Miss Universe in Phl marks many firsts

MANILA, Philippines - The 65th edition of the Miss Universe pageant being held in the Philippines is making history.

A record nine former winners will reunite for the most prestigious pageant in the universe to be broadcast live by all major local networks at 8 a.m. tomorrow.

Four of them will sit in the panel of judges – 1993 Miss Universe Dayanara Torres of Puerto Rico, Sushmita Sen of India (1994), Riyo Mori of Japan (2007) and Leila Lopes of Angola (2007). 

Gloria Diaz, the first Filipina to win the Miss Universe crown in 1969 and 1973 Miss Universe Margie Moran will attend the event that will conclude with reigning queen Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach crowning her successor.

1991 Miss Universe Lupita Jones of Mexico and 2005 Miss Universe Natalie Glebova of Canada are also in the country to witness the pageant.

Several standout candidates are also making history.

Brazil’s Raissa Santana is the first black representative of the South American nation that hosted the Olympic Games last year.

Miss USA Deshauna Barber is the first American delegate allowed to compete in the pageant while in active military service.

Sierra Leone’s Hawa Kamara is the first representative of the West African nation in the Miss Universe. In 1999, Miss Botswana Mpule Kwelagobe won the crown as the first delegate from her nation.

Miss France Iris Mittinaere is the first woman who is not a performer in the Moulin Rouge allowed to wear the cabaret outfit for the pageant’s national costume competition.

The Philippines’ bet, Maxine Medina, also has a “first” of her own. For the first time, the Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. gave Medina the option to use an interpreter for the final interview round.

Critics believe that Medina expresses herself much better in Filipino. Should Medina make it to the final round, she will be the first Philippine contestant in the Miss Universe pageant to use an interpreter.

Philippine delegates in the past answered in English as Filipinos are known for English proficiency.

Latin American contestants, on the other hand, are known for using interpreters during the interview portion. Some of them had interpreters but actually answered in English.

Pageant experts see this as a strategy as it gives them a little more time to think of their answers in the crucial round that has a 30-second limit.

The preliminary competition consisting of the swimsuit and evening gown segments was held on Thursday night at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, the same venue for the live pageant. 

Among the crowd favorites were Medina, Kamara, Andrea Tovar of Colombia, Chalita Suansane of Thailand and Venezuela’s Mariam Habach.

Apart from four previous winners, the three other judges are Mickey Boardman, editorial director of fashion and pop-culture magazine PAPER; TV star and former model Cynthia Bailey and Emmy and Tony award-winning producer and activist Francine LeFrak.

Torres, a well-loved winner who even had a showbiz career in the Philippines, said they would pick a winner “who can handle herself with grace and confidence.”

“I understand it’s a beauty pageant. However, beauty will not be the only factor. Personality and confidence will blow the judges away,” she said in an interview.

Bailey said the next Miss Universe must have a “full package – someone who embodies confidence, intelligence, personality, style and grace, and of course beauty.”

Nelson said the new queen should embody the passion to serve in the Miss Universe organization.

“I look for that extra spark, the unique quality, which demonstrates her ability to be both the global representative of the organization and a passionate advocate for her causes,” he said.

For the first time, only 12 from the 86 candidates will make the first cut, unlike in the previous year where 15 semifinalists were chosen.

The12, will be featured in another swimsuit competition where the Top 9 will advance in the next round, the evening gown competition.

The finalists will then be cut to Top 6 for the interview round, before the Final 3 candidates will be announced.