The best Miss Universe 2009 candidates during the swimwear and national costume events

Michelle Malcolm, a broadcast journalist in Bahamas, is joining the 84 candidates competing at Miss Universe 2008 in their daily activities. She is posting her regular updates about the pageant and her comments on the girls at Critical Beauty.

Michele attended the the swimsuit presentation last Sunday and the national costume parade last Monday. She made a lists of the ladies who impressed her both for the swimsuit and the national costume.

I am posting here her list for you to read.

Below are the ladies who caught her eyes during the swimwear presentation in alphabetical order:

Angola – great body, strong catwalk
Australia – fabulous body, beautiful face, good catwalk
Bahamas – the home town girl received a thunderous round of applause for her strong catwalk skills
Brazil – pretty face, great body
Canada – fabulous body! Not an ounce of fat anywhere!
Cayman Islands – great body, strong catwalk
Colombia – great body, sexy catwalk
Czech Republic – very good body, and oh that face!
Dominican Republic – very great body, excellent catwalk
France – good body, very outgoing and sexy on the runway
Great Britain – Loads of personality, good body
Honduras – fabulous body, fabulous catwalk, beautiful face
Hungary – beautiful face, great body, but needs work on the catwalk
Iceland – very good body, great catwalk Jamaica – beautiful face, nice body
Japan – great body, strong catwalk
Mexico – good body, lots of personality, good catwalk
Netherlands – very good body!
Nicaragua – great body, fun to watch on stage
Norway – fabulous body!
Puerto Rico – fabulous body, great catwalk skills
Russia – great body, amazing face, very sexy catwalk
Slovak Republic – good body, very good catwalk
South Africa – great body, legs for days!
Spain – very good body
Sweden – fabulous body, pretty face, catwalk skills could be stronger
USA – fabulous body, arguably the best in swimsuit at this competition!
Venezuela – great body, classic beauty

And below are the ladies who impressed her during the national costume parade in alphabetical order:

Angola, who wore a traditional dress showing scenes of everyday life in Angola
Bahamas, whose costume depicted the sun that covers The Bahamas
Bolivia, inspired by a dance of her country
China, a dramatic warrior
Colombia, a colorful traditional dress
Czech Republic, a gown with a butterfly motif
Ecuador, representing a bountiful harvest
El Salvador
India
Jamaica
Kosovo
Mexico
Namibia
Nicaragua, which represented the fury of a volcano
Panama, representing Diablo in pheasant feathers, glass and crystals
Peru
Philippines, a colorful twist to the traditional Filipiniana
Thailand, a combination of the Thai Hill Tribe and traditional costume
Ukraine
Venezuela, an exquisite costume which reminded me of the film My Fair Lady

She added that there judges presented at the national costume event. They will be the one to pick up the winner of the Best in National Costume. The judges include President of the Senate of Bahamas, Lynn Holowesko; the CEO of Mailboxes Etc. in the Bahamas and the Caribbean, Mr. Gershin Major; Founder of the Bahamas International Film Festival, Leslie Vanderpool; artist John Edward Cox; Junkanooer Kishlane O’brien; entrepreneur Elaine Pinder; and retail executive Rochelle Walker of Solomon’s Mines.

Michelle also added that the candidates who have the biggest fans or supporters in every event are Miss Bahamas Kiara Sherman (of course), Miss Philippines Pamela Bianca Manalo, Miss China Jing Yao Wang and Miss Venezuela Stefania Fernandez.

Emiri Miyasaka's altered national costume

Now it can be told that Ines Ligron, the controversial director of Miss Japan Universe, gave in to pressure from fans and Japanese people who were offended over Emiri Miyasaka's atrocious national costume showing her crotch.

Last night, Emiri showed in her costume with a little modification. Her pink panty is no longer showing. I guess the Japanese people are now happy with this development.

The original costume

Miss U delegates parade in National Costumes

Last night, Monday, August 10, the 84 contestants of Miss Universe 2009 paraded in their national costumes. As expected, it was an exciting event seeing all the ladies in their colourful costumes. But I just saw them in pictures. I am not in Bahamas. LOL

I was impressed with Miss France Chloe Mortaud, Miss China Jing Yao Wang, Miss Venezuela Stefania Fernandez, Miss Philippines Pamela Bianca Manalo, Miss Panama Diana Broce, Miss Bahamas Kiara Sherman, Miss Puerto Rico Mayra Matos, Miss Ecuador Sandra Vinces and Miss Egypt Elham Wagdi. They all look fabulous wearing their costumes.

Miss Bahamas in National Costume

Miss China in national costume

 

Miss Ecuador in national costume

  

Miss Egypt in national costume

 

 

Miss France in national costume

  

Miss Philippines in national costume

  

Miss Puerto Rico in national costume

 

The ladies who did not impress me with their national costume are Miss Canada Mariana Valente, Miss USA Kristen Dalton, Miss Germany Martina Lee, Miss Netherlands Avalon-Chanel Weyzig.

Miss Canada in national costume

 

Miss Germany in national costume

  

Miss USA in national costume

 

You can now view the other national costumes in this LINK. I am still looking for the others so keep on visiting here.

Final Top 16 and not Top 15 in Miss Universe 2009?

Rumours are circulating that the judges of Miss Universe 2009 will not only pick a Top 15 from the preliminary round but the pageant allows the picking of an extra contestant into the semi-finals, who will be voted by the people of Bahamas through newspaper and SMS voting.

It has also been said that the names of those who made the semi-final will not be disclosed until the day of the pageant, on August 23rd.

On Monday night, August 10, the 84 delegates will be parading with their national costumes before the first round of judging takes place.

It is not sure yet whether they will continue to award the Best in National Costume just like year when Miss Thailand Gavintra Photijak won the award with her Muay-Thai-inspired outfit.

Miss Philippines national costume is Flores-de-Mayo inspired

The national costume of Miss Philippines Universe Pamela Bianca Manalo is a Flores-de-Mayo-inspired outfit made by Maestro Alfredo Barraza.

Stone, a Colombian who had the privilege to attend the photo shoot of Pamela with the costume in Bogota posted some of the pictures in a Colombian message board. Thanks to P.E of Philippine Beyond for the heads up.

Stone had only nice words for Pamela who he thinks a Top 5 Miss Universe material. In Spanish, Stone said that Pamela is a beautiful woman with fine features, nice body, porcelain skin, long legs, sexy, well-prepared, intelligent and spiritual.

The dress sleeves are richly embroidered with crystals and filigree tinsel on white and silver lace. The skirt of spiral flowers is in organza ribbons in different colours. A beautiful square umbrella accompanies the sumptuous design and also make glass combs adorn the sophisticated hairstyle.

All the best for Miss Philippines Pamela Bianca Manalo.

 

  

 

Peru and Bolivia are in conflict over Miss Peru Karen Schwarz's national costume

Living in Peru, a Peruvian website, disclosed that Peru and neighbouring Bolivia are in a controversy over a national or traditional costume which was inspired in a typical dance from Puno highlands called “La Diablada” (The Devils' dance).

When Karen Schwarz, Miss Peru Universe 2009, presented the La Diablada-inspired outfit to the media, Bolivian representatives claimed that it is an unfair appropriation of the Bolivian's cultural heritage. They said that the La Diablada “is an emblematic dance from Bolivian folklore.”

The website reports, "Pablo Groux, Bolivian Minister of Culture, has reportedly sent a letter to Peru's National Institute of Culture (INC), expressing Bolivian's concern regarding to this matter."

Peruvian Foreign Minister Jose Garcia Belaunde said: "The Highlands cultures are one. If Miss Schwarz is Peruvian, she has the right to wear the 'Diablada' dress.”

Ricardo Davila, the designer, was surprised too, and said “we have not copied the Bolivian diablada. My costume is based on a dance from Puno.”

INC representatives said that "the dance of diablada is performed during festivities in Peru, Chile and Bolivia as well, since it's a cultural expression from the Andean highlands."

This dance was declared Peruvian's Cultural Heritage by the INC on September 2nd, 2003.

Miss Singapore Rachel Kum Tweets her journey to Bahamas

Miss Singapore Universe 2009 Rachel Kum tweets in her twitter account that Miss Mexico Karla Carillo was her first co-delegate she met in person. She and Karla were on the same flight from Miami to Bahamas. She said that Karla is her first friend in the contest.

Rachel also added that her flight from Singapore to Miami took a grueling 28 hours because of baggage delay.

On the other hand, Miss Guam  Racine Manley is Rachel's roommate in Bahamas.

Meanwhile, below are Rachel's national costume and evening gown. The national costume was chosen by the Singaporean through an online poll. The chosen costume was designed by a second-year fashion student Zhang Xiaoqing.

 

 

Miss Namibia Happie Ntelamo is finally going to Bahamas after facing financial problems

Miss Namibia Universe 2009 Happie Ntelamo is finally assured of going to Bahamas to compete at the Miss Universe 2009.

The road to Miss Universe was not easy for Happie who had faced financial difficulties. Just last week, the Miss Namibia organization had no money yet to send the black beauty queen to the pageant despite efforts to raise fund or to look for sponsors last week. Thanks God, they were able to get sponsors at the last minute. Happie could be the happiest woman on earth nowadays.

Yesterday in Windhoek, Happie presented to the media her national costume. Namibian Wilemien Chamberlain designed the costume.

Happie is on her way now to Bahamas as she left the country today. Along with her is an item called the "National Poison" - a Nakara Namibia handbag, which she will be presenting at the Miss Universe 2009 Auction.

Goodluck to you, Happie.

Miss Mexico Karla Carillo is First in Bahamas?

Is Miss Mexico Karla Carillo the first who arrived in Bahamas for the Miss Universe 2009 pageant? We got a message from a Bahamian source that (It's not confirmed.) Karla is already in Bahamas and is causing a traffic jam with scores of onlookers and fans at the Cable Beach Roundabout.

We can't verify the message but it could be true since Karla had her send-off party today and Mexico is very near in Bahamas.

The picture shown above is Karla in her national costume.

Miss Japan Emiri Miyasaka's Atrocious National Costume will be ALTERED!

We have a latest news coming from Japan and I guess this is a good news especially for the Japanese who were disappointed and disrespected by the atrocious national costume of Miss Japan Universe 2009 Emiri Miyasaka showing a little flesh or looking like a porn star.

Bloomberg reported that IBG Japan, which operates the local Miss Universe contest, is making an adjustment with the costume. The decision came after the black kimono outfit Emiri had chosen was criticized as too revealing.

“Considering the opinions we got from many supporters and other people concerned, we decided to make the hemline of the costume longer," IBG Japan posted yesterday in their website.

Our blog, Beauty in Pageants, reported first this which was picked up by other blogs, forums and sites.

On the other hand, we have heard from a source that Emiri will be arriving in Bahamas tomorrow (Bahamas time), August 1st, via United Airlines. This is in contrast with what Ines Ligron, director of Miss Japan Universe, had bragged about in her blog.

Ines mentioned in her blog that Emiri will be flying from Miami to Bahamas with a private helicopter. We'll know the real score tomorrow.

Miss Russia Sophia Rudyeva's Nipple is visible in her National Costume

What is with Miss Russia Universe 2009 Sophia Rudyeva or the Miss Russia organization? Are they trying to stir controversies so that Sophia will be an instant hit once she step down in Bahamas for the Miss Universe pageant?

After Sophia became a favourite buzz in pageant-related discussions after nude pictures of her appeared in the internet, another "scandal" is labeled to her.

Her nipple is hanging out in her national costume!!! Look closely on that picture shown above but if you can't see that nipple, here's a larger photo for everyone.

 

Holy cow! Miss Universe Organization would definitely not allow this. If Sophia insists, she might be disqualified.

Why does Sophia trying to be so controversial? She's lovely and she doesn't need all these controversies. Don't you think so?

Long Gown and National Costumes of Misses Thailand Chutima Durongdej and France Chloe Mortaud

The official long gown and national costume of Miss Thailand Chutima Durongdej to the Miss Universe 2009 in Bahamas were revealed in a Thai show the other day.

The Thai organizers made two gowns of the same design but in two different colours - red and blue. I prefer the red one. Chutima's traditional dress is also fantastic and it may win the Best in National Costume.

 

Miss Thailand Chutima Durongdej's evening gown in red

  

Miss Thailand Chutima Durongdej's evening gown in blue.

 

Miss Thailand Chutima Durongdej's national costume.

On the other hand, here is the national costume of Miss France Whitney Toyloy. It's very Moulin Rouge.

More Long Gowns and National Costumes at Miss Universe 2009

Here are some pictures of long gowns and national costumes of some of the delegates to Miss Universe 2009 in Bahamas. These pictures have been flooding different beauty pageant message boards and forums. But we don't really know yet if these dresses are officials since there are no confirmation yet from the organizers of these countries.

Here are the gowns and costumes from India, Indonesia, Brazil, Vietnam, Netherlands and Czeck Republic. Just visit this entry every regularly since I will be updating this every now and then.

Miss Brazil Larissa Costa long gown?

Miss India Ekta Choudhary long gown?

Allegedly this is Miss Indonesia Zivanna Letisha Siregar official evening gown.

Allegedly this is Miss Indonesia Zivanna Letisha Siregar official national costume.

Miss Netherlands Avalon-Chanel Weyzig might wear this dress for the long gown competition.

Miss Netherlands Avalon-Chanel Weyzig might wear this dress for the long gown competition.

 Miss Netherlands Avalon-Chanel Weyzig might wear this dress for the long gown competition.

Miss Czeck Republic Iveta Lutovska official long gown?

Miss Czeck Republic Iveta Lutovska official national costume?

Miss Vietnam Vo Hoang Yen national costume.