With their respective wins abroad taking place with just two weeks in between, Miss Universe 2017 Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters of South Africa, Miss World 2017 Manushi Chhillar if India and Miss International 2017 Kevin Lilliana of Indonesia are in the midst of press tour/media guestings.
Demi-Leigh is in the Big Apple where she is spending the week doing the rounds of TV talk shows and radio programs. Manushi and Kevin, on the other hand, are back in their respective countries where a string of media appearances has kept them quite busy.
Below are videos of their interviews – one each:
Just as I predicted, Francielly Ouriques of Brazil outperformed 41 other delegates to win Miss Asia-Pacific International 2017 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater of Resorts World Manila. She was crowned by last year’s Tessa Le Conge of the Netherlands.
Much has been said online about the controversial PDEA drug bust of eleven (11) gay men at an upscale hotel in BGC. 
From among the 42 Official Candidates of Miss Asia-Pacific International 2017, I will go straight to the point and present to you my Top 8 ladies – the ones who fit the bill as the winner of this year’s edition and be the successor of Tessa Le Conge of the Netherlands. There are actually a few more deserving of inclusion in the magic circle, but these are the performers I have strong gut-feel for as being the eventual winner – with four of them being runners-up as well:
Lydia Simonis-Tariu of Cook Islands may be 8th on the list but she is the one I reckon could give a welcome surprise for the top spot, much like Davina Bennett of Jamaica in Miss Universe. She is the Face of this batch, but I want her to shine more in the finals and prove her crown-worthiness against my top choice Francielly Ouriques of Brazil who is a commanding Goddess of a favorite at this point, much like Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters of South Africa in Miss Universe. Not surprisingly, the South African in this batch – Chanelle Soncini – is also a fierce contender and could upend the others if the breaks go her way. Miss Philippines Ilene de Vera is a shoo-in for the Top 5 for me, not just because she is wearing that sash. She really delivered when it mattered most.
Since we’re done with Miss Universe, let us move to another part of the world where another one of our Queens is still competing. Bb. Pilipinas Supranational 2017 Chanel Olive Thomas must be feeling greater pressure now more than ever to deliver an excellent performance during the finals of Miss Supranational 2017 this coming December 1 in Krynica-Zdroj, Poland. She remains in the thick of the fight, while maintaining the genuinely warm and friendly persona with the other candidates. 
Keep on voting for Chanel in the popularity segment of the competition. You can do this by downloading Vodi on your smartphone/laptop.
Another chapter in Miss Universe history is finished. And time to thank our Miss Philippines Rachel Peters for representing the country to the best of her charm, skills and all the preparations that went into the more than two weeks of stay in Las Vegas.
So many things have been said and done about the victory of Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters as Miss Universe 2017. There are those who fully agree with her #1 placement. And then there are the ones who would have been happier with surprise performer Davina Bennett who should have given her a serious rob for the Mikimoto crown and even the placement of 1st Runner-Up Laura Gonzalez.
It’s a second victory for South Africa in Miss Universe with Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters winning the 66th Edition of the Pageant.
I was mulling over the inspiration I will use for my last blog entry for Miss Universe Philippines Rachel Peters. And then I suddenly thought of checking the popular quotes lifted from the different works of Brazilian poet and writer Paulo Coelho. And everything seemed to fit.
Hers may not be the most unforgettable reign of a Miss Universe titleholder, but to the hearts of the Filipinos – including the Millenials – she will remain etched in our mind as the winner of the 65th Miss Universe and in the most modern edition of the pageant. She might even be the last of the wearer of the DIC crown (made popular by Pia Wurtzbach and Paulina Gomez) as talks are ripe that the head of her successor will be adorned with a different one.
