When she was crowned Miss Universe 2007, Riyo Mori’s life underwent a big change. “I had worked so hard to become Miss Universe, and it was a dream coming true,” says Mori, who turns 22 on Christmas Eve. It has since been a whirlwind 18 months for Mori, and even though she is no longer the current Miss Universe, she keeps up a busy schedule of appearances at charity and promotional events.
“I thought life would be more relaxed but I am still busy,” says Mori who now speaks excellent English. “Last year when I won, Japan went crazy. Everywhere I went, people would recognize me and I felt like I had no life anymore. I was based in New York and visited many countries. I think I came back to Japan only three or four times.”
Born in Aoi, Shizuoka Prefecture, Mori studied jazz dancing from the age of four (her mother runs a dance school). At 16, she went to Canada where she studied at the Quinte Ballet School in Ontario. Her host mother was hearing impaired and Mori learned a little sign language and helped with deaf students sometimes. Before she was 19, she had a stint at the Radio City Rockettes Summer Intensive and was subsequently offered a place at the Broadway Dance Center in New York but had to decline after being accepted in the finals of Miss Universe Japan.
By the time she was crowned Miss Universe Japan, the confident Mori was referring to herself as a “modern-day female samurai.” She underwent further training on walking, talking and dressing under the tutelage of Miss Universe Japan director Ines Ligron before winning the crown on May 28, 2007. She recalls those heady days. “Looking back on it all, I was such a child. I can’t believe I said this or made that face.”
Mori says she matured in a hurry. “In New York, I took English lessons daily and had a tutor on how to speak to media. I got a shock one day when I was in Indonesia during my first month as Miss Universe. I was suddenly told I had to speak at a press conference. Well, I managed to talk for 10 minutes. I went through that sort of experience many times.”
Mori’s duties as Miss Universe 2007 took her all over the world, giving her the chance to meet many celebrities and world leaders. “I was most impressed by Jennifer Lopez. She was pregnant at the time and she had this aura. She is so professional.” And how about Donald Trump, who owns the Miss Universe pageant? “He was like a big daddy and very nice to me,” Mori says.
As a representative of the “new Japanese woman,” Mori had the challenge of correcting many misconceptions that people abroad have of Japanese. “There are still people who don’t know the difference between Japanese, Chinese and Koreans. I would tell them that we are all different and all special. We each have a beautiful culture. I am an ambassador for Japanese women and Japanese culture and that means more than geisha and sushi.”
Now that she is back in Japan, Mori finds herself a role model for thousands of young Japanese women. Indeed, the Miss Universe Japan competition has jumped in prestige since Kurara Chibana was named first runner-up in 2006. Mori, Chibana and this year’s Miss Universe Japan, Hiroko Mima, are inspiring a generation of young girls, with nearly 4,000 applications coming in for next year’s contest.
“Only one girl can be Miss Universe Japan, so my advice to them is: Even if you don’t win, you get so much out of it by just trying. You don’t have to be famous to make something out of your life. Young people are always looking for role models. It can be a singer or actress, but you should never forget who you are. Maybe some people think they want to be like me and that it is an honor. However, I don’t want them to forget who they are.”
Naturally, Mori receives a lot of comments on her blog. “I get many questions, usually about how to be beautiful. Younger women ask me how to be beautiful outside, what cosmetic products to use, how I do my makeup, and so on. Older women tend to ask about how I got my confidence, what mental preparation I do, that sort of thing.”
Mori says she doesn’t get recognized very often when she is out and about in Tokyo, “probably because I look very different when I have a day off. Many people think I got millions of dollars and lots of gorgeous clothes and accessories when I was Miss Universe but I don’t get to keep them. Interesting though, foreigners tend to know me more than Japanese. I was walking in Omotesando one day and a huge group from the Philippines recognized me.”
Although she is sought after to promote various cases, Mori says she wants to concentrate on raising awareness for HIV/AIDS charities. “When I was in New York, every weekend I went to a hospital for AIDS children to play with them. Traveling to many countries, I saw a lot of suffering in orphanages. It was very sad, but I was prepared mentally for that. It just reinforced my desire to do something to help. Nobody talks about this issue in Japan.”
Her other ambition is to open an international dancing school, and maybe one day become a Broadway dancer. “I still dance and I love teaching,” she says. For relaxation, Mori has started hot yoga. She also likes redecorating (“not that I get many chances to do it,” she jokes).
Mori says one of the best legacies of her reign as Miss Universe are the many friends she has made. She even had a memorable reunion with her homestay family in Ontario. “They had been so surprised when they saw that I won Miss Universe. It was a really fun time when I went back.”
© Japan Today
23 Comments
Login to comment
Jeff Huffman
She looks as hard as nails.
saitamakid
She is the best Miss Universe in recent years!!!
rjd_jr
I like that blurb about being recognized by visitors from the Phillipines. There was a rather nasty incident that happened last year when supposedly Riyo was talking smack of other contestants, particularly Miss Phillipines, as was reported on Ines' blog (her trainer). Needless to say this did not go well with many Filipino's as news spreads fast on the world wide web.
At any rate she's alright, didn't think she was a worthy successor to Kurara, but then again who is right?
thepro
Saw her on some TV program and she was even more boring than the lameo tarento
Okinawa
She is the best Miss Universe in recent years!!! then my JP girl friend could be a miss universe too....
happyface
i like kurara better. but all is well. all the best to the both of them.
saitamakid
Yes.... your girl could be Miss Universe too if she has the guts to do so. Tell me the same thing again if your "JP girlfriend" has at least (1) applied and (2) passed the first screening of Miss Universe Japan competition.
saitamakid
Riyo misquoted the delegate from the Philippines who said "Now, I'm not Asian?" when the latter complained why she was not included by a certain photographer in a photo shoot for Asian delegates. Riyo reported that to her trainor, Ines Ligron, and then the (false) news spread via Ines' blog that "Miss Philippines said she wasn't Asian"... and the rest was history!
Sarge
"Life beyond the universe"
How can life exist beyond the universe? I don't... Oh, this is about the Miss Universe 2007, Riyo Mori, who turns 22 on Christmas Eve!
"For relaxation, Mori has started hot yoga."
As opposed to cold yoga? What the heck is hot yoga?
BlackFlag
yoga in a very hot room
Sarge
BlackFlag - That makes sense. Except for doing it! Thanks.
sageb1
hot yoga is vikram yoga. you basically have yoga in a room where the thermostat is cranked up above 72 degrees Fahrenheit.
Azrael
Perhaps this was fortunate for her. I remember how Japanese Media viciously attacked her image, saying she was "mannish" and "unlike Japanese women," calling her selfish and over-confident, with strong features and a too-toned body. Pure Ijime. She looks fantastic and being confident ads more beauty rather than taking it away. I wish her good luck and yes, I wish she stays confident and makes her future wherever she wants.
timeon
"am an ambassador for Japanese women and Japanese culture and that means more than geisha and sushi.”
yep, forgot otaku, and sekuhara and chikan and AV
OssanAmerica
Thanks. All this time I thought she was Latina.
medievaltimes
Younger Japanese I talked to said she was beautiful. Older Japanese said she was too proud, too assertive, selfish and "not Japanese style".
I say good for her.
billclinton
I watched her on CNN showing the camera crew around Tokyo and her hometown. She was awesome. Real good personality.
Sarge
There's another stunning picture of Riyo in this week's Metropolis.
Bhiza
wow...samurai suck
PhillJ
It nice to see when a good looking women to win . Asian women are some of the best looking women out there. Best of luck on your time in the limelight.
Smythe
Some questioned what she would be like in this position as Miss Universe & it seems she did quite well. Even saw her on a TV station.
Glad she seemed to injoy it all & many seemed to like her.
Still there was that bit of caucasian people not able to tell who is who in the word of Asian people, but she did well in explaining it.
Jeff Huffman
PhillJ at 02:06 PM JST - 13th December
It nice to see when a good looking women to win.
As opposed to all the really ugly women who have been Miss Universe?
Zuleyka
i was just wondering why they call her selfish???anyone here knows why?? honestly,i am proud of this woman and though am not a japanese but i admire her...i also noticed that japanese lack support and they seem not proud of her success...i can't understand!she is not overconfident okay, she's just doing her part,she compose herself and say what she has to say...i like her simplicity,wit and not to mention,down to earth..and that she really deserved to win.maybe,many Japanese ignore her because she somehow break some rules as a japanese and she is a bit westernize but i guess it's good.She opened the eyes of many Japanese women who are hopeless,Those who have meaningless life,those who are damn desperate who are dying to look young in which culture dictates them to always look young and not to look like obachan!plus the "BABY TALK" that really irritates me and those who only have one goal in mind,that is to marry early in life!!!wow!Japanese style huh?good for her she's not like that after all... common people wake up!!don't hate her she is i guess a good role model!!