Catriona and MUO President Paula Shugart
I wanted so much to end 2018 with a big bang. If only clarity on the issue of whether the Miss Universe franchise remains with BPCI or crosses over to LCS has been settled in the last few days, then it would make for an explosive year-end blog entry. But then again, that would be asking for way too much confirmation during the uber busy Holiday Season.
Pageants fans and followers are divided on the matter. But I reckon that – if we play by percentages – there would be a lot more who are in favor of the franchise staying put with Bb. Pilipinas to maintain the prestige of the country’s biggest national pageant as well as to preserve its glorious place on top of the pedestal in full hierarchial view of the entire Philippines. Besides, the record of the leadership of Madame Stella Marquez de Araneta is something that other National Directors can only hope to achieve in their lifetime.
On the other side of the coin, there is this side of business that doesn’t give much premium on sentimentality or loyalty or time-honored tradition. As the line goes, “…the only thing constant is change.” And with the ties that bind the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) and the LCS Group of Companies, the partnership could only move to a logical next step of having the franchise be placed under the latter’s care. That way, both MUO and IMG will have a more direct hand in controlling/advising how the brand is managed and sustained with progressive exclusivity.
This is me in the middle. Having grown up with Bb. Pilipinas, I would love to see MU stay with BPCI. But I’d also like to see how MU will grow nationally as a stand-alone pageant. I won’t take sides now. I will just let destiny speak for itself. Because with what I have been hearing, it could be a done deal – unless some kind of a unique arrangement can be finalized in the coming month or two.
Artwork by Henry Nicholson Labajo
Nothing Compares 2 U
It’s been seven hours and fifteen days
Since you took your love away
I go out every night and sleep all day
Since you took your love away
Since you been gone I can do whatever I want
I can see whomever I choose
I can eat my dinner in a fancy restaurant
But nothing
I said nothing can take away these blues
‘Cause nothing compares
Nothing compares to you
It’s been so lonely without you here
Like a bird without a song
Nothing can stop these lonely tears from falling
Tell me baby where did I go wrong…
Until we get an Official Statement, it will all remain a rumor. But a strong rumor, I must add. 
Seriously, I was no longer expecting this to arrive in the mail from the Miss Universe Organization. I almost made up my mind to just go to Bangkok for a vacation and watch the Miss Universe 2018 Finals as a treat (and to support our very own Catriona Gray).
According to this 
Guess who’s in town for tomorrow’s Grand Coronation Night of Bb. Pilipinas 2018? Miss Universe Organization Vice-President Shawn McClain @theshawnmcclain, that’s who! Photo shows him with Pageant Heels Maker Jojo Bragais during technical rehearsals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Miss Universe 2017 Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters is in Cloud 9 nowadays as MUO (Miss Universe Organization) has finally given her the Homecoming Week to share the victory with her countrymen in South Africa. A motorcade parade, personal appearances, media guestings and hosted dinners happened in quick succession. Below is a video where she explains the float that was made in her honor.
A “GlamIt Chi” event was also held where she was honored for the achievement she has brought back home to South Africa. Both Chi Haircare and GlamIt put together a memorable bash that made our Miss Universe more happy and emotional to be back in the arms of the people she represented in Miss Universe.
In this post are photos of Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach from her latest cover pictorial for PeopleAsia Magazine as photographed by Dookie Ducay (with makeup by Gery Penaso and hair by Raymund Santiago). 
Some Filipinos are confident that since we have allies in both the Preliminaries (Cecilio Asuncion) and finals (Pia), the chances of Rachel Peters are better than ever. But do you honestly think that the latter can be easily swayed to judge our bet more favorably given that the Miss Universe Organization will definitely “suggest” their choices who are potentially beneficial for the pageant brand?
