauty Pageant on September 22, Sun Yue, a 22-year young lady from Beijing distinguished herself out of 40 competitors. She will attend the global final on behalf of China.

(Xinhua News Agency October 11, 2004)