‘May the best woman win’

Rody skipping Miss U tilt

MANILA, Philippines – For the 86 Miss Universe candidates, all the “hard work” of the past weeks comes down to today’s coronation event at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

But it will pay off the most for just one girl who will wear the crown after Filipina Pia Wurtzbach.  

President Duterte is not attending this morning’s coronation of the 65th Miss Universe.

“I wish you all luck and may the best woman win,” Duterte told GMA News in a chance interview yesterday.

He explained that he’d rather keep quiet: “Mabuting tahimik muna ako… I’m not going there.”

Based on their performances in the preliminaries, the Top 12 will be unveiled in a three-hour show plus a candidate chosen by fan voting.

The semifinalists will then be whittled down to the Top 9, then 6 and 3.

Next to the candidates, the pressure is most felt by the judges who will determine who’s the worthiest of them all.

This year’s judges include three former winners – Miss Universe 2011 Leila Lopes, Miss Universe 1993 Dayanara Torres and Miss Universe 1994  Sushmita Sen who was crowned here. The rest are magazine editor Mickey Boardman, social entrepreneur Francine Lefrank and reality TV star Cynthia Bailey.

The two highest officials of the host country will not be attending, reports said.

President Duterte said he’d rather make himself scarce. “Mabuting tahimik muna ako… I’m not going there,” he told GMA7 news online.

Vice President Leni Robredo will just cheer and pray for the Philippines’ bet Maxine Medina, according to Robredo’s spokesman. 

Lopes said: “I’m a little bit nervous because judging is a huge responsibility. It’s tough but that’s why there are six of us so that we are able to pick the best.”

Sen said: “Honestly, I’d rather be a contestant than a judge. Because as a judge, especially if you have been a contestant, I cannot do that to someone who has worked so hard. I cannot just give her no marks for this. But this is a competition and the best girl must win and the best country must put its best foot forward tomorrow (this) morning.”

Asked for the Miss Universe they’re looking for, Sushmita said “a 21st century woman who is unapologetic about being beautiful… Someone who has equal empathy and love for the rest of the world…

“She should enjoy it. She should live her life like an example. She should be body confident because a Miss Universe should love her body and shape but it’s not superficial. She should be impacting huge numbers of people around the world and she has to forget, for example, that she’s from Philippines. She has to become a universal presence,” she said.

Meanwhile, the candidates are having mixed emotions a few hours shy from the pageant proper.

“I’m excited and nervous at the same time,” Philippine bet Maxine Medina said.

Miss USA Deshauna Barber is trying not to think about the pageant. “Just thinking about it is nerve-wracking,” she said.

Nevertheless, there were some light moments during the last day of rehearsals yesterday.

Host Steve Harvey tried to lighten up the mood and calm frayed nerves by making a lot of joking references to his gaffe in the 2015 Miss Universe in Las Vegas.

He mistakenly announced Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez as Miss Universe 2015 instead of the Philippines’ bet Pia Wurtzbach. He immediately corrected his error but got blasted in social media.

Miss Curacao Chanelle de Lau said a footage of that incident will be aired in today’s show.

Pia also jokingly gave Harvey eyeglasses so he could read the card in announcing the winners properly.

“I’m pretty sure he will nail it this time. I think after that, you’re gonna make sure you will do it right this time around,” said de Lau.

Miss Colombia Andrea Tovar, who was seen being teased by Harvey onstage, said, “I love Steve Harvey, and I don’t have any negative message for him but I told him, I hope this year, make no mistake (laughs).” – With Charmie Pagulong, Alexis Romero, Helen Flores