MY TAKE ON MISS UNIVERSE 2017





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MY TAKE ON MISS UNIVERSE 2017

Postby xrickyxryuki » Sun Dec 10, 2017 4:41 pm

    

Hey there. This is my take on this year’s Miss Universe. It’s the mix of everything that I thought of during the pageant and even before and after it. Before everything, here are a few stuff:

1. These are all my opinions so take it with a grain of salt. Feel free to disagree but don’t call me out with profanity. Please.

2. This will be quite long because it’s everything that I thought of and I think a lot.

3. If you want to discuss some more of what you think, feel free to message me.

4. I know it's a bit too late. But I've written it already so might as well post it.


On with the show!

This year, the contestants were introduced by continents and I’m liking that since it reminds me of some of the 1970s and 80s editions of the pageant when they were all divided into continental sections. However, I’m liking that, only for the introductions part, not for the top 16 selection.

The dancers looked annoying. I still would’ve liked to see them parading in their national costumes. A la Miss Universe 1999.

PRELIM THOUGHTS AND THE INTRODUCTION OF COUNTRIES


For the Americas, these were the standouts that I took note of:

Argentina looked radiant during the opening but I almost didn’t remember her prelim performance.

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Brazil looked lukewarm to me, since I am not a fan of her face to begin with. Her flowy, ochre prelim gown looked unusual but I kinda liked it.

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Canada looked regal esp in her prelim EG stint in that white gown.
Although she looks like she’s trying to catch flies with her mouth, I actually find Colombia very cute and bubbly.
Curacao looked fierce, one of the better cocoa Latinas.

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Dominican Republic looked polished, with that Latina stance and bearing.
Ecuador was sultry-looking and also performed well during prelims.

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I actually expected Guyana to place since she had a great backstory and come prelims I was alost sure she could have a spot. Her gown look suited her very well.
Jamaica was never in my list. Just being honest.

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In my list, Mexico was the best in terms of prelim performance and aura. She was literally on top of my list. I guess I was wrong.
Nicaragua had a stellar NatCos and a decent performance.

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Panama is one of the best Latinas in this edition. That hair and face--gorgeous.
Puerto Rico also performed well but facial-wise, not my cup of tea.
USA is not really one of my faves. Yep she’s smart, but I don’t really get her.
US Virgin Islands looked like such a pageant veteran.
Venezuela, as always, looks like a glamazon. However, she looks old during prelims.

For the Europeans, in the beat of Ed Sheeran’s song, these were the lookers:

Armenia-born Miss Austria was one of my sentimental faves from Europe.
Croatia came out of nowhere. Pretty but there are other prettier ones.
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France looked sophisticated and expensive. A little boring but pretty.
Germany was a standout with those eyes and pillow lips.
Great Britain looked competitive and prelim perf was not bad either. One of the best in fact.
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Iceland was also fierce. Great backstory and decent performance.

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I actually expected Ireland to place and she looked decent in the opening. Her emerald prelim gown was uber elegant.
Malta and Netherlands were two modelesque contenders that got ignored.
Miss Poland looks really beautiful but boring.
Portugal also looked polished.
Miss Romania has an aura of a VS model. Sexy af.
Honestly, I didn’t get all that hype from Russia.
Spain is prolly the best performer and the best looking out of the Europeans.

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Sweden was one of the best blondes.
Turkey had the best glamshot for me and should’ve been Miss Photogenic.

For the Asians and Africans, here are the ones I took note of:

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Angola seemed like a dark horse. She performed well but is nowhere in the final list.
Not digging Australia this year.
China caught my attention, in a weird way. She is so unlike her predecessors. Also, that lingerie NatCos was horrible.
Egypt was seriously underrated this year, I think she looks gorgeous.
Ghana is a sentimental fave.
Guam looked decent.
Although not one of my absolute faves, I actually expected India to place.

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This year’s delegate from Indonesia is the best and the most prepared that they have ever sent. Such a pity.

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Israel is also a sentimental fave. Have you seen that face? One of the best-looking this year.
Korea gave a nice fight during the prelims.
Laos was one of the better first timer countries.

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Malaysia (almost) always send polished decent candidates but somehow always end up being ignored. I dunno about that gown though.
Nigeria was one of the best from Africa.
Philippines was ravishing, body is perfect!
South Africa had a horrible prelim performance and styling but that face is to die for.

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Thailand has this je nais se quo that I can’t pinpoint quite yet. She is a little awkward but that beauty is undeniable.


Top 16 Announcements

My reactions:
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Thailand - She called him Harvey. lol




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Sri Lanka - Seen better Sri Lankan candidates than her but, well...




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Ghana - A WTF but still a nice surprise. She also looks like ther last placer, Akuba Cudjoe in 1999




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South Africa - that freakin face, speaks for itself.





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Spain - Well, what do you expect. The best from her continent.





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Ireland - Had her in my list. Watch her prelim evening gown to convince yourself.





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Croatia - Just WTF





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Great Britain - Also a prelim standout, plus she looks pretty





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Colombia - Bubbly af. She must have had a lot of sugar before the pageant. That speech was cheeky




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USA - Well. I do not hate her but I also do not like her.




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Brazil - Ugh. Just ugh.




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Canada - I noticed her in the prelims but she makes that weird face when she walks.




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Philippines - Well...




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Venezuela - Girl is competitive.





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Jamaica - By this time, I was already kinda crying since a lot of my faves still havent gotten in yet.




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China - WTF.


Part 1/3


Last edited by xrickyxryuki on Sun Dec 10, 2017 4:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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  • 3

Re: MY TAKE ON MISS UNIVERSE 2017

Postby xrickyxryuki » Sun Dec 10, 2017 4:42 pm



THE SWIMSUIT COMPETITION


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Now for the swimsuit competition. I really like the music that they had “Instruction” by Basement Jaxx and Demi Lovato set a perfect and exotic tone with those drumbeats--perfect for a swimsuit strut. I like that they switched it back to focusing on a single contestant but what I don’t like is they omitted the part when they were supposed to pose. For me, the swimsuit pose can seal or break a deal. Anyways, for each of them (sorry didn't have photos of some of them), here’s what I have to say:


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Thailand - She could afford to be less clunky and awkward when she walks, she reminds me of Miss Ohio 2013 in Miss USA--both walked kinda awkwardly but kinda turned out adorable as a whole. She has the tendency to overdo it. Had no issues with the one-piece. Still, that face is to die for.


Sri Lanka - Decent girl, decent face, decent body, decent walk. I’m sorry but I’m just bafled why she’s in there.


Ghana - At least she tried to spice it up with a turn. Her neat ponytail and styling reminded me of her compatriot-Akuba Cudjoe in 1999. But at that moment, aside from her, I thought of other ebony Africans which could have done better. Like Nigeria.


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South Africa - She plays with the camera with that expressive face. Good walk. She is short but her proportions make her look long when she’s alone onstage. Exuded this sunny aura which must’ve stunned the judges.




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Spain - Looks like Paulina Vega’s older sister. She emitted the same aura too, sexy and commanding. One of the best in this segment.


Ireland - She may have gotten good prelim scores from me for her gown performance but her swimsuit was so-so. She looked a little awkward.


Croatia - She may be the tallest one and she looked curvy alright, but that walk made her veer her head from side to side on each step and it looked messy. She could’ve worked that long straight hair to convince me of a placement but, nah she didn’t.


Great Britain - She, to me, looks a little timid but she walked well, and that tiny, curvy body was nice to look at. I think that was the most she could exude with her personality and it was enough.

I don’t know what is up with those drummers. I know they aren’t drumming stuff in the music. lol. They could have placed decorative dancers in there, a la 1999.


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Colombia - Dear lord, that body. Though I had hairstyling issues with that long, sleek hair making her face look big, her swimsuit strut was superb. Infused with her bubbly, semi-fake personality, she occupied that stage, big-time.


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USA - I dunno, I just find her dull. I mean, dull as a person not on intellect, girl is a scientist, can’t go in that territory. But well, she’s USA. Also, body is laudable.




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Brazil - Looking like Miss USA walked back again onstage, here is her afro-sister. I find her more interesting than her hair sister but I liked her predecessors more. Walk is that typical Brazilian strut, nonetheless.




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Canada - She looked sweet and prim and proper and that’s about it. Though again I am a fan of her in gown, I don’t get her in the swimsuit. That smile with the disappearing lip is bizarre, and she looked clunky.




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Philippines - The best body-wise that my country has sent since Venus Raj. Her long strides and those proportions are majooor. Only critique, she didn’t look much in the camera and had moments when her eyes were shifty (nerves, prolly? but when you’re representing a country of rabid pageant fans, who wouldn’t? lol)




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Venezuela - She commanded that stage with her Amazonian goddess body and Venezuelan stomp. Bam! Also, that styling with the sleek ponytail framed her mullata face really well. As the old saying goes, “Never underestimate Venezuelans when it comes to pageantry.” - Confucius




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Jamaica - Y’all are loving her but I don’t see much in her except that huge, fabulous ‘fro. Her walk was ordinary, even Ghana was better. Her only ace must prolly be her personality but that didn’t exude much in that performance. Just my two cents.


China - For a WTF placer, she just proved that she really is a WTF placer. That walk was not very sexy for me.

For the top 10 announcement, these are my reactions:

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Venezuela - Well, she was the best in that round. Also being a trailblazer in that industry is something.

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USA - Oh, okay. Science, science. Girl is smart, if in case anyone doesn’t know that yet by now.

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Philippines - No complaints there. That VTR was kinda dull tho.

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Canada - Hmmm. Okay. Ireland could have been a better blonde, but okay.

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South Africa - Girl is a top contender. Also, that VTR was something. She fricken abducted, how is that not interesting. And she made it an advocacy. Plus points.

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Spain - Alright. She has anti-bullying as part of her advocacy. I remember in the Trump era, they just showed videos of Miss Spain cooking paella in their VTRs. This is a whole new platform na, ano?

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Brazil - She looked like she had a headache. She is a motivator.

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Colombia - Cute as a button. Also a bully victim and also previously fat. Awwwww factor.

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Thailand - Yay. Teenage pregnancy is her platform. Hmmm.

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Jamaica - She plans to make a sign language app. Okay, okay.


THE EVENING GOWN COMPETITION

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I like that they used a slow song for the EG competition. Fergie’s “A Little Work” sounded too slow though and not really a good beat for a gown walk. However, I haven’t said this yet, and I’m gonna say it now: Kiiara’s “Gold” last year was a very, very good music backdrop for the EG gown. You can be all fierce with that beat and it’s unfortunate that they made the girls walk in groups last year. Just imagine Zuleyka or Dayana or Pia walking their gowns in that music. Probably will be a fierceness overload.

Okay, I’m deviating. For the girls:

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Venezuela - She know her stuff. If her peg during the swimsuit was showing her flawless body, come EG, she came simple, classy, and uber elegant in a sleek white column gown with a bejewelled bodice, and just those crystal earings. The way she carried that train is impeccable in the beginning. I just wish I would have seen her gown stance.




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USA - Hmmm. Ok. She did an updo and went with that embellished dress that was too short that overall also made her look short. Her Miss USA gown was better.




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Philippines - I thought I would be seeing another disaster seeing the designer’s previous works (Clenci’s final gown was really ugly) but upon seeing Rachel meander in that gilded number, I thought that was the best evening gown a Filipina has worn for the last 8 years. The fit was a dream, it looked like Rachel was sewn in it. The accents were muted, not too showy and highlighted Rachel’s assets. The walk was superb, but again Rachel showed minimal eye contact to the camera, and the smile was a bit stifled.




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Canada - Impeccable styling, she looked like a chic doll with that beige (?) bedazzled dress with fluffy tulle overskirt. She had the same aura last prelims which is why I initially noticed her. That smile tho. Where does her lip go?




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South Africa - Demi Leigh in a chic bun is a beauty that I have never encountered yet. She just looks so regal and expensive! Her gown, though miles better than that lime green horror back in prelims, was still underwhelming for me. It was too short, too simple, an with those stiff-looking shoulder pads. It fitted her well but I’m sure there could have been better gowns.




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Spain - Ew. She retained that white disaster of a gown during the prelims. Ugh, it looked like feather boas were strung behind her. No, Lu Sierra, those feathers are crap. I love the girl but that gown looked tacky. Also, her styling ruined her. Woud’ve wanted a sleek ponytail on her too. Her walk is still nice but those two elements ruined her.




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Brazil - I dunno why she had these weird hand gestures during her precious few seconds of exposure (we’re not in Thailand gurl). I don’t like the gown, it looked messy, like she was dipped in glue, rolled on a bed of roses and the petals stuck on her dress.



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Colombia - She retained her prelim gown with that off-shoulder, encrusted dress (did Barraza make that?). I just noticed that her face looks really round in that hair. She looked better in her Senorita Colombia stint. What I also didn’t like is the way she held her shoulders. It was too up there (if you saw that Ara Arida video, you’ll know what I mean). But she looked bubbly and exuded a lot of personality I guess.



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Thailand - Saw this gown way back when they presented it. I just wanna say, Maria looked better in a bun with that dress to show that gorgeous swan neck. She was styled almost the same as Aniporn’s in 2015. I liked this gown better than what she wore on prelims. In this segment though, she looked a little boring. Beauty is there but she looked meh.




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Jamaica - Well, girl had a gown to work with and she worked it alright. The bright yellow gown made her standout but I hate those frilly things on her shoulders. She reminds me of a Miss Haiti back in the Miss Universe 1970s who almost won which I forgot the name. To be honest, I don’t see much from her. Her skin looks gorgeous with yellow though.

I like that Carson Kressley is in there commenting, almost reminded me of Miss Universe 2006 with Shandi. Lu Sierra was also great but she kept on interrupting Carson which kinda irked me a bit. Lol.

For the top 5, here’s the official list:

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South Africa - Expected it. Come on.


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Venezuela - Deserved it. Hands down.


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Thailand - She underperformed for me but she’s still on top of my list that time.


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Jamaica - For real tho. No hate against Jamaicans but, meeeeeehhhh.


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Colombia - Ugh. Okay.


I actually expected Philippines to place (as a Filipino) but upon review, I now know why she did not place, at least in my own viewpoint. She did well though, waaaay better than I expected and I laud her for that. Period. Special message to baklang hamogs though: Do not effin blame Pia. She will not stoop to your level of speculation.


Part 2/3
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  • 5

Re: MY TAKE ON MISS UNIVERSE 2017

Postby xrickyxryuki » Sun Dec 10, 2017 4:44 pm

THE TOP FIVE INTERVIEWS


For the top 5 extemporaneous speaking competition, here are my thoughts

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South Africa - Stating statistics to begin with is a good move. There is a bit of a shakiness in her voice but she delivered her point well. It is an issue and I am glad that she is aware of it. Also, a bit of inconclusiveness at the end but still she looked gorgeous. Waka Waka

Venezuela - Venezuelans are a hit or miss in this department. They can range from being extremely likeable and bubbly to being superficial and vapid. She did not directly answer the question (like what most Spanish speakers do) but she stated a valid but rather safe, somehow rehearsed point.

Thailand - Ay mama mia. Lawd, sweet Jaysus. It’s unfortunate that she had picked such a difficult question. Even I couldn’t think of a nice, quick answer in a no-pressure situation. Girl grappled and stammered and got lost. She tried to recover but the nerves took over. I was cringing while watching the thing. Well, there goes Maria’s chances.

Jamaica - Well, in this department, I give it to her. Given she had an easy question to begn with (still scratching my head on the previous one), she answered it graciously in that Jamaican accent. You could easily answer that in a beauty queen way and have everyone smiling at the end and she did it.

Colombia - Another tricky question but she handled it well. She looked sincere in her body language and that staccato response at the end was heartwarming, at best. You could almost hear “awwwww” in the audience after that.

With the next cut, I could say that these questions comprise a big percentage of scores. In Trump’s era, maybe you could get by with an indirect but charming response but this time they are more objective. It’s all about content, sincerity, and confidence now.

For the top 3:

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Jamaica - Well, she was likeable. But I just honestly think people were rooting for her because she was an underdog.

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Colombia - Okay. I actually didn’t initially think she’d get this far.

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South Africa - Hmmm. I almost wanted Thailand to get in but Demi’s face convinced me to not be upset.


THE FINAL QUESTION


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In this question, you need to sell yourself. Typical of any pageant. If you are pageant patty though, you might sound insincere and forced.

Jamaica - Okay. Girl is firm with her advocacy but didn’t connect well with her initial answer.

Colombia - Again with her strategic phrasing and translating. It sounded kinda generic, pageant patty, even. Okkkccccuuuurrrr.

South Africa - Demi has this trembling voice that makes her sound cute, much like Iris last year. Nice, indirect answer. She looked so queenly when she said it, I can’t even focus much on the content.



FINAL LOOK AND FINAL THOUGHTS



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Jamaica is a dark horse, much like Haiti last year, except that Haiti actually performed well. To me, Jamaica’s performance was kinda bland, as with the other weird placements this year. What the judges saw probably didn’t translate well on video but to me, she was just okay. People were overhyping her because she was an underdog. And really, an underdog she was.

And don’t even think I’m throwing shade at Jamaicans since I adooore (Delano) Kaci and Yendi.


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Colombia looked way better in her National pageant. Her straight hair made her face look chunky. And she looked strangely too Roman with that nose. But I thought, if she had big Latina waves, she would fade too in the midst of Latinas with the same styling. Her swimsuit was on point, gown was good, qanda was good--looking back, she earned her way up there.


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I’ve had qualms with South Africa even before the Miss Universe season started. I honestly initially though she was overhyped. I found her face too small, looking like softer but (sorry) uglier Mila Kunis. Her prelim performance was also underwhelming. But come pageant night, she slapped me in the face. And what a slap it was.


Now, with the results. Before announcement, I expected South Africa to win. And win she did. No qualms with the results. No questions. Hands down. People were booing because Jamaica was second runner up. Well, with what IMG is going to lately, I expect a black queen is going to be crowned soon.



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Demi Leigh Nel Peters, may you have a happy and successful reign as the new queen.

Part 3/3

Like my work? Here are the other stuff I’ve written:

Miss Universe 2014/15 Review
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=654293

Miss Universe 2013 Review
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=217936

Miss Universe 2012 Review
http://www.missosology.info/forum/viewt ... 3&t=167874

Miss Universe 2005 Review
http://www.missosology.info/forum/viewt ... 3&t=185865

Miss Universe 2008 Review
http://www.missosology.info/forum/viewt ... f=3&t=1916

Miss Venezuela 2012 Evening Gown Mini Review
http://www.missosology.info/forum/viewt ... 0&t=191700

Binibining Pilipinas Gold Review
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=189761

America’s Next Top Model Faves
http://www.missosology.info/forum/viewt ... 2&t=192592
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  • 2

Re: MY TAKE ON MISS UNIVERSE 2017

Postby Lafeadamadelaindia » Mon Dec 11, 2017 2:10 am

Great read! :=p I share most of your thoughts.

To me, the fake nuclear scientist from the land of Fake News looked like Brazil’s twin sister. Brazil’s ugly twin sister. And only one of them deserved to move forward. It was a disappointment (but not a shocker) to me that both moved forward to the Top 10 (only Brazil deserved it) and then both didn’t move past the gown portion (Brazil’s gown and diminished energy did her in).

While I liked Colombia after her crowning, I didn’t like her at the pageant at all. I agree with posters that her face looked like that of a shark, and to me it didn’t help that her reactions were so fake and her answers so pageant party. Until when will IMG pay for what they did to Ariadna?

Thailand was a WASTE of a Top 5 spot. Philippines would have done better with that opportunity.

I totally expected South Africa to win. It would have been the biggest WTF moment if Colombia was announced as the winner.
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Re: MY TAKE ON MISS UNIVERSE 2017

Postby Bonitillo Campanella » Mon Dec 11, 2017 6:25 pm

your GIF's are giving me life

hahahaha

great review :)>- :)>- :)>-
Angela, gracias por hacer historia guapa!
=D>

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