There is always this lingering fondness of the Filipinos for foreign beauty queens who visit the country, fell in love with the people and culture and made a go of staying longer for possible opportunities.
Back in 1974, four of the five Miss Universe finishers grabbed the chance to do so. Maureen Ava Vieira of Aruba and Johanna Raunio of Finland launched short-lived movie careers, while Amparo Muñoz of Spain and Helen Morgan of Wales appeared in one movie each.
During the 70s, two winners of Miss Asia (Eva Arni of Papua New Guinea and Tara Fonseca of India) also made a movie each with Joseph Estrada.
In 1994, the outgoing Miss Universe did more than just movies after crowning her successor. Dayanara Torres of Toa Alta, Puerto Rico was given several showbiz offers, started a hosting/dancing career on TV, learned how to speak Filipino and even had a romantic relationship with actor Aga Muhlach. It went on for a few years before she decided to leave and return to her Latina roots when she also married singer Marc Antony, had a career in Puerto Rico and a celebrity status in the US.
Time came when she was diagnosed with skin cancer which she battled at length until recently when she was diagnosed free from the disease.
Below are highlights from Dayanara’s Miss Universe win and homecoming in Puerto Rico
Highlights from Dayanara’s first Filipino movie with Aga Muhlach “Basta’t Kasama Kita”.
A clip from Dayanara’s movie with Gary V, “Hataw Na”
When Dayanara guested in the drama anthology “Maalaala Mo Kaya” with actor Cesar Montano
TV interview on ANC’s Headstart
Fast Talk with Boy Abunda
Interview with Vice Ganda on GGV
Dayanara being announced on TV being free of cancer
If Dayanara did not win Miss Universe 1993, she would have no reason to visit the Philippines. As fate would have it, Manila hosted Miss Universe 1994. Having been the reigning titleholder then, she savored the host country more intimately and that started her interesting love affair with the Filipinos.
The whole nine yards of it all.
The year was 1993. And it had one of the most intrigue-laden candidates’ screenings in the pageant’s history ever after everyone waited for then upcoming actress Sharmaine Ruffa Gutierrez until very late to show up and be counted as an aspirant for the year’s batch of Binibinis. She eventually did and became the hot favorite to win the Bb. Pilipinas Universe crown. However, the less popular but equally competitive Dindi Gallardo was not to be denied the chance to gun for the highest title as well. The two of them were like the two frontrunners by a mile. Everyone else had to be happy competing for the Bb. Pilipinas International or Tourism crown which eventually went to the late Sheela Mae Santarin and Jenette Fernando. This was also the edition when the Bb. Pilipinas Look of the Year title was handed out to Ana Maria Gonzales.
With a name like Milka Chulina, there’s no way this Venezuelan beauty queen will ever be forgotten.
But more than just the name, Miss Venezuela 1992 will always be remembered as the gorgeous candidate of Miss Universe who was in strong contention to win the crown last 1993 (aside from getitng the highest semifinal interview score of 9.843 in the pageant’s history). That is, until Dayanara Torres got elected instead. And Milka Yelisava Chulina Urbanich had to settle for third.
At 40, Milka remains as ravishing as the day she won Miss Venezuela.
Not one to retire from international pageants after the loss in Mexico City, though, she went for Miss International 1994. But the big victory seemed far more elusive when she reached no more than the Top 15 in Ise, Japan. She decided to go full-time with a television hosting career from that point.
At any rate, her pageant legacy continues to be firmly etched in the minds and hearts of solid fans and supporters. “Milka Chulina” has even become a favorite poster name among many individuals in various pageant forums. And through the years, she has set a strong benchmark for succeeding titleholders in her country. Why, even beauties from other nations still see her as an excellent peg up to now. 🙂
Watch Milka on “Historias Verdaderas” (True Stories) now. The video is in Spanish with no subtitles.
Miss Universe 1993 Dayanara Torres sitting on her throne
It was fate that Dayanara Torres was crowned Miss Universe 1993 – the victory that made this lovely Puerto Rican connected by fewer than six degrees of separation to the Philippines and millions of Filipinos.
When it was time to fly to Manila to crown her successor during Miss Universe 1994, little did she know that her arrival would start a close relationship with the country. Right after relinquishing the title to Sushmita Sen, several doors of showbiz opportunity started opening one after the other. She went into appearances in a number of local movies (at least three), hosted her own dance show (Eezy Dancing) plus a similar hosting stint on ASAP. Heck, she was even involved in a relationship with actor Aga Muhlach at one time.
Below is a video which contains the movie “Basta’t Kasama Kita” (As long as I’m with you) which introduced Dayanara Torres and where she starred with former matinee idol Aga Muhlach.
courtesy of Vanessas barfeny
And now, here’s a vid featuring one of Dayanara’s dance numbers on ASAP.
courtesy of dolsotbibimbop
And finally, here is the interview Dayanara gave where she talked about her four memorable years in the Philippines.
courtesy of Proyectos Saluda
Dayanara considers her stay in the country as some of the best years in her life. And the Filipinos couldn’t agree more.
We all loved Dayanara, and Miss Universe 1993 loved the Philippines in return. Four years long and with just two degrees of separation at that. 😉
There are only a few past Miss Universe winners (save for the Filipinas – Gloria Diaz and Margarita Moran – since they will always top my list) who belong to my all-time favorites because of their unforgettable faces and/or memorable reigns. For example, I like Miss Universe 1993 Dayanara Torres because she made Manila her homebase for awhile when she entered Philippine showbiz in the 90s and became part of local pop culture when she hosted her own dance show (“Eezy Dancing”) which has metamorphosized since then into what “Shall We Dance?” is right now.
Another lady who remains permanently etched in my mind is Miss Universe 2004 Jennifer Hawkins. This gorgeous Aussie is said to be Donald Trump’s favorite among his winners as well. I don’t blame him. She is the encapsulation of everything one looks for in a near-perfect beauty queen – beautiful face, killer body, towering height and an all-around warm personality. So when I discovered that she actually posed in her birthday suit for Marie Claire magazine (Australian edition), I just had to order a copy (it’s being processed now) and blog about the same! Just look at her on the cover of the mag’s February 2010 issue:
An UN-photoshopped Miss Universe 2004 Jennifer Hawkins on the February 2010 cover of Marie Claire.
Here’s an excerpt from the teaser article:
In an exclusive 5 page feature, Jen not only reveals her amazing body but also the pressures she faced since being crowned Miss Universe in 2004 and rising to fame.
In marie claire’s exclusive interview, Jennifer Hawkins confesses that she never could have done a shoot like this two years ago.
“I would have been worried about what people thought, whether it was the right decision – a thousand different things… But over the past year and a half I’ve grown into myself, and I’m more confident and comfortable within the modelling industry. I did it for the experience… It felt quite sensual and sexy. I felt empowered”.
While naturally slim, and with a body most of us would do just about anything for – Jen tells marie claire about the hard work that goes into her success, which includes keeping her body in great condition through regular exercise and a balanced diet. Jen speaks candidly about the highs and lows she has experienced in her rise to fame and her plans for the future, which includes moving in with her boyfriend Jake Wall in the year to come.
If you’re an Aussie or living in/visiting Australia right now, I suggest you grab a copy. And fast. I’m pretty sure this one will sell like the proverbial hotcakes and run out of stock faster than you can chant “Ozzie Ozzie Ozzie, Oy Oy Oy!”
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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There is always this lingering fondness of the Filipinos for foreign beauty queens who visit the country, fell in love with the people and culture and made a go of staying longer for possible opportunities.
Back in 1974, four of the five Miss Universe finishers grabbed the chance to do so. Maureen Ava Vieira of Aruba and Johanna Raunio of Finland launched short-lived movie careers, while Amparo Muñoz of Spain and Helen Morgan of Wales appeared in one movie each.
During the 70s, two winners of Miss Asia (Eva Arni of Papua New Guinea and Tara Fonseca of India) also made a movie each with Joseph Estrada.
In 1994, the outgoing Miss Universe did more than just movies after crowning her successor. Dayanara Torres of Toa Alta, Puerto Rico was given several showbiz offers, started a hosting/dancing career on TV, learned how to speak Filipino and even had a romantic relationship with actor Aga Muhlach. It went on for a few years before she decided to leave and return to her Latina roots when she also married singer Marc Antony, had a career in Puerto Rico and a celebrity status in the US.
Time came when she was diagnosed with skin cancer which she battled at length until recently when she was diagnosed free from the disease.
Below are highlights from Dayanara’s Miss Universe win and homecoming in Puerto Rico
Highlights from Dayanara’s first Filipino movie with Aga Muhlach “Basta’t Kasama Kita”.
A clip from Dayanara’s movie with Gary V, “Hataw Na”
When Dayanara guested in the drama anthology “Maalaala Mo Kaya” with actor Cesar Montano
TV interview on ANC’s Headstart
Fast Talk with Boy Abunda
Interview with Vice Ganda on GGV
Dayanara being announced on TV being free of cancer
If Dayanara did not win Miss Universe 1993, she would have no reason to visit the Philippines. As fate would have it, Manila hosted Miss Universe 1994. Having been the reigning titleholder then, she savored the host country more intimately and that started her interesting love affair with the Filipinos.
The whole nine yards of it all.
normannorman.com 