…I also met Kurara Chibana (1st Runner-Up in 2006) and Hiroko Mima (Miss Universe Japan in 2008).

I walked into the Ginza Gucci Store, went upstairs to the cafe, and there they were standing in the middle of the room looking regal. Someone said, Why don’t you take their picture. So I did.

Riyo Mori, Kurara Chibana, and Hiroko Mima (Oct 25, 2008)

Then I walked around taking photos of everyone, sometimes pausing to grab some roast beef on a cracker or whatever else was coming around.

I was the photographer, and the event was a fundraiser for Room to Read. Room to Read raises money and uses it to build schools and libraries for children in impoverished communities worldwide. Previously, I wrote about my site visit to see Room to Read’s work in Cambodia here.

Later in the evening Erin Ganju, co-founder of Room to Read and future CEO, gave a presentation.

Room to Read got started because John Wood and Erin Ganju (and others) went traveling to see the world. Like countless others they were touched by what they saw. UNLIKE innumerable others, they did something in response. Now Room to Read is having a significant impact to help needy children get an education and access to books — things that really make a difference in their lives.

I hope you check them out, even if you just came here to see Miss Universe photos.

Okay, back to Miss Universe. They had an auction to raise money for Room to Read (Gucci is a big supporter apparently). First, they auctioned several Gucci bags. When I need a “bag” I usually grab either a plastic one with my local supermarket’s brand on the front, or I go “high class” and find a nice paper bag with one of them fancy department store logos on it. Anyway, I was just the photographer and not expected to fit in.

This is a men’s bag. I think they had a Seinfeld episode about mens’ bags.

Later they auctioned off a “Miss Universe makeover.” All three of the Miss Universe women were offering an intensive, full day personal lesson in how to become like Miss Universe. The bidding went to about seven thousand dollars (700,000 yen).

After the auction, they all gathered around the lucky winner, a young man and his wife (or girlfriend?). Riyo Mori turned and gave me a personal glance. Well, it looks like she did. You can almost see the lucky girl in the purple dress (who really didn’t need a makeover IMO) standing behind her.

Okay, that’s my story about the night I met Miss Universe.

Oh, I talked to her — to all of them — but that part was a disaster. I thought I should say something, but I didn’t know what. I’m really not good at meeting famous people. Once I’ve got the “famous” part stuck in my head, I have a hard remembering we’re all just folks. So I said some stupid thing, when I might have said something else, or just kept my mouth shut.

If we’d all sat down and talked for awhile (yeah, right) I would have invited each of them on one of our volunteer trips to Cambodia with Global Adventure. So in case any of you read this, please see the link and join a trip in 2009.