PS. Your blogger is currently in the middle of an Eastern European vacation with the family where he is traveling from Bratislava to Budapest and Prague en route to Munich, Salzburg and Vienna. Apologies for the shortcut blogs in the next ten days.
Nia Sanchez
All posts tagged Nia Sanchez
Here are photos of the reuniting Miss Universe 2014 beauties when they stayed at the vacation-worthy paradise in Panglao, Alona Tropical Beach Resort. The ladies were extended the warmest welcome and hospitality led by its ever-reliable Deo Guden who really prepared for their much-anticipated visit.
#WishIWasThere
Photo credit: TJ Medrana Photography
The strong friendship started during Miss Universe 2014 held in Doral, Florida, U.S.A. when a large group of candidates forged a sisterhood that has stood the test of time even if we are just talking of an edition held more than three years ago. They’ve had reunions held in recent years, the last one being in Costa Rica around this time last year.
This year, and based on the latest IG post of Miss Universe Philippines 2014 MJ Lastimosa, thirty (30) of the ladies who participated in the Doral edition will be coming over to the country for their annual reunion around middle of next month. MJ, obviously, will be hosting them.
And with the fresh confirmation I received today from a good friend, Bohol Province will be one of the several pit stops in their vacation along with Cebu, Palawan and more. According to him, the visiting beauties will be accomodated at Alona Beach Resort, Amorita, Henann and Bellevue from August 19-21. The other details outside of Bohol are still unconfirmed, but the 3D/2N stay in Panglao alone is a guarantee of their arrival.
So expect ladies like Nia Sanchez of the U.S.A., Migbelis Castellanos of Venezuela and Kaci Fennell of Jamaica to be Philippine-bound soon!
Below are photos taken from the Meet-and-Greet activity with Miss USA 2014 Nia Sanchez and Miss Australia 2014 Tegan Martin organized by PLDT Home and Smart Communications, Inc. where the two have been signed up as endorsers. Venue was Bondi&Bourke in Bonifacio Global City.
Photo credit: Joy Arguil for normannorman.com
#PLDTHome #LiveSmart #NiainManila #TeganInManila
At around 4am this morning, Miss Universe 2015 2nd Runner-Up Olivia Jordan and Miss Universe 2014 1st Runner-Up Nia Sanchez will be landing in Manila as Special Guests of PLDT and Smart for the 65th Miss Universe. Here is the Press Release Advisory:
HEADLINE: Miss USA Olivia Jordan & Miss USA Nia Sanchez are Special Guests of PLDT & Smart in the 65th Miss UniverseMiss Universe 2015 Second Runner-up Olivia Jordan and Miss Universe 2014 First Runner-up Nia Sanchez will be visiting the Philippines to watch the 65th Miss Universe on January 30, 2017. The two beauty queens will be arriving tomorrow, January 23, 2017, on board a Philippine Airlines flight from Los Angeles. The two Miss USA will be in the Philippines as special guests of PLDT and Smart Communications, Inc.
Olivia and Nia are both excited to attend the 65th Miss Universe to support outgoing Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach and to cheer for Miss USA Deshauna Barber who will be competing with 85 other candidates from all over the world for the Miss Universe 2016 crown.
PLDT & Smart supports the 65th Miss Universe. Follow Smart’s Social Media channels in Facebook (fb.com/smartcommunications), Twitter (@LiveSmart), and Instagram (@LiveSmart) for more behind the scenes and exclusive highlights. #SmartMissU

Some of Nia's guests include fellow candidates during the 63rd Miss Universe like our very own MJ Lastimosa
Included in the guest list are Kimberly Castillo of the Dominican Republic, Julia Furdea of Austria, Elvira Devinamira of Indonesia, Anissa Blondin of Belgium, Diana Garkusha of Ukraine and our very own MJ Lastimosa.

Left-to-right: Julia Furdea of Austria, Kimberly Castillo of Dominican Republic, MJ Lastimosa of the Philippines, Elvira Devinamira of Indonesia and Anissa Blondin of Belgium
Congratulations will be in order for Daniel and Nia! 🙂
Since Miss USA 2015 will be chosen in Baton Rouge, Louisiana Sunday night (Morning in Manila), I thought of doing a Senti feature on the part-Filipino Miss North Dakota 2014 who gave Nia Sanchez one tough competition during last year’s finals and ended up getting 1st Runner-Up honors.
When Audra Mari competed during Miss USA 2014, she wasn’t really one of the hottest favorites to make it. At the onset, that is. But as weeks progressed, pre-pageant watchers started to take notice of this girl from Fargo who is slowly becoming a solid performer. And the minute she took her stage turns during Preliminaries, everyone is in agreement that she is definitely a major contender.
Watch her Hot Seat interview during the competition now.
courtesy of Miss USA
It was no secret that Audra had that all-important Filipino connection that made her all the more interesting to Fil-Ams and Filipino pageant fans everywhere. She is particularly fond of her grandfather Justo (right photo), a retired surgeon originally from Alaminos, Pangasinan.To know Audra behind the state crown and all the pageant works, here is a video to watch about her life in Fargo, North Dakota. She spent the day with Siri Joy Freeh (a former Miss Minnesota) where she detailed most of her life over burgers, go-karts and laser tag.
Watch now.
courtesy of Siri Freeh
So will another Fil-Am conquer the Miss USA 2015 stage tonight? Will Maureen Montagne do one notch better than Audra Mari and finally win that coveted new crown by DIC?
Let’s all wait and see if things will go in the favor of Miss Arizona.
Watch Miss USA 2015 on Reelz Channel or via Live Streaming on missusa.com.

Below are three (3) photo grids showing my Top 15, Top 10 and Top 5 in succession.

My Top 15 (in alphabetical order from left-to-right per row) for Miss USA 2015 after the Preliminary Competition
Miss Vermont Jackie Croft is the girl I feel who would follow the trail of last year’s Miss North Dakota Audra Mari who became 1st Runner-Up to Nia Sanchez. So with that placement settled, I would pick one among Miss Alabama Madison Guthrie, Miss Arizona Maureen Montagne and Miss Rhode Island Anea Garcia as potential successor. My hunch is that Miss Maryland Mame Adjei would be either 3rd or 4th Runner-Up. So if I would rank them in order, Alabama-Vermont-Arizona-Rhode Island-Maryland could be the winning combination.
Of course, having that very definitive order of placement is way too risky. But I don’t mind putting my name on the line. After all, that’s where the excitement of predictions comes from. Nobody among us can ever predict what answers will come out of their thinking minds to secure better or lower finishes, so I choose to anticipate that they will do me proud in the end.
Good luck, ladies! 🙂

What would be your final question, dear readers? Share and then post the same on the Facebook page of Miss USA as well. Don’t forget the hashtag #AskMissUSA. 🙂
Miss Universe L.P., LLLP (the “Administrators”) invites you to submit a final question to be asked by the judges live in the 2015 MISS USA® Competition (“the Competition”) via Instagram video or Facebook post and your Instagram video, Instagram account picture, Instagram username, Facebook account name and Facebook profile picture may be displayed on-air (“Submission[s]”).
The submission process will be conducted pursuant to these Instructions and any other instructions the Administrators may designate. All Submissions become the sole property of the Administrators and may be used in any manner, commercial or otherwise, in any and all media and/or technologies now known or hereafter devised throughout the universe in perpetuity. The Administrators reserve the right to edit and/or alter any Submission in their sole discretion. These Instructions are subject to change at any time.
Eligibility: Submission is open to anyone with a valid Instagram or Facebook account, who is thirteen (13) years of age or older and located in the fifty (50) United States, including the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico (collectively, “Geographic Area”). Void where prohibited.
Submission Period: Posting will open on July 1, 2015 at 12:00 PM ET, and will close on July 11, 2015 at 6:00 PM ET. Only questions that are received during the announced Submission Period will be eligible.
How to Submit a Final Question: To submit a question, you will need a valid Instagram or Facebook account. Submit your question on Instagram by posting a video of yourself asking it on your Instagram account with the hashtag#askMissUSA. By posting a video on Instagram you agree that your video and your Instagram username will be displayed on-air during the Competition. Submit your question on Facebook by posting it in the comments section of the official post that is pinned to the top of the Official Miss USA Facebook Page. By posting your question on Facebook you agree that your Facebook profile picture and Facebook name will be displayed on-air during the Competition. You may not use any third party services to post on your behalf. The Administrators reserve the right, in their sole discretion, to reject posts by any individual who tampers with the submission process or acts in a disruptive or unsportsmanlike manner. Submission is free with a valid Facebook or Instagram account. Data rates may apply.

The banner above is no longer applicable. Miss USA 2015 will now live stream on missuniverse.com/missusa
I know that this girl is in such an awkward position right now. Her roots are definitely putting things in an ultra-tight push-and-pull scenario on whether to sympathize with her boss (Donald Trump) or side with the Latinos. Behind the camera, I reckon that she could be at a loss. What advice will you give her, if given a chance?