Subject:  T.O. mayor misses out on Miss Universe |
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National Post
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Date Posted: 17:43:06 07/17/05 Sun
T.O. mayor misses out on Miss Universe
James Cowan
National Post
Saturday, July 16, 2005
TORONTO - During her brief reign as Miss Universe, Natalie Glebova has met Bishop Desmond Tutu and Donald Trump, visited orphans in Thailand and mines in South Africa and posed for photographs with the Queen of Swaziland and Kenneth Cole. But she has yet to meet Toronto Mayor David Miller.
Yesterday, at Toronto City Hall, she was treated more like the hometown girl she once was than the international pageant queen she has become.
At a news conference, Gloria Lindsay-Luby, chairwoman of the city's economic development and parks committee, presented Ms. Glebova with a metal keychain and business-card holder.
Ms. Lindsay-Luby praised Ms. Glebova as a "Toronto Ambassador." "At every stop around the world, she tells the Toronto story," she said. "She tells the world how great our city is, she brags about our multiculturalism, our culture and our attractions."
Despite Ms. Glebova's diplomatic role, Ms. Lindsay-Luby was the only Toronto politician to attend yesterday's photo-op. Indeed, the councillors' lounge where the event was held was mostly empty, except for Ms. Glebova's entourage, some Tourism Toronto staff and seven journalists -- all male.
Arriving slightly late, Ms. Glebova was easily identified. Not by her stunning beauty, but by the sparkling silver "Miss Universe" sash that has apparently been stapled to her body.
In addition to the knick-knacks from the city, the 23-year-old pageant winner also received a hat and large T-shirt from Tourism Toronto, each emblazoned with their new "Toronto Unlimited" logo. (The group's Elizabeth Gill said the new Miss Universe is "truly everything that Toronto represents.")
An official scroll presented to Ms. Glebova yesterday recognized her commitment to make combatting HIV/AIDS a priority during her reign.
"You help to enrich the quality of many lives," the scroll read. "Thank you for caring and giving. Many people share and celebrate your accomplishment.... You make Toronto proud."
Ms. Lindsay-Luby denied the city had been tardy in its recognition of Ms. Glebova.
"This is the first time she's been back to Toronto since she's been crowned," she said.
Meanwhile, the beauty queen presented Ms. Lindsay-Luby with a gift of her own: a small plaque from the Miss Universe organization affixed with a crystal the size of a ping-pong ball.
Born in Russia, Miss Universe and her family immigrated to Canada when she was 12. Eleven years later, Ms. Glebova graduated from Ryerson University with a degree in information technology management. She hopes to start her own business.
Crowned 46 days ago, Ms. Glebova has yet to be congratulated by Mr. Miller. The Mayor had a "longstanding personal commitment" that kept him from yesterday's ceremony, spokesman Patchen Barss said.
"She's an accomplished woman -- pianist, composer, information technology manager. She deserves congratulations for all of those accomplishments," Mr. Barss said.
Oddly, he did not explicitly cite Ms. Glebova's pageant win as one of her accomplishments.
For her part, Miss Universe forgave the Mayor's failure to get in touch.
"From what I understand, I'm sure he's very, very busy," Ms. Glebova told reporters. "I know how proud he is. We're all proud Canadians, we're all proud of our fellow Canadians' achievements."
Ms. Glebova added that she does brag about her home as she travels the world.
"I tell people about how you can walk down the streets and you can hear so many different languages spoken and you can see so many ethnic restaurants," she said.
Link to the article in the National Post
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