Following a February announcement that HARMAN will sponsor the 2011 Miss Universe China pageant, the company helped to officially kick off the festivities in recent weeks.  HARMAN officials joined a launch press conference in Beijing and greeted contestants in the pageant’s first preliminary competition in Changsha, Hunan Province (right).

“We are delighted to help showcase the beauty and talents of the Miss Universe China participants,” said Dinesh C. Paliwal, HARMAN Chairman, President and CEO who will meet with pageant organizers in Shanghai during April.  “Our audio systems support world-class performances across the globe, and it is fitting that we contribute to this landmark event in one of our largest target markets.  We wish this year’s contestants every success, and look forward to joining them as the world celebrates a new Miss Universe crowning later this year in Sao Paulo, Brazil.”

As Platinum Sponsor of the Miss Universe China activities, HARMAN will be prominently featured in the pageant’s communication, multimedia and display materials, including broadcast advertising during the pageant’s final telecast from Shanghai.   In addition, HARMAN premium audio products will be presented to all contest participants (left), with special gifts provided to the finalists in several pageant categories.

The Miss Universe China Pageant will be produced by YSK Productions led by Yue Sai Kan. The well-known Ms. Kan is an Emmy award winning producer of films and TV shows, philanthropist, entrepreneur and a leading voice in fashion and show business.  Ms. Kan is also a humanitarian and patron of the arts, supporting such initiatives as UNICEF, the Soong Ching Ling Foundation, Orbis, and Meals on Wheels.  The Chinese-American Ms. Kai has produced several poular documentaries for US television, and serves as a chairperson for the  Shanghaii International Film Festival.

The Miss Universe China Organization was established in 2001, with contestants selected from each administrative division of China and the national capital, for a total of 34 delegates.  The first Miss Universe China titleholder, Zhuo Ling, was selected in Guangdong Province in March, 2002. She represented her country in that year’s global pageant, where she placed second runner-up.  The nation's most recent Miss Universe finalist, Wen Tang (right) was crowned in 2010.

The Miss Universe China 2011 finals will be telecast from Shanghai on July 8 and 10, with the winner moving on to the international pageant in Sao Paulo, Brazil.  The Miss Universe Pageant is among the most publicized events in the world, with an estimated 1 billion viewers worldwide following the selection process.  This year’s global Miss Universe competition will be broadcast live by NBC Television from Sao Paulo, Brazil on September 12, 2011.

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