XAMURAI'S VERDICT MISS USA 2016
Miss USA 2016 - HAWAII
1st Runner-up - COLORADO
2nd Runner-up - FLORIDA
TOP 5
4. GEORGIA
5. CALIFORNIA
TOP 10
6. TEXAS
7. WISCONSIN
8. SOUTH DAKOTA
9. MISSOURI
10. VIRGINIA
TOP 16
11. IOWA
12. ARIZONA
13. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
14. MINNESOTA
15. NEW JERSEY
16. MISS 52 USA
It's certainly back to the basic for me this year. A lot of girls are as equally stunning. Some look similar to each other - especially the blondes - and I kinda feel that they will cross each other out when it comes to MUO deliberation. So, for a year with no single major front runner, I think it is safe to say that the winner will probably be Chelsea Hardin. To me, she seems like an "all-American girl-next-door" sporty type bombshell, who may be a newbie to pageantry, but has the personality to carry with her the embodiment of a modern-day Miss USA - which is "confidently beautiful"...
Colorado is the perfect "Miss" that everyone would certainly love to see winning the crown, but at times, Miss USA has had this weird habit of placing the most beautiful girl as the runner-up. It's even true with Miss Teen USA. So, if Chelsea will stumble in her final Q&A, which I doubt, then Caley-Rae might just be the "dream girl" that we want to see winning the Miss USA crown. The perfect girl!!!
Florida's Brie Gabrielle is my sentimental favorite because I first saw her compete at Miss California USA, where she became 1st Runner-up. I was actually rooting for her because she was smart, very well-spoken and natural! She may not be super stunning compared to Chelsea and Caley-Rae, but what she may lack in the looks department, she more than makes up with her wit and charm. I really want to see her up there and battle it out for the crown!
Georgia is in 4th place, but certainly I would not mind seeing her win the crown as well. It's been eight years since a black woman had technically won the crown, and she happens to be Crystle Stewart of Texas, who will sit as one of the judges! And Georgia has never won the Miss USA nor the Miss Teen USA crown, yet, despite almost winning them several times! I basically grew up thinking that the Miss USA crown was allergic to Georgian beauties, because they kept on sending intelligent and stunning girls, but they never succeeded in snatching the crown from Texas (1985 to 1989).
On 5th place, and probably I may be wrong with this one, but I am gambling on the charismatic Miss California, Nadia Mejia. I don't know why a lot are not liking her, but maybe because she is unconventional. But I have this feeling that she will go up to the Top 5 so we could hear her speak up about her advocacy and spirituality - things that would make a good debate post-pageant. Beauty-wise, she is pretty enough to make a good winner too! So, we shall see...
For 6th place, and I actually had to debate against myself whether to put her or Nadia in the 5th spot, but I decided to slid Daniella into 6th spot simply because I did not see any impact with that evening gown that she wore for the preliminary round. Texas normally does not change gown, so if Daniella does not change, she will certainly be eaten alive by the other girls who wore mind-blowing white gowns onto the Top 10 round.
Wisconsin is in 7th place, and I personally believe that she has the look that could make Trump go crazy, but it's not anymore the Trump era, so I don't want to expect much from her, even though I personally believe that she is deserving of a Top 5 or even a Top 3 spot. The new owners of Miss USA are keen about publicity, noise and controversy and with a weak Wisconsin sash, it's an uphill climb for Kate.
South Dakota will probably be the rightful winner if this pageant is held in the 1980s to early 1990s, when performance and intelligence really mattered, but with a weak sash and a state with a very small population and less viewership, I think that she will be sidelined. However, one might think about Hawaii being a small state as well, but how come she is my winner!? Well, Hawaii is Hawaii and it's always in the heart of every American to root for Hawaii no matter what.
Missouri come in 9th place to me, and I think that she is very pretty with a very commercial look - perfect for modeling and showbiz! Her gown is not so outstanding, though, so I am afraid that her journey will end in the Top 10. But, I might be wrong!
Virginia, the doctor, is in my 10th place. The red gown that she wore in the prelims looked very basic. Nothing special at all! That will prevent her from going further. She has to change it, and if she does, Georgia's Emanii Davis might be sidelined to give way for Desiree.
Iowa is in 11th place. I like her, she did everything right! She is pretty and I always have this thing about girls wearing black gown during Miss USA, and they seem to always sneak into the Top 5. It could be her!
Arizona is another pretty blonde girl, who may have worn a great gown and with a nice body, but she lacked the energy on stage.
District of Columbia has one of the most memorable gowns I've seen this year, but her body - especially her legs - was too skinny. So, I am afraid she will just be in the Top 15. However, if the judges will be more forgiving about her, she might enter the Top 10 and it will be an easy climb for her to the Top 5, because that gown spells WINNER!!!
Minnesota has the winning smile, and although she is one of those numerous blondes who is joining this year, her face is memorable, at least for me.
New Jersey had a great gown, but I think that's the only thing that could lift her up to the Top 15. She also has a very skinny body so I don't think she would place higher than Top 15.
And of course, the Miss 52 USA! Her body was decent, and her gown was amazing. She might surprise all of us and may just zoom her way up to the Top 5, and I don't mind it at all! Alexandra worked hard for this, and I have my respect to her!
So, what do you think of my Top 16? Any violent reaction???