Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2020 model Kelsey Merritt about her inclusion:
“SI Swim is such a powerful and iconic brand that celebrates women of all color, size, age and ethnicity. Whenever I see them do something groundbreaking that no one else has done before, I am in awe that I get to call this brand my family. They continue to shatter ceilings for inclusivity. I am so proud and honored at the same time to be amongst the company of strong, confident women that encourage everyone to be their true authentic self.”
LAS VEGAS, NV – DECEMBER 06: Miss Colombia Daniella Alvarez Vasquez walks the runway as part of the 2012 Miss Universe Pageant’s Official Welcome Event at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino on December 6, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Marcel Thomas/FilmMagic)
Daniella Alvarez Vasquez, Miss Colombia 2011-12 (she competed during Miss Universe 2012 when Olivia Culpo and Janine Tugonon finished 1-2 respectively) is a brave woman indeed. After everything she went through, the smile and positivity in spirit never left her at all.
In this report by Mirtle Peña for Hola, it was stated that:
Colombiana Daniella Alvarez is living a very new normal. The former Miss Universe contestant has recently gone in for an operation that would remove a lump from her abdomen. However, during the routine surgery, the beauty queen suffered some complications when the blood to her left leg cut off, forcing doctors to act swiftly. During the procedure, blood was not flowing to the lower part of her left leg, and when doctor’s at Fundacion Cardioinfantil Hospital in Bogota, Colombia, noticed, they quickly went to amputate the lower half in an effort to mitigate any further complications for Daniella.
During the surgery, the nimble and speedy doctors noticed that the mass they were operating had wrapped around Daniella’s main aorta, causing her to experience ischemia (when not enough blood reaches an organ or body part). The model took to her Instagram page to share photos of what would be her new normal post surgery. In the photos we see her surrounded by the immense love and support of her family. She shares, “I want to share with all of you the new me, I love my body the same as before, and am happy to be in the world and be able to tackle all of the new challenges that lay ahead. I know that with God’s help everything is possible. ‘Feet, why do I need them when I have wings to fly’ 😊🙏🙏 let’s keep moving forward.”
Daniella also shared two videos on her Instagram feed: one showing her on her way to her room once she was released from ICU; and another of her speaking out to her fans about what had occurred. Many flocked to the comment to wish the former beauty queen a speedy recovery. Singer and fellow Colombian Sebastian Yatra also took to the comments and shared, “❤️❤️❤️❤️🙏🏻,” as a sign of his full support for her on this new journey that she will be embarking on. Daniella admitted that she will be getting a prosthetic limb in the future so that she can keep doing some of her favorite activities like dancing and swimming.
If for any reason, the winner cannot fulfill her duties, the 1st runner-up will take her place…
We always hear the statement above before a new Miss Universe is crowned. And it was back in 2002 when the 1st Runner-Up Justine Pasek of Panama took over Oxana Fedorava of Russia.
Now over at Miss USA, the line of succession is more standard (and non-complicated) in practice.
From 1967 onwards, the first runner-up automatically replaced any Miss USA titleholder who won the Miss Universe pageant. Here are the ones who benefitted, in reverse order:
Nana Meriwether of Maryland – 2012
Brandi Sherwood of Idaho – 1997 (she was also crowned Miss Teen USA 1989 prior)
Shanna Lynn Moakler of New York – 1995
Jineane Ford of Arizona – 1980
Cheryl Patton of Florida – 1967 (She was 2nd Runner-Up but took over the Miss USA title after 1st runner-up Susan Bradley of California declined when Sylvia Hitchcock won Miss Universe)
LAS VEGAS, NV – DECEMBER 19: (L-R) Miss USA 2012, Olivia Culpo, is crowned the 2012 Miss Universe by Leila Lopes, Miss Universe 2011, as Logan West, Miss Teen USA 2012, looks on during the 2012 Miss Universe Pageant at PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on December 19, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – DECEMBER 19: Miss USA 2012, Olivia Culpo, poses at a news conference after she was named the new Miss Universe during the 2012 Miss Universe Pageant at PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on December 19, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – DECEMBER 19: Miss Philippines 2012, Janine Tugonon (L), and Miss USA 2012, Olivia Culpo, wait for the judges’ final decision during the 2012 Miss Universe Pageant at PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on December 19, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Culpo went on to be crowned the new Miss Universe and Tugonon was the first runner-up. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
Photo by Marcel Thomas/FilmMagic
Miss Universe 2012 felt like a big Christmas present back then. Well, almost. It was Olivia Culpo, the host delegate, who won. But Miss Philippines Janine Tugonon claimed our second of only two First Runner-Up finishes ever in the pageant’s history. The entire edition was also special in the sense that it was held exactly a week before Christmas, so the Yuletide spirit pervaded all throughout the finals proceedings. And just as the US celebrated its victory since 1997, the Filipinos watched in awe as our representative successfully added to the consecutive Top 5 rankings. Many of us said that Janine was robbed of the title, and she could have been our third Miss Universe. But patience has its rewards as we would finally get ours just a few years later.
Let’s now re-watch highlights of the Christmas (Holiday) edition of the pageant once more:
(Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
Olivia is the type of Miss Universe winner Donald Trump must have really enjoyed having as a brand endorser. She embraced the limelight and the attention as if she just became a breakout showbiz discovery. She was also one of the most photographed titleholders. And she used the platform well beyond the HIV/AIDS Awareness and Best Buddies causes that the MUO supported. She became a social media personality, a fashion influencer, a reality TV attraction and even a film actress. She also appeared twice on the pages of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition.
Christian McCaffrey and Olivia Culpo (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for AT&T)
In terms of love life, Olivia wasn’t lacking. After a highly-publicized and gossiped-about relationship with singer/actor Nick Jonas, she also had dalliances with at least a few sportsmen like Tim Tebow, Danny Amendola and Christian McCaffrey (left photo).
Olivia will soon resurface on the small screen in the program “Paradise City” which is a TV spinoff of “American Satan”, as well as continue with all her public appearances.
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 22: Olivia Culpo is seen wearing belt and bag Bottega Veneta, red coat and overall Gabriela Hearst, heels during Milan Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2020-2021 on February 22, 2020 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Christian Vierig/Getty Images)
Miss Universe 2008 Dayana Mendoza, Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo and the 63rd Miss Universe Paulina Vega got together for a new TV commercial for YOUC1000* which was shot entirely in Indonesia.
Actually, it’s not the first time that the isotonic drink used Miss Universe winners as their endorsers. Leila Lopes and Ximena Navarrette have also appeared in similar TVCs. 😉
courtesy of Miss Universe
* – YOUC1000 is a brand of Vitamin C health beverages. The company was established in 2003.
Host delegate Nia Sanchez is not relying on her sash and the homecourt advantage to make a strong performance in the 63rd Miss Universe Pageant. In fact, she is even looking at the strong possibility of duplicating what Olivia Culpo did in Las Vegas last December, 2012 when the latter snatched the Diamond Nexus Lab crown (and denied our own Janine Tugonon the honor of getting the Philippines’ a 3rd MU win).
And truth be told, I wouldn’t fall off my seat should Nia take it all the way. The gorgeous Miss USA 2014 is just an all-around winner in my opinion. But is Donald Trump ready to give another American a big victory when the last one was just over two years ago? We’ll see… 😉
Above is the video of the TV interview Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo gave to the station in her home state of Rhode Island several hours after winning the crown in Las Vegas last December 19, 2012 – six nights before Christmas Day.
Not a lot can claim of getting the biggest beauty title as a Christmas gift. It’s a rarity. And Olivia completing the triple crown route from Miss Rhode Island to Miss USA all the way to Miss Universe makes it all the more fulfilling.
courtesy of Miss Universe
Olivia can look back at her reign with a big smile on her face, despite the small controversies that nagged her during. She is now more focused on her self and the love life she shares with boyfriend Nick Jonas.
So let’s complete the throwback day for Olivia by watching a year in her life as Miss Universe 2012.
The three tallest Miss Universe winners: Amelia Vega (2003), Wendy Fitzwilliam (1998) and Michelle McLean (1992)
Amelia Vega is tallest of the tallest at 6’1″
In a beauty pageant like Miss Universe, there is no height imposition for as long as a candidate won her national finals fair and square. Just look at Miss Universe 1982 1st Runner-Up Patty Chong Kerkos of Guam. She’s not even 5’3″ in height (162cm to be exact).
Now if we check out the other end of the spectrum, there are three Miss Universe ladies who measure 6’0 and above. Amelia Vega launched her Miss Universe bid last 2003 on a high note and never looked back from the time she set foot in Panama City. In the case of Wendy Fitzwilliam, she met strong opposition from Veruska Ramirez. Both of them stood tall at 6’0, but the former eased herself out of a possible deadlock after giving a more impressive reply during the Q&A. And during Michelle McLean’s time, she had far more deadly challenges, what with Paola Turbay, Madhu Sapre and Carolina Izsak making things more difficult for the statuesque Namibian. Good thing she stayed consistent and never let go of the judges’ halo placed on her head from the semifinals to Top 5.
While Amelia looks like she is the shortest in the photos above, her height is mightier than either Wendy’s or Michelle’s.
In the editions of Miss Universe following the latest year above (2003), the towering height still mattered to some extent but in my opinion, it was no longer on the ‘must-list’. The more important consideration is to find the most deserving winner. If she happens to be the tallest, well and good. And if she turns out to be the host delegate (like Olivia Culpo), better for the people at MUO who need not make adjustments to the personality of the winner (or relocation concerns for that matter). 😉
Let’s be honest. I think there’s no big contest here in terms of their being magazine cover girls.
Miss Universe titleholders are definitely way ahead in this regard. First of all, they always find their way splashed on the cover of so many international magazines. Google one name and you will end up with so many choices. They are better-networked in different countries, despite being mostly in Latin America.
On the other hand, there seems to be a dearth of magazine covers for Miss World winners. Except for our Miss World 2013 Megan Young who has bannered quite a number of publications, the rest are quite hard to find, futile even. In fact, the image of MW2010 Alexandria Mills below is not genuine but just a simple pageant fan art output. Plus, MW2012 Wenxia Yu’s turn had to be shared with former Miss World Indonesia Vania Larissa.
Miss World titleholders from 2013 down to 2010
So who make better cover girls? Well, the world is a glossier oyster for Donald Trump’s winners. Don’t you agree? 😉
It’s a gig Miss Universe 2012 1st Runner-Up can’t say no to. Aside from being afforded the chance to travel to Moscow and lend support to Miss Philippines Ariella Arida, she will also reunite with Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo with whom she shared centerstage with during the dying minutes of last year’s finals. What’s more, she will earn good money while doing work as Web Correspondent of Miss Universe 2013.
I’m sure many of you are wondering where the video interviews are. Uploads of the same will appear in the pageant website very soon! 🙂
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!
"By viewing this blog, the viewer acknowledges that s/he has read and agrees to the terms of this disclaimer and assumes total responsibility and risk for his/her use of this blog. The content of this blog is published as an information service only and is presented “as is.” Please recognize that the information is general in nature and does not constitute and is not intended to be viewed as expert, legal or professional advice.
It confers no warranties, rights or merchantibility and makes no representations as to its accuracy, completeness or validity. In addition, those opinions expressed by readers and third parties who have elected to post their comments and opinions are theirs alone and do not reflect the opinions of the author who is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by such readers and/or third parties.
The author of this blog is not liable for any errors, omissions, delays, losses, injuries or damages -- be it direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special, punitive, or other -- arising from its display or use.
The author of this blog is also not responsible for the content of, accuracy of, or opinions expressed in third party sites to which this blog links. "
Daniella Alvarez Vasquez, Miss Colombia 2011-12 (she competed during Miss Universe 2012 when Olivia Culpo and Janine Tugonon finished 1-2 respectively) is a brave woman indeed. After everything she went through, the smile and positivity in spirit never left her at all.
Now over at Miss USA, the line of succession is more standard (and non-complicated) in practice. 
