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
Monika Radulovic is the new Miss Universe Australia!
Monika during her victory moment
Monika Radulovic, who was also part of last year’s edition of Australia’s national finals for Miss Universe, got what she worked hard for and will now be Down Under’s representative to Miss Universe 2015. She effectively succeeded Tegan Martin (a repeater from 2013) who placed in the Top 10 in the 63rd Miss Universe Pageant held in Doral, Miami.
Monika was joined in the Top 5 by 1st Runner-Up Madeleine Cowe, 2nd Runner-Up Melissa Barnard, 3rd Runner-Up Chanel Stewart and 4th Runner-Up Tasha Ross.
Monika Radulovic being crowned by Tegan Martin
From all of us here at normannorman.com, big congratulations to you, Monika! 🙂
courtesy of MissUniverse 2014-2015
It’s now ON in Miami!
If you’re watching live from the FIU Arena, on cable/free TV or via one of the various Live Streaming Links, let’s keep all the discussions under this newly-opened thread.
I also posted the USTREAM link on YouTube above.
Happy viewing, everyone! 😀
P.S. I have prepared some ‘fill in the blanks’ below in anticipation of the actual results.
Donald Trump (leftmost) talking to the judges, including Manny Pacquiao
Final dress rehearsals from the opening to swimsuit to evening gowns (Photo credit: Ron Garcia-Reyes)
The ladies onstage during the final dress rehearsals with Miss Philippines MJ Lastimosa (look for her) wearing the pink Leo Almodal gown. (Photo credit: Earl Veloso)
1. COLOMBIA – Paulina Vega
2. ITALY – Valentina Bonariva
3. INDIA – Noyonita Lodh
4. FRANCE – Camille Cerf
5. USA – Nia Sanchez
6. INDONESIA – Elvira Devinamira
7. VENEZUELA – Migbelis Castellanos
8. SPAIN – Desire Cordero Ferrer
9. PHILIPPINES – Mary Jean Lastimosa!!! 😀
10. ARGENTINA – Valentina Ferrer
11. JAMAICA – Kaci Fennell
12. UKRAINE – Diana Harkusha
13. BRAZIL – Melissa Gurgel
14. NETHERLANDS – Yasmin Verhejen
15. AUSTRALIA – Tegan Martin
FOR THOSE WHO CAN’T FIND A GOOD LIVE STREAMING LINK YET, TRY TELEMUNDO ONLINE.
MU2013 Gabriela Isler and a special coverage on the project of MU in the Philippines, with accompanying vid of Pope Francis visiting the country.
Swimsuit Competition up next!
Prince Royce performing now for the Swimsuit segment.
Miss Philippines MJ Lastimosa during the swimsuit competition
Swimsuit standouts for me are: Colombia, Philippines, Jamaica, Ukraine, Brazil and Australia.
THE TOP 10
1. JAMAICA – Kaci Fennell
2. COLOMBIA – Paulina Vega
3. UKRAINE – Diana Harkusha
4. ARGENTINA – Valentina Ferrer
5. PHILIPPINES – Mary Jean Lastimosa!!!
6. SPAIN – Desire Cordero Ferrer
7. NETHERLANDS – Yasmin Verhejen
8. VENEZUELA – Migbelis Castellanos
9. AUSTRALIA – Tegan Martin
10. USA – Nia Sanchez
Miss Philippines MJ Lastimosa when she was called to the Top 10.
Evening Gown Competition up next!
Nick Jonas performing during the Evening Gown Competition.
Evening Gown Standouts for me: ALL! (This is a really Tough TEN!) Higher five could be Jamaica, Colombia, Philippines, Spain and Venezuela.
Miss Congeniality is Miss Nigeria.
Miss Photogenic is Miss Puerto Rico.
Best in National Costume is Miss Indonesia.
1. USA – Nia Sanchez
2. NETHERLANDS – Yasmin Verhejen
3. UKRAINE – Diana Harkusha
4. JAMAICA – Kaci Fennell
5. COLOMBIA – Paulina Vega
😦 (End of the road for Miss Philippines MJ Lastimosa)
Final Q&A up next!!!
Judge Manny Pacquiao was picked by Miss USA as the first to ask a question in the Top 5.
A second Final Question is now happening.
“WHAT IS THE GREATEST CONTRIBUTION OF YOUR COUNTRY TO THE WORLD?”
Top 5 after the Q&A. IMO, it could be a toss between Jamaica and Ukraine, with Colombia as a possible sneaker.
I still feel that JAMAICA should win. But I can take UKRAINE.
Paulina being crowned by Gabriela Isler
1st Runner-Up: USA – Nia Sanchez
2nd Runner-Up: UKRAINE – Diana Harkusha
3rd Runner-Up: NETHERLANDS – Yasmin Verhejen
4th Runner-Up: JAMAICA – Kaci Fennell
The Judges in the Preliminaries with Paula Shugart (foreground) and Jeannie Mai (2nd from right)
I decided to share with you the candidates who I feel will deliver the goods to the judges in the swimsuit and evening gown rounds. It is possible that all or most of them will meet everyone’s expectations, and surprise performers will suddenly zoom up just as a few might also underwhelm.
Above are the fifteen (15) ladies I expect to excel in the Preliminaries for the 63rd Miss Universe Pageant. I included five (5) additional ladies as alternates just to make it a Top 20.
Left to right: Spain, Philippines and Colombia, the most anticipated ladies to deliver in the Prelims
Don’t forget to catch the Live Streaming on missuniverse.com. It will start today at around 8:00AM, Manila time. 😉
Miss Philippines MJ Lastimosa by Fadil Berisha
I did not endeavor to come up with my ten best for this segment anymore, just the ones which caught my eye as soon as I got hold of all images in one sitting. 😉
Clockwise from top left: Australia, Brazil, Spain, Russia, Germany and Venezuela
Clockwise from top left: Colombia, Panama, South Africa, Jamaica, Dominican Republic and USA
Clockwise from top left: India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia
Clockwise from top left: Miss Indonesia Elvira Devinamira, Miss Brazil Melissa Gurgel, Miss Paraguay Sally Jara Davalos, Miss USA Nia Sanchez, Miss Panama Yomatsy Hazlewood, Miss Australia Tegan Martin and Miss Austria Julia Furdea
Clockwise from top left: Miss Kenya Gaylyne Ayugi, Miss Mexico Josselyn Garciglia, Miss Kosovo Artnesa Krasniqi, Miss Thailand Pimbongkod Chankaew, Miss Ethiopia Hiwot Mamo, Miss Peru Jimena Espinosa and Miss Ecuador Alejandra Argudo
Clockwise from top left: Miss Bolivia Claudia Tavel, Miss Trinidad and Tobago Jevon King, Miss Guyana Niketa Barker, Miss Hungary Henrietta Kalemen, Miss Myanmar Sharr Htutt Eaindra, Miss India Noyonita Lodh, Miss Tanzania Nale Boniface and Miss Angola Zuleica Wilson
Miss Philippines MJ Lastimosa before her filmed Q&A interview
And why not? Aside from the VIP treatment, they are followed by photographers, stylists and hair/make-up specialists everywhere they go. Talk about living the life of an up and coming celebrity. This is it for them.
It sure would be nice if they will remain unaffected till the 25th. But with competition starting to heat up in a blaze, things will inevitably become a ‘to-each-her-own’ existence, regardless of friendships formed along the way.
Let’s enjoy their individual happiness for now. 🙂
Your blogger’s first “Girls on Fire” list for the 63rd Miss Universe Pageant
Miss Universe 2013 Gabriela Isler
In the days to come, one or two of them may be booted from the frame to be replaced by new places. But one thing is for sure, the number will grow from the existing nine (9). My objective is to add up ladies every so often up until I can make a more definitive Top 15 or 20 a day or two before the January 25 finals.
So as of January 6, my two leaders are Miss USA Nia Sanchez and Miss Philippines MJ Lastimosa. Following closely are Miss Australia Tegan Martin and Miss Brazil Melissa Gurgel. After the four, a quintet is made up of Miss Kosovo Artnisa Krasniqi, Miss Trinidad & Tobago Jevon King, Miss Mexico Josselyn Garciglia, Miss Thailand Pimbongkod Chankaew and Miss Angola Zuleica Wilson.
Watch out for my next list after a few days. 😉
From (clockwise top left): Austria to Australia to Guyana to Israel to Finland to Ecuador to Switzerland to Angola to Kazakhstan, the ladies of the 63rd Miss Universe Pageant are starting to get their respective grooves on.
Miss Philippines MJ Lastimosa during her gown photoshoot
There is an element of survival in a contest like this. And only the more aggressive grab the lion’s share of notices.
Sure, the more reticent ones may also get glances, but none moreso than the ones who know how to play the game. 😉
And you should know by know which among them can.
Melissa Gurgel of Brazil (left) and Devon King of Trinidad & Tobago showing off their curves
Nia Sanchez of the USA and Rathi Menon of Singapore do their own thing
Miss Italy Valentina Bonariva take a selfie and Miss Kosovo Artnesa Krasniqi exude her sexiness.
Miss Kenya Gaylyne Ayugi (left) and Miss Tanzania Nale Boniface display their elegance
Miss Universe 2013 Gabriela Isler of Venezuela
9 of the 88 contenders who want to win the 63rd Miss Universe Pageant (clockwise from top left:) Canada, Poland, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Colombia, Venezuela, USA and the Philippines.
8 more challengers for the 63rd Miss Universe Pageant (clockwise from top left): Russia, Brazil, India, Mexico, Albania, Dominican Republic, Australia and South Africa.
There will be eighty-eight (88) expected delegate arrivals in Doral Miami for the 63rd Miss Universe Pageant. All of them will be equally hungry for the crown on the head of reigning winner Gabriela Isler. Of course, with D.I.C. coming in with a new head adornment for the next Queen, there is extra excitement in the air.
It would be foolish to dismiss any confirmed comer at this point. All of them have prepared long and hard for the competition so it’s still anybody’s ballgame for now. Be it Chanel Beckenlehner of Canada, Marcela Chmielowska of Poland, Elvira Devinamira of Indonesia, Sabrina Benneet of Malaysia, Pimbongkod Chankaew of Thailand, Paulina Vega Dieppa of Colombia, Migbelis Castellanos of Venezuela, Nia Sanchez of the USA and MJ Lastimosa of the Philippines – everyone’s on equal footing. And there are more serious challengers to consider.
It’s going to be a wild ride. And I reckon our upcoming prediction contest will be a tougher nut to crack. So while waiting for things to go full blast, let’s watch a special video of Molly in New York presented on Venevision.
courtesy of CanalMissVenezuela
Miss Universe Australia 2014 Tegan Martin
First off, if you fancy supporting Miss Universe Australia 2014 Tegan Martin (next to our MJ Lastimosa, of course), you can visit and like her official Facebook Fan Page to get updates on her training and preparation for Miss Universe 2014.
21 year-old Tegan – who is the youngest Aussie ever to win the national honor – is taking her title very seriously and wants to make sure that the opportunity she worked hard for since 2012 will yield the desired results. She aims to follow the trail of Kerry Anne Wells and Jennifer Hawkins who became Miss Universe last 1972 and 2004, respectively.
Do you like Tegan enough to see her as a tough contender for the Diamond Nexus Lab crown come December? 🙂
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