Mariana Vicente

All posts tagged Mariana Vicente

Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2011: My 10 Favorites

Posted by Norman on November 4, 2010
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2011 will be selected tonight. The winner will be crowned by last year’s Mariana Vicente (pictured above in the banner) who placed in the Top 10 of Miss Universe 2010. Among the forty (40) candidates, I have managed to trim down the list to ten (10) ladies I would like to see win and become Puerto Rico’s Miss U representative in 2011.

I took the liberty of ranking them in order of personal preference….

Jessica Santiago (Gurabo)

Miriam Pabon (San Juan)

Keisy Blanch (Trujillo Alto)

Ashley Perez (Humacao)

Giselle Negron (Ponce)

Azarel Nadal (Toa Alta)

Viviana Ortiz (Corozal)

Desiree del Rio (Ciales)

Io Rivera (Barceloneta)

Grace Garcia (Naguabo)

I would love to see either Miss Gurabo Jessica Santiago or Miss San Juan Miriam Pabon come out as victor in the finals. But I wouldn’t be surprised if Viviana Ortiz of Corozal or Keisy Blanch of Trujillo Alto steal the thunder from the two.

Anyways, buenas suerte, senoras! 😉

Here are my final picks for Miss Universe 2010

Posted by Norman on August 22, 2010
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, Blog Bites: Miss Universe 2010. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Since all the armchair and cyber judges out there have revealed their choices for Miss Universe 2010, I’m coming up with my own as well. I shortlisted twenty (20) ladies who could make the first cut on Finals Night and divided them into four groups of five. The ladies who might end up in the Top 5 are in the first set, with the succeeding ladies ranked and grouped thereafter as semifinalists. I intentionally avoided tagging any specific lady as the winner so everything is random per group. Here goes…


Miss Mexico, Ximena Navarrete

Miss Philippines, Venus Raj

Miss Venezuela, Marelisa Gibson

Miss Russia, Irina Antonenko

Miss Puerto Rico, Mariana Vicente


Miss Ireland, Rozanna Purcell

Miss USA, Rima Fakih

Miss Australia, Jesinta Campbell

Miss Colombia, Natalia Navarro

Miss Trinidad & Tobago, LaToya Woods


Miss Slovak Republic, Anna Amenova

Miss Albania, Angela Martini

Miss Panama, Anyoli Abrego

Miss Jamaica, Yendi Phillips

Miss France, Malika Menard


Miss Thailand, Fonthip Watcharatrakul

Miss Brazil, Debora Lyra

Miss Ghana, Awurama Simpson

Miss Japan, Maiko Itai

Miss Greece, Anna Prelevic

Among the Top 5 in my list, I can actually see any of them winning the title. Spoilers could be the delegates from Australia and Ireland.

So who are your bets? 😉

On the way to 1/3 of their Miss Universe destiny…

Posted by Norman on August 19, 2010
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, Blog Bites: Miss Universe 2010. Tagged: , , , , .

Miss Philippines Venus Raj, Miss Puerto Rico Mariana Vicente, Miss Panama Anyoli Abrego and Miss Singapore Tania Lim Kim Suan walking to their Miss Universe preliminary interview venue inside the Mandalay Bay.

Miss Philippines Venus Raj, Miss Puerto Rico Mariana Vicente, Miss Panama Anyoli Abrego and Miss Singapore Tania Lim Kim Suan walking to their Miss Universe preliminary interview venue inside the Mandalay Bay.

The Miss Universe preliminary interviews have already been completed.

According to my friends in Las Vegas, our girl – Venus – passed hers with flying colors.

The casual interview with the prelim judges focused on her life as a farm girl in the province, her rise to national fame as the Philippine representative to the Miss Universe Pageant plus the ups and downs surrounding her dethronement and eventual reinstatement.

Positive. Let’s all think positive! 😉

My Favorite Miss Universe 2010 National Costumes

Posted by Norman on August 18, 2010
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, Blog Bites: Miss Universe 2010. Tagged: , , , , , .

Miss Australia Jesinta Campbell

Miss Trinidad & Tobago LaToya Woods

Miss Venezuela Marelisa Gibson

Miss Thailand Fonthip Watcharatrakul

Miss Puerto Rico Mariana Vicente

I find it easy to pick my Top 5 National Costumes because the attires above are not only representative of their respective countries’ culture, but also stylish and fun-spirited. Miss Australia wore something that is way too cute for words and the design fits her to a T. Miss Trinidad & Tobago’s carnival outfit is sleek and full of style. Miss Venezuela’s glass showstopper is a total attention-getter! Miss Thailand’s picture-perfect presentation leaves me at a loss for the right superlatives – so delicate and so exquisite. And Miss Puerto Rico’s eco-friendly number frames the wearer like a forest nymph – fab!

Now if I had to pick the best, it would have to be Miss Thailand. The Thais really burn the midnight oil to come up with a National Costume that evokes creativity without losing sight of their world-renowned culture. The small details are just awesome!


video courtesy of YouTube/dianemerchan

Many thanks to Jory Rivera of OPMB Worldwide for sharing these images! 😉

Breakfast at Mandalay’s

Posted by Norman on August 18, 2010
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, Blog Bites: Miss Universe 2010. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , .

Miss Norway Melinda Elvenes and Miss Philippines Venus Raj heading for Breakfast at Mandalay Bay. (Photo credit: Jory Rivera of OPMB Worldwide)

Miss Spain Adriana Reveron poses for the camera before starting with the breakfast buffet. (Photo credit : Jory Rivera of OPMB Worldwide)

Miss Israel Bat-el Jobi and Miss Jamaica Yendi Phillips pose before having their breakfast at Mandalay Bay (Photo credit: Jory Rivera of OPMB Worldwide)

Miss Puerto Rico Mariana Vicente before having breakfast at Mandalay Bay. (Photo credit: Jory Rivera of OPMB Worldwide)

Miss Brazil Debora Lyra and Miss Great Britain Tara Hoyos-Martinez heading for breakfast at Mandalay Bay (Photo credit: Jory Rivera of OPMB Worldwide)

These ladies may not have the heartiest of appetite for breakfast (to keep their weight in check) but they sure are in their best elements posing for cameras first thing outside their rooms! 😉

Venus Raj’s interviews on TFC/Balitang America

Posted by Norman on August 15, 2010
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, Blog Bites: Miss Universe 2010. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , .


video courtesy of YouTube/MaVenusRaj

When Miss Philippines Venus Raj was handpicked by one of the Miss Universe 2010 main sponsors (Farouk System) to do a promotional shoot in San Francisco together with Miss USA Rima Fakih, she took this opportunity to drop by the international office of ABS-CBN in Burlingame for an interview aired over TFC (The Filipino Channel) and ABS-CBN (via SNN – Showbiz News Ngayon).

Here’s another interview of Venus with Balitang Amerika as facilitated by former ABS-CBN news anchor Gel Santos-Relos:


video courtesy of YouTube/TFCBalitangAmerica

During the Las Vegas Welcome Sign Photoshoot. Miss Philippines Venus Raj poses with Miss Puerto Rico Mariana Vicente and Miss Uruguay Stephany Ortega

And yet another TV interview of Venus on Balitang America…


Video courtesy of YouTube/TFCBalitangAmerica

Venus has really blossomed and her confidence level is shining through.

Venus lands in L.A.!

Posted by Norman on August 6, 2010
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, Blog Bites: Miss Universe 2010. Tagged: , , , , , , , .

Venus Raj waves to well-wishers after arriving in L.A.

Venus gives the peace sign after boarding the limo that brought her to Roosevelt Hotel.

Venus arrived in Los Angeles fresh and well-rested. She was met by Miss Universe reps and crew plus fans and well-wishers at Tom Bradley, including members of OPMB Worldwide who will give their all-out support to our candidate as she competes for Miss Universe 2010. Since she will be part of the media tour with Donald Trump, she will join 5 other delegates (Misses Australia, Colombia, Haiti, Mexico and Puerto Rico) at the Roosevelt Hotel where they are billeted before moving to Las Vegas this weekend.

Below is a video of her arrival in Los Angeles courtesy of Ronqui of OPMB Worldwide.


YouTube/opmbvids

Below is a video of her arrival as covered by Balitang Amerika.


YouTube/TFCbalitangamerika

The Miss Universe 2010 media tour beauties: (L-R) Maria Venus Raj (Philippines), Natalia Navarro (Colombia), Ximena Navarrete (Mexico), Sarodj Bertin (Haiti), Jesinta Campbell (Australia) and Mariana Vicente (Puerto Rico).

Let’s support Venus all the way! Keep on casting those online votes as well! 😉

Donald Trump’s Chosen 6 for the 2010 Miss Universe Media Tour in L.A.

Posted by Norman on August 5, 2010
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, Blog Bites: Miss Universe 2010. Tagged: , , , , , , , .

Prior to the official start of Miss Universe activities in Las Vegas on August 7, Donald Trump will head a meadia tour of the pageant in L.A. to spark more interest in the same. Together with him, six ladies have been picked to join him in making the rounds of TV networks and the like – and they are Jesinta Campbell of Australia, Natalia Navarro of Colombia, Sarodj Bertin of Haiti, Ximena Navarrete of Mexico, Maria Venus Raj of the Philippines and Mariana Vicente of Puerto Rico.

The question in my mind is: do I read deeper into this selection? My answer is no. It is possible that these six have piqued Mr. Trump’s fancy but to conclude that they are his preferred winners is totally out of the question at the moment. Too early to tell.

Let’s just be happy that our very own Venus is included in the media tour because this will give her some significant headstart before the pre-pageant coverages commence later this week. 😉

Calling Marisol, Deborah, Dayanara, Denise and Zuleyka…..Mariana wants to join the list!

Posted by Norman on July 22, 2010
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, Blog Bites: Miss Universe 2010. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , .

Mariana Vicente: aiming for a 6th Miss Universe win for Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico holds the distinction of having five (5) Miss Universe titleholders to date. Starting with Marisol Malaret in 1970, she was followed by Deborah Carthy-Deu in 1985, Dayanara Torres in 1993, Denise Quinones in 2001 and Zuleyka Rivera in 2006. Aside from these achievements, several representatives placed in the Top 5, Top 10 and Top 15 through he years.

This year, the small Carribean island is placing its bets on Mariana Paola Vicente, a 21-year old beauty who is acknowledged as one of Puerto Rico’s top models. She won the prestigious “La Cara de Imagen L’Oreal” competition in 2005 and is a student at the University of Puerto Rico.

Sans heavy make-up and hairstyling, Mariana is actually a sweetly sensuous girl who looks younger than her actual age.

What kind of fate awaits Mariana in Las Vegas? Very bright, if you ask me. Her handlers know how to hype up her pre-arrival coverage. This early, she is doing a Dayana Mendoza by posing in her birthday suit in photos that are all over the net by now. The only difference is that Dayana did hers after winning the Miss Universe crown and shortly before relinquishing the same to fellow Venezuelan Stefania Fernandez last year. I’m sure Donald Trump must have already seen the same and hastily tagged the Puerto Rican as a favorite.

But will the ploy really work in Mariana’s favor? See for yourself below and state your opinion.

Mariana's controversial photos drumbeating her image as a Miss Universe pre-arrival favorite.