The Latest Buzz on Miss Universe 2008
by Rejelyn Deypalubos
"Conspiracy Theory"
Ever wonder why Miss Italy Claudia Ferraris defied all odds and landed at Top 10? Two days before the finals night, two guys in an identical t-shirt with Miss Universe ID's were seen during the Mercedes-Benz photo ops. The final picture was with the delegates, the Mercedes-Benz cars and one of the guys with identical T-shirt! It looks like they are the owners of the Mercedes-Benz cars. After the photo-op, the two guys asked Miss Italy (of so many delegates they conspicuously choose Miss Italy only!) to pose in a scooter and one of them stood alongside. Is it possible that these two guys are big-time sponsors and asked their favorite delegate to be included in the Top Ten? Try playing Sherlock Holmes....
Post Pageant Buzz
Leaving Nha Trang is a great chore for some considering that all flights the day after are all fully booked and the bad news is, only the state-owned Vietnam Airlines is operating the Nha Trang/Cam Ranh-Ho Chi Minh City route. Supporters of Miss Ghana for example decided to take a 10 hour sleeper bus to HCM City. The bus is okay but the road is one of the bumpiest in the whole world!
After the pageant finals, the delegates are on their own. Miss Tanzania Amanda Ole Sulul for example was, in her own words, "angry and depressed" after Thai and Qatar Airways messed up her flight on the very day that her visa expires!
Miss Thailand Gavintra Photijak may have missed the top fifteen but she went home a celebrity. The Thai press relished on the fact that Gavintra won the Best in National Costume and the Missosology's People's Choice Award.
Meet the Miss Universe 2008
I still can't get over by the fact that the Top 15 was littered with undeserving delegates. I think that the Miss Universe should show to all the prelim scores to ensure transparency. Anyway, I am very happy to report that Missosology.Org predicted the winner and the first runner-up! I am happy to say also that Miss Venezuela Dayana Mendoza is the perfect choice. In the video above, we had a chance to ask the new Queen some questions.
The Top Fifteen: Are they Kidding?
Japan? Hungary? Are they kidding? The top fifteen are Venezuela, Kosovo, Mexico, Vietnam, South Africa, Australia, Japan, Dominican Republic, Italy, Colombia, Russia, Hungary, Czech Republic, USA and Spain. But it is shocker to see inferior delegates subduing a much stronger candidate.
An Hour To Go and Fans are Up In Arms
Fans from all over the world are up in arms to support their respective delegate. I went just in front of the Crown Convention Center and check the ongoing frenzy. I took candid photos of the supporters from Ecuador, Israel and the Philippines.
Mercedes Benz Promotional Photo
The delegates of Miss Universe 2008 were being ferried back and forth between the Crown Convention Center and the Diamond Bay today, July 12 for the rehearsals. This afternoon they went in front of the convention center for the promotional photo with Mercedes Benz cars.
Miss Vietnam strangely always walks alone. Has she not developed friendship among delegates? Is she making a good job as a host delegate or not?
Miss Albania, Kosovo and Italy seem to have developed good friendship. They were late for the photo ops and have to run to catch up.
Miss Trinidad and Tobago still looks wonderful. When she heard that we are from Missosology she blurted out, “My friends!”.
Miss Japan is seen to be constantly tapping on her phone. Relaying something perhaps to someone?
Miss Colombia and Miss Venezuela are both in high spirits.
Miss Philippines and Miss Thailand looks happy as well!
A Bit of Thoughts About the Prelims
In overall I must say that the prelims highlight the fact that the road to the top 15 is not really tight. I said this because I saw that the usual faves are the standouts. Miss Mexico Elisa Najera, Miss Venezuela Dayana Mendoza, Miss India Simran Kaur Mundi and above all Miss Colombia Taliana Vargas aced the evening gown segment. Miss Thailand Gavintra Photijak looks okay and I think she did well. Miss South Africa Tansey Coetzee looks confident and she stole everyone's attention but it was Miss Colombia Taliana Vargas' twirling gown that I like the most. Miss Puerto Rico Ingrid Rivera and Miss Philippines Jennifer Barrientos failed to amaze me. Miss Korea Sun Lee's gown is an over stretched black piece and Miss Japan Hiroko Mima I think overdid it with a bag accessory but I guess she did that to gain attention. Wardrobe-wise, I like Miss Switzerland Amanda Amman's pink gown. Amazingly, Miss Venezuela and Miss Mexico both had yellow gowns!
In the swimsuit, ah yes you guessed it - the usual faves did stand-out. Miss Mexico Elisa Najera did show a strong form. I also noted that Miss Singapore Shenise Wong overdid her steps more like a high stride. Miss Venezuela Dayana Mendoza shows a lot of confidence. Well, this is just a partial review and I would like to thank my fellow Filipino Pamboy for giving me a complementary SUPER VIP ticket! I was actually sitting next to Miss Universe 1992 Lupita Jones! I will let my husband do the comprehensive one.
Initial Pictures from The Prelims
Here's a little photo I took from the prelims. We will upload more tomorrow at the gallery. We need an early sleep because we will interview our fave delegate tomorrow
A Little Glimpse Prior the Prelims
We arrived at the Crown Convention Center just in time the delegates were being ferried to Diamond Bay. The ladies have just finished their final rehearsals and we saw the beautiful Anya Ayoung-Chee, Miss Trinidad and Tobago. In person she looks like a Filipina and she's elegant and wonderful. My husband shouted her name and she waved at us when we said we are from Missosology! We also saw Miss Tanzania Amanda Ole Sulul who looked very confident and Miss Thailand Gavintra Photijak who looked demure. Miss Guam Sierra Robertson looks sad but she is probably beautiful when smiling. Miss South Africa Tansey Coetzee looks composed while Miss Puerto Rico Ingrid Rivera has her own cart all by herself and her entourage. Hmmm.....
Miss South Africa Tansey Coetzee Exposed
We are not yet in Nha Trang when it happened but alas, Miss South Africa's tube went down and revealed her right breast during a gala dinner at Vinpearl. Poor Tansey! She was completely unaware and the people around her including the photographer were completely oblivious. The incident had forumers talking!
The Truth about the Crown Convention Center
It's me at the grounds of the Crown Convention Center
Just what is exactly the Crown Convention Center? That's what boggling in my mind as me and my husband is about to cover the Miss Universe 2008. To start with, pictures of wonderful building awash with lights came into my mind. But then, when we passed through from Cam Ranh airport to our hotel at the city center, I was a bit disappointed.
The Crown Convention Center Up Front. Notice the unfinished work on the sidewalk
The Crown Convention Center failed to amaze me. It is relatively small. A SM City store will beat this in size. The architecture is rather tacky and lacks a theme but it is nevertheless a passable convention center. And everywhere you look you can see some unfinished work despite the fact that the pageant is just a few days away. What I dislike most to this convention center is the location. It is too far from the city center, so we gave up our cheap but great value hotel in the middle of the city for the Diamond Bay Resort which is quite expensive.
The full view
It's not all bad though. I actually like the setting of both the Crown Convention Center and the Diamond Bay Resort (they are virtually facing each other in between of which is a highway). At the backdrop is a rocky mountain and the scenery is very nature-oriented. It's relaxing away from the rush of the city life. The Media Center is comfortable and the staff are very friendly. The internet access is free as well.
The Diamond Bay Resort
In overall, the Crown Convention Center is an appropriate venue for Miss Universe but it failed to match the pageant's prestige. I am happy though that our Vietnamese brothers are marching towards development. Nha Trang City is a small but charming city with a relaxing beach lifestyle. Truly, a good break from busy Ho Chi Minh City
The Press Center
Copyright � 2008. Missosology.org. All Rights
Reserved.
Contact the webmaster:
contactus@missosology.org
