MISS UNIVERSE 2012 DELEGATES FROM SOUTH AMERICA

Bolivia debuted at Miss Universe pageant in 1959. They have so far, 2 finalists and 1 semi-finalist. The recent placement of Bolivia in the semifinals was in 2006 by Desiree Duran who made it to the Top 10. Their representative to this year's pageant is the 23 years old, Yessica Mouton who stands at 5 feet and 7 1/2 inches tall. Will Yessica bring her country back to the semifinals this year?

Colombia debuted at Miss Universe pageant in 1958 and at the same year won the crown through Luz Marina Zuluaga. Since then Colombia has yet to win their second Miss Universe crown, they tried to win the Miss Universe crown four times (1992-1994 and 2008) but ended up first runner-up to the eventual winners of that year. Colombia has been successful at Miss Universe aside from one winner they have 11 runner-ups and 18 semi-finalists. Their representative to this year's pageant is the 23 years old Daniella Alvarez who stands at 5 feet and 8 inches tall. Will Daniella become successful this year just like her Colombian predecessors who made it to the semi-finals?

Ecuador debuted at Miss Universe pageant in 1955. They only have produced two semi-finalists in this pageant, the last one was in 2004 with Susana Rivadeneira placing in the Top 10. Last year they have been successful in getting the two Grand Slam international pageant crowns with Maria Fernanda Cornejo winning Miss International and Olga Alava winning the Miss Earth crown. Will they continue their streak this year at Miss Universe with their representative, Carolina Aguirre who is 19 years old and stands at 5 feet and 10 inches tall.

COVER STORY: OLGA ALAVA

AN ECUADORIAN BEAUTY THAT CONQUERED THE EARTH
By Raphael Porciuncula

If it were a track and field relay contest, Ecuador made a rush and a burst of fire and energy at the 3rd bend, clutching honors along the way as it snatched the Miss International 2011 title and capped the event with another title as Olga Mercedes Alava Vargas was crowned Miss Earth 2011.

It seemed everything was providential to this beauty from Ecuador. She was 4th in the Miss Ecuador beauty pageant. The title or the first rank Claudia Schiess went to represent the country to the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant, while the second in rank Veronica Vargas competed in Miss World 2011 and the third in Rank Fernanda Cornejo competed at the Miss International Beauty Pageant 2011 where she was crowned as the winner. Olga, was handpicked by the Diosas Escuela de Misses to represent her country in the 2011 Reina Hispanoamericana because the title holder was still representing the country at the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant. Her star started to shine that time as she placed second runner-up.

Above picture: Olga (second from right) with the Top 3 winners of Miss Ecuador 2011

Bottom pictures - Left: Olga (second from left) during the Miss Hispanoamericana 2011 pageant where she ended up as 2nd runner-up; Right: Olga as Miss Ecuador Earth 2011.

Olga’s participation to the Miss Earth Beauty pageant was still not guaranteed but Jose Hidalgo the director of the official licensee for the Miss Earth Ecuador chose her to represent the country and now it has become history, Olga Mercedes Alava Vargas became the Miss Earth 2011 crowned by Nicole Faria of India in a pageant of glitz and glam held at the University the Philippines Theater last December 3, 2011.

Miss Earth 2010 Nicole Faria crowning Olga Alava as the new Miss Earth 2011.

What could have tilted the favour to this candidate of Ecuador to win the crown when majority of pageant fans pointed towards Miss Czech Republic as the new Miss Earth? If you had watched the pageant, one can already become aware of the answer. We saw a Miss Ecuador who glided and was vivacious onstage. We saw a Miss Ecuador who was enjoying the pageant and was interacting with the audience. We saw Miss Ecuador owning the stage.

Above pictures: From left to right - Olga's reaction when she was called into the Top 16 semi-finalists; During the Top 16 swimsuit competition and during the Top 8 long gown competition. Bottom pictures - Left: During the Top 4 finalists interview; Right: Olga as the new Miss Earth 2011.

Although many pundits believe that Miss Brazil gave a much better answer than her or even Venezuela, this girl who was born in Guayaquil, Guayas, Ecuador had other pluses in her sleeve. She is a songwriter, fashion model cum designer and a TV personality. She had a Bachelor of Arts in International Business and speaks Spanish, English and Mandarin. Mandarin? Yes, she has lived in China for a year. Therefore it is not a surprise that with her multicultural upbringing, Miss Ecuador was well-loved by her co-contestants.

Olga is not just the typical beauty queen that we always see. This 5’8”, 35”-24”-36” almost perfect-shaped beauty grew up with a simple but happy childhood. She values her family as they have stood the test of times. They have remained united and strong and that she equates her family to that of the earth. Like the family, it maintains us and the people we love. She said that without Mother Earth, families and people would not be alive and hence, it is our responsibility to protect and preserve it. She knows the fight against the great environmental problems and hence it is part of her advocacies. Olga advocated for preserving and protecting the forests through reforestation. For her, in order to reach out to a greater number of people, we must use education to teach them of the need to preserve the forests. It is imperative to teach the children and the teenagers about these things as they are the ones that will inherit the future.

Close to Olga’s heart concerning environmental protection are the jungles of the Amazon, Galapagos Islands and the National Park Yasuni – her country’s contribution to the biodiversity of the Mother Earth. As such, she said, she will promote her country as complement to the world and complete with a sustainable development that the future generation will enjoy and cherish. True to her zodiac sign Aquarius, Olga is an optimist and futuristic person. She always sees that better things yet to come. She loves to swim and this is a reflection of her idealism of the new life that the future promises. However, she says even though she is an optimist, she is always grounded in reality and that because of her creativity and imaginativeness, she makes things happen to a more positive outcome.

The Miss Earth Organization looks to a very fruitful and positive year with a new queen like OLGA MERCEDES ALAVA VARGAS.

MISS ECUADOR WINS MISS EARTH 2011 TITLE

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It is two in a row for Ecuador. In the recently concluded Miss International 2011 Beauty Pageant held in China, a Barbie-doll look-alike was crowned Miss International. In this year’s edition of Miss Earth, another Ecuadorian beauty, Olga Alava snatched the title amidst glitz, pomp and glamour. Olga’s win proved to a lot of pundits that they were wrong. Most observers predicted Miss Czech Republic’s eventual win but she failed to even enter the Top 16.

The Miss Earth 2011 Beauty Pageant was held at the University of the Philippines Theatre in Diliman, Quezon city, Philippines , its 11^th edition after a change of venue which was supposed to be in Bangkok, Thailand. The staging of Miss Earth in Thailand was cancelled because floods have started to get into the capital and it will surely ruin all the activities that were line-up for the pageant.

Back to its home base, Miss Earth 2011 organizers were able to come up with various worthwhile activities. The different activities of the competition highlighted the Philippines’ touristic spots. The girls had a taste of the Philippine North in Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud, Laoag City and Vigan). They were as well involved to different environmental undertakings in Manila and had glimpse of Tarlac province. They were also awed by the breath taking sceneries in the South like Batangas and Camarines Sur. Far down South, they were also taken to Davao and enjoyed the amenities of the Pearl Farm. All the while, the candidates mesmerized the adoring crowd and anywhere they go, a throng of pageant fans are always present to give them the warm welcome of the Fiesta Islands.

It was both excitement and disappointment for the fans as the Top 16 were one by one announced. The excitement grew as the last 3 candidates were to be announced. People were clamouring for Miss Czech Republic and India and there seemed to silence and awe when the last candidate announced was Miss Philippines. Cheers broke out when people realized that the hometown girl made it to the Top 16. At this juncture, eyes were focused on Miss Ecuador who seemed to be out of nowhere was the shining star. Venezuela, Brazil, Paraguay and Mexico seemed not deterred with the results of the Top 16. The Top 16 were Ukraine, Paraguay, Japan, Portugal, Sweden, Brazil, Venezuela, Chinese Taipei, Crimea, Zimbabwe, Thailand, Slovenia, Mexico, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ecuador and Philippines.

The swimsuit round was but nothing but a statement of the candidates previous performances. Candidates that made the round were Crimea, Ecuador, Mexico, Philippines, Venezuela, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zimbabwe and Brazil. For me this round was topped by Miss Brazil followed by Miss Ecuador. Crimea was an outcast here as Paraguay, a personal favourite was a much better choice than her. Chinese Taipei would even be a better alternative. But this is a contest where the judges’ decision prevails.

The final round for Miss Earth 2011 was something exquisite. The gowns were wonderful. Miss Ecuador was resplendent in a white sequinned gown. Miss Brazil donned a silver and white sequinned gown while Miss Philippines seemed to tower above all else with her gorgeous red gown. Miss Venezuela used a pink sequinned gown as the crowd showed her appreciation to her.

Going to the Top 4, to everyone’s surprise, the Philippines was called to be a part of the final list. Thundering applause broke out again with some sighs of dissatisfaction was felt. It would seem to everyone that Miss Brazil and Venezuela will slug it out for the Top 2 slots. Brazil having the edge because of her height, queenly but haughty demeanour but alas, Miss Ecuador cannot be denied her chance to the crown. She upstaged the early favourites and even Miss Philippines with her impassioned answer relegated Miss Venezuela to a lower position hence the third place rank for her.

Reigning Miss Earth 2010 Nicole Faria looked dazzling and she donned a traditional Indian outfit by Indian designer Ritu Kumar in her farewalk. She crowned her successor Miss Ecuador, Olga Alava as Miss Earth 2011. Driely Bennettone of Brazil was announced Miss Earth-Air 2011, Miss Philippines, Athena Mae Imperial was Miss Earth-Water 2011, while Miss Earth-Fire 2011 was awarded to Caroline Medina of Venezuela.

The 12th Miss Earth pageant is scheduled for December 2012 at Ninh Thuan in Vietnam.