Provocative dessert provides Shanghai girls with surprise

A bevy of beauties competing for the title of Miss Shanghai have paid a visit to Hong Kong. The 20 young women were spotted at the weekend lunching at Italian restaurant, Gaia, in the Grand Millennium Plaza, Sheung Wan.

The top three in the contest, to be announced in November, will carry on to the Miss China competition and, perhaps, beyond to the Miss Universe competition.

Onlookers included socialite and health and beauty magnate Abbie Chan Sai-kit, of Squina Cosmetics, Michael Chin Kin-cheung, of HK Dong Hang Media, and Hu Nam, a member of the pageant selection committee.

The girls looked gorgeous, but the real centre of attention was provided by the, ahem, unusually shaped cake trotted out for dessert.

We're told that it was meant to evoke China's rocketeering triumph, but we'll leave that up to you. The girls, nonplussed, tucked in heartily.