Miss Universe 2019: Black is Beautiful or Blackout?

It has been eight excruciating years since Leila Lopes of Angola was crowned Miss Universe in Brazil. She’s the fifth beauty of black descent to be crowned Miss Universe in the pageant’s 67 editions. The others are Trinidad & Tobago’s Janelle Commissiong who won in 1977 and Wendy Fitzwilliam in 1998,  Chelsi Smith of USA in 1995 and Mpule Kwelagobe of Botswana in 1999. 

L-R: Janelle, Chelsi, Wendy, Mpule & Leila

Miss Universe 2011: Leila Lopes of Angola

HISTORICAL FIRSTS. Evelyn Miot of Haiti made history in 1962 when she became the first black to reach the top fifteen. In 1968,  Anne Marie Braafheid of Curacao came close to becoming the first black to win Miss Universe. She was 1^st runner up to Miss Brazil. 

Historic firsts in Miss Universe

FIRST BLACK MISS UNIVERSE. It was in 1977 when Janelle "Penny" Commissiong of Trinidad & Tobago became the first black Miss Universe. She was also the third Miss Universe winner to be chosen as Miss Photogenic by the international press covering the event.  During her reign, she raised awareness for black rights in countries where people of African ancestry faced racial discrimination long before advocacy became popular in pageantry. 

Janelle is Miss Photogenic & Miss Universe 1977

Historic win for a black beauty

 A BLACK MISS UNIVERSE FOR 2019?  The announcement that Atlanta, Georgia has been selected as the venue for this year’s Miss Universe pageant has people start talking of a black winner this year. I guess there have been tell- tale signs that the stage has been set for an ebony Miss Universe.  The city is populated mainly by African- Americans. Even the venue, Tyler Perry Studios, is an American film studio that churns out mostly black films. The venue owner and the pageant host are symbols of successful black Americans.  And this year, we have an all African- American set of winners for Miss America, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA. 

Cheslie Kryst is the first lawyer to win Miss USA

The signs point to a black Miss Universe winner because this year’s edition is a celebration of African- American culture with Atlanta, Georgia as host city. If a black wins, then it would be a historic first for Miss Universe Org to have an all- black trio of winners.

It would be symbolic of African- American black empowerment if a black winner will be crowned as Miss Universe 2019 in the slave capital of the Old South, that is, Atlanta, Georgia.

So who would be deemed the most worthy among the gorgeous black beauties this year if Miss Universe Org and the US mainstream media would push their agendum of black empowerment as their vision of diversity?  

The logical choice would have to be Miss USA Cheslie Kryst who would be unbeatable if she enters the top six after the competitive swimsuit and evening gown rounds for the top twenty. The current Miss USA is a natural speaker who has to put on hold her lawyer job to fulfil her winner responsibilities. Prior to competing in Miss Universe, Kryst had been doing live anchor reporting for the show "Extra". The highly accomplished Cheslie graduated from Wake Forest University School of Law with a Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration in 2017.   

Black beauties from Kenya, Barbados & Dominican Rep

The other black beauties in the running are the girls from Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, Haiti, Panama, Dominican Republic and Barbados.

So will it be a black beauty or will there be a blackout? Watch the Miss Universe 2019 finals on December 9, 8 am over ABS CBN or Star World at 8 am.

Part 1: Miss Universe 2019 Pre- Pageant Thoughts

Gone are the days when international beauty competitions were all about beauty and world peace.

In this age of social media and advocacy- driven campaigns, beauty takes the back seat to smart, relatable, empowered, advocacy- driven achiever women and to the dynamics of business revenues. 

Miss Earth is about articulate spokespersons for the environment. 

Miss World is all about Beauty with a Purpose and, of course, Julia Morley’s anointed one. 

Miss International, the most traditional of the four most prestigious international beauty competitions selects the charming girl with exquisite, doll- like features and with refined manners.

Miss Universe has undergone a paradigm shift. After changing ownership in 2015, the new management tried to resuscitate the brand with a spectacular edition that had the most talked- about crowning fiasco.

With waning popularity in the US, an all- time low in TV ratings, difficulty in snagging high- profile sponsorship deals and inability to snag host venues outside the US, Miss Universe is now shifting from crowning uber gorgeous, smoking hot glamazons to selecting charming, articulate & empowered achievers with riveting back stories and with huge social media following. 

If IMG is earnest in its campaign for diversity, then we just have to be ready for a surprise winner, someone who is under the radar but would spring a surprise on pageant night.

Pageant enthusiasts are still hopeful that most of the frontrunners would still advance to the top twenty (after judges & the MUO whittle down the field from 90 to 20 during the preliminaries consisting of closed- door panel interviews, swimsuits & gowns)

Based on media hype & pageant fans’ support, leading the pack are the sash factor beauties from  THAILAND, PHILIPPINES, BRAZIL, COLOMBIA, INDONESIA, PUERTO RICO & USA. Not far behind are FRANCE and ALBANIA, Starting to get noticed in Atlanta, Georgia right now are HAITI, CROATIA, PANAMA & INDIA. From the African continent, we have SOUTH AFRICA, KENYA, NIGERIA & ANGOLA. 

Gazini Ganados guns for back- to- back victory

THE OTHER GIRLS WHO CAUGHT MY EYE

NEXT: Is It Time for a Thailand Triumph in Miss Universe 2019?

2019 Bb. Pilipinas Final Prediction

Mutya sa Tagbilaran 2019 Candidates Are Ready!

It’s going to be a very competitive edition for Mutya sa Tagbilaran this year. 

Your Roving Eye was right there getting a ringside ticket at the Bohol Tropics Resort poolside to the 2019 Mutya sa Tagbilaran mock pageant ,  the culminating activity of the candidates’ three- day training workshop for pasarela or pageant walk/ pose, handling the Q & A and basic hair & make up in preparation for the grand coronation night of Mutya sa Tagbilaran 2017. 

With Paola & Gazini Ganados as event hosts

 Opening number wows the crowd

John Torralba with the reigning queens

the reigning queens talked about their experience

Under the discerning & trained eyes of Kagandahang Flores- Cebu beauty camp mentor & pageant guru Jonas Borces & pageant coordinator Alexis Cadelina who oversaw the entire training, the girls showcased their training inputs before the Mutya sa Tagbilaran 2019 pageant committee, the reigning Mutya sa Tagbilaran 2018 & also the reigning Miss Bohol 2018 Raclaire Trigo and three of her runners up, Tagb. City GSO Chief John Torralba, media bureau lady Jeanette Busano, a select group of pageant aficionados, families & friends of the girls and their barangay captains. 

# 1 TALOTO  # 2 POB. II  # 3 CABAWAN

4 DAMPAS # 5 COGON  # 6 POB III

#7 BOOL  # 8 DAO # 9 SAN ISIDRO

#10 MANGA  # 11  TIPTIP # 12 POB I

#13 BOOY  # 14 UBUJAN  # 15 MANSASA

All 15 girls presented an upbeat dance number and later on introduced themselves individually after which they sashayed in their identical swimwear.

After two cuts and a Q & A, picked as the most improved in pasarela (pageant walk) & in overall presentation was # 6 Poblacion II. Rounding out the top three were # 7 Bool  and # 9 Kristine Joy Duterte of San Isidro. 

TOP THREE: # 9 SAN ISIDRO # 6 POB III # 7 BOOL

Narrowly missing the top three was # 8 Celina Villoceno of Dao. Other noteworthy girls were # 14 Gypsy Balahay of Ubujan and # 15 Chairz Maricar Echavez of Mansasa   

So who will emerge as the fairest among these year’s Mutya candidates? We shall find out on April 26. We will be giving you updates on the girls’ future public appearances and details on important pre- pageant activities as we inch closer in the beautiful journey towards the crown 

The Mutya 2019 girls & the reigning queens

with my 2019 Bb. Pilipinas aspirant/ friend Gazini Ganados

In her welcome remarks, Mutya sa Tagbilaran 2017 Chair & Tagbilaran City First Lady Jane Censoria Cajes-Yap envisions the candidates to grow in the journey -- by providing the necessary skills training like personality development, communication workshops, spiritual formation and ramp walk. With the support from the City Govt. of Tagbilaran headed by Mayor Baba Yap, the idea is to enhance the girls' potentials which could enrich them in all aspects. Equipped with this essential knowledge, the candidates will emerge confident and empowered even after the competition. 

Boholanas in Miss World Philippines

 Will Lady Luck smile at Glyssa?  

BEHOLD BOHOL'S BEAUTY

With the Miss World Philippines  2017 Pageant on its last stretch before the coronation night on Sunday, September 3 and getting talked about by Boholanos online primarily because of high- profile Boholana beauty Glyssa Bingas Perez’ participation, let us recall the Boholanas who have qualified in the nationwide search.

ANNA MARIS IGPIT Who can forget Anna Maris Arcay Igpit? The Panglao beauty is the first and , so far, the only Boholana to have represented Bohol in the Miss World Pageant. 

She got the chance to compete for the blue crown after she was selected as Bb Pilipinas- World 2006. She went on to Warsaw, Poland later the same year to compete with more than a hundred beauty delegates from around the world. 

She may not have made it but she landed on the front pages of Poland’s leading newspapers after being voted by Polish readers as one of Miss World’s Five Prettiest.

 2006: Anna Maris Igpit

After Cory Quirino acquired the franchise to select the Philippines’ official bets from 2011 to 2016, the following have been among the lucky few to pass the rigid screenings:

DONNA MARICEL CARDINO In 2011, it was Donna Cardino of Clarin, Bohol who qualified for the national finals after passing the screening held in Cebu City. 

The 2004 Miss Bohol Top Ten Finalist and Best in Swimsuit didn’t make the Top Twelve that year but paved the way for the Boholana to be recognized in the newly acquired Miss World franchise in the Philippines.

 2011: Donna Maricel Cardino

FER MARY BALIQUIG In 2012, it was Fer Mary Baliquig, Miss Tagbilaran 2010 and Miss Bohol 2010 1st RU who qualified for the finals but didn’t make it. 

Earlier that year, she also qualified for Bb Pilipinas but lack of support hindered what might have been a breakthrough performance.

2012: Fer Mary Baliquig

GAZINI GANADOS The last Boholana to make it as official candidate was the celebrated beauty Gazini Ganados who qualified in 2014. 

She was one of the heavy favorites but she only made the Top Twelve due to inexperience and her young age.

 2014: Gazini Ganados

 Gazini with the MWP 2014 Favorites

What do you think of Glyssa’s chances?  

Sandugo 2017: Celebrating Friendship, Commemorating History

Boholanos and visitors lined up the streets and braved the heat to catch a glimpse of the 10 participating street dancing contingents and the bevy of Boholana beauties who were in the colorful and festive grand parade & street dancing that highlighted and capped the successful staging of the month- long celebration of Sandugo 2017.

 Dancing the Kuradang: with grace, charm & stamina

 Behold the beauty & grace of the Boholana

The Napo, Loon contingent successfully defended its Sandugo Kuradang Street Dancing Grand Prix title  last Saturday at the CPG Sports Complex. Rounding out the top three were the town of San Isidro at 2^nd place and the town of Pilar came in third. 

Participating delegations included the towns of Baclayon, Balilihan, Catigbian, San Miguel, Tubigon, Brgy. Concepcion, Mabini and Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School.

 Boholano dancer shows off his boyish charm and graceful moves

 Colorful costumes. Disciplined dancers

Your Roving Eye as well the other parade spectators have nothing but admiration and respect for the participants who had to brave the stifling heat and the long parade route while executing their dance steps with precision , grace, charm and stamina. 

 Catherine Tabaniag gets ready for the parade in her Mikee Andrei gown

Photo Credits: Deo Guden

A triumphant Catherine Tabaniag of Panglao who placed in the top ten of the nationwide finals of Miss Philippines Earth 2017 led the parade of beauties that were all aboard their Ford Ranger floats. 

 FORD’S FABULOUS FEMALES: Miss Bohol beauties onboard Ford Rangers

 Miss Bohol 2017 Pauline Amelincx and her court during the parade  

Here’s to a bigger and better Sandugo Festival 2018! Cheers to the organizers ! 

Central Visayas Girls Shine in 2014 Miss World Philippines Meet the Press

The Quest for Miss World Philippines 2014 officially started with the Press Presentation held at the Eclipse Bar & Lounge at Solaire Resort & Casino.

The 26 official candidates were presented to the media. Whoever gets to be crowned as Miss World Philippines has big shoes to fill. 

After, the reigning Miss World is our very own Megan Young who has proven to be one of the best & most hardworking Miss World winner ever who has gone all over the world raising funds for the organization’s charity works.

Looks like Madame Cory Quirino who took over the Miss World franchise from Bb. Pilipinas Charities in 2011 has found the right formula. The past three years, the Philippines has made an impressive showing. 

In 2011, Gwendolyn Ruais was Miss World 1^st RU, in 2012 Queenierich Rehman made the Top 15 & was among the Top Five Best Talent. Of course, we conquered our first Miss World crown last year.

 

2011 Miss World 1st Princess Gwendolyn Ruais

2012 Miss World Top 15 Queenierich Rehman

2013 Miss World Megan

From this year’s bets, four ladies have emerged as the frontrunners and the good news is two of them are from the Central Visayas. Here are the four of them in numerical order:

Lorraine Kendrickson of Dumaguete City

Gazini Ganados of Cebu City

Rachel Peters

Valerie Weighmann

Photo Credits: Copyright infringement not intended