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.

COVER STORY: EVA EKVALL

BEAUTY AND BEYOND
By Raphael Porciuncula

"One thing about my past . . . Well, definitely, I would not choose anything at all because I'm very happy the way I have lived my life up to now.  And because the person that I am now is what the past has done to me.  So, I would be completely different and I wouldn't be proud of who I am." - Eva Ekvall

The answer “I joined this pageant because I want to become a role model for everyone” has become a cliché but in truth, it strikes a blow of reality. Every pageant candidate has a story to tell. And every winner stands out and becomes the paragon of every budding young girl aspiring to be one.

This is the story of Eva Ekvall who at first showed hesitance in joining the Miss Venezuela 2000 pageant. She has felt that she was not meant for it although she has the height; she was a chubby girl at that time. But convinced further, Eva trained and worked hard on her physique until she achieved every Venezuelan girls’ dream, to become Miss Venezuela-Universe 2000.

Left: Eva representing the state of Apure. Right: Eva as Miss Venezuela Universe 2000.

Eva was an epitome of grace and beauty. Although she just clinched 3rd runner-up in the Miss Universe 2001 pageant where Denise Quinones was crowned, she was in everyone’s list. She performed so well. She was great. She has the body.   She  certainly  knows  how  to  navigate  the  stairs. She was a queen in her own right that night despite not getting the crown.

Top: Eva at the rightmost during the announcement of the Top 10 semi-finalists at Miss Universe 2001 pageant. Bottom: Eva at the 2nd from left during the swimsuit competition.

Top: Eva during the swimsuit and long gown competition at Miss Universe 2001 pageant. Bottom: Eva as one of the Top 5 finalists and eventually placed 3rd runner-up.

She later on became a newscaster and met her husband. She got married and had a child. After childbirth, she had her breast lumped examined and removed and it turned out to be breast cancer in the advance stage. She would later on undergo treatment and for two years she battled the big C and eventually succumbed at an early age of 28.

Eva became a role model of a lot of young women when she came out of a book showing her in her most unglamorous self. The book is entitled “Fuera de Foco” and it means “Out of Focus. It is a collection of pictures of Eva during her treatment. It is entitled as such because it is a very great departure from the life of glamour and glitz that Eva used to have. During her ordeal with cancer, she realized that Venezuela being a country that is so attached with the beauty culture should wake up to the reality that the body that is beautified can get sick too. And that the breast being a body  part  that  becomes  part  of  beauty  can  become ugly too because of cancer. As such when the book came out, galvanized a lot of concerns and it had increased awareness among the Venezuelan populace for breast cancer screening. (Please see related article about breast cancer screening)

Even when her death was known to the world, there is a continuous outpouring of grief and sympathy to this woman. From news magazines, blogs, TV news, forums, Facebook pages and the like, many extolled her bravery and courage to face the dreaded C. She did not sulk. She did put down her guards. She staunchly came out so that the public may know more of the disease and its consequences – that this disease does not select anyone; everyone is at risk.

I am reminded by the answer of Eva Ekvall in the finals of the Miss Universe 2001 Beauty Pageant when asked of the question: “If you have to change one thing about your past, what would it be?” And she answered:” Well, definitely, I would not choose anything at all because I’m very happy the way I have lived my life up to now. And because the person that I am now is what the past has done to me. So I would be completely different and I wouldn’t be proud of who I am.” Would she answer differently if she survived breast cancer and she would be asked again this question? I believe not so because, Eva as beauty queen lived up to being a role model. And even in her ordeal during her disease, she had lived up fully to the title. What more if she survived the disease?  She  will  forever be that beauty  that lived her life and took the lead against this dreaded disease.