analyzing beauty pageants
The night of May 29, 2002 in San Juan, Puerto Rico was history in the making. Never before had Russia won the Miss Universe and that night it was the first time that a new crown, created by Mikomoto, will be worn by the winner. There were new participating countries and particularly impressive was the top ten finish of Albania and China. Mysteriously absent were top favorite Colombia and local bet Puerto Rico. Also not on the list was USA and that makes it the third time around for the beauty superpower.
But that night wasn’t only for Miss South Africa. It was Miss India’s too. Neha Dhupia represented a country that is currently on verge of war against Pakistan in the best way as possible. By making it to the top ten, Neha allowed her country to be on the top ten list for ten years straight (winning two titles along the way)! Many missosologists had been predicting that India would not make it this time considering that they have declining performance particularly at Miss World. Yet, it was just hard to deny Neha a top ten spot.
While India relishes the fact that they are on the top ten for ten years straight, Germany has something to cheer this year. Since it had never been able to produce a Miss Universe finalist for almost 12 years by now, the inclusion of Natascha Borger resurrected its hope for the crown. The country had shown considerable strength in the 50’s up to the 80’s only to see its delegates failing to make the cut in the 90’s. Thanks for the very gorgeous Natascha., Germany may be on track again at the pageant.
From the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, Demetriou Eleftria was another surprise top ten finisher. Having hosted the pageant in 2000, her country never made this far in the pageant’s 51-year history.
Add another “first” for this year’s edition of Miss Universe. Canada’s Verna Neelam celebrated her country’s changing demography for being the first Miss Canada of South Asian descent. Thus she stands in the same corner as her compatriot & Miss Universe 2000 top ten finisher Kim Yee who is a Chinese-Ukrainian.
The top ten and 1st runner-up finish of Panama’s Justine Pasek wasn’t a surprise. The lovely half Polish, half-Panamanian girl could have won the crown! She was one of the favorites prior to the finals for showing a striking face and graceful body.
Another history in the making was the first Miss China at Miss Universe: Ling Zhou. Like her last year’s Miss World compatriot Bing Li, she instantly made it to the top ten. What was so politically amazing was that the Miss Universe Pageant erased the regularly participating Taiwan from its list in favor of communist China. (Actually Taiwan beat China 41 years ago when Wa Li-Ling made it to the top ten. The nearest they can get to the crown was when Helen Liu finished as 3rd runner-up to Argentina’s Norma Nolan in 1962). Was it the result of George Bush’s successful China tour or was Miss Universe just looking forward to a much better business opportunity in the world’s most populous nation? Whatever the case, China’s inclusion, for us, was a real surprise.
Venezuela, bores us for being the only nation who consistently made it to the top ten. Well in fact they had been doing it for 19 years straight! But then, Cynthia Lander didn’t bore us. She was one of the beautiful ladies during the entire night and nobody can beat her to-die for body.
South Africa was the real attention-grabber. Her white gown was great and it was complimented by her smart moves.
Reminiscent, vaguely somehow, of what Halle Berry donned at the Oscars, India was basically okay with her black gown. It wasn’t really impressive for there was no conspicuous applique like what Halle sported and the clothes that wrapped her arms don’t give any additional points. She received a measly 8.10 score. Germany’s peach gown was really simple but the slits in the bottom gave it a sexy touch. Cyprus and Canada both carried their gowns pretty good. Panama sported a white gown with artistic fibers hanging on it making it unique from the rest. China was in a cheongsam inspired gown and she got 9.15 for it while Venezuela was so far the sexiest for showing her sides and back generously.
At the swimsuit competition, we had some complaints but we generally agreed to the scores given by the judges to the finalists. The shapely Russia was one of our favorites. Gaining 9.88, Oxana delivered an unmatchable performance coupled with her confident walk and a real cute face. The far second was Venezuela earning 9.29 for her amazing walk and curvaceous body. Third in the ranking was Cyprus who not only displayed nice curves but reminded us that the FIFA World Cup opening was just a day away. Her big, well-rounded breasts weren’t able to escape from our naughty eyes with one comparing it to, well, a pair of soccer balls. South Africa comes fourth. She had a wonderful figure no doubt about that, and she walked excellently. I think she deserved at least a 9.7 or even a 10 for it but the judges just rewarded her with an 8.90. And here comes China at 8.88. While I saw some flaws in her body particularly in the abdomen area, she impressed us for being a tall woman and having a model like figure. Absolutely sexy Germany earned 8.81 making her sixth in this category. We think she deserved a much higher score. Panama with 8.79 score walked plainly and calmly. Had she dared to make some fancy moves, she could wow us all further. Albania made her chances in winning the crown slimmer for wearing a one-piece suit. She earned 8.34 but that’s a little better than India’s 8.32. Having wide hips, Neha cannot compensate it with her brilliant ramping. Canada’s 7.99 was not fair leading us to believe that somehow there might be a French figure skating judge in the judging panel.
After the segment, the messed-up Brook Mahealani Lee (Miss Universe 1997) announced the obvious: Russia took the award for the best in swimsuit though arguably, South Africa was should be more deserving.
The presentation of the top ten was followed by the gown competition where worth to note was the twister-like backdrop as if delegates just popped out from it. The swimsuit was put next where a small pool on stage complimented the segment.
There were no top ten interviews (this was already the third consecutive year) and at the top five there was a time limit in delivering the answers
As Panama, China, South Africa, Venezuela and Russia made it to the top five, we began to bet more on South Africa. This until the first round of interview started.
The finalists were asked by the question given by the other delegates which, try as they might not, did sound like being copied from Miss World. Panama started the segment by making the mostly Puerto Rican audience roar in delight. And why not? After all, should she represent another country (question from Miss France Sylvie Tallier), Justine would like represent Puerto Rico describing it as an “Enchanted Land” China on the other hand, amazingly picked her own question but was prompted to pick again and this time it was from Miss Nigeria. Rather than mentioning her country’s human rights record, Ling said that the biggest misconception about her country was that the Western people thought that the Chinese are shy and quiet people. She refuted that by saying “But look at me!”
In this segment we saw that Miss South Africa’s Achilles’ Heel was the interview. For giving a so-so answer on what she has to overcome (question from Miss China), her chance to the crown got dimmer. Venezuela followed and she obviously tried to rephrase her answer but failed. She messed up on a question from Miss Belgium on what she had learned at the pageant. Just what skills was she trying to talk about?
Russia handled the question from Miss Costa Rica pretty well. Should her life be a video tape she said she would replay the pleasant experiences of her childhood and would like to show her life from start to end.
“What makes you blush?”
The final question was somehow a little inappropriate for a highly respected beauty pageant. It’s a question alright but it lacks the essence of it all. Compare it to 1998’s what-are-you-suppose-to-tackle-today approach, for 1999’s pregnancy issue, for 2000’s defense of the pageant and the 2001’s “take a flashback” question. The four-word query which was given by somebody from Sydney, Australia (odd since most Aussies think that beauty pageants are passe) who had no sense of questioning the question itself. But in fairness, it’s still a question right? (Again, the final question given by a fan is something that’s copied from Miss World)
Panama blushes when somebody gives her compliment. Although she had an interpreter she answered in English but had trouble on the word cariño (the interpreter translated it quickly as “love). China mentioned family and friends but does she really blush when with them? South Africa retorted that she is a proud person and blushes when embarrassed. Venezuela ohlalalalaled first and proceeded to say that she blushes when people say something cute and that makes her feel anxious.
But then the best weapon to a four-word question, perhaps, is a brief six-word answer. Russia answered “When I say the wrong things”
Well, a brief question deserved a brief answer. And as Miss Russia Oxana Federova was crowned with the beautiful pearled tiara, we can’t help but to join her in saying:
“Oh my God, Oh my God…….Oh my God!”
