I had fond memories of Miss Earth 2001. Aside from the homegrown international pageant’s inaugural edition, it was also my first international coverage as pageant media. I was still part of Mabuhay Beauties then – several years before I even started blogging independently.
I can remember the official residence of the delegates being the – now gone – Intercontinental Manila along Ayala Avenue. It was the one and only time that the said hotel hosted/sponsored ladies for a pageant. What’s more, some of the pre-pageant activities were held at the Manila Polo Club. Finals was held at the UP Theater.
As for the batch, Catharina Svensson of Denmark was a standout – both physically (read: tallest) and intellectually. She was not the most gorgeous (her three elemental runners-up from Brazil, Kazakhstan and Argentina were more eye-catching, but the minute she speaks, everyone listened. She was the most convincing spokesperson for Mother Earth all the way to the Grand Coronation.
Below are two video clips from the inaugural finals.
Miss Earth has come a long way from 2001. And in terms of annual candidates, ladies from all over the world flock to be part of the beauty and environmental extravaganza. This inspite of encountering a number of major intrigues in the past that Carousel Productions and its officers were able to hurdle with head held high.
