LUPITA JONES: Secrets to Her Universe

Until we discover life on other planets, producers of the Miss Universe pageant stand by their assertion that their annual winner is the tops in the cosmos--for at least the year she wears the crown. In 1991, Mexico’s Lupita Jones, 24, carried the weight of both title and tiara, conducting her Universal duties from a temporary home base in Los Angeles.

But everything must end, and it’s time for Jones to pass the torch to another candidate (perhaps even Miss USA 1992 Shannon Marketic of Malibu). Jones’ last major assignment is to be on hand at the 41st annual shindig in Bangkok, Thailand, to crown her successor. She’ll also provide a TV tour of Bangkok throughout the show--a job that she says will be a whole lot easier than parading in a bathing suit in front of millions.

Jones shared some secrets of the Universe with Times Staff Writer Lauren Lipton.

So how much does that crown weigh?

After 20 minutes on your head it weighs too much! It’s hard to wear sometimes; it makes a dent in your head. The stones are rhinestones--imagine if it was real how many guards I would need. We get to keep the crowns, so someday my little girls can play with it.

By the way, I use the crown only with formal outfits, formal gowns, not for regular appearances.

What were some of your duties this year as Miss Universe?

It’s great being a celebrity. You can use it for good things. I worked with charity groups, most of them for children. This year I worked for the Starlight Foundation (a nonprofit organization that grants wishes to terminally ill children). Sometimes it’s hard to be in hospitals for children with cancer, but it makes you feel more human, makes you feel complete.

I also went to some schools in L.A., talked with teen-agers about staying in school, a lot of things like that. You go and visit other countries, visit very important people, and try to give a message of peace and friendship. I just came back from Colombia, and now I’m packing for Bangkok and getting ready to go back to Mexicali. You can imagine what my apartment looks like.

Why did you decide to enter the pageant?

Curiosity, I guess. I started in the state pageant, Miss Baja California, in June ‘90, then I won the Miss Baja and went to Miss Mexico in September ‘91, and then Miss Universe. I said, “Well, I finished my school. I have my degree (from Centro de Ensenanza Tecnica y Superior in business administration). I finished the most important thing for me. Let’s try to do this thing, I said, to live the experience.” It wasn’t an obsession to win the crown, it was just to prove to myself that I could do something different.

What was the most nervous moment you had during the pageant?

When you’re in a bathing suit, that’s the worst part. You’re shaking, and it’s just terrible, worse than the question part. It’s like, relax, have a deep breath and try to be calm.

For the Miss Baja pageant I was more nervous, but in Miss Universe I was concentrating and I prepared myself a lot before. When I was there it was easy. Rehearsals help a lot. It’s just kind of a mental thing. You say to yourself, “You don’t want to look ridiculous!”

When you appeared on the cover of Spanish Cosmopolitan, the caption said you had “sacrificed love for the crown.” Is that true?

No, no. I never said that. They use those phrases to sell more magazines! I’m getting married in October, but the truth is, I don’t want to say which date. (My fiance) is Mexican, a young businessman in Mexico City. We began seeing each other right before I became Miss Mexico and got engaged last August.

We had to wait to get married, because Miss Universe isn’t allowed to be married. That was the only thing. It would be a hard year to be married--nobody would be happy with their wife being away all the time. We feel very proud we could make it.

What is the first thing you’re going to do when you’re not Miss Universe anymore?

I’m going back to Mexico, back with my parents. I would like to rest--I don’t have too much time to rest--and just enjoy my family. I’d like to do normal things, go to the movies, drive my car--things like that.

I’ve had some good proposals about business. My dream is to have a health resort, and we have been talking with some people to do that. I have some other proposals for beauty products, to be kind of a spokesperson for those.

Do you have a beauty secret?

Exercise and eat healthy. We all know what’s right to do, I think, but sometimes we are lazy. It’s really no secret.

Any tips for the women competing in the pageant?

There is not a secret recipe to win the title. I think what they should do is just enjoy what they are doing and not think this crown is the end of their goals. There are a lot of things to do after this. Some girls are so obsessed with the crown they just suffer all the time.

Are you going to be sad when it’s over?

I will miss this active life and the traveling and all that, but I am ready to give it up. I am proud of myself and happy with what I did; it’s time to start something new.

“The 1992 Miss Universe Pageant” airs Friday at 9 p.m. on CBS.