I posted the picture below on Facebook with the caption: Everytime Miss Philippines is lovelier than the Miss World winner, controversy always follows, manifesting the following: manipulation in favor of the host country; a pre-determined ranking list given to the judges to please the sponsor; or judges designated to vote for their own country’s representative.
I remember my icon in Journalism, Teodoro “Teddy” Benigno, wrote in 1993 a protest on the results of the Miss World pageant in his famous column Here’s the Score on Philippine Star. Benigno said he felt there was injustice when Miss Philippines, Sharmaine “Ruffa” Gutierrez, was only awarded the Second Princess title when she gave the best answer in the final Top 5 question & answer portion, and she was also considered the most beautiful in this pageant.
The question from Vanessa Williams was, How would you tell a girl who’s suffering from low self-esteem to feel better about herself?
Ruffa’s response: I’ll tell her to believe in herself because it’s not only physical beauty that’s important but also inner beauty. Like what the Little Prince said, ‘What is essential is invisible to the naked eye.’ And I believe that character and personality are more important than physical beauty.
Ruffa received the loudest applause from the audience for this answer, and was expected to be crowned Miss World 1993.
But the titles of Miss World and First Princess went to two African- American beauties: Lisa Hanna of Jamaica was crowned Miss World 1993, and Palesa Mofokeng of South Africa was declared First Princess.
The unexpected results must have come from the fact that the 1993 pageant was held in Sun City, South Africa, and three of the seven judges were African-American; only Jackie Chan was Asian.
In the1973 Miss World pageant held at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Miss Philippines Evangeline Pascual was also the expected winner.
Scored cards that leaked to the media after the pageant showed Miss Philippines garnering the perfect score of 10 from a majority of the judges, while the other finalist, Miss USA Marjorie Wallace, only got 9s and 8s.
The chairman of the Board of Judges, American actor Gregory Peck, however, announced that the final score of Miss Philippines and Miss USA was tied. As chairman, he had to break the tie; and of course, he picked his fellow American as Miss World of 1973.
Miss World Marjorie Wallace was later dethroned for not honoring the crown with her scandalous dating “games” with famous men. Miss Pascual was asked to assume the unfinished term of Miss World but she turned it down due to her showbiz contract that time.
Miss Pascual revealed in an interview much later that her father was much against the idea of finishing the term of the scandal-ridden Miss World. She was advised by her father to value self-respect and national pride by not accepting a crown already awarded to someone else, although it belonged to her in the first place.
In the recently-concluded Miss World 2016 pageant: Miss Philippines Catriona Elisa Magnayon Gray of Oas, Albay made her country proud even during the required challenge events before final night on Dec.18 in MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, US.
Miss Philippines was named the winner of the Multi-media Challenge and right away became a quarter-finalist. She ranked No. 1 on the official Facebook and Twitter accounts, as well as in the Mobstar ranking. She was in Top 2 for the Talent challenge, the judges loved her own version of the pop classic Moon River, and she was in Top 5 in the most important segment of Miss World: the Beauty with a Purpose – a charity challenge.
International pageant blogger Vagisha Mishra of Kaleidoscope made this review on the final night performance: “Miss World Philippines Catriona Gray had the best evening gown of the show. The coral-coloured Francis Libirian creation was spectacular, and her subtle and sober styling just added glitters to her beautiful aura.”
Miss World 2015 Mireia Lalaguna of Spain asked the question: Which qualities do you think will it take to wear my crown?
Miss Philippines’ reply: I think, first of all, it takes bravery. To be a Miss World is to carry a burning torch. It is like action carried out by one to illuminate the lives of many. And I would dedicate my whole self, my love for the arts, and my voice to try to uplift, empower, and educate people. And it would be my greatest honor and duty to hold this torch high enough so that all the world could feel and see its light.
Mishra’s comment on her blog: Impressive, concise and brilliant answer, certainly. Catriona Gray delivered her final answer in the best possible way, and I believe she had the wittiest and most intellectual answer among other Top 5 finalists. However, having said that, her body language perhaps lacked the spontaneity that the judges were looking for. I would have loved to see her in at least a runner up spot, but the competition was totally a nerve-wrecking one, and it was anybody’s game after the final question & answer round.
The results were announced and the winner of Miss World 2016 is Miss Puerto Rico Stephanie Del Valle. She who was asked by her fellow Puerto Rican, Miss World 1975 and pageant judge Wilnelia Merced (now known as Lady Forsyth-Johnson): If you have an opportunity to change something about the world, what would it be?
Del Valle’s answer: If I have the opportunity to change something about the world, I think what I would do is send a message of how important it is to change exclusion for acceptance, to promote and provide justice for others, and the importance of helping those in need.
People are now questioning the presence of Lady Forsyth-Johnson as judge as she was also pageant director of Miss World Puerto Rico pageant.
Even questioning the win and final placement of Miss Puerto Rico who was just in Top 21 in the Talent challenge — the only challenge she got noticed.
Same connection was questioned in the Top Model challenge of this pageant. The announced winners were Miss China who stands 5’10”, Miss Indonesia in 5’8” presence, and Miss Dominican Republic who is 5’9” — a Caribbean beauty who was also in the Sports Challenge but did not do well.
All three were overshadowed by Miss Philippines, a professional model at 5’11, wearing the best gown in the pageant.
But you see, Liliana Tanoesoedibjo, owner and national director of the Miss Indonesia pageant, and Wilnelia Merced, daughter of the national director of the Miss Puerto Rico pageant, were the sponsors and judges of this Top Model challenge.
Megan Young of the Philippines was a Top Model challenge winner, and also had the best final answer during pageant night when she was crowned Miss World in 2013.
Actually, Catriona Gray of this 2016 pageant had more high placements in the challenges than Megan. But apparently, the organizers chose not to do mathematical ranking this time.
I watched the Beauty with a Purpose documentaries of the Top 10 finalists, and I believe that Miss Nepal, with her school building project for the earthquake victims, should have won this challenge with Miss Kenya in 2nd place on protecting children from trafficking and prostitution.
The honor, however, was given to Miss Indonesia who was into helping an agricultural community through flood control.
In the final results, two Caribbean beauties — Miss Puerto Rico and Miss Dominican Republic — were declared Miss World 2016 and First Princess respectively. And Miss Indonesia as Second Princess — a back-to-back glory for this ASEAN country.
Later during the grand victory ball, the organizers made a late announcement of Miss Philippines as Third Princess. Was that a peace offering?
Another thing unusual this year was the continental titles. These post-pageant titles are always given to representatives with the highest placements.
Miss Puerto Rico as the new Miss World did not get the Continental Queen of the Caribbean as it was actually Miss Dominican Republic who did better in the challenges.
Kenya’s Evelyn Thungu was awarded Continental Queen of Africa. Miss Indonesia, who had two placements in the challenges, was awarded Continental Queen of Asia even as Miss Philippines had three placements.
There are too many inconsistencies this year. Could it be that the final judgment, as it has always been, was just dwelling in the heart of pageant owner Julia Morley who was chairperson of the Board of Judges?
Miss Universe 2016 pageant is coming to the Philippines this month. We can only hope for results untainted by any influence, political or otherwise.
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Author’s email: karlmike@yahoo.com
