Four out of this contest’s first 10 winners may have been from Europe, but only nine more were crowned in the decades that followed. That even counts Russia‘s dethroned 2002 titleholder, Oxana Fedorova. Since the abolition of the short-lived continental … Continue reading 71st Miss Universe Candidate Round-Up: Europe
Over the last decade, half of the royal roster had been from this group, with Pinays and South Africans tag-teaming in short intervals. Last year also marked India‘s return to supremacy in first-time host Israel, which curiously opted to skip … Continue reading 71st Miss Universe Candidate Round-Up: Asia and Africa
When my health scare decimated our family savings in late 2021, it was time for regular employment again. We had to recover. So, when I learned they were reviving my former role, I had to seize the opportunity. Before my … Continue reading My Artist Relations Journey, Part 2: Sophomore Slump
I once considered it my greatest detour. Come to think of it, I always will. On paper, I was still a copywriter, confined to my desk and accustomed to the sidelines. But then came that series of assignments, where I … Continue reading My Artist Relations Journey, Part 1: The Accidental Hobnobber
It’s been more than 20 years since the original Matrix redefined the concept of being “woke”. Face it, though. That movie was really better off as a standalone. But given the magnitude of its turn-of-century success, the 2003 sequels had … Continue reading The Matrix Rectifications
The concept of alternate dimensions shouldn’t sound foreign to comic fans. Marvel alone has countless. As far as the Spider-Man movies are concerned, Into the Spider-Verse already gave us the crash course in 2018. In the animated feature, Latin teenager … Continue reading “Spider-Man: No Way Home” Scores a Sentimental Home Run
There are two ways to explain the title. As an acronym, it stands for “Child of Deaf Adults”, which obviously alludes to the protagonist. As a non-acronym, it signals the conclusion of a song. Contradicting as the two definitions may … Continue reading Silently in Tune: A Review of “CODA”
It’s established that Lin Manuel Miranda had a stellar 2021, from In the Heights becoming a movie to tick, tick…BOOM! marking his first foray into film directing. Behold his best shot at gold among that repertoire: Walt Disney Animation Studio‘s … Continue reading A Tale of Mixed Messages: A Review of Disney’s “Encanto”
Realistically, it takes more than 525,600 minutes to catch a break. One person who knew that well was Jonathan Larson. For years, the songwriter-playwright grappled with self-doubt, rejection, and writer’s block before finally scoring with Rent, a Gen-X update of … Continue reading Exultation in Chasing Time: A Review of “tick, tick…BOOM!”
I first learned about St. Vincent in 2014. I know it wasn’t the most educated observation then, but at the time, she struck me as a more adult Katy Perry, one who actually bore her angst instead of burying it … Continue reading My Monthly Dig: St. Vincent’s “Daddy’s Home”
He wanted Spectre to be his last. In a 2015 interview with Britain’s Time Out, Daniel Craig memorably did not mince words when asked about the prospects of making another James Bond film under Eon Productions. “I’m over it at … Continue reading “No Time to Die” has No Time to Waste
It seems like a tall order to premiere one year after The Crown Season Four. That season introduced Lady Diana to the series, from her assimilation into the Royal Family to the media frenzy that hounded her marriage with Prince … Continue reading Princess on the Edge: A Review of “Spencer”
To reveal the final line won’t really be a spoiler. It’s technically a mirroring of fact. Aside from the film being subtitled “Part One”, it was also revealed to cover only the first two-thirds of the book. So, even with … Continue reading Sandwalking in the Right Direction: A Review of “Dune: Part One”
There are two ways I can sum up how the last quarter went for me. One’s clinical, which is bound to be laden with medical jargon. The other’s spiritual, which might sound convoluted to some. But sure, I have time … Continue reading Reboot.
In an unprecedented turn of events, the 70th edition of the Miss World pageant, originally slated to take place at the Jose Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico on December 16, was postponed indefinitely after 17 delegates and … Continue reading 70th Miss World Top 30 – 15 Who Made It and 15 Who Should
GROUP 13 – Belgium, Colombia, Curaçao, Finland, Ireland, Rwanda RWANDA – Naomie Nishimwe. This mental health advocate is another compelling speaker, though she didn’t give the same striking impression in her Head-to-Head challenge as she did in her introduction. Too … Continue reading Miss World 2021: The Candidate Round-Up (Groups 13-16)
GROUP 9 – Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Moldova, Vietnam, Wales WALES – Olivia Harris. This 19-year-old hotel spa worker may be the least buzzed UK entry so far, but she does register as a teen Jennifer Hawkins*. She also … Continue reading Miss World 2021: The Candidate Round-Up (Groups 9-12)
GROUP 5 – Angola, Bolivia, Japan, Sweden, Ukraine, Venezuela ANGOLA – Ruth Carlos. This human resources student channeled hints of Naomi Campbell in the Miss World Fashion Show, so she might been a close shot at the Top Model finals. … Continue reading Miss World 2021: The Candidate Round-Up (Groups 5-8)
GROUP 1 – Bahamas, Malaysia, Nepal, Peru, Portugal, United States PERU – Paula Montes. Coming first in a field of almost a hundred is bound to have its drawbacks, but this 25-year-old did exude sincerity and warmth in her answers. … Continue reading Miss World 2021: The Candidate Round-Up (Groups 1-4)
THE LONG SHOTS – They’re by no means weak contestants, but in yet another competitive year, these are the contestants who didn’t receive as much buzz as they should. Armenia, British Virgin Islands, Bulgaria, Cayman Islands, China, Ecuador, Germany, Hungary, … Continue reading 70th Miss Universe: My Final Pre-Pageant Tally
