It’s no secret by now that Miss Universe 2012 1st Runner-Up Janine Tugonon will be coming home to the Philippines. The last time she visited was back in 2018. And according to the IG account of Aces & Queens, she will be watching the finals of the national pageant in person. Well, it doesn’t take a genius to conclude that she will possibly be one of the judges because there are no spectators allowed in the event except for the candidates, the organization, the production team, the judges and perhaps, a small representation from the host city. So where does she classify among those groups?
Anyway, I would really love to see an all-Filipina lineup of phenomenal judges for the finals – namely, Venus Raj, Janine Tugonon, Ara Arida, Maxine Medina and Pia Wurtzbach as Chairman of the Board. And why don’t we include National Director Shamcey Supsup-Lee for good measure? It will even be a show of unity if Bianca Manalo, MJ Lastimosa and Rachel Peters are to be invited. But I guess that would be asking too much.
Photo #1 (above): Graduation photo from the UP College of Architecture ten years ago today;
Photo #2: Shamcey’s crowning as Miss Universe Philippines 2011 by Venus Raj
Photo #3: Victorious photo when she placed 3rd Runner-Up during the Miss Universe 2011 finals;
LAS VEGAS, NV – DECEMBER 19: Shamcey Supsup, Miss Philippines 2011, arrives at the 2012 Miss Universe Pageant at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on December 19, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
Photo #4: Getty Images photo upon arrival in Las Vegas as online host for Miss Universe 2011;
Photo #5: As National Director of Miss Universe Philippines
LAS VEGAS – AUGUST 23: Miss Mexico 2010, Jimena Navarrete (L), reacts as she is crowned the 2010 Miss Universe by 2009 Miss Universe Stefania Fernandez during the 2010 Miss Universe Pageant at the Mandalay Bay Events Center August 23, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS – AUGUST 23: 2010 Miss Universe Jimena Navarrete of Mexico, arrives at the after party for the 2010 Miss Universe pageant at the LAX Nightclub at the Luxor Resort & Casino August 23, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS – AUGUST 23: The top five finalists (L-R) Miss Philippines 2010, Venus Raj, Miss Ukraine 2010, Anna Poslavska, Miss Jamaica 2010, Yendi Phillipps, Miss Australia 2010, Jesinta Campbell, and Miss Mexico 2010, Jimena Navarrete, appear during the 2010 Miss Universe Pageant at the Mandalay Bay Events Center August 23, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Navarrete went on to be crowned the new Miss Universe. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Photo by Alejandro Godinez/Clasos.com/LatinContent via Getty Images
2010 may have been the year Mexico won its second Miss Universe crown, but it is also an edition worth remembering for all Filipinos worldwide because it started the decade of its two memorable wins and string of top placements. Bb. Pilipinas Universe 2010 Venus Raj placed 4th Runner-Up here.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves here because the main focus is still on Ximena Navarrete who brought so much pride and joy to her country the way her National Director Lupita Jones did back in 1991.
…” Navarrete was born and raised in Guadalajara, the capital city of Jalisco, Mexico to a middle-class family. She is one of two children, born to Carlos Navarrete a dentist (He is from Sahuayo, Michoacán), and Gabriela Rosette, a house wife. She has one younger sister. She began modeling locally at the age of sixteen, and studied nutrition at the Valle de Atemajac University, prior to taking part in the world pageant…
Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images
During her reign, Ximena made at least fourteen (14) official foreign trips (excluding her several ones to the US and back to Mexico) and that made her one of the more well-traveled winners of the crown. She also became a spokesperson for L’Oreal and Old Navy, while raising awareness for Children International, a U.S.-based humanitarian organization helping over 12,000 poor children in her hometown of Guadalajara.
But it was in 2013 when Ximena made her debut on the small screen. She starred as the female lead in “La Tempestad” opposite William Levy. This was followed by another lead role in 108 Costuras two years later. It was around this time when she started dating Mexican businessman Juan Carlos Valladares. And on April 1, 2017, the two of them were married in a well-attended ceremony at the Capilla del Colegio de San Ignacio de Loyola in Mexico City. This was followed by a lavish reception at the Ex-convento de San Hipolito.
Ximena and husband JC Valladares (Photo by Servando Gomez Camarillo/Getty Images)
Our Miss Universe 2010 remains happily married to Juan Carlos. She continues to have a career in Mexican/Latin American showbusiness. She is still a sought-after commercial model and endorser. And she just turned 32 last February 22 – looking just as young and beautiful as the night she won the crown. Just check out the month-old video below.
What wonderful things await the Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Official Candidates during the two months of pre-pageant competition?
Take it from the organization:
“A holistic approach to the development of every contestant will be employed in Miss Universe Philippines. For 2 months, they will be trained in hairstyling and make up by Mickey See with Nix Studio, master the art of doing question and answer with Ana Teresa Licaros and Atty Nad Bronce, enhance understanding of women empowerment with Lia Ramos, learn how to work the runway from Jonas Gaffud, and attend insightful talks by Shamcey Supsup, Pia Wurtzbach, Catriona Gray, Venus Raj, and many more! If you want to witness your own beautiful transformation, join Miss Universe Philippines today!”
Eight of the Philippines’ finest in Miss Universe during last night’s Tribute Concert. No wonder the country is the envy of every pageant-loving country in the Universe:
Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray
Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach
Miss Universe 2013 3rd Runner-Up Ara Arida
Miss Universe 2011 3rd Runner-Up Shamcey Supsup-Lee
Miss Universe 2010 4th Runner-Up Venus Raj
Miss Universe 2016 Top 6 Maxine Medina
Miss Universe 2017 Top 10 Rachel Peters and
Miss Universe 2014 Top 10 MJ Lastimosa
How I wish Miss Universe 2012 1st Runner-Up Janine Tugonon flew in from the US to join the eight others.
Miss Universe Philippines 2017 Rachel Peters | Miss Earth Philippines 2018 Celeste Cortesi | Miss Universe 2010 4th Runner-Up Venus Raj and Miss Supranational 2013 Mutya Johanna Datul
Watch the video below made by Jolo Luarca for the latest product of Jojo Bragais.
And for the BTS vlog of the ad campaign shoot, watch below:
Miss Universe 2010 4th Runner-Up Venus Raj and Miss Universe 2018 Top 5 Finisher H’Hen Niê of Vietnam together and were photographed wearing the traditional Maria Clara of the Philippines.
Both ladies had the same fate during their respective Miss Universe stints, although the specific Top 5 placement of the Vietnamese was not officially announced during the finals in Bangkok last December.
It was a long process but we all had a good time pre-judging the forty (40) Official Candidates of Miss Millennial Philippines 2018 on the daily noontime show “Eat Bulaga” of GMA-7. Along with MU2010 4th Runner-Up Venus Raj, Bb. Pilipinas Universe 1997 Abbygale Arenas, Popular Vlogger Dwaine Woolley, PAL’s Cezanne Villafuerte and PotenCee’s Ayne Rili, I really enjoyed the more than 3 hours spent assessing the young ladies.
Hopefully, the best of the group will zoom ahead to the Top 10 come Finals Day on Saturday, October 27 at the Kia Theater Araneta Center.
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!
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