Stefania Fernandez

All posts tagged Stefania Fernandez

Still undisputed: Venezuela’s back-to-back Miss Universe wins

Posted by Norman on April 12, 2020
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Miss Universe 2008 Dayana Mendoza and Miss Universe 2009 Stefania Fernandez (Photo by Rodrigo Varela/Getty Images for Univision)

Photo by Dario Cantatore/Getty Images

The record remains undisputed to date. Venezuela’s back-to-back wins in Miss Universe, that is. In the modern history of this pageant, there were close calls to break the solo bragging rights. But what amuses me is that a Filipina always blocked the way for them to happen. Like last 2015 when Pia Wurtzbach prevented Ariadna Gutierrez of Colombia from following the victory of Paulina Vega. Or last 2018 when Catriona Gray obstructed Tamaryn Green of South Africa from directly connecting with the reign of Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters the year before.

Venezuelans Dayana Mendoza and Stefania Fernandez are like two peas in a pod who distinguished themselves from the rest of the litter, so to speak. The former nailed the title of Miss Universe 2008 in Nha Trang, Vietnam inspite of facing tough opposition from Taliana Vargas of Colombia. On the other hand, Estefania Fernandez may have needed to pass through the eye of a needle before squeaking past Ada Aimee dela Cruz of the Dominican Republic and Marigona Dragusha of Kosovo.

Miss Universe 2009 Stefania Fernandez and Osmel Sousa (Photo by Rodrigo Varela/WireImage)

At the end of the day, both Dayana and Stefania owned their achievements, and proved that they deserved the back-to-back. And this is most especially true during their respective reigns when they were able to sustain the continuous popularity of Miss Universe from Latin America to Asia and beyond.

Without a doubt, this ranks high as one of the best shining moments of Osmel Sousa (right photo with Stefania) and the entire country of Venezuela in international pageantry.

Three Venezuelan Queens in one frame: (L-R) MU2013 Gabriela Isler, MU2008 Dayana Mendoza and MU2009 Stefania Fernandez when they attended the Angel Sanchez fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring 2015 at The Pavilion at Lincoln Center on September 8, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Chelsea Lauren/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week)

Migbelis Castellanos: Can she do a Stefania?

Posted by Norman on July 10, 2014
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , .

image

Miss Venezuela Universo 2013 Migbelis Castellanos


image In the long history of Miss Universe, only the country of Venezuela has been able to accomplish a ‘rare-as-a-good-hair-day-for-Donald-Trump‘ back-to-back victory when Stefania Fernandez was crowned the successor of Dayana Mendoza during the 2009 finals in the Bahamas. And that was a feat that even the Guinness World Records recognized as truly record-worthy.

So looking now at Migbelis ‘Ly’ Castellanos and being that fellow Venezuelan Maria Gabriela ‘Molly’ Isler is the reigning Miss Universe titleholder, just what are the chances of that feat being duplicated for the 2nd time?

image

Recent pic of MU2009 Stefania Fernandez

Just like Stefania who was aged 19 when she won, Ly is going as a 19 year-old to Miss Universe 2014.

But while the former was not as widely-heralded as a sure winner (or a guaranteed Top 5 finisher) back then, the latter could be going the opposite end of the pole and be considered a lock for a solid finish even before the host city this year could be named.

And with Molly doing a mighty fine job in her still-active reign, the likelihood of having another one of Osmel Sousa’s ‘masterpieces’ taking over could be growing by the day.

Unless someone else proves otherwise. 😉

Sunday Specials: whose Miss Universe year will it be?

Posted by Norman on November 3, 2013
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, 2 Shout-out-Looks. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , .

mubanner
oliviamu11

If we are to consult the list of Miss Universe titleholders, it’s not hard to tell which continent has not claimed the crown for the longest time now.

– North America is the most recent with Olivia Culpo winning last year in Vegas and Ximena Navarrete in 2010, also in Sin City.
– Africa is the next recent with Leila Lopes wresting the title back in 2011.
– South America’s last winner was Stefania Fernandez who was elected in the Bahamas last 2009, with her fellow Venezuelan Dayana Mendoza also topping the 2008 edition.
– Asia comes in next with Riyo Mori of Japan defeating all delegates during Miss Universe 2007.
– The Carribbean’s latest was 2006 in Los Angeles. That was the time Zuleyka Rivera captured top honors.
– As the world’s largest nation-continent, Australia grabbed their latest crown in 2004 with Jennifer Hawkins.
– Europe is the cellar-dweller when Oxana Fedorova of Russia was proclaimed winner in 2002. That victory wasn’t fully consummated, though, after she was dethroned and Justine Pasek took over. So in terms of full reign, Mona Grudt of Norway was the last European to complete one year.

jennifer11

So what’s the sense in all this?

Simple. Continent-wise, it is high time for Europe to win Miss Universe once more. And with Moscow hosting the current competition (the last – and only other European host was in 1973 when Athens led and our Margarita Moran won), don’t you think they rightfully deserve to snatch the Diamond Nexus Lab diadem? Or are you of the leaning that Miss Philippines Ariella Arida should be the one, being that the country’s last win was also in Europe?

Gabriela Ferrari and the back-to-back pressure of Ivian Sarcos

Posted by Norman on July 5, 2012
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages. Tagged: , , , , , , , .

Miss World Venezuela 2011 Gabriela Ferrari (Photo credit: mvlanuevaera.com)

It’s not all about Irene Esser (Miss Universe Venezuela 2011), you know. Before anyone completely ignores the other girl bannering Venezuela this year, let me refresh your memory about Gabriela Ferrari who will be traveling to Ordos, Inner Mongolia, China to try and win a back-to-back Miss World crown following the victory of compatriot Ivian Sarcos in London last year.

This 21 year-old (pre-downhill) Britney Spears-deadringer will certainly be pressured. She may have all the vital statistics going in her favor (a height of 5’10” and measurements of 35-23-35) on top of a very refreshing beauty and youthful disposition. But then again, she will have to compete with the thought that her country is coming off a fresh win in the same. Can Venezuela pull off a Dayana Mendoza/Stefania Fernandez a la Miss World? I wanted so much to say yes because Gabriela is such a sweet young thing. But more than a hundred contenders stand in her way, and I’m giving everyone equal chance to bring home the crown.

Gabriela Ferrari (L) and Britney Spears can easily pass off as sisters.

Miss World 2011 Ivian Sarcos.

Regardless, I still feel that Gabriela will be one of the solid favorites in Ordos. The Chinese locals will have no problem warming up to her irresistible charm in no time at all. But more importantly, Ivian Sarcos will be keeping an eye on her possible successor every step of the way. Let’s see if she can race past the competition with her sur-namesake of a sports car. 😉

Karin Ontiveros knows that Jimena Navarette is a tough act to follow

Posted by Norman on June 1, 2011
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, Blog Bites: Miss Universe 2011. Tagged: , , , , , , , , .

Nuestra Belleza Mexico 2010 Karin Ontiveros will be her country's rep to Miss Universe 2011 where the reigning winner is her predecessor Jimena Navarette.

Karin's soulful eyes speak a lot of her beauty and expressive disposition.

Back-to-back Miss Universe winners from the same country are as rare as painite*. In fact, it has occured only once when Dayana Mendoza and Stefania Fernandez did Venezuela proud in 2008 and 2009, which in turn, was recognized by Guinness World Records.

This brings us to the stunning Karin Ontiveros’ chances of duplicating Jimena Navarette’s victory last year. I’m no fortune teller but a 3rd win for Mexico could be a shot in the moon. Well, at least not yet. It’s just too soon a time. Aside from the highly competitive batch of beauties expected to converge in Sao Paolo, Brazil, the standards set by several participating nations for their reps have increased two-, even three-fold. And this is where unpredictable good luck can play a major role on whoever comes out on top by September 12, 2011.

Still, Karin is a worthy Nuestra Belleza Mexico successor to Jimena and I believe she will shine in Brazil. The pressure of winning will keep her on top of her game. Let’s see how far she will go. 😉

*The painite is an orangish or reddish brown gem, with the brown tint coming from iron in the crystal.

We Are Family…at least until the Preliminaries on August 19

Posted by Norman on August 17, 2010
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, Blog Bites: Miss Universe 2010. Tagged: , , .

Stefania Fernandez, Miss Universe 2009, and the 2010 Miss Universe Contestants pose for the official Dar Be Dar Swimwear group photo at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on Thursday, August 12, 2010. The Miss Universe 2010 competition that will air live from Mandalay Bay on the NBC Television Network at 9 PM ET, August 23, 2010. ho/Miss Universe Organization LP, LLLP

The Miss Universe 2010 Preliminaries will be held this coming Thursday night, August 19 (Friday morning in Manila) at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. This is the do-or-die battle for the 83 ladies because the Top 15 for the Finals Night will be selected by then. Statistically-speaking, 68 delegates will end up being Thank-You Girls although it is only on the evening of August 23 when everything will be made known.

I decided to post once more the family shot of the Miss Universe 2010 batch. Because after the preliminaries, we won’t see them all together in one picture anymore – and that could be mean literally or figuratively. This is an all-out competition for survival after all.

Thank you to OPMB Worldwide for sharing this pic! 😉

The Glamorously Back-Breaking Life of a Miss Universe contestant – in pictures!

Posted by Norman on August 16, 2010
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, Blog Bites: Miss Universe 2010. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Miss Australia Jesinta Campbell and Miss Colombia Natalia Navarro inside the bus on the way to another Miss Universe function.

Never-ending. These two hyphened words best describe the whirlwind of pre-pageant activities that the 83 Miss Universe 2010 delegates are experiencing right now. 24 hours in a day fall short of covering everything that needs to be done and each one of them should be given a full supply of vitamins and energy drinks just to keep up with the pace or fall by the wayside and get no photo opportunities at all. Besides, all these tasks serve as acid tests for the eventual winner. No Miss Universe titleholder can afford to be lazy so she needs to be constantly on the move, with a permanent smile plastered on her face and a winning glow tailing her like a shadow all the time.

The pictures above and below represent the endlessly tiring days and nights of being a Miss Universe contestant…

Miss Israel Bat-el Jobi and Miss New Zealand Ria van Dyke serving food during a Miss Universe charity event.

Miss Netherlands Desiree van den Berg, Miss South Africa Nicole Flint and Miss Spain Adriana Reveron pose during a tour of the Nevada desert.

Miss Lebanon Rahaf Abdallah, Miss Malaysia Nadine Ann Thomas and Miss Mauritius Dalysha Doorga take a break during the Las Vegas Welcome Sign photoshoot.

Miss Peru Giuliana Zevallos and Miss Paraguay Yohana Benitez dressed to the nines for a Miss Universe formal event.

Miss Trinidad & Tobago LaToya Woods and Miss Bahamas Braneka Bassett do cheek-to-cheek during a Miss Universe function.

A Tale of Two Venezuelans as reigning Miss Universe Stefania Fernandez and current Miss Venezuela Marelisa Gibson pose for a self-taken souvenir shot.

Miss Ukraine Anna Povslaskaya and Miss Uruguay Stephany Ortega do their share of photo ops at the Mandalay bay lobby.

Miss Dominican Republic Eva Arias, Miss Haiti Sarodj Bertin, Miss Argentina Yessica di Vincenzo and Miss Guatemala Jessica Scheel do a group shot.

And the activities just don’t stop!

Miss Argentine Yessica di Vincenzo and Miss Denmark Ena Causevic smile for the camera in a rest room pit-stop.

Miss Costa Rica Marva Wright and Miss Dominican Republic Eva Arias inside the bus before stepping out for another photoshoot.

A big group shot at the hotel lobby before starting the day's back-breaking appearances.

Miss Ireland Rozzana Purcell and Miss Australia Jesinta Campbell enjoying a bus ride with the other delegates.

Miss Turkey Gizem Memic and Miss India Ushoshi Sengupta find the hotel corridors good enough for a souvenir shot.

An aproned Miss Japan Maiko Itai trying her hand at food serving during a Miss U charity event.

Miss USA Rima Fakih, Miss Romania Oana Paveluc and Miss Venezuela during a sponsor's event.

Miss USA Rima Fakih, Miss Philippines Venus Raj and Miss Ghana Awurama Simpson getting ready for their swimsuit photoshoot with Fadil Berisha.

The pictures can go on and on and on, but only one thing is for sure – being a Miss Universe contestant is no easy job. And we’re just halfway through with covering the pageant. The all-important preliminaries are still upcoming! 😉

Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada from the Miss Universe 2010 Candidates!

Posted by Norman on August 14, 2010
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, Blog Bites: Miss Universe 2010. Tagged: , , .

These shots will be seen during the finals of Miss Universe 2010 on August 23. The 83 ladies spent one whole morning shooting their waves and greetings at the famous Las Vegas welcome sign landmark together with reigning winner Stefania Fernandez.

Miss Universe 2009 Stefania Fernandez heads the 83 ladies at the Las Vegas Welcome Sign Photoshoot.

Here’s the news video of the shoot:


video courtesy of YouTube/TakiBreaxti

And here’s another video which shows some ladies being interviewed during the same as covered by TV Patrol World:


Video courtesy of YouTube/TakiBreaxti

And here is a group photo of all 83 Miss Universe 2010 delegates in front of Mandalay Bay…courtesy of Mabuhay Beauties USA…

Stefania Fernandez, Miss Universe 2009, and the 2010 Miss Universe Contestants pose for the official Dar Be Dar Swimwear group photo at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on Thursday, August 12, 2010. The Miss Universe 2010 competition that will air live from Mandalay Bay on the NBC Television Network at 9 PM ET, August 23, 2010. ho/Miss Universe Organization LP, LLLP

Stefania Fernandez, Miss Universe 2009, and the 2010 Miss Universe Contestants pose for the official Dar Be Dar Swimwear group photo at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on Thursday, August 12, 2010. The Miss Universe 2010 competition that will air live from Mandalay Bay on the NBC Television Network at 9 PM ET, August 23, 2010. ho/Miss Universe Organization LP, LLLP

Miss Universe 2010 videos of the media tour ladies in L.A.

Posted by Norman on August 9, 2010
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, Blog Bites: Miss Universe 2010. Tagged: , , , , .


video courtesy of YouTube/Niloysobhan

Above is a video showing the 6 Miss Universe 2010 delegates who joined the media campaign of the pageant in L.A. You will also get to hear sound bites from the ladies.


video courtesy of YouTube/utubesapuet

Above is a video of the 6 ladies doing the Miss Universe shoot for Telemundo.


video courtesy of YouTube/OPMBvids

Above is a video interview of Venus Raj with Ronqui of OPMB Worldwide.

The six media tour ladies (together with reigning Miss Universe Stefania Fernandez - extreme left) before boarding the bus to Las Vegas.

Let the Miss Universe battle begin! 😉

With Marelisa Gibson, Venezuela will be seeking a rare Miss Universe three-peat!

Posted by Norman on July 5, 2010
Posted in: 1 Pageant Pages, Blog Bites: Miss Universe 2010. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , .

Miss Universe-Venezuela 2009 Marelisa Gibson is one of the heavy favorites for Miss Universe 2010.

Venezuela is one of the best-performing countries in the Miss Universe Pageant. With six previous wins (Maritza Sayalero in 1979, Irene Saez in 1981, Barbara Palacios Teyde in 1986, Alicia Machado in 1996, Dayana Mendoza in 2008 and Stefania Fernandez just last year), the country – which prides itself as the home of thoroughbred beauty queens – is not just hoping to nail win #7 (and tying the USA’s record of 7 wins in the contest) but also to establish a new world record by claiming the Miss Universe sash for the 3rd consecutive year! Talk about being in a league all their own!

Marelisa Gibson is all pumped up to become Miss Universe 2010 and score an almost unimaginable three-peat for Venezuela.

Marelisa Gibson is the encapsulation of a world-class beauty - tall, beautiful, queenly and smart!

And Osmel Sousa is not just dreaming because the signs are encouraging. He actually has very good prospects of doing for Venezuela what other country directors have not even achieved. Marelisa Gibson is, quite simply, drop-dead gorgeous and a cinch to make heads turn 360 degrees in Las Vegas. If he does up the ante high enough come August, the South American country should give him a National Artist award and be tax-free for life!

Let’s see what wonders Venezuela will come up with next month! 😉