Super six of 2013
Two Spanish Senoritas.
One French Belle.
One Filipina Fighter.
One Ethiopian Jewish Diva.
And a Japanese Eye Candy.
These six lovely women, in my opinion, are the most memorable non-winning* faces in the major pageants of 2013.
Marine Lorphelin
The Frenchwoman who almost gave Miss World 2013 Megan Young a run for her money is one of the most beautiful Miss France ever. Up to the dying minutes of the finals, she was in the thick of the hunt for the blue crown. If only she competed in another year, then her country would have snatched its 2nd Miss World win (after 1953’s Denise Perrier).
Patricia Yurena Rodriguez
The “crossover casualty”** of Miss Universe 2013 was supposed to be the one wearing the Diamond Nexus Lab crown up until the actual announcement when it was Gabriela Isler’s name that got called. Her evening gown performance was unforgettable and it remains permanently etched in my mind as the most elegantly seductive turn in a Miss Universe final.
Elena Ibarbia
The cosmopolitan chick of Miss World 2013 is actually part of the original trifecta (along with Megan and Marine) that was expected to take it to the top until the finals. Sure, she got included cut after painful cuts. But when there were just five (plus People’s Champion Gibraltar) left, she started losing grip of the competition and was sadly left out of the Top 3 after a less-than-convincing monologue on why she deserves to win over the others.
Angelee delos Reyes
She wanted so much to win Miss Earth 2013. Her determination was exceeded only by a lingering frown coming from the two consecutive Top 4 placements of her predecessors that were deemed undeserving. And despite predictions that she might be a sacrificial lamb by way of just entering Top 8 max, she went on with a fierce gameface during the finals. She was the vision of a potential victor who should have made it as an elemental choice based on Q&A alone.
Yityish Titi Aynaw
Being the first Ethiopian to actually wear the Miss Israel has its unique perks. Aside from having actually been given the chance to personally meet US President Barack Obama, all eyes are feasting on the tall Titi from the time she won the nationals all the way to Moscow where she was tipped to make a big impact during the prelims and finals of Miss Universe 2013. Alas, her alleged diva attitude did not go unreported and was, in fact, a good fodder for pageant gossip followers. She clapped in the end.
Michiko Tanaka
The roommate from heaven who made the over-extended stay in Bali more bearable, Michiko benefitted from having a pre-Miss World 2013 Megan Young keeping her company at the end of each day. And she reciprocated by becoming the sweetest and most thoughtful friend to our rep. Oh, and she also has the one of the most charming faces of a Japanese delegate that I’ve seen.
So there. My six memorable non-winning* beauties of 2013. Would you like to share your personal inclusions? 😉
* ‘Non-winning’ refers to not being able to get the top crown.
** Patricia crossed over from the riskier Miss World to Miss Universe route than the safer opposite.
normannorman.com 
It was a blessing for Patricia Rodriguez. She came back to reclaim the national title that was rightfully hers. She was a two-time Miss Spain. When she won the Miss Espana crown in 2008, she was automatically Miss Universe Spain 2008. But due to her age then, she was replaced/switched by Claudia Moro (Miss World Spain 2008) as the latter could compete in MU 2008 and Patricia’s age was acceptable in MW 2008 then. Luckily, both ladies placed in their respective international beauty contests, plus the winning moment of their sister Alejandra Andreu (Miss International Spain 2008) as MI 2008 making them the most successful batch in Miss Espana. When she joined and won in the inaugural Miss Universe Spain this year, she was crowned by her former sister, Claudia Moro as she was the last Spanish candidate to placed in MU then.
Saw Ara’s Metro Magazine cover for the month of January. She looks HOT!
I have to admit that my inclination to favour our Filipina representatives is sky-high knowing that they are winners of their respective pageants and not just mere appointees. Somehow I give them full trust to perform in their respective competitions. Having said this, I tend to not to rank their biggest rivals with justice and worse, I don’t even want to include their country names in my ranking. Well, it’s my first time and I guess I’ve learned.
I am happy with the chosen Queens and embrace them all as the rightful crown bearers. No IFs and BUTs. So back to the core of this topic, I wished that Miss Japan had made it at least to the Top 20 in Miss World, Miss Ukraine to Top 5 of Miss Universe and Miss Philippines to the elemental circle of Miss Earth.
I got my most unexplainable rage when MY Miss Universe did not at least land a second place. But I know she did her best and she definitely deserve to be honoured most amongst the Binibinis. She was ready for the crown that finale but oh molly guacamole, calling her last practically ruined her hope and determination. MU played a well-scripted game with her knowing the excitement it will induce to the biggest fanatics in the whole world. When she was called, she sparked with her teary eyes ready for a revenge and it very much showed during the swimwear competition. Her Arriba walk worked well with her shampoo-ad straight hairstyle enough for her to get the highest average score. But during evening gown, her spark was gone completely. Her hair looked atrocious with her yellow gown and though her pasarela was more than good, she did not bring out that regal grace that is a must in the competition so right there I already knew that she was not getting the crown. However, she aced the Q&A and if that really mattered, she should have at least landed as Molly’s rightful runner-up.
I hope that the case of MY Miss Universe stands as a big lesson to everyone. Aside from her tireless efforts and determination to win for our country, we should have extended to her our utmost support as it could have solidified her confidence and the greatest presence during the event.
My 2-cent worth!
TAMA!!!!
!@#$/^& ₩%#$ GOWN YAN!!!
The thing with Ara’s serpentina gown, ang hirap lagyan ng drama. the colour may be very eye catching but I don’t think it’s a gown for a beauty pageant like MU wherein rampahan kung rampahan at fierce kung fierce ang labanan.
i agree wd u! Ara should hev ranked much higher, she sure did her best but somehow lost STEAM on the final night.dat would made a big difference.she should hev reserved her utmost ENERGY in D NIGHT OR FINAL STRETCH wer it mattered MOST.AND ATHLETES AND OTHER COMPETITIVE PEOPLE HAD DONE IT IN A SIMILAR WAY and emerged victorious..her gown added injury to the situation.her Speaking Manner and Delivery were also factors dat could HEV been REFINED during her A&Q training.yes ITS IN D DETAILS DAT COUNT most!HOPE DEY LEARN SO MUCH FOR NEXT YEAR!
Hindi sya makahinga sa gown kasi mali ang fitting!
Wag ka na magtaka kung bakit wala syang energy…
Do you think Ninang, that Patricia should have won only if she doesn’t have the shadow of Miss World?
Have to agree with #Chief Justice re: Ara. For everything that was thrown at her, especially from her own countryman, I give her the top spot. For her endurance, her determination, her beauty, my hat’s off to her.
Agree with Angelee. She should have snatched one of the elemental crowns of ME. For Marine and Patricia, crown is not meant for them.
Yes, I agree with you about Angelee. She deserved to be in Top 4 yet MEO didn’t reward her for her efforts considering she has been our strongest bet since Sandra Seifert in Miss Earth. MEO is really weird. Can’t understand their preference for our candidates. They favored mediocre girls like Athena & Stef and shut out deserving ones like Angelee. 😦
So true. Hopefully ME cleans their act when it comes to our candidate. They should be fair and square. I also believe that Sandra Seifert should have won her competition but… Argh!!!
I would also include Amy Willerton of GB and Venezuela international 2013. Both mEmorable too. Amy put GB back on the pageant map & Venezuela intl failed to nail the crown despite her compatriots winning their respective pageant assignments.
For me, the most memorable (but not necessarily most beautiful) are:
MW UKraine
MU Puerto Rico
MI Venezuela
ME Serbia
Sana National costume topic na…
Schedule natin, C. 😉
Sorry, I’m so excited much.. hahaha
Nandiyan ka na naman (in the tune of Gary V’s song with the same title)… LOL
Nawawala bumabalik.. eto na naman! LOL 😜
The Global Beauties-hyped bonita in MW
The face of very polish promotions in MU
The Giant of MI
The Beyonce and Angelina Jolie of MU
And finally,the rank 31st of GB who made it to the top 5,Ariella Arida.
grabe pala bashers ni Ara lalo na mga Indonesian at Thai. Dinagdagan pa ng mga latina dahil dun sa sinabi niya sa tv with Karen Davila. Napansin ko ‘to nang magbasa ako ng mga forum lalo na sa misso buti na lang nag runner up si Ara. Pahiya ang mga clappers. Lol Titi ang name nung miss israel haahahahaha!!!