Amelia Vega, Miss Universe 2003

I did not like the girl who won Miss Universe 2003, Amelia Vega of Dominican Republic. It was not that she was not pretty. She wasn't my type. These things can't be explained. 

I felt she was overwhelming -- her expressions, her actions and I thought she looked too hard (the makeup made her almost look like a pretty boy) -- too polished. Maybe it was the result of her culture or her family upbringing. All that packed into an 18-year-old life. Wow!

But just a few months ago, I saw her again as a judge at Miss Universe 2011 and was astonished to see such a beautiful Miss Universe. I got curious and found out that she is already an established entrepreneur and singer.

This time, I couldn't believe how I much I admired her beauty NOW but I had the opposite feelings when she won in 2003!

I don't know much about Latin music. Most of the commercial artists who come from the Western World (North America) are usually pretty talented -- but not pretty.

It is as though the stereotypical American producer do not go for beauty, but just want singers who are either famous for their voices or can make an impact with their characterizations e.g. Lady Gaga, Pink, Amy Housewine, Adele.

The only female singers I find pretty AND talented nowadays are Taylor Swift and Katherine McPhee.

So I was rather surprised that such a beautiful (really beautiful) woman like Amelia Vega is able to produce a commercial album and get away with it (even though the Latin Music industry might approach business differently from the  English Music industry).

But all praises to Amelia Vega. I now am interested to look at her...hahaha! 

At last, a decent Miss World winner, Ivian Sarcos, Miss World 2011

I totally forgot about the Miss World finals. 

I did read about it a few days ago, and then today, I chanced upon the final video while surfing facebook. And so, of course, I straightaway wanted to know who won. I had no clue who the final contestants were. I saw a pretty tanned girl in the final lineup and was surprised that she was announced as Miss World 2011.

Oh, wow! At last, a decent winner. Miss World always harps about it's Beauty With A Purpose -- yeah, yeah, yeah....they need to justify their beauty. But I don't really care that it's about that.

Let them use their year for charity if they want to, but everyone knows this is still supposed to be a beauty pageant, and audiences are here to see beauty, and contestants are here to also compete based on their charismatic, beautiful presence. 

Many previous winners were really beautiful, that was what I liked previously about Miss World, even though I did not like the presentation of the competition. But I really could not accept the winners of 2009 (Gibraltar) and 2010 (USA).

We need beauty in this world -- an icon, a symbol, a fantasy, a hope. She embodies it as far as we can see for now. 

The new Miss World, Ivian Sarcos of Venezuela, is an orphan who grew up in a nunnery. Now she is  Miss World. That's hope for you. 

Maria Julia Mantilla Garcia, Miss World 2004

Maria Julia Mantilla Garcia was one of the more beautiful Miss World winners that I liked. 

This Peruvian lady, who has the looks of a movie star, like Kate Beckinsale and Elizabeth Hurley, is nicknamed Maju, and is also known as Maju Mantilla. 

She is a popular model and celebrity, and is reported to be getting married in early 2012.

In the Center is Maju Mantilla, and the tallest is the gorgeous 2007 Miss World, Zhang Zi Lin.

Leila Lopes, Miss Universe 2011 vs Alyssa Campanella, Miss USA 2011

What a surprising end to the Miss Universe 2011 crowning moment. Miss Angola, Leila Lopes, was never a frontrunner with most pageant watchers, including myself. 

She is very pretty and fresh-faced, but there were also a few beauties that didn't make the real Top 16.  I did not put Leila Lopes in my Top 15 predictions as I didn't feel she would put much of a fight. She had a "student" feel about her whenever I saw her photos. Usually, these "student" feel women could never graduate to being a Miss Universe finalist. Also, for Black or African women, it is usually hard for them to stand out amongst the sophistication & fierce competitiveness of the South American contestants like Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Mexico etc. 

But I believe it is written in her destiny that she is meant for greatness and world-wide fame. She just naturally blossomed and sparkled with her sweet smile and elegance, wowing all the judges who saw her up close. When I saw her walk on stage during the Finals, tall, with a slim and strong body, the crown was hers with every smile she gave. 

I was very disappointed that Miss USA, Alyssa Campanella, failed to make the Top 10. She was my pre-Pageant favourite to win the crown. However, she had received much slack during the competition as photos of her being skinnier than usual were published world wide. 

As usual, Miss USA always receives much criticism from Pageant fans who prefer cheering for "underdog" countries or other sentimental favourites. USA, being the home country of the Miss Universe organization, a powerful and rich influence, is always a much-anticipated pageant contestant and one of THE ones to beat, just by wearing the USA sash. 

Here she is competing for Miss California -- awesome.

Alyssa during the recent Miss Universe competition.

She looked like she was just skin and bones, and she lost some "power" there. In this situation, we need to embrace "fat" as being a necessary winning element. My heart fell, and I sensed that she was not going to take the crown. If I was a judge, I would have a hard time giving it to her. But in my heart, I was still cheering for her because I feel she is also destined for the international screen and stage.

Who says beauty pageant judges don't judge on physical beauty? I think it's important, because humans are a visually-appreciative species. Otherwise, makeup, tattoos, jewelry and clothes would never have been invented! Miss Universe will be one of the most viewed, most photographed, most invited, most anticipated celebrity on earth! 

A winner should never ever win just by doing well in the Q&A session. 

Well, the consolation is that, at least she's already got the Miss USA crown, which means, she already has the advantage of being taken care of by the same organizers of Miss Universe.

My Miss Universe 2011 predictions

Still, my top 15 contestants at the moment are:

USA

Netherlands

Peru

Australia

Ukraine

Brazil

Costa Rica

Finland

Greece

Malaysia

Egypt

Ghana

Kosovo

I have mixed feelings on Miss Kosovo. I have found photos of her with dark hair (L). But she turned up at the Miss Universe competition with blonde hair (R) ! And it actually turned me off. But still, she could put up a challenge. 

These are not my favourites, but they look like they might be in the top 10 as well:

China

She is a very tall and confident model, but I think she is not pretty, and in her photos, she comes across too strong (like she has claws...)

Russia
Russian models are beginning to rule the world, but this girl is not impressive for me to make the top 15.

Venezuela

Everyone looks forward to Miss Venezuela in every pageant. This girl looks perfect, but she also looks outdated, sorry to say, a little fake and... cold. 

Alyssa & Pia

Miss USA, Alyssa Campanella is super skinny. But she is damn arresting and goddess-like, with her red hair, clear eyes and great teeth. I can say we've never seen anyone like her in Miss Universe. 

I said it before and I say it again: somebody give me some money to make a movie and make her the star!

For the past few years, blonde European contestants have not made much impact in Miss Universe. But this year, there are 3 gorgeous blondes that I like: Australia, Netherlands and Finland.

Erica Nego, Miss Universe Ghana 2011

I just got myself updated on this year's Miss Universe contestants. When I saw the above photo, I was blown-away cos this lady really is breathtaking in this photograph. 

She is Erica Nego, representing Ghana. Straightaway, I thought she would be the frontrunner for Miss Universe. And if she had the height and the personality too, she could wrestle the crown from Alyssa Campanella, Miss USA, whom I think is the one to beat.

As I googled for more info, to my amazement, I found that Erica Nego was Miss Minnesota 2009, competing in the United States. I assume she is American, having been born and raised there, but I read that she is half-German and half Ghanaian. 

Well, if the rules allow, I'm all for it. It would be nice to see her in the top 3 of Miss Universe 2011. 

Last year, I liked Ximena Navarrette very much, and then she actually won! 

This year, I think it's a little bit tough. There are some very beautiful contestants. 

Zhang Zi Lin, Miss World 2007

Even though I've said I will never follow the Miss World competition again, let me take the time to pay a little tribute to some deserving winners from the past.

Miss World 2007 was held in China, the year before China was due to host the greatest Olympics the world had ever seen. The contestant, Zhang Zi Lin, was also the greatest Chinese woman who had ever competed in the pageant.

Why the greatest? She won. But even if she was Chinese and her winning might have something to do with the Beijing Olympics, she won it hands down. Nobody could come close to her shining star that night.

Tall, graceful, with a sweet, gorgeous face, I wondered if she would amount to more than a beauty queen with her Amazonian height, otherwise she would be a good face on the big screen.

In the Asian movie business, most leading actresses are of petite or average height.

But it was with pride that I saw her photos attending the 64th Annual Cannes Film Festival, turning heads and making reporters ask who she was. Well, most of them would not have followed the Miss World competition to know she actually was the winner in 2007.

But her star continues to shine and we'll wait to see more of her.

Natalie Vertiz, Miss Peru Universe 2011

This girl has just won the Miss Peru crown and will compete in Miss Universe 2011. From her photographs and the youtube crowning video, she seems fierce and all too-assuring -- which is a good thing if you want to win the most prized crown in the industry of beauty.

 

There's a little bit of Miss Universe 1991, Lupita Jones, in her. I think she will be a frontrunner for the crown. It WILL be a fierce competition, and it will be FUN!