Where is Minorka Mercado Now?

Have you ever wondered where is Minorka Mercado now?

Minorka is 1993 Miss Venezuela who represented this beauty superpower in 1994 Miss Universe pageant in Manila. She was the tallest candidate in that year's competition at 6'1". She was also the favourite to win the crown but she ended up second runner up to Miss India Sushmita Sen and Miss Colombia Carolina Gomez Correa. Sen was the winner and Gomez Correa was the first runner up.

After that pageant in Manila, there were no more news about her. Recently, I saw a picture of her as a presenter of a show in the US.

Today, Minorka Mercado is active in hosting events and functions all over the world. Photo on the left is of her hosting last year's Hispanic Choice Awards. She is now based in Philadelphia and is married to Peangelo Miranda and has a daughter with him. She also hosted the Latinas United for the Cure luncheon at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel.

Classic Reactions During Beauty Pageants

The final announcement of winners in a beauty in pageant is one of my favourite portions of the competition since you see here real or genuine reactions from the contenders - though not all but at least most of them. This is the part which I call the unguarded moment of the winners. Though they know cameras are all eyes on them, they simply decide to show their real feeling unconsciously.

One of the best moments I have witnessed on television was in 1999 when Miss Botswana was announced the new Miss Universe. Definitely, she wasn't expecting to win the title - I'm sure of it - and she was thinking Miss Philippines as the winner. After all, Miss Philippines was clearly what the Miss Universe Organization would have like to win. At the announcement of the final three, Miriam Quiambao was positioned at the center which is a tradition for the pageant. Did you know that? In fairness, Miriam was the best at that time to win the title.

Here is another classic example of an unguarded reaction by the current Miss Bolivia-Universe 2008 who is going for the Miss Universe 2009 pageant. Look at how happy she was.

India's Sushmita Sen, like1999 Miss Universe Mpule Kweglagobe of Botswana, was not expecting the title in 1994 in Manila, Philippines. Her reaction clearly says it all. Her runner up Miss Colombia, Carolina Gomez Correa, was highly touted to bring home the crown. Incidentally, Sushmita was my favourite that year and I actually predicted her to win the crown basing from a magazine where she stood out in group picture by the pool.