Kim Joo-ri shows confidence in upcoming Miss Universe

2009 Miss Korea Kim Joo-ri

By Ines Min

2009 Miss Korea Kim Joo-ri spoke confidently before heading off to the 59th Miss Universe competition in Las Vegas slated for Aug. 23.

The 22-year-old ballerina is going into the fray holding tightly onto her dream of winning the crown, and hinted that she was confident she would be able to come out on top ― among the 80 participating countries and contestants.

The multilingual beauty (she speaks Russian and English fluently along with her mother tongue) has been appraised by fans and critics to be the perfect balance between Western and Eastern ideals of aesthetics.

Kim moved to England when she was five-years-old to attend the Royal Ballet School before returning to Korea and then making her way to the Bolshoi Ballet School in Russia. Although she was unable to make it to her final graduation performance, due to a leg injury, Kim has managed to soldier her way through and find new ambitions.

``Although I had to quit ballet, the most important thing in my life, it happened that through Miss Korea I have been able to dream and plan again for a second life,’’ the optimistic Kim said.

For the upcoming competition Kim said that she plans on overwhelming the audience and judging committee with a performance that combines traditional Korean music with ballet ― choreographed by the contestant herself.

``In order to show the beauty of Korea to the entire world, I’ll do everything the best way I can,’’ she said. ``I ask for your interest and support so that I can win the crown of Miss Universe and we can raise the status of the Korean people.’’

Fans of Kim can visit her page at the official Miss Universe website in order to vote for her. Visit https://www.missuniverse.com/members/profile/469201