Akisha Albert - Philippines Lucky Charm From Curacao

CJ Opiaza- Miss Grand International Philippines 2024

Here is another beauty pageant trivia you don't want to miss. Would you believe Akisha Albert is the new Miss Grand Int'l Curacao 2024? So, does it matter to Filipinos if she will represent Curacao or not?

On the face value ... maybe none. But if I am going to tell you ... she is a lucky charm to some of our previous winners. Maybe you will reconsider your answer.

She was unplaced in Miss Earth 2014, but Jamie Herrell of the Philippines won Miss Earth 2014.

Akisha continued her pageant journey ... and in Reina Hispano America 2017, she won first runner-up ... only second to Winwin Marquez of the Philippines, who took the contest by storm, being the first-ever delegate of the country to the contest ... and won.

Akisha doesn't rest on her laurels.  In 2018 ... her third attempt at Miss Universe was the most-watched. By now having proven she was indeed a lucky charm ... Filipinos were already sure and confident Catriona Gray would bring home the bacon ... and the rest was history ... Catriona was boiling hot with her lava walk giving the Philippines its fourth Miss Universe Crown.

And what is this we heard the indefatigable Akisha is trying out her luck this time at Miss Grand International 2024 - the title that is too elusive for Filipinos ... what with Uncle Nawat's sweet and sour relationship with the Philippines.

Will CJ Opiaza bring the Golden Crown to the Philippines and will her victory prove that Akisha Albert's being the lucky charm was not only coincidental ... but providential. 

The finals of Miss Grand International came, and bomber CJ Opiaza fell short as she ended up only as the second best (first runner up). Filipinos were expectant that the Philippines would finally win the elusive crown ... but it was not written in the stars. Although downhearted...  they console themselves ... "Well, next year will be another year."

So did Akisha Albert's magic being the lucky charm for not just one but four Philippine titleholders, a mere coincidence? Or is it just an oddity ... it may have worked with the other Pinoy beauty queens in the past, and the Miss Grand 2024 finals was its expiry date?

Fast forward to the present - May 28. 2025. What's this we heard that Rachel Gupta - Miss Grand International 2024 has resigned. Or was she terminated? It looked like there was bad blood between her and the organization.

And as expected, with her resignation, somebody has to take over, and who would aptly assume control and fill in her beauty shoes than the first runner up herself, CJ Opiaza?

Moral of the story? It is not over ... till it is over.

Indeed, Akisha Albert is the Philippines' lucky charm. The finals of Miss Grand 2024 may not be the way we expect it to be ... but with Akisha around ... the melodrama has made its last twist and turn ... and the Golden Crown ... was given to the rightful owner, CJ Opiaza.

Akisha Albert - Miss Grand International Curacao 2024

Pageant Oddities

Was this pageant oddity just a coincidence ... or was it written in the stars? Or was this person a LUCKY CHARM to the Philippines? 

We are referring to Akisha Albert - a beauty queen from Curacao. A lucky charm is said to be something or someone that is thought to bring good luck and good fortune.

Consider these facts to prove our point. When she joined Miss Earth 2014, Jamie Herrell of the Philippines won.  When she joined Miss Hispano Americana 2017, she was first runner-up to Philippines Teresita Marquez who was declared the winner. And get this ... when she ventured into Miss Universe 2018, she was included in the Top Ten when Catriona Gray won the fourth Miss Universe crown for the Philippines.

If she was born February 8, 1995, she was 19 when she joined Miss Earth 2014, 22 at Miss Reina HispanoAmericana 2017, and 23 at Miss Universe 2018.

The latest we heard from the grapevine, the Curacaoan beauty was appointed Miss Grand Curacao 2024 at 29.

If she is indeed a lucky charm to the Philippines ... and if it is written in the stars ...will this be the golden opportunity for the Philippines to win the elusive Miss Grand International crown? Hope springs eternal - it is human nature always ... to find fresh cause for optimism. 

What's Trending?

 

Another trending scenario from Century Tuna Superbods 2024 ... Marian Rivera one of the judges asked candidate Jether Palomo in Tagalog and he beg to have it translated into English.  Here's how the exchange goes.

Marian Rivera: Dumami ang followers mo sa social media nung naging finalist ka. Paano mo gagamitin ang opportunity na ito kahit natapos na ang competition.?

Jether Palomo: I'm sorry can I get English, please?

Marian Rivera: I will try my best ... are you ready for this? Listen very carefully!

Your social media following grew ... when you became a finalist. How would you use this opportunity even after your Superbod Journey?

I am unfamiliar with Marian Rivera ... if she is Englesira or not like ... Dingdong Dantes ... but her attempt to translate the question to the candidate was excellent.

I remember when Marian was invited as one of the judges in Miss Universe and she had to defend herself when netizens questioned her ability to speak English.

How well you speak English is not a yardstick to measure one's intelligence.

By the way ... the way the audience reacted to the exchange was a surefire hit ... everybody enjoyed it.  If you ask my opinion, that special Q and A portion did the trick and made Jether Palomo the Century Tuna Superbod 2024 winner.

Thanks to you ... Marian Rivera!

                                                         Jether Palomo - Century Tuna Superbod 2024

Q and A: Bata Bata ... Paano Ka Ginawa?

Question: Who do you think is the youngest of these celebrities?

a. Megan Young-beauty queen

b. Jacob Young- Hollywood actor

c. Efren "Bata' Reyes - Pinoy pool player

d. Jose Marie "Tutoy: Viceral - Its Showtime Host

e. Totoy Bibo - Vhong Navarro

f. Lauren Young - actress

Answer: Efren Bata Reyes ... wala pang ipen! Gilagid lang!

Trivia

        Sushmita Sen- Miss Universe 1994 flanked by Minorca Mercado of Venezuela and Carolina Gomez of Colombia

Sushmita Sen - Miss Universe 1994 from India in her interview with Jessica Soho of GMA 7 was very surprised to know that after she won Miss Universe when Manila hosted Miss Universe for the very first time ... a lot of parents named their daughter born that year Sushmita in respect and honor for her.

She said: ..." But Sushmita is not a Filipino name ... " and her eyes almost moved out of her sockets when Jessica presented 4 Filipino Sushmitas ... in flesh and blood.

To think there are still a lot of Sushmitas that did not show up.

Political Memes

Last February 14 2024 ... former senator Juan Ponce Enrile is 100 years old. He is now a CENTENARIAN!

I always heard people saying LIFE IS SHORT.  Not in the senator's case.

Question Of The Day

Filipinos love a good riddle ... and answering crossword puzzles. Our desire to answer all the questions and completely finish the job gives us some kind of fulfillment, the need to continue and persevere until we accomplish the task. It tickles our brain cells, and we feel mighty proud once the cryptogram is decoded.

People ask why everybody loves Jessica Fletcher of Murder She Wrote? Or Ben Matlock or Jake and the Fatman.  Well,  they always solve mysteries.

Too bad, there are a lot of questions and mysteries out there that we may never learn the answers to their intriguing nature. The universe is far-reaching and its mysteries limitless, and there are many things that even geniuses have their arms raised upwards because they don't have answers to some of these queries. 

Let’s explore some of the questions that there are no answers to. Some of them have answers though ... like this one.

In Miss Universe 1969 Preliminary interview ... Gloria Diaz Miss Universe 1069 was asked:

Judge: Is it true that you Filipinos use your hands when you eat?

Gloria Diaz: Why do you use your feet?

Klap ... klap ... klap.  The answer is short, concise, and direct to the point. Para siyang si Kris Aquino sa pagiging taklesa ... siya siguro ang Q and A coach ni Gloria Diaz noon ... eh kung pabara-bara lang naman ang tanong bakit ka mahiya na pabara-bara din ang sagot na ibibigay mo. Tit for tat.

This will eventually cut the interview short. The judge who was given a dose of her own medicine .... gaganahan pa bang magtanong? I think not ... whatever follow-up questions she has was nip in the bud.

That was 1969 ... it may have worked at that time pero I doubt if it will work in this day and age when Miss Universe has spread its wings in the name of inclusivity - pwede na ang mga gurang ... ang mga may asawa ... ang mga tomboy  ... and mga plus-sized candidate ... and transgendered women. Parang circus na nga ang Miss Universe.

Maybe if that's the way you answer the questions today ... baka kukuyugin ka ng mga judges.