A lesson on committment

Jessica Barboza first represented Venezuela at Miss Earth in 2009. She was able to secure a second runner up placement at the end of the pageant. She was then sent at Miss International in 2011 where she finished as first runner up. She now holds the distinction of a very few beauty queen who was able to secure two international placement in two of the biggest pageant to date. 

Bruna Zanardo won the third runner up placement at Miss Earth 2016. She resigned three months after to compete for Miss Sao Paolo. She then won first runner up failing to represent her state at Miss Brazil where the winner will be the official representative at Miss Universe. 

Lesson learned: 

A beauty queen who knows how to value committment go far while those who don't loses everything. 

Is there a curse to a Back to back?

When Philippines and Puerto Rico meets again

On 11 July 1970, Marisol Maralet of Puerto Rico won the Miss Universe title. She was crowned by outgoing Miss Universe, Gloria Diaz of the Philippines 

On 11 November 2014, Valerie Hernandez of Puerto Rico won the Miss International title. She was crowned by outgoing Miss International, Bea Rose Santiago of the Philippines. 

On 21 May 1994, Dayanarra Torres of Puerto Rico crowns her successor in the Philippines. 

Did you know that, 

The Treaty of Paris was signed on 10 December 1898 where Spain renounced all claim to Cuba, ceded Guam and Puerto Rico to the United States, and transferred sovereignty over the Philippines to the United States for $20,000,000 which marks the end of the Spanish-American war. 

When a Venezuelan crowns a Filipina

In 2014, Jamie Herrell of the Philippines won the Miss Earth title. She was crowned by Alyz Heinrich of Venezuela. 

In 2016, Kylie Verzosa of the Philippines won the Miss International title. She was crowned by Edymar Martinez of Venezuela. 

Miss Big Four 2016

Team USA is the only country to place in all Big 4 pageants in 2016

Miss Universe

Miss Universe 2016 kicks off in the Philippines without any hassle on 30 January 2017. The candidates started arriving in Manila on 13 January although Miss U.S Virgin Island arrived four days earlier followed by Miss Brazil and Miss Sierra Leone. Miss Colombia was the last delegate to arrive.

The owners of Miss Universe Organization, IMG/WME almost pulled out from the Philippines as host after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte gave remarks comparing his war against drug to Hitler. The owners of IMG / WME are Jews thus there is sensitivity when it comes to Holocaust. Although, I should say that their level of interpretation is primitive because hitting deliberately the Jews would not even be on Duterte’s agenda because his wife is a Jew.

Miss France, Iris Mittenaere won the title at the end of the pageant. Iris was the second delegate from France to win the title since 1953 when Christiane Martel won the same title.

It is apparent that there has been a modification in this year’s presentation which is somehow tantamount to the selection of the winner.

Some of the observed changes were;

(1)  Only 13 semi–finalists were picked instead of the usual 15 where the 13^th girl was a product of online voting.

(2)  The semi–finalist was presented in group of three during the swimsuit and evening gown competition.

(3)  From 13 semi–finalists, it was cut into 9 to 6 and finally to just 3 finalist.

It was also thought that the interview portion now comprise 60% of the total scores thus there are a lot of girls who unexpectedly made it as semi–finalists. Given this development, it is very apparent that there has been “re–alignment” when it comes to the branding of Miss Universe.

On my point of view, Miss Universe is now solidifying its “Confidently Beautiful” brand by capitalizing on the achievements or perceived future value of the candidate and amplifies those achievements through her title. I believe that they no longer want a candidate who will usually end up as a “model” or an “actress” thus there is less focus on physical attributes and if the winner was indeed beautiful then it is just an added bonus. It is also by this branding calibration that Miss Venezuela failed to make it on this year’s pageant. Andrea Tovar of Colombia was just lucky enough that Philippines’ Maxine Medina was poor in communication thus she was able to make it on the Top 3 and she need to cherish that moment since it may not happen again because of this “re–branding” of Miss Universe.

I will have to give Miss Universe a four and a half star for its presentation this year. The only thing I don’t agree with the pageant is presenting the semi–finalist in group of three since it tends to limit the space of the candidate to maneuver their move. If the Miss Universe Organization will continue the same type of presentation, they should have at least allowed the “group of three” to strut on that 180 degrees circle if it is the comparison that they are after for.

Miss Earth

The organizers of Miss Earth were able to rebound this year from their mediocre presentation last year. The production significantly improved although a lot of fans were disappointed with its online streaming of the pageant. The “food issue” last year was already resolved and the candidates are happy with the food they are being served from their hotel host. The stage significantly improved although it would have been better if they made it “three dimensional” the way they do at Eurovision contest.

It’s as if the moon and the stars were aligned that a “Latina quartet” got the entire placement in the competition headed by Ecuador’s Katherine Espin who were proclaimed winner that night followed by Michelle Gomez of Colombia. It was a sweet revenge for Stephanie de Zorsi of Venezuela who was not able to compete in 2014 but got the third place this year. It was a back to back 4^th runner up position for Brazil on the other hand.

One of the things I like about Miss Earth’s production this year was the fact that they are hiding the translator from the camera which makes them secure from bashing. The purpose of the translator is to translate the answers of the candidates and there is no need for them to be visible on the camera. However, it is apparent from the voice of the translator that they are also nervous. Miss Vietnam would have been able to break the Latina quartet could have been her answer was translated correctly.

Some of the pitfalls from this year’s presentation are the following:

(1)  If last year, it is the cameraman who fails to make contact with the candidate, it is the candidate who failed to make contact to the cameraman this year which is apparent during the Evening gown competition where some of the semi–finalist doesn’t know where to look as the camera rotate around them.  

(2)  The cameraman is unaware as to where the location of the semi–finalist being called. He is just waiting as to whoever candidate will step down and start to focus on her causing the embarrassment of Miss Indonesia.

(3)  There must be something wrong with the sound system because some of the semi– finalists were able to hear their countries being called while others don’t.

These pitfalls can easily be remedied through vigorous practice. The candidates have a lot of itinerary on their travels that the schedule might have been tight but that should not be an excuse for repeated rehearsals.

Imelda Schweighart of the Philippines becomes “uncontrolled” during the competition. First, there was the issue of asking Miss Austria as to whether Hitler was born in Austria. While there is nothing wrong about a mere question, it is irrelevant to the advocacy of the pageant. Second, the issue of eating the seeds of Rambutan fruit causing stomach discomfort for some of the candidates who ate it. Third, the issue of the gown made by Leo Almodal that was supposed to be intended for Imelda but was worn by Katherine Espin of Ecuador because the gown of the latter was not finished on time. And last, the deliberate bashing of Imelda towards Katherine about cosmetic surgery.

Again, as I have pointed out last year, there should be a “Code of Ethics” among candidates that they should be able to abide or otherwise they will not be allowed to continue on the competition.

Some of the opportunities for Miss Earth are:

(1)  Environmental issue has a wide scope. It can’t be disseminated in just one night. The advocacy is weakly connecting to the people. Miss Earth should be able to strengthen its brand through its advocacy. Because of its wide scope, each year there should be a concentration on a specific theme, it could be “endangered animals” for this year, “water contamination” the following year, “air pollutants” a year after and so forth.

(2)  The environmental issue should leave a mark to the audience. Why not a swimsuit competitions wearing the wings of “endangered species of bird” with slide show about it? How about an evening gown on an “envisioned perfect Earth” on background? Sometimes thinking outside the box will do the connection.

(3)   I can’t help but to notice that every time a new winner was being crowned, there is always that frowning “unhappy” candidate on the background. Are they stressed? Are they sour raping?

(4)  Miss Earth and Miss Universe were held on the same stage but Miss Universe was able to make the location ten times bigger as viewed on television.

Miss International

Through the years, Miss International sticks to its gala type of presentation which truly reflects the Japanese prim and proper persona.

The Philippines won its 6^th Miss International in the person of Kylie Verzosa.

Most pageant fans thought that to win the Miss International, the candidate has to be facially beautiful, has good pasarela skills and a terrific background. Some countries has haven’t won the Miss International pageant yet. For India, it is the only missing crown for them to complete the Big 4 crowns and yet despite the fact that they are sending great candidates they still miss the crown.

As I watched through the different editions of the pageant, I came to realize that the organizers are not just looking for something superficial, it is more on “consistency” and to what aspect that consistency is, I just keep that to myself for now.

Post-pageant assessment of Binibining Pilipinas 2016

Jennifer Hammond

Miss Intercontinental

Placement: Top 15

Date / Venue: 16 October / Sri Lanka

Jennifer Hammond opened the pageant season armed with preparedness. The pressure is there because of the ascending performance of the Philippines at Miss Intercontinental. She is also the first Binibini to compete internationally. Most thought that she will already clinch that missing crown but it didn’t work to her advantage.

During the competition, most Filipino fans already knew from the start that Jennifer will not be given a fair fight. Every time it was her turn to be focused, the camera will zoom or pan to the audience giving her less exposure.

Jennifer was not elected from some “minor pageant” in the Philippines. She was chosen from Binibining Pilipinas (a national beauty pageant). During the years when representatives at Miss Intercontinental were being chosen from other beauty pageant, it was not an anticipated event. It was only when Binibining Pilipinas got the franchise that it got the momentum.

During the finals night, one of the judges was Miss Russia who was a previous winner. Miss Italy was still speaking during the question and answer and Miss Russia already stand up from her chair. During the swimsuit competition, while the girls are strutting their move, none of the judges were writing scores which is sort of strange.

Upon Jennifer’s return to the Philippines, she was so disappointed that she has to temporarily shut down her social media accounts. She was also absent in some of the “send–off” of her Binibini sister to their respective competition.

Nicole Cordoves

Miss Grand International

Placement: 1^st Runner Up

Date / Venue: 25 October / Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

I was not expecting Nicole to make it at the Top 5 either. The least I’m expecting is a Top 10 finish. I thought that her performance was mediocre. She does have good communication skills from the fact that she is a former speech writer for Department of Finance but I feel that her walk was as if she has just given birth.

Nevertheless, she was able to persuade the judge with her answer. In fact, her answer is far more superior to the winner given the fact that the question is a taboo to put it in context. Sex, politics, religion and race are topics which are considered “taboo” in any conversation.

Although the advocacy of Miss Grand International is close to impossible, I can say that by far, it is “the most organized” pageant to date. Some of the practices that I like about this pageant are the: (1) Pinning of sashes – where candidates don’t just pull their sash on racks but rather there was a formal ceremony for which at the same time, candidates would be able to know “who’s who,” (2) “Meet and greet” session – where candidates will sit down on stage in group of five to introduce themselves. This will help them overcome their stage freight and at the same time become comfortable with other candidates and to make friends too.

Filipino fans don’t like the owner of Miss Grand International yet despite it all; Philippines were given a placement year after year in the competition.

Kylie Verzosa

Miss International

Placement: Winner

Date / Venue: 27 October / Japan

As I previously mentioned, if Kylie will win the Miss International crown, she will break the curse of Ateneo graduates for not placing at Miss International. Kylie’s eye was fixated to the crown. She wants it badly. Kylie sacrificed her love life in exchange of the crown. And she came triumphant. She now brought in the 6^th Miss International crown for the Philippines and the 13^th crown of Big Four pageant.

Following Kylie’s journey to the crown, it became clear to me what the organizers of Miss International is looking for to which I will keep to myself as to what it is. Pageant fans prefer Kylie to clinch the Miss Universe Philippines sash but after following the journey, I now realize why BPCI gave her the Binibining Pilipinas International sash instead. And if there would be no changes on Miss International standards and BPCI will be sending another competitive girl in 2017, a back to back is not farfetched.

With Kylie’s win, Aces & Queen finally completed all the “Big 3” crowns only on a span of three years.

Joanna Eden

Miss Supranational

Placement: Top 20

Date / Venue: 02 December / Warsaw, Poland

Pageant fans thought that Joanna Eden was a perfect match to wear the Philippine sash at Miss Supranational. Most thought that she will deliver but it was the other way around.

She did perform well during the preliminary rounds but after she was given the opportunity to proceed further, she seems unfocused, disconnected and uninterested. She seems to lose her momentum during the finals night. Her performance during the final show is as if she just would like to finish the show and go home. It is unknown as to what prompted her to such performance. Is she missing her boyfriend already? Was she pressured? Was she affected with bashers? Whatever the reason is, it transpired in her performance.

Joanna was one of the youngest girls crowned by BPCI. I feel that she still lacks the emotional maturity to be sent for an international pageant. Thus, therefore, BPCI should raise the age limit of the candidates to between 20 to 26 years old. Kylie is right when she advises future beauty queens to “finish your education first.”

If BPCI will continue to hold the franchise of Miss Supranational, all the girls they will be sending will end as clappers. After seeing the last four edition of this pageant, it is a modelling competition embedded in a beauty pageant context. Thus candidates who should be sent to this pageant are someone who has previous modelling experience which is the likes of Kelsi Merritt, Kim Ross Williams or Gwen Ruais.

And this competition should be under the belt of either Century Tuna Superbods or Miss Bikini International Philippines.

Miss Supranational is the larger and more exclusive version of Star Search backed in the 90’s for their search for “Female Spokesmodel.” Janice Dickinson said that to become a “Supermodel,” you have to pass being a “Runway Model,” “Print Ad Model,” “Commercial Model,” and “Spokesmodel” for a specific brand. If ANTM is a specialization for “Runway” and Print Ad” Model then Miss Supranational is a specialization for search for “Spokesmodel” thus it borderlines a modelling competition. Thus with beauty camp training girls to become beauty queens and by applying the same approach for candidates to be sent to Miss Supranational, it will not work! It’s not a “one size, fits all.”

It is also for the same reason that India won the competition twice because that is where they are really good at. On the other hand, it is also for the same reason that they have a hard time clinching the Miss International (MI) crown because if you will apply the same approach for MI, it will not work.

Nichole Manalo

Miss Globe

Placement: 3^rd Runner Up

Date / Venue: 26 November / Tirana, Albania

It would be biased to write something about a pageant that I didn’t actually watch. I just checked some of the snippet of the pageant and it’s not really my cup of tea.  Most Filipinos clamor about the fact that the 3^rd runner up title given to Nichole after two days was just to appease the fans.

The title “Miss Globe” itself was confusing. I was asking in forums whether this title was the same title won by Maricar Balagtas and Priscilla Mereilles and I can’t find the exact answer.

There was also the issue of Thailand’s National Director seating as judge on the competition which most Filipinos thought as a sabotage towards Miss Philippines which is unsubstantiated.

Maxine Medina

Miss Universe

Placement: Top 6

Date / Venue: 30 January 2017 / Manila, Philippines

Maxine was the last of the Binibini Queens to compete. When she won the title, it is still unknown that the pageant will be held in the Philippines.

Maxine gave a good fight for the title; however, her waterloo which is being unable to organize her thought coherently became a detrimental factor for her to clinch the crown. The question that was given to her “What is the most significant change you have seen in the world in the last 10 years?” is already a bonus but she still wasn’t able to give a strong and coherent answer.

Maxine is a total package. My intuition is that Miss Universe wanted to give her the crown but they can’t tamper the result because the answer given by the three finalists was indeed strong and convincing.

Opportunities for improvement:

(1)    Stella Marquez de Araneta should just crown two titles for her pageant: Miss Universe Philippines and Miss International Philippines and two runners up. If she would like to keep the other franchise, she can hand picked out of the runners up or semi–finalist the way Osmel Sousa is doing at Miss Venezuela pageant. Through this process the runners up would be able to rejoin again if they wish to. With the current policy, once a candidate was assigned a title, they wouldn’t be able to join again.

(2)    The age bracket of the candidates should be adjusted to just the 20 to 25 years old range. Eighteen years old is a legal age but they are technically still in school at this age. Girls of this age are still within their teenage years where they have to enjoy life and still figure out what they really wanted to do. Joanna Eden, at 19, doesn’t have the emotional maturity yet when she competed in her pageant as I have observed it.

(3)    Boyfriends are disturbance if not a jinx to a “Filipina” beauty queen. Jamie Herell, Angelia Ong, Pia Wurtzbach and Kylie Verzosa don’t have a boyfriend when they competed on their pageants thus they won. When I brought this in one of the pageant forums, one respondent told me “your theory is irrelevant.” Was it? Then name a Filipina beauty queen who has a boyfriend who wins a “Big Four” crown? Kylie Verzosa deliberately dropped her boyfriend to concentrate on her training and she reaps the benefit.

(4)    Binibining Pilipinas should integrate more challenges in this year’s competition which should include (1) “make–over your roommate challenge” – where roommates will do the makeup of the other to test their grooming skills and at the same time a bonding moment for each other and to test their character too (2) group exercise challenge – where a group of candidate has to present at least three exercise routines on their fellow candidates (3) healthy meal challenge – where candidates in group of three will prepare meals that are exceptionally healthy for the body that are ideal for a beauty queen (4) reach out challenge – where candidates will spend a day in school or orphanages to replace teachers in educating young children since educating young children is not a rocket science anyway (5) woman wellness challenge – where candidates will be grouped to gather information about health issues that affects woman in today’s society such as breast cancer, ovarian cancer, sterility, etc. and present it to their fellow candidates.

All of these challenges will unmask the true character and qualification of each of the candidates as to who really deserves the crown. Stash away the talent competition where not everybody would be able to participate and replace it with these challenges where there is no excuse not to participate. These challenges will also comprise twenty percent of their scorecard. So, who says that becoming a beauty queen is easy?