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Date Posted: 23:17:15 10/22/05 Sat
Author: /
Subject: After witnessing most of the major events for Miss Earth 2005, and meeting several of them up close, figuring out who is most likely going to take the crown and determining who would make the cut remains murky. There were a few ladies who are starting to figure consistently as standouts, but that doesn’t mean that they are assured of a title. In what promises to be a tightly contested pageant, here is my way of making sense of it all…

After witnessing most of the major events for Miss Earth 2005, and meeting several of them up close, figuring out who is most likely going to take the crown and determining who would make the cut remains murky. There were a few ladies who are starting to figure consistently as standouts, but that doesn’t mean that they are assured of a title. In what promises to be a tightly contested pageant, here is my way of making sense of it all…


TAHITI (Vaimiti Herlaud) – Tahiti has a two-year streak going with Vairupe Huiotu and Kahaia Lesage. Vaimiti has a challenge sustaining that streak as she doesn’t seem to be as gorgeous as Kahaia and she doesn’t exude the outgoing charms of her two predecessors.

The trail gets hotter as we now look at the most serious contenders for the Top 20, including:

AUSTRALIA – Ann Maree Bowdler. She has a spicily sexy presence that made me recall Yanina Gonzalez a little bit, and she has strong communication skills. She would’ve been a worthy choice to make the finals better than last year’s Shevenelle Dickson.

BRAZIL – Isabella Chaves. She has a body for sin, a very pretty face, at least one drop-dead gorgeous evening gown, and the advantage of that superb Portuguese interpreter who could unlock her hidden gray matter. I would’ve placed her as a shoo-in, but she hasn’t been receiving as much buzz as she could have, and she doesn’t seem to be making the shortlist in pre-pageant competitions. Still, do not count her out.

CHILE – Nataly Chilet. Nataly likewise has a body for sin that she showcases with a lot of flair and aplomb, a very pretty face, and a very outgoing personality. Another lady to watch out for.

CHINA – Li Yijia. This lady has been winning a lot of favor amongst insiders as the competition wears on. She is undeniably attractive, and performs strongly onstage.

COLOMBIA – Lia Patricia Correal. Lia reminds me of the reigning Señorita Colombia, Adriana Tarud. She also performs very strongly, and exuding a very spicy presence. She might be slightly overshadowed by the likes of Mz. Chile and Ecuador, but she’s performing at a very high level that she should not be overlooked.

CZECH REPUBLIC – Zuzana Stepanovska. I have a feeling this lady could pull off a Catharina Svensson-style surprise on finals night, as she has a glamorous movie star look about her (she resembles Ben Stiller’s wife, Christine Taylor—the girl who played Marcia in the Brady Bunch movies), and she’s a very strong communicator—yes, her English is pretty good.

ECUADOR – Cristina Reyes. We all know she’s a great communicator with a drop-dead jawdropping body ever since she competed at Miss World last year. She also makes the shortlist in both the swimsuit competition and the Earth Moves fashion show. Though I may have a preference for Brazil, Colombia, Chile, and Paraguay over this lady, she cannot be denied.

ESTONIA – Anastassija Balak. Her dark hair and dramatically striking facial features, along with strong stage chops, make her into a serious contender.

HAITI – Channa Cius. This very likeable and engaging lady has the looks and personality to be shortlisted into the Top 20.

INDIA – Niharika Singh. Among the winners of the Femina Miss India pageant, this lady is the most attractive and the one with the best chances of making the cut. She may be a tad short and her figure is not as buffed as, say, Tanushree Dutta, but no one can deny her stage presence and gorgeous features. Yes, in a way, she facially resembles Miss Universe 1994 Sushmita Sen. Some wags have already dubbed her “Mini-Sush”.

MARTINIQUE – Elle Narayanan. Miss Earth-Air Murielle Celimene cut an indelible presence during her stint last year, that’s why she fared so well. Elle doesn’t make the same kind of presence, but she has undeniable potential. Her mass of blonde hair is a love-it-or-hate-it proposition. In my opinion, she looked her best when she tied her hair up like the way she did it during the swimsuit competition finals—it made her features look really good.

NICARAGUA – Sandra Rios. This lady actually knows how to project onstage very well, she has beautiful facial features, and a great figure. But with so many outstanding Latinas out there, it’s an uphill battle for her to stand out.

PANAMA – Rosemary Suarez. This lady may seem to be low-key, but she’s gaining a lot of buzz as time wears on, making the shortlist in the swimsuit competition and generating compliments with her pretty face.

PARAGUAY – Tania Dominiczsky. Tania’s experience in various pageants helps her stay among the front of the pack. She is consistently strong in almost all aspects like facial beauty and communications skills, and she does generate steam with her figure.

PERU – Sara Paredes. This lady may seem to pale in comparison with Claudia Ortiz de Zevallos and Liesel Holler, but she seems to make up for it with excellent stage presence. If you notice, the Latin field is so tightly competitive that it’s a major challenge figuring out who to remove from this list.

PHILIPPINES – Genebelle Raagas. Some Filipino pageant wags would say that she’ll be a shoo-in because of “sash factor”. But we have to credit that this lady made significant improvement that she was able to keep up with the best of them, making her into a serious contender for the finals. She’s able to make the most of her height advantage.

ROMANIA – Adina Dimitru. This 4th runner-up from Miss Europe 2002 performed well enough to keep up with the front-runners. In a less competitive year, she could’ve been a shoo-in for the semifinals, but she is currently sandwiched between buzz favorites from Puerto Rico and Russia. This lady deserves a lot more time in the spotlight.

SERBIA & MONTENEGRO – Jovana Marjanovic. Jovana’s pretty features and slim model’s figure are undeniable that she is making serious inroads into the Top 20.

SOUTH AFRICA – Jacqueline Postma. Jacqueline hasn’t been receiving serious buzz, but in my opinion she should be among the front-runners along with Miss Czech Republic. This sexier deadringer to Hillary Duff has the killer curves and the excellent communication skills to be among the front-runners. Hope the prejudging panel did not overlook her.

TANZANIA – Rehema Sudi. Among the black African contestants this lady has the prettiest face of them all, and if given a chance, she could make an indelible impact like the way she did during the evening gown competition. The only problem is that she sometimes lacks confidence and is a tad low-key that she’s not assured of making a breakthrough.

THAILAND – Kanokwan Sesthaphongvanich. This lady made waves with her medical background, and she is undeniably very attractive with a very polished presence. But with so many gems out there, it will be a challenge for her to equal Ratchadawan Nakprasert’s breakthrough last year.

VIETNAM – Thanh Hoai Dao. This lady is undeniably a great looker, with her great Asian features. She also has a nice, slim figure and strong stage presence to boot. But will she be able to stand out especially with all the other strong Asians out there?

ZAMBIA – Cynthia Kanema. Her experience in the other three Grand Slam pageants have served her very well, as she’s always very polished whenever she appears. We all know her highly evolved intelligence and communication skills along with great stage chops, so she’s definitely someone worth watching out for. Would she finally make the cut? I hope so. Anyway, watch out for my interview with this lady after the Miss Earth finals.

Phew! The trail is now getting much hotter with the ladies who I think seems to be almost assured of a semifinalist spot. They include:

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – Amell Santana. Among the dark-skinned girls in this pageant, this stunning six-footer is the one most likely to make the cut. As long as she keeps a confident though humble attitude, she is on track of earning an “element” for her country.

POLAND – Katarzyna Borowicz. There is no denying this Miss World finalist is drop-dead gorgeous, especially with her dark hair that made her a deadringer for the reigning Miss World, Maria Julia Mantilla. But earning an element like Marta Matyjasik two years ago may depend on the Q&A portions, where her skills are rather suspect. But then, they might hire that talented Polish interpreter who might unlock her hidden gray matter when it counts, the way Marta Matyjasik fared so wonderfully that time.

PUERTO RICO – Vanessa de Roide. This unassuming ingénue is quietly rising up the ranks whenever she appears, seemingly paving the way for the much-awaited Puerto Rican breakthrough. She is going to get by with a potent combination of great girl-next-door-sexy looks and strong stage presence.

U S A – Amanda Kimmel. This lady with the slight resemblance to Angelina Jolie is likely to bring usual pageant powerhouse USA back to the finals since Abigail Royce four years ago. Now, for her to earn an “element” would depend on how well she would fare in the interview rounds—let’s just say that perhaps the interview and her low-key presence (especially lately) was what prevented her from landing the Top 15 in this year’s Miss USA pageant. Hope she sparkles because she has such great potential and she is too gorgeous to be deprived of an “element”.

Two ladies are in contention of earning elements and/or win the crown due to their extremely charismatic presence. They are:

KOREA – Yu Hae-Mae. Korea will finally make its presence felt with this gorgeous lady who knows how to showcase her über-kawaii beauty with aplomb, making an indelible presence wherever she makes (unlike the usually timid ladies representing her country in international pageants). It probably helps that she’s a celebrity and actress back home, hence boosting her confidence.

UKRAINE – Yevgeniya Rudenko. Much has already been said about this stage dynamo. Expect her to bring forth more fireworks during the finals as she’s expected to work the stage with lots of flair, brio, and panache. Yes, she will also fare very well in the interview rounds, too, it seems likely.

Two ladies are looking like front-runners, as they consistently get mobbed by fans whenever they appear, and they are so gracious to them. Their status as favorites to win are well-deserved, as they were consistently at the top of their game whenever they appeared. The recent Earth Moves fashion show simply cement that showing as besides being selected among the 10 best, their indelible presence allowed fashion designer Edwin Uy to win a designer’s award for the stunning dresses they wore. They are:

RUSSIA – Tatyana Yamova. She has a young ingenue’s face, but her presence is sophisticated enough to keep up with the veterans out there. She has been a major favorite of pageant fans ever since she arrived, and with her strong English skills, engaging personality (she’s a singer back home, by the way), and indelible stage presence, she is assured of earning an element.

VENEZUELA – Alexandra Braun. I have a strong feeling Alexandra will clearly bring forth the much-awaited Venezuelan breakthrough and finally convince Osmel Souza of getting the franchise for this pageant. This lady was a product of Osmel’s school, and she won first runner-up in the recently concluded Miss Venezuela pageant, but she was sent by a different agency (Sambil Models). Alexandra’s pale, ethereal beauty, Osmel-ized indelible stage presence and gracious personality won over several fans, and this has made her into one of the ladies to beat.

So, here’s how my fearful forecast looks like:

TOP CONTENDERS: RUSSIA, VENEZUELA

POSSIBLE USURPERS: KOREA, UKRAINE

SHOO-INS: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, POLAND, PUERTO RICO, USA

LIKELIEST: AUSTRALIA, BRAZIL, CHILE, COLOMBIA, CZECH REPUBLIC, ECUADOR, PANAMA, PARAGUAY, PERU, PHILIPPINES, SERBIA & MONTENEGRO, ZAMBIA

SHORTLIST: CHINA, ESTONIA, HAITI, INDIA, MARTINIQUE, NICARAGUA, ROMANIA, SOUTH AFRICA, TANZANIA, THAILAND, VIETNAM

Determining which of my four contenders would earn an element is very difficult, as they are all evenly matched. Expect upsets and fireworks ahead.

JUST ME!

JOSEPH

BEAUTY SUPERBOWL
A MISS UNIVERSE 2005 REVIEW
@ Rabbi James Gagohan 2005

Billy Bush said it: Welcome to the Superbowl of Beauty. Never before have one billion televiewers been treated to such a stratified level of pageantry. The women onstage shone far brighter than the opulent display of Thai gold onstage.

For three weeks, people the world over marveled at the sheer magnificence of the Thai reception accorded to these ladies—orchid overload, elephant rides, lavish cuisine, bolts of the most exquisite silk. The Thai government pinched no penny in producing a reality show to end all reality shows.

Was it money well spent? Did it show an attractive picture of a post-tsunami Thailand that would help ease the horror of the tectonic disaster, and so entice precious tourist dollars to pour into the local economy once again? On the part of the American producers, did this show surpass last year’s in terms of the quality of its stars and the overall conduct of the production? And for the millions of pageant fans across the seven seas, did the show yield satisfying results? Was it well worth the yearly wait?

In the superbowl of beauty, the world’s loveliest ladies come to battle each other in a competition of beauty, personality and will power—the Miss Universe 2005 beauty pageant. Wearing Tadashi dresses and Nina shoes, the 81 Miss Universe 2005 contestants perform the opening number of the 2005 Miss Universe competition at Impact Arena, Exhibition and Convention Center in Bangkok, Thailand on May 31, 2005.

Bangkok’s selection as this year’s venue was lauded by fans who miss the grandeur of past Miss Universe editions held in Asian cities—Singapore, Taipei, Manila, and Bangkok in 1992. Asia’s culture is so rich and colorful, it manifests strongly in the production that is aired to the world.

Bangkok’s Impact Arena was the grandest venue to host the Miss Universe pageant in recent memory. A tuktuk delivered co-host Nancy O’Dell onstage, co-host BillyBush got to make an even grander re-entrance on a live elephant, and the stage’s fly system facilitated the movement of a dizzying array of panels, backdrops and various set pieces that sleeker editions of Miss Universe could not even dream of having. The stage was covered with marble slabs inlaid with gold-leafed Thai patterns.

The program opened with countless strobe lights flashing, revealing the silhouettes of Thai dancers. A golden sun blazed on the backdrop as the lights brightened to reveal the 81 delegates competing for the crown.


Scott Grossman’s choreography consisted of simple jazz footwork combined with traditional Thai hand movements. Simple, clean, and energetic.


Shortly after a video clip of the National Costume parade was shown, the Top 15 was revealed.

Quito Redux?

Can anybody blame the judges for once again picking several women who came from the juggernaut beauty machinery that is Latin America?


Not this year, as credit was given to whom it was due. The placement of Nancy Soto and Gabriela Barros last year oddly felt as though it was payback for all the Misses Costa Rica and Chile who were deserving but sadly did not make the cut in previous years. To a lesser extent, even the Top 10 finish of the vivacious Catherine Manchola was argued by fans because her facial beauty did not suit the taste of many.


Of the Latina Quito finalists, only Susana Rivadeneira, Alba Reyes and Yanina Gonzales were deemed favorites in the entire competition. The stiff Rosalva Luna was booted after the evening gown round.

While the competition concluded with the surprise, but ultimately satisfying, victory of a pageant newbie, fans grumbled long and hard about the exclusion of some pre-pageant favorites from the Top 15.


As if to make up for the glaring Latin overhype in Quito (7 out of 15) last year, this year’s bevy of Top 15 finishers represented a wider demographic, and quite possibly, presented the world with the best ever set of Miss Universe semifinalists.
If
Only she was there....

We now pay tribute to the ladies who have been identified as frontrunners but had been left out in the cold.

Antigua & Barbuda’s Shermain Jeremy is probably the most prepared delegate her country has ever sent. After her impressive showing in Miss World last December, it was predicted that the new, improved Shermain could even take it all in Bangkok. With her combination of beauty, talent, charm, intelligence and style, she was one of the most complete packages this year. It was a big shock not to see her make the cut in this competition. In case rumors come into fruition that she will see action in Manila for Miss Earth, she can rest assured that even if Miss Universe’s Mikimoto crown eluded her, Miss Earth’s Swarovski tiara is within easy reach.

Another lady predicted to finish big this year was Nod Rosjan, the hometown girl. Some pundits even proclaimed that she is the best hometown girl since Denise Quiñones, and with good reason—Nod has gone through a tremendous improvement from the moment she was crowned Miss Thailand. From a Plain Jane with doubtful chances of making the Miss Universe cut, she became a frontrunner with her amazing wardrobe, easy charm and excellent packaging. Sadly, the prediction of some naysayers came true: Nod’s Best in National Costume finish was her proverbial consolation prize for being a good hostess.


To some extent, the exclusion of Misses Chile (hyped as a refreshing departure from traditional Latin American queens; reportedly aced the preliminary competitions), Curacao (who famously beat the accomplished Natascha Borger in Miss Intercontinental), Italy (won her national pageant twice for the chance to represent Italy in Miss Universe) and Ethiopia (stylish, spunky and sunshiny African beauty) was also a mild surprise.
Some favorites inevitably fail to make it each year, more so in a batch as competitive as this one.


The 15 semi-finalists competing for the title of Miss Universe 2005 pose together from left to right are: Laura Elizondo, Miss Mexico 2005; Renata Soñé, Miss Dominican Republic 2005; Claudia Henkel, Miss South Africa 2005; Helene Traasavik, Miss Norway 2005; Chelsea Cooley, Miss USA 2005; Magdalene Walcott, Miss Trinidad & Tobago 2005; Evangelia Aravani, Miss Greece 2005; Cynthia Olavarria, Miss Puerto Rico 2005; Debora Sulca Cravero, Miss Peru 2005; Elena Ralph, Miss Israel 2005; Artika Sari Devi, Miss Indonesia 2005; Fiona Hefti, Miss Switzerland 2005; Monica Spear, Miss Venezuela 2005; Natalie Glebova, Miss Canada 2005, and Ieva Kokorevica, Miss Latvia 2005.

If 2003 had Faye Alibocus vamping down the ramp with a dress that looked like it had roadkill hanging from it and 2004 saw Nancy Soto in an alarmingly sheer number that was too short for the shoes she was wearing, 2005’s Top 15 was thankfully free of any conspicuous fashion missteps.
Indonesia's Artika Sari Devi wore what may be considered the riskiest gown in the Top 15, as it was a busy concoction that called to mind the over-the-top fashion of the 80’s. Fortunately, the petite Southeast Asian stunner carried her dress with enough aplomb to help her finish the first round of competition respectably.

As if to appease the hometown crowd for the absence of Nod Rosjan among the semifinalists, the half-Thai lady from Norway came to represent, and how! Helene Traasavik's enviable copper complexion was swathed in panels of the most delicious peaches-and-mango chiffon gown. Encasing her feet in stilettos with delicate satin straps finished off the look splendidly.



South Africa's Claudia Henkel wore a gown that masterfully integrated a highly structured top with a generous, free-flowing bottom. She moved like a gazelle, the high front slit showcasing her long legs as she galloped across the stage. With better hairdo (her patrician nose and ample cheeks needed to be softened by a more layered hairstyle), she might have progressed into the Top 10. We will see more of this stunner in Miss World.

Evangelia Aravani possessed one of most natural-looking faces in this year’s competition. Her fuchsia gown revealed a tantalizing amount of skin, but Evangelia's graceful carriage kept it from looking cheap and vulgar. Truly a Greek goddess. With a little bit more energy in her walk, she might have made the Top 10.

Magdalene Walcott is a pageant veteran who could be counted on to deliver when the moment matters most. While not having the classically beautiful features of other outstanding black beauties like Shermain Jeremy, Magdalene projects with such commanding ferocity that one can not help but stare at her in awe. A last-minute replacement for the dethroned Trinbagonian titleholder, Magdalene showed the world once again the outstanding vision of Peter Elias’s team. Magdalene’s tie-dyed gown moved fluidly like a citrine river as she glided effortlessly onstage.


Of those who made the cut, the most questionable would be Debora Sulca. There is no doubt that the Peruvian teenager has a lovely face and has been polished to perfection by Peru’s increasingly efficient pageant system (producing such achievers as Marina Mora, Claudia Ortiz de Zevallos, Claudia Hernandez, Maju Mantilla, and now, Debbie Sulca, in less than five years). However, of the Top 15, Debbie was the only one who had a glaringly patty projection: huge 1980’s hairdo, open-mouthed smiles, head thrown back in sexy laughs, mannered hip sways. Alicia Machado patented those nearly 10 years ago, and Jennifer Hawkins made the patty obsolete just last year.

And if Claudia Hernandez can wear a breathtaking coral-pink gown in Miss World 2003 (even winning an award for her sartorial sense) and Maju Mantilla can wear a delicate periwinkle lace number in Miss World 2004, how can Debbie Sulca get stuck with an almost-dowdy gown with a wide, unsightly belt and wrong shoes?

Her facial beauty alone can not be denied, which probably led the judges to usher her into the swimsuit round. But after that, her girlish projection and nervousness showed. She slipped. She tried to compensate with an exaggerated catwalk, but she never recovered. She was a girl amongst women.

In contrast, Israel’s Yelena Ralph was able to hurdle her debacle with the cape beautifully. She could not take it off initially, so she proceeded to use it while posing, pouting playfully for the camera, then triumphantly discarding it to the side as she sashayed down the raked ramp.

By virtue of her crowning video which was published online, Yelena had been instantly embraced by fans as a Miss Universe favorite. She was a great beauty and displayed the kind of unaffected charisma that can never be taught nor learned in months of training.

However, upon arrival in Bangkok, Yelena’s stock steadily dropped. She was not demonstrative in public unlike girls who would preen and pose at the slightest sight of a camera. During the pre-pageant activities, when other girls would pick an outfit from their mind-boggling trousseaus, Yelena would wear ordinary day clothes. Her name disappeared from most Top 15 lists.

Come pageant night and after having been called into the Top 15, Yelena graced the stage with her delicious moves and infectious energy. Her eyes sparkled more than the golden discs and crystal chandeliers in her sexy gown, and her smile invited you to smile back at her.

Yelena showed that even without the trappings of a beauty contestant, she can shine brighter still.

Conversely, Ieva Kokorevica’s stock steadily rose as the competition neared its finale. Virtually out of the experts’ radars before the girls set foot in Bangkok, Ieva slowly proved that natural beauty and a little help from the Venezuelan pageant machine can go a long, long way.

Facially, she resembled Kathrine Sorland, but Ieva had a rawer catwalk. Her edge over the erstwhile Norwegian contestant, however, is a sincere smile that communicates genuine warmth. She could have easily looked like a cold Baltic goddess in her ice blue gown, but her soft and gentle features proved that she was lovable enough to move on to the Top 10. A great finish for a first time participant in Miss Universe!

Chelsea Cooley’s horrifying mint-and-bubblegum gown in the preliminary competition still haunts the memories of pageant fans, and we wondered how a woman with such a gown managed to snag a semifinal slot.

On coronation night, it became clear: She nailed the swimsuit round with her lively vibe and she most probably nailed the interview, as well. The thunderous applause Miss USA received each time she came onstage undoubtedly compensated for a disastrous preliminary evening gown showing, successfully catapulting her to the Top 15.

Come pageant night, Chelsea wore a snug jersey gown in nude that highlighted her toned physique.

Did she deserve a Top 10 finish?

Yes, if only to show that a woman need not be tall and skinny to be an achiever in the beauty arena. Chelsea’s presence and performance in the Top 10 was enough affirmation that a healthy woman who does not take herself nor the task at hand too seriously can hold her own amidst girls enculturated with a single purpose: to become Miss Universe.

Had she had a better swimsuit presentation (she looked like the Energizer Bunny on caffeine overdose with the jerky head, hands and hip movements), she might have made the Top 5, as well.


Switzerland’s Fiona Hefti is this year’s sleeper hit. She was beautiful enough to not get bashed by internet trolls, but unassuming enough to stay under most experts’ radars. Come pageant night, however, she proved that she had what it took to belong to such an impossibly beautiful group of women. Her beaded baby blue bustier with slashed chiffon skirt was simple, uncluttered and flattering. Her swimsuit presentation was so refreshingly devoid of the backbreaking poses, calculated catwalk moves and unnatural mugging affected by some delegates to attract attention.

How might the dynamics within the all-star Top 5 change had Fiona been in it?


The Titlists

Billy Bush called it a “South American dogfight.” He was not right about "South American," as the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico are in the Carribean, while Mexico and Canada are in North America. But he was right about "dogfight." Although Canada was the lone non-Latina in the Top 5, she trained, underwent dental surgery, and had some pieces of her wardrobe designed and assembled in Colombia. It was also in Colombia where she finished 2nd runner-up in the newly resuscitated Miss Maja Mundial pageant. Her South American connection is strong.

While the Top 5 might have resembled the finals at a Reina Sudamerica pageant, it would be impossible to argue that the five ladies who ultimately competed for the crown were undeserving; on the contrary, the following ladies represented an unpredictable five-cornered fight that this year’s edition of Miss Universe showcased. Unlike in previous years, there had never been a clear favorite from the beginning.

Any of the five could have taken the crown, but their fates hinged on the Final Interview round, starting with:

Monica Spear, Venezuela. How many beauty contestants can claim to having a moniker even before she won a big one? Only La Mootz, and with good reason. Monica is a departure from the bumper crop of beauties that the Miss Venezuela Organization manufactures each year. She does not solicit the crowd’s adulation; she understands that it will be given to her. She does not try hard; she just does what she has to do—no more, no less. The result is a beauty queen who looks relaxed and dignified. This, despite the pressure of redeeming her country’s glory after Ana Karina Añez’s dismal showing last year.

It was a shame that she buckled when the moment counted the most—the Final Interview. When asked the compound question of what her country’s biggest problem was and what she would do to help solve it, she started off rather well, citing political and economic difficulties. She then proceeded to expound on self-centeredness as a block to people helping each other, and then she froze and never recovered. She bowed her head in frustration and remained in the Interview area a few seconds after her turn had been over.

When the five ladies were asked to walk for the judges’ last look, it was obvious from Monica’s dejected countenance that she had lost heart and was resigned to a runner-up finish.

Her 4th runner-up position was admirable especially in a batch as competitive as this. But it is understandably difficult to swallow if one were made to feel that winning is the only option.

Laura Elizondo, Mexico. As if to punish an incredibly beautiful woman for having stumped a fellow contender (Miss Venezuela) with a confounding question, the judges awarded Laura a 3rd runner-up finish.

Laura has been her country’s best bet for a crown in recent memory. Stunning even without make-up on, Laura is the epitome of a natural beauty.

She is so captivating that the judges kept moving her up in each round, even if her evening gown was not flattering. Her gold number was the same color as the backdrop, making her blend with it; the top was heavy with too much detail, rendering the bottom part unbalanced; it made her legs look short. In the swimsuit round, she had one of the weaker figures in an amazingly buffed group of finalists. Still, her beauty will not be ignored—she moved on to the Top 5, and justifiably so.

During the final interview, she bought time by asking the interpreter to translate the question for her but Sana mas maganda yung musical/presentation of Miss Earth this year compared to last year.. Medyo boring at repetitive yung music they used for swimsuit, national costume, tapos Piolo Pascual sang a sleep-inducing song na pa-bulong pa...

Maraming magaling na singers sa atin... dapat talaga South Border to song 'Rainbow" kasi may environmental awareness theme yung song na iyun... appreciating the natural beauty around us!

Sana lively and audience din... we need atmosphere.Sana mas maganda yung musical/presentation of Miss Earth this year compared to last year.. Medyo boring at repetitive yung music they used for swimsuit, national costume, tapos Piolo Pascual sang a sleep-inducing song na pa-bulong pa...

Maraming magaling na singers sa atin... dapat talaga South Border to song 'Rainbow" kasi may environmental awareness theme yung song na iyun... appreciating the natural beauty around us!

Sana lively and audience din... we need atmosphere.

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