Wearing gold-embroidered silk outfits, faces thick with makeup, a line-up of seven Laotian beauty queens greet a sea of cheering supporters at the annual new year beauty contest in Luang Prabang.
But this is no regular pageant: the contestants are stand-ins for the seven blessed daughters of Laos' legendary heavenly King Kabinlaphom competing for top honours at the country's most famous beauty contest.
"Everyone wants to be Miss Laos New Year," said spectator Kini, who was cheering on her sister, Mila Douangmixay. Читать дальше...