Miss Universe 1999

All posts tagged Miss Universe 1999

Throwback photos: Miss Universe 1999 (and where is Mpule Kwelagobe now?)

Posted by Norman on April 26, 2020
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , .

Here are memorable throwback photos during the finals of Miss Universe 1999 when Mpule Kwelagobe of Botswana reacted as she was named winner over our very own Miriam Quiambao (left) who finished 1st Runner-Up plus an small assortment of other images taken in Chaguaramas, Trinidad and Tobago last May 26 1999 by Getty Images.

Host Jack Wagner, Announces The Top 5 Delegates Remaining To Compete For The 1999 Miss Universe Pageant At The Universe Centre, Chaguaramas, Trinidad And Tobago, Wednesday, May 26, 1999. From Left Sonia Raciti, Miss South Africa 1999, Mpule Kwelagobe, Miss Botswana 1999, Miriam Quiambao, Miss Philippines 1999, Diana Nogueira, Miss Spain 1999, And Carolina Indriago, Miss Venezuela 1999. (Photo By Getty Images)

From Left, First Runner-Up Miriam Quiambao, Miss Philippines 1999, Mpule Kwelagobe, Miss Universe 1999, And Second Runner-Up Diana Nogueira, Miss Spain 1999, Pose For Photographers Following The Announcement Of Miss Universe Title May 26, 1999. Kwelagobe, Miss Botswana 1999 Was Titled As Miss Universe 1999 By A Panel Of Celebrity Judges During The 48Th Annual Miss Universe Pageant At The Universe Centre, Chaguaramas, Trinidad & Tobago, West Indies. (Photo By Getty Images)

As for her personal life long after winning the crown, Mpule married Indian-American financial consultant Abhijoy Gandhi in 2015, in four separate ceremonies held in Kanye Village, Botswana, New York City, and India. The two of them are considered one of Botswana’s popular power couples.

According to Mpule herself:

”The business we are into is divided into three categories namely: financing, agriculture and global energy. For us it’s not just about business but rather a legacy we want to leave behind. We share a common goal with hubby which is simple; youth empowerment.

Bb. Pilipinas 1999: The Year when Miriam Quiambao claimed her Miss Universe fate and became the Philippines’ first 1st Runner-Up in the pageant

Posted by Norman on March 24, 2020
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , , .

Photo credit: Tony Paat

1999 was bittersweet for all its worth for Bb. Pilipinas. Bitter because for the second consecutive year (<em>and third overall if I’m not mistaken</em>), the crowned winner of the Bb. Pilipinas Universe title – Janelle Bautista – was dethroned because of citizenship problems. Sweet because – in her place – the original Bb. Pilipinas World Miriam Quiambao took over and went on to place 1st Runner-Up to Mpule Kwelagobe of Botswana in Trinidad and Tobago. Up to now, I really feel that Donald Trump gave the thumbs-up for Miss Philippines to win that year. The Final 3 Q&A, though, really got into the nerves of Miriam and had to be happy with her placement – the first ever second-place finish for the Philippines in Miss Universe. As for Lalaine Edson getting promoted to Bb. Pilipinas World, I really had my reservations because she was just this fair-skinned halfie who must have been greatly helped by the influence of the late German Moreno in getting a crown in the first place. 2nd Runner-Up Joelle Pelaez or 1st Runner-Up Michelle Arcangel were more deserving in my opinion. And we all know now what happened to Lalaine in London for Miss World – during especially after the competition when she went “missing” and was reported to have been “kidnapped” by a foreigner-lover and forced into marriage. I bet our regulars here know more about those mysterious circumstances.

Janelle Bradford (nee Bautista) with her husband and children

Maundy Throwback Thursday: The Inspiring Miriam Quiambao

Posted by Norman on March 29, 2018
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , .

With husband Ardy Roberto

Bb. Pilipinas Universe 1999 and Miss Universe 1999 1st Runner-Up Miriam Quiambao-Roberto is a fitting subject for this Maundy Throwback Thursday entry because she has already evolved right in front of our eyes from beauty queen to TV host to teleserye performer to film character actress to wife and now, an inspirational speaker along with husband Ardy Roberto who is a bestselling author. The two of them travel to different places around the Philippines and other countries to speak in front of our kababayans about the Word of God while lifting their spirits up while working overseas away from their loved ones.

Watch the testimony of Miriam on 700Club Asia:

Now here is a TV interview of Miriam (and husband Ardy) on GMA-7’s Powerhouse almost three years ago.


Let us look back now at the pageant peaks of Miriam during Bb. Pilipinas 1999 and the Miss Universe edition the same year.

So as a last video, here is the audio interview of Miriam on The Tao of Self-Confidence last year. This one makes her an appropriate source of inspiration in this – the midst of Holy Week.

Sunday Senti Specials: Reminiscing Miss Universe 1999

Posted by Norman on July 3, 2016
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , .

Miss Universe 1999 Mpule Kwelagobe (middle) and her court (including 1st Runner-Up Miriam Quiambao)

Mpule Kwelagobe being crowned by Wendy Fitzwilliam

Miriam Quiambao and guest performer Julio Iglesias Jr

In my mind, Miss Universe 1999 will always be worth remembering, not only because our very own Miriam Quiambao placed 1st Runner-Up and could have been our 3rd Miss U more than 16 years ago. Rumor has it that Donald Trump already approved of her winning provided that the final answer in the Final 3 will be handled well. Sadly, it wasn’t meant to be. I sat glued to the set like a leech, missing lunch and disappointed that the final results were so close to our favor but still not there.

At any rate, the atmosphere of that edition will long be remembered for having such an all-around festive atmosphere that was both festive and pulsating. The music, the performers, the limbo dancing, the candidates, the swimsuits, the gowns, the judges, the then-popular host (Jack Wagner) – everything contributed to a finals night that will always be looked back upon as evoking the authentic spirit of the Carribean and everything that comes with the colorful flavor of Trinidad & Tobago.

Watch now and reminisce.

courtesy of Bellezas Mexicanas​

Mrs. Miriam Quiambao-Roberto

Posted by Norman on March 26, 2014
Posted in: 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , .

Happily married couple Miriam Quiambao and Ardy Roberto

Happily married couple Miriam Quiambao and Ardy Roberto

After Janina San Miguel, here comes another beauty queen tying the knot and realizing that love is indeed the real thing when you finally decide to commit yourself to that one person you can wake up next to every single morning of your life.

Bb. Pilipinas Universe 1999 and Miss Universe 1999 1st Runner-Up Miriam Quiambao, 38, has taken the plunge with her fiance and will now be henceforth known as Mrs. Ardy Roberto, Jr. The secret ceremony took place at Villa Sommet in Tagaytay yesterday.

Actually, this is already the 2nd for Miriam after a not-so-pleasant first marriage with Italian national Claudio Rondinelli. But never giving up on love, she took the time in searching for the guy who will fit the bill of an ideal husband. Luckily, she found 2nd-timer groom Ardy – a businessman whose first wife passed away last year. They have been engaged since October, 2013.

image

Miriam wore a Francis Libiran during the wedding (Photo credit: Philippine News)

Congratulations to the newly-weds! May this be the start of something more blissful in the years to come. 🙂

Getting-to-know-your-Bb.Pilipinas-2012-candidate: Golda Mae Soller

Posted by Norman on March 8, 2012
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 4 Bb. Pilipinas 2012 Blog Bites. Tagged: , , , , .

Bb. Pilipinas 2012 candidate #27 Golda Mae Soller (Photo credit: Melvin Sia/OPMB Worldwide)

The girl who sparked some controversial exchange of words/replies after I posted her first feature in this blog, 25 year-old 5’5″ Golda Mae Soller is stepping out of her medical attire to take into four-inch heels & sequinned gowns and proving to all and sundry that there is more to being a doctor than treating the sick and sewing up sutures. One of the two prides of the province of Isabela (the one being Jill Urbina) in this year’s batch, Golda Mae is coming into the pageant with strong professional credentials and tons of fans & supporters. Getting mixed reactions from pageant enthusiasts, she either gets branded as an unorthodox beauty whose charm may take awhile to grow on you or as a smart lady who can ace interviews & conversations to give her competitors a stiff fight till the end. Regardless of the opinion, she is not taking things lightly or with an easily-defeated spirit.

Photo credit: Jory Rivera/OPMB Worldwide

It would be interesting to see Golda Mae do an Apisamai Srirangsan (Miss Thailand Universe 1999 – a Doctor of Psychiatry – who represented her country in Trinidad & Tobago against our own Miriam Quiambao). But can she do it?

Find out more about Golda Mae Soller as she takes on the tough challenge of winning Bb. Pilipinas 2012. 😉

A trio of outstanding queens will host Bb. Pilipinas 2011

Posted by Norman on March 23, 2011
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, Bb. Pilipinas 2011 Blog Bites. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 1994 and Miss Universe 1994 finalist Charlene Gonzalez

Miss International 2005 Precious Lara Quigaman


Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 1999 and Miss Universe 1999 1st Runner-Up Miriam Quiambao

Come April 10’s coronation night of Bb. Pilipinas 2011, three beautiful Filipinas – all of whom made their marks in their international pageant participations – will host the national finals. First of the troika is Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 1994 Charlene Gonzalez who represented us when the Philippines hosted Miss Universe 1994 (won by Sushmita Sen of India) and placed in the Top 6. And then there is Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 1999 Miriam Quiambao who almost made history when she landed 1st Runner-Up to Miss Universe 1999 Mpule Kwelagobe of Botswana in Trinidad & Tobago. Completing the list is the most victorious of Bb. Pilipinas winners in recent years, i.e., Miss International 2005 Precious Lara Quigaman, who has already made peace with BPCI Head Stella Marquez de Araneta after putting up a separate competition (Miss Turismo Pilipina) which produced only one winner (Sherilyn Sustiguer) and folded afterwards.

This early, many people are saying that this year’s edition will be the grandest of all – not only because ABS-CBN is the new home of Bb. Pilipinas but to further strengthen its hold as the premier beauty pageant of the country after losing the Miss World franchise which will hold a Miss World Philippines 2011 finals come August over at GMA-7 which, according to rumors, might be hosted by Miss World 1993 2nd Princess Ruffa Gutierrez.

Exciting! 😉