East West - The Asian American Lifestyle Magazine

By Kirthana Ramisetti 

“I don’t think of myself as a beauty queen,” Riyo Mori says as she kicks up her feet in the air, smiling charmingly while her hair is styled for the East West photo shoot. Over the past few months, the former dance student has attended star-studded events, auditioned for a hit primetime series and is set to star in a reality show. Yet, she still has an air of wonder about the myriad of ways in which her life has been transformed since winning the Miss Universe 2007 crown.

Her joy and gratitude for all she has experienced so far has not been dampened by a busy schedule of appearances and interviews. Mori even manages to look surprisingly fresh and lovely after hiking up five flights of stairs to the New York City photography studio on one of the hottest days of the summer. Kah Leong Poon, the photographer, notes that he could take her pictures as is—wearing a simple white T-shirt, jeans and stylish wedge heels that add an extra few inches to her 5 foot 8 inch frame. Mori may not consider herself a beauty queen, but she looks every bit the part.

Growing up in Shizuoka, Japan, the rising star says she never dreamed that she would one day be crowned the winner of an international beauty pageant—but her grandmother did. In fact, she told Mori that she wanted her to become Miss Japan before the age of 20. 

“My grandmother encouraged me to apply for the Miss Japan contest,” Mori says. “She said I should try to make good memories.” Mori adds that she would have never thought to enter the pageant herself. Even when she arrived at the competition, she says, she still felt out of place. “When I entered Miss Japan last year, I felt, wow, those girls are so beautiful—I could never be one of them.”

Devoted to dance, her “love and passion,” from an early age, Mori was a fixture at her mother’s ballroom dance studio as early as age 4. But once she became a teenager, Mori was ready to leave home, eager to seek new experiences. “I was 16 when I moved because I wanted to learn dance outside of my mom’s studio. It was a safe place where I knew the people, and I wanted to challenge myself in a different environment.” She studied abroad in Ontario, Canada, and was enrolled in ballet school and high school simultaneously. Three years later, it was time to make the move to New York City, where she continued to pursue dance and quickly became enamored with the idea of joining the Radio City Rockettes.

“That was my big goal. I was reading a dance magazine at my ballet school two years ago, and I was trying to think of my future, because I’m too tall to be a ballerina. When I was on point shoes, I would be too tall to have any partner to dance with. And I found this article about the Rockettes, and I thought they are so glamorous and have beautiful costumes. I thought it was perfect for me because I have the kick!” she demonstrates by half-raising her leg with a laugh.

Mori had just achieved her New York ambitions—finding an apartment and receiving acceptance to the Broadway Dance Center—when she learned she had made it into the Miss Universe Japan finals, which she had auditioned for during summer vacation. Without hesitation, she returned to Japan to participate in the pageant. She won the title in March and her now whirlwind life was set in motion.

Mori then traveled to Mexico City in May for the Miss Universe pageant, one of 77 representatives from around the world. During the event, she received the highest score in the swimsuit category and won fourth place in the evening gown competition even though her dress, a kimono-inspired gown with flowing black fabric and floral design from Gucci’s spring/summer line, was a last-minute choice. Mori says she ultimately picked the dress for its comfort and because she felt she looked like a “black butterfly.” And when she won and took her first walk as the newly crowned Miss Universe, her choice of dress—eschewing traditional slinky gowns for a long-sleeved garment with ethnic flair—was refreshing for what it communicated about Mori and her affinity for her country.

She is the first woman from Japan to hold the crown in 48 years and only the second Miss Universe ever from the country. Despite the historic nature of her win, Mori’s memories of the night are a blur, especially when her name was announced as the winner. “To be honest, I don’t remember because I was so excited, so shocked. A few seconds later I think I realized what had happened, and I was so happy. Not only for me, but for my parents because we went through so much together. They were worried about me being in a beauty pageant because I quit my school in New York and everything to be there.”

One memory that does stand out from her crowning night: seeing her grandmother in the audience after Mori had fulfilled her wish. She had been crowned not only Miss Japan like her grandmother had hoped, but also Miss Universe, and she had done it all before her 21st birthday.

The crown has already afforded Mori two opportunities in a medium that is completely new to her: television. She received the chance to audition for a role in “Heroes,” as Masi Oka’s character’s love interest, an experience she describes as “kind of embarrassing, but challenging and fun because I have never acted before.” Acting, however, isn’t a factor on another TV show in which Mori will definitely be starring. Donald Trump and MTV have come together to produce a reality show, currently titled “Pageant Place,” about the three title winners in Trump-sponsored pageants living together in New York City during their respective reigns. Mori currently lives with Miss USA Rachel Smith and Miss Teen USA Katie Blair, and enjoys living with them, referring to her roommates as being like sisters. As for the show itself, which is expected to hit televisions by the end of the year, the concept of a reality show seems to hold both excitement and befuddlement. “I’ve never done it before, so I don’t know what to do.” She pauses, and then asks, “Kinda scary, because the cameras are always with us, right?”

Eager to try new things and open to every opportunity, Mori recognizes that life is now beaming toward a new direction. “If I was just a student in Japan, I’d just meet students and teachers. I’d never get to meet you guys!” she says as she raises her arms to indicate the various people in the room. She says encountering so many different people, from movie stars to hairstylists, is her favorite aspect of being Miss Universe.

She also embraces the fact that winning the title makes her a role model, especially to young girls from her native country. Mori has been blogging about her experience ever since making the finals of Miss Japan last year, and she will continue to blog during her reign as Miss Universe. “I want to let my fans know what I’m doing, because they don’t actually know what Miss Universe does.” (Read Mori’s blog at http://myblog.ask.jp/muj_riyo_mori/). 

As for life after the Miss Universe ride ends, Mori already has some ideas, and says her goal is to open her own international dance studio in Tokyo and eventually get married and start a family.

“My mother raised me and my brother and also had a successful dance studio,” adds Mori, saying her mother is her inspiration. “She had to take care of her parents and she still raised us and had her school. And she never complained—she was always happy.” Mori hopes to influence other young women in the same way her mother has influenced her. “My mother taught me that women can have it all. You don’t have to choose between having a family or career. You can do both.”

For now, however, Mori looks forward to wherever life as Miss Universe takes her next, and she takes comfort in knowing that one thing will always remain constant. “I always have been myself—what you see is what you get.”