LAS VEGAS, NV – DECEMBER 20: (L-R) Miss Colombia 2015, Ariadna Gutierrez Arevalo, Miss Universe 2014 Paulina Vega and Miss Phillipines 2015, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, react after it was announced that host Steve Harvey mistakenly named Gutierrez Arevalo the winner instead of Wurtzbach during the 2015 Miss Universe Pageant at The Axis at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on December 20, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Vega had to remove the crown from Gutierrez Arevalo and give it to Wurtzbach. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
I could only scratch my head in disbelief at some people who find it extremely hard to move on after five years. Colombian Ariadna Gutierrez could not think of any other way to create public noise amidst a pandemic but to resurrect an old wound that publicly embarrassed her.
But our Queen P found a solid ally with Miss Bulgaria 2015 Radostina Todorova who came to her rescue.
LAS VEGAS, NV – DECEMBER 20: Miss Philippines 2015, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach (L), and Miss Colombia 2015, Ariadna Gutierrez Arevalo, hold hands as they wait for the judges’ final decision in the 2015 Miss Universe Pageant at The Axis at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on December 20, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Wurtzbach was named the new Miss Universe after host Steve Harvey mistakenly named Gutierrez Arevalo the winner. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – DECEMBER 20: Miss Colombia 2015, Ariadna Gutierrez Arevalo (L), is crowned the new Miss Universe by Miss Universe 2014 Paulina Vega after host Steve Harvey mistakenly named Gutierrez Arevalo the winner instead of first runner-up during the 2015 Miss Universe Pageant at The Axis at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on December 20, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Miss Philippines 2015, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, (not pictured) was eventually named the winner. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – DECEMBER 20: Miss Philippines 2015, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, reacts on the side of the stage after host Steve Harvey announced that he mistakenly named her the first runner-up instead of the new Miss Universe during the 2015 Miss Universe Pageant at The Axis at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on December 20, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – DECEMBER 20: A card showing the order of the top three finalists in the 2015 Miss Universe Pageant is shown on screen after host Steve Harvey mistakenly named Miss Colombia 2015, Ariadna Gutierrez Arevalo, the winner instead of first runner-up at The Axis at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on December 20, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Miss Philippines 2015, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach was eventually named as the winner. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – DECEMBER 20: (L-R) Miss Colombia 2015, Ariadna Gutierrez Arevalo, looks on as Miss Universe 2014 Paulina Vega removes her crown to give it to Miss Phillipines 2015, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, after it was announced that host Steve Harvey mistakenly named Gutierrez Arevalo the winner instead of Wurtzbach during the 2015 Miss Universe Pageant at The Axis at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on December 20, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – DECEMBER 20: Miss Universe 2014 Paulina Vega (L) crowns Miss Philippines 2015, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, the 2015 Miss Universe during the 2015 Miss Universe Pageant at The Axis at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on December 20, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – DECEMBER 20: Miss Universe 2014 Paulina Vega (L) hugs Miss Philippines 2015, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, after host Steve Harvey mistakenly named Miss Colombia 2015, Ariadna Gutierrez Arevalo (not pictured), the new Miss Universe instead of Wurtzbach during the 2015 Miss Universe Pageant at The Axis at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on December 20, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – DECEMBER 20: Miss Philippines 2015, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, who was mistakenly named as first runner-up, reacts as she is named the 2015 Miss Universe during the 2015 Miss Universe Pageant at The Axis at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on December 20, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Everything has already been said and reported about Miss Universe 2015 and the Philippines’ third crown that was handed to Pia Wurtzbach in the most controversial way possible. Totally unprecedented. So let’s simply relive the beautiful memories of the telecast along with photos from the same.
Photo credit for all Miss Universe-related and homecoming events by Getty Images
Her first Press Conference as Miss Universe 2015.
LAS VEGAS, NV – DECEMBER 20: Miss Philippines 2015, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, poses for photos after winning the 2015 Miss Universe Pageant at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on December 20, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Her victorious homecoming in the Philippines
MANILA, Philippines – Miss Universe 2016 Pia Wurtzbach waves to the crowd during her homecoming parade in Metro Manila on 25 January 2016. Wurtzbach’s victory was filled with controversy as host Steve Harvey mistakenly announced Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez as the winner. (Photo by George Calvelo/NurPhoto) (Photo by NurPhoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
For the past weeks, Queen P kept herself busy with her charity project during ECQ and the COVID19 crisis by spearheading the distribution of safety masks to all frontliners – be it hospitals or basic service providers. And she did not stop in doing just a one-day mission. She kept on with it for days – while still looking radiant all throughout.
Queen P in action for the frontliners during the ongoing pandemic crisis
Miss Universe 2008 Dayana Mendoza and Miss Universe 2009 Stefania Fernandez (Photo by Rodrigo Varela/Getty Images for Univision)
Photo by Dario Cantatore/Getty Images
The record remains undisputed to date. Venezuela’s back-to-back wins in Miss Universe, that is. In the modern history of this pageant, there were close calls to break the solo bragging rights. But what amuses me is that a Filipina always blocked the way for them to happen. Like last 2015 when Pia Wurtzbach prevented Ariadna Gutierrez of Colombia from following the victory of Paulina Vega. Or last 2018 when Catriona Gray obstructed Tamaryn Green of South Africa from directly connecting with the reign of Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters the year before.
Venezuelans Dayana Mendoza and Stefania Fernandez are like two peas in a pod who distinguished themselves from the rest of the litter, so to speak. The former nailed the title of Miss Universe 2008 in Nha Trang, Vietnam inspite of facing tough opposition from Taliana Vargas of Colombia. On the other hand, Estefania Fernandez may have needed to pass through the eye of a needle before squeaking past Ada Aimee dela Cruz of the Dominican Republic and Marigona Dragusha of Kosovo.
Miss Universe 2009 Stefania Fernandez and Osmel Sousa (Photo by Rodrigo Varela/WireImage)
At the end of the day, both Dayana and Stefania owned their achievements, and proved that they deserved the back-to-back. And this is most especially true during their respective reigns when they were able to sustain the continuous popularity of Miss Universe from Latin America to Asia and beyond.
Without a doubt, this ranks high as one of the best shining moments of Osmel Sousa (right photo with Stefania) and the entire country of Venezuela in international pageantry.
Three Venezuelan Queens in one frame: (L-R) MU2013 Gabriela Isler, MU2008 Dayana Mendoza and MU2009 Stefania Fernandez when they attended the Angel Sanchez fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring 2015 at The Pavilion at Lincoln Center on September 8, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Chelsea Lauren/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week)
I don’t think I’m funny-witty enough to create a meme with this very telling photo of (left to right) Ariadna Maria Gutierrez Arevalo, Paulina Vega Dieppa and Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach during those highly eventful dying seconds of the Miss Universe 2015 telecast.
So either you share your thoughts or let’s just allow our imagination run wild with all sorts of bubble scripts to fill the image.
Miss Universe Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach (top) and 1st Runner-Up Ariadna Gutierrez and Steve Harvey in the middle appearing on the latter’s talk show
According to Wikipedia, “In geometry, an isosceles triangle is a triangle that has two sides of equal length. Sometimes it is specified as having two and only two sides of equal length, and sometimes as having at least two sides of equal length…”
With Steve Harvey caught in the middle of the Miss Universe controversy he himself caused due to human error, the pageant world was somehow caught with two (2) winners – Ariadna Gutierrez of Colombia who was mistakenly announced and wore the DIC crown for just under five minutes and Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach of the Philippines – the rightful one who is now reigning as Miss Universe 2015. It’s like the popular host created an isosceles triangle of sorts which divided individuals (their respective fans, followers, countrymen and all) right smack in the middle – the pro-Pia on one side and the pro-Ariadna on the other – with him as the base who needed closure on live television to clear up everything and finally move on.
And just to set things in their proper places with due clarification, the isosceles should be converted to a RIGHT triangle instead. And hopefully, everyone will live happily ever after. I know that Queen P has gracefully advanced to her reign. I hope Ariadna is sincerely leaving the past behind and welcoming new opportunities coming her way. And Steve Harvey? He still has a good career to lean back on.
Curiously, this image aligns with the post
Let’s now watch the separate interviews of Miss Universe and Miss Colombia on the Steve Harvey Show.
And so we come to the one most important beauty pageant of them all – Miss Universe. This year, the eighty (80) candidates – just like in previous editions – are fighting tooth and nail to make it to the top. Maybe not in the literal sense, but in a parallel approach using their solid arsenals of face, figure and poise all wrapped in a package ready to get on the good side of the judges and brand-new owners. And during the Presentation Show at The Axis, they gave us a substantial preview of their full worth which gave everyone – including your blogger – a clearer sense of who deserves to be up there and which among them could be eyeing the 64th crown with such fierce hold and intensity that will leave the weaker competitors settling for the crumbs of success.
And so, I present to you now my Top 15 (there will be a Top 15 indeed and not just Top 10 as previously rumored) based on their preliminary performances plus overall impressions since Day 1:
My Miss Universe 2015 Top 15:
Ariadna Gutiérrez of Colombia
Clarissa Molina of the Dominican Republic
Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach of the Philippines
Olivia Jordan of the USA
Pham Huong of Vietnam
Flora Coquerel of France
Laura Spoya of Peru
Myriam Arevalos of Paraguay
Mariana Jimenez of Venezuela
Marthina Brandt of Brazil
Aniporn Chalermburanawong of Thailand
Wendy Esparza of Mexico
Monika Radulovic of Australia
Lisa Elizabeth Drouillard of Haiti
Mirjeta Shala of Kosovo
My Final Top 10 for Miss Universe 2015
Coming up with 15 from 80 is truly mind-blowing. And to sacrifice a number of delegates who could also make it to the first cut makes me feel a certain degree of sadness because I know that each one of them gave it their absolute best. So let me just cite the representatives of Belgium, Chile, Indonesia, Russia and Georgia for completing a Top 20 if that were the wishful case.
From the 15, removing five lessens the pressure a bit in order for my final Top 10 to be highlighted. In reverse order, I deleted Kosovo, Haiti, Australia, Mexico and Thailand. This left me with a satisfactory selection of finalists moving up one step closer to the crown. The entries from Colombia, Dominican Republic, Philippines, Vietnam and USA remain within striking distance of the DIC crown. This inspite of France, Peru and Paraguay still holding on tight for a share in the ultimate spotlight.
My Final Top 5 for Miss Universe 2015
I favored my Final 5 with such firmness. Regardless of whether they will put on the best fight of their lives up to this point, I now pledge the magic circle to Ariadna Gutiérrez of Colombia, Clarissa Molina of the Dominican Republic, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach of the Philippines, Pham Huong of Vietnam and Olivia Jordan of the USA. I believe that this is a preferable slate over other combos. Not knowing how the fateful turn of events will actually unfold holds me back a little. But I need to rank them now based on Final Look:
My Final Ranking of Miss Universe 2015:
1 – Clarissa Molina of the Dominican Republic
2 – Ariadna Gutiérrez of Colombia
3 – Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach of the Philippines
4 – Olivia Jordan of the USA
5 – Pham Huong of Vietnam
Believe me when I say that I earnestly want Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach to win our country’s 3rd Miss Universe title. It’s long overdue. But if the two Latinas from the Dominican Republic and Colombia keep on presenting themselves with raging fire, then I won’t be forlorn getting the 2nd Runner-Up spot which has surprisingly remained elusive to the Philippines ever since.
My wish is for the Philippines to bring it on so strong and leave the other fighters in her court. And that doesn’t seem to be an impossible dream. Pia can still be it. And the final Q&A might just be the clincher.
Looking forward to a fantastic show, I remain humbly yours for Miss Universe 2015. 🙂
My Fifteen Favored Performers during the Miss Universe 2015 Presentation Show
One Australian, Two Asians, Two North Americans, Two Europeans, Two from the Caribbean and Six South Americans. These are the fifteen Miss Universe 2015 delegates who got my nod for the Presentation Show which saw all eighty (80) ladies vying for a spot in the first cut of the finals this coming December 20 in Las Vegas. And it ain’t easy trimming down the list to just fifteen because I actually have at least twenty-one (21) contenders who could be potential qualifiers for the semifinals.
But first, let’s focus on the ones occupying my upper tier. There are ten (10) in this circle who are likely to get sure spots once the names are called out in random order.
Clarissa Molina of the Dominican Republic, Ariadna Gutiérrez of Colombia, Olivia Jordan of the USA, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach of the Philippines, Laura Spoya of Peru, Pham Huong of Vietnam, Flora Coquerel of France, Mariana Jimenez of Venezuela, Myriam Arevalos of Paraguay and Lisa Elizabeth Drouillard of Haiti accounted for sweeping turns in all areas of competition. It’s like they owned the stage and fulfilled commitments to make their respective countries proud in the Preliminaries.
Now if we look at the remaining five (5), the intensity doesn’t really weaken that much. With Wendy Esparza of Mexico, Monika Radulovic of Australia, Maria-Belen Jerez Spuler of Chile, Annelies Törös of Belgium and Marthina Brandt of Brazil completing my Top 15, they also showed a collection of wow factors onstage that won’t be ignored on the judges’ scoresheets. And depending on tastes and preferences, they can easily steal the limelight from my higher-priced misses in a heartbeat.
But remember what I said earlier that I initially gathered Twenty-one (21) likely to succeed? I can’t ignore their qualities as well. And it would be most important to cite their names to signify a dose of spoiler alerts waiting in the wings. There are the likes of Aniporn Chalermburanawong of Thailand, Anindya Kusuma Putri of Indonesia, Mirjeta Shala of Kosovo, Sharlene Radlein of Jamaica, Kanisha Sluis of Curacao and Vladislava Evtushenko of Russia who can suit up for any of the semifinal placements and not come as surprises to pageant watchers anymore.
So whether it boils down to the slimmest of margins in cumulative tally or one of the lower-positioned beauties climbing up in rank based on numbers keyed in by the decision-makers as compared to my own, the selection of non-clappers come Sunday night will be quite the strong field of challengers who have the crown of Paulina Vega in marksman’s target.
I will be most tense once the country names start getting announced by the hosts. This is Miss Universe after all. The adrenaline rush is more than enough to sink the Titanic all over again. And let’s begin the ultimate comparison by then. 🙂
The fifteen (15) delegates I am expecting to perform well during the Miss Universe 2015 Presentation Show
Tomorrow, December 16 (Thursday morning in Manila), at The Axis inside Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, the Official Candidates of Miss Universe 2015 will have their crucial Presentation Show where the preliminary competitions in swimsuit and evening gowns will take place. Performances in these two segments will complete the individual score tally of each lady after the closed door interviews being held today. After adding up everything, the names of the Top 15 will be arrived at, to be announced during the finals on December 20.
I have picked fifteen (15) contestants to shine in the event. And if they actually deliver all around, then expect the following to be called as semifinalists (in alphabetical order):
Australia – Monika Radulovic
Brazil – Marthina Brandt
Colombia – Ariadna Gutiérrez
Dominican Republic – Clarissa Molina
France – Flora Coquerel
Great Britain – Nena France
Jamaica – Sharlene Radlein
Kosovo – Mirjeta Shala
Mexico – Wendy Esparza
Peru – Laura Spoya
Philippines – Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach
Portugal – Emilia Araujo
USA – Olivia Jordan
Venezuela – Mariana Jimenez
Vietnam – Pham Huong
Very specifically, I am keeping a close eye on six contenders who are considered shoo-ins to make the first cut very easily. And they are Colombia, France, Peru, Philippines, USA and Venezuela.
I will be keeping a very close eye on the six ladies above.
Time to buckle down to your armchair judging as the Miss Universe 2015 Presentation Show will be the second most exciting pageant night this 2015. I’m pretty sure there will be live streaming on the official website. 😉
Could these five ladies be the thorns in the path of our very own Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach?
Pia and her usual allies
Among the eighty (80) candidates of Miss Universe 2015, there are five (5) ladies who have managed to shake up the competition early on. And they continue to do so, alongside our Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach.
There is the host delegate, Olivia Jordan, who inspite of being dismissed by a few as being too premature for another US victory a la Olivia Culpo, is an all-around charmer who can steal anyone’s heart away.
There is also the often tagged as Actress Sofia Vergara’s younger deadringer – Ariadna Gutiérrez of Colombia – who is dead serious in achieving a back-to-back for her home country.
Why not include Venezuela’s Mariana Jimenez as well. This Osmel Sousa ward has transformed herself well for MU2015, a far cry from her version during Miss Grand International 2013 when she failed to reach the Top 5.
Let’s not forget Flora Coquerel, the uber statuesque entry from France who towers above practically everyone and shows a refreshing charm that’s uniquely her own.
Just to complete a quintet, Laura Spoya of Peru should also be included. This Sports Broadcaster from Lima is a definite contender. She loves the spotlight and in the most highly trained way at that.
Will these five beauties prevent our own Queen P from penetrating the Top 5? Or will our bet take the spots of one of the above? If so, who will miss the final cut?
Hi! Norman here. When I'm not working, I spend most of my free time planning on daily blogs. If you will notice, I always make sure that a fresh topic comes out everyday - not an easy thing to do but it's all good. Thanks for dropping by and enjoy the visit!
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