Mexico is the 69th Miss Universe

Finally, after a year and a half of anxious waiting, a new Miss Universe has been crowned.

First of all, indulge me as I gloat with the final results versus my prediction list. I got 18 of the 21 semifinalists, 9 of the top ten and got 3 of the final five. 

VIVA MEXICO

Andrea Meza is the 69th Miss Universe

Andrea Meza, a  26 year old software engineer from Chihuahua, Mexico was crowned the 69th Miss Universe in glittering ceremonies at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, USA. 

She beat a field of 74 delegates after surviving two rounds of interviews. She was Miss World 2017 1st RU prior to winning the Miss Universe crown.

RUNNERS UP

Her court includes 1st RU Julia Gama of Brazil, 2nd RU Janick Maceta of Peru, 3rd RU Adline Castelino of India 4th RU Kimberly Jimenez of Dominican Republic

The rest of the top ten included Thailand, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Costa Rica and Australia.

With the removal of the continental grouping, it was a Latina domination with 12 of the spots going to the Americas. Asia proved to be a strong group with seven girls including Vietnam the Fan Vote winner. Europe had two while Africa went home empty handed.

The rest of the 21 ladies came from Colombia, Argentina, Philippines, Curaçao, Nicaragua, Great Britain, Myanmar, France, Indonesia and Vietnam. 

SHOCKING LOSS

The exclusion of pageant powerhouses  Venezuela and South Africa was the shocker of the night along with the polarizing Canada. 

Pre-arrival fave Philippines didn't quite live up to the hype and cracked under the intense pressure from fans and detractors. Inspite her tentative and underwhelming swimsuit presentation that cost her a top ten spot, you can't deny her luminous beauty and allure. 

On the other hand, despite their sheer beauty, Nepal, Romania and Czech Republic didn't make it due to their weak sashes. 

FOOTNOTE

A lot of pageant fans across the net took to social media to question the results however this blogger is quite pleased with the outcome coz Mexico was in my final list of girls who would be duking it out for the crown. 

My initial pick for the crown was Puerto Rico's Estefania Soto whose luminous beauty, eloquence and elegance would have made her a great titleholder but it wasn't meant to be.

There are things that we pageant fans aren't privy to especially the closed door panel interview. Let us be reminded that the final Q&A isn't the be all and end all of the selection.

The judges had to factor in everything including inputs from MUO on the qualities they want from a winner. So there.

Let's be happy that despite the challenges of this pandemic, MUO was still able to mount a pageant albeit one that wasn't the usual that we have been used to seeing.

Congratulations once again to the winners! 

Who Will Be the 69th Miss Universe?

In this age of social media savvy & advocacy- driven campaigns, of political correctness, tolerance & diversity, pageantry has redefined its aims and purpose.

On the eve of the crowning of the 69th Miss Universe, we will remind everyone how the search has evolved into something that is more than just sashes, stilettos, swimwear and satorial sensations. 

For one, Miss Universe has dropped the words beauty pageant and in its stead, the word competition is now used. Today, it takes more than just physical allure to take home the crown. One has to be a smart, relatable empowered advocate.

From uber gorgeous glamazons, Miss Universe is now on the lookout for authentic ladies who can be inspirational models and advocacy spokespersons.

From 74 ladies, the all- female selection committee will trim down the field the field to the top 20 based on their preliminary swimsuit and gown performances and the closed door panel interview. They will be joined by the Fan Vote winner for a total of 21 semifinalists.

MY TOP TWENTY FIVE

So based on social media hype, my gut feel and pageant fans' support, here are the 25 ladies who will duke it out for the crown;

BRAZIL

CANADA

COLOMBIA

COSTA RICA

CURACAO

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

FRANCE

ICELAND

INDIA

INDONESIA

JAMAICA

MEXICO

MYANMAR

NEPAL

NICARAGUA

PERU

PHILIPPINES

PUERTO RICO

ROMANIA

RUSSIA

SOUTH AFRICA

THAILAND

USA

VENEZUELA

VIETNAM

So who are leading among these topnotch ladies?

After seeing the girls during the presentation show, viewing their intro videos and checking their videos and photos at the Net, here are the girls who I think will be the strong contenders for the crown:

MY SENSATIONAL SIX

Puerto Rico & Mexico

India & Peru

Thailand & Philippines 

The Miss Universe competition is easily the biggest and most popular international beauty competition but I have a concern about its predictability especially the last decade. 

Every year, the same countries have been making the cut. Nowadays, you have to factor in the pageant's popularity in home countries and potential business partnership. 

Some of the standouts from this year's batch like the girls from Nepal, Myanmar, Romania and Nicaragua might not make it simply because they have weak sashes. It would be a pleasant surprise if we have new countries making it to the semifinals starting this year. 

MY MISS UNIVERSE 2020

With an all- female selection committee, Puerto Rico would be a frontrunner for the crown. She may look a bit mature for some, but she has a charming and non-threatening beauty that would sit well with a panel of female achievers. 

Plus she does have great speaking skills, sounds natural and unrehearsed, and radiates that quiet elegance and self-assuredness that one acquires with age and experience. Qualities that would endear her to the panel of women achievers and fellow contestants.

My Miss Universe 2020

Estefania Soto

Puerto Rico 

Good luck ladies and may the best girl in the universe win!