POLITICAL MILIEU AND LANGUAGE (Series 1 of 4)
By Rolando Rafael
I happened to watch
Miss Universe 1993 which was done in Mexico City and Dayanara Torres won the
crown in glittering fashion. But I was stricken with the realization that her
runner-ups were the same as the runner-ups of Miss India Sushmita Sen when she
won the 1994 Miss Universe Title in Manila. I was further stunned to realize
that way back in 1992, Colombia failed to make it as Miss Universe with the
three-year first runner-up finish (1992, 1993,1994). So I started to make a
review of this three remarkable editions of the pageant and there are lessons
in history that I have learned.
Let us try to have a
rundown in this historical part of Miss Universe with 1992 as our first focus.
1.
2. There is
transparency in the choices except in the Final three. The scores of the
contestants are flashed onscreen and we can follow how the candidates are
faring. I prefer this kind of selection as everyone is guided among the judges’
choices. The audience also has an inkling who is going to be the eventual
winner.
3. Way back in
those days, there would be 10 semifinalists called who would compete in the
swimsuit, casual interview and evening gown. A Top 6 is called and they are
again interviewed to choose the Top 3. The Top 3 again answers one question
that will determine their final ranks. Note that in these celebrated years, it
would seem that the stress of the pageant is beauty and wit.
4. Note that in 1992,
prior to the Top 6, it was Miss Venezuela who was leading among the candidates.
When the question and answer was asked of the Top 6, (Netherlands, Belgium,
India, Venezuela, Namibia and Colombia), Miss Venezuela fumbled and her chance
to be in the Top 3 disappeared. Miss India, Namibia and Colombia entered the Top
3 and Namibia went on to win the contest with her answer on the final question
of “If you would become a leader of your
country tomorrow, what would be the first thing that you would do?”
 |
| Michelle Mclean of Namibia, Miss Universe 1992 |
Miss
Namibia answered: “I would speak to the children. Let them know that I’m there
for them because they the foundation of our every nation and I would let them
know that I am there for them.”
 |
| Paola Turbay Gomez, Miss Colombia, First runner-up Miss Universe 1992 |
Miss
Colombia countered: “I guess I would orient my people to a peaceful way and
show them the right way to walk to a life of happiness that is a life of peace.”
 |
| Mahdu Sapre, Miss India, Second Runner-up Miss Universe 1992 |
Miss
India gave a personal answer: “I think the first thing I’ll do is, I’ll open up
a big, biggest, uh, I can say, sports track and field ground in India because I
think we are lacking that and that’s the first thing I’ll do. "
Let
us underscore some important things in their answers.
Miss
Namibia, Michelle Mclean went on to win the contest with the motherhood answer
of the children being the future. Miss Namibia answered about children because
it was at this time in world history that a lot of children are suffering from
hunger and malnutrition. Her emphasis therefore is to care for the children
because they will lead the world in the future. Miss Namibia’s answer is
grounded in global reality.
Miss
Colombia, Paola Turbay Gomez was relegated to first runner-up but her answer is
also hinged in global aspirations for peace. Miss Colombia answered in this way
because she is highlighting the need for peace in her country and all over the
world. Colombia at that time was battling two insurgencies against Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN) and the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC). She is trying to say that she is going to
extend the hand of peace since a peaceful coexistence is the way to a good
life. But Miss Colombia’s aim is gargantuan hence; this is the probable reason
for her first runner-up finish.
Miss India, Mahdu Sapre became second
runner-up. Many thought she would be the Miss Universe after giving a very good
answer in the Top 6 portion only to stumble in the final stretch. She would
later say in an interview that answered that way because: “All the officials
had told us that our answers had to be truthful and coming from the heart.
Nobody told us we had to be politically correct. I said what my heart told me
and I lost. According to me, India has been in poverty for many years, so it
was not going to suddenly change in one year by my becoming prime minister. But
there are other areas like arts and sports in which we can improve. And being a
sportswoman, I had suffered because we don’t have the equipment and the grounds
in India. In the brief time you get to answer, I wanted to say all this but
perhaps because of my inadequacy in English; I could not express myself well.”
Miss Universe is also a
lesson in world history. We could see these young women expound their thoughts
about the future, about peace and about the specific prime needs of their
country. These women are being seen as future leaders and they are asked about
their grasp in their country’s realities and affairs. But I was taken aback
with the explanation of Miss India. It rang a lot of bells in today’s world.
Twenty years ago, language is a deterrent to communication and expressing one’s
self. But in today’s global world and understanding, Miss Philippines Janine
Tugonon’s answer says that language is not a deterrent to become Miss Universe.
The explanation of Miss
India for not expounding her answer because of her limitation in the English
language reverberates through the years. After 2 decades, India has become a
country of English speakers. It is in the forefront of the call industry
because of the facility of its people in the English language. The country has
become very competitive because of this. Mahdu clearly underscored this. In the
next year, we still saw this in Miss India who stumbled again in the question
and answer portion. However, it was a big difference with Sushmita Sen and Lara
Dutta. They have truly showcased what Mahdu was trying to express in India’s
search for its Miss Universe.
Contrast it with the
Philippines. The Philippines has embraced the globalization and thus, no matter
what language you spoke as long as you are able to shine in your field and are
able to reach out to everyone, then you are in good stead. The country has practically embraced all nations and convince them to visit the country through tourism and investments.
Although I laud Miss
Philippines’ answer to the question as she stood up for all the other girls
that had difficulty in espousing their thoughts in the English language like
Miss Venezuela, I am of the opinion that all candidates to the Miss Universe
should learn conversational English. For one, the pageant is an American owned
pageant. The winner will stay in New York for one year to promote the diverse
programs of the organization and thus, she would be at a great disadvantage in
an environment where there is a predominance of English speakers. It would be
very difficult for her then to just learn the language during her term as she
might find out, her term would have lapsed once she becomes well-verse with the
language.
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