By Pauline Joy M. Gutierrez / Special to the BusinessMirror
Conclusion
IT’S still days before the awaited coronation night of the Miss Universe pageant at the SM Mall of Asia Arena and things are considerably heating up for both the candidates and the public, from changes in the rules of the pageant to the preparation for the grand ceremony.
Now wholly owned by the William Morris Endeavor (WME/IMG), an American talent agency based in Beverly Hills, California, Miss Universe undergoes a major overhaul in its contest format.
Previously, candidates vied to make it to the Top 15. With the 12-9-6-3 format, the 86 international entrants must secure a spot in the Top 12 to continue their dreams of bagging the title and the crown. The coronation will then begin from this segment.
The 12 beauties will then be pared down to a Top 9 after the swimsuit portion. To determine who continues her path to the potential reign, the scores of the judges and the fans—including home viewers who can vote via the official Miss Universe links—are averaged. The subsequent Top 6 contenders are picked using the same system of averages.
And here is where the change comes in.
Before, each contestant undergoes a two-part question-and-answer (Q&A) portion: during the Top 6 segment and, if lucky enough to claim a spot, in the Top 3. This year the ladies are slightly relieved of that pressure by having only one Q&A segment, which is during the Top 6.
The last stage, the Top 3, features the Final Look. The Miss Universe official web site writes that here, “judges and viewers are asked to make a decision based on their overall performances through the Final Look.”
“Rather than score, this segment is ranked, meaning the judges and home viewers base their vote on who they think should win the title,” the web site article explained.
“Ganda” problems
RECENT predictions and roster of favorites by beauty-pageant web site Missosology.org places up-and-coming countries, such as Nicaragua and Barbados, alongside the previously mentioned mass producers of beauty queens.
As for the Philippines, the country has garnered a total of six awards since 2010, including Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach’s iconic Miss Universe title, making a total of 20 placements and three crowns.
With this setting, the billion-dollar question rings loud and clear. Will Miss Philippines Maxine Medina bring home the crown again for a back-to-back victory?
The 26-year-old Philippine delegate is not new to the business in front of the crowd and the camera. Having had product endorsements, commercials and runway modeling gigs, Medina already has a taste of the world of pageantry. In addition, her parents were also involved in the same scene in their younger years. Medina is also a freelance interior designer who graduated from the De La Salle College of Saint Benilde and the Philippine School of Interior Design.
Despite an arsenal of things to be proud of under her belt, Medina has not escaped the eyes of the grammar Nazi netizens during the Q&A portion of Binibining Pilipinas, the national tilt that serves as a springboard to the international pageant. Moreover, she received a rather candid results prediction from none other than the country’s first queen of the universe: Gloria Diaz.
The former beauty queen clarified her prediction of a one-in-a-million chance for Medina to snag the crown, saying it was not an issue with the candidate but with the political correctness of the bestowing of award.
“We’re the host. Parang can you imagine if we make our representative win? ’Eh di magwawala lahat ng candidates and also their countries, their ambassadors,” [Could you imagine—if we make our representative win, all the other candidates and also their countries, their ambassadors would then make a racket?] she told ABS-CBN News’s Marie Lozano. “And they would think that we are unfair.”
She also insisted that Medina get an interpreter, should she feel that she could express herself better in Filipino.
People’s Television (PTV) quoted her on social media, saying that “the first thing [Diaz] will tell her is to get an interpreter if she feels that she can better express her thoughts using our vernacular language.”
On the other hand, pageant coach Jonas Gaffud, who has trained the likes of reigning queen Wurtzbach, Miss International 2016 Kylie Versoza and Miss World 2013 Megan Young, bets higher for Medina.
“Well, I am aiming for the Top 3. Gusto kong makapasok sa Top 3 si Maxine,” [I want Maxine to be included in the Top 3] he said.
For her part, Medina echoes the same drive and determination of her coach, not paying any mind to the bashers—and even to Diaz’s suggestion—as she gears up to answer in English and boldly claims a back-to-back win.
All the PHL’s a stage
SET in the “eye-conic” SM Mall of Asia Arena this January 30, the coronation night will soon reveal who really rises above the rest to receive the legendary crown and the title of Miss Universe. Back on the stage for better or for worse, depending on the spectators’ taste, is comedian and host Steve Harvey (best remembered for his very comical mistake). He is joined by Ashley Graham, well-known American model, as the backstage host.
Meanwhile, social-media personality Bretman Rock and Binibining Pilipinas 2014 & Miss Universe 2010 4th Runner-up Venus Raj will cohost the Miss Universe Red Carpet event.
Performers are yet to be announced, although Flo Rida already confirmed that he will be performing for this year’s show.
All in all, the 65th Miss Universe boils down to more than just an annual spectacular display of feminine curves and beauty. It is a platform for elevating the candidates’ advocacies and celebrating cultural diversity.
With reports from Luigie P. Hadap
Image credits: Nonie Reyes