Ines Ligron was not pleased with The Japan Times. In particular, she was unhappy with an editorial suggesting that the winners of the Miss Universe contest are "celebrities of the fluffier variety."

Ligron's job is to organize and promote the Miss Universe Japan contest. She tries hard to convince people that it is more than a parade of bimbos hankering after a year's worth of freebies. She tries hard to assure people that Miss Universe Japan and the eventual Miss Universe herself are women of substance and not just pretty faces attached to nice bodies and the various trinkets that come with winning.

As evidence, she produced before me a case-winning trump card: Lara Dutta, Miss Universe 2000.