MISS UNIVERSE 1992 – A LESSON IN HISTORY

POLITICAL MILIEU AND LANGUAGE (Series 1 of 4)

By Rolando Rafael

I happened to watch Miss Universe 1993 which was done in Mexico City and Dayanara Torres won the crown in glittering fashion. But I was stricken with the realization that her runner-ups were the same as the runner-ups of Miss India Sushmita Sen when she won the 1994 Miss Universe Title in Manila. I was further stunned to realize that way back in 1992, Colombia failed to make it as Miss Universe with the three-year first runner-up finish (1992, 1993,1994). So I started to make a review of this three remarkable editions of the pageant and there are lessons in history that I have learned. 

Let us try to have a rundown in this historical part of Miss Universe with 1992 as our first focus.

      1.   This is still basically pre-Trump Miss Universe days as the Trump Miss Universe started in 1996 with Miss Venezuela Alicia Machado winning in Las Vegas, Nevada. What I am trying to point out here is that with the new owner of the pageant, surely changes in the production and selection of winners would be a reality.

      2.  There is transparency in the choices except in the Final three. The scores of the contestants are flashed onscreen and we can follow how the candidates are faring. I prefer this kind of selection as everyone is guided among the judges’ choices. The audience also has an inkling who is going to be the eventual winner.

        3.  Way back in those days, there would be 10 semifinalists called who would compete in the swimsuit, casual interview and evening gown. A Top 6 is called and they are again interviewed to choose the Top 3. The Top 3 again answers one question that will determine their final ranks. Note that in these celebrated years, it would seem that the stress of the pageant is beauty and wit.

          4. Note that in 1992, prior to the Top 6, it was Miss Venezuela who was leading among the candidates. When the question and answer was asked of the Top 6, (Netherlands, Belgium, India, Venezuela, Namibia and Colombia), Miss Venezuela fumbled and her chance to be in the Top 3 disappeared. Miss India, Namibia and Colombia entered the Top 3 and Namibia went on to win the contest with her answer on the final question of “If you would become a leader of your country tomorrow, what would be the first thing that you would do?”

Michelle Mclean of Namibia, Miss Universe 1992

  

Miss Namibia answered: “I would speak to the children. Let them know that I’m there for them because they the foundation of our every nation and I would let them know that I am there for them.” 

Paola Turbay Gomez, Miss Colombia, First runner-up Miss Universe 1992

Miss Colombia countered: “I guess I would orient my people to a peaceful way and show them the right way to walk to a life of happiness that is a life of peace.”

Mahdu Sapre, Miss India, Second Runner-up Miss Universe 1992

Miss India gave a personal answer: “I think the first thing I’ll do is, I’ll open up a big, biggest, uh, I can say, sports track and field ground in India because I think we are lacking that and that’s the first thing I’ll do. "

Let us underscore some important things in their answers.

Miss Namibia, Michelle Mclean went on to win the contest with the motherhood answer of the children being the future. Miss Namibia answered about children because it was at this time in world history that a lot of children are suffering from hunger and malnutrition. Her emphasis therefore is to care for the children because they will lead the world in the future. Miss Namibia’s answer is grounded in global reality.

Miss Colombia, Paola Turbay Gomez was relegated to first runner-up but her answer is also hinged in global aspirations for peace. Miss Colombia answered in this way because she is highlighting the need for peace in her country and all over the world. Colombia at that time was battling two insurgencies against Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN) and the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC). She is trying to say that she is going to extend the hand of peace since a peaceful coexistence is the way to a good life. But Miss Colombia’s aim is gargantuan hence; this is the probable reason for her first runner-up finish.

 Miss India, Mahdu Sapre became second runner-up. Many thought she would be the Miss Universe after giving a very good answer in the Top 6 portion only to stumble in the final stretch. She would later say in an interview that answered that way because: “All the officials had told us that our answers had to be truthful and coming from the heart. Nobody told us we had to be politically correct. I said what my heart told me and I lost. According to me, India has been in poverty for many years, so it was not going to suddenly change in one year by my becoming prime minister. But there are other areas like arts and sports in which we can improve. And being a sportswoman, I had suffered because we don’t have the equipment and the grounds in India. In the brief time you get to answer, I wanted to say all this but perhaps because of my inadequacy in English; I could not express myself well.”

Miss Universe is also a lesson in world history. We could see these young women expound their thoughts about the future, about peace and about the specific prime needs of their country. These women are being seen as future leaders and they are asked about their grasp in their country’s realities and affairs. But I was taken aback with the explanation of Miss India. It rang a lot of bells in today’s world. Twenty years ago, language is a deterrent to communication and expressing one’s self. But in today’s global world and understanding, Miss Philippines Janine Tugonon’s answer says that language is not a deterrent to become Miss Universe.

The explanation of Miss India for not expounding her answer because of her limitation in the English language reverberates through the years. After 2 decades, India has become a country of English speakers. It is in the forefront of the call industry because of the facility of its people in the English language. The country has become very competitive because of this. Mahdu clearly underscored this. In the next year, we still saw this in Miss India who stumbled again in the question and answer portion. However, it was a big difference with Sushmita Sen and Lara Dutta. They have truly showcased what Mahdu was trying to express in India’s search for its Miss Universe.

Contrast it with the Philippines. The Philippines has embraced the globalization and thus, no matter what language you spoke as long as you are able to shine in your field and are able to reach out to everyone, then you are in good stead. The country has practically embraced all nations and convince them to visit the country through tourism and investments. 

Although I laud Miss Philippines’ answer to the question as she stood up for all the other girls that had difficulty in espousing their thoughts in the English language like Miss Venezuela, I am of the opinion that all candidates to the Miss Universe should learn conversational English. For one, the pageant is an American owned pageant. The winner will stay in New York for one year to promote the diverse programs of the organization and thus, she would be at a great disadvantage in an environment where there is a predominance of English speakers. It would be very difficult for her then to just learn the language during her term as she might find out, her term would have lapsed once she becomes well-verse with the language.

References:

http://www.tpmum.com/madhu.html

http://reason.com/24-7/2012/12/21/language-barrier-at-miss-universe-pagean

http://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/18250-janine-tugonon-no-matter-what-language-as-long-as-you-have-the-heart

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2251493/Miss-Venezuelas-hilarious-gibberish-answer-question-having-laws-sweeps-internet.html

THE PHILIPPINE PAGEANT CULTURE

By Jetset Alejandro

 (Editor’s Note: In our readings, I came across our old blog [essentialbeautiesphil.blogspot.com, March 4, 2006] which was dormant after so many years. There is an article written by yours truly in March 4, 2006 and found it still conforming to the present realities of beauty pageants. I am reposting this article with minor revisions to be more up-to-date.)

Beauty pageants galvanize the Filipinos and they troop to the pageant arena carrying their fanaticism that would literally cause pandemonium in the coliseum. The yearly pageant Binibining Pilipinas in search for the Philippines’ representative to the Miss Universe, Miss International and Miss Tourism Beauty pageant is no different. At the homestretch pageant fans seem to be more in the know and heated brickbats appear on message boards sometimes becoming so irritatingly repetitious.

Beauty pageants have become ordinary and have practically become a way of life among Filipinos. Adding more color and pizzazz to the activity is the penchant of pageant fans of pitting one candidate to the other; of pitting one supporter against the other supporters. Filipino pageant fans never seem to acquire the innate objectivity of looking at beauty. They speculate. They gossip. They destroy others’ personalities. They denigrate the contest to a cockfighting mode. They scorn about the results of the pageant. They shout “lutong-macao” if they do not like the outcome of the judging. They concoct conspiracy theories. They mouth invective.  As you hear more, you admonish them but the more they say something more. Say it and you will find it in the Filipino pageant fan. Then they settle down.

When the international pageant comes to the fore, you will find them either lambasting their own candidate or yet quietly supporting them through text or internet votes. And when the candidate loses, it is a heyday of brickbats and criticisms. Yet when the candidate wins, even the biggest critic sings alleluias and praises hosanna to the candidate. Some others would still exhort their bitchy tongues and say the unkindest words. Just take Janine Tugonon’s first runner-up finish and sterling answer to the Question and Answer portion; she was still thrown the worst criticism: “They do not need a cum laude as Miss Universe, they needed a beauty and she is not!” But still you can’t argue with victory. For victory is sweet. Janine has proven that she is made of sterner and better stuff. She has proven the doubting Thomases that she has the qualities to make it to Miss Universe after all. She may not be the winner but she is part of the last two standing there. She is not a clapper after all. So the Filipino pageant fan retreats for awhile in silence, only to spring back with utter loudness and hue.

This phenomenon had become cultural. Nowhere probably in the world would you see this reaction except in the Philippines. Not even in the United States who had the recent Miss Universe gloated over their victory. Only in the Philippines this happens. Even a first runner-up enjoys the adulation of the crowd with matching motorcade and confetti to boot. She graced all most all TV shows. She made courtesy calls to different offices. She graced political gatherings. She was given Congressional Resolutions for making the country stand tall among all others. 

The Filipinos penchant for beauty pageants might have been ingrained on them when Miss Gloria A. Diaz, a 17 year-old petite lady was crowned the first Filipino Miss Universe in 1969. Since then, the people went gaga over beauty queens. Slowly, beauty pageants were institutionalized even in the smallest political sub-unit. Pageants have become an ordinary fare for every Filipino. There is a Mutya ng Palengke, Mutya ng Ngiti, Mutya ng Busilak, Mutya ng Niyog-Niyogan, Binibining Sapatero and many other variations. Then, they even start so young like the Little Miss Philippines, Little Miss Barangay and the like. Filipinos loved to be called beautiful. In the days of the Conjugal Dictatorship, only the Good and the Beautiful was espoused. And practically, the great days of beauty pageants were basically rooted in the philosophy that “To be beautiful is to be great.”

Beauty pageants are political statements so to speak. In all reality, the Filipinos would like to excel in the world of beauty because it is a very good cover-up for the rotten inside of what really is happening to the country. We may be beautiful outside but rotting in the inside. Truly, the brickbats and foul-mouthing are but symptoms of a greater problem in the country and is greatly rooted out in its malevolent culture.

Dissecting our thesis further, the dissolute gay culture in the country which had been tolerated and proliferated to no end has contributed a lot to this kind of status with regards to beauty pageants. Gays are gays. They are a creative lot. Their dreams of becoming beauty queens have come into realization in gay beauty pageants. But becoming beauty queens even just gay queens is not real. And always, the effect is subliminal and is always reflected on their work. They start grooming girls to become beauty queens. They create these girls in their perceived likeness and ergo they fight for these girls when they compete because it is in their feelings that they are the ones competing. I know of someone who had groomed so many in girls in beauty pageants and comes the Question and Answer portion, he imagines being the one grilled during this segment. Philippine beauty pageants have become life itself.

MY WISH LIST FOR THE BINIBINING PILIPINAS 2013!!!

By Rolando Rafael

The heat is on! The Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. Secretariat has announced that aspirants to a Binibining Pilipinas Crown (International, Universe and Tourism) have until January 15, 2013 to file their applications. After that, series of screenings will be done to select the top number of official candidates. Two years ago, it was 40 candidates, last year it was 30; for this year, it would probably be the same number as that of last year.

Will the heat result to more conflagrations this year? Last year was so fiery. The choice of Miss Janine Mari Tugonon for the title of Miss Universe Philippines 2012 was met with dissension among pageant fans. They wanted another candidate MJ Lastimosa to be the winner. The winner Miss Tugonon was lambasted in almost all pageant forum but she kept her cool. And fate would not have any of these.  Ms. Tugonon went on to dazzle everyone in her Las Vegas foray. She wowed the audience from start to finish and became first runner-up. Well, after her loss, even her meanest critic accepted that she was simply par excellence. And they have started weaving conspiracy theories why Miss Tugonon lost. Well, Queentessence made their say and took a move forward stance. And here we are, looking forward to this year’s possibilities.

How I wish the following girls compete again for 2013:

First on my list is to let Ali Forbes come back. With Olivia Culpo’s win over Janine Tugonon’s much superior answer in the Miss Universe 2012 Question and Answer portion, Ali is a beautiful candidate in Olivia’s mold – petite, beautiful face, exquisite, sophisticated and radiantly fresh looking. With a year of training in speech and elocution, she should be a cinch for a possible Miss Universe Philippines title? 

Isabelle Diaz Daza is next on my wish list. Will this girl succumb from fan pressure? Will she succumb to the wishes of people who yearn for the third Miss Universe title for the country? And who will have the right to all these accolades except for the daughter of the first Philippine Miss Universe. She has the face! She has the body to die for! She has brains and she is witty enough to be a beauty queen. She is taller than her mother. She exudes a winner even if the pageant has not started yet?

If we are talking of Isabelle, then Georgina Wilson can’t be far behind. She is a cousin of Isabelle. And therefore, half of their genes came from the same DNA strand. And if height, beauty and poise is to be talked about Georgina, she fits into the T. She is said to be highly independent, has a strong drive to success and the intelligence that can propel her to the top. With these qualities alone, she can be in the front line for our search for third crown? So what are those handlers doing? Convince her to dip her foot in the proverbial pool of beauty queens and let us see how they can put back the crown we have been longing for in this part of the globe.

Megan Young is another in this wish list. She is the Philippines’ answer to the beauteous and sensuous Angeline Jolie. What with those thick and luscious lips! Will she try out this year? Last year she was being egged to participate in the pageant but she did in one of the activities as one of the hosts. The viewers wanted her as a participant and see her triumph and herald the country for another Miss Universe title. Will this girl enlist this year? Well, as I said, she is in our wish list.

Luzelle Felipe is the quintessential Filipina beauty heralded as pedicab beauty. Well, whether it was used only to drum up interest for her, it really doesn't matter because this tall, lithe and beautiful girl is truly amazing. It has been said that she is training hard to be perfect in all departments and I could only wish that if she did, come out girl and show your competitive stuff.

Well, if my wish list is fulfilled, possibility for a triumphal victory in 2013 is not far-fetched. These are just possibilities and when we talk about possibilities, it could always happen. Well let us when the candidates are out there to strut it out and fight it out for a slot of the Top 30.

RIZZINI ALEXIS GOMEZ IS CROWNED AS MISS TOURISM INTERNATIONAL 2012

By Arnulfo Distor

In a world of uncertainty and near wins, finally a beauty representative of the Philippines made a remarkable victory and had the crown of Miss Tourism International 2012 clipped on head at a fabulous ceremony in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. Miss Rizzini Alexis Gomez, Mutya ng Pilipinas-Tourism represented the Philippines in the contest against a bevy of 55 beauties. Rizzini won over Miss Venezuela Marielis Alejandra Castellanos Perez who was adjudged first runner-up. Miss Australia Monica Rodulovic was second runner-up; Miss Paraguay Lourdes Maria Del Carmen Motta Rolon was third runner-up and Miss Malaysia Jun Wong Wang Jun was adjudged as the 4^th runner-up.

The Queentessence’ favorite finally underscored to everyone that she is both glitzy and witty and romped away with the title of Miss Tourism International 2012 in Malaysia last December 31, 2012. Why do I say that she is a Queentessence fave? Well let us see how the Queentessence writers talk about her:

               June 1, 2012 Queentessence Staff Evaluation

 “QUEENLY DEMEANOR AND POISE: Rizzini Alexis Gomez is Candidate Number 9 who is simply resplendent. It is such a wonder why this girl did not qualify in this year’s Binibining Pilipinas. She is MWP’s gain as she is now an official candidate. Despite Rizzini’s demeanor however, her stylist should look into the best presentation for her because too heavy make-up ruins her total look.”

July 1, 2012 Jetset Alejandro in his MWP Pageant Review writes:

 “Upon the announcement of the Top 12 candidates, there was a big hush among pageant fans as some early favorites did not get into the Top 12. To name a few, they are Mary Grace Lacap, Maham Ahmed, Fer Mary Baliquig and Rizzini Gomez. These candidates got what it takes to be also crowned as the Queen of the Night. The buzz became stronger when it was learned from pageant handlers that there was no Pre-judging that was done. If the judges evaluated the candidates that night right there and then, then the Top 12 were chosen on the basis of the beauty of face, swimsuit scores and evening gown scores. There is no input from the cerebral department that would separate the beauty with brains.”

On the same date, Dominador Agbayani writes further:

 “The reasons are probably the same with Candidate No. 9 Rizzini Alexis Gomez. She has the beauty and grace. She was captivating during the fashion show. With a very beautiful ironed hair during that event, it was a reaffirmation for us that she is one girl to watch out for. But alas, she was nowhere in the Top 12. I can’t fathom the reason behind this as I felt she was a lot better than the other girls that entered the Magic Circle.”

And finally, Raphael Porciuncula wrote on September 20, 2012:

“Among the notables in this batch of Mutya winners were Mutya ng Pilipinas Tourism 2012 winner, Rizzini Alexis Gomez. Rizzini is a candidate to be at the Binibining Pilipinas and failed to make the cut among the official candidates this year which is a very big question. Then she screened for the Miss World Philippines in Cebu and she was the only candidate that showed up during the official screening. She made it as an official candidate in the Miss World Philippines. I was batting for her inclusion for the Top 10 but unfortunately she did not advance to the semifinalist portion. Then I saw this participation. Initially I had negative feelings about her participation as might get the snub again just like the previous pageants. But fortunately, the judges saw in her the winning glitters.” 

Some pageant fans would probably say this is just a minor international pageant but whatever it is, it is still an international pageant participated by a great number of beauty titlists (in this case, 56 participants) and very competitive at that. Miss Gomez did a repeat of what Philippine representative Maria Esperanza Manzano in 2000 did. She is the 16^th Miss Tourism International winner. The pageant is Malaysia’s version to the many tourism pageants being held all over the world with the aim of promoting tourism globally.  

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?