14 December 2005 – The Philippine Embassy in Stockholm reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that, as a way of supporting a fellow Filipino, it is inviting the Filipino community and the general public to show support by casting SMS votes for 20-year old Filipina-Norwegian Ms. Kirby Ann Basken who is among the 24 hopefuls vying for the title of “Miss Norway 2006”.

“From over 1,200 aspirants in Norway, it is the pride of the Philippines to have the first half-Filipino, half-Norwegian candidate in the annual pageant, “ Ambassador Victoria S. Bataclan said.

Ms. Basken, whose mother is a Filipina, worked as a model in the Philippines for almost a year and has appeared in several television commercials.   She is currently taking a qualifying year so that  she could enter the university to pursue a Major in Psychology and Social Sciences. Her dream is to work with children and teen-agers. She has also written several articles for the website “Youth for Youth” and for the radio station P4’s Guru, and has also hosted the radio program Tinig Pinoy in Norway.

On 8 January 2006, the 24 candidates will be trimmed down to twelve finalists: eight women chosen depending on the number of SMS votes received, and four others by the jury. The pageant’s coronation night will be held on 14 January 2006, when two winners will be crowned as Miss Norway 2006: one to represent Norway in the Miss World and the other in the Miss Universe pageants.

SMS votes may be cast for Ms. Basken from 07 December 2005 until 06 January 2006 either by telephone at 0047 829 49 215 or send to F15 at 004726400.

Filipinos may view her photo at the  following weblinks:

www.frokennorge.no/semifinalister2005.php

www.frokennorge.no/semifinalister2005_grupper.php