LISBERN SHAWN'S MISS UNIVERSE 2013 PREDICTIONS

Apart from the enchanting host played by Moscow, Russia, this year for Miss Universe has def

initely been out of the block and there can be only one reason for it: contenders coming from countries you wouldn’t normally bookmark as regular powerhouse performers. According to me, there are atleast 35 unique beauties out there who have an equal opportunity of making the top sixteen cut, come finale night. Now who will make it – well that will be one of the suspense moments on November 9!

It was definitely a head-scratcher for me to narrow down the list to 16, so here they are!

 

MISS UNIVERSE 2013

FRANCE – Hinarani de Longeaux

Yes, it is true that Hinarani has been inconsistent in her stint in Moscow but it is undeniable she is splendid from head to toe. Many critics blame her rather subdued walk but we are in an era of sweetness where fierce walks and turns are not the sole deciding factor, an example set out by Leila Lopes and Olivia Culpo. Hinarani’s body is to die for. Her face is pure sex appeal and commanding. The white crepe gown screams haute-ness a la Parisienne. The bun is mod (she would look equally beautiful with hair down). If Hinarani’s beauty has captivated fans the world over, I do not see a reason why judges wouldn’t vote on her, come final night!

1^st runner-up – PUERTO RICO – Monic Perez

This Latina screams presence the moment she is on stage. Her styling is underwhelming compared to the time when she was crowned Miss Universe Puerto Rico. Her walk however is a silent killer. The moment she stepped in that yellow gown with enough drama going on towards the skirt – the deal was sealed. Monic Perez’s aura simply can’t withstand any competitors, even from her other Latina counterparts.

2^nd runner-up – ITALY – Luna Voce

This land of pasta and pizza has sent a delegate with such beaming radiance. The moment you set your eyes on Luna’s face, one can’t help but admire her. Plus she has got the goods. Her gown, inspired by Rachel Smith’s notorious gowns in 2007 looks fabulous on her. Add to that, the official swimwear sponsor this year Yamamay is from Italy. The stars are all inclined for this beauty.

3^rd runner-up – UKRAINE - Olga Storozenhko

Enter the answer to Olesya Stefanko’s revenge. Infact, she can also pass of as an Olesya Stefanko dead-ringer. Her face is serenely angelic. Her body and walk are exquisite. Her white gown number might remember one of Stefanko’s gown but here she glams it up with a sequined neckline. Ukraine being one of the former Soviet countries also has a political advantage. The MUO can give it all to this girl but the reason why im placing her here is that she appears to be giving too much of the sexy vibe as against the sweet vibes that are in vogue with the pageant recently. 

4^th runner-up – SPAIN – Patricia Rodriguez

And Spain rounds up my top five list. I loved her back at Miss World 2008 and I love her now even more. She is effortlessly natural on stage, her face is super pretty, that body is vavavoom and the gown makes her look expensive on stage. Spain however can be a notch down when it comes to interviewing, so maybe that’s where she might fall down.

Top10

6^th – USA – Erin Brady

She is not everyone’s cup of tea but this girl’s face is worth a million bucks. Her body might not be that impressive but then you are so drawn to the ‘neck up’ that Erin effortlessly breezes through the next round. Im placing her at the border of top five and top ten as she can well sneek into the top five and who knows might even do the dreaded back-to-back for USA as Erin is a fluent speaker.

7^th – Israel –Titi Aynaw

Titi is not just your average beauty queen. She has got the overall package. One can take her to be a runaway supermodel due to her tall stature and long legs. She is a tough person as she has a stint in the Israeli army. The fact that she is the first black beauty queen from Israel has earned her recognition the world over, not to forget her conference with the US President, Barack Obama. If at all, a girl of this caliber is shunned from the top 16, it will be a big shame for the organization. Titi is one girl whom I would love to see to win it all, however her white gown seems too plain to compete with others, that is the reason why she falls short of top five on my list.

8^th – Panama – Carolina Brid

I just couldn’t deny Carolina a spot. This girl might not be photogenic but she works the screen like nobody’s business. Her walks are polished and fierce, her body is tall and lanky, that pink gown screams Venezuela couture and her demeanor is likeable. Panama is one of those Latinas this year that easily commands presence overall.

9^th – Dominican Republic – Yaritza Reyes

That walk, sold! Yaritza has one of the best glides this year. She comes with a lot of spunk, due to her dark skin and frizzy hair. She also made the news when she had a noticeable (and a rather seemingly hurtful) fall during a pre-pageant fashion show. The preliminaries however went smooth for Yaritza however she fell this time on her gown choice. It was too conservative plus her styling was obnoxious so that might do her in, unless she has a second change on final night.

10^th – Brazil – Jackelyne Oliviera

Jackelyne’s face is more on the cutesy side and is not up to the par compared to the rest of the contestants. However, her body is bang on and she has a charming presence. Brazil is slated to host Miss Universe next year so the stars are inclined for her. However top 10 is as far as she can go according to me, thanks to her peach gown with varied colors of confetti of jewels strewn on it.

Top 16 

11^th – Venezuela – Gabriela Isler

Gabriela had a remarkable improvement from the moment she was crowned Miss Venezuela. Horribly bashed, she has proved them all wrong with her Miss Universe stint. Everything she does and walks is so Venezuela. However I am not feeling her power (compared to last year’s Irene Esser), even though she does everything right and that is why she might end up without advancing further. Much like Vanessa Goncalvez in 2011 who too had a similar transformation, good body and a safe walk.

12^th – Bolivia – Alexia Viruez

A contender right from the get go, Bolivia’s face can send thermometers raging. Those eyes smolder in a naughty way. Her blood-red gown choice was hard to miss on stage. Her body is tall and lanky. However her walk is safe and that might do her in but if at all she penetrates the top ten, mind my words she will a surefire top five.

13^th – Philippines – Ariella Arida

I wouldn’t be wrong if I say that Ariella Ada has more pressure on her than the host country girl! Considering Philippines’ impressive three-year top five finish and two international victories this year, Ada will have a tough time battling it out. Her swimsuit performance was commendable; she really upped the ante with her nice twirls. But then her yellow gown is an underwhelming choice and has little of the ‘it’ factor that could propel her into the top five (considering other girls’ gowns). Ariella will also get an advantage from the loud support of her fans and Barazza on the preliminary judging panel (he designed her national costume). But she might also be a shocking exclusion, who knows. Im just gambling on her by placing her over here. 

14^th – Poland - Paulina Krupinska

Poland’s face is definitely one of the best this year. And she is also representing a country that was once a part of the Soviet union. Even if the pageant wasn’t in Russia, she would have made it anyways and it totally breaks my heart to place her here as she is truly gorgeous. If last year’s delegate who had the overall package culdn’t make the top 10, I also fear a smilar fate for ____. Even if she does penetrate the top ten and wears that prelim blush gown of hers, it will be tough time for her as it is underwhelming for her caliber of beauty. 

15^th – India – Manasi Moghe

Manasi sprang up from nowhere to being a contender for the crown. She is easily a silent killer. Her smile just lights up the room and her walk might not be as fierce but is surely at ease of grace. I would love to see Manasi do well but her body frame (which is small at the bust and wide at the hips) might do her in. Manasi is definitely an upgrade from the previous delegates India has been sending recently, and if Shilpa Singh could penetrate through last year, I don’t see a reason why Manasi’ wouldn’t.

16^th – South Africa  - Marilyn Ramos

And the final spot in the top sixteen has to go for one of the delegates from Africa and for me it is South Africa’s Marilyn Ramos. To be honest, I am not terribly impressed with her styling. Her hair looks artificial. But then her face is so sweet, her interviewing skills are good and among her African counterparts, she seems to be the only one who is polished. The other African delegates had loads of potiental, but wrong styling and body did them in. The girls that can be a spoiler for this spot are Angola’s Vaumara Rebelo and Namibia’s Paulina Malulu. Marilyn Ramos’ gown choice was unique. It was a black full-sleeve number with tuxedo-like sleeves. It might scream 90s style but Marilyn did look refined in it.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

The girls I also adored and can equally penetrate the semifinals and I wouldn’t be disappointed if they did.

CHINA – Jin ye

Okay I am not sure if she resembles an Oriental Angelina Jolie (according to the commentary), but she is in a style of her own. Infact she was the most stylish of them all on preliminary night. During the swimsuit, her bangs hairstyle with a  pony swinging as she walked looked great. She pushed the envelope further with her breathtaking white and nude gown and screemed Oriental perfection. 

Costa Rica – Fabiana Granados 

In a sea of Latina competitors, Fabiana managed to stand out and show the world that she is a pageant veteran, being known for Miss Earth top 16 finish in 2012 and also winning the best in swimsuit. Yes, she has a gorgeous body. She equally had a gorgeous silver gown that you can’t help but notice. 

Jamaica –  Kerrie Baylis

She bought the Jamaican competitiveness to stage for the first time since Yendi Philipps. Her body was toned, her walk was impacting. Her silver gown with pink drapes blended beautifully and she worked it well. Her downgrade might be her rather harsh facial features but that is a whim. I would love to see her advance.

Canada – Riza Santos  

Riza is a Filipina beauty representing an American country. I actually prefer her over Ada as she is experienced in pageants, her face is lovable and that gown was beautiful. Her large bun however was distracting. Also to be noted that former Miss Canada Universe Elena Semikina was judging the prelims, so this might be an advantage for Riza.

Colombia – Lucia Aldana  

That she has an advantage due to Colombian designer Barraza being on the judging panel during the prelims is an understatement. Aldana is a pretty girl in her own right. What I loved about her is that she bought a fierce walk during the prelims. Her white Grecian-themed gown couldn’t be more impacting for her serene beauty. However her styling was not up to the mark and she smiled less (which makes her pretty), so I am a bit unsure of where she will end up.

Great Britain – Amy Willerton 

It is disappointing to see a supermodel of such a quality just fizzle down due to bad luck being on her side. On the plus points, Amy is a bomb. Her walk during the swimsuit was so Latina pro. Her face and styling resembles Karina Gonzalez, Miss Mexico Universe 2012. However, the negative sides are hard to ignore. The fact that Great Britain has never penetrated the semifinals in Miss Universe history is rather saddening, hence the sash factor. Amy had a noticeable bad moment during the gown round as her number was heavy in the bottom and she had to struggle to carry it, which might do her in.

Curacao – Eline de Pool

The Caribbean girls have definitely come strong this year. Eline had a suprsingly great crowd support during the preliminaries and she is the best from Curacao for me since Verna Vasquez. Her Asian features coupled with her impacting walk and that gorgeous gown is enough for her to push her in during the finale (if at all she does).

Nicaragua – Natasjja Bolivar

 Bolivar brought her A-game during the preliminaries. Being Nuestra Belleza Latina, a competition judged by the likes of Osmel Sousa and Lupita Jones, she had enormous pressure on her to deliver. Her body and walk was hotness personified. Her full-sleeved copper-bronze gown was a standout. The only thing that worked against her for me is her face. While others might like it, I find her features harsh at times.

Bahamas –  Lexi Wilson

Could she be the first Bahamian to make the cut after all at Miss Universe? She did everything right on the preliminary night. Her walk was commanding and that hot pink gown looked magnificent against the background and on her skin tone.

Korea –  Kim Yumi

She was immensely likeable. Her eyes and jetblack hair against her porcelain skin lends an sassiness to her beauty. However she is of a smaller frame and this might be a bad point against her other strong Asian co-competitors.

Haiti – Mondiana Pierre

 I can’t help but put Mondiana alongside Miss Israel Titi. Both of them fall into the ‘Leila Lopes’ type of beauty. Mondiana however has a weak sash to battle with. Other than that, she is also a polished model, her styling is impacting, her walk and stance is a silent killer and that gown was very couture. 

Switzerland – Dominique Rinckerherdt

 I had a hard time scratiching my head over Miss Czech Republic and Miss Switzerland as both share a similar bobcut hair-do. However Switzerland for me was a notch up than Czech Republic for various reasons. Firstly, there is no denying that Czech Republic is undeniably pretty and trendy. When it boiled down to finale night, Czech Republic’s swimsuit was passable except from the neck up and her white gown choice was safe. Switzerland however had this whole ‘Pink’ type of vibe going on during the swimsuits (also reminiscent of Miss Albania Universe 2008). Coming evening gown, she has her hair neatly set and looks red carpet ready in her black and nude gown. Perhaps the versatility factor made me place Switzerland higher over Czech Republic. 

Russia – Elmira Abdrazakova

And finally in my honorable mentions list is Russia. Believe me Russia can be a spoiler of finale night due to the advantage of representing the host country. Other than that, she would have had made to the bottom list. Her face is rather too much to take in coupled with the inconsistent expressions she gives. Her body and styling is passable. Her floor-sweeping red gown however was beautiful on stage, but other than that, Elmira for me is a disappointment.