Miss Universe Gets Her New Street Sign

by Mark Schieldrop

 Friends and family of Cranston's Olivia Culpo were on hand at Cranston City Hall Saturday to honor her for winning the Miss Universe pageant and ceremonially dedicate a street in her name. Along with a chance to meet Culpo's boyfriend, Nick Jonas, local officials unveiled a depiction of the sign, which designates a portion of Howard Avenue in Edgewood "Olivia Culpo Way."

 "This is a small token of our appreciation for your accomplishments," said City Council President John E. Lanni Jr. "We are so proud of you." The City Council last month approved a resolution adding the beauty pageant winner's name to Albert Avenue, which runs the length between Broad Street and Narragansett Boulevard in Edgewood.

The official name of the street will remain the same "and for purposes relating to all emergency response systems," according to the resolution. On Saturday, state and local officials lauded Culpo for her work representing both Cranston and the state of Rhode Island as a whole after winning Miss Universe last December. She chatted briefly before the ceremony began with Cranston Mayor Allan W. Fung, telling him she was "so excited" to see the sign.

A few moments later, Fung told the assembled crowd that "she wowed not only all of us, but the rest of the world, really making sure Cranston and our little state of Rhode Island was put on not just the national map, but across the globe."

"No matter where you go in life, remember Cranston will always be your home town," Fung said. Congressman Jim Langevin said Culpo represents the best and brightest Rhode Island has to offer and has done important work touching people around the world, raising awareness about breast cancer research and AIDS as she fulfills her duties as Miss Universe.

Rhode Island House Majority Leader and Cranston Rep. Nicholas Mattiello said someone doesn't win Miss Universe simply by being beautiful — echoing the words of Congressman David Cicilline — they win it by having substance. "It's a testament to your wonderful family," Mattiello said, turning to Culpo's family seated in the front row. "What I know of you folks is that you're good people and good people raise good people."

Rhode Island is a state where everybody knows everybody, and Mattiello noted that his son plays ball with the Culpo's boy, Justin, and has slept over at the Culpo's house. "It's just a great story and Olivia, your grace, beauty and intelligence and [winning Miss Universe] is wonderful news for our city and state." Culpo said "never in a million years" would she expect herself to be standing in front of all her friends and family to get a street in her name. She said she was deeply thankful and said her success is because of where she comes from, here in Cranston. "From the minute I left Cranston to go to college, I was home once a week," Culpo said. "It's a special place where everyone is so closely connected and everyone knows everyone. To grow up in such a tightly knit community has made me who I am today. It is about the values instilled in me."

The Miss Universe winner, who has been busy ever since she won Miss Rhode Island, then Miss USA and ultimately, Miss Universe, said she was so happy to see her family and extended family and friends gathered together in one place. "I couldn't be who I am without where I came from," she said. 

Miss World opens in Indonesia after protests

BALI, Indonesia (AP) — The 63rd edition of the Miss World pageant opened Sunday after protests by Muslim hard-liners confined the event to Indonesia's predominantly Hindu resort island of Bali.

The opening ceremony, which was televised to 186 countries, featured Bali's Kecak dance and a parade of all 131 contestants. Following days of protests by Indonesian hard-line Muslim groups and the rejection of the contest by a leading clerics' organization, the government announced Saturday that it was moving the Sept. 28 final round to Bali. It was initially set to be held in Sentul, on the outskirts of the capital, Jakarta.

Bali is the only Hindu-dominated province in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country. Controversy over the pageant has been mounting in Indonesia, which has a reputation as a tolerant, pluralist society that respects freedom of expression.

The Indonesia Ulema Council, the country's most influential clerics' organization, and the hard-line groups Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia and Front for Islamic Defenders have urged the government to cancel the event. They have argued that the exposure of skin by women in a competition violates Muslim teachings, even after organizers agreed to cut the bikini competition and instead outfit contestants in more conservative sarongs. The chairwoman of the Miss World Organization, Julia Morley, has promised that none of the contestants will wear a bikini. The pageant began in the 1950s, and the first winner was crowned in a two-piece bathing suit.

"We only want to try to find the best way of working together," Morley told a news conference Saturday in Bali. Most Muslims in Indonesia, a secular country of 240 million people, are moderate, but a small extremist fringe has become more vocal in recent years. Lady Gaga was forced to cancel her sold-out concert in Indonesia in May following threats by Islamic hard-liners who called her a "devil worshipper." Jennifer Lopez toned down her sexy outfits and dance moves during a show in Jakarta last December.