QUEENTESSENCE' FINAL CHOICES FOR MISS UNIVERSE 2012…..

by Raphael Porciuncula

Our friend Arnulfo Distor wrote the Queentessence article of who did best during the preliminary competition. We compiled the choices of our correspondents and we came out who was at the frontlines based on how of our many correspondents thought so. So we have posted who we think shone the brightest that day. Now the staff of Queentessence sat down and reviewed the girl’s performances and we are posting our predictions for this December 19, 2012. Note that what we are posting are the rankings of the candidates based on our evaluation. We feel that those in our discussion board are capable of winning the crown. But in our honest opinion, those listed in our Top 9, are candidates of prime importance and we believe the new Miss Universe will come from that list.

A new Top 16 is beginning to emerge. A review of the preliminary presentation showed 25 candidates competing for the Top slot of 15. Of course, we have to contend who is candidate that will have the most internet votes. We are not ably able to predict this because everyone was surprised to see Portugal with the highest internet votes when nationalities like Thailand, Vietnam and Puerto who vote rabidly were edged out Portugal. But we will venture on one candidate based on gut feel. On the other hand, if this will still be implemented, 6 candidates will be chosen by the production side that are amply called Trump “cards” or girls. We are therefore choosing 9 candidates, then possibly predict 6 Trump girls and of course predict the Miss Internet candidate.

Our prediction for the Top 9 girls is:

1.    Netherlands 

-        She is an epitome of grace and elegance during the preliminaries. She glided like a gazelle onstage. She has the body. She has the looks and she would fit the role of Miss Universe to T. This would be no wonder as she had already records to prove this. She was Miss Tourism International in 2010 and a Miss World 2012 semifinalist. She showed the confidence of someone who had been on the stage. The time is ripe for her to become Miss Universe 2012

2.    Brazil

-        Many fault this girl to look older than her age. But when she walked the stage during her gown preliminary, she was already number 1 in my list. The glides, the walk, the turns and the gown that suited her very well is not enough to put her in the frontline. When she came out for the swimsuit competition, Brazil solidified her claim to a semifinalist position. She has the body. She has the curves and she walks the walk.

3.    South Africa

-        She is performing perfectly as to what pageant pundits expect her to. She amazingly good in the evening gown and when she made her turn and stopped and looked at the audience with her playful eyes, she was heavenly. She was a Goddess that descended in Las Vegas. Her swimsuit performance is near perfect and she is so close in performance with Netherlands and Brazil.

4.    Venezuela

-        Many pageant followers were quite turned off with the overzealousness that Venezuela showed during the preliminaries. But one must accept the fact that she is above par than the other contestants. She is not one of those run of the mill candidates. She shouts elegance. She screams perfection.

5.    Philippines

-        The candidate that surprised many. She had undergone many taunts concerning her victory in her national pageant. But when people saw her performed in the many activities of Miss Universe and in the preliminaries, she proved to doubting Thomases that she is worth her national title. Her much-talked about “cobra” walk (whatever that means) was appreciated because she was confident. She was splendid and she simply great in the evening gown competition despite a not so beautiful gown. She however, mesmerized everybody when she sashayed onstage during the swimsuit segment. She gave Miss Brazil the run for her money during that segment.

6.    Puerto Rico

-        This lady is someone you love or hate. Many pick on her nose which is disconcerting during her presentation. But this girl kills you with her smile. When she smiles, she is heavenly. You forget the nose that other people note of her. She is fascinating. She has vavaboom body. She is simply great. Add her height to her other qualities, she gives out an air of muted sophistication. She is simply great.

7.    Paraguay

-        How can we miss on Miss Paraguay on our previous choices? Well, as our second look, she was one of those that caught our eyes. She is resplendent. She is amazing and she is stunning in the evening gown preliminaries. When she came out in the swimwear segment, she was already a front runner so to speak.

8.    Ecuador

-        She was Top on our list just after the preliminaries. But with careful review of the candidates’ performances she was edged out by other candidates. But for us here in Queentessence’ what matters is that she is a sure one in the Top 16. Ecuadorian pageant fans are giving so much hope that their representative in Miss Universe will give a good fight after their victories in Miss International and Miss Earth the following year. They do have basis of course. Carolina Aguirre strutted in the preliminaries with verve and vigor. She was full of vitality and life. She was magnificent.

9.    Australia

-        In a booking betting site, Miss Australia is 14 to 1 odds in becoming Miss Universe. There are other candidates in the list but the betting agency says that of three others, Miss Australia has the best chances of being crowned Miss Universe 2012.

Possible Trump Candidates

They say that Mr. Trump chooses 6 candidates to complete the Top 15 and that 1 comes from internet voting to complete the Top 16. We will give reasons why the following candidates will be the Trump choices.

10.Croatia

-        Miss Croatia is a choice of most pageant aficionados because of her beautiful face. She was said to be exemplary in her evening gown presentation but lacking so much pizzazz in her swimsuit presentation. In a review of the preliminary presentation, I do not think that she did a very good performance in the evening gown round. There were others that did better than her. Add to this, she gave a lackluster interview in the series of questions given to her uploaded in the Miss Universe website. I believe that if she gets into the Top 16, it is because Mr. Trump and the production people like her or the people around Miss Universe feel that they would need to give the enjoyment of the people who are going to watch by including her in the Top 16. Well, will she repeat a Miss Angola phenomenon this year? Let us watch and see this 19^th of December if she lives up to the promise.

11.Czech Republic

-        Miss Czech Republic is one of those that tied for the 16^th spot during our tabulations during our review from the Preliminary competition. If she makes it over Miss Croatia and Guyana, then she should be really really lucky. Well, with Miss Czech Republic’s qualities, she can be both a Trump candidate and a shoo-in candidate. Why do I say so? She is shoo-in candidate because she is within the reach of those in Top 9. But she can be a Trump candidate in the event that she does not qualify among the Top 9 as there are so many formidable candidates ahead of her.

12.Mexico

-        Miss Mexico is a very charming lady but was eclipsed with the more formidable candidates in the catwalk department. She seemed so disinterested. Thus her presence in the Top 16 would make you suspect that she belongs to the Trump group of candidates.

13.Georgia

-        Miss Georgia is one candidate that I would be happy to get into the Top 16. She is flawless in the runway and she exceedingly performed her best during the evening gown and swimsuit competition. But because of the fact that there were around 18 candidates that we thought did better than her in the preliminaries, it would be a surprise that she made it equally good to the Top 16. Then the conclusion therefore is that she is a Trump candidate.

14.Colombia

-        Colombia is one of my favorite candidates. She ranked 10^th in our official ranking but because of the Trump candidates’ phenomenon, she will be lumped with the other candidates in this grouping. She is hands down an excellent candidate that should be included in the formidable Top 16.

15.USA

-        Need we say more? I think Miss USA’s number one quality is her beautiful face. She is charismatic and that she can own you. But this is a contest with qualifying points to make it to the Top 16 and I think she failed in the evening gown segment and that there were other much beautiful girls that were ahead of her in the swimsuit presentation.

Candidate from Internet Votes

16.Thailand

-        Miss Thailand ranks 25^th in our listing. But we’ve got the feeling that she will top the voting to be included in the Top 16 choices. She would be competing with Miss Vietnam.

Note however that based on Queentessence choices without regards for the Trump choices should have been the following:

Colombia, Cayman Islands, Aruba, Mexico, Japan and Guyana. We feel that for all intents and reasons, USA will be in by virtue of the following: Host and Sash Factor.  But in our listing it should be Georgia who will come in and USA will be shut out of the Top 16. But since this pageant is done in US soil, she will be amply accorded the courtesy of being in the Top 16.

It is not a surprise for us that Miss Cayman Islands was noted by a lot of pageant pundits. She is very charming and she has a very sweet demeanor. She is a delight in the runway. With her saccharine smile she can smile her way up to the Top of the ranking. If this happens, it will be the first time that Cayman Islands made a dent into the semifinalist list of the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant. We hope she does pretty well and that she will also be in the list of Mr. Trump.

Aruba is another surprising delight. She is tall. She has a very sexy body and she undoubtedly nailed her performances in the evening gown and swimsuit segment. She is truly amazing.

  

Miss Japan is one of our personal favorites.  She has an enigmatic presence. I don’t know why others don’t just feel her. She has this uncanny connection with me so that so, I believe she will make a difference among the candidates. If she makes it to the Top 16, then my gut feel is right. If not, then I was still right not putting her among the possible Trump takers.

Of course, Miss Guyana should be in based on our list. This lady is really a class of her own. She stumbled but stood up and did continue the walking it’s as if nothing happened. She is a real professional for that matter. Sympathy or non-sympathy, she should be in. If she is in, then we shall be thankful and see how she performed to the hilt come pageant night.

We have this lingering feeling that favorites' Croatia and Czech Republic will not be called to the Top 16. Croatia might get the famous Ruth Ocumarez tag as she is the favorite of almost everyone. But reviewing the presentation once more, there were other candidates that really showed remarkable performance and upstaged the beautiful faced Croatia. Despite an acceptable gown presentation, her swimsuit round was really wanting. It is now highly doubtful if she will be in or out. There were discussions on how past candidates were chosen and that some of those choices were hinged on face value alone. Even the current Miss Universe, who would have thought that she is going to win the crown? She had shown all the fumbles while co-hosting during the preliminary competition. Although during the lull where the stage was being dried by dripping water from up, she was interviewed by her co-host and in her halting English, she showed wisdom in her answers. So what am I trying to say, the Miss Universe Crown is still open to everyone and just like the judges, we will have our own choices and as of the moment this is our Prediction for the Top 16. Favorite Miss Czech Republic may not be able to qualify for the Top 16 because of her horrendous body figure. Her bone asymmetry is really disturbing.

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

QUEENTESSENCE’ NEW LEADERBOARD FOR MISS UNIVERSE 2012

By Arnulfo Distor

We polled around 24 people who are avid pageant followers and the results are both expected and surprising. Let us see how pageant netizens favored the candidates.

THE TOP 5

It is not a surprise to see Melinda Bam, South Africa’s candidate to the Miss Universe 2012 Beauty Pageant lead the board although she was 12th in the first ranking. She is a very engaging and energetic person. One is attracted to her with her vibrant personality. It would be to the delight of pageant netizens to see their favorite candidate who topped our list one week prior to the pageant. Although, I think these may change after the preliminary presentation.

On the other hand, although personally, I am not a fan of Miss Venezuela, respondents to our survey placed her far second to Miss South Africa. She was 16th in our first list. The probable reason for this choice is that Miss Venezuela carries the sash factor effect. We should not discount however that she is amiable and loveable and add to this is that she is out in the pageant arena to win Venezuela’s 5^th crown in Miss Universe.

Colombia upped her rank to third from her 4th rank in the first ranking issue. Will she be the lady that will put back Colombia to the top? She is versatile and she projects beautifully on pictures.

Surprisingly, Miss Philippines’ candidate Janine Tugonon is catapulted in the 4^th spot from a 6th spot position previously. After being previewed in the fashion show and her performance in the Fadil Berisha photoshoot, pageant aficionados feel that she has what it takes to be the third Miss Universe for the Philippines. Will she be able to maintain such composure and glam till pageant night? 

Puerto Rico also zoomed up in the ranking from an 11th position to a 5th position. With her queenly demeanour in the photo shoot and the evening gown pictorial, she is saying I am ready to take that crown.  

THE OTHER TOP 11 CANDIDATES

Australia comes close to Miss Puerto Rico. Of the other candidates, Miss Australia is said to be a Miss Universe material. She was in 14th place before and jumped to 6th place. She can shift from a model stance to a beauty queen stance.

Kosovo is another candidate that would have a great probability in barging into the Top 5. She is exotic and she knows how play with the camera. She knows how to flirt with it and comes exceedingly likeable. Kosovo was not in our initial list and is now catapulted to 7th rank.

Croatia is another fan favorite that went down our first ranking. She was ranked second before and now she is in 8th place. However, she is just within reach of the Top 5 and anything can happen. With her beautiful face and sexy countenance, I will not be surprise if Croatia’s candidate will be in the Top 5.

Miss USA surprises me. A lot of pageant fans root for her when I feel that she will matter because of her sash factor. From a 15th rank, she is now in 9th position for this ranking. However, it is also noteworthy that during the activities, she steps up and does remarkably well in pictures. Will she surprise everyone again? Well, let us see…

Miss Mexico ranked 7^th in our first evaluation, now she is in the 10^th place. However, rankings are fluid and pageant rankings are just guides of who are the possible candidates that will enter the Top 15. Although the 16^th spot comes from the votes of the voting public, I believe Miss Mexico will be a candidate that will surely compete aggressively to get a Top 5 position. She might repeat history again where Mexico’s candidates perform very well in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Czech Republic is another beautiful lady. With Czech Republic’s performance in another pageant, her presence is well felt not only because she is beautiful but she has the strong magnetism that gets one attracted to her. She occupies the 11th slot though.

Our first ranking places Ecuador in the third place. Now she is in the 12th place. This is a big plunge in terms of likeability. Miss Ecuador has a very pretty face and a well-trimmed body. With knowledge of conversational English, I think she will have a higher ranking than this.

From being my number 1 personal choice, pageant fans place Miss Germany lower in likelihood of being Miss Universe. She is now in the 13th place. I noticed some pageant pundits asking about her possibility to win and yet pageant netizens seem to be more enamoured with Miss South Africa. I believe she has qualities to be the new Miss Universe and thus she might be able to snatch the second Miss Universe crown for Germany.

Many fans do not rate Miss Japan so highly and thus I understand why she had only a 14^th slot position. She used to enjoy the 5th place position. But I am also surprised that many consider her to be a contender for the crown or at least a runner-up. I thought I was only the one considering her. Miss Japan has a very engaging smile and she is very charming. Apart from Miss Philippines, I believe the pageant fans choice for the next Asian candidate with strong possibility to win is Miss Japan.

Georgia, oh my Georgia. She is stunning and glorious in most of her undertaking. It is a pity that she does not enjoy media mileage compared to the more well-known candidates with rabid supporters. If she probably joined Miss Earth this year, she would have given Miss Czech Republic a run for her money as this type of beauty is a hit among pageant denizens. She used to occupy the 10th slot but now she in the 15th slot.

Lastly, Poland entered the Magic 16. With a towering height and striking facial features, Miss Poland will likely enter the Magic 16 with or without the help of internet votes. She was out of the Top 16 ranking in the first round of ranking.

WILL MISS GERMANY TAKE THE ICING OF THE CAKE?

by Arnulfo Distor

I am not on the ground observing the candidates. I am just a follower of the pageant by visiting the Miss Universe site and visiting a lot of sites, culling information and feedbacks about the candidates but despite that my personal impressions prevail on Queentessence’ picks this week.

GERMANY leads in my pickings this week. Note that she is not even in my first list of 24. How come she took the lead from nowhere? She has this enigmatic look that makes one take a second look at her. In my previous choices she was never there. But reviewing the activities of Miss Universe and their photos in the shoot and other activities, she suddenly had an existence. Her countenance is worth looking at and her swimsuit picture despite the seeming conservative pose exudes excellence. It is for this reason that I put her in a precarious lead. Precarious in the sense that she has still has to bolster my suspicion that she can take it all out till pageant. Knowing Miss Universe, their choices are unpredictable but I believe that they will follow the lead of Miss Earth not that of Miss World and International. They are on the lookout for someone as ravishing and refreshing as the crowned Miss Earth Tereza Fajksova.

CROTIA has that refreshing face. However she does seem to look ordinary on candid shots but she changes into a very sophisticated lady once she gets in front of the camera. And it shows in her pictorials. Could she be the prophesied goddess for the universe? She may just snatch the lead from Miss Germany in the coming days with her extraordinary flair and existence.

ECUADOR has got that beautiful face, beautiful body and the overall repartee. But I find her tad short and dwarfed by the taller ladies. When she’s sandwich between them, she seemed lost and forgotten. This is one aspect the Miss Ecuador has to correct urgently or else she will be thrown into oblivion. She is said to have issues on her self-confidence but this comment does not show in her pictures. She looks great in them and that’s the reason why she is number three on my list.

Will COLOMBIA make it this time after so many first runner-ups? This Colombian lady is sexy, shapely and buxomy. She knows her endearing characteristics and she flaunts it. She has the air of confidence when she walks and talks. She walks the talk as they say.  Is she the girl that Colombia is waiting for a Miss Universe crown? Well I put her in my number 4 position but I will not dispute with anyone is she wins as she is a darling.

JAPAN has had 2 Miss Universe winners. Will their representative in 2012 make a dent in the Top 16 and then finally make it to the Top 5 and steal the thunder from the leading contenders. Well, I find Miss Japan very charming and endearing. She has a very Asian face but not too Japanese face. She has soulful and expressive eyes. Couple this with her smile, she is simply divine. If 2012 in Las Vegas will be the Asian Renaissance, Miss Japan will claim that top spot in this competition.

Here is a rundown of my choices after Miss Japan:

PHILIPPINES showed how great her transformation is. She knows how to catapult herself and she is becoming a darling. She is creating waves when she and Miss Mexico helped in the promotions of the Pacquiao-Marquez fight.

MEXICO is a diva. She looks headstrong with an earthy appeal. She is a favorite of Las Vegas denizens and who knows she is going to repeat the performance of 2 previous Miss Mexico’s who won the title in Las Vegas.

CZECH REPUBLIC is another Tereza and although she is not as ravishing as her counterpart Miss Earth 2012 Tereza Fajksova, she is a stunner with those meaningful eyes. She has also a body to die for. If it would be a Czech Republic repeat in an international pageant of the same year, it is a feat that she can repeat. Will luck bless her?

SRI LANKA is another attractive lady. She has this unfathomable charm that simply puts jaws down. She has also a very good body to boot. I believe this girl will give everyone a run for their money.

GEORGIA is another resplendent lady. Although she had inconsistent pictures in her candid shots, she upped her ante in her pictorials and she is demigoddess in the making. I can’t complain much more if is catapulted in the Top 5.

PUERTO RICO is another lady that rubs me on in a sense that the longer you look at her, the more you like her. She is charming and endearing. But charms however are not enough to make it to the Top 5. She has to work more so that she will not be eclipsed by other candidates who just wanted the title more.

SOUTH AFRICA is another eye-catching lady. She had very good pictures all the time. She had class and flair. I am getting a big vibration that she may just catapult herself to top spot next posting.

UKRAINE is another lady to watch for. She is fragile looking and yet so sophisticated. She has a different aura from her predecessor but she is really a big source of appreciation for me.

AUSTRALIA may be seemed to be so farfetched in the winning circle. But this evaluation is only through the pictures that were initially posted and feedback from the public. Like South Africa, she may be a girl in waiting. She is ready to show her wares to everyone.

The next candidate is USA. I am really into liking her. During her national pageant, it may seem that she got the thunder from all the other state candidates. Yes she outshone everyone in her national pageant but in this contest, she seemed to be just ordinary among the other girls. She is lost in the wilderness so to speak. But I still included her in my choices because I believe the sash factor will work just right for her.

It is there same argument with VENEZUELA. She is not as exceptional as other Venezuelans. However, one cannot discount the fact that she might just be there hanging tough because of the sash factor. She is not a personal choice. There are other candidates that are just in the wings to clip others entry into the Top 16.

Editor’s Note: This articIe would have been posted last Friday but I was taken across by other work that’s why it may come too late a bit as new developments in the performance of our candidates come in. There is already an updated ranking based on the choices of our friends but I am going to post this just to show how our choices will develop through the days until pageant night.

QUEENTESSENCE’ WITHIN THE PERIMETER CHOICES FOR MISS UNIVERSE 2012

by Arnulfo Distor

This year, there seem to be no candidate that is within a shot of the title of Miss Universe 2012. It seems like they are of equal footing as they will start their quest for the title of the most popular beauty pageant in our midst. I would admit that this seems to be lean year for the Miss Universe pageant. There seem to be no Goddesses around, something that the recently concluded pageant can be proud of. 

First Row: L-R : Namibia, Croatia, Colombia, Ecuador
Second Row: L-R : Guatemala, Mexico, USA, Venezuela

Hence, we call the candidates posted here as perimeter choices as we have not seen or felt anyone that took the leadership on the board. Is this a lean year for Miss Universe? Well do not know but it is still a wait and see item.  Our aim is to make a list of candidates that are within the Top 16 enclave and as we go through the Miss Universe activities, we will be able to separate the chaff from the grains. So here they are, 24 possible candidates from whom we will choose of Top 16.

First row: L-R : Kosovo, Australia, Czech Republic and Japan

Second row: L-R: Korea, Philippines, Vietnam and Albania

In the next weeks to come we will update our choices till we narrow them and become the Top 5 choices of most likely candidates to win the new Miss Universe crown.

First row: Thailand, Botswana, Israel and Puerto Rico

Second Row: Georgia, Netherlands, Russia and Spain

YES, MISS EARTH IS ON AN UPSWING!

by Rainier Abad-Santos

The Miss Universe pageant is used to being number one. The Miss World Beauty pageant says they are the number one. The Miss International Beauty Pageant shouts it out that they are the real number one. And what does that make of for Miss Earth?  Well, if Miss Universe Beauty pageant cannot come up with something that will make the world of pageantry ecstatic and buzzing for its winner for quite a long long time, then Miss Earth will overtake it this year.

THE RISE OF MISS EARTH

Most pundits say that Miss Earth is a third world pageant and as it is, it is labeled as mediocre and wanting. But in a world with beauty and perfection as one of its aim, Miss Earth slowly created awareness with its unique advocacy – saving Mother Earth. On the other hand, Miss Universe has its AIDS Awareness programs; Miss World has its Beauty of a Purpose emphasis and Miss International Beauty Pageant is geared helping children. Hence, we could see that the greater undertaking is on the side of Miss Earth and by playing the same game as other beauty pageants; it is rising above the others with its skillful way of promoting it.

At the beginning Miss Earth had only one of its legs in forward stance. But on its first year, it had already created awareness that it is a beauty pageant to watch out for. Pageant organizations that rate pageants consider it as one of the Grandslam pageants and it has edged out Miss International in the rankings. Some consider it as belonging Top 3. But this 2012, it seems that it had completely laid down the marker for its eventual rise to the top. And why do I say this? Well, let us enumerate the indications why this is Miss Earth’s year:

First of all, a lot of people are elated with the selection of Miss Czech Republic as the new Miss Earth 2012. In a world that is trying to stand for rightness and incisiveness, the pageant opted to choose a candidate who did not give the correct answer. And they are standing by this choice. Miss Czech Republic is a very beautiful woman who will give a face to Miss Earth and will for sure be in the annals of beauty pageant history to be adjudged as the most beautiful winner in this particular year. There is no comparison of the facial beauty of Miss Czech Republic to Miss China (Miss World) and Miss Japan (Miss International). Reviewing the candidates for this years’ Miss Universe, I cannot see anyone whose facial beauty comes into comparison with Miss Earth 2012. 

Secondly, no one talks about first runner-ups. In this year’s edition, all brickbats were thrown at Miss Philippines. Although she’s not the winner of the pageant, she was adjudged as Miss Air equivalent of the first runner-up position; people were raising arms against her choice. I would have wanted to stand up and say, hey peeps, why do you have to be so hard and difficult for Miss Philippines. She represented you and she did this with her heart and soul and yet you cannot be happy and happy for her. It is such a lot crap that you did not see the wisdom of her win.

Thirdly, there is an entire attempt to cast aspersion to the selection of Miss Earth. O yeah, so someone wrote a startling article that Miss Lorraine Schuck was caught selling the title for $4Million? O well, this is baloney and the write-up was surely meant to drum up controversy when there is already enough. Let us dissect the pitch.

“Miss Lorraine Schuck was caught selling….” – watch the video. Did she offer the title for sale? Or those pretenders who are supposed to be Russian journalist representing an oligarch did? The article was written slanted against Miss Lorraine. They placed a disclaimer but the arrow is aimed at her and besmirching the reputation of the pageant and its owners.

     

And the write-up says further that the Executive Vice-President is negotiating the price for the Miss Earth Crown. Again why would she negotiate? Note that she entertained them in her office and then the Russian journalists are saying that for the price of $2M for the crown for Miss Russia. Of course Miss Lorraine Schuck vehemently refused. And in turn, she was offered $4M. And she does a turn around. I can’t believe also that with just a crown, people will sell their souls. It is very surprising for these journalists to buy the crown for Russia when the cash prize is just $20,000. The whole thing is so contrived. Now click on the link and watch for yourselves if there is truth to the matter.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=zbxj17tAEYI

Fourthly, we understand that there are candidates that are very difficult. In every pageant, there are those that act like divas. We cannot satisfy all of them. But this is a competition and in order to advance into the competition one should be within the graces of the organization holding the pageant. If the candidate cannot hold onto the rules and regulations of the pageant organizers, then they should just be who they are and expect themselves to lose. If they win, so be it. Read the FB page of Miss Belgium of what she had to say in the pageant. In one conversation, she says a lot of things but surprisingly in general she had good things about the pageant. This is her FB link: 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Miss-Earth-Belgium-official/198749513527289?ref=ts&fref=ts

Lastly, although the pageant came back to its native soil, preparation was not a problem as different organizations, towns and provinces opened their doors to hosting different activities of the pageant. The Miss Earth Pageant knows its advocacy and thus if they are only enclosed within the confines of hotels or other elite venues, it will not be able to reach out to the people. Hence, this writer is appreciative that the activities reached out where the common people are since the greater part of the population is the one affected when Mother Nature lashes out its fury.

http://www.demotix.com/news/1605932/miss-earth-2012-candidates-arrive-pangasinan

http://www.asensopangasinan.com/blog/miss-earth-international-2012-in-pangasinan/

All in all, when people start talking about the pageant, it only means it has reached the target spectators and thus more awareness for its activities. When controversy arises, it is an indication that the greater part of the target population’s penchant for news is activated and thus, more and more people are talking about it. Most people in the industry say, “Good News or Bad News” is still news. Miss Earth is in the news and it is mostly good news. Miss Earth has finally arrived this 2012. Kudos!

WHAT IS IN STORE WITH PHILIPPINE MALE PAGEANTS?

by Dominador Agbayani

Male pageants are likely done to mirror female pageants wherein the candidates don their national or ethnic attires, compete in the swimwear segments and in the evening wear contest. Take for example, Manhunt, Mr. International and Mr. Universe Model. Their contests are staged in two rounds - a preliminary and a final competition. The preliminary competition is done to select the candidates with the highest scores and they become finalists who will compete on the final pageant night in the same categories that they were judged in. They are judged in the final performance and their ability to answer the question and answer portion that will separate the chaff from the grains. In these contests too, special awards like the best in national costume, Best Runway Model, Mr. Photogenic, Mr. Friendship, Mr. Personality, Mister Body Physique and Mr. Popularity are given. Some of the awards will catapult a candidate to the semifinal round as fast track events. In 2005, the highest ranking candidate coming from the continents of the earth apart from the Top 5 candidates are given continental awards. In 2007, the winner of Mister Popularity in Manhunt International automatically enters the semifinal round.

Mr. International and Mr. Model Universe follow the same patterns and there may only be different variations as to their selections. On the other hand, Mr. World seems to be in a different mold from these three male pageants. As to Andrew Wolfe’s account, Mr. World’s preliminary selections of the finalists are judged by Sports and Fitness, Extreme Challenge, Talent, Style, Multimedia and Communication and Intelligence. Each category has its own finalists and in the final reckoning these are tabulated and thus, the Top 10 are announced and will be chosen. The Mr. World contest appears therefore to be a complete package contest where an all-around candidate is chosen. I am reminded of the Mr. University contest sans the sports  and fitness and extreme challenge category.

 

There were issues raised during the staging of these pageants. The participation of our candidate, John Mark Marcia to the Mr. Universe Model at the Dominican Republic was affected by his late participation. The organizers attempting to be transparent showed the tabulation of the judges when they crowned their own representative in home soil and it appeared that John Mark Marcia’s appearance is merely participation but not in competition.

On the other hand, Mr. June Macasaet’s participation to the Manhunt international contest did not create loud appreciation for his win at his national competition. There were other favorites' during that time. However, some say that he was the best that the contest would have gotten. And true enough, he surprised all male pageant connoisseurs by proving to all sundry that he has what it takes to be an international winner. He won the title after Kevin Balot’s sterling performance in the Miss International Queen of the Year pageant where transgenders all over the world compete for the crown in Bangkok.

I now fully understand why Mr. Andrew Wolfe’s was personally selected by Ms. Cory Quirino to be the Philippine representative. Andrew being a football player and of Filipino-British parentage, is much more ready to conquer the wider stage of Mr. World. And true enough, he almost conquered the world with his performance which was only eclipsed by Mr. Colombia, Francisco Javier Escobar Parra who was adjudged as Mr. World 2012.

As to Mark John Gutoman who won the right to represent Philippines in the Mr. International Contest, there many doubting Thomases if he would be able to carry the torch further for the Philippines. Mark John is good looking and intelligent but he is not prepared physically to compete. It is very unfortunate that pageant fans did not support him during the internet voting so that he would be able at least to enter the quarterfinal round.

With a 50% batting average for our male pageant participants in the international arena, more interests have been drummed up and probably next year, candidates with better portfolios will join the national pageants and win in them and thus represent the country in a sterling fashion like June Macasaet and Andrew Wolfe did. 

Photo Courtesy: Ian Felix Alquiros, Aski, Jr. Sala, Beautypageantnews.com