THE MISS UNIVERSE SAGA – THE PHILIPPINE EXPERIENCE (SERIES 3 OF 5 PARTS)

The Decade of Adjustment – 1991-2000

 By Rolando Rafael

From the faltering decade, we can see that the candidate the Miss Universe is looking for is a complete package – beauty, poise, fitness and wit. In that period we saw some pearls but they were not that polished and hence, they did make an etched into the pageant fans’ consciousness but in general there is the feeling of emptiness for a performance that could have been much better and worth it.

I cannot even find a term to describe this decade as there are so many things happening during this time. But I placed it as a period of adjustment. It is a long adjustment because the organization did not seem to learn from its lessons. The decade was highlighted with the following:

First: In 1991, they crowned a petite lady oozing with sex appeal. She is a bomb. She is radiates the X-factor but later she was dethroned because of questionable papers. This episode was to be repeated 7 years after with Tisha Silang. And the year thereafter, it was followed by another similar occurrence. They say history repeats itself but such event occurring three times in a decade means something. It does not bid well for an organization because the mistakes are repeated all over and over again. I do not have anything against foreign-bred Filipinas joining the national competition. In this open and competitive world let them compete and eat the pie if they are qualified but to undermine the screening process, that is the question. The screening committee should have placed their foot forward at once so as to give way for more preparations for the candidates chosen. Given for example those replacements for the title holders, they had the least preparation for their pageants. The one most important thing is being psychologically prepared for the pageant – but some are just lost when they are there.

Secondly:  There seem to be no hard and fast rule to who should be the replacement if someone is dethroned. In the case of Anjanette Abayari, she was replaced by Miss Alou Gonzales who seemed ill-prepared to take on the role as the new competitor for Miss Universe. During that time, the representative to the Miss International was Patty Betita, a seasoned fashion model who was practically ready to take on the role. But an unheralded Alou Gonzales who was remarked by one Filipina who judged during that time that she gauged the unpreparedness of our candidate that time. Alou ranked miserably in the preliminaries. On the other hand, during the time of Tisha Silang, the first runner-up Jewel Lobaton replaced her and went on to compete in the Miss Universe with disastrous results. The year after, Miriam Quiambao who was Binibining Pilipinas-World replaced Janelle Bautista with remarkable results. It is understandable that the organization reserves the right to send the appropriate candidate to the international pageant but pageant observers say that there should be a guiding rule so that it may not appear that such was just a result of whims and caprices.

Thirdly: Note that in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998 and 2000, our candidates registered very low scores in the evening gown segment. In 1994, pageant followers even said that Charlene was overly scored in the evening gown segment as she was much better in other gowns that befit her physique. Liza Berroya’s scores are in average. But I am not going to discuss here her interview scores. Her evening gown score is just average and she used a gown that is not really fashion forward. Same goes with Dindi Gallardo in 1993. In 1997, Abbygale Arenas would have been in the Top 10 had she used a much better and appropriate gown for herself. The moment that they saw Abbygale in her gown during the preliminary competitions, many already thought that it would be her downfall. That gown was described as hideous to say the least. The composite scores tell us that she did well in the swimsuit and the interview. In 1998, Jewel Lobaton defied conventions. The organization was said to be as irate with her as she did not use the prescribed gown. She used the gown of her designer friend, a simple white corset gown that did not do her justice in the midst of formidable competition which Wendy Fitzwilliam of Trinidad and Tobago won during that year. Her so-so performance was again the source of the battle cry of pageant fans they said there were more girls that were much deserving than her to be sent to the Hawaiian edition of the Miss Universe. It was also because of what Jewel did that the organization started having all the girls sign a contract which stipulates that all the outfits that they will use will be provided for by them and any deviation to what is dictated in the contract will be dealt with legally. In 1999, they provided a Halston signature gown for Miriam Quiambao with almost a victorious result. But in 2000, they sent a strong girl but clothe her freakishly  and the result is also freakish.

Fourthly: One must understand that intelligence or wit alone does not make a Miss Universe. You must have the gift of the gab. Take for example, Liza Berroya, a publicized MENSA member. Her interview scores were not that astounding as compared to the other candidates. She did just fairly well in the evening gown and in the swimsuit which is her lowest score. Note that Santos even had a higher interview portion than Liza Berroya. In the case of Santos and Damiles who were within the striking distance of the Top 10, they could have benefitted with a Venezuelan training and personality development that would improve their overall chance to gain a slot in the semifinals. Damiles was said to have a low score in the interview portion. During the 90’s you have to get to have the ability to talk and communicate so that everyone will listen. It would have been the case for Charlene Bonnin also, if she could have understood the question so well, she would not have made that answer as inane as that. And that debacle where Miriam choked in the end, she would have been the 3^rd Miss Universe of the country had she prepared for the question. The issue on the question had been lingering during the contest because one candidate was sent home because she was pregnant. Candidates usually prepare for an eventual question, but it seems Mirriam was caught offguard of when the question was asked. On the other, the last candidate of the decade for whom everyone will finally clip the crown on her head did not make it. Although she had all the qualities to make it, good body, beautiful face and an intelligence that can match Lara Dutta, she failed to make it to the Top 10. Some say she is ranked number 12. Insiders say Nina Ricci was side stepped by the organizers because she has an attitude and it turned them off.

On the fifth note, during this decade, Venezuela is on the rise, assaulting the sensibilities of the times in terms of beauty standard. The Philippines was neither here nor there in this decade. Our candidates are always missing the mark. The 1999 experiment was a success and we were expecting that the next candidate after Miriam will have the same great support like her. However, the debacle after Nina Ricci made the Binibining Pilipinas organization probably think on another level and we will see how things went kaput in the next decade. 

THE MISS UNIVERSE SAGA – THE PHILIPPINE EXPERIENCE (SERIES 2 OF 5)

THE FALTERING PERIOD (1981-1990)

By Jetset Alejandro

This decade I term it as faltering decade or a decade of indecisiveness. It is in this year that the organization seems to have veered away from the template of the formalism years. It is a period of quandary too. In other parts of the globe, for example Venezuela has practically started their beauty machines. But in the Philippines, it is a disdain to know that someone had something reconstructed or this and that. If natural beauties like Chat Silayan can make a mark in the international arena, then the present formula would probably suffice.

So in 1981, we still saw how the judges went for the beauty and cerebral. Maricar Mendoza was chosen as Miss Photogenic and gave out a real good answer in the question and answer portion. She was already said to be in the winning column as she graduated from the University of the Philippines. Maricar was tall and beautiful by the standards of her time but she did not matter in the Miss Universe competition as a Venezuelan, Irene Saez romped off with the title. Irene went on to be a woman of substance and meaning in Venezuela when she entered politics. A Top 12 was chosen but Maricar fared badly in the swimsuit competition.

In 1982, another UP student, Maria Isabel Lopez who was outspoken and easily says what is on her mind was chosen to represent the country in Lima, Peru. She was probably the candidate ahead of her time.  With her wit and wide outlook in life, Maria Isabel should have been a very good ambassador for the advocacy of Miss Universe at that time. But Maribel failed in her swimsuit presentation and a Canadian took the spotlight in that year in the person of Karen Baldwin. Had the contest been held probably in American soil or in Europe, Maribel would had been a hit.

In 1983, the Binibining Pilipinas crowned Rosita Capuyon who is in the mold of the formalism candidates. She was beautiful but she has the aura of the previous decade. In this year, Miss New Zealand, Lorraine Elizabeth Downes a 19 year-old charming lady was crowned as Miss Universe.

A come backing candidate Desiree Verdadero was crowned as the new Binibining Pilipinas 1984 winner. Desiree wowed the audience with her Malayan beauty and confidence that radiated and exuded grace and oomph. If you look at Desiree, she was in the mold of Chat Silayan and yet, it seems that the Binibini is not following prototypes that would truly be surefire hits for the country.

In 1985, a tall, svelte, mestiza Joyce Fellosas Burton was crowned as the winner in the pageant. All hopes were pinned on this girl. She does not fit the mold of an exotic brown Filipina but everyone loves a mestiza in the country. They embraced the girl for her good qualities. She could have given Miss Deborah Carthy-Deu of Puerto Rico a run for the crown. But there are reports that the Miss Universe Organization had just asked her participation and just enjoy the pageant as she cannot present a Philippine passport are true, then this is really a big injustice to all Filipino pageant fanatics. No one is really coming out to clear this issue but the fact that she did not have preliminary scores flashed onscreen my prove credence to these gossips in whispers.

A new hope to win the title of Miss Universe in 1986 has become paramount as the Philippines showed the world its brand of courage and bravery through the People’s Power Revolution. The Philippines is the darling of the world because of its historical event. But the Binibining Pilipinas failed to capitalize on that event as it sent a very weak candidate and in the annals of Philippine Pageant history garnered one of the lowest scores in the swimsuit category which was 6.86. Despite of whatever sterling qualities that Violeta had, she was never able to regain her fighting stature after that very low score in the swimsuit. Besides, Barbara Palacios Teyde of Venezuela was so formidable.

In 1987, a tall, long legged, fair-skinned and a very sociable girl was chosen to represent the country after the debacle in 1986. Geraldine “Pebbles” Asis represented the Philippines in Singapore where she was a semi-finalist. She was one of the front-runners at that time. She was number 5 in the preliminaries but in the final five, she was eased out because of a very low score in the interview. Geraldine is a mix of the formalism period and this indecisive period as she was educated in an exclusive school that is administered by nuns. She was taught to be prim and proper but as she went into her higher education, she became her gregarious self which made her good stead as she was able to reach out to more people most especially in the entertainment world that she has chosen to work for during her early career years.

The year 1988 saw the selection of the unheralded Perfida Limpin. Coming from the year where the Binibini selected a fair-skinned candidate, this time, Perfida fitted the criteria selection of the common but beautiful Filipina. She participated in the Miss Universe pageant in Taipei and the result was the so-called Asian Invasion. Unfortunately, Perfida was not part of the Asian domination. Many pageant aficionados say that had Perfida won at the time where the pageant is held in North America or in Europe she would have been a very big hit but since it was held in Taipei where the fair-skinned ladies are much more appreciated, she was relegated to the sidelines with the other Asian candidates that had predominantly dusky colors.

For 1989, the organization opted to go back to the dusky, intelligent but tall Filipina. Sarah Jane Paez was crowned as the Binibining Pilipinas Universe at that time. With those qualities, however, Sarah failed to make it to the Top 10. A beautiful lady from Holland with the name Angela Visser was crowned in Cancun, Mexico. In a retrospective show done, when Sarah Jane was interviewed, she said that she lost the confidence in herself when she saw the other candidates during her time. She became an instant fan and she was in awe with the other candidates. She lost competitive self in the pageant and hence, she never recovered. I have heard other Philippine candidates talk about this phenomenon and with Sarah talking about this, the reality of going through more intensive type of personality training should be in the offing. Added to this, she had good scores in the swimsuit and interview but her gown presentation was way way off.

For the year 1990, Germelina “Gem” Padilla was crowned Binibining Pilipinas Universe. This time, the organization opted for a tall, fair and intelligent Filipina. Gem as fondly called by her family, friends and fans, is a Political Science graduate from the University of Sto. Tomas. Had the format been a Top 12 or a Top 15/16, she would have made it since she ranked 12^th in the preliminaries. Her lowest score is the evening gown segment. With Gem Padilla’s closing the decade with a near inclusion to the semi-finalists circle, hopes were high that the Binibini will chart a course of repeating the past successes of the defining and formalism periods.

This period underscored certain facts. First, the ideal beauty changes through different milieu, culture and perspective. We cannot standardize beauty.* Something beautiful in Africa may not be beautiful in North America. Take for example, in 1984, Desiree Verdadero’s dusky beauty was such a hit in Miami, Florida. Pebbles Asis was very much appreciated also in Singapore because of her fair complexion. On the other hand, Perfida Limpin was totally unappreciated in that Asian invasion in Taipei. Second, a big percentage of our candidates during the period did not make it to the semifinalist circle because of very low scores in the swimsuit competition. ** The third phenomenon is a recurring issue until the present time, the evening gown. A poorly designed, made, fitted evening gown would spell disaster to a candidate even though she can weave herself into that gown.*** Fourthly, the communication department! The communication department does not make a complete candidate. But it contributes greatly to her ability to expound her ideas and thus be a very good mouthpiece for the organization searching for its queen, in this case, the Miss Universe.**** And lastly, a great personality! Our candidate should be able to charm her way to the crown and not cower in fear or hide in their shell in the face of threat or formidable competition.

Things have greatly changed from the defining and formalism period with this period. Modern day icons of beauty have emerged and the country’s beauty pageant machinery seems to be stagnating during this period. I have termed the period as an indecisive period as I do not feel that we have stagnated during this period. There were attempts to be at par with the other countries in their aim to maintain being in the leader board of beauty. But up to what extent? Shall we follow the lead of Venezuela who is into reconstructive surgery? Shall we further follow them to develop a well-rounded candidate?

During this period, a lot of countries train their candidates in personality development – social graces, speech and communication, language of the place where the pageant is to be held, hairstyles, make-ups and appropriate clothes and fashion. When other countries are taking the lead, the Philippines has a patchy performance in all these aspects. But if you take a review of the decade, there were other private entities that have propounded the concept but it never materialized. We wanted so much but we were so much less when gauged in totality. 

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*http://lacritique.net/article/standardization-beauty 

**http://www.ehow.com/how_2240711_choose-beauty-pageant-swimsuit.html

***http://www.wikihow.com/Model-Beauty-Pageant-Evening-Gowns

****http://www.abilia.org.uk/userfiles/46188/ABILIA_Export_Communication2.pdf

THE MISS UNIVERSE SAGA – THE PHILIPPINE EXPERIENCE (SERIES 1 OF 5)

By Jetset Alejandro

I was 9 years old when Gloria Diaz conquered the universe and became the first Filipina to give the country pride about the famed beauty of its women. Pride was much greater in the paternal side of Gloria as she acknowledged half of her heritage that she was from La Union and that her father is from the idyllic town of Aringay. I can vividly recall all the elementary pupils from the town lined-up the streets where the motorcade will pass through and when the motorcade arrived, I broke from the line and ran to the old Spanish church of more than 400 years old where there will be a thanksgiving mass in her honor. Pride set in every one’s heart because she showed that she was one of us. More so, I was beaming with pride because I am part of those relatives rejoicing in a feat that someone from their kind won in an international contest.* People looked highly at Gloria because of the grandeur, cultured ways and spunk that emanated from her. There was never a sign of irritation from this girl who was catapulted to a Greek Goddess stature by her countrymen. As a young kid of 9 years of age, my passion for beauty pageants started with Gloria.

Every news item is lapped up whenever there is a pageant that is held in the country. We have to wait for the national newspapers to feature the results of the pageant. Televisions were black and white by then and slowly they evolved into colored viewing until this present time when the internet has almost taken over viewing pleasures in pageantry.

Year in, year out, we were monitoring what is happening in the pageant world. Beauty pageants all over the world are becoming popular and such rabid following can be felt in the Philippines. The turning point for Philippine pageantry is when the second Miss Universe from the Philippines was crowned in Greece, Miss Maria Margarita Moran. The following year, the pageant was held in the Philippines where Miss Spain Amparo Munoz Quesada was crowned as Miss Universe. Under the Marcos regime, the Philippines was being promoted as a new haven of peace, discipline and beauty. It is a place where the true, the good and the beautiful reside.

THE FORMATIVE PERIOD IS ALSO THE DEFINING PERIOD = 1964 – 1970

After Lalaine Bennet’s 4^th runner-up placement in the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant in 1963, Binibining Pilipinas became the new franchise holder for selecting the Philippine representative to the contest in 1964. For this seven-year period, the Philippines saw the entry of its representative three times to the semifinalist position. One eventually becomes Miss Universe which was in 1969 as we have discussed earlier. This period in Binibining Pilipinas history can be aptly called its formative years. I call it the formative years because it is a term for a period of growth and development. Some people say that a formative period is a transition period. But in more ways, it could be more of a defining period for the Binibining Pilipinas as their achievement in 1969 really established the foundation for selecting the most appropriate and deserving girl to represent us in the pageant.

THE FORMALISM PERIOD = 1971-1980

If we look at the years of 1971 -1980, there is a common denominator of the Philippine candidates that participated in the Miss Universe. This is a year where formalism among the candidates is observed. When we talk about formalism, it refers to the adherence to structured standard of the time as dictated by culture, tradition and mores. Take the case of Vida Doria in 1971. She was described as saccharine sweet, lovely and a paragon of primness, beauty and grace. Fashion designer Luis delos Santos describe her as very classy and beautiful in a Filipina way. In 1972, we sent Armi Barbara Crespo who was in every essence the paragon of the “Dalagang Pilipina” immortalized in the song with the same title. Armi was every inch the prim and proper type. She wore a long-sleeved polka dot dress with her hair made in a bun at the topmost side of her head. She moved with grace and fine movements. In 1973, Margie Moran continued the trend. She was simple yet graceful. She is structured and organized and she on that stage in Greece, she exemplified the gracefulness of a swan for which to some writers the Gods and the Goddesses of Greece bestowed her crown because of her Goddess upbringing.

 In 1974, Guadalupe Sanchez represented the country in the pageant where she played host.  Guada was described as snobbish yet regal as she exuded the air of royalty. In 1975, another favorite of mine was crowned Binibining Pilipinas Universe Rosemarie Chiqui Brosas who was 4^th runner-up in the Miss Universe during her time. Chiqui was very cultured. She has this very sweet and vibrant countenance and she moves with queenly demeanor. In 1976, Lizbeth de Padua, summa cum laude from UP Los Banos represented the country in the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant held in Hongkong. She was fashionable. She walked with grace. She talked with so much eloquence. In 1977, Anna Lorainne Kier jolted the pageant world winning the Bb. Pilipinas Universe title with a short hair. But still she was every inch the candidate that exemplified the regality of the Filipina at that time. She exuded grace and elegance.

In 1978, Jennifer Cortez was adjudged as the winner. It would seem that this is the transitional year to a decade of realism. Jennifer is spunky and egregious. She was practically a deviation of the formalism years. Although Jennifer was a very gracious person, she did not shine in the pageant.

Tempered probably by the result of the choice in 1978, in the year 1979, Criselda Cecilio who was simple, charming and refreshing was chosen to represent the country in Perth, Western Australia that year. She has a pleasant and a beautiful face with matching wit and eloquence but with the formidable competition at that time, she failed to make a dent in the competition.

In 1980, the Binibini went back to the time and tested “formal” beauties with the selection of Ma. Rosario Silayan. She was an epitome of grace and queenly demeanor. She was adjudged 3^rd runner-up in the pageant.

Note that in the formalism years, 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975, the Philippines had a 4-year streak in the Top 5. After 4 years, the Philippines was back in the scene when the Chat Silayan garnered a 4^th place position in 1980. In 1971, it is also noteworthy that our candidate was chosen by the press to be Miss photogenic. In the formalism years, we had a 50% batting average in entering the semifinals and the Top 5 and we had a 10% performance rate in garnering the title of Miss Universe.

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* On the side, recalling those years, I feel the angst of my town mates when the majestic church crumbled during the July 11, 1991 earthquake that happened in Northern Luzon.

MISS UNIVERSE 1992-1994 – LESSONS IN HISTORY

NEAR WINS AND EVENTUAL VICTORIES

 (Series 4 of 4)

By Rolando Rafael

In the first three articles that I have written about lessons in Miss Universe history, I have pointed out that the highest scoring candidate during the preliminary, semifinals and the final 6 does not necessarily become the title holder. The final reckoning becomes the yardstick of choosing the winner. But what is the basis in the final reckoning? Based on the 1992 to 1994 pageants, the sole basis is the ability of the candidate to espouse the advocacy of the organization and how the candidate was able to touch the core of these ideals and how she communicated using her innate beauty to the judges. You can practically feel who the judges are rooting for that very moment.

The scores that were flashed onscreen showed how each of the candidates compared with each other and it aided the audience how their candidates are faring well. It would also give a hint to national directors why their candidates did not qualify or did not make it. Sometimes, the fault is in what the candidates wore. Sometimes, a one-piece or two-piece swimsuit would make the difference. It is in the eye of the beholder that these things are taken into account. Every judge sitting there has a different standard of beauty and thus a different standard of judging although the organization that is handling the pageant may have oriented them to what they are looking for a girl.

The ability to communicate the candidates’ advocacy is another that should be taken into account. I have been part of different pageant organizations and I noticed that they initially do not follow a prototype of who should win in their pageant. But when they hear the candidates and when they hear them talk about their advocacy  they start fitting the candidate into their boxes. In bigger organizations, the rehearsed is easily picked up from the natural ones; the trained from the innate ones. But sometimes you cannot fault the trained candidates as they offer a more stable personality than those of the instinctive candidates.

Take the case of Colombia. They had a very revered Miss Universe history. They had their first Miss Universe in 1958 in the person of Luz Marina Zuluaga from Caldas, Colombia. They had 29 appearances to the semifinalists circle in the 54 years that they had participated in the pageant. They had their own shares of Best in National Costumes too. But the most frustrating probably is the years in review, 1992 to 1994. They had three successive first runners-up. And a title never materialized. Fourteen years after, they managed again a first runner-up in the person of Taliana Vargas. I can’t seem to understand why this phenomenon occurred for Colombia. First, they have the wow factor. Second, their candidates have the wit factor. Thirdly, they have the sexy factor. Probably it is luck. Or what we call the confluence of factors. Or some believe that lucky things happen to lucky people.

Now what about India? In our review years, 1992-1994, we saw two Miss India candidates entering the semifinals for the years 1992 and 1993. In 1992, their representative was second runner-up. In 1993, their representative was in the Top 6. It was said that the problem of these two candidates is the language barrier – their inability to communicate or put into words what is in their minds and thoughts. But in 1994, Sushmita Sen erased that handicap. The year 1994 became the time that almost all Miss India’s are considered the girls to beat because of their ability to express themselves. Although in recent years, we find less and less Miss India finalists until recently.

History can be so cruel as it underscores the paucity of luck in one camp while the other camps lord it over always. Some quarters may have found right formula and are continually refining that formula until they have found the correct potion of success. Others grapple with the fact that they have missed the train to success and are always missing it. In this highly globalized world and with the internet serving as a tool of social communication, even beauty pageants need to adjust to the leaps and bounds of technology. National directors should take a cue from the lessons learned in the past. To which I have to bring back myself in what Miss Colombia 1994 Carolina Gomez has said and to paraphrase it: “We must learn from the past and learn from people who have been there because they have the wisdom of experience that they can share to the younger denizens who are also in the process of making history for the future.”

MISS UNIVERSE 1994 – A LESSON IN HISTORY

THE RECURRING AND CONTINUING THEMES

 (Series 3 of 4)

By Rolando Rafael

In my Miss Universe history lessons in 1993, I suggested that had Miss Colombia answered with something about the children and the future she would have clinched the title instead of Miss Puerto Rico. In the 1994 edition, I cannot help but notice that the prevailing thoughts and aspirations of those times were of peace, children, education and the future. There was also a concern on environment albeit taken only sparingly.

On Peace:

 Sushmita Sen talked about multiculturalism of India and yet there is peace amongst its people of varied cultures, religions and languages during her preliminary interview. And on the Top 6 interview, Minorka Mercado of Venezuela answered in response to a question of Mona Grudt of what is the revelance of the Miss Universe pageant to woman at that time answered about peace. She said that Miss Universe is a way to send the message of love and peace to all humanity by bringing all the nations together in one pageant.

On Children:

In the last 2 pageants (1992 and 1993), Michelle Mclean and Dayanara Torres won their respective pageants with answers relating the children as the hope and the future themselves. In the preliminary interview of this years’ Top 10, Miss Switzerland tried to use this possible connection of her loving kids very much and thus she hoped to become a pediatrician someday and her concern is to support the needs of the children because they are the future. On the other hand, Miss Italy wants to become a teacher because she loves being with children, short of saying that they are the future of the world too.

On the other hand, Miss Slovak Republic cannot escape the topic about young people. Miss Slovak Republic’s discussion on the young as the hope of the future takes on a deeper as she talked about how she was part of the young people who made a mark on social change for her country. She said she joined street protests with other students to help liberate her country from the shackles of communism. She would rather again comeback on answering a question about women being unfulfilled if they do not have children. If at the outset during the preliminary interview she was a libertarian, she showed conservatism when she gave an answer that a woman should have children to become fulfilled and she looks forward to being one.

Even Sushmita Sen of India cannot help but take a dig on the issue about children. When she was asked a question by Florence LaRue on what was the greatest adventure she would embark upon if she had the means to do so? She remarked that it would be about children because she enjoys the adventure that comes with them.

On a related front, when Miss Colombia Carolina Gomez was asked during the Top 6 competition of the question what was the biggest problem facing young people, she retorted that it was the lack of security in them. In order to learn how to be secure, they should look up to the older generation because of the wisdom they have acquired through the years.  As such she is telling everyone that although the young is the future, they should learn from the experiences of the past.

On Education:

The issue on education seemed like a variant on the topic of the young as the future of the world. Take for example, Miss USA advocating Helping All Teens Survive in her program. In the same way, Miss Colombia talked about supporting young women. They talked about teenage and unwanted pregnancies and the need to educate them. Miss USA further stressed during the Top 6 interview that she would focus on disadvantaged kids and trying to make a difference in their lives. Don’t you think therefore that this is a variant in helping the kids to be more productive citizens of the world?

On the Environment:

Miss Sweden talked about the beauty of her place in Northern Sweden. She talked about the beauty of her surroundings, the northern lights, the midnight sun and the beauty of nature. She did a very nice description of her place of origin and we are just waiting for her to say that we must preserve it.

The Final Question:

What is the essence of a woman?

All three candidates to the Top 3 answered adequately and that anyone of them can be Miss Universe 1994. If we dissect the answers of the three, their answers revolved on 4 topics – Love, Children, Femininity and Motherhood. All the candidates talked about love for their children. Sushmita touched about love for their men too. They talk about giving birth to children, living their lives and the joys of motherhood. The winner therefore was the candidate that delivered the best spiel among them and that morning (night in other parts of the globe), the winner was Miss Sushmita Sen from India.

Final Note:

It seemed like the candidates for the Miss Universe 1994 edition had learned their lessons by watching previous pageants. They tried to go the way of peace, children, family, love and hope. However, they did not expect that there others who thought of the same route too. What mattered in the end is the crowning of the girl who had still one ace up in her sleeves.

Photo Credits:

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-05-29/news-interviews/27272988_1_miss-universe-sushmita-sen-beautiful-woman

http://beautypageantpredictor.blogspot.com/2011/03/shoulda-been-miss-universe-1994.html

http://kaw.stb.s-msn.com/i/31/64789E92CD55AEAEA8C67F0EDA0E3.jpg

www.missosology.info

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/

 http://www.chasingglennbeck.com/storage/education.jpg

MISS UNIVERSE 1993 – A LESSON IN HISTORY

A HOSTILE HOST AND REHASHED ANSWERS

(SERIES 2 OF 4)

By Rolando Rafael

From the very warm reception that Miss Universe have experienced in Bangkok, Thailand in 1992, we are greeted by an almost tumultuous booing in 1993 that started when Miss Mexico was not announced as part of the 10 semifinalists. The loud booing was later on particularly directed to Miss USA. I find Miss USA a very fine lady and very conversant at that but I think she was jarred by the acrimonious reception directed at her by the audience. It was said that the attitude was directed to the country that she represents but I think, such occurrence was unpleasant, unpalatable and distasteful for a host country to do that to their visitors. Knowing that the reception of Mexicans to certain candidates like Miss USA is deeply ingrained, the organization should take into consideration past experiences in the place. A repeat of the pageant in 2007 resulted to the same reaction with Miss USA Rachel Smith. As Miss Rachel Smith said, “I know that it is not about me but with the heckling and boisterous derisions, it is very difficult not to take it personally.”

As a result of these reactions, we will never know if these reactions would be repeated if another pageant will be held in Mexico. If it happened before, it would most likely happen again. The Miss Universe Organization should take this into consideration when choosing a place to host the Miss Universe. I always believe that the pageant is a venue for camaraderie, hospitality and goodwill among nations.

The Miss Universe 1993 went down in history that the number 8 in the semifinalists eventually reached the top and was named and crowned as Miss Universe , Dayanara Torres of Puerto Rico. Even during the Top 10 competitions she was always in the middle ground but during the culmination portion, she snatched the possible crown from Miss Venezuela who was almost perfect for the crown that night. We also do not know if the crowd who was frustrated with the non-inclusion of their candidate shifted their cheers on her swayed the judges’ decision to favor her in place of Miss Colombia and Miss Venezuela.

The answers of the three finalists to the one final question are doubly significant. There are pararellisms that we can get from them. The final question given was: “ If you would become Miss Universe, what is  the most single important thing that you would want to accomplish?

Miss Colombia, Paula Bettancourt answered that her country is the land of the Amazonas and that it is one of the last frontier in the world. There is therefore a need to do an ecological campaign to preserve, protect and maintain the environment to give the younger generations a better and healthier future.

“It is 1993 during this time. It seems like the seeds for the concept of Miss Earth started during this year and the idea maybe hatched from the answer of Miss Colombia. But seriously speaking, Miss Colombia is proud of her country’s resources and that she is sounding the call for people to look after the environment. We could see how people in the audience appreciated her answer.”

Miss Venezuela Milka Chulinas said that she will try to make people change their negative attitude into a positive one so that we would have a better place to live in.

“Look at the parallelism of the answer of Miss Colombia in 1992 with Miss Venezuela’s answer. Miss Colombia was talking about orienting her people in the peaceful way so that they could through the life of happiness. Miss Venezuela espoused that people change their negative attitudes (warlike attitudes) into positive one (peaceful coexistence). “

Miss Puerto Rico, Dayanara Torres responded that we should learn from the past and that we should implement it in the present to create a better future and that she would focus on the children because they are the future.

“In 1992 Michelle Mclean of Namibia won the title of Miss Universe by telling everyone that she would speak to the younger generation because they are the very foundation of the future of the nation. Dayanara Torres of Puerto Rico said exactly what Miss Universe 1992 said in a paraphrased version.”

It seemed that the magic word during these two editions is the children of today being the recipients of the future. Had Miss Colombia mouthed similar perorations she might have clinched the title in 1993.

Note that India's presence in the Miss Universe arena is greatly being felt. In 1992, India's representative managed to get the 2nd runner-up position. This year, their candidate was in the Magic 10. What Madhu was trying to explain in terms of the language barrier might be true again for India's candidate for 1993. But it is another story in 1994 where Sushmita Sen proved to all sundry that India's time has come. She was crowned in Manila, Philippines as the 1994 Miss Universe. The Miss Universe story in 1994 is the topic of the third series. 

India's representative to the Miss Universe 1993 made it to the Top 6 together with Venezuela, Australia, Colombia, Puerto Rico and USA

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