Miss Universe Ecuador 2013 Constanza Baez's transformation

First, Philippines sent their representative to Miss Universe in the person of Miriam Quiambao to Venezuela in 1999 to have her be trained by the famous Osmel Souza who have earned the reputation for having a Midas hand by turning ordinary Venezuelan ladies into doll-like uber gorgeous candidates; and, she ended 1^st runner up.

Second, Dominican Republic, in 2003, sent Amelia Vega for training also in Venezuela and she ended up winning as Miss Universe 2003.

Most popular answers of Miss Universe winners

It is quite a nerve-wracking experience for beauty queens from across the globe once they qualify to the question and answer round at world pageants. The flair and confidence with which a contestant answers a question determine how worthy she is of living upto the reputation of the title. While there are some who face the challenge like a smooth ride, there are others who stumble a little at first but take it in their stride later.

We share some of the most popular answers given by beauty queens at world pageants over the years:

Nude photo scandals of Russian beauty queens

When a I made a blog entry about the latest nude photo scandal in pageantry involving winners and other contestants of Miss Minsk 2013, I have mentioned about what I have observed. In my write-up, SCANDAL: Miss Minsk 2013, Yana Kontsevenko, Nude Photos, I wrote that most of the nude photo scandals involving beauty pageant winners or contestants are from Russia or the countries which used to be part of Russia. 

3 Filipinas to compete for Miss Universe crown

At least three Filipinas will be competing for the Miss Universe 2013 crown later this year.

Besides the Philippines’ official bet, Binibining Pilipinas-Universe 2013 Ariella Arida, the representatives from Canada and Gabon both have Filipino ancestry.
The Canadian bet is a familiar face to Filipino audiences. Riza Santos — a former “Pinoy Big Brother” housemate and FHM Philippines cover girl — was born to Filipino parents in the Philippines but grew up in Calgary, Alberta in Canada.

Why Did Korinna Kocsis Refuse the Miss Intercontinental Hungary 2013 Title?

This is a follow-up story about Korinna Kocsis, the Hungarian beauty queen who made headlines in the world of pageantry for making a stand and for refusing the title she won in Miss Hungary 2013. I can't think of another contestant in my entire life of stalking updates of any beauty pageants who did the same thing. This makes her an epic!

(Korinna Kocsis, when she won third placer in Miss Hungary 2009. She was awarded the title of Miss Earth Hungary 2009 and went on to Manila, Philippines to compete at Miss Earth 2009.)

Will She Make the Cut for Guyana at Miss World 2013?

Do you still remember that South American candidate who slipped and fell to the floor in her blue evening gown during the preliminary competition of Miss Universe 2012 at Planet Hollywood in Nevada last December?

Strange Winning Patterns at Miss Universe

The world of beauty pageant is chock-full of codes, conundrums and numerology just waiting to be decrypted. Loved every bit of info like this every once in a while.

This article entails on how some countries managed to have a strange pattern in placing at Miss Universe Pageant. It will give us an overview on how these five countries managed to place in the pageant with a year interval in a minimum of four years. I only listed those countries that managed to have this pattern recently.

Miss USA 2013 Promises Surprises on the Finals

(Miss Minnesota, Danielle Hooper, in her swimsuit and long gown during the preliminary competition yesterday)

The 62nd Miss USA pageant is obviously making an effort to keep the pageant popular so that people will watch it comes coronation night. Why did I say so? First, it is a common knowledge that nowadays beauty pageants are no longer attracting viewership which could transform big profits. Second, Miss USA is being handled by business tycoon, Donald Trump who everybody knows as a publicity whore.These are the two reasons I can think of when I read somewhere that Miss USA 2013 is "introducing something new that will shake up the whole show".

Hmm, now, did that statement from Paula Shugart, the Miss Universe president who is also in charge of Miss USA, pique your interest?

Emiri Miyasaka is controversial again with her semi-nude photos circulating online

Emiri Miyasaka was Japan's representative to the Miss Universe pageant last year in the Bahamas. I guess, she was the most publicized delegate that year because of the success of her predecessors in this pageant. Being a trainee of Ines Ligron, Japan's Miss Universe franchise-holder, she was touted to become one of the finalists but in the finals, her name was never called onstage. It was one of the shocking highlights of Miss universe 2009 which was won by Venezuela's Stefania Fernandez.

Before the pageant, Emiri became controversial among pageant fans around the world which irked the Japanese people later on, when our blog, Beauty in Pageants, made a comment that she was like a porn star in her national costume - an shortened Kimono exposing her panty.

Videos of Binibining Pilipinas 2010 Fashion Show

The Philippines is very promising in this year's pageantry because the annual search for the representatives of this country to international pageants has attracted tall and modelesque ladies who are really can walk the walk. Binibining Pilipinas 2010 is the strongest batch I have seen so far. I admit it's very hard to pick the best choices for Misses Universe, World and International.

To give you an idea about the catwalk skills of the girls, here are videos (courtesy of mabuhaybeauties.com)of the fashion show which was held the other day in Gatewall Mall in Cubao, Quezon City.

1952 - 1963 Miss Universe Official Program

For those fans who love to collect Miss Universe stuffs, I found out some pictures of Miss Universe Official Program from 1952 to 1963. I hope I can complete this list. So if you are having some of those missing, be kind enough to share them.

1952 Miss Universe

Miss Universe swimsuits are recycled in Binibining Pilipinas 2010

Like what I have promised you in my previous post, here is the separate blog entry on the swimsuits that were recycled by the Binibining Pilipinas Organization. When the official swimsuit photographs of the 24 Binibining Pilipinas 2010 candidates surfaced in the internet, I have observed that two ladies are wearing the bikinis worn by former Miss Philippines Gionna Cabrera who competed in Miss Universe 2005 in Thailand.

Candidate No. 1 Mariella Castillo is wearing the preliminary swimsuit of Miss Universe 2005 while candidate No. 10 Maria Venus Raj is wearing the official swimsuit that was used during the final night.

In the first picture is Mariella while on the second one is Gionna during the 2005 Miss Universe.

Venus Raj is in the first picture while Miss Universe 2005 winner Natalie Glebova of Canada is in the second photo.

Fans are asking if these were the same swimsuits Gionna wore during the Miss Universe pageant. Or are these another swimsuits separately bought by Stella Marquez Araneta, the head of BPCI?

If these are the same swimwears which was used by Gionna, they are supposed to keep them as souvenirs. How come BPCI are keeping it instead of the delegate, then recycle?

A bigger problem of recycling these swimsuits is health reason. It is gross and disgusting of letting the girls wear panties which have been overused.

Wake up, BPCI!

How is Priscilla Lee connected to Pamela Bianca Manalo?

What is the connection of Priscilla Lee, the current Miss Aruba Universe, to Miss Philippines Universe 2009 Pamela Bianca Manalo?

They are both younger sisters of two Miss World candidates. In 2001, Aruba was represented by Zizi Lee and became 1st runner-up. In 2002, the Philippines was represented by Kate Manalo who finished as one of the finalists.

Zizi went on to compete in Miss Universe 2004 but was unplaced. Kate, on the other hand, had never a chance to compete again internationally.

Kate Manalo during Miss World 2002

Zizi Lee during Miss World 2001

Then in Miss Universe 2009, Kate's younger sister, Pamela Bianca Manalo, became Philippines' representative. This coming Miss Universe 2010, Zizi's younger sister Priscilla Lee will represent Aruba.

Pamela Bianca Manalo, Miss Philippines Universe 2009

Priscilla Lee, Miss Aruba Universe 2010

Will Priscilla place higher than Bianca Manalo like what her sister did over Kate? Or will she go home unsuccessful like Bianca?

Miss Angola Universe 2010 is Jurema Ferraz

Angola will be represented by Jurema Ferraz in Miss Universe 2010.She was crowned as Miss Angola Universe for 2010 last December 10. The 26-year old African beauty who stands at 5'11" is from Namibe.

Her first runner-up was the 20 year old Evanilde "Ivanita" Jorge. She will compete in Miss World 2010 contest which is not yet sure if it will be taking place in Vietnam.

Helena Jacinto was the second runner-up of the competition.

A Hispanic will represent British Virgin Islands in Miss Universe 2010

21-year old Josephina Nuñez is the representative of British Virgin Islands to Miss Universe 2010. She was crowned in August 3 last year. She is a student of Hotel Management.

During her national pageant, Nuñez bagged several special awards like best talent award, best evening wear, best cultural wear, Miss poised and Miss popularity.

When the beauty queen won the right to represent British Virgin Islands in Miss Universe, she faced a lot of criticisms because of her ethnicity. She was born in the Dominican Republic but grew up in Tortola. She was deemed unfit as an ambassador of this Caribbean territory.

This is a challenge for Josephina come Miss Universe 2010.

Winner of Miss Germany 2010, Anne Julia Hagen, is going to Miss Earth and not Misses World nor Universe

Miss Berlin Anne Julia Hagen was crowned Miss Germany 2010 last Saturday, February 13th at Europapark Rust. And she is going to Miss Earth 2010 and not Miss World as it used to be nor Miss Universe.

Miss Germany is the most prestigious national pageant in Germany. This year's edition, the pageant attracted many beautiful and stunning girls. I hope I can collect all the contestants' pictures so that you can verify my claim. I will try to do that.

Before, the winner of this pageant was usually sent to Miss World until it stopped few years back. Luckily, the organizer was able to get the franchise of Miss Earth so the winner is going to Vietnam later this year to compete for the 10th edition of the eco-themed international grandslam pageant.

Anne Julia is a strong favorite for Miss Earth as early as now. Pageant fans are echoing Germany is already assured of a semi-final slot. This is a good indication and if this will happen, this will be Germany's first in this pageant.

But Anne Julia should not relax with this compliments. She should tone down her body since she has the tendency to look heavy or fat in some pictures. But her face is definitely beautiful.

22 girls competed at the pageant and 1st runner-up was given to 20-year old Albana Nocaj, Miss Baden-Württemberg. 2nd runner-up was 24-year old Reingard Hagemann, Miss Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

Latest Picture of Minorka Mercado

Beauty in Pageants made a blog entry about Minorka Mercado, 1994 Miss Universe 2nd runner-up, when this blog was just two months old. Recent news about her is very scarce. But we are happy to find another picture of her. Here she is.

Do you see her resemblance to the current Miss Universe Stefania Fernandez who also from her country?

Here is Minorka during the 1994 Miss Universe in Manila.

Who killed Miss Russia and Miss Zambia?

Videos of the preliminary competitions of the evening gown and swimsuit of Miss Universe 1999 in Trinidad and Tobago became the hottest discussion in pageant forums last week. It took me a decade searching for the video because I wanted very badly to see the infamous fall onstage of Miss Philippines Miriam Quiambao during the long gown competition. Miriam was the 1st runner-up.

Beauty in Pageants would like to thank karangolos of Peru for uploading the said video on youtube.

But what really caught my attention was not the tripping onstage of Miriam (we all know she handled the fall gracefully) but the memories of Miss Russia Alexandra Petrova and Miss Zambia Esanju Kalopa. Both beauty queens are now deceased.

Alexandra Petrova was shot to death by an unidentified man in her apartment in Russia in 2000. Esanju Kalopa, on the other hand, died in a vehicular accident in 2005.

I can't just imagine that these beautiful ladies who captured our eyes died so young. What a tragic death.

Watch the video clip to see Miss Russia (3:090) and Miss Zambia (9:53)

How did the long gowns of Dayana Mendoza and Stefania Fernandez influence other countries like Wales and Poland?

I was inspired by the turn out of comments on this post I have written about the identical gowns of Miss Philippines and Miss Venezuela during the Miss Universe 2008 in Vietnam. The similarity is more on the cuts of the gowns.

Because of this post, I have realized how strong Venezuela is in influencing other countries when it comes to pageantry. The long gowns of Dayana Mendoza and Stefania Fernandez, the back-to-back Miss Universe winners from Venezuela for 2008 and 2009, have been the inspirations of other countries. Poland and Wales (United Kingdom) copied the designs of the gowns for their representatives to Miss World and Miss Earth respectively.

Although this act of copying designs is a fashion crime, I am more curious to know the feelings or reactions of the girls who were forced to wear these gowns. Did they wear it with pride and confidence? Did it affect their performances?

For comparison, the next two pictures are Dayana Mendoza (first) in her yellow gown and Stefania fernandez (second) in her red gown.

Now, here is Miss Wales Dominique Dryer during the preliminary evening gown competition of Miss Earth 2009 in Manila. The gown is exactly the same with Dayana's gown except that she changed the color to pink.

On the other hand, Miss Poland Anna Jamróz paraded in Miss World 2009 with a gown which was obviously a fusion of the gowns of Dayana and Stefania. The upper part of the gown is patterned from Dayana's while the lower part is copied from Stefania's.

Turkey, Egypt, Austria and Belgium Have Miss Universe winners

If we look into the list of Miss Universe title holders, we will never see a winner from countries like Austria, Belgium, Turkey and Egypt. But if we look deeper into the history of beauty pageants, these 4 countries I have mentioned have actually one winner each. It happened from the period of 1929 to 1935.

You might argue that Miss Universe pageant was held first in 1952 in Long Beach, California. You are right but this is the pageant we are accustomed to nowadays. This is the pageant which is currently under Donald Trump. But I am talking a different pageant that is now a history. There was once a beauty pageant called the International Pageant of Pulchritude where the winner was sashed or named Miss Universe. It started in 1926 in Galveston, Texas.

This pageant is also known as International Pageant Contest or Miss Universe Contest by its followers. It was held in the US until 1931. But when the US economy went to drain known as Great Depression, US decided to stop this.

Belgium came to rescue the pageant by bringing it to Brussels in 1932. In 1933 and 1934, the pageant was not held for an unknown reason but it came back once again in 1935 which marked its final staging. It was not held since then because of the World War II.

In 1952, a separate pageant was given birth by Catalina Swimsuit Company. It was named Miss Universe. This is the pageant we love to watch now but it has no connection with the old one.

The winners are:

1926 - USA - Catherine Moylan
1927 - USA - Dorothy Britton
1928 - USA - Ella Van Hueson
1929 - Austria - Lisl Goldarbeiter
1930 - USA - Dorothy Dell Goff
1930 - Brazil - Yolanda Pereira
1931 - Belgium - Netta Duchâteau
1932 - Turkey Keriman Halis
1935 - Egypt - Charlotte Wassef

You will observe that in 1930, there are two winners of the said contest. This is because there were two editions - the Brazil version and the US version.

In 1929, International Pageant of Pulchritude became so popular in Brazil. The Brazilians had high hopes their representative would win. But when their girl did not make it, the angry Brazilians created their own Miss Universe Contest the following year in 1930 where their girl won the title. The representative from the US was also excluded in the semi-finals. It is not clear if this was a vendetta by the Brazilian judges.

The winner shown in that picture posted above is Dorothy Dell Goff of the US in the 1930 US version of the pageant.

Watch this video also.