| Subject: MISS UNIVERSE 2009: AT THE HOMESTRETCH part2 (by: joseph vitug) |
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lito_mora
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Date Posted: 05:47:28 08/23/09 Sun
NAMIBIA – Happie Ntelamo. She surprisingly turned out to be a consistently polished contender, who turned out her strongest performance when it counted—the Presentation Show. She showcased a trim figure during the swimsuit round and she looked dignified and elegant in a one-shoulder light blue sequined gown.
NETHERLANDS – Avalon-Chanel Weyzig. It is quite unusual how I tend to differ from the majority of pundits this year when it comes to delegates from the Benelux countries. Many pundits sang high praises for both Belgium and Netherlands, declaring them top contenders for the finals. I do have a positive opinion for both of them, but not to the stratospheric regard that several pundits have. Yes, I do think that this lady is a polished contestant (bravo, Ms. Kötter) whose fierce exotic features (she’s part Indonesian) that make me recall America’s Next Top Model Cycle 10 contestant Dominique does make an indelible striking impression. But to be a front-runner? I don’t quite get it, to be blunt. She gave a decent performance in the web interview, but nothing memorable or distinctive. During the swimsuit round of the Presentation Show, she walked okay, but I sensed she needed some polishing. She did better in the evening gown, performing a Riyo Mori Flash in a shimmering white evening gown and attempted to perform a half Taliana Twirl before stepping out. Despite my reservations, I still do believe she does have what it takes to make the final cut.
NEW ZEALAND – Katie Taylor. This blonde lady seems to have a sweet, bubbly, and likable personality, and she does have a refreshingly pretty face. That bubbly presence was translated to her swimsuit presentation that she made a creditable impression. During the gown round, she attempted to spice up showcasing her red satin-and-chiffon number by performing some partial Taliana Twirls. Again, a creditable though imperfect effort.
NICARAGUA – Indiana Maria Sanchez. While watching the web interview online, I noticed she resembles the artist formerly known as Posh Spice, Victoria Beckham, though on other photos she simply looked plain. She made a great impression on that web interview as she was extremely articulate describing several little known attractions of her country (like sharks thriving in a fresh water lake, and a volcano within a lake). She also gave a surprisingly strong performance during the Presentation Show, showcasing a trim, buffed figure with a strong catwalk during the swimsuit round, and prancing wonderfully about in a multi-layered frilly pink number (it was similar in structure to the multilayered fringe number sported by Bolivia’s Desiree Duran back in 2006).
NIGERIA – Enifovwe Sandra Otohwo. Her web interview showcased a little unintentional humor as she mentioned that many people believed no one in her country speaks English—she stressed that fact that despite the presence of over 250 ethnic groups, they are united together as one country. Her three wishes actually involved one thing: winning Miss Universe because a) it will help her become a stronger force to promote peace; b) it will make her country proud; and c) it will give her better opportunities. She gave a polished performance during the swimsuit round of the Presentation Show with a strong catwalk—though her figure was clearly a bit more voluptuous than most. For the evening gown round, she sported a white ballgown that emphasized said voluptuousness.
NORWAY – Eli Landa. She is an attractive lady, but she’s the weakest link amongst the Scandinavian contingent. Her web interview was slightly memorable for the simple fact that at the time it was conducted, her luggage was missing so that was what was on her mind when being asked about her greatest fear and her three wishes. The highlight of her stint was in the Presentation Show as she made a distinctive presence in a blue printed gown.
PANAMA – Diana Patricia Broce. Lookswise, I found her features too angular to my liking. But she gave an extremely polished, top-notch performance during the presentation show, showcasing a trim and buffed hourglass figure during the swimsuit round, and looking impeccably elegant in a white gown with intricately embroidered diagonal patterns.
PARAGUAY – Mareike Baumgarten. Many pundits have issues with her facial features, but I found her facial features to be pleasing and attractive enough. She gave a great performance during the swimsuit round of the Presentation Show, but during the evening gown round, most pundits generally found her satin green gown with lacy black underlay and accessorized with black velvet gloves to be a fashion crime—to my eyes, it’s only a misdemeanor.
PERU – Karen Susana Schwarz. Here is another possible stealth contender into the finals—though I originally didn’t find her looks to be distinctive or extraordinary, her features grew on me and now I found her very attractive. She was an extremely articulate communicator in the web interview, and she was consistently top-notch polished during the Presentation Show. I love her white-and-silver strapless gown with a sexy slit at the right side, and she paraded that number with great skill, doing a partial Riyo Mori Flash and a partial Taliana Twirl.
PHILIPPINES – Pamela Bianca Manalo. Filipino pageant fans and pundits all over are decrying the fact that so far this decade we have not landed in the semifinals, and that this is our last chance to do so. We Filipinos are pinning our hopes on this lady to break the long drought. So, did Bianca deliver? Well, during the time of Bb. Pilipinas, I thought they made the wrong decision selecting this lady for this pageant and selecting Mary-Ann Umali for Miss World, as Bianca seemed to be better suited for Miss World and vice versa. But I have to concede that Bianca is performing better than I expected in this pageant, making her presence felt (partly fueled by the support of the significant number of Filipino staff at the Atlantis Resort) and generating a great impression. Some pundits may want her to channel Miriam Quiambao, but I think she did the right thing by channeling someone else instead—her own sister, Kate, a Miss World 2002 finalist. Her proportions are such that even as she might actually be a tad voluptuous if based on weight, somehow she managed to create the illusion of a sleek silhouette that is desired by today’s pageant standards. And though her so-called “gift-wrapper” blue evening gown got mixed reviews, she did work the number with aplomb onstage, and it is better seen in action (like, say, Oxana Fedorova’s famous white Gucci number). Will the energy of the Atlantis staff (which most likely contributed to the loud applause heard when she appeared onstage) rub off to bring forth the final break from the long drought? It is definitely within reach.
POLAND – Angelika Jankubowska. This blonde has a pretty face, and her voluptuous figure makes her in contention for the BB Sweepstakes. But she is otherwise raw and unpolished, so her chances for being in serious contention for the crown are very slim.
PUERTO RICO – Mayra Matos. I originally thought this lady is one of the surer contenders for a Top 15 slot (though not necessarily going all the way to the Top 5). During the first two weeks I would place her firmly amongst my Top 15, but she started to fade as time wore on. Feeling ill during the group swimsuit photoshoot (and being recorded throwing up) is one of the key indicators that her prospects were fading. She actually did a great job during the Presentation Show, doing her best showcasing her lean (maybe too lean for comfort) figure during the swimsuit round and performing a half-Taliana Twirl sporting a strapless sequined bustier gown. But her prospects are starting to be less certain than before.
ROMANIA – Bianca Elena Constantin. It is nice that after a long 11-year absence, this country is back competing in this pageant. Such a shame despite some worthwhile contenders in the national pageant, this bimbishy-looking blonde was selected to represent this country. Well, to her credit, she is a decent-enough communicator judging from her web interview, and performed creditably enough in the Presentation Show, but if we try to judge her strictly on her merits, she is not really in serious contention for the finals. But there is extremely strong buzz that she might be bestowed one of the much coveted Trump Choice slots.
RUSSIA – Sofia Rudyeva. When she won her national pageant, many pundits felt that there were more stunning and gorgeous ladies than her who would’ve been worthy of the crown, and that she paled in comparison to her predecessor, the reigning Miss World Ksenia Sukhinova. Then, a couple of weeks later, explicitly nude photos of her were shown and published on Perfect 10 magazine (a European based men’s magazine) and posted all over the internet. These were not the tasteful nudes where the naughtiest bits were artistically or strategically covered. No, we get to see practically everything—well, at least, the level that a Playboy Magazine would allow. I have a feeling they would’ve dethroned her if she went further than that (you know, Penthouse, Hustler, and other skankier magazines where we could “look” deeper, shall we say), but well, that is probably why she still got to keep her crown. But an additional fact was revealed that makes it even queasier—the photos were taken when she was 15 years old (three years ago). Remember that Miss Universe caters to an American audience, and based on American law, any image depicting people nude and in a potentially sexual situation under 18 years old is illegal. Still, it was baffling for pageant pundits when we learned the news that she was allowed to compete. The Miss Universe Organization doesn’t live under a rock and they obviously have internet access, don’t they? Oh well, she got to compete without controversy for almost three weeks so far, though all of a sudden a video interview featuring one Miss Universe telecast judge (Valeria Mazza) was featured expressing her negative opinion over such photos. Cynical wags probably felt that Trump & Co. allowed her to compete to exploit this controversy for ratings and revenue, under the maxim that “any publicity is good publicity.” It makes many of us feel sad that this organization decided to take such desperate measures if that is indeed so…
There was an alleged statement that Sofia claimed that she was exploited when those photos were taken, and that if she wins the Miss Universe crown, she would use her position to advocate against exploitation of minors. Somehow, I think that alleged declaration is more of a spin to win sympathy and that it rings hollow. I saw those photos and the way her face looked reminded me of a now-classic painting that also caused a major furor during its day—“Olympia” by Edouard Manet.*4/
*4 When this painting was unveiled in 1863, many conservatives declared this painting obscene because it depicted a reclining nude model staring openly and directly to the viewer in such a nonchalant manner. According to the artistic cognoscenti, the objects in that painting seemed to identify the subject as a courtesan, not a reclining Venus. They pointed out the orchid in her hair, her bracelet, pearl earrings, the black ribbon on her neck, the dangling slipper, and the oriental shawl on which she lies, as symbols of material wealth and casual sensuality, along with the fact that there was a black cat which was a symbol for prostitution then.
Even if they attempted to steer away from this ticking bomb of a controversy by distracting us with the Maxim photo layout of the reigning Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza (and the fact she addressed that fact during the Presentation Show with a cheeky mention about taking off her clothes and being naked when asked by her co-host about what she has been doing), one must note that we cannot really compare Dayana’s photos with Sofia’s, as there is artistry and taste in the former unlike the latter. Wonder if one of the final questions will be related to this issue?
Okay, three paragraphs and a footnote have already been devoted to the controversy. So what about the girl herself? Though I really do not want her to advance any further, I have to grudgingly concede that based on mere merit, she deserves to belong to the Top Ten, if not even Top Five. Her stage skills are extremely polished, her figure is undeniably trim and, yes, sexy, her facial features are gorgeous enough, and oddly enough, her web interview seems to reveal a woman more mature than her age would suggest as she was surprisingly thoughtful and almost eloquent (but then again, it might be an excellent translator’s skill at work there, like the way Brazil shone very well in earlier editions of Miss Earth thanks to an eloquent petite female translator). Would they actually allow her to go very far in the finals, factoring in the baggage?
On a parting note, I wished the Miss Russia organization employed the “Valerie Begue Solution” instead, allowing her to keep her Miss Russia crown but send someone else to compete. It is not that I have anything against this lady, but if her claims are totally true, there are other opportunities for her out there besides a pageant. I wish she would end up like a Vanessa L. Williams later in her life.
SERBIA – Dragana Atlija. She is otherwise attractive with a great figure to boot, but she often sports a severe expression that does not help capitalize on her strengths. It doesn’t help that she comes off as blasé in her web interview, and that blasé frown and linebacker walk during the Presentation Show further aggravates matters. Well, she did redeem herself a bit during the evening gown round with a cleavage-baring white V-necked number. Another candidate for the BB Sweepstakes.
SINGAPORE – Rachel Kum. There were a few pageant pundits who were raving about this lady and thought she could be another Asian in serious contention for the finals. She undeniably has a cute Chinese face. Too bad she disappointed at the Presentation Show, as her figure was not as toned as her fellow competitors, and her gown presentation was likewise lackluster.
SLOVAK REPUBLIC – Denisa Mendrejova. Here is another lady when crowned during her national pageant made several pageant pundits salivate and tagging her as another lady most likely to advance to the semifinals—then after later photos surfaced the pundits felt they need a re-think. I do have to agree that although she is undeniably attractive, she didn’t have that charismatic quality that would make people turn around and pay attention. But she did a creditable job at the Presentation Show, especially during the evening gown round as she strutted her printed purple gown by employing a combo of the Dayana Spin and a couple of Taliana Twirls.
SLOVENIA – Mirela Korac. Her facial features remind me of a less attractive version of Toni Collette mixed with Minnie Driver. She at least did a creditable job at the Presentation Show, performing decently in both the swimsuit and gown rounds.
SOUTH AFRICA – Tatum Keshwar. Alright, facially she isn’t really all that, and actually her web interview isn’t as remarkable as, say, Miss France. But she has that charisma and the competitive fire that is characteristic of a South African delegate to this pageant. She is the third member of the “Mocha Babes”. She has a consistent sparkle all throughout her stay, and she definitely created a sensation during the Presentation Show. She was simply fabulous throughout, highlighting her lissomely lean model frame with a fierce stance during the swimsuit round and continuing with the fierceness modeling a shimmering light-green-and-white evening gown. She is one of the likeliest to make the Top Five, at the very least.
SPAIN – Estibaliz Pereira. She only won her national pageant a couple of weeks before heading to the Bahamas for the Miss Universe pageant activities, but even with the so-called “lack of preparation”, she knew how to showcase her strengths well enough to be almost certain of a semifinalist slot. She has one of the most gorgeous faces in this pageant, looking at times like a more serene version of Miss Universe 1991 Lupita Jones, she has a trim and sexy figure, and she exudes an impeccably elegant persona. Some pageant pundits may have reservations about the black Grecian-style satin evening gown she wore during the Presentation Show, but in my opinion she still performed wonderfully in it that her semifinalist prospects would likely remain secure.
SWEDEN – Renate Veronica Cerljen. Here is another Scandinavian lovely whose beauty I find rather refreshing. At some angles she even comes off as a deadringer to actress Ingrid Bergman in her 1940s heyday. I originally would include her amongst the likeliest ladies to make the semifinals, but she wasn’t exuding much competitive sparkle—more like a casual fun attitude. Many pageant pundits decried her choice of evening gown for the Presentation Show—she was the only one who chose a garment with long sleeves—as they felt the goth-dominatrix sequined design on her black evening gown was a disaster. Well, in my opinion there were worse dresses than hers, though I do agree that she could’ve chosen a better gown.
SWITZERLAND – Whitney Toyloy. Prior to their arrivals in the Bahamas, I thought this lady and Chloe Mortaud are similar—brown complexioned exotic beauties with fighting chances to be part of the semifinals though not go further beyond that. But while Chloe sparkled brightly once they were in the Bahamas, this lady barely even simmered. She doesn’t seem to know how to fully capitalize on her strengths. She wasn’t polished enough to even be in serious contention for the finals, and this is evident during the Presentation Show.
TANZANIA – Illuminata James Wize. Prior to her arrival in the Bahamas and during the early pageant activities, pageant pundits (including myself) barely noticed this lady though did acknowledged that she was attractive. There doesn’t seem to be anything remarkable until the Presentation Show when she emerged as a polished and trim competitor and looked splendid in a sequined blue gown, performing some Riyo Mori Flashes with the dangling chiffon fabric on her outfit. I had visions of Miriam Odemba*5 all of a sudden. If there is an extra slot for an African besides Miss South Africa, this lady may be the one to take it ahead of erstwhile favorites like Mz. Angola and Ethiopia.
*5 The gorgeous Miss Earth-Air 2008, and the amusingly scene-stealing camera hog during the Miss World 2007 telecast.
THAILAND – Chutima Chantelle Durongdej. Like Miss Korea, I found her victory in her national pageant baffling—the only justification was probably that she could speak good English. Her facial features reminded me of Miss Universe 2005 Natalie Glebova’s husband, pro tennis player Paradorn Srichipan. But it turns out she is a polished competitor in all other respects—she has a trim figure, she has a charming personality, and she knows how to showcase her strengths onstage and in public. She could’ve been a P.A.T.I.S. lady or even be a serious contender if it weren’t for her face.
TURKEY – Senem Kuyucuoğlu. Again, fans of Miss Turkey 2008 first runner-up Begüm Kızıltuğ (including myself) were frustrated, as that highly regarded gorgeous lady decided to pass on competing in this pageant as she decided to follow her heart and get married instead. So we have the incumbent Miss Turkey first runner-up seeing action in this pageant. Actually, this lady has two key assets—she has a very pretty, photogenic face (better enhanced with the talents of official Miss Universe photographer, Fadil Berisha), and she is statuesque at 6’1”. But everything else is a mess. She is a lousy communicator, she has poor stage skills, and her evening gown was this sheer, over-sequined and over-lacy flesh-colored disaster. Let us all sigh in collective disappointment for what could’ve been if it was Begüm who was competing.
TURKS & CAICOS – Jewell DeEann Selver. Prior to her withdrawal (officially due to dehydration) one day prior to the finals, we do have to salute this lady for keeping up a good fight despite several disadvantages—she is only 5’2”, her figure is clearly out of league compared to her colleagues out there, and her facial features are clearly imperfect. She took the effort to attempt a double Dayana Spin and a double Taliana Twirl on the middle of the runway and tried to punctuate it with another Taliana Twirl, slightly tripping in the process.
UKRAINE – Kristina Koz-Gotlib. Photos of her coronation seemed to show a reasonably attractive lady with a long, swirly mass of tight blonde curls. But closer inspection of her facial features seems to indicate she is more a plain Jane (reminds me of a frumpy version of 1980s pop star Taylor Dayne), and like Miss Romania, she exudes a bimbo vibe. Well, we do have to give her credit for having a trim-enough swimsuit figure and even if her stage presentation seems a bit contrived with her combo of the Riyo Mori Flash, Dayana Spin and Taliana Twirl, she does make an impact. But if we base it solely on merit, she doesn’t deserve to make the final cut. But she has an ace up her sleeve—her director’s close connection with Donald Trump.
URUGUAY – Cintia Carolina D’ottone. Well, let’s also give this lady credit for doing the best she could with what she has. She has a trim-enough figure, and she looked polished in her green strapless animal print gown at the Presentation Show.
U S A – Kristen Dalton. If her sash didn’t say Miss U S A, she could’ve easily have been a P.A.T.I.S. lady. But since she is Miss U S A, her placement into the finals is about 99% assured. Her evening gown presentation represented the pinnacle of the trend to employ the aforementioned Riyo Mori Flash, Dayana Spin, and Taliana Twirl—as Pasquale described her presentation, “The half Riyo, the triple Dayana/Taliana combo, followed by a half Taliana”. I think if they could put in some somersaults and overhead jumps into that presentation she would’ve done it. It could easily turn into another U S A fall on the final telecast if she missteps on those moves. It might be interesting to watch if she will nail that daunting combo again during the finals.
VENEZUELA – Stefania Fernandez. I know a Miss Venezuela-obsessed friend and fellow pundit will continue to place her on the top of his list despite the grumblings of several pageant pundits, who viewed her as a complete disappointment. What do I think? Well, I am also against the consensus, as I thought her performance was generally top-notch, and maybe there are unflattering angles and photos of her smile are a little grating (her clenched teeth are just a tad distracting) but she still is gorgeous in my eyes. At her best, she evokes the glamour of 1940’s screen goddess Rita Hayworth. She made a great impression in her web interview, with a memorable answer to the “three wishes” question: “I wish for one day everyone will speak the same language, have the same economic situation, and have the same color, so we can prove that all human beings are really alike.” She was actually sensational during the swimsuit round of the Presentation Show, but I know her gown performance generated a polarizing reaction. She took a risk styling her hair in a tight bouffant bun (almost like Miss Kosovo) and wearing a huge tomato red off-shoulder number with layers upon layers of feathers. I thought she actually did well and made a distinctively positive and elegant impression, but I do understand how a huge majority of the others would’ve been turned off by it, to the point that there were reports of last-minute meetings to rethink her strategies for the finals. I would agree that she would’ve been better off wearing that heavily bejeweled pink number she wore for the evening gown photo shoot instead of the Presentation Show gown. Most pageant pundits felt she’ll suffer the fate of Ana Karina Añez and Jictzad Viña, but I think she is still likely to make the final cut.
VIETNAM – Vo Hoang Yen. Her pre-Bahamas photos were sleekly polished that many viewed her as a front-running contender. Since she arrived in the Bahamas, her hype simmered down a bit. She is still a worthwhile contender as she is attractive enough, trim enough, and her stage presentation skills are polished enough. During her gown presentation, she joined the herd by performing a combination of a couple of half-Riyo Mori Flashes at the beginning and end and a double Taliana Twirl in between while clad in her gold bustier gown.
ZAMBIA – Andella Chileshe Matthews. Welcome another member of the P.A.T.I.S. club. Her distinctive shock of permed reddish hair made me recall another contestant of Cycle 10 of America’s Next Top Model—Fatima prior to her makeover. I’m divided whether I prefer her hair straightened or left in its frizzy state (she showcased both styles during her stay)—the frizzy state makes her look distinctive and I tend to usually prefer the latter, but sometimes it could simply be a mess. Well, she went frizzy during the Presentation Show and it worked well enough. She is of course the last one who joined the herd and performed a Taliana Twirl towards the end of her evening gown presentation in a white Grecian style dress with gold belt.
Now that I have all 84 delegates accounted for, time for me to trot out my leader board:
TOP CONTENDERS: AUSTRALIA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, FRANCE, SOUTH AFRICA
SHOO-IN: U S A
LIKELIEST: ANGOLA, BAHAMAS, CHINA, COLOMBIA, CZECH REPUBLIC, ECUADOR, GUATEMALA, HONDURAS, ICELAND, INDIA, INDONESIA, IRELAND, JAMAICA, MEXICO, NAMIBIA, NETHERLANDS, PERU, PHILIPPINES, PUERTO RICO, RUSSIA, SPAIN, TANZANIA, VENEZUELA
EXCELLENT: ARGENTINA, BELGIUM, CANADA, CAYMAN ISLANDS, CURACAO, EGYPT, ETHIOPIA, FINLAND, GHANA, GREAT BRITAIN, GUAM, ITALY, NIGERIA, PANAMA, SLOVAK REPUBLIC, SWEDEN, VIETNAM, ZAMBIA
TRUMP FACTOR: ALBANIA, HUNGARY, JAPAN, KOSOVO, ROMANIA, UKRAINE,
VERY STRONG: BOLIVIA, BRAZIL, COSTA RICA, GERMANY, LEBANON, MALAYSIA, MAURITIUS, MONTENEGRO, NEW ZEALAND, NICARAGUA, NORWAY, PARAGUAY, SERBIA, SINGAPORE, SWITZERLAND, THAILAND
STRONG: BULGARIA, CROATIA, ISRAEL, POLAND
VERY GOOD: ARUBA, ESTONIA, SLOVENIA, URUGUAY
GOOD: CYPRUS, GEORGIA, GREECE, KOREA, TURKEY
FAIR: EL SALVADOR, GUYANA, TURKS & CAICOS
Now, the usual “fearful” forecast:
TOP FIVE: AUSTRALIA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, FRANCE, SOUTH AFRICA, VENEZUELA
TOP TEN: CZECH REPUBLIC, HONDURAS, RUSSIA, SPAIN, U S A
TOP 15: CHINA, INDONESIA, IRELAND, MEXICO, PHILIPPINES
STRIKING DISTANCE: ANGOLA, BAHAMAS, COLOMBIA, ECUADOR, GUATEMALA, ICELAND, INDIA, JAMAICA, NAMIBIA, NETHERLANDS, PERU, PUERTO RICO, TANZANIA
BUBBLING UNDER: ALBANIA, ARGENTINA, BELGIUM, CANADA, CAYMAN ISLANDS, CURACAO, EGYPT, ETHIOPIA, FINLAND, GHANA, GREAT BRITAIN, GUAM, HUNGARY, ITALY, JAPAN, KOSOVO, NIGERIA, PERU, ROMANIA, SLOVAK REPUBLIC, SWEDEN, UKRAINE, VIETNAM, ZAMBIA
This pageant is actually one of the most difficult to call, and the final outcome can end up in several directions. It could turn out to be a nailbiting two hours of TV ahead.
JUST ME!
JOSEPH
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Bianca Manalo And Donald Trump
