My Predictions for Miss Universe 2007!

This year's pageant is going to begin in Mexico City in 10 hours' time, so I shall post my predictions for this year before I go to bed! Hahahahahaha.

As you all know (I assume you are one of the many of fans), there will be a top 15 for 2007's semifinalists instead of the top 20 we had last year. Quite a disappointment for me, simply because from what I believe, the reason we had so many nice surprises last year is mainly due to the increase in semifinalists. Nevertheless I sure hope 2007 will not be dominated by Latinos again!!! Arrughhhhhhh.

Everyone says Asians will do well this year, I certainly hope so, because I have been let down for so many years. In 2005 there was only one Asian delegate (Indonesia) in the top 15, and in 2006 although there were three, two of them were booted out of the top 10 (namely India and Thailand). So with strong contenders like Korea, Japan and Thailand (who has been getting rave reviews after her preliminares performances), I sure hope there will be at least three Asian delgates in the top 15 again. (OR MORE!)

I believe the format will remain unchanged this year; top 15 will progress to top 10 and then the final five. I shall name the delegates whom I think will make every section of the cut, and not give them a specific ranking.

(IN RANDOM ORDER)
Positions 11th to 15th
Brazil
Canada
Greece
India
Tanzania

Positions 6th to 10th
Angola
Estonia
Japan
South Africa
Thailand

Positions 1st to 5th
Korea
Russia
Mexico
USA
Venezuela

There are several factors which generated this list.

I do not deny sash factor plays a part in my judgement. Especially Venezuela and USA. I do not believe so much in them but history has proved that they are 99.9% sure-things semifinal. One thing I can assure you; VENEZUELA WILL BE IN THE TOP FIVE FOR SURE. Not that Venezuela has my support but... it's Venezuela after all, sigh. And USA, she is a strong contender and with the weight of her sash, I can see her in the top five.


If you have been reading my blog, you would know my most favourite delegate is Korea. Yes I support her and she has my vote! I hope she will win the crown, or at least a 1st runner up position!!


On the other hand, Japan, hmmmmmm. I wanted to give her all my support but her facial beauty is somewhat... limited. And with her gown which I really don't care for, a top 10 at least maybe?


I have always supported delegates from South Africa but this year Megan Coleman just failed to impress me! Her winning factor would be her height but she did not blow me away with her 'beauty'. Moreover her horrifying hairstyle and gown, well, she's in my top 10, and that's the furthest I see her going.


I love Russia. Personally I think she has to be one of the MOST beautiful delegate this year. However it was reported that she totally messed up her interview (she claimed to love museums but could not manage to name any, how catastrophic!) Hhmmmmm hopefully her beauty and grace could carry her from top 15 to top 10 (where evening gown and swimsuits are judged respectively) and then to top 5. I believe she has what it takes to enter the top 5 as long as she shines on stage.


Miss Canada, born in Russia and raised in Canada. She is not very hot in Mexico City but somehow she has my vote due to her interview skill.


Miss India is the 1st runner in the Femina Miss India pageant and pulled quite a disappointing performace in the preliminaries. However Indians are very strong in the interview section and maybe that will gain her entry into the semifinals.

Now let me talk about those hyped-up-but-doesn't-get-my-vote Delegates; namely Greece and Tanzania.


Tanzania is all hyped up but I am absolutely NOT impressed by her. Perhaps she will be in the top 15 but that is the best I think she can do.


I refuse to give Greece my benefit of the doubt because she does nothing for me. What is with all the hype around her again? But nevertheless they do fit the criteria Miss Universe Organisation is looking for, so I am placing them in the top 15.


Angola, one of the few surprising delegates who put up a strong performance during the prelimiaries and turned so many heads. Angola has successfully placed consecutively in the semifinals in 2003 and 2004. Could Angola pull another surprise? Hyped based decision here.


Estonia, according to me, has the potential to pull a surprise this year. Tall, absolutely beautiful and with long flowing blonde, she could walk away with the crown easy, leaving everyone in surprise and awe. But blondes do not do very well in Miss Universe so I am placing her in my top 10. (She will probably do better at Miss World?)


Thailand is gaining stronger momentum as the final night is approaching. She is beautiful, did the right walk, has a gorgeous gown and performed well. Probably a top 10 material (or top 15 maybe but I decided to save her a place in the top 10).


How far can the Mexican delegate go? She is sooooooo popular right now, (probably contributed by the aggressive Mexican fans) so a top 5 is not impossible for her. After all she's Latino (hate to stereotype but everyone knows Latinos always do well in Miss Universe).

Other five alternatives are Puerto Rico, Philippines, Spain, Serbia and Italy. All of them are either based on sash factor or hype.

Who's the HOTTEST in 2007? (According to Global Beauties' Starting Grid)

Ok I've been paying very close attention to Global Beauties' coverage for this year's pageant. As far as I know there are not many sites out there whose range of coverage is as wide as GB, so I am practically visiting their website numerous times a day just to get my hands on the latest scope from Mexico City.

What interests me quite a lot is their 'starting grid'; it is a ranking of who are the hottest during the pageant weeks. And as the weeks progresses, there are lots of ups and downs in terms of the ranking for the delegates.

So MY LOVE has help me to create a statistical chart for my blog.


Global Beauties' 1st to 12th updates of Starting Grid


13th update of their Starting Grid

What you are seeing here is the top 10 delegates whom are the hottest (according to GB's starting grid). There are a total of 12 updates and the last record dated 27/05.

Venezuela has been named the strongest delegate in this year's pageant, and it shows in the chart. Ly's ranking has always managed to stay within the top 4 throughout the 12 updates.

The second hottest is Greece, the one delegate whom I am quite indifferent to. She has been doing quite well in the chart, quite impressive I must say. For the first 11 updates she has managed to remain in the top 5, but slipped to the 8th position for at the 12th update. For the latest update dated 28/07, Greece was ranked 11th, her lowest ranking.

The third hottest is the first entree Tanzania. She entered the grid at a shaky 11th position, but gained strong momentum and was within the top 5 from the 2nd to 10th updates. However from the 11th to 12th updates she slipped to the 7th position, and at the last 13th update she was at the 10th position, also her lowest ranking.

Japan placed 5th overall in the starting grid. She has her best placing during the 1st update at the second position, but has been slipping throughout the 12 updates. The 12th updates shows her at the 10th position. Surprisingly after the prelimiaries she reentered the top 5 and is placed 3rd in the 13th update.

If Venezuela is the one to win the Miss Universe crown this year, then Korea is the potential one to overthrow her. Korea's ranking has been fluctuating vigorously for the first half, but has been doing very very well after the 8th update. She was placed 1st during the 11th and the latest 13th update. I hope she will win this year! Fingers cross! Korea placed 6th overall in this grid.

The most improvement by a delegate has to be Serbia. From 18th place to 4th in the 12th update, she is impressing GB. However she too, slipped in the 13th update to 9th position.

My comments on the National Costume Competition

And the Most Hilarious National Costume Award goes to... Australia! Can you imagine wearing the Australia lifesaver swimwear as your national costume??? She looks hilarious with the high heels and flag... geeshh. Even Australian newspapers were 'shocked' by it.

My most favourite national costume is KOREA's! A great combination of striking colours and accessories. Simply love the drum. Hope she'll bag the National Costume Award during the final night. (And by the way, KOREA is currently at the top spot of Global Beauties' starting grid!)

Mexico has to change her costume due to the depiction of the scenes from the Cristero War, which thousands of people were killed and hanged. The end result seems... all right.

Russia has a nice ivory colour costume. Pretty pretty pretty. Nothing bad to say about her.

Singapore's very own national costume (?). Weird combination. Perhaps she borrowed couple of outfits from the television station's costume department, and this is the result of the mix and match. Nothing special, nobody gives a damn to the Singaporean delegate this year (as usual).

Check out the now-famous USA's Elvis costume. Very creative I must say. Too bad she was booed by the Mexican audiences during the Parade of National Costumes in Mexico City. She won't stand a chance for winning the costume award.

Last and very least, Venezuela. Do the Venezuelans think this is a clown parade? Check out the colours, I'm going blind!

One of the Top Contenders for the Crown of 2007

Miss Korea, on the front page of Critical Beauty. She is shown here wearing her magnificent national costume while taping for the opening night's introduction. If Venezuela is everyone's bet for winning the title of Miss Universe 2007, the Korea is her main rival in the competition. Honey Lee seems to be rapidly gaining momentum as the competition progresses. I sure hope she will be the first Asian delegate in seven years to capture the title.

My comments on the Evening Gown Competition

Evening gown segment... somehow I feel that this is the portion which I know more about the delegates' tastes. So far quite a number of delegates impressed me with their selection of clothing, whereas many others left me dumbfounded by their choices. So I shall now comment on the 2007 edition of the evening gown competition.

Miss Japan Riyo Mori

Well first of all I'm not impressed with Japan's evening gown. Japan delegates have this tendency to make fashion statements in the Miss Universe pageant and it has backfired before (in 2005). So Japan is taking her chance again with this somebody-might-not-appreciate gown. Misses Japan as we have all know, love to make fashion statements. This gives people the impression that they are risk takers and are not afraid of going down the road less taken by most. I hope it pays off for Riyo.

Miss Thailand Farong Yuttitham

Thailand, sweet old Thailand. With a reasonably beautiful gown to go along with her pretty face, she stands a chance to be place among the semifinalists. However with all the aggressive Latinos around, she might be too sweet for her own good.

Miss South Africa Megan Coleman

South Africa, One of the few delegates which I would like to see in the top 5. Arrghh what is wrong with her hair??? It looks so stiff and old fashioned, like something out of the 60s, bad bad bad choice indeed! And her gown, I will give it 6/10 and that's it. She's not a strong delegate, and with catastrophic hair and non-so-great gown, the furtherest she'll go is the top 10.

Miss Korea Honey Lee

Korea comes back with a vengeance after 19 years! And Honey Lee IS MY MOST FAVOURITE DELEGATE THIS YEAR! In 1988 the Korean delegate almost won it for her nation when she was placed 1st runner up behind Thailand. Now, everyone's talking about Miss Korea 2006 Honey Lee. And after winning both Global Beauties' Face of the Universe AND Best National Costume Award, she's one of Mexico's City hottest delegates. Not a bad choice for the gown, it's pretty and sweet, and I'm sure she has secured a place in the top 15 at least. (I hope that she will be in the top 5!)

Miss Brazil Natalia Guimaraes

Brazil is semi-hot on the Global Beauties' starting grid, But I think she looks quite good in her gown, it kinda reminds me of what Larissa Meek worn during the Miss USA 2000 pageant. Hmmm maybe a potential semifinalist.

Miss Greece Doukissa Nomikou

Greece is very hot in Mexico City now. Nice face but not-so-nice choice of gown. I don't see much appeal in her but you can judge it for yourself.

Miss Estonia Viktoria Azovskaja

Estonia is one of my favourites this year. I believe she has what it takes to be one of the semifinalists. She has got this supermodel look and long flowing blonde hair. Her gown is reasonably beautiful and it shows off her nice slender figure, so I believe she's got a chance this year.

Miss USA Rachel Smith

Everyone says Miss USA will do well this year, and she proves her fans right by showing up in this long flowing stunning turquoise gown. Quite a good choice indeed, thumbs up for ya Rachel!

Miss Russia Tatiana Kotova

And finally, my other favourite delegate this year - RUSSIA! She is so beautiful. I like this serene quality about her. I hope she will be in the top 5. Her gown has to be my favourite among all, white looks gorgeous on her, and she carries it really well. Russia Russia Russia!

Miss Venezuela Ly Jonaitis

Venezuela, the super powerhouse which everyone says will do well in this year's pageant. Hmmm what happened? It's such a terrible choice. What's with the lower half of the gown? It looks like her designer need to wake up! But due to the sash factor, I'm sure she'll be in the top 5 without a glitch.

Haha I've finally started on my first blog

and it's about one of my first loves - the Miss Universe Pageant!

OK, I am really excited about this year's pageant. Every year before and after the pageant I've got so many things to say but no where to express, so finally I can stop myself no further and start this blog on the my most favourite event of the (every single) year. :)

Something which is quite different about this year's pageant is that it lasts one month, unlike prior years which are only about two weeks. I read that some fans are complaining that it is turning boring, but not for me. I feel that the one month actually give fans, and possibly the judges who are reading about the pageants on the web, to have more time to analysis each delegates. And quite true! Some delegates took some time to shine, and when they did, outshine almost everyone else!

Now let's discuss about this year's preliminary competitions, which are just held.

First of all, I lovvveeeeee the opening sequence!

Isn't just MAGNIFICENT???

Yeah maybe Miss Universe Organisation is guilty of ripping off Victoria's Secret stage design in 2006, but what the hell, at least the current one is larger and (accordingly to me at least) better.

And here are the ladies rehearsing the opening dance sequence in their Tadashi outfits. Tadashi has been designing the outfit which Miss Universe delegates wear during the opening sequences for the past few years.

Don't the ladies simply look gorgeous?

But honestly I still prefer 2006's Tadashi outfit,
which was far more glittery and has a metallic look to it.

Alright, that's it for today. For the next post I shall comment on the National Costumes and Evening Gown. And I shall provide my list of favourite contestants whom I believe will do well in this year's pageant. Bye for now!