The 2017 Miss Universe pageant is over, but it seems Filipinos
still can’t get over with the non inclusion of Rachel Peters in the top 5. Expectations were high before the finals and
the whole nation participated in the online voting including high profile
celebrities who openly endorsed their support for Rachel, but alas the
country’s bet managed to reach the top 10 only.
As usual people are saying “oh she
was robbed, she should have been in the top 5 instead of Miss _ _
_ bla bla” and so on and so forth. When I asked a friend what's her opinion of the results of Miss
Universe pageant last Monday, she said “Ay,
ano ba yan, di man lang naka top 5” (“what the heck, she did not even make
it to the top 5”). I asked another girl
and I got the same response. Should we
curse our girl for failing to make it to the top? She did her best to represent the country and
certainly a top 10 finish isn’t bad at all considering that there were over 90
beauties from all over the world competed for the title.
Before the finals, I’ve
read a lot of commentaries from pageant enthusiasts. I also watched several video profiles of a number of candidates and scrolled hundreds of pictures online. I thought Rachel did
well but I felt that her performance during the finals was not what many expected. Her performance was somewhat calculated with
forced smile plastered on her face showing less of her personality. I am
not sure if this was part of her training or she was just under pressure. Other semi-finalists were kinda casual and hyper on
stage while Rachel lacked energy and looked a bit timid on stage.
Her
video profile wasn’t impressive though compared to other girls; there
was no mention of any advocacy on her part other than being a beach bum, in
other words it lacked depth and drama so to speak. Philippines was leading the online votes but nonetheless it didn't help her advance to the top 5.
The funny thing is that Pia Wurtzbach (who was one of the
telecast judges) is being dragged into this mess citing camp rivalry between
Kagandahang Flores and Aces & Queens.
As we all know Pia was trained and managed by Aces & Queens while Rachel was
trained by Kagandahang Flores camp. Pia issued a statement defending herself stating that she just did her job as a judge and that she was impartial to all the girls including Miss Philippines. She added that she was proud of Rachel who received the loudest cheers from the audience during the announcement of the top 16.
Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters of
South Africa was one of the heavy
favorites for the crown even before she set foot in Las Vegas, thanks
to the power of internet and the influence of social media. Demi may not be as tall or as statuesque like other favorites but obviously her strength is her warm and wholesome personality. She is the second South African to win the
title after Margaret Gardiner won the title in Acapulco, Mexico in 1978. Second to her was Colombia's Laura Gonzales and Miss
Jamaica Davina Bennett placed third.
Miss Thailand (Maria Poonlertlarp Ehren) and Miss Venezuela (Keysi Sayago) rounded up the top 5.
Miss Jamaica charmed everyone wearing her natural hair standing apart from a sea of blowdries. Jamaica is fast becoming a powerhouse in Miss Universe having placed three times during the past seven years (1st runner up in 2010 and 4th runner up in 2014). Colombia continued their impressive top 3 finish in the last four consecutive years (2014-winner, 1st runner-up in 2015, 2nd runner-up in 2016 and this year 1st runner up).
What's Next for Philippines?
Miss Universe is a big event for pageant crazy country like the Philippines and people would literally stop and skip work just to watch the live telecast. During the past 8 years, the Philippines’ representatives to Miss Universe haven’t missed a semi-final slot. It all started in 2010, when Venus Raj placed 5th and the winning streak continued year after year and in 2015 the Philippines finally bagged its third Miss Universe crown.
This early pageant watchers are trying to convince Catriona Gray to join the 2018 Bb. Pilipinas. Catriona finished 4th
in 2016 Miss World and many people believe that she should have placed higher. On the other hand, a Thai modelling agency is reportedly on the lookout for their possible bet next year and is grooming an Indian-Thai girl to join Miss Thailand Universe and also don't undermine the new emerging pageant crazy countries like Indonesia,
Vietnam and Myanmar who are all willing to spend money to train their representatives abroad. It is interesting to note that rich countries like Singapore,
Malaysia and Japan don’t seem to care much even if they lose and they just kinda enjoy themselves taking part in the activities.
Ditto with Miss Australia who said (in a tv interview) that she and other girls just laugh it off and they just
ate a lot while others were crying backstage.
There’s brewing rumor (again) that Miss Universe will be held back in
the Philippines for the fourth time. Another story has it that the Miss Universe Org., in conjunction
with the Department of Tourism, has agreed to have all the 15 semi-finalists
visit the Philippines this month to participate in various activities to
promote local tourism. What can I say? Welcome back to the craziest pageant country in the Universe.
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| Rachel Peters with her boyfriend Camarinez Sur Governor Migs Villafuerte |
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