GRAZINI GANADOS IS THE NEW MISS UNIVERSE PHILIPPINES

Gazini Christiana Jordi Ganados, 23,  from Talisay, Cebu, was crowned Miss Universe Philippines in glittering rites held at Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday night, June 9, 2019. Gazini, who is of Palestinian-Filipino descent, is a fashion model and a graduate of bachelor's degree in Tourism. Bb. Pilipinas is not her first foray into pageant, having joined Miss World Philippines in 2014 when she was 18 and managed to make it to the top 13.

During the final Q&A round, Gazini was asked by Judge Bobby Barreiro with the question:

"If you win the crown tonight, what can you do to get more women in the workplace?"

She answered:

'If I win the crown tonight, what I will do is to promote my advocacy. My advocacy is for us women to fight for our rights and for the elderly care and for us to be able to know that someone is loving and someone is pushing us to whatever ambitions that we have. We will be able to rise from our decisions to whatever dreams that we have, goals that we have, and we will achieve it because of those values, those wisdom that they gave us."

Gazini's answer earned mixed reactions from pageant fans saying that she did not directly answer the question and that generic answer like that will not work in Miss Universe. However, her charm and commanding stage presence weigh in and lead her to winning the most coveted crown. She has six months to train before she compete in Miss Universe. Earlier in the pageant, she was judged best in evening gown and was voted Miss Photogenic by the local press.

Many people says she has close resemblance to Tamaryn Green, the South African beauty queen who was first runner up to Catriona Gray, the current Miss Universe.

Gazini will vie for a back-to-back win in this year's Miss Universe pageant scheduled end of the year (probably in South Korea though not yet confirmed).

So far, only Venezuela has won a back-to-back in Miss Universe history. This was in 2009 when Jennifer Mendoza crowned her compatriot Stefania Fernandez. There would have been another back to back win in 2015 but four minutes after Ariadna Gutierrez was crowned by fellow Colombian 2014 Miss Universe Paulina Vega, Steve Harvey apologized that he misread the cue card and declared Pia Wurtzbach of the Philippines as the rightful winner, stripping Gutierrez off the crown and sash right on the spot. The broadcast received worldwide media attention.

Will Gazini Ganados shine in the forthcoming Miss Universe? 

Here's the complete list of winners:

Miss Universe Philippines 2019	Gazini Ganados	Talisay, Cebu
Bb. Pilipinas International 2019	Bea Patricia Magtanong	Bataan
Bb. Pilipinas – Supranational 2019	Resham Saeed	Maguindanao
Bb. Pilipinas – Grand International	Samantha Ashley Lo	Cebu
Bb. Pilipinas – Intercontinental	Emma Mary Tiglao	Pampanga
Bb. Pilipinas – Globe	Leren Mae Bautista	Laguna
1st runner-up	Samantha Bernardo	Palawan
2nd runner-up	Andrea Abesamis	Pasig

Other semi-finalists:

April Short (Zamboanga),   Joahnna Carla Saad (Dumaguete), Jessica Marasigan (Malabon),  Maria Isabela Galeria (Sorsogon), Hannah Arnold  (Masbate) and Marianne Marquez (Marikina) and Vicky Rushton (Negros Occidental).

Winner of this year Bb. Pilipinas International is Patricia Bea Magtanong of Bataan.  Magtanong  is a newly certified Lawyer and will soon take oath  and become a full-pledged Lawyer.  Patch, as she is called by friends and fans, has been a favorite from the beginning and many thought she has a spot for the Miss Universe Philippines title. When asked by Judge Borja who she wants to meet somebody globally influential, Magtanong says “I really idolize Angelina Jolie because she was blessed with not just a thriving career in Hollywood. But then as a woman, she was able to use that influence, that voice, and that audience, to advocate for the causes that she believed in, like breaking hunger with the UN. And someday, if given a chance, I would like to be just like her. Thank you.”  Pageant observers says she gave a better answer than Grazini but then there are other factors to consider.  Grazini has a strong stage presence and looks vivacious on stage while Patch needs to be a little bit more assertive when delivering her answer but it is safe to say both deserved their respective placements.

Resham Saeed of Maguindanao is perhaps the first Muslim girl to win a Bb.Pilipinas crown. Saeed says “growing up as a Muslim woman, I have experienced several barriers put upon me by people who make assumptions about my my religion and about my faith and I am here to show that I am a fresh face, a fresh voice for the most underrepresented people from our community.”

Just like most pageants, this year’s edition isn’t devoid of controversy.  Vicky Rushton, who was obviously one of the most popular contestants, claims that she wasn’t able to concentrate while delivering her answer  as she was distracted by someone in the audience who was making faces pointing at hter.  Rushton won at least 5 special awards and we though she had it, until the Q&A where she failed miserably

Samantha Bernardo of  Palawan, got the same placement she had last year (as second runner-up) while Andrea Abesamis placed 1st runner up, an improvement from her semi-finalist finish last year.  Samantha can still join next year but Andrea can no longer as she will turn 28 next year.  It’s a pity because they are both gorgeous and also deserves a title. 

But the biggest disappointment this year is the non inclusion of Julia Saubier. How could they ignore such an impressive young lady? Siera Bearchell (2016 Miss Miss Canada Universe turned vlogger/pageant reviewer) was shocked to see her out of the top 25.  Please watch her video interview on this link (Julia Saubier)

Last year, Bb. Pilipinas queens did so well with 2 international crowns, one near win, and the rest made it to the semi-finals except for one.  Good luck ladies.