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Irish Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Rose of Tralee review: Yoga with dogs on national TV – where else would you get it?
This year marks the 66th anniversary of the first Rose of Tralee and the 29th birthday of the Father Ted Lovely Girls episode that so fondly and famously lampooned the pageant. In other words, for more than a third of the competition's history, we, as a nation, have been knowingly giggling up our sleeves in the general direction of the Rose of Tralee – torn between cherishing it as a uniquely Irish curio and scoffing at it as a Miss Universe with an extra sod of turf chucked in the fire. [ Carl Mullan on being a Rose of Tralee escort: 'I swear to god it was the hardest work I have ever done' ] To cheer or to cringe? It's a dilemma as old as time – or at least, as old as that first Rose in 1959. Without doubt there is a lot about the Rose of Tralee that requires tweaking – a punishing six-hour run time, for starters. However, there is nothing like it anywhere else in the world, and for that there is a growing appreciation. READ MORE In any event, the wider question as to whether the Rose of Tralee is a patriarchal embarrassment or a national treasure is not going to be answered over the two evenings of the 2025 final. Instead, night one (RTÉ One, 8pm, Monday) is confirmation of business as usual across a gruelling three hours sprawling either side of the 9pm news. Kerry Rose Laura Daly gets into the spirit of the Rose of Tralee International Festival on Monday. Photograph: Domnick Walsh/Eye Focus As ever, hosts Dáithí Ó Sé and Kathryn Thomas have negligible chemistry and aren't on stage together that much. However, they do a good job in not condescending to the contestants – those grim Gay Byrne years have never felt further away – while the Roses themselves are the familiar collection of warm, likable over-achievers from home and abroad. There are lots of traditional party pieces. Meath Rose Ella Bannon performs an Irish dance – but only after a brief moment of panic when Thomas struggles to undo a knot in the outer layer of Bannon's dress. Wexford Rose Cliona O'Leary sings Boulavogue, while the New Zealand representative Ciara Jo Hanlon, in traditional Maori dress and originally from Galway, negotiates She Moves Through the Fair. As the night goes on, these staples of the contest grow ever wackier. There is a bagpipe malfunction. A Rose receives a lifetime membership gold card to a popular Dublin nightclub. Yoga with dogs is performed on national television – a sentence you will only write when discussing the Rose of Tralee. The biggest change is the replacement of Will Leahy as MC with breakfast radio host and RTÉ's answer to Bilbo Baggins, Carl Mullan . Leahy says he is stepping down after 20 years, and while the chirruping Mullan is a bit much this late in the evening, he acquits himself adequately. If only he weren't so cheery. Give him a few years and he'll be as miserable as the rest of us. New Zealand Rose Ciara Jo Hanlon wears traditional Maori dress on stage at the Rose of Tralee International Festival on Monday. Photograph: Domnick Walsh/Eye Focus If something is missing, it is tension. As per its unofficial billing as Ireland's Lovely Girls contest, everyone is sweet and pleasant and there is not a hint of cut-throat rivalry. That's a good thing on balance – but it does make for ever-so-slightly plodding TV. Some 66 years in, the Rose of Tralee is neither controversial nor toe-curling – but instead a beige national treasure jigging its way into the wee hours, with a bright smile but a slight blankness behind the eyes. It could do with a shot of adrenaline – or, at the least, a trimmer run-time. The second half of Rose of Tralee is on from 9.35pm on RTÉ One on Tuesday
Int'l Business Times
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Int'l Business Times
Transforming the Drag Scene with Digital Innovation: Colt Ables Bridges Industry Gaps, Ensuring Talented Queens Can Shine
The core of drag has always been clear: to unite communities through humor and artistry. Having survived through decades of skepticism and discrimination, defiance is engraved in its very identity, and the industry continues to dazzle, shock, entertain, and provoke audiences worldwide. However, though societal perception may have largely evolved, transforming the drag scene into a highly competitive, in-demand environment, thousands of queens are still dealing with persistent challenges. Through personal engagement and professional experience in collaborating with drag professionals, Colt Ables realized that industry success, even though often elusive, is never out of reach. "As a performer, the key is knowing your target audience while tapping into new markets," he stresses. "Despite the abundant possibilities of drag, I know so many artists—be it Pageant, Emo/Goth, or Camp Queens—who simply struggle." The ideal-world scenario is simple: passionate and talented queens can make a living with their splits, kicks, dances, or songs, and those who love drag can revel in drag shows whenever they please. The reality, however, is a lot harsher, leaving venues vacant and performers unfulfilled. According to Ables, one of the most pressing obstacles is the sheer lack of reliable, easy-to-use, and effective platforms where drag queens can connect with the right event hosts and vice versa. To alleviate the industry's pain points, Ables created DragSpace , a newly launched platform where hosts can find and book the right artists and where drag queens can showcase their true talent, expand their network, and advertise upcoming shows. This connectivity is Ables' response to another pertinent challenge – the common neglect of marketing efforts. "Far too often, drag queens assume that the venue will promote a show they will perform at. Event hosts fall into the same trap, believing artists will advertise their future endeavors themselves. Result? A drag show attended by three people or a drag trivia with only one team signed up," shares Ables. "Instead of blaming the other for an evening to be forgotten, maybe it's worth asking: What could I have done better?" While Ables recognizes traditional social media platforms as useful tools, he emphasizes that their focus lies in sustaining existing following, not exploring new markets. Through precise geo-location, DragSpace allows artists and hosts to market locally, which is especially crucial when touring or performing at pop-up shows. Tailored for performers, event hosts, and fans, the platform's benefits are multi-faceted. "If you're a bar owner struggling with dead mid-week traffic, DragSpace will help you set up a weekly drag bingo or trivia that will impress patrons. On the other hand, if you're a queen wanting to amplify visibility in a new area, DragSpace will help you target the right people," adds Ables. The founder envisions DragSpace leaving a tangible impact that transcends the industry. By promoting the industry for what it truly is – an art form where rules don't exist and everyone can express themselves freely in a supportive community – the platform aims to shift negative perceptions surrounding drag into appreciation or, at the very least, open-mindedness. "Different people will always have different views, but it's important to let skeptics know what drag kings and queens are truly about," says Ables. "For everyone I know, drag is about freedom, self-expression, and artistry, and to experience even one show—all the acrobatics, twirls, and dances—the emotion behind every word and move synced from a song or track—offering not just a show, but an escape offering a reflection of who we are or may dream to be." One reflection of that magic is seen in the faces that DragSpace sponsored in The Haus of Drag . This video highlights the talent, energy, and artistry that make Houston's drag scene so unforgettable, featuring both local icons and fresh new faces ready to snatch the spotlight. DragSpace, by fueling visibility, consequently raises competitiveness and, therefore, expectations. With a range of vetted profiles, venues can be more selective about their entertainment, ensuring that hired performers truly align with brand visions and customer demands. With a combination of talent, transparency, and digital connectivity, Ables envisions a future where drag is more than an entertainment arena; it's a scene where dreams come true and the artistry of drag is honored. "When you think about it, drag is more than an industry. Every performer has a drag mother, a drag grandmother, and a family they belong to, one they chose and one that chose them," shares Ables. "Deeply engraved in the LGBTQIA+ community, drag is no stranger to feeling unwelcome or unaccepted. But through art, through expressing one's creativity, drag queens can feel at home, and DragSpace helps them find it."
The Independent
01-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Pageant contestant in Muslim majority nation ousted over pro-Israel video
Miss Indonesia 2025 contestant Merince Kogoya was disqualified after a two-year-old video showing her expressing support for Israel resurfaced. The video, reportedly from her time studying abroad, showed Kogoya holding and waving an Israeli flag while dancing, with a pro-Israel caption. Kogoya faced significant backlash in Indonesia, a majority Muslim nation with strong pro-Palestinian sentiment and no diplomatic relations with Israel. The pageant organisers quietly removed Kogoya from the competition and replaced her with contestant Karmen Anastasya, without issuing an official statement. Kogoya responded to the backlash by stating the video was not political but represented her Christian faith, though her Instagram bio reportedly still displayed 'I stand with Israel'.
Los Angeles Times
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Hilbert Museum partners with Pageant of the Masters to tell a story of California art
When Diane Challis Davy, director of the Pageant of the Masters, was first invited to tour the Hilbert Museum of California Art in Orange last year, she was struck by the many images she knew would be a fit for Laguna Beach's famed living picture show. Mark Hilbert, who co-founded the museum with his late wife Janet, walked Challis Davy through the museum personally and sent her home with art books to look through. She came across a painting in one of those books that she knew had to be included in the Pageant. 'Mark gave me some of his beautiful books and I took them home and right away, I knew that 'Monday at the Crab Cooker' was perfect for a Pageant tableau,' said Challis Davy. The work by local artist Bradford J. Salamon depicted three men having dinner at the iconic Newport Beach restaurant. Challis Davy knew the scene inside the popular seafood eatery fit well with the 2025 Pageant of the Masters theme, 'Gold Coast: Treasures of California,' which is intended to be a tour of some of the most notable works of art on view at California's coastal museums. Unbeknownst to Challis Davy, she had just selected a piece that documents the beginnings of the Hilbert Museum itself. 'I chose it before Bradford told me he is [one of the men] in the picture, Mr. Hilbert is painted in the picture and Gordon McClelland is in the picture,' said Challis Davy. On Monday nights the three art lovers would get together over a fish dinner and discuss the idea of opening a museum that could display the collection amassed by Mark Hilbert and his late wife, Janet. 'We would just get together and talk about art until we were deaf,' Hilbert said. The meeting of the minds was the first imagining of the Hilbert Museum as it stands today and Salamon said he recognized history was being made. 'I felt privileged to be watching the soup being made with Mark and Gordon and the idea of a museum,' said Salamon. 'As we kept going every Monday and talking, I realized I was really dealing with people who could pull this off, I was dealing with a visionary who is going to do this; and I thought I should document it.' Salamon joined Challis Davy, Hilbert and Hilbert Museum director Mary Platt on the evening of June 4 in a panel discussion at the museum discussing the painting and other works selected from the Hilbert Collection that will be featured in this year's pageant. The Pageant of the Masters has been a tradition at Laguna Beach's Festival of Arts since 1932, when a few living pictures were presented as the 'Spirit of the Masters Pageant.' 'It grew over the years,' said Challis Davy. 'Thanks to a fellow by the name of Roy Ropp, who was a builder in town and a painter. He is considered the father of the pageant because he gave us our name, Pageant of the Masters.' Ropp used his expertise to add painted backdrops on a larger stage and incorporated music and narration in the show. He is also responsible for introducing 'The Last Supper,' as the finale, a tradition that continues today. Each year the show follows at theme, such as last year's 'À La Mode: The Art of Fashion,' which put the spotlight on popular styles of dress in various periods. Challis Davy works closely with her team to find the right works of art to present that best represent the theme. 'Proportion of overall canvas to figure is very important to us and how the figures are aligned,' said Challis Davy. 'We are going to take this two dimensional painting and we are going to turn it back into 3D, so it's all about the proportions.' Challis Davy said she also keeps an eye out for works with meaningful narratives, something the Hilbert Museum prides itself on. 'We specialize in what we call California narrative art, which is art that tells a story, ' Platt said of the Hilbert. 'You can also call it representational art or figurative art. It certainly has people in it, or the work of people. You might see a boat, or a pier or ranch or road.' In addition to 'Monday at the Crab Cooker,' the pageant has also selected Phil Dike's 'Afternoon at Diver's Cove,' Lee Blair's 'Mary by the Sea,' and another of Salamon's oil works, 'Seal Beach Nighthawks,' which depicts a cold night at a seaside corn dog shack. The Millard Sheets mosaic 'Pleasures Along the Beach,' which is the crown jewel of the expanded Hilbert Museum and was relocated from a Home Savings & Loan building in Santa Monica, will also be featured in the pageant along with a third Salamon painting, commissioned by the pageant. Since the segment on Salamon will include the Crab Cooker and the corn dog stand, Davy was hoping to include a third work that depicted a restaurant or bar. 'I thought there is got to be a third one and I look and looked and I couldn't find one that was suitable for our stage, so I thought 'OK, let's take a leap of faith and let's commission an artwork' and that painting is now in the Festival of Arts' permanent collection.' Salamon was given a choice of painting the landmark Sandpiper lounge in Laguna Beach — affectionately called the 'Dirty Bird' by locals — the Swallows Inn or the Marine Room Tavern on Ocean Avenue in Downtown Laguna Beach. The artist went with the Marine Room, painting a scene of patrons at the bar and in front of the fireplace. 'I put different little Easter eggs in there regarding art history; on the far left there is 'Folies-Bergère' by Monet, there is Winslow Homer's 'Breezing Up,' which they have done at the pageant for many years,' Salamon pointed during the panel discussion. There is also a small cat peeking out from behind a bar stool, a reference to the 'McSorley's Cats' by John Sloan, and a balloon dog on one patron's hat, a nod to Jeff Koons. 'These were all little things that I thought would be fun to put in,' Salamon said. Mark Hilbert will also get in on the fun this summer, joining the cast of volunteers at the pageant on 'Hilbert Museum Night at the Pageant' on July 9 to play himself in the 'Monday at the Crab Cooker' painting. 'We are not going to ask him to shave for this but he will have to be subjected to the make up application process,' Davy said. The 2025 Pageant of the Masters opens July 5 and recipients of the Hilbert Museum e-newsletter will receive a 20% ticket discount. For more information on the 2025 Festival of the Arts and Pageant of the Masters, visit For details on the Hilbert Museum exhibitions and the five works selected from the Hilbert Museum collection go to
LBCI
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- LBCI
Miss Lebanon qualifies among the Top 20 at Miss World 2025, ranks among Top 5 in Asia & Oceania
Miss Lebanon Nada Koussa advanced to the Top 20 finalists at the Miss World 2025 pageant held in India. In addition to securing a spot among the global contenders, Koussa also ranked in the Top 5 for the Asia & Oceania region, standing out among contestants from across the continent.
