THE MISS UNIVERSE 2012 TOP 10 GOWN COMPETITION

By Lavinia Otilla

Here are my personal observations on the gowns used by the candidates that competed in the evening gown competition at the Miss Universe 2012. I have discussed the candidates according to how I like the gown as well as how the candidate carried herself. So here it is:

     BRAZIL’S gown is the best gown for this Miss Universe season. It was designed such that the lines end up into the center which highlighted the good body figure of Miss Brazil. The central slit was just enough and it afforded mobility and ease in walking. It was appropriate for Miss Brazil who was exceedingly stunning and radiant in that gown.

     I would have love Miss AUSTRALIA’s gown as my wedding gown. The gown is of a sweetheart neckline, body hugging and the bottom section flowed perfectly well with Miss Australia. The silver sequins and appliqués were perfect and remarkable. It is also of note that she did not use any accessories to call attention to her neck area. Miss Australia perfectly embodied the essence of a bride in this ensemble. She walked with ease and confidence. Although not meant to showcase as a wedding gown but an evening gown, vis-à-vis it was both perfect for whatever purposes it is meant to be.

    Miss VENEZUELA changed gown for the finals. Well, if she can change her outfit, can other candidates too? Well, this girl is listening. Or is probably reading pageant blogs and forums so she changed into a green gown with exquisite design. Was it meant to highlight the Christmas season? The detailing with sequences and crystals is so laborious and like Miss Brazil’s gown, it coalesced into the center to highlight the good figure of Miss Venezuela. 

   MISS SOUTH AFRICA in that mermaid look is truly amazing. She had the gown embellished with big sequences that moves when she moves. She is such a beauty as the chiffon shoulder kerchief flows as she walks. If there is really a Goddess in this contest, it is Miss South Africa.

     MISS PHILIPPINES’ gown is made of an aqua blue iridesecent organza material. It is a strapless gown which crystal beading details on the bust area and fan-pleated full skirt. For one, I do not like the gown. It seemed tacky and cheap in looks. However when Miss Philippines worked the gown exceedingly, she underscored the dictum that it is not the gown but it is the girl that wears it. Sometimes I beg to disagree. In recent times, we have very excellent girls that were fielded to the contest and they bombed at the preliminaries because of the bad gown choices. The candidates cannot go against the organizers’ assignment of gowns for them because they have a signed a contract that they will only use what they were told to use. Okey, that is no problem. Give them the best gowns then. Why is it that they bought a Halston gown for Miss Mirriam Quiambao that cost them a fortune? Why can’t they do the same for present candidates? There are so many fashion designers who are willing to sponsor a gown for Miss Philippines and show the best of Philippine fashion in the Miss Universe arena and franchise owner Stella Marquez Araneta is still stucked with her Colombia connections. She might reason out that they are doing well. Okey again……..but it is the national pride that is also involved here.

 Miss FRANCE used a crème colored beaded gown which was serpentine in design. The beadings were perfect. There was no slit to allow easy mobility but the gown was perfectly cut and sewn and it allowed Marie Payet to traverse the stage with ease of a royalty. 

    MISS HUNGARY’S gown is another hate or love it creation. It has a strapless white satin bodice with a silver glittery appliqués to demarcate the skirt area. The skirt area is made-up of ruffled chiffon that gives a flowing motion when she walks. There is a high slit at the left side of the leg. Miss Hungary is pretty stunning and I don’t really understand, I love the simplicity of the gown.

     MISS USA is in a full ball gown. It is red in color made of silk velvet and tulle. It has a white petticoat that everyone sees as Miss USA moves the skirt every now and then.  It has a very big plunging neckline and long-sleeves. Although the gown is classy and fashion forward, it is not suited for Miss USA but as it dwarfs her.  But I think the aim of the gown for Miss USA is to attract attention. And it did. Just imagine her being in the Top 5 choices for best in gown.

    MISS RUSSIA’S gown is another hate or love it creation. It is a body suit evening gown which is royal blue in color. It is delicately embellished with beads. It looks splendid on stage but I really don’t understand her skirt with a long slit till the waistline. In my own opinion, it made her much larger than what she really is. I love this girl but in my honest opinion, she should just have the classical serpentine gown that would highlight her height and her body figure. Or if she really would want to make a statement, she should have gone back to the corset type so that her body figure would be accentuated.

      MISS MEXICO is another girl that I adore. But with a gown that I consider horrendous, she was last on the list. I believe Karina was not really comfortable with the gown. It is such a busy gown. Start from the neck area, it gives us the idea that it was copied from Karen Agustin’s gown which was paraded in Puerto Rico done by Barraza. Then, of course, it has the trimmings of a Ximena’s gown. Look at the skirt. But oh my, it seemed like the bodysuit evening gown is again in the concept for the gown of Miss Mexico.  She looks uneasy with this gown. If Miss Venezuela can change her gown, then why can’t she? 

THE 2012 EDITION OF THE RUTH OCUMAREZ AWARD

By Dominador Agbayani

I searched on the web and reviewed ten websites that made a prediction of who will be Miss Universe 2012, 40% pointed to Miss Puerto Rico as the eventual winner. Thirty-percent predicted she will in the Top 5. Ten percent however says she will not be a semi-finalist.  But note that a big percentage predicted that she will be in the Top 15. Because of many believers and looking at other favorites that did not make it to the Top 15 such as Malaysia, Georgia, Netherlands and Thailand, Miss Puerto Rico will now be labeled as the recipient of the Ruth Ocumarez Award.

In Queentessence, we have this gut feeling that it would Miss Croatia that will get the snub in this years' event but when the results are out, all jaws dropped because the quintessential favorite to win this years’ edition was not there. To give you a review about this fabled Ruth Ocumarez Award,  Ruth was Dominican Republic's representative to the Miss Universe 2002. She was such a beauty that she was given the tag, “The Ebony Goddess.” At the 2002 Miss Universe pageant, held Puerto Rico, Ocumarez was predicted by many to be chosen as one of the semifinalists. But she was not selected, causing many internet users and bloggers to coin the term the Ruth Ocumarez Award to signify a pageant contestant who seems guaranteed to be selected as a finalist, but does not make the list at the end.

What could be the reason why Miss Puerto Rico was not on the list? 

How can she fail in the swimsuit competition? She has a towering height of 6 feet, and a body that everyone dies for. She has won competitions that showed her perfect body figure. In the Battle of swimwear in Puerto Rico, she won over others because of her impressive body figure and her perfect catwalk. She is said to have the best body in the competition. It is really therefore, baffling if she failed in this aspect.

In the evening gown category, she used a white gown that showcased her sweetness and delicateness. She was a darling onstage.

If most of us think that she was way up there during the preliminaries, did the judges saw otherwise? There were rumors that circulated during the two week-activities of the pageant that there are some candidates that were said to drop catty remarks against other candidates. There were also rumors that some are playing “diva attitudes” to the consternation of the organizers. Is Miss Puerto Rico among them? Did she fell out of the graces of the organizers because of these? We will never know but she is one candidate that should have been a great winner. She should participate in other international pageants like Miss World, Miss International or even Miss Earth. She is a beauty not to be wasted in the international arena.

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.

MISS PHILIPPINES’ JANINE TUGONON ALMOST MADE IT

by Jetset Alejandro

Our Philippine representative to the Miss Universe 2012 almost made it as the new Miss Universe but she was denied by Miss USA Olivia Culpo in a glittering pageant ceremony in Las Vegas, Nevada. Janine was clearly a standout from the beginning into the end and it seemed like, she was going to be the 3^rd Miss Universe for the Philippines and the 2^nd with an Aringay, La Union heritage. Miss Gloria Diaz was the first Philippine Miss Universe and her father Jaime Diaz hails from the town. Janine could have followed the streak as her father Jose Mari Tugonon comes from the entrenched Dulay-Ysip clan of Aringay.  It would have been a rapturous occurrence for the Aringayenos as this would have underscored the fact that the fabled story of the town may have a grain of truth after all -  the beautiful maiden “Aring” as its origin.

It is really very difficult to predict who will be the Miss Universe’ panel’s choice would be as year after year, the question and answer portion has become to be not the basis of the final choice of the winner. Let us try a rundown of the winners in the last 6 years. In 2007 in Mexico City, Riyo Mori of Japan won over Natalia Guimares of Brazil. It was a classic case of a not so beautiful but fashionable girl over just a beautiful girl. In 2008, however, Miss Venezuela eclipsed Miss Colombia who was the clear front-runner because she buckled in her answer.  In 2009, the year when Stefania Fernandez won the crown in Bahamas, Miss Australia Rachel Flinch gave the best answer to the question but she ended up as third runner-up with Kosovo eclipsing her for the second runner-up position. In 2010 where the pageant was held again in Las Vegas, Nevada, Ximena Navarette  of Mexico stole the thunder from Yendi Phillips of Jamaica although Jesinta Campbell of Australia gave the best answer to the questions thrown by the judges whom they have picked. In 2011, the more superior answer of Shamcey Supsup over the other candidates landed her the 3^rd runner-up position. It was all the same this year.  Janine gave the best and most qualified answer compared to Miss USA who had to give herself some moments to think about her answer and to rattle the judges with her round and round in circles answer.

With Janine’s feat, she would again be the epitome of young girls’ dream. Janine joined the Binibining Pilipinas Beauty Pageant in 2011 and she wounded up as First Runner-Up. With her first runner-up win, many rambunctious pageant aficionados questioned her runner-up finish. When she rejoined the pageant the year after that, the more rumblings occurred but in all fairness, there was not a word of dismay that came from her. She just came out exemplary, stunning and roaring during the finals night and she was everyone’s winner. And truly, she was every inch a queen but was denied the final outcome by the judges’ or the Miss Universe organization.

Janine’s answer to the question given her by Nigel Barker was quintessential. It opened a gate of discussions to the very much talked about topic of Philippine candidates speaking using their national tongue during the Question and Answer portion of the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant. Pageant fans are always saying that the Philippines is at a disadvantaged since other countries use interpreters during the portion and it gives them the time to think and compose their answers in their language and the interpreters help them by giving them a better translation of their answers. Nigel Barker’s question was asked in this way:  "As an international ambassador, do you believe that speaking English be a prerequisite for being Miss Universe? Why or why not?"

And Janine answered in a very relaxed and intelligent manner, a scene that was repeated all over the world as she gave that most famous answer : “The Miss Universe title is not just about knowing how to speak a specific language. It is about being able to influence and inspire other people. If you have a heart to serve and a strong mind to show people, then you can be Miss Universe!”

Indeed, with her answer, despite being first runner-up, she has eclipsed the victory of Miss USA and became the Miss Universe of so many people of all walks of life.

Photo Courtesy: missuniverse.com

QUEENTESSENCE TOP 16 AFTER THE EVENING GOWN AND SWIMSUIT PRELIMINARIES

by Arnulfo Distor

I was not surprised with the choice of Miss Ecuador as the front runner in the evening gown and swimsuit preliminaries. She was totally a performer and she resplendent in everything. It is no doubt why she shot up in the rankings. Her previous rankings were 3^rd and 12^th positions. Do you think she will be able to maintain the lead? We know that the preliminary interview is not revealed but with her likeability rating, she should be a great contender for a Top 16 spot.

Croatia again went back to her previous rank. She initially ranked second, then plummeted to 8^th and then she’s back at 2^nd. She is said to have the most beautiful face. She may not have the best catwalk, best poses and best interview skills but people are just enamored with her beautiful face. Will this quality be enough to catapult her to the top rank? Well, when Leila won, she was just said to have a pretty face. She was not excellent in the catwalk. She just gives out what is in her mind. And she became Miss Universe. This is my contention for Miss Croatia. She might just be Miss Universe 2012 with a stroke of luck.

Coming in to the heels of Miss Croatia is Miss South Africa. Miss South Africa initially ranked 11^th, then 1^st and now 3^rd. What more can we say with Melinda Bam? Well, she is a vamp. She burns the stage with her fiery performance. It was a close call for the other two. With a very good credential, it will be a wonder if this lady does not perform well in her closed door interview.

In 4^th place is Miss Philippines, Janine Tugonon. Janine surprised everyone with a  very good catwalk. Although pageant followers are still debating about her gown, many underscored the fact that she carried herself well in that gown. And although the debate rages on, our tally showed her maintaining her 4^th place position.

Miss Australia occupies the 5^th place, a rank higher than her previous rank. This girl is very consistent. In our initial ranking, she was 14^th in rank, then she was number 6 and now she is higher in rank. I believe this girl can talk and thus it is expected that she enters the Top 16.

Miss Mexico was described as bland and she seemed to be rushing during her evening gown presentation so that so, her screen time is so short. Other pundits describe her as someone disinterested. And yet they put her in the 6^th rank. There are a lot of comparisons that pageant aficionados are saying. She has the looks of Ximena. She has a similar red gown and her projection seems like Ximena too. Will she follow the same fate like Ximena? Well, we will see on pageant night.

Miss Venezuela continues a high favorability rating among the pageant connoisseurs. Some people are turned off with her go-easy attitude during the preliminaries. They may have punished her for that by falling into the 7^th ranking after a high second ranking. But this 7^th rank indicates that she is still a candidate in contention.

Miss Colombia is another candidate that fell in the ranking. Although she did pretty well, I guess other candidates were remembered well with their sterling qualities that she got into the 8^th rank this time.

Miss Czech Republic is another favorite and she had improved in her ratings. Although not favored to take the title, it looks like that she might make a dent with her 9^th rank among Miss Universe followers.

Ranked Number 10 is Miss Puerto Rico. A lot of fans are rooting for Miss Puerto Rico. She was exemplary in both the evening gown and the swimsuit. She is well within reach and let us see how she managed in her interview. I expect her to be in the Top 16 come pageant night.

On the 11^th slot is Miss U.S.A. Miss U.S.A. comes out very charming in her presentation. Although I don’t love her gown as it does not suit her, she is very dazzling in her swimsuit presentation. Sash factor or not, she is a cinch to the Top 16.

Somebody new in the Top 16 ranking and occupying the 12^th slot is Miss France. Miss France wowed the fans with her shapely body and good presentation in the evening gown. With a very good catwalk, she was able to penetrate our Top 16.

Miss Germany plummeted in terms of likeability among our respondents but still kept one of the slots and is in the 13^th position. Miss Germany was adequate in her presentation but not enough to wow the partisan crowd. Did she wow the judges? It is for us to see on pageant and see for ourselves if she made it to the Top 16.

Miss Japan did not lose her composure and still maintained a slot in the Top 16 and is now in the 14^th position. She is very radiant and projects very well onstage. Come pageant night, I believe she will perform much better.

Miss Kosovo’s presence during the preliminary presentation was not expected by our respondents. She was nowhere the Miss Kosovo in her Fadil shots. However, she gave out an adequate performance that merited her occupying the last second to the last slots.

Rounding up our list is Miss Brazil who was a surprise during the presentation night. Although she looks older her age, she was overwhelmingly captivating during the evening gown and swimsuit rounds. Her presence was felt of these particular performances.

Close on the heels that has the capability to make it to the Top 16 and dislodge some of the candidates are Misses Aruba, Bolivia, Finland, Georgia, Guatemala, Israel, Russia, Sri Lanka and Switzerland. They too did very well during the preliminary competition. It would therefore be the interview that would separate the semifinalists to the other candidates. Let us wait and see.

Photo Courtesy: missuniverse.com