GROUP 4 – BOTSWANA, GHANA, KENYA, NAMIBIA, SOUTH AFRICA, ZAMBIA BOTSWANA – Dabilo Moses. This model lists poetry and styling as among her passions. As Africa’s second new entry, she gives justice to her country’s past pageant achievements. Among this year’s newcomers, … Continue reading Miss Supranational 2023 Candidate Round-Up (Groups 4 to 7)
GROUP 1 – BOLIVIA, BRAZIL, COSTA RICA, MOZAMBIQUE, PANAMA, PORTUGAL BOLIVIA – Stephanie Terrazas. In case you’re still reeling from Camila Sanabria’s pullout, don’t fret. Her replacement is just as promising. This Cochabamba bombshell looks like Glee’s Lea Michele with … Continue reading Miss Supranational 2023 Candidate Round-Up (Groups 1 to 3)
10 years ago, Miss Supranational entered Pinoy consciousness when Isabela’s Mutya Johanna Datul became the first Filipina and Asian to win that pageant. She was only the country’s third candidate at the time, following 2011’s Lourenz Grace Remetillo and 2012’s … Continue reading Miss Supranational 2023: A Prelude
We knew this was coming. In fact, it was before it even began. Before Raiders of the Lost Ark premiered in 1981, George Lucas and Paramount Pictures had already struck a deal for five movies. So, Indiana Jones was never envisioned to be just a trilogy, even … Continue reading Whip and Whimper: A Review of “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny”
It was showbiz reporter MJ Marfori who commented: “[Ito] ang tunay na Plot Twist!” (“This is the real plot twist!”). I guess that’s a way to put it. I was sure I closed the chapter on Artist Relations late last … Continue reading Plot Twist: I’m on Radio
#10) Maria Fernanda Aristizábal (Colombia/UNIVERSE). She may have lost her shot to Laura Olascuaga due to 2020’s national license shift, but all roads still led her to the Universe. Call it fate or divine timing, but it’s a thrill to … Continue reading My 100 Favorite International Candidates from 2022 (The Top Ten)
#20) Hannah Arnold (Philippines/INTERNATIONAL). In a Miss International edition that ignored virtually all of Asia, this Fil-Aussie took one for the team in the Top 15. In that respect, she remained a frontrunner. And it was still well worth her … Continue reading My 100 Favorite International Candidates from 2022 (#20-#11)
#35) Esther Oluwatosin Ajayi (Nigeria/EARTH). It’s strange how the most-awarded African doesn’t always top her continent in Miss Earth (Abena Appiah, anyone?). Whatever the case, this stylish showstopper was an easy Top 12 pick. And looking at her freshly appointed … Continue reading My 100 Favorite International Candidates from 2022 (#35-#21)
#50 – Evanjelin Elchmanar (United Kingdom/INTERNATIONAL). In a way, Sri Lanka should be relishing a back-to-back Miss International placement, because of this actress’ lineage. Apart from breaking the Top 15, she also won Best in Swimsuit in the recent edition. … Continue reading My 100 Favorite International Candidates from 2022 (#50-#36)
#65 – Rosemary Ling (Hong Kong/INTERNATIONAL). Had this content creator advanced, it would have been a commemorative feat, considering it’s been 25 years since that Brexit. Alas, the powers-that-be couldn’t afford a back-to-back placement for the SAR. At least Miss … Continue reading My 100 Favorite International Candidates of 2022 (#65-#51)
#80) Maxine Formosa Grupetta (Malta/UNIVERSE). As of this writing, her island nation now has the most Miss Universe appearances without a single placement – a distinction it inherited from The Bahamas in 2021. While the status quo remains, this model … Continue reading My 100 Favorite International Candidates from 2022 (#80-#66)
Grand Slam Pageants, Alpha Pageants, The Big 4 (or 5 or 6)… Many terms have been coined for the major global pageants. Just as diverse are the opinions as to which ones are qualified. For me, it’s more straightforward: these … Continue reading My 100 Favorite International Candidates from 2022 (#100-#81)
PALAWAN – Louise Joy Gallardo. This model missed the National Costume competition in Leyte but is, thankfully, still very much in the game. While not a heavy frontrunner, she’s this year’s most competitive MIMAROPA bet and was among the Preliminary Evening … Continue reading Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Candidate Round-Up, Part 3 (Palawan to Zambales)
CEBU CITY – Dianne Padillo. In this contest’s existence thus far, it’s this sash that proved to hold most weight. And lest we forget, it’s this city which earned the system its best Miss Universe placement to date. To be blunt, however, this is … Continue reading Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Candidate Round-Up, Part 2 (Cebu City to Occidental Mindoro)
AGUSAN DEL NORTE – Jannarie Zarzoso. This accounting technology graduate from Cabadbaran has an inspiring back story as she’s been battling psoriasis for the past five years and now advocates for Filipinos suffering the same disease. As it stands, her debuting province seems … Continue reading Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Candidate Round-Up, Part 1 (Agusan del Norte to Cavite)
As if fans can’t emphasize it enough, a sad turn of events preceded this year’s Miss Universe Philippines pageant. Celeste Cortesi missed the cut last January, thus halting the country’s longest ever Miss Universe placement streak. While we somehow had an inkling that a blip … Continue reading Miss Universe Philippines 2023: A Prelude
I guess the confusion was imminent. As far as I can recall, Boracay didn’t have an eponymous airport. In the first place, it’s a misnomer to even call one such. Much as the island went through major overhauls recently, there’s … Continue reading Boracay Bounce, Day One
Sarah Polley started acting at age six, but it took her foray into filmmaking to finally be heard. In the mid-2000s, the Toronto native wrote and directed her first feature, the earnest indie drama Away From Her. The film made … Continue reading Dignity Over Blind Faith: A Review of Sarah Polley’s “Women Talking”
The region stands a hefty chance at regaining the title this year, with at least five contenders within striking distance. Even if the contest ran with just this group, many favorites will still be left out. That’s the Americas for … Continue reading 71st Miss Universe Candidate Round-Up: Americas
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
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