Phuket visit of Bikini babes postponed

PHUKET: The highly anticipated visit to Phuket of the Miss Thailand Beach International 2011 finalists next month has been postponed.

Scheduled to stimulate the streets of Patong from June 3 to 5 with a calendar shoot, fashion show and “Save the Environment on Earth Day” event, the girls will have to wait for a later date, organizers confirmed today.

Nittaya Wangpanya, a PR officer for the Jungceylon Shopping Complex, where some of the events were to be held, assured the Gazette that the bikini models will “definitely come to Phuket”.

“The decision to postpone [Phuket] was made because the organizers aren’t prepared,” she explained.

All confidently sexy Thai girls, aged 17 to 24 with interesting personalities, good English-language skills, and a height of at least 172 centimeters, are encouraged to enter the contest.

Entrants have until May 24 to register.

The winner, to be selected at the Millennium Hilton Hotel in Bangkok on May 27, will go on to represent Thailand against contestants from 84 other countries for the coveted title of Miss Bikini International 2011.

This will mark the first year Thailand will be represented in the annual pageant, which began in 1972.

As an indication of how much the world has changed since then, this year’s host will be none other than the People’s Republic of China.

From June 10 to July 2, pageant events will be staged in the cities of Beijing and Sanya, where one lucky lady will walk away wearing the tiara of Miss Bikini International 2011 – and not much else.

For those who think they have what it takes, more information about how to apply is available at www.missbikinithailand.com.

Part of the proceeds raised by the event will be donated to the Princess Pa Foundation of HRH Princess Soamsavali Kitiyakara and the Thai Red Cross Society.