ヒルトン姉妹とのイベントが終わり皆がオフィスへ戻る途中、デザイナーのマイケル・コース氏とすれ違いました。　気がついたのは一番後ろを歩いていた私だけだったので、オフィスに着いたとき皆にそのこと話すと、「見たい！大ファンなの！！」と盛り上がり、ついにはコース氏を探すため、表参道ヒルズまで追いかけてしまいました！！

The event with the Hilton sisters is finished. Everybody is walking back to the office (top of the Oriental Bazaar on Omotesando. I am walking behind everyone and crossed paths with Michael Kors walking on the street. When I arrived at the office I told the girls who I saw, they screamed “we want to see him, we are big fans!”. Also, we went down the stairs running and went scrunning the avenue and within Omotesando Hills building in search for Mr Kors!

見つけるのを諦めかけていたその時、彼が私たちの前に現れました！！とても沢山の女性たちが彼を見に来ていることに驚いていた様です。　私たちは彼に会えてとても感激です！

We were ready to give up when he appeared right in front of us! He was amazed to see so many girls, and we were thrilled to meet him.

彼に何とか近づき、ついにお話しすることができました。私はすでに２度お会いしたことがあります。1度目は彼がCELINEのデザイナーをしているとき、2度目はニューヨークのFDA（FASHION DESIGN AWARD)のレッド・カーペットの上で。

I approached him and we started talking (I had already met him in Tokyo when he was designing for CELINE, then on the red carpet at the FDA (Fashion Designer Awards) in New York.

彼はとてもフレンドリーで、候補者のナホコと少しの間会話を楽しんでいました。彼女は前にサンフランシスコに住んでたことがあり、彼の大ファンだそうです。

He was very friendly with the girls, Nahoko Matsubara, one of the semi-finalist spoke with him for a little while, she lived in San Francisco and she is a huge fan.

マイケル・コース氏とジョン・アイドル氏は「特別なイベントがあるときは、是非私たちのドレスを着てほしいから直接連絡をください」と言ってくれました！！やった！！

Michael Kors, CEO John Idol told me that he would love to dress the girls when we have special glamour events and to contact him directly. Fabulous!

マイケル・コース氏と表参道ヒルズの前で記念撮影。

Group picture with Micheal-Kors-we-love in front of Omotesando Hills

候補者の ヒロコ、信号待ちの人ごみの中で。

Semi-finalist Mima Hiroko waiting with eveyone at the stop-light.

2003ミス・レバノンのリタと偶然会いました。

Beautiful Rita, Miss Lebanon we coincidentally met on the way.

Translation by Nagahama Ayako

ドン・ペリニョンが人気デザイナー、マークニュートン氏による新デザインのボトル誕生を祝うパーティーが開催されました。
 
 
パーティーは麻布十番にあるSYNスタジオで行われたのですが、実はそのスタジオのデザインも彼が手がけたもの。
 
 
私はくららとモーガン・オマー氏（私たちのカメラマン）と席したのですが、たくさんの友人たちにも会うことができました。　モーガンは一緒に参加した3名の2008ミス・ユニバースジャパン候補者たちのウェブサイト用写真も撮ってくれました。
 
 
2008ミス・ユニバース・ジャパン　オフィシャルサイトのカットオーバーは12月11日、15名のセミファイナリスト達がプレス発表される日です。
 
 
2008ミス・ユニバース・ジャパンのテーマは…ISLANDS（アイランド）です。
 
ちなみに2006年はTreasure（トレジャー）、2007年はCasino Finale(カジノ・フィナーレ）でした。
 
 
とっても美味しいシャンパンと楽しいひとときを堪能し、とってもいい気分。
 
 
そして午後10時、くららとタクシーに乗り込み、友人たちの待つ表参道のブルガリカフェへ向かいました。
 
 
ステファン・ラフェイ（ブルガリ・ジャパン社長）、中田英寿さん、ステファン・ノール（ニューヨークにあるSTEPHAN　KNOLL　SALONのオーナー。モデルのシンディ・クロフォードと共に、オリジナルヘアケア製品のイベントのために来日。）
 
 
そして、女優の米倉涼子さんがくららの友人でもある有名スタイリストと出席していました。涼子は私とくららからフランス語を学ぼうとがんばっていました。（ヒデは少し話せて、くららは堪能です。）くららは前日にローマから帰ってきて、しかも翌朝CM撮影にもかかわらず、美味しいワインとおしゃべりを楽しみました。
 
 
あとで写真をアップしますね。  

Friday evening, Dom Pérignon celebrated the new design of their bottle packaging by superstar Marc Newson.

The party was held at the stylish SYN Studio in Azabu Juban, which was actually designed by Marc Newson in the past.  

I attended the party with Kurara and Morgan Ommer our photographer. I met again so many of my friends, it was really nice. Also 3 semi-finalists joigned us so that Morgan could photography them at the party for our website.

Our new website for 2008 will start soon on December 11th, the day of the press conference when the top-15 finalists are announced in front of the press.

The theme for 2008 is ISLANDS.

It was in 2006: Treasure. And in 2007: Casino Finale

We drank a lot of delicious champagne and laughted so much. It felt really good.

Then at 10:00 pm, with Kurara we jumped in a taxi to go meet some friends at the Bulgari Café on Omotesando. 

Stephane Lafay, Bulgari President / Hide Nakata, Soccer-star / Stephen Knoll, hair salon owner in NY who came to Japan with supermodel Cindy Crawford who is Stephen’s worldwide promotion model to his hair care products, to do some press and event for Kose, his distributor .  

Also, actress Yonekura whith a good friend of hers, a famous hairstylist, also friend of Kurara.   Ryoko was trying to learn French with us, (Hide can say some and Kurara is fluent). Ryoko is very funny, and we had great time all together just talking and enjoying the good wines. Kurara and myself we went home after midnight as she had a CM shooting next morning, and she has just returned from Rome the day before.

I shall post some pictures later.  

Translation by Nagahama Ayako
 

Paris Hilton, Nicky Hilton, Ines Ligron and Kazu Terada meet the 2008 Miss Universe Japan semi-finalists at Samantha Thavasa Omotesando Gates store on November 6, 2007 in Tokyo, Japan.     

パリス・ヒルトン、ニッキー・ヒルトン、寺田社長(サマンサタバサ）、私と２００８ ミス・ユニバース　ジャパンの候補者達が2007年11月6日、サマンサタバサ表参道GATES店に集結しました。

30名の候補者の中から、Top15に進む2名をパリスとニッキーが各1名ずつ選びました！[パリスが選んだのは…チエ、　ニッキーが選んだのは…トモカ] 

２００８ ミスユニバースジャパンのTop15出場者は12月11日、プレス発表会の場にて発表されます。

Paris and Nicky chose one semi-finalist each, which landed directly into the top 15! 
(Chosen were:  Chie by Paris ,and Tomoka by Nicky)                                      

The top 15 finalists for 2008 will be revealed at the press conference in Aoyama, Tokyo, on December 11th . 

www.wireimage.com / Photos by Jun Sato

パリスのコンタクトレンズの調子が悪く寺田和正さんのスピーチの後、私が記者の皆さんの前でお話させて頂きました。　ものすごいカメラのフラッシュの数で、私がそのステージに立っていることに驚きました…本当に…

Paris had a problem with her contact lenses, and here I am welcoming the press to the event right after Kazu Terada’s opening speech. Flashes were snapping everywhere, it was really impressive to be standed up there on that stage trust me….

 Translation by Nagahama Ayako

Dear Ines,

Thank you so much for taking the time out of your schedule to speak tonight.

I can without a doubt that your presentation was one of the most interesting and enjoyable that I have experienced since founding EA-Tokyo.

Take care Ines and good luck with work! It sounds like lots of exciting things are happening!

Regards,

Dave Mori

President Entrepreneur Association of Tokyo NPO

Ph: 81-3-5336-9236 Fx: 81-3-5336-9237

Sweet!…… It was nice to be given a chance of speaking at the Foreign Correspondants Club Japan on Tuesday. I was amazed that so many people had signed up and made time to come to listen to me! I never imagined that someone would pay to hear me talk. (I would have thought that instead that people would pay for me to remain silent!@!…)

I spoke for 40 mn about my life experience as an entrepeneur (I registered my own business at the early age of 21 years old, and had a baby that same year. Also I had no other choice than to make it happen, I had to feed and care for my child, I had to make money to survive without asking my parents….)

Instead of talking about everything I did right, I spoke about all the mistakes I made along the way of running my own business as though it would be more entertaining.

After my 40 mn speech, we went into a Q&A session with the 45 people in the room for about 1 hour.

Then when it was over, I had many people coming to talk to me privately, actually many Japanese women asking me for advice, both professionally and personally. I really enjoyed the evening. It was very tiring because I had to be so switched on mentally for 3 hours, but when I arrived home and kissed my babies in their bed while they were alseep, I thought how blessed I am to be able to do work that I love everyday, and to have such a strong base, my family, my children, my friends.

This is what gives me this incredible energy which defines me. It is like a fuel generated by hapiness and excitement which keeps my engine running high speed everyday. I wish for everyone to feel the same hapiness every time they wake up. Life is not easy for sure but I wish for all to feel this excitement about the day as it is beginning…

SEMI-FINALISTS for Samantha Thavasa,

with PARIS and NICKY HILTON at a call-press party held at Club CROSS

2008 MUJ候補生たち。クラブXROSSで行われたサマンサタバサのプレスパーティーにて。

Born-in-Paris with Paris

”ボーン・イン・パリス(パリ生まれ）”の私とパリス

At 3:00 pm today on Omotesando Avenue, at the Samantha Thavasa Gate Shop, 22 candidates will be judged by Paris and Nicky. They will select 2 candidates to go place directly in the semi-finals. Check the TV today!

本日午後3時、表参道アベニューのサマンサタバサにて22名の候補者たちが登場します。　パリスとニッキーがファイナル推薦枠に進む2名を選ぶのです！　テレビをチェックしていてください！

so much press!  With beautiful and sweet topmodel Jessica

本当にたくさんの記者さんたちが詰め掛けました！　

下の写真はパリスとニッキー、そして美しくてスウィートなトップモデルのジェシカ。

 Translation by Nagahama Ayako

RUI WATANABE

Rui has been working out every other day, with personal trainer, Marc McDonald. This is his dog called Magic in Rui’s arms.

Rui has been doing push-ups with Magic on her back to add weight to her routines!

Marc is one of the really best fitness instructors in Tokyo. His list of clients is very impressive but for condidentiality issues I cannot reveal names in my blog.

Marc is using unique technics that he creates to train and build up muscle only where needed  Rui’s body has improve greatly within the month that she has trained with Marc.

These pictures are from Marc’s mobile phone camera. Thank you very much Marc for your kind dedication!

THE PRELIMINARY JUDGES　　　予選の審査員たち

Anna, Yuko, Maiko (Finalists MUJ2007)

2007 ミス・ユニバース・ジャパン候補生のアンナ、ユウコ、マイコ

Rei, Akiko, Kiko (Finalists MUJ2007)　　　レイ、アキコ、キコ

Fashion Photographer & musician Marc Albert

with Rita Lamah, Miss Libanon 2003

Model Richard Gazzo　　モデルのリチャード・ガッツォ氏

It was very difficult to choose 22 girls among 50 this time as they are all very strong, smart and beautiful.

50名の候補者の中から、次へ進む22名を選びました。彼女たちはそれぞれ強さとスマートさ、美しさを兼ね備えていて、とても難しい選択でした。

 The top 22 are chosen!　　次の選考へ進む22名の候補者が決定しました！

On Tuesday, Paris & Nicky Hilton will be Judges as well.

They will choose among the 20 selected tonight, in front of the press, 2 girls who will go directly to the top 15!!    

EXCITING!

Translation by Nagahama Ayako

RUI is officially on her way to MISS WORLD in China

I have been hired as a consultant to select and prepare the repersentative of Japan at the Miss World Pageant in China on December 1st.

A message from Rui on my blog yesterday.

Thank you so much!

Thank you for the message and encouragement, Ines.   Yes, i am very excited to go to Sanya to experience a wonderful month in my life. I will do my best and tell people how beautiful Japan is:) and i want to say thank you for all the people who helped me to be ready for this project. I really appreciate your great support, and the cheerful comments in here, thank you my dear friends!  I love you too!   Rui.   

Rui is on her way to Miss World! Good luck from your team!

We packed all night with Rui lots and lots of clothes, bags, shoes, jewelry, gowns, sunglasses, swimsuits, coat… She will be in the warm island of Sanya most of the time, but she will also travel to Beijing, Hong Kong and other cold locations in China. Total: 3 suitcases of designer clothes. 

Early this morning, I drove her to the airport terminal to get on her flight to Sanya, together with her mom and her sister. She was so happy to go. She is now in the plane to Sanya. She was SO cute hugging me good bye for a long time before flying with her own wings and disappearing with her suitcases and her mom and sister helping her.

I really feel like a mother to all these girls. I worry for them, I love them, care for them, and I miss them when they are away truly. It is somehow funny to feel the mother of so many young girls.

Last night, one of last year past finalists, introduced me to her boyfriend for the first time. We were attending the opening of the spectacular Bulgari new-shop on Omotesando Avenue, and she was all panicking and told me “ouch it feels like introducing my boyfriend to my parents, I swear it is the same feeling!” She was cute… also her boyfriend was nervous and said that she told her so much about me that he felt he already knew me.  I am lucky and happy.

This is the gown that I bought for Rui to compete during the Evening Dress competition on December 1st. Together with her long black hair she looked amazing when she put it on.  

GUCCI FW2007

National Designer Gown Award:

Rui will model a flamboyant red gown with gold stars. The dress is a design of fashion-darling Iwaya Toshikazu for Dress Camp SS2007 collection in collaboration with Piaget.