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Friday, March 29, 2024

Best (and worst) of Miss Universe 2020

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THE biggest beauty pageant in the globe recently held its most boring production yet. But because it’s Miss Universe, it is still beloved by most Filipinos. That’s why a week after the 69th edition, staged in Florida, the post-event conspiracy theories, analyses and accusations are still being dizzily regurgitated. We know what the Miss Universe Organization and the Miss Universe Philippines can do differently and better. But we’re not the decision-makers, so we can only recap.

  • Most Popular: Rabiya Mateo, Philippines. We are proud of our lovely Ilongga representative. We were gutted when she wasn’t called to Top 10. It also meant that the world didn’t get to see her gorgeous orange gown by the singular Furne One. Inspired by the “Sarimanok,” which symbolizes good fortune, the closed-necked haltered, tulle-based gown is hand-embroidered with hyacinth Swarovski crystals, glass beads and paillettes with laser-cut fabrics delicately attached to form feathers for a softer look on the hem. During the pageant, she gained a million followers on Instagram. Crown or not, we are grateful to Rabiya for continuing the remarkable 11-year semifinal streak of Filipinas at Miss Universe.
  • Most Successful Candidate in Her story: Andrea Meza, Mexico. Rosemarie Frankland, Miss United Kingdom, was Miss World 1961 after placing first runner-up as Miss Wales at Miss Universe 1961. Gina Swainson from Bermuda won Miss World in 1979 after placing first runner-up at Miss Universe 1979. In 1973, Helen Morgan, also Miss Wales and Miss United Kingdom, had the same fate but resigned as Miss World. Andrea’s feat is the reverse. She was first runner-up at Miss World 2017 before winning Miss Universe 2020.
  • Best in Interview: Janick Maceta, Peru. My personal bet was asked: What would you say to the women watching tonight who are currently experiencing sexual or domestic abuse? Her reply: “I will tell them that I admire their strength, and that they’re survivors and that I’ve been there too. I became the hero of my own story. That’s why I advocate to save little girls from being victims. They are survivors, they are heroes. They have the power, and don’t ever, ever make anyone silence your voice.” Her final statement about climate change was also succinct, relatable, winnable.
  • Best Gown: Ayu Maulida, Indonesia. Ayu didn’t crack the Top 10 and so was unable to brandish her fabulous gown, “Stardust,” inspired by the ethereal sparkling splinters of stars by Sebastian Gunawan.
  • Best in Gown: Zozibini Tunzi. In her Final Walk as Miss Universe, Zozi dazzled as a Xhosa Queen in a gown by Biji-La Maison de Couture and her mom’s headwrap. “It’s a nod to those who came before us. For who are we, and where are we going if we do not know where we come from?”
  • Best in Swimsuit/El Tocuyo: Natasha Joubert, South Africa. In a yellow and skin-tone Ema Savahl crystals and hand-painted bikini, I thought the beautiful Natasha was a shoo-in for the title. She was also riding on the crest of her country’s three-year winning streak. But it wasn’t meant to be, and I think she’s this year’s El Tocuyo awardee, a fan-made citation given to a hyped front-runner who failed to make it to the finals.
  • Best National Costume: Yelyzaveta Yastremska, Ukraine. My choice is Yelyzaveta’s eye-catching and clean costume, called the “Vytynа́nka Soul.” It was designed by Rada Ethno, inspired by the vytynа́nka, a version of the art form of papercutting popular in Ukraine.
  • Best in Bravery: Thuzar Wint Lwin, Myanmar. Like her compatriot Miss Grand Myanmar 2020 Han Lay, Thuzar bravely put a spotlight on the atrocities happening in their country. Should they go home, they will be among celebrities and influencers who will be arrested. Thuzar wore an ethnic costume worn by Chin women as she held aloft a “Pray for Myanmar.” This valiant display won her the Best in National Costume award. Special mention to Singapore’s Bernadette Belle Ong and her “Stop Asian Hate” cape.
  • Best in Talent: The Filipino Designer. Our designers were heavily showcased on- and offstage. Resty Lagare made an outfit for El Salvador, and Louis Pangilinan for Chile. At the national costume show, Arwin Meriales and Paulo Espinosa for Singapore, Kirsten Regalado for Iceland, Kennedy Gaspar for Cameroon and the late Rocky Gathercole for Rabiya. At the prelims, Michael Cinco made evening gowns for Romania and the Czech Republic, Benj Leguiab IV for Cameroon, Jian Lasala for Belize, Rian Fernandez for Cambodia, and Furne One for Rabiya. Jojo Bragais was the official shoe sponsor.
  • Worst Attitude: Nova Stevens and Team Canada. Nova earned the love of Filipinos when our own Michael Cinco (and young designer Jaggy Galrino) draped her in couture confections prior to the pageant. As a South Sudanese refugee, her tenacity gave her the best backstory among the delegates.

Many fans were shocked when she wasn’t called a semifinalist. Alas, all the goodwill she gained disappeared when MG Mode, the team behind her campaign, accused the Dubai-based designer of sabotage. The team alleged on Instagram: “The truth need to be told! The gown[s] [were] sent late by Michael’s team, and when [they] arrived, none of them fitted!”

Late Saturday, the usually cool, calm and collected Cinco unleashed his warrior Waray: “Now this is for you to the whole Miss CANADA Team Migüel Martinez, Denis Martin Davila, and Miss CANADA Organization and your ungrateful Miss CANADA Nova Stevens. You have been spreading fake news about me and my team being unprofessional days before the pageant but I chose to be quiet and calm. But this time, I need to stand up for me and my team, as it is just so UNFAIR!

“Here is the real TRUTH TO BE TOLD… YOU and your team have been USING me for the past 3 consecutive years to dress up your candidates WITHOUT PAYING ME ANY CENTS! You don’t even pay the courier or any other charges. A SIMPLE THANK YOU NOTE FROM NOVA, YOU AND YOUR TEAM would have sufficed. But you don’t have the grace and decency to do that. YOU ALL ARE UNGRATEFUL, VILE and professional USERS. Next time don’t ask me or any FILIPINO designers to dress up your candidates. Ask your Canadian designers to showcase your works in world stage…I DON’T NEED YOU in my career. Dressing up your candidates WILL NOT HELP MY BUSINESS and I was just very kind to you…STOP scamming FILIPINO designers…HOW DARE YOU…SHAME ON YOU and your whole CANADIAN Team. #sorelosers #moveon #lifeisnotallaboutMissUniverse”

Read full article on BusinessMirror

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