No, this is not a tribute piece to the Norwegian pop-rock band Fra Lippo Lipi whose ditty serves as today’s theme.
What all gets to read now are the realizations about the recently concluded 69th Miss Universe where our candidate Rabiya Mateo made it to the semi-finalist round, the 15th contestant to be called to continue in the first round of competition, which was the swimsuit segment. Unfortunately, her signature “hala bira” walk failed to impress the selection committee during the actual pageant night.
It is understandable why majority of people nowadays are constant Miss Universe watchers. Since 2010, when Venus Raj made it us 4th runner up, Miss Philippines always impressed the scrutiny and beauty standards of the international panel of judges: Shamcey Supsup (3rd runner up in 2011); Janine Togonon (first runner up, 2012); Ariella Arida (3rd runner up, 2013); MJ Lastimosa (top 10, 2014); Pia Wurtzbach (3rd Philippines Miss Universe, 2015); Maxine Medina (top 6, 2016); Rachel Peters (top 10, 2017); Catriona Gray (4th Philippines Miss Universe, 2018); and Gazini Ganados (top 10, 2019). All these impressive feats gave the Philippines the stature of a pageant powerhouse.
So, what learnings can we unearth from Mateo’s not making it to the top 10?
First of all, what we think who is beautiful and who we believe is beautiful is not the same with the tastes and preferences of the selection committee. True, this was a good year for Asian beauties because aside from the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Thailand, and Vietnam made it to the semi-finalist with Adline Castilino of India and Amanda Obdam of Thailand advanced to the top 10.
Castilino looked regal and poised but during the question and answer portions, she groped for words and her answers were always uncertain. Obdam, meanwhile, appeared to be copying the Gray and this proved to be her biggest setback.
Another learning of course is the fact that aside from beauty, being true to yourself, charm, wit and a figure to die for plus wardrobes that scream for attention, the luck and destiny cards play a great deal in being crowned as the most beautiful in the universe.
The preliminary part of the pageant is also important but whatever you brought in during that part of the competition, the candidate must carry it as well come pageant night.
The most perfect example of this realization of course is Catriona Gray. In the preliminary and actual competition, she slayed during her swimsuit catwalk because she employed the combination of being fierce” and “fun” and she literally “owned” the stage. During the long gown competition, Gray sashayed with confidence with the appropriate amount of drama, sizzle, and scorch.
During the preliminaries, Mateo donned in canary two-piece number that accentuated her Filipina brown crow. She did surprisingly well in this segment with the “you go girl, I got this moment to shine” vibe. However, she seemed nervous and uninspired during the pageant night.
As for the golden yellow gown, the majority opinion about it was it looked dated, seen that kind and cut of gown before and the screaming for attention pushed by wonder wired bra bosom did not help.
Also, another learning, although the national costume has no bearing whatsoever in making it to the preliminary, the winner, Thuzar Wint Lwin of Myanmar, who brought home the bragging rights, showed to all what a winning national costume should and must be. Myanmar wore their traditional longyi paired with a blouse. No embellishment. No gargantuan props to carry. Just the customary dress staple and symbol of her nation.
Mateo now has been announced as the brand ambassador of an ethyl alcohol product. For sure, there will be more projects and endorsements coming her way. And she lives to tell the tale of her most beautiful day journey.
What Miss Universe candidate is most likely to bring us our fifth crown? She must be as dusky and witty as Gloria Maria Diaz. She must be decorous and poised like Maria Margarita Moran. Lucky and confidently beautiful as Pia Wurtzbach. And she must raise the flag for a hundred million Filipinos with her megawatt smile, conviction and earnestness, resolve to be victorious plus the on the ball fashion sense and styling of Catriona Elisa Gray.
To conclude, Miss Universe Philippines must also be, pardon me from copying these additional elements from the theme song of the longest reigning beauty queen makers, she must also be “the perfect symbol of a people rich in heritage and love. She is lovely, pretty, captivating and exciting. She is the girl who will surely win the hearts of the judges and the pageantry aficionados.