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Catriona Gray is worth risking for as a blogger

Posted by Norman on December 17, 2018
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , . 38 Comments

Catriona Gray, Miss Philippines 2018 is crowned Miss Universe by Miss Universe 2017, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters at the conclusion of the three-hour special programming event on FOX at 7:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed on Sunday, December 16, 2018 at the IMPACT Arena in Bangkok, Thailand. The new winner will move to New York City where she will live during her reign and become a spokesperson for various causes alongside The Miss Universe Organization. HO/The Miss Universe Organization


There are big risks worth fighting for – from Day 1, that is.

When now Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray set foot in Bangkok, Thailand to start her mission for the Philippines last November 29, I had no doubt in my mind that she will be a top favorite to win. Inside my heart, I already had a strong feeling that she will take it all the way to the #1 position. Never did I even give other candidates a prospect of being the successor of Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters. It was Catriona or bust for me. And while people around were either telling me to be just a little more cautious or stop being too cocky about telling others that our bet will win, I never wavered in my support.

Catriona Gray, Miss Philippines 2018 is crowned Miss Universe at the conclusion of the three-hour special programming event on FOX at 7:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed on Sunday, December 16, 2018 at the IMPACT Arena in Bangkok, Thailand. The new winner will move to New York City where she will live during her reign and become a spokesperson for various causes alongside The Miss Universe Organization. HO/The Miss Universe Organization

As the days went on, my gut-feel got even stronger. Last Saturday night after dinner, I sat on a couch and started composing a Final Predictions blog. The words just naturally flowed and I clearly stated that Miss Philippines winning its 4th Miss Universe crown is a must. Below is the last wrap-up paragraph in the same article:

“I will end this blog entry by stating that the Philippines’ 4th Miss Universe victory is well within reach. Not by a mile or in an arm’s length. But close enough to touch, smell and hug the crown.”

And the rest was fulfilled at 10:00am earlier when – indeed – Catriona became the 67th Miss Universe. She can now touch, smell and hug the crown at her disposal. Because she will wear it on her head for one full reign and be her forever legacy to the entire Philippine nation.

#CatrionaGray #MissUniverse2018

Photos by Patrick Prather, Ralph Miller and Amorn Pitayanant for the MUO

Catriona Gray, Miss Philippines 2018 is crowned Miss Universe at the conclusion of the three-hour special programming event on FOX at 7:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed on Sunday, December 16, 2018 at the IMPACT Arena in Bangkok, Thailand. The new winner will move to New York City where she will live during her reign and become a spokesperson for various causes alongside The Miss Universe Organization. HO/The Miss Universe Organization

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Catriona Gray is Miss Universe 2018!

Posted by Norman on December 17, 2018
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , . 136 Comments

Welcome to the sisterhood, Catriona!

We have our 4th Miss Universe!

Catriona Gray of the Philippines is Miss Universe 2018.

First Runner Up is Tamaryn Green of South Africa, with Second Runner-up Sthefany Gutierrez of Venezuela.

Let us celebrate for now!

Thank you, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters!

Posted by Norman on December 16, 2018
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , . 203 Comments

Tomorrow morning, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters will end her life-changing reign as Miss Universe once she crowns her successor at the Impact Arena.

The reign may be ending, but the pursuit of more success in her advocacy will continue alongside new doors of opportunities opening up right after.

Thank you for being the beautiful keeper of the crown and the title for 2017 and the majority of 2018.

Below are photos of Demi in Krabi, Thailand as taken by Benjamin Askinas for the Miss Universe Organization.

#MissUniverse2018
#MissUniverse2017
#DemiLeighNelPeters

Miss Universe 2017, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters during a visit to Krabi Island on December 6th. The Miss Universe contestants are touring, filming, rehearsing and preparing to compete for the Miss Universe crown in Bangkok, Thailand. Tune in to the FOX telecast at 7:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed on Sunday, December 16, 2018 from the IMPACT Arena in Bangkok, Thailand to see who will become the next Miss Universe. HO/The Miss Universe Organization


Miss Universe 2017, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters during a visit to Krabi Island on December 6th. The Miss Universe contestants are touring, filming, rehearsing and preparing to compete for the Miss Universe crown in Bangkok, Thailand. Tune in to the FOX telecast at 7:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed on Sunday, December 16, 2018 from the IMPACT Arena in Bangkok, Thailand to see who will become the next Miss Universe. HO/The Miss Universe Organization

Miss Universe 2017, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters during a visit to Krabi Island on December 6th. The Miss Universe contestants are touring, filming, rehearsing and preparing to compete for the Miss Universe crown in Bangkok, Thailand. Tune in to the FOX telecast at 7:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed on Sunday, December 16, 2018 from the IMPACT Arena in Bangkok, Thailand to see who will become the next Miss Universe. HO/The Miss Universe Organization

Miss Universe 2017, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters during a visit to Krabi Island on December 6th. The Miss Universe contestants are touring, filming, rehearsing and preparing to compete for the Miss Universe crown in Bangkok, Thailand. Tune in to the FOX telecast at 7:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed on Sunday, December 16, 2018 from the IMPACT Arena in Bangkok, Thailand to see who will become the next Miss Universe. HO/The Miss Universe Organization

Counting the hours till a new Miss Universe is crowned

Posted by Norman on December 16, 2018
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , . 40 Comments

Ambush shot during the Miss Universe 2018 Technical Rehearsals

Your blogger with Designer Mak Tumang

Your blogger got to watch the Miss Universe 2018 Technical Rehearsals at Impact Arena and tomorrow morning’s Finals will be such an amazing experience, I tell you.

We were also fortunate to see the actual #LavaRed competition evening gown (by Mak Tumang, left photo) that Miss Philippines Catriona Gray will use and (without creating any spoilers), it will blow you away. You have to see it with your own eyes than rely solely on a leaked photo online.

Guest performer Ne-Yo also provided a very apt song number that will raise the temperature levels inside the Impact Arena even more, while Host Steve Harvey kept the audience in stitches with his funny ad-libs.

BTW, the mock Top 5 during the final rehearsals were Albania, Ghana, Russia, Sri Lanka and Barbados.

#MissUniverse2018
#CatrionaGray

As is traditional during technical rehearsals, a member of the production was “crowned” Miss Universe instead of one of the mock Final 3 (Sri Lanka, Ghana and Barbados)

In Photos: My Miss Universe 2018 Predictions

Posted by Norman on December 16, 2018
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 81 Comments

From the Americas: Canada, Puerto Rico, Ecuador, Venezuela and Mexico

From Asia/Oceania & Africa: Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam and Nigeria

From Europe: Great Britain, Spain, Albania, Russia and Belgium

Wild Cards: Curacao, Australia, USA, Peru and Nepal

From the twenty above, I managed to cut them in half to pave the way for a Top 10 and Top 5, as follows:

Lower half of my Top 10: Thailand, Great Britain, Venezuela, Curacao and Vietnam

My Top 5: Philippines, Canada, South Africa, Puerto Rico and Ecuador

During the Top 5 Q&A, gut-feel tells me that Canada might be overtaken in her 2nd-ranking position that will lead into a Final 3 Casting as follows:

Catriona, Tamaryn and Kiara for Final 3


There are many factors that prompt me to put Miss Philippines Catriona Gray as my #1 pick to win Miss Universe 2018. I have already mentioned in previous interviews on ABS-CBN, CNN Philippines and Bombo Radyo – and relayed to TV5 as well – that she is simply in a league all her own. She has the beauty, eloquence and maturity to tower above the rest. She has the powerful social media following that will equate to an effective platform by which she can further her personal causes as well as sustain the brand of the Miss Universe Organization and IMG. To top it all, she has the authenticity to go beyond being confidently beautiful – a coined phrase that has already overstayed its welcome in our favorite beauty pageant. The judges would be blind not to see all these factors which – I strongly believe – are already inputted in their decision-making even before the Preliminary Interviews and formalized soon after she stood up at the end of her 7-on-1. She is Miss Universe 2018 personified. And it will take a gargantuan effort from either Tamaryn Green or Kiara Liz Ortega to snatch the title away from her.

I will end this blog entry by stating that the Philippines’ 4th Miss Universe victory is well within reach. Not by a mile or in an arm’s length. But close enough to touch, smell and hug the crown.

The Filipino Designers of the Miss Universe 2018 Preliminaries

Posted by Norman on December 14, 2018
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 157 Comments

Super proud of these #Top12 Filipino Designers who dressed up a dozen of the delegates for Miss Universe 2018 during last night’s Preliminary Competition:

Joey Galon for Belize
Rian Fernandez for Cambodia
Michael Cinco for Canada
Mark Bumgarner for Ecuador
Paolo Blanco for Guam
Joel Escober for Japan
Jian Lasala for Kenya
Ivanka Hipolito for Malta
Bea Bianca for Nepal
Sidney Eculla for New Zealand
Benj Leguiab IV for Nicaragua
Mak Tumang for the Philippines

#MissUniverse2018

Applause for all of them!

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼