Miss Universe 1984

All posts tagged Miss Universe 1984

An Iconic 80s Gown revisited in 2021

Posted by Norman on June 12, 2021
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , .


During yesterday’s Press Conference and Swimsuit Preliminaries of Binibining Pilipinas 2021, Bb. Pilipinas Grand International 2019 Aya Abesamis wore the very same gown by Renee Magtibay Salud that her mom – Bb. Pilipinas Universe 1984 Desiree Verdadero Abesamis – wore during the Finals of Miss Universe 1984 en route to a 3rd Runner-Up placement.

The reigning Queens during yesterday’s event

Yesterday’s Swimsuit Preliminaries will be shown as part of the Finals on July 11. But tonight, the National Costume Competition will premiere on the pageant’s YouTube Channel at 7pm.

#BinibiningPilipinas2021

Bb. Pilipinas 1984: The Year of Desiree Verdadero’s big comeback

Posted by Norman on March 18, 2020
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , , .

Photo credit: Tony Paat

1984 was the year when Desiree Verdadero made her big comeback in Bb. Pilipinas. She was in her elements all throughout the competition and she finished the national journey with the Bb. Pilipinas Universe crown on her head. And it was also appropriate that our winner that year was being sent to Miami, Florida for Miss Universe. Her morena looks stood out in the bigger pageant. I can vividly remember jumping with glee when she got a high score during the swimsuit parade during the finals – an indication that she will definitely make the semifinals. Little did I know that she was destined to make it all the way to the Top 5 and the 3rd Runner-Up placement to eventual winner Yvonne Ryding of Sweden (photo below). Do watch rare clips of the 1984 edition of Bb. Pilipinas below.

The Most Applauded #Binibini11

Posted by Norman on February 22, 2018
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , .

Nobody can contest that – during the Bb. Pilipinas 2018 Press Presentation yesterday after lunch – the most applauded lady is #Binibini11 Andrea “Aya” Abesamis. It helps that a big chunk of the audience is made up of former Bb. Pilipinas titleholders who support her with such enthusiasm. It cannot be denied as well that the cheers are alluded to her being the daughter of Miss Universe 1984 3rd Runner-Up Desiree Verdadero Abesamis. Makes you want to think what the chances are of a mother-daughter tandem holding the same title – something that was never realized with Gloria Diaz and Isabelle Daza.

Sunday Senti Specials: Desiree Verdadero-Abesamis

Posted by Norman on January 14, 2018
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , .

Desiree during the 30th Anniversary Bash of PMAP

Desiree with husband JB Abesamis

Since Ma. Andrea “Aya” Abesamis is taking part in the Final Screening of Bb. Pilipinas 2018 tomorrow at the Kia Theater, I thought it would be interesting to feature her mom Desiree who brought pride and honor to the country as 3rd Runner-Up during Miss Universe 1984 held in Miami, Florida, USA.

But first, let us watch a clip of the Top 5 and crowning moment that year.

courtesy of tpageant

Desiree has always kept her presence in the limelight – albeit in a relatively low-key manner – since she has maintained strong ties with close pageant contemporaries in doing several charity projects through the years. While she has never hollered about such involvements, pageant fans and followers have always been keen in knowing about her whereabouts or whatever keeps her busy. And she never disappoints because the image she has kept since then is one of grace and positivity.

Now that her lovely daughter Aya (right photo) is on the verge of following her footsteps in the pageant world, you would expect the equally lovely mother to hug the spotlight just as well. But no. If not for this Senti Feature, she would rather just stay in the background and watch the unfolding of scenes before her eyes.

I always have sentimental memories of her Miss Universe 1984 stint and I will never get tired of watching video clips from her successful mission as Bb. Pilipinas Universe 1984.

courtesy of TheOnesBeautiful

A is for AYA

Posted by Norman on January 12, 2018
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , .

Don’t expect her to make a grand entrance like how Catriona Gray breezed through the crowds waiting outside the BPCI Office at Araneta Coliseum. Instead, just wait for her to quietly storm the screenings of Bb. Pilipinas 2018 and stamp her class amongst the remaining aspirants (as of now, only eighty ladies are left standing) for the forty (40) Binibini slots this coming Monday, January 15.

Jonas Gaffud of Aces & Queens has confirmed that Aya Abesamis – daughter of Bb. Pilipinas Universe 1984 and Miss Universe 1984 3rd Runner-Up Desiree Verdadero – has finally landed. Her application has already been submitted prior, and the interview with the BPCI legal team has already been conducted. All that is left to do is show up at the Kia Theater for the no-holds barred final selection.

Are you ready for Aya?

Watch Aya in the video below as one of the models in the Preva Promotional Clip.

courtesy of Lanz Santos

Aye aye Sir! It’s Aya Abesamis!

Posted by Norman on June 8, 2017
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , .


This is Aya Abesamis for Fanny Serrano Classic Touch.

You know Aya, right? The daughter of Miss Universe 1984 3rd Runner-Up Desiree Verdadero and husband JB Abesamis. She is looking so beautiful in these photos taken by Ahleks Fusilero.

And might she be in line for the nationals come 2018? Gut feel tells me she will be. After all, she will be rightfully aged next year – 25, that is.

Here are more photos of lovely Aya.

Throwback Thursday: Miss Universe 1984 in Miami

Posted by Norman on January 1, 2015
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , .

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Left to right: 3rd Runner-Up Desiree Verdadero of the Philippines, Miss Universe 1984 Yvonne Ryding of Sweden and 2nd Runner-Up Carmen Maria Montiel of Venezuela

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Now this pic includes 1st Runner-Up Leticia Snyman of South Aftica (2nd from left) and 4th Runner-Up Susana Caldas of Colombia (1st from right)

The 1984 Miss Universe was an edition worth remembering not only because Miss Philippines Desiree Verdadero was named 3rd Runner-Up to eventual winner Yvonne Ryding of Sweden. It was also hosted by Miami where the 63rd Miss Universe Pageant will take place this month. And for this Throwback Thursday, let us all reminisce on that particular year by watching segments of the finals that kept every Filipino glued on the small screen. 🙂

courtesy of karangolos
courtesy of alexa2224
courtesy of karangolos
courtesy of karangolos
courtesy of karangolos
courtesy of karangolos
courtesy of Alexa2224
courtesy of Alexa2224
courtesy of vids for pageant lovers

Throwback Thursday: Turning Miss Universe placements to Miss International wins

Posted by Norman on October 23, 2014
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , , .

Coming from Miss Universe placements back in 1984 and 1987, Ilma Julieta Urrutia and Laurie Simpson went on to win Miss International in the same years, respectively.

Coming from Miss Universe placements back in 1984 and 1987, Ilma Julieta Urrutia and Laurie Simpson went on to win Miss International in the same years, respectively.

It no longer comes as a complete surprise that some Miss Universe placers went on to achieve greater victories in other beauty pageants.

Ilma julieta (2nd from right) during the MU1984 Top 10 Swimsuit Competition

Ilma julieta (2nd from right) during the MU1984 Top 10 Swimsuit Competition

Consider Ilma Julieta Urrutia Chang of Guatemala first. She is the only Big 4 pageant winner from the Central American country to date. After landing in Miami Beach for Miss Universe 1984, she was easily noticed and became one of the running favorites going into the finals. True enough, she found herself being called to join the Top 10. And while her climb to the Top 5 never materialized, she was still considered a very competitive beauty queen such that country organizers decided to field her once more. And at the Kanagawa Prefectural Civic Hall in Yokohama, Japan, she outlasted the competition and defeated early picks from Venezuela and Sweden (who became her runners-up) to become Miss International 1984.

Laurie Tamara Simpson during MU1987 in Singapore

Laurie Tamara Simpson during MU1987 in Singapore

There is also Laurie Tamara Simpson of Puerto Rico. Her first stop was Singapore for Miss Universe 1987. In the Lion City, she made heads turn and was constantly in the short-list of many pageant followers. And during the Coronation Night, she was initially part of the Top 10. From there, she performed well enough to snatch the fifth and final Top 5 spot (from 6th placer Geraldine Asis of the Philippines). Eventual winner Cecilia Bolocco of Chile was a winner right from the start, though, and she got the 4th Runner-Up honor for her efforts.

But when it was time to conquer Tokyo, this Puerto Rican became a strong front-runner. At Nihon Seinen-Kan, she was elected Miss International 1987, big notches better than her MU achievement.

There are still other ladies who went the same route as Ilma and Laurie in the major beauty contests. But since Miss International 2014 will be starting soon, I opted to focus on them as the Throwback Thursday feature of the week. 😉

Throwback Thursday 2: Desiree Verdadero’s gown during MU1984

Posted by Norman on September 4, 2014
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , .

The Renee Salud number work by Desiree Verdadero during Miss Universe 1984

The Renee Salud number work by Desiree Verdadero during Miss Universe 1984

desireevgownmu1984b1 During the Style Stellar Fashion Exhibit held at SM Southmall, several evening gowns were put on display.

One of them stood out for nostalgic reasons. It is the colorful number that Bb. Pilipinas Universe 1984 Desiree Verdadero wore during the Miss Universe 1984 Evening Gown Competition, and which garnered a score high enough to keep her in contention for the Top 5. We all know, of course, that she finished 3rd Runner-Up to Sweden’s Yvonne Ryding then.

Watch the video below to relive the memory.

courtesy of karangolos

Aya Abesamis: will she be the face of Bb. Pilipinas 2014?

Posted by Norman on November 28, 2013
Posted in: 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , .

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It's in her genes


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Aya Abesamis on Cosmo

Mother & daughter: Desiree Verdadero (L) and Aya Abesamis

Mother & daughter: Desiree Verdadero (L) and Aya Abesamis

She has the pageant pedigree alright. Being the daughter of Miss Universe 1984 3rd Runner-Up Desiree Verdadero and niece of Miss World 2003 finalist Mafae Verdadero Yunon, Aya Abesamis has been earmarked to eventually join Bb. Pilipinas as early as her 1st birthday.

Her face is not in the traditional mold of beauty we are accustomed to. You can always compare her to a few of our former titleholders, but will find it hard to pinpoint who she really looks like. She takes more from her father (JB Abesamis) in terms of facial features. Taller than her beauty queen mom by almost 2 inches, she stands 5’8″.

A Fine Arts major at UST, Aya is now an active member of PMAP (Professional Models Association of the Philippines) where she gets booked for various modeling gigs.

Will she commit to Bb. Pilipinas 2014 as early as now? We’ll see. 😉