France’s Alexandra Rosenfeld crowned Miss Europe 2006
19-year-old French Alexandra Rosenfeld was crowned Miss Europe 2006 at the ceremony that took place in Kyiv’s Palats Ukrayina on Oct. 27, beating Ukraine’s own contestant Alyona Avramenko, who was named the First runner-up. The three other runners-up were Miss Spain, Miss Belarus and Miss Poland.
One of the three most prestigious beauty contests in the world, the other two being Miss World and Miss Universe, Miss Europe was held in Ukraine for the first time, thanks to the efforts of businessman and composer Omar Harfouch, who purchased the rights for holding the contest.
The beauty show was broadcast in 12 European countries and was hosted by French TV-presenter Jean-Pierre Foucault, and TV-host and Miss Russia 2003 Victoria Lopyreva. During the show, the viewers were entertained by Ukrainian folk dancers, and performances by Ukrainian pop-singer Iryna Bilyk and French rapper K-Maro, and of course the contestants themselves. Thirty four beauties appeared onstage in red bikinis, fancy underwear, ‘30s style evening gowns and other outfits, performing staged dance moves before the jury. As for the jury, it was once rumored to be headed by Sharon Stone, but in the end Italian designer Roberto Cavalli agreed to preside. The two other foreign guests in the jury were French prince Charles-Philippe D’Orleans and Miss Europe 2005 Shermine Sharivar, while the Ukrainian part of the jury consisted of two Ukrainian politicians, ambiguous persona Nestor Shufrych and Larysa Bogatyryova, and naturally Omar Harfouch himself. French beauty and Alyona Avramenko received an equal amount of votes, and therefore, for the first time in the history of the contest, a revote had to be held, as a result of which Rosenfeld finally won. The lucky winner not only received a crown encrusted with diamonds worth 350 thousand euros, but also a prize of 100 thousand euros, a necklace from Chopard company and an evening dress from Roberto Cavalli.
