The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
By Alvin I. Dacanay
For many beauty-pageant watchers in the Philippines and around the world, there will only be one question on their minds when the 65th Miss Universe Competition reaches its climax at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Monday (Manila time): Who will win the coveted title?
That question has preoccupied pageant-loving Filipinos even before the candidates from 85 nations flew to the country earlier this month to join Miss Universe-Philippines Maxine Medina in a dizzying series of competition-related events that required them to travel from Manila to Baguio and Boracay to Cebu and Davao and back to the capital.
Ever since the owner of the Miss Universe Organization (MUO), the New York City-based William Morris Endeavor/International Management Group (WME/IMG) talent agency, modified the competition’s format sometime last year, many have wondered who among the candidates would be named to the Top 12. Whoever they are, they were already determined by six judges, including former Miss Universe winners Dayanara Torres of Puerto Rico and Riyo Mori of Japan, during the all-important preliminary competition last Thursday night.
Who the dazzling dozen are will, of course, be revealed on Monday.
As expected, many have already picked who they think would make it to the semi-final round. Judging from what’s circulating on social media and beauty pageant-oriented websites, they’re a mix of the usual suspects and a few welcome names.
Listed alphabetically below are the candidates who, I think, stand a great chance of making it to the Top 12. This is based on what I’ve observed during the preliminary competition, their pictures and videos, what has been written about them, and current buzz.
Miss Brazil Raissa Santana, 21. Pageant watchers have been heaping praises on Raissa almost as soon as she arrived in the country, and it’s easy to see why. She radiates genuine warmth in a way only a few of her fellow candidates can, and that warmth makes her someone many people would be drawn to—a valuable asset when doing advocacy work. If she wins, she would be her country’s third Miss Universe and the first since Martha Vasconcellos in 1968.
Miss Colombia Andrea Tovar, 23. Of all the candidates, Andrea had the loudest group of non-Filipino supporters during the preliminary competition, thanks, in part, to their vuvuzelas. They had every reason to cheer their stunning compatriot. She embodies elegance and poise, and has a very regal bearing, although it occasionally comes across as a little stiff. There’s no doubt she came to the competition well-prepared. I expect her to sail through the swimsuit and evening-gown rounds on Monday.
Miss France Iris Mittenaere, 24. Among the European contestants, Iris appears to have the best chance of capturing the Miss Universe crown. Like Miss Brazil, she exudes warmth and, judging from the videos showing her when she was competing for her national title, seems to have a great personality, which should stand out as the competition progresses. Plus, I find her incredibly sexy, and not just because she wore an actual Moulin Rouge outfit as her national costume. Also, I think France is long overdue for a second Miss Universe crown; the country last won in 1953!
Miss Indonesia Kezia Warouw, 25. A lot of people have expressed admiration for Kezia, who, while not as flashy as some of her fellow competitors, has carved for herself in the contest some space where she can shine. That she’s frequently mentioned as a major contender testifies to her careful preparation for the competition or to the Miss Indonesia pageant organizers to make their country a beauty-pageant powerhouse in Southeast Asia, like Thailand and the Philippines.
Miss Mexico Kristal Silva, 25. Even before she set foot on the Philippines earlier this month, pageant fans have been including Kristal in their list of possible semifinalists. From the way she looks and poses to how she walks and talks, she projects confidence—strong, but not off-putting. This should serve her well on Monday.
Miss Nicaragua Marina Jacoby, 21. More than her beauty, what really struck me about Marina is how articulate and smart she is. That’s the impression I got after watching her Miss Universe video, in which she speaks fluent English (it seems she completed part of her education in the United States, or in an American-run school). Plus, she seems to possess an authenticity that I find quite attractive. That’s a great quality to have when you’re Miss Universe.
Miss Peru Valeria Piazza, 27. I didn’t think much about Valeria at first, but when I watched her go through the swimsuit, evening-gown and national-costume segments of the preliminary competition, her determination to fight for the Miss Universe crown became as clear as day. It’s as if she’s hungry for it. I can understand where that hunger is coming from: her country has not won since 1957. If she maintains that level of determination on Monday, she could very well surprise people.
Miss Philippines Maxine Medina, 26. As the representative of the host-country, Maxine is undoubtedly the most scrutinized—and most pressured—Miss Universe contestant this year. The rigorous training she underwent in the weeks and months leading up to the contest should allow her to breeze through the swimsuit and evening-gown stages. As laudable as her performance in the preliminary competition was, the biggest challenge she would face on her way to our country’s fourth Miss Universe title is still the question-and-answer portion, and I’m glad she’s open to availing herself of an interpreter for that make-or-break round. All things considered, her chances of even making it to the Top 3 are solid.
Miss Sierra Leone Hawa Kamara, 26. Hawa may not be the most physically striking candidate in this year’s competition, but what is striking about her are the warmth and understated confidence she projects, both onscreen and onstage. It’s pretty hard to miss. The fact that many people, Filipinos and foreigners alike, cheered for her last Thursday showed how much they respond to her. Like Raissa, she’s one delegate who could very well draw people to her.
Miss Thailand Chalita Suansane, 22. Chalita has proven to be one of most popular contestants in this year’s competition. It’s not surprising, really. She distinguished herself during the preliminaries and, like a number of her fellow candidates, has a compelling backstory (she’s a cleaner’s daughter who sometimes helped her mother in her work, according to her Miss Universe “Up Close” video). She’s also involved in raising HIV/AIDS awareness, which is the MUO’s primary advocacy.
Miss USA Deshauna Barber, 27. Deshauna stands out for several reasons, one of which is her background: she is an active member of the US Army Reserve. The discipline her military training has instilled in her in evident in her poise and in how she expresses herself, especially on camera. And she has proven more than once how warm and approachable she can be. If the MUO is seeking, above all else, the best role model they could possibly find for girls and women, Deshauna may be the one.
Miss Venezuela Mariam Habach, 21. As far as fierceness goes, no other candidate really comes close to Mariam, whom I have mixed feelings about because her sharp facial features border on the harsh, especially when dolled up. I was blown away by her performance in the preliminary competition, especially when she took off her frilly detachable skirt onstage during the evening-gown segment. The crowd went wild over that. She’s one woman who truly and thoroughly prepared for the contest, and considering she hails from a country that has made beauty pageants a lucrative industry, such preparation is expected. I would be very shocked if she doesn’t land in the Top 12.
(Photos: Miss Universe Organization/© IMG Universe LLC)