Tonight, one Filipina will be finally crowned as the country’s representative to Miss World 2012 in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, China this coming August 18. The lucky winner will be immediately immersed into a whirlwind of preparations for the big competition. And from the 25 lovelies vying this year, I have short-listed the dozen who could make the first cut to the Top 12. To be honest, it was relatively easy completing the top tier. It’s in the last three slots that I changed my mind more than twice. I initially had 14 girls in check. I just had to sacrifice two in favor of the 12th on my scorecard.

In my Top 12, the crossover joiners definitely have the edge. It only goes to show that ‘practice makes perfect’, and the polish reflects in how ladies like Queenie Rehman, April Love Jordan, Mary Anne Misa, Fer Mary Baliquig, Carla Lizardo and even Loraine de Guzman present themselves in all the competition’s pre-pageant activities. But I’m giving props to the newbies as well because they are capable of stealing the limelight if one (or two) of the front-runners stumble along the way. Personally, I consider Fil-French Natacha Kristel Peugniez as the most promising first-timer, followed by Kaye Wigand and Maham Ahmed.

My Top 5 is a breeze to cast. Four of the ladies are almost expected to make it this far, namely, Queenierich, April Love, Mary Anne and Brenna. I was fiddling between Natacha Kristel and Fer Mary for the 5th slot. In the end, I went with the Fil-French beauty because this girl is very likely to surprise in the final interview.

Now, should every single one of my Top 5 nail the final Q&A, here is how I will rank them:

Miss World Philippines 2012: QUEENIERICH REHMAN
1st Princess: Brenna Cassandra Gamboa
2nd Princess: Mary Anne Ross Misa
3rd Princess: April Love Jordan
4th Princess: Natacha Kristel Peugniez

I covered all bases and Queenierich is the one who filled the requirements of an ideal ‘Miss World 2012’ candidate.* The crown is hers to lose. So if she (God forbid) fumbles with the Q&A, then that’s already outside my sphere of predictions. As alternative, I won’t feel bad seeing Brenna Cassandra Gamboa taking her place. Mary Anne Ross Misa somehow fell short in my rankings. I don’t want to call it moving past her prime, but it’s as if her luster started gradually vanishing as the big night approaches. But who knows what she has in store for us and the judges tonight. She might just end up proving me wrong. On the other hand, Natacha Kristel Peugniez zoomed into my final 5 and is poised to spoil even the top seeds. It won’t frazzle me if she ends up with a placement higher than what I pegged her with. In the final analysis, though, the quartet of Queenie, April, Mary Anne and Brenna is simply unyielding.

The finals will commence at the Manila Hotel Tent at around 6pm. And you can watch the TV telecast over TV5 starting at 8:30pm or 9pm, depending on what exact time Talentadong Pinoy wraps up.

* – I clearly specified an ideal ‘Miss World 2012’ candidate because I took into consideration the host country (and host city in particular) plus the evolving vision of the pageant. I think Julia Morley will be looking for a next winner who could redefine a world representative with multiple skills and talents, a lady who won’t mind getting down and dirty for all the charitable projects of MW, and in the process, personify a true beauty with a purpose.