One Australian teenager finds out that dreams can come true. Daniel Dibley, 17, wrote to Miss Universe 2004 when he needed a partner for the school dance in the Australian country town of Bathurst, west of Sydney.

What was intended as entertainment proved to be a disaster as delegates at the Australia and New Zealand Climate Forum in Canberra walked out in disgust when a striptease, complete with corsets and balloons, emerged from the backstage to provide a lighthearted break from the long hours of discussion regarding rising temperatures. The show was cut short and organizers had to issue an apology as some scientists were offended by the act.

An American woman entered a "Miss Bikini" pageant in China as an unauthorized representative of Pakistan, a conservative Muslim country. Mariyah Moten, 22, won "Best in Media" at the pageant for being the most photographed and interviewed contestant. A government official says the Houston resident did not have permission to represent Pakistan. The country does not hold beauty contests, and many women only go out with veils covering them.

Cambodian government might have allowed the native damsels to compete for their beauty at Miss Cambodia Contest, provided that wear proper attire. The government has banned the beauties to wear swimming suits during the contest to "preserve Cambodian culture. " The country, which is holding its first Miss Cambodia competition after more than a decade, has ruled out skimpy attire in contests, organizers said Friday.

On Tuesday, a lawyer for an Islamic militant group stated that they filed a police report against Indonesia's Miss Universe contestant accusing her of indecency. Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) attorney Sugito told Reuters, "Nadine Chandrawinata's participation in the contest and display of her body in a swimsuit there is actually insulting for Indonesian dignity and women. "