Maria Fernanda Cornejo

All posts tagged Maria Fernanda Cornejo

Time for Miss Earth 2012!

Posted by Norman on October 23, 2012
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, Blog Bites: Miss Earth 2012. Tagged: , , , , .

Miss Earth 2011 Olga Alava is ready for this year’s competition.

After her compatriot Maria Fernanda Cornejo’s turn to crown a Miss International successor in Okinawa was completed during the past weekend, Olga Alava is now getting ready to welcome the candidates of Miss Earth 2012 in Manila. The Grand Coronation Night, scheduled on November 24, will be held at Versailles Palace in Alabang – just the right size of a venue if you ask me. And if Carousel Productions can take full control of the place, then this year’s edition should be a grandiose mix of enclosed and open-air setting in the middle of high-end living South of Metro Manila.

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Versailles Palace - venue of the Miss Earth 2012 Finals on November 24

So for the most part of the next 30 days or so, the daily features will have the Miss Earth 2012 ladies so you can have a better idea of who will fight to the finish for the crown. 😉

Photo credit: Miss Earth Pageant/Carousel Productions (shot entirely in Ecuador)

Miss International 2012 is Ikumi Yoshimatsu of Japan!

Posted by Norman on October 21, 2012
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

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Miss International 2012 Ikumi Yoshimatsu of Japan (center) is flanked by 2nd Runner-Up Madusha Mayadunne of Sri Lanka (left) and 1st Runner-Up Viivi Suominen of Finland.

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Last year's Maria Fernanda Cornejo with brand-new winner Ikumi Yoshimatsu.

It took a little over five hours for the Board of Judges to make a final decision, but the patiently-waiting crowds at the Okinawa Prefectural Budokan in Onoyama Park (plus the tens of thousands watching the live stream) rejoiced (well, not all) with the selection of Miss International 2012 in the person of IKUMI YOSHIMATSU of host country Japan, who bested 68 other lovely candidates and became the first Japanese to win the title after many decades of hosting and participating in the same. She now succeeds last year’s winner, Maria Fernanda Cornejo. Coming close to winning the Mikimoto crown are 1st Runner-Up Viivi Suominen of Finland, 2nd Runner-Up Madusha Mayadunne of Sri Lanka, 3rd Runner-Up Melody Mir Jimenez of Dominican Republic and 4th Runner-Up Nicole Huber of Paraguay. Making up the rest of the Top 15 Finalists are Melissa Varon of Colombia, Rafaella Butarelli of Brazil, Paulina Malulu of Namibia, Bianca Aljibes of Venezuela, Alize Mounter of United Kingdom, Amanda Renee Delgado of USA, Nicole Schmitz of the Philippines, Jessica Garcia Formenti of Mexico, Rochelle Maria Rao of India and Anedie Azael of Haiti.

Special Awards went to the following ladies:
Miss Friendship – Ameeksha Dilchand of Mauritius
Miss Talent – Ekaterina Meglinskaya of Russia
Best National Costume – Nicole Velasquez of Honduras
Miss Internet – Nang Khin Zay Yar of Myanmar
Miss Photogenic – Ikumi Yoshimatsu of Japan
Miss JOICFP Award – Anedie Azael of Haiti

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Ikumi Toshimatsu enjoying her first press exposure as Miss International 2012.

Congratulations to all the winners, most especially to Ikumi! 🙂

(Images courtesy of Miss International website)

Full circle reach for Maria Fernanda Cornejo as Miss International 2011

Posted by Norman on October 20, 2012
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages. Tagged: , , , , .

Come Sunday, Ecuador’s Maria Fernanda Cornejo will relinquish the title she so cherished the past twelve months of her life. When she won the Mikimoto crown in China last year, little did she know that she will spark a 1-2 punch for her beloved country when compatriot Olga Alava followed up on her win in Miss Earth 2011 less than a month after. But then again, time flies so fast that a new successor awaits for her glory turn.

What’s next for Maria Fernanda? Well, opportunities will surely arise in succession. But if it was all up to her, she would prefer finishing her Bachelor studies in Nutrition at the Universidad de Especialidades Espíritu Santo (UEES) first. Otherwise, she can continue basking in the spotlight for a few more months before she gets herself back into the groove of normal life in Guayaquil.

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Maria Fernanda Cornejo has charmed her way to the hearts of Okinawans.

Sayonara! Saki ni anata no jinsei o tanoshimu! (Goodbye! Enjoy your life ahead!) 😀

Ohayou gozaimasu, Nicole Schmitz!

Posted by Norman on October 3, 2012
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages. Tagged: , , , , , .

Welcome to Miss International 2012!

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Top photo: Nicole Schmitz with MI2011 Maria Fernanda Cornejo (Photo credit: BPCI); Bottom photo: Nicole with other MI2012 delegates at Rihga Royal Gran Hotel Okinawa.

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MI2012 Maria Fernanda Cornejo formally welcoming all the delegates of Miss International 2012 at Shujiro Castle Park. (Photo credit: Miss International 2012)

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Miss Thailand Rungsinee Panjaburi and Miss Philippines Nicole Schmitz (Photo credit: thaimiss.com)

As the Japanese would greet in the morning, “Ohayou-gozaimasu“! The candidates of Miss International 2012 are enjoying the host country’s hospitality to the fullest. For today and the next couple, they will all be treated to tours around Okinawa and surrounding cities. Filming should simultaneously take place to capture the experience of the ladies, while the organizers take advantage of promoting tourism.

No new tweets from Nicole Schmitz yet, so just enjoy the images above. 😉

Miss International 2012 officially starts today!

Posted by Norman on October 1, 2012
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages. Tagged: , , , .

The 70 Official Delegates of Miss International 2012

Today, October 1, marks the start of activities for Miss International 2012 in Okinawa, Japan. The seventy (70) anticipated delegates are starting to arrive in the Land of the Rising Sun where, three weeks from now, one will emerge as the most victorious and take the place of reigning winner Maria Fernanda Cornejo of Ecuador.

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Nicole Schmitz at the NAIA Terminal 2 before leaving for Japan earlier. (Photo credit: OPMB Worldwide)

Let’s all wish good luck to our representative, Bb. Pilipinas-International Nicole Schmitz, who will give her 100% to nail the mikimoto pearl-encrusted crown – hopefully, a 5th win for the Philippines. The competition won’t be a breeze, but there is nothing like a big challenge to push our bet to shine among the contenders.

Let the beauty games begin in Okinawa!

Itte kudasai !!! 😀

Can Ecuador do it again this year?

Posted by Norman on September 11, 2012
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages. Tagged: , , , , .

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Miss International 2011 Maria Fernanda Cornejo (L) and Miss Earth 2011 Olga Alava : Proudly Ecuadorians

2011 was a banner pageant year for the often-unplaced country of Ecuador. Year after year, this South American nation got accustomed to relatively forgettable representatives to Grand Slam beauty competitions abroad. But all of that changed last year when they nailed not one but two big titles almost one month apart. First to be crowned was Maria Fernanda Cornejo who beat out all the odds and came out on top in the unpredictable results of Miss International 2011 held in China. Then shortly thereafter, it was compatriot Olga Alava’s turn to extend the winning streak by becoming her country’s first Miss Earth winner in the finals held here in Manila.

Some would say it was just a fortunate coincidence. Others would have it as fate. I would probably stay in the middle and state that Ecuador’s delegates are slowly getting better and better. I reckon that the country organizers may be spurred to excel again in 2012. And they’re off to a good start by having Carolina Aguirre as their bet for Miss Universe 2012.

So can Ecuador achieve another grand slam performance in the next number of months? I won’t count them out, especially not at this time when they are riding on the wave of recent successes in the pageant scene.

What say you, dear readers? 😉

Miss International 2011 is Maria Fernanda Cornejo of Ecuador!

Posted by Norman on November 6, 2011
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , .

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And a new Miss International has been crowned!

Another Latina was adjudged Miss International 2011 in final pageant ceremonies held at the Sichuan Opera Theatre in Chengdu, China. Ecuador’s Maria Fernanda Cornejo won the title and became her country’s very first Miss International. Coming in as 1st Runner-Up is heavy favorite Jessica Barboza of Venezuela, while Tugsuu Idersaikhan of Mongolia placed 2nd Runner-Up. 3rd Runner-Up is Katy Mendieta of Panama, with Desiree del Rio of Puerto Rico completing the Top 5 as 4th Runner-Up.

The remaining semifinalists in the Top 15 are from Brazil, Netherlands, Latvia, Russia, Thailand, Philippines, Lebanon, Sweden, Vietnam and Trinidad & Tobago.

Miss Friendship was shared by Misses Hawaii and Mexico, while the People’s Choice Award (or Most Popular Girl on the Internet) was handed to Miss Philippines Dianne Necio who topped the online voting. Jessica Barboza of Venezuela was named Miss Photogenic, with host delegate Yu Ting Bai Xue getting the nod for Miss Talent. The remaining Special Awards went to the reps of Zimbabwe (Miss Expressive), Puerto Rico (Miss Active), Ecuador (Miss Stature), Russia (Miss Elegant) and Aruba (Ambassador of Beauty). And as expected from the National Costume competition, Thailand won.

Contrary to my prediction that an Asian invasion was in the offing, the pageant stayed true to traditional form and gave the Latinas overwhelming victories this year.

67 candidates from all over the world competed for the crown.

Congratulations to the winners! 🙂

Maria Fernanda Cornejo beams after being crowned Miss International 2011.

Maria Fernanda Cornejo beams after being crowned Miss International 2011.

Top 3 (L-R) Mongolia (2nd ru), Ecuador (winner) and Venezuela (1st ru)

Top 3 (L-R) Mongolia (2nd ru), Ecuador (winner) and Venezuela (1st ru)