When asked about the prediction on who would win the 2016 Miss Universe held recently in Manila, 1969 Miss Universe winner Gloria Diaz, the first for the Philippines, was candid in saying the country’s representative to the prestigious beauty pageant Maxine Medina would win the crown in a ratio of one to a million. True enough, she landed only in the Top 6.
After the dust had settled, Miss France Iris Mittenaere, rumored to be a closet lesbian, was declared Miss Universe queen. Asked the Latin Times, in its February 02, 2017 edition: Is Miss Universe 2016 first openly gay beauty queen?
Another issue that excited the soothsayers was if the country would make it two in a row and earn the distinction as the first Asian nation to earn credit for having back-to-back Miss Universe queens. Sadly, the prediction fell short. The truth, though, is the Philippines actually won in 2017 a global crown and brought home the same beauty tilt tiara twice in a row. Unknown to pageant pundits, for two years (2016 -17) the Philippines won the Mrs. Grandma Universe.
On Jan. 21, 2016, Babylyn Decena-Newfield of Alabang , Muntilupa City, snared the crown in Sofia, Bulgaria, and exactly a year later, Agnes Jakosalem of Cebu repeated her predecessor’s triumph in the same venue. That even makes the Cebuana the first international beauty queen for the country in 2017!
From January to October 2016, the Philippines, in reality won crowns in the eleven (11) international beauty competitions, the same number of honors the country hauled a year earlier. Aside from Mrs. Grandma Universe, the other credits were from Classic Mrs. Asia International, Princess, of the World, Miss Teen Planet, Miss World America, Miss Asia Global, Miss United Continents, Miss Diamond of the World, and Miss International.
Vivian Yano of Carrascal, Surigao del Sur, took him the Classic Mrs. Asia International Cosmopolitan, while Rizalina R. Asa of Hagonoy, Bulacan, snared Classic Mrs. Asia International Tourism in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Elisha Dinn Rasay of Bannawag Sur, Santiago City, on the other hand, won the Princess of the World pageant held in Bulgaria, while Maria Jayzamel B. Vista of Tanay, Rizal, took home the Miss Teen Planet crown in Sozopol, Bulgaria.
Fil-Am Audra Mari of North Dakota, USA, meanwhile, won the Miss World America tilt in Maryland, USA, while Trixia Maria Marana of Dumaguete City became the winner of the Miss Asia Global contest in Kerala, India. The three other queens were Jeslyn Santos of Hagonoy, Bulacan, who won Miss United Continents in Guayaquil, Ecuador; Christine Joy Picardal of La Union took the Miss Diamond of the World crown in Algiers, Algeria; and Kylie Fausto Versoza of Baguio City, the Miss International coronet, in Tokyo, Japan.
In the local scene, the most awaited beauty pageant is Mutya ng Dabaw. Instituted in 1969, the pageant has already produced close to 50 winners. When the criteria for the event were expanded, even outsiders were allowed to join, something that makes the tilt even more exciting. Some of the winners went on to leave their marks in national beauty competitions.
The first Mutya ng Dabaw crown holder was Rachel Arkoncel. She was followed by Elsa Roldan (1970), Jeanette Ledesma Lon (1971), Maureen Elizabeth Hilario (1972), Lyn Yuviengco Aguirre (1973), Clavel Albay (1974), Jocelyn Joyce (1975), Lorna Mate (1976), Marissa Salvador Abella !977, now city councilor), Maria Edna Go (1978), and Aniebelle Cervantes (1979). The Mutya ng Dabaw website has left the 1980 pageant without a winner.
From 1971 to 1990, the Mutya winners were Abegail Garcia (1981), Felinda Sanchez (1982), Susan Co Ong (1983), Judsita Joy Mascardo (1984), Sharmene Escamilla (1985), Conchitina Tesoro (1986), Trezita Acosta (1987), Trizza Ambet Gapultos (1988), Veronica Tolentino (1989), and Erlinda Mejia (1990, later crowned Mutya ng Pilipinas Intercontinental).
In 1991, no Mutya was crowned owing to the Gulf crisis and others issues. In 1992, Sharon Limbaga won the tilt, followed by Mary Jean Biol (1993), Ma. Lualhati Malata (1994), Jovelyn Pongase (1995), Sharon Escarella (1996), Llwelyn Muriel Austria (1997), Carol Kent Ramos (1998), Joan Magtibay (1999), and 2000 – Leah May Luna (2000).
On the other hand, the winners for 2001-2010 are as follows: Paula Ann Selgas (2001), Mary Carmel Osmena (2002), Joan Mae Soco (2003), Aieelen Cainglet (2004), Jovine Narajos (2005), Johanne Bernice Guirgen (2006), Clarice Escala (2007), Mary Jean Lastimosa (2008, 2014 Miss Universe-Pilipinas), Resci Angeli Rizada (2009), and Janelle Tee (2010).
The remaining winners in the list include Irene Lascuňa (2011), Marianne Mae Te (2012), Fila Guia Hidalgo (2013), Franchesca Enriquez (2014), Kris Abegail Candolita Guanzon (2015), and Allyza Molly Teodoro (2016).
Except for some changes or adjustments, beauty tilts outside the religious-theme competitions have always followed the Miss Universe prototype with the candidate showing the region she represents. Of course, the menu of come-ons includes the swimsuits, nightgowns, and Q&A portions. In recent years, pageants have more of a brains contest than beauty. What a relief!