ARE QUESTION AND ANSWER PORTIONS OF BEAUTY PAGEANTS STILL RELEVANT?

 -What could have happened?

by Alejandro Bustillos

In my growing up years, I have already acquired a penchant for beauty pageants. Of course if it is any indication that I would grow up a gay later on who would follow the ways of beauty queens. In those days, we were always told that when the candidates reach the Top 5 or Top 3, the candidates are already equal in their chances of winning the Top plum. What would separate them from one another is their answer to the final question. I would always hear my teachers telling me, it is one way of separating the chaff from the grains. Well, the proverbial chaff from the grains talks! What does that mean? In the context of the beauty pageant, it means selecting the best among the beauties – the beauty with the wit and intelligence.

Honestly, watching this years’ series of international pageants, not one of these pageants adhered to the dictum of “separating the chaff from the grains!” In the Miss World 2012 Beauty Pageant, uproar occurred because of Miss China being selected as the winner. Then a more thunderous uproar happened at the Miss International Beauty Pageant when the Japanese selected their own representative to win over the other candidates who are much prettier, sexier and wittier. On the other hand, Miss Earth opted to choose a Goddess looking winner in the person of Miss Tereza Fakjsova even though she did not answer the question properly and correctly. Now comes the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant, the most popular and the pageant of all pageants following in the said context. Probably this year, pageant organizers are looking for the chaff and not the grains. In an era of creativity and high technology, probably people may look at the chaff to be much more useful. It is like saying that body and beauty sell more than the brains. In the neo-Darwinist sense, the chaff serves a greater function in the preservation of the grains. Therefore, in the realm of beauty pageants in this century, the meaning of the term has evolved and so with beauty pageants.

Before I digress too much with my thesis, my real aim is to understand and read into what these girls answered during the Question and Answer portion of the recently concluded Miss Universe Beauty Pageant:

A lot of spectators were surprised that Miss Venezuela tried to answer in fractured English and people found the answer to the question of Diego Boneta so bizarre. The question went this way: “If you could make a new law, what would it be?”

Quintero answered, “I think that any leys there are in Constitution or in life, are already made. I think that we should have, uh, a straight way to go in our similar, or, eh, in our lives as is this. For example, I’m a surfer, and I think that the best wave that I can take is the wave that I wait for it. So please do our only, eh, law that we can do. Thank you, Vegas!”

I would like to say something about what Miss Venezuela is trying to say. I think she is saying that she will not propose any new laws because there are already enough laws enshrined in the constitution or there are already laws made by men and divine laws that are enough in our lifetime.

Well, the judges probably understood it that way. So she probably had a higher ranking than Miss Australia.

Miss Philippines was asked by Nigel Barker the question: “As an international ambassador, do you believe that speaking English should be a prerequisite to being Miss Universe? Why or why not?”

Miss Philippines answered : For me, being Miss Universe is not just about knowing how to speak a specific language. It’s being able to influence and inspire other people. As long as your heart wants to serve and you have a strong mind to show to people, then you can be Miss Universe.”

Miss Philippines gave a very exceptional answer and it even underscored the fact that despite the flawed answer of Miss Venezuela she could have been Miss Universe.

Miss Australia came next and was asked by Lisa Vanderpump the question: What would you feel if you are told to lose weight and risk losing an assignment?

Miss Australia answered: I feel very comfortable with the way I feel and that is really important. If someone told me that I am overweight and I have to lose weight, I will completely ignore it as long as I am feeling good about myself and I think that matters. That’s all and I thank you.”

Of course, from the way Miss Australia answered she doesn’t mind losing the job as long as she thinks she is comfortable with her body. The question presupposes that it is a job that is financial lifeline and although she gave a very definitive and an emphatic answer, she veered from the true wisdom of the question.

Miss USA was asked by Ximena Navarette the question, what in her life had she regretted most and why?

“Olivia said every experience is something she's learned from, but the thing she did was to pick on her siblings while they were growing up. But she doesn't regret it.”

When Olivia was asked of the question there was moment that she took a deep breath and it was reminiscent of Denise Quinones at that time she won in Puerto Rico. But when she opened her mouth she already said a mouthful which was appreciated by the crowd watching. The question was simple and it was answered simplistically. But it lacked the thematic content of Miss Philippines answer.

That moment of introspection on the part of Olivia made me felt that she would probably crowned Miss Universe.

And lastly, Miss Brazil was asked by Kerri Walsh who says that she wears a swimsuit when she competes, does she feel being reduced to a sexual object?

“Miss Brazil answered through an interpreter, and her answer was that: The way they dress does not matter. What matters is inner character because it reveals the true self and character. “

Miss Brazil’s answer merited the 4^th runner-up position and I believe she gave a very simplistic answer but truly essential.

Now given the contention that all candidates are of equal stature when it comes to beauty, poise and body, and that they are judged according to their wit, my ranking would be this: Venezuela, USA, Brazil, Australia and the Philippines. Since we do not see how the candidates are being rated we only have inkling that the candidates are again judged finally according to beauty, poise, glam and wit.

And these are what I observed:

1.         Venezuela’s beauty during the final night is so divine. She has blossomed into a great beauty, something that I did not observe during the preliminary.

2.       Miss Philippines was above par in terms of wit but if that portion is just 10% of the total, Miss USA eclipsed her because she did not have a total blunder in the end.

3.         Miss Brazil was relegated to the 4^th runner-up position although her answer is pretty consistent and acceptable; her scores in the beauty, poise, glam department may not be able to overhaul Venezuela’s lead which Miss Philippines and Miss USA did.

4.     In my theory, the ranking prior to the Question and Answer would be Venezuela, USA, Philippines, Australia and Brazil. After the Question and Answer, the lead of Venezuela was clipped by USA and Philippines, hence the final ranking.


Photo Courtesy: MissUniverse.com; screenshots of the Top 5 finalists

MISS UNIVERSE 2012 IS MISS USA, OLIVIA CULPO

by Raphael Porciuncula

Queentessence’ candidate of no consequence romped off the title of Miss Universe 2012 and stole the thunder from Miss Philippines 2012 in a glittering presentation of beauty, body and wit. Labeled by this blogspot as a Trump Card, she did in a way as she seemed to act as such. She seemed to be the Ace that was used at an opportune moment to defeat the enemy card. My thought as a writer is that she would just be included in the Top 16 and from there; she would be eliminated going into the evening gown competition. But she did not; she held her ground and eventually won the competition. I therefore take my hats off for her.

Of the candidates that entered the winning circle, it was Miss USA that I placed with the less chance of winning the crown. I was wrong; she came triumphant in the end. Miss USA’s victory is a big victory for small but pretty and cerebral women. Miss Universe in the recent past has evolved into a competition of tall, lithe and beautiful women but now, that phenomenon may have come to pass when she was crowned as the new Miss Universe.

Our new Miss Universe is from Rhode Island. Once she was crowned Miss USA, she was already hyped to become the new Miss Universe. But how can people be shortsighted. When the Miss Universe competition was underway, they have targeted their eyes on Miss Croatia and Miss Puerto Rico. But luck was on her side despite a lackluster answer, the crown was awarded to her.

Coming into the heels of Miss USA is Miss Philippines. She was once a much-maligned winner of her country’s national pageant but now look where her critics are? They are now praising hosanna’s to her excellent performance during the preliminaries and the finals.

Miss Venezuela was predicted to be the candidate that had all the trimmings of another Venezuelan beauty factory. But she bungled her chance during the question and answer portion. And still what a surprise, she ranked higher than Australia who gave a very good and a decent answer to her question.

Miss Australia came in fourth in the ranking. She is such a strong and charming candidate from the Land Down Under. She has the magic and magnetism onstage and yet she still came out wanting despite a commendable answer to the question thrown at her.

And lastly, Miss Brazil wounded up 5^th in rank. A lot of pundits were questioning how Miss Brazil was highly rated by us. Well, during the preliminaries, she really excelled in the swimsuit and evening gown segments. She was even ranked by us as number 1 in the evening gown. We believe that she might just look old because of her styling because if you look at her pictures in the national costume presentation, she was very pretty and engaging.  I felt that she had what it takes to be Miss Universe and we were not wrong with her.

THE MISS EARTH 2012 EVENING GOWN COMPETITION SEGMENT

by Lavinia Otilla

Watching the long gown competition of the Miss Earth 2012 Beauty Pageant takes one into a new high. The concept of the pageant being held in an open space and gliding on a makeshift stage over a swimming pool with synchronized swimming dancers leaping around is such a wonder. I am in awe. I believe some of the candidates or their handlers took note of this. Being in an open air auditorium and exposed to the windy weather, most of the girls used gowns that would help them glide easily onstage with the help of the wind. 

1.  Miss Czech Republic wore a Greecian inspired gown, white in color and when she walked the gown flowed with the wind and it is truly exhilarating and enthralling. The choice of white with gold trimmings is simply superb. The simplicity of the gown highlighted the beauty of Miss Czech Republic who clearly aced this part of the competition. I would say she walked like a Goddess it’s as if I have already seen a Goddess.

2.    Miss South Africa also wore a long flowing gown. The gown was in different shades of blue and green. The color dampened Miss South Africa’s repartee despite a very queenly demeanor in the evening gown presentation.

3.    Miss Philippines on the other hand used a cream colored gown embellished with appliqués. The gown had a slit in front to for better movement. Miss Philippines carried her gown with aplomb.

4.    Miss Russia used a golden gown with a long slit on the side. The gown however is not made up of soft cloth materials instead they look stiff when she moved. She seemed uneasy in her movement and thus this lowered her competitiveness. The wind did not help her either as the gown did not flow with the wind.

5.    Miss Nepal used an apple green long flowing lace gown. She moved with ease and she glided onstage with ease.

6.    Miss Venezuela used a red gown reminiscent of the gown of Stefania Fernandez when she won in the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant. The highlights of the gown was also very much like the winning gown of Miss World 2011 (Venezuela) that was copied by winning Miss Earth 2011. Although the concept of the gown is hodge-podge, Miss Venezuela projected herself with the gown. The problem of gowns being seen to be similar with other gowns is that it becomes boring unless the candidate is so extraordinary that the viewer forgets the gown and remembers the candidate more. Unfortunately, Miss Venezuela’s presence was overpowered by another’s presence that of Miss Czech Republic.

7.    Miss Brazil used an oft-cream colored gown which hugs her shapely outline. There is a side slit to allow her more mobility. The gown seemed to be multi-beaded with some corded lace cloth material. It was a well-made gown that she carried it well.

8.    Miss USA’s fall might be because of her gown.  The bodice was good and it hugs her outline but the lower serpentine portion showed folded clothes which interfere with her walking gracefully. It looks heavy on her and thus, her downfall. 

PPhoto Courtesy: Konrad Photo, OPMB, Miss Earth.tv