Why Miss Universe crowned Miss Manila 2017 and not Miss Manila 2016 herself

Posted by Norman on June 26, 2017
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , . 7 Comments

Queen P crowning Miss Manila 2017 Maria Gail Tobes

Miss Manila 2016 Cristelle Tolentino

More than a few eyebrows were raised during the finals night of Miss Manila 2017 last June 24 when – instead of outgoing titleholder Cristelle Tolentino – Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach (who sat on the panel of judges) was the one tasked to put the crown of Miss Manila 2017 Maria Gail Tobes.

Well, I asked Cristelle about the whole thing (which is as equally important as the farewell walk to any outgoing titleholder) and this was her reply:

A lot of people are actually concerned about the crowning moment…it was Viva Entertainment who decided to do it po. There’s quite a few who asked me din po about it…Maybe because Ms. Pia was Miss Universe and they are after making it trend.

Well, if Viva wanted to trend the finals (or even the pre-pageant activities leading to it), then the people behind should have sought more support from the online media. I wanted so much to give enough focus on the other candidates, but then again…

Miss Manila 2017 and her court


Based on the order of the ladies above, the Miss Manila 2017 winners are: 4th runner up – No. 21 Naelah Alshorbaji Almazik, 2nd runner up – No. 18 Diana Mackey, Miss Manila – No. 11 Maria Gail Tobes, 1st runner up – No. 23 Francesca Camargo and 3rd runner up – No. 7 Sofia Sibug.

Below is an off-cam video of the crowning moment.

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Looking for the next Miss Universe Thailand

Posted by Norman on June 26, 2017
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , . 16 Comments

Over the weekend, the application/screening for Miss Universe Thailand 2017 was in full swing and the organizers received an outpour of interested joiners who brought their A-game in front of the panel who selected the Official Candidates for this year’s edition which will have its finals on July 29.

Watch the video below and see the ones who stood out among the close-to-200 sign-ups.

courtesy of seng12999.beautyqueen

Here are photos of some of the ladies who want to become the successor of reigning titleholder Chalita Suansane.

Sunday Specials: Maureen Wroblewitz talks German

Posted by Norman on June 25, 2017
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks, 5 TV Tales. Tagged: , , . 2 Comments

While we await the official results of Asia’s Next Top Model Season 5 which will be revealed next week in the season finale, let us look at the lighter side of this beautiful Fil-German who – in the video below from Preview Magazine – gives us samplings of her fluency in the German language. She makes it sound easy like Heidi Klum during Project Runway.

Watch now.
courtedy of Preview.ph

Sunday Specials: Miss Universe and LGBTQ

Posted by Norman on June 25, 2017
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , . 6 Comments

Miss Universe Iris Mittenaere


“Tolerance should be the norm, not the exception.” – Pia Wurtzbach, Miss Universe 2015

In celebration of Pride Month, Miss Universe uploaded a one-minute video that gathered the LGBTQ moments in Miss Universe history (modern history, if you will – even if I know that there are far more undocumented precedents in the past decades or so).

The openly gay Patricia Yurena of Spain (who placed 1st Runner-Up to Molly Isler in 2013) has always been an easy recall. The acceptance of a transgender candidate last 2012 – via Miss Universe Canada – is another point of reference. But the links between MUO and LGBTQ have been more fully realized during the reign of Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach who rallied the cause for HIV Awareness throughout her reign.

Watch the video below.
courtesy of Miss Universe

And just to further up Queen P’s LGBTQ touch, below is another video of her (for Metro Magazine where she is the cover of the July 2017 issue) answering the Miss Universe Q&A in Beki-lingo. Enjoy!

courtesy of Metro Magazine

Sunday Specials: Mary Ann Mungcal wins Miss Global Philippines 2017

Posted by Norman on June 25, 2017
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , . 1 Comment

Miss Global Philippines 2017 Mary Ann Mungcal


Mary Ann Mungcal from Pampanga (the same province of outgoing titleholder Camille Hirro) was crowned Miss Global Philippines 2017 during the close of the finals held at the Newport Performing Arts Theater of Resorts World Manila. She will now set her sights on representing the country in the next edition of Miss Global 2016 later this year in a still undiclosed host country.

Earlier, Mungcal cornered a lion’s share of the special awards – including Best in Swimsuit and Long Gown – before slowly climbing to the top of the rankings. She fumbled during the Top 10 Q&A but redeemed herself fairly well during the Top 5 that sustained her pole position on the judges’ scoresheets.

Her court includes 1st Runner-Up Rowee Sasuluya, 2nd Runner-Up Jacqueline Mayoralgo, 3rd Runner-Up Mhaelen Patano and 4th Runner-Up Fina Galupa.

Congratulations to all the winners!

Two for the Road: Miss Global Philippines and Miss Manila

Posted by Norman on June 24, 2017
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 2 Comments

Tonight, two beauty pageant finals will unfold simultaneously.

First is the Miss Global Philippines 2017 at Resorts World Manila where Camille Cj Hirro will crown her successor among the 22 beautiful contenders below. See who will take home the victory at the Newport Performing Arts Theater.

Best of luck to all the ladies, but most especially to my favorites Jacqueline Mayoralgo, Mary Ann Mungcal, Charmaine Aller, Frencheska Frias Nueva and Christine Balaguer.

normannorman.com will be at the venue to cover with Joy Arguil and Joseph Gerard V. Jose.

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And over at the PICC Plenary Hall at CCP Complex in Pasay City, the thirty (30) candidates of Miss Manila 2017 will try to outshine each other as they go onstage for the crowning of a new face for the city to succeed Cristelle Tolentino.

I have more than a few ladies here who I want to land on top, such as former Binibini 4 Maria Gail Tobes, Kristine Montes, Joanna Tolledo, Katrina Sese and Athena Catriz.

Who will be the lucky girl to win PhP1 Million Pesos in the end?

Rachel Peters: Back to the Bold Basics

Posted by Norman on June 24, 2017
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , . 34 Comments

Click above to read the full article


This is seemingly the release week of new photos featuring Miss Universe Philippines 2017 Rachel Peters after the upload of her test shots with Mark Nicdao and the final announcement that the next edition of Miss Universe won’t be hosted by the country.

In the latest issue of Megastyle.ph webzine, Rachel is once more featured in their main article for June 2017. And if you happen to read the full article written by Louise Sicat, there’s more about our bet than what has already been written about her in the past. Like, are you aware of the things she usually does backstage before coming out in the spotlight? You’ve got to click HERE to know about it.

Credits:
Words: Louise Sicat
Art Direction: Deiniel Cuvin
Photographer: Erwin Canlas
Creative Direction: Rain Dagala
Styling: Patricia Melliza
Makeup: Sari Campos of Makeup Forever
Hair: Renz Pangilinan
Location and Special Thanks to Moss Manila Home

Here are more of the accompanying photos in the same.