The newly crowned Miss Universe China, Zilin Luo, and first runner up Zihan Li, arrived in New York City July 22, 2011, with their chaperons and media icon Yue-Sai KAN, to begin a month of training.

Zilin Luo and Zihan Li receive training by super model Lu Sierra. [China.org.cn]

The hectic training schedule includes week long immersion English language training provided by English First, the World's largest English language training school, which is the official English Language Training School of the 2011 Miss Universe China Pageant. They also attend daily jazz dancing classes, cat walk training from famous model Lu Sierra, photo sessions with fashion photographers Fadil Berisha and Ronald James.

They will pay a visit to museums and broadway, and New York Film Academy who offers scholarships to the top 4 winners. Zilin's wardrobe will also be prepared in NY, while her national costumes is being prepared by the great Chinese Designer Guo Pei in Beijing.

When asked why two candidates are here for training, Miss Kan, the Miss Universe National Director, says, "If Zilin becomes Miss Universe, she will be working with the Miss Universe organization for one year and I will lose her. The first runner up will be Miss China. For any reason Zilin cannot fulfull her job as Miss China, the First Runner Up will. So both of these girls are very important."

When asked why New York City was picked to be the place for training, Miss Kan said" Undoubtedly NYC is the most sophisticated city in the world. Here the Chinese candidates can be exposed to the best of everything: the arts, music, dance, theatre! It will give them a very rounded view of the world. Also I live in NYC besides Shanghai!"

During the visit both Zilin Luo and Zihan Li will meet a variety of celebrities, fashion designers and attend numerous social events. The purpose of the visit is to provide a well-rounded worldly background to help Miss Universe China better compete at the Miss Universe Pageant on September 12, 2011. Luo will leave for Brazil on August 20.

Missosology, a website which follows pageants around the world and regularly makes predictions of winners, has put Miss China as the top contender for this year's Miss Universe title to be held in Sao Paolo, Brazil. This is the first time China has ever been a contender in the 60 years of history of Miss Universe.