| On May 1, 1999, Miss Hawaiian Tropic International was crowned in Las Vegas. The pageant, founded to promote the world-famous line of suncare products, has become an event known far from Hawaii, well beyond the tropics. It has become world-famous in its own right, driven by the dreams of its extraordinary founder, Ron Rice. Charlotte Arlt was crowned Miss Hawaiian Tropic International on the first weekend of May 1999. She was representing Houston. The first runner-up was Karin Laasmae, representing Estonia, and the second runner-up was Enith Hernandez, representing Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The third runner-up was Loira Acosta, representing Puerto Rico, and the fourth runner-up was Sook Hyun Won, representing Pusan, South Korea. Tenniel Gacayan, representing the Big Island, Hawaii, was Miss Photogenic, and Suany Frontan, representing Barahona, Dominican Republic, was Miss Congeniality. PNB is grateful, once again, for the hospitality of the Hawaiian Tropic organization. It is, to use an ancient phrase, as warm as the sun. |
