2009 will be a tough field for Miss Earth. Ever since its first edition in 2001, the quality of delegates has increased on top of most countries holding national contests to select their official entrant for the contest. Powerhouse pageant-loving nations like Venezuela, Colombia and India lead the way in highlighting the importance of Miss Earth and you can definitely see in their previous candidates how they take it seriously. On the other hand, I commend countries like South Africa and Singapore which have gone one step ahead of the rest as they have fully integrated the environmental advocacies of Miss Earth in their search while conducting year-round activities that focus on ecological awareness and the like.

Here now are some of the confirmed Miss Earth 2009 delegates who are sure to make heads turn upon their arrival in Manila later this week.

Miss Earth Venezuela JESSICA BARBOZA

Miss Earth Spain ALEJANDRA ECHEVARRIA

Miss Earth Paraguay GABRIELA REJALA

Miss Earth U.S.A. AMY DIAZ

Miss Earth France MAGALIE THIERRY

Miss Earth Cuba JAMILETTE GAXIOLA

Miss Earth Kosovo ELZA MARKU

Miss Earth Serbia DIJANA MILOJKOVIC

These are just 8 of the more than 80 contestants expected to arrive for the November 22 contest in Manila within a few days. Expect things to heat up even more as the ladies are seen in person. A lot of them can really be outstanding up close and personal. What’s more, there will be equal attention given to their intelligence and environmental know-how so it would be easier filtering the ones who have both beauty and brains to grab the crown of Miss Earth 2009!