A DECADE OF LONG GOWNS IN MISS UNIVERSE

By Lavinia Otilla

Spanning 11 years of Miss Universe from 2001 to 2011, we note that 5 winners picked white as their gown while 2 had red, 2 brown, 1 black and 1 in canary yellow.

What is in white that most candidates paraded and sashayed in this color? Most designers use white because it is a neutral color. They can embellish the white cloth with beads, sequences with other colors and thus would create a gown that would be attractive to others. It holds the potential to move toward every other color and because of this; it becomes the center of other colors on stage.


In 2001, Denise Quinones used a white gown in halter style with a skirt that had a slit superimposed at the side but when she walks it opens in the middle for better movement.  She looked ravishing and elegant in this gown. In 2002, Oxana Fedorova was everyone’s choice. She mesmerized everyone with her gown which by anyone’s standard looks like a curtain. But she had it all. She owned the gown. And she was exceptionally resplendent. As one puts Oxana’s performance in the evening gown, “It is not having the best gown nor having the best walk and elegance. It is a Goddess that came out and mesmerized everyone.” 

Miss Universe 2001, Denise Quinoes of Puerto Rico

Dethroned Miss Universe 2002, Oxana Fedorova of Russia

In 2003, Amelia  Vega sashayed on stage using a white gown with chains on the sleeves of the dress. Her haughty demeanor was all over and it made her the girl to beat as she did the ramp with equal poise and confidence. Such stage presence is overpowering that during the preliminaries she is already a force to reckon with. She however counteracted that fiery countenance by a sweet smile that showed her having fun with the competition.

Miss Universe 2003 Amelia Vega of the Dominican Republic

The year 2004 showed how an elegant lady delivered a beautiful performance onstage during the evening gown competition. Jennifer Hawkins wore a fantastic Bora vintage copper gown, and the effect is sensational. The pattern of the fabric is very intricate and the cut is very risque, as the slit is almost placed in the center of the skirt and the neckline plunges all the way down to her navel. She's so overwhelmingly stunning that the acrobat immediately does a spread eagle.

Miss Universe 2004 Jennifer Hawkins of Australia

Natalie Glebova in 2005 glided in her evening gown in front of the Thai audience. She is wearing a white evening gown with a very sexy design. It was a bustier with a slit on the dress that was very high and it allowed her fluidity in movement. The gown fit like no other and she knew how to work it and she owned it.

Miss Universe 2005 Natalie Glebova of Canada

One of the gowns that bedazzled everyone is that of Zuleyka Rivera’s gown in 2006. Someone called it the gown of all gowns. It borders from being a costumey to being glamorous. During the preliminary competition, Zuleyka used a gown in which the bodice was made of chains and the bottom portion made up of satin. But come finals night, the entire gown was made up of chains. Like it or not, it was a work of art that Zuleyka managed to pull it off as an evening gown. After a very lustrous presentation and being crowned Miss Universe Zuleyka, collapsed literally because of the weight of the gown.

Miss Universe 2006 Zuleyka Rivera of Puerto Rico

In 2007, Riyo Mori paraded in a Gucci gown which was really a radical departure from the usual gowns shown during Miss Universe’ competition. It is a kimono-inspired gown which forms part of the Spring/Summer collection of Gucci that year. Riyo’s probable intention is to test the waters of how gowns of these caliber can be accepted in competitions like Miss Universe. Although Riyo was just adequate in her presentation and she did not top the segment, she placed 4th and that was indeed a statement to make.

Miss Universe 2007 Riyo Mori of Japan

No one can forget Dayana Mendoza in 2008 with the yellow gown that really flattered her  physique. The gown was really complemented the bubbly personality of Dayana. The gown was perfect fit and she had a flawless spin on the dress. She was great.

Miss Universe 2008 Dayana Mendoza of Venezuela

Stefania Fernandez, Miss Universe 2009 was in red. It was a bouffant gown with all the feather contraptions at the skirt. When Stefania made the twirl, everyone was mesmerized by it. It was simply red that signified joy and celebration. She was big delight to watch as she is the girl that personified elegance.

Miss Universe 2009 Stefania Fernandez of Venezuela

Ximena Navarette is a representation of confidence in her red gown. Miss Universe 2010 opted to have red gown during her competition. Some pageant enthusiasts say that she presented herself in a bit dull and uninspired mode, I say it is not. Ximena is full of grace and demeanor. She was near perfect in her glides and she was simply rapturous in the red gown. Ximena practically radiated in her gown and she spells confidence.

Miss Universe 2010 Ximena Navarette of Mexico

In the recent Miss Universe outing last year, Leila Lopes emerged as the favorite of the audience for the Best in Gown among the finalists. What made this girl topped the list when she almost tripped in long gown? Leila personified a very sweet demeanor. She used a white gown with feathery frills and a long slit at the side for better mobility. Her sweet demeanor spelled the difference for her.

Miss Universe 2011 Leila Lopes of Angola

There you go.I just included Leila’s gown in the review but it should be the start of the next decade. Since the gown is already part of Miss Universe history, I aptly had its inclusion.

TIMELESS SWIMWEARS

By Lavinia Otilla

The bikini came to be a wardrobe necessity for women in 1946. It was invented by French engineer Louis Reard and was named as such in reference to the explosive effect of the atomic bomb testing in Bikini Atoll in the Marshalls.. It has come to symbolize sexual revolution in the 1960’s and thus has become part of competitions in beauty pageants. This article reviews the swimsuits used in the Miss Universe Beauty pageant from 2001 till 2011.

Miss Universe 2001, Denise Quinones of Puerto Rico
and Miss Universe 2002 (dethroned), Oxana Fedorova of Russia

Miss Universe 2003, Amelia Vega of the Dominican Republic
and Miss Universe 2004, Jennifer Hawkins of Australia

Miss Universe 2005, Natalie Glebova of Canada

From 2001 to 2005, the candidates wore a bikini ensemble, 2 red in color, 2 white in color and 1 in aqua marine base color with floweret design. From the way it looked, the bra portion of the ensemble had an underwire. Some call this a push up bra. These types of bras are very helpful most especially to breasts that tend to sag. The underwire allows the breast to have a rounder look. Even small breasts achieve beneficial looks with this type of bra because it does not only allow a rounder look for the breasts but also it creates a deceiving effect to someone looking at the person wearing it. It makes the breasts larger that it measures. Note the bottoms. They are no frills bottoms and it provides great coverage and it stays put in the hips. The bottoms are cut like the tanga exposing the thighs to show seemingly long legs among the contestants. From 2001 to 2004, I noted that the bottoms are just garterized at the waist area. On the other hand, it seemed that in 2005, the bottom showed that there are ties to hold it firm. On 2004, note that the bra area does not only have an underwire but also an overwire.  An overwire Is used to achieve a much rounder forms for the breasts while covering an ample amount of it.

Miss Universe 2006, Zuleyka Rivera of Puerto Rico
and Miss Universe 2007, Riyo Mori of Japan

Miss Universe 2008, Dayana Mendoza of Venezuela
and Miss Universe 2009, Stefania Fernandez of Venezuela

Miss Universe 2010, Ximena Navarrete of Mexico

Years 2006 to 2010 showed a new wave of swimsuits in Miss Universe. Together with the new swimsuits, the candidates showed gutsy attitude in the ramp.  In this series, 2006 showed brown designed prints, with 2007 showing white and dark brown prints assuming some kind of animal prints. In 2008, yellow was the color of the swimsuit while in 2009, floral prints came back and in 2010, it was a purple colored bikini ensemble with some glittery accessories. In 2006, the swimsuit showed a soft textile that hugged the breast of the candidate. The bottom needed to have ties to keep it from falling. In 2007, the bikini seemed to be skimpier as well as in 2009. The swim wears in 2008 were more like those seen in sports competition. In 2010, we see a spandex type of swimwear.

Miss Universe 2011, Leila Lopes
of Angola

What about 2011? In 2011, the swimwear seemed to have a tribal design. The bikini was so skimpy that it seemed like the bottom is just there to cover the necessary parts. It needed some revisions when most of the candidates complained. The revisions were not enough hence; they needed to put a removable skirt to protect the girls from obnoxious eyes.

It is such a wonder to review previous winners in their swimsuits.   It   is   also  a  revelation   to  note    that   the winning candidates showed great form and countenance during the swimsuit round. While the first part of the 2000’s showed girls to be more docile in the way they traversed the runway, some girls just really outshone the others such as in the case of Oxana Fedorova and Jennifer Hawkins. On other hand, the next half of the decade showed the girls to be in competitive spirits starting from Zuleyka Rivera, followed by Riyo Mori and Dayana Mendoza. During the 2009 and 2010, we saw the muted presentation of Stefania Fernandez and Ximena Navarette. Some pundits say it was such a boring presentation in the swimsuit segment but they did win. It was a muted demeanor but carried with so much class.

What would the next decade be? Would the performance of Leila Lopes be an indication of what is yet to come?