CINDY QUITS BEAUTY, BIKINI CONTESTS

Manila, March 4, 2003 -- Cindy Kurleto has backed out of both the Bb. Pilipinas beauty contest and the Bikini Heaven international bikini competition sponsored by FHM magazine going on in Miami.

Here's the official statement from FHM magazine (Philippines) editor Eric Ramos:

Ms. Kurleto regretfully withdrew from the competition a week before she was set to leave for Miami, Florida, to join 14 other candidates fielded by the various international editions of FHM.

The 22-year-old Filipino-Austrian told FHM her father had barred her from traveling to the United States and spending two weeks there unchaperoned amid reports of an impending war between the US and Iraq.

Her withdrawal left FHM Philippines without a candidate. It's very unfortunate that the Philippines, which has the fifth largest FHM edition in the world, will not be represented in Bikini Heaven. But we understand Cindy Kurleto's predicament and wish her luck in her career.

Ms. Kurleto was, in fact, already the second model chosen to represent FHM Philippines. The first, Avi Siwa, could not compete for failure to obtain a US visa.

Ms. Kurleto had just withdrawn from the screening for the Bb. Pilipinas beauty pageant when she accepted the invitation to represent the Philippines in Bikini Heaven.

Bikini Heaven candidates are currently in Miami filming the event which will be shown on international television in April. It will be hosted by Carmen Electra and will feature performances by Shaggy and Holly Valance.

Candidates need not only look good in a bikini but must also possess vibrant personalities and speak English with the wit and verve of MTV veejays. The winner will get 10,000 pounds sterling and the chance to become an international celebrity.

Part of the judging will involve voting through the Internet by readers of FHM worldwide. The editions represented are the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, France, Germany, Russia, Hungary, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, Singapore, Romania, Ukraine and Taiwan.

The March 2003 issue of FHM Philippines features Andrea del Rosario on the cover. Published by Summit Media, FHM is the biggest-selling glossy magazine in the country.