Miss Universe 2019

All posts tagged Miss Universe 2019

A Year Ago Today

Posted by Norman on June 9, 2020
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , .


Exactly a year ago today, the Bb. Pilipinas 2019 Grand Coronation Night climaxed with the crowning of Gazini Christiana Jordi Ganados as Miss Universe Philippines 2019 by then reigning Miss Universe Catriona Gray.

She went on to represent the country in Atlanta for Miss Universe 2019 and finished in the Top 20.

Who will follow her footsteps and become Miss Universe Philippines 2020? And will she be actually crowning her successor later this year?

Photo credits: Bb. Pilipinas and FOX via Getty Images

2019 MISS UNIVERSE: Live Show: Miss Philippines, Gazini Ganados at the 2019 MISS UNIVERSE competition airing LIVE on Sunday, Dec. 8 (7:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX. (Photo by FOX via Getty Images)

Reminiscing Miss World 1997 Diana Hayden

Posted by Norman on May 28, 2020
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , .

Photo by Marc Piasecki/Getty Images


Taking the cue on how you, my dear readers, reacted to the online chat between Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi and Miss Universe 2000 Lara Dutta, I decided to share another Indian beauty who brought pride to her country back in 1997 after winning Miss World.

The focus is on how this beauty queen-turned-actress handles sit-down interviews taped for a bigger audience. In the throwback video clips below, she guested on the talk show of Riz Khan on Al-Jazeera and discussed an assortment of topics that allow us to see through her personality and inner beauty.

When Zozi met Lara. Online.

Posted by Norman on May 27, 2020
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , .

As all of you know by now, Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi has been making good use of her quarantine time by chatting with either previous recent winners or fellow candidates during last year’s competition.

Below is her online one-on-one with Lara Dutta of India who was Miss Universe 2000 and who is celebrating her 20th Anniversary as the titleholder. Watch now.

Angeline Flor Pua and her YouTube Channel

Posted by Norman on May 21, 2020
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , .

Angeline (extreme left) with Vartika of India, Hoang Thuy of Vietnam and Frederika of Indonesia (Photo by Fadil Berisha)

You will all remember Angeline Flor Pua, the full-blooded Filipina who won the national crown of Miss Belgium 2019 and represented the Western European country in in both Miss World 2018 in Sanya, China where she competed with our Katarina Rodriguez and Miss Universe 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia against Gazini Ganados.

Angeline has recently started her own channel on YouTube. Check out this lady and see how she communicates to her subscribers. It is one aspect that we have not really seen and appreciate about her.

Four Filipinas (or Half-Filipinas) who conquered National Pageants in Scandinavia and Western Europe

Posted by Norman on May 3, 2020
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , .


Your blogger with Cloie Syquia Skarne during ME2016

It’s already a given that Filipinos are the best exports the country has. Be it in contracted work or immigration, our kababayans almost always excel in anything that they set their hearts into, pageantry included.

In the Scandinavian region and Western Europe, four (4) Filipinas have scored wins in the national pageants of their respective home countries. These ladies went on to compete for three of the biggest crowns in international beauty contests – Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss Earth. And the Pinoy connection cannot be denied. Apart from looks and names, they themselves have proudly stated their roots.

1) Froken Norge or Miss Universe Norway 2007 Kirby Ann Basken (who also represented the Philippines during Miss Intercontinental 2006)

2) Miss World Denmark 2011 Maya Celeste Padillo Olsen (Conceived in Nepal, born in the Philippines and raised in Denmark, Maya’s second name originated from her grandfather Celestino)

3) Miss Earth Sweden 2016 Cloie Syquia Skarne (we all know that she is the daughter of actor Gabby Concepcion and Jenny Syquia)

4) Miss Belgium 2018 Angeline Flor Pua (she is 100% Pinoy in heritage)

Remember Miss Teen USA 1998 Vanessa Joy Minnillo?

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

– AUGUST 27: Vanessa Minnillo attends Entertainment Tonight and People Magazine Hosts Annual Emmy After Party-Inside at Mondrian on August 27, 2006. (Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

Filipino-Americans have done decently well in US pageants. Back in 1998, an 18 year-old from Charleston, South Carolina bested all the youthful state candidates to win Miss Teen USA 1998. Her name is Vanessa Joy Minnillo.

Vanessa was born at USAF Clark Regional Medical Center in Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines. Her father, Vincent Charles Minnillo, is an American citizen from Cleveland, Ohio of Italian and Irish descent, while her mother, Helen Ramos Bercero, is from Manila, Philippines. Minnillo has an adopted brother who is two years older. Her father moved the family frequently because of his service in the Air Force. She lived in Washington, California, Nevada, Florida, Germany and Japan and attended eight different schools in nine years. Minnillo’s parents separated in 1983 and were divorced in 1986.

Vanessa Minnillo (Photo by MR Photo/Corbis via Getty Images)

Vanessa was able to make good use of her platform as Miss Teen USA. She knew what she wanted as a career. Eventually, she became the New York-based correspondent for Entertainment Tonight and hosted Total Request Live on MTV. She has also starred in two network sitcoms, while hosting various competition and reality shows through the 2010s and up to this year actually. She is also a seasoned pageant host for both Miss USA and Miss Teen USA. Last December, she was co-host of Steve Harvey for the Miss Universe 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 08: Steve Harvey and Vanessa Lachey host the 2019 Miss Universe Pageant at Tyler Perry Studios on December 08, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

Nick and Vanessa Lachey (Photo by: Nick Agro/E! Entertainment/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

Here’s a movie trivia for you: Have you watched the movie “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer”? Betcha didn’t notice her quick appearance as the wedding date of Johnny (Chris Evans).

Anyways, Vanessa married singer Nick Lachey last 2011 after years of a more-on-less-off relationship. They have been blessed with three children ever since.

Watch the couple’s latest TV guesting on The Kelly Clarkson Show which aired just last March.

Riyo Mori and her conquest of the Miss Universe 2007 crown in Mexico

Posted by Norman on April 13, 2020
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Miss Japan, Riyo Mori crowned Miss Universe 2007 (Photo by Victor Chavez/WireImage)

Miss Japan, Riyo Mori crowned Miss Universe 2007 (Photo by Victor Chavez/WireImage)

The victory of Riyo Mori during Miss Universe 2007 easily sticks out in the mind of followers of modern pageant history because: 1) an Asian delegate prevailed over the Latinas in their own turf which presumably led to 2) Zuleyka Rivera looking disenchanted when she crowned her successor especially that 3) Riyo wore the most non-pageant competition evening gown on the road to the crown, and 4) another Asian – Honey Lee of Korea – making it all the way to Top 5 (which happened again in 2011 when the Philippines and China emerged as runners-up).

Donald Trump gave his two thumbs up to the win of Riyo Mori regardless of his personal preferences. After all, pageantry is and will always be a business. And the Japanese beauty really delivered when it mattered. Never mind the pressure from the Latin American audience and watchers. Truth be told, I was secretly hoping then that Natalia Guimaraes of Brazil would be named winner. But 1st Runner-Up ain’t bad.

Photo by Marc Stamas/Getty Images

The life of Riyo took a 180-degree turn from the time she was named Miss Universe 2007. From being a ballet dancer and model/actress in Japan, she embraced the bigger limelight and made herself available for all the commitments and public demands of the title. As a result, she was one of the most well-traveled titleholders after visiting Indonesia, Spain, the Bahamas, St. Kitts and Nevis, China, Mexico, Canada, Germany, Vietnam, France, Monaco, San Marino, Russia and Italy throughout her reign.

Below is a video of Riyo being interviewed by Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray during Miss USA 2019.

Photo by Jun Sato/WireImage

Riyo eventually starred in the MTV reality TV show “Pageant Place” that ran for one season, as well as the VH1 program “The Price of Beauty”. She was last seen in the Philippines as judge during the 65th Miss Universe. Below is one of her photos in Atlanta, Georgia where she also served as judge during Miss Universe 2019.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 08: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Miss Universe 2007 Riyo Mori attends the 2019 Miss Universe Pageant at Tyler Perry Studios on December 08, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

A Message from Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi

Posted by Norman on March 31, 2020
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , .

As if it’s not enough that she was getting lukewarm media mileage from the time she was crowned, it’s sad that Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi continues to experience hurdles in her reign, what with the #COVID19 pandemic spoiling whatever foreign travels she may have been invited to during this period. It’s good that she was able to make the trip to Indonesia, appeared during Puteri Indonesia 2020 and filmed her TVC for You.C1000. Below is a message she recorded for everyone amidst all that is happening right now.