Dawn Chang On The War Path

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Multiple Victories in Pageantry

 After last year’s temporary slumber brought about by the China-made COVID-19 pandemic, the pageant scene bounced back in 2021 – with some international competitions (Miss Universe and Miss Grand International) even staging two separate editions for that year alone.

The Philippines already shaping a comfortable lead in the upper echelon of pageantry hierarchy and having won several titles in what is considered to be the four major international pageants: Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International, and Miss Earth, it looks like the crystal ball have a forecast of more rain of crown and titles on the horizon.

And in 2021, the Philippines again lived up to the title of Asian powerhouse as its representatives delivered high-grade and top-of-the-line performances, resulting in several crowns and podium finishes for the country. Undeniably, one of the biggest highlights for the Philippine pageant scene this 2021 is the winning of two titles, Miss Intercontinental and Miss Globe, in a span of just seven days.

Some countries' luck of having brought forth multiple victories, be it major or minor pageant is comparable to unexpectant parents delivering a twin,  a triplet, or a quadruplet.  They are described as productive, fertile, even spawning.

That's why some writers are asking what kind of water are they drinking in the Philippines, in Venezuela, Colombia, USA, Mexico, India, Brazil, and Puerto Rico, that when one wins the title, somebody will duplicate the same fate resulting to twin victories, sometimes even three or four.

Having multiple victories in mind we researched what countries were blessed with grand-slam achievements, that we need to be reminded, these are once their glory days and it needs to be celebrated. Lest somebody will accuse us of favoritism we included only the 4 major pageants plus the second-tier ones. With drumroll ... here is the lengthy list.  

YEAR   Wins   Country

1953 -    2     France -Christiane Martel - Miss Universe and Denise Perrier - Miss World

1968  -   2     Brazil  - Martha Vasconcellos- Miss Universe and Maria Carvalho - Miss International

1972  -   3     Australia- Kerry Ann Wells - Miss Universe, Belinda Green- Miss World, Janet Coutts-Miss Asia Pacific Int'l

1973  -   2     USA - Marjorie Wallace - Miss World and Barbara Jean Sergi - Miss Intercontinental

1981  -   2     Venezuela - Irene Saez -Miss Universe and Pilin Leon - Miss World

1982  -   2     USA - Christie Claridge - Miss International and Jodee Joy Dominici - Miss Intercontinental

1988  -   2     Thailand - Porntip Nakhirunkanok - Miss Universe and Preeyanuch Panpradub- Miss Asia Pacific Int'l

1994  -   2     Australia - Michelle Holmes - Miss Tourism International Skye Jilli Edwards - Miss Globe

1994  -   2     Greece - Christina Lekka - Miss International and Nikos Papadakis - Manhunt International

1994  -   2     India - Sushmita Sen - Miss Universe and Aishwarya Rai - Miss World

1995  -   2     USA - Chelsi Smith - Miss Universe and Melissa Cortez- Miss Intercontinental

1997  -   2     India - Diana Hayden Miss Universe and Lara Dutta Miss Intercontinental

1998  -   2     Costa Rica - Kisha Alvarado and Mario Carballo - Mr. international

1999  -   2     Colombia - Paulina Galvez - Miss International and Juliana Arango - Miss Asia Pacific Int'l

1999  -   2     Venezuela - Nadir Nery Djiukich - Mr. International and Ernesto Calzadilla - Manhunt International

2000  -   4     India - Lara Dutta- Miss Universe, Priyanka Chopra - Miss World, Dia Mirza - Miss Asia Pacific Int'l, and Aryan Vaid - Mr. International

2000  -   3     Venezuela - Vivian Urdaneta - Miss International, Joan Chupite Sute - Miss Globe, Legia Petit - Reina Hispano Americana

2001  -   2     India - Candice Pinto - Miss Tourism International and Rajeev Singh - Manhunt International

2001  -   2     Philippines - Alexander Aquino - Mr. International and Maricar Balagtas - Miss Globe

2003  -   3     Brazil - Priscilla Mirelles - Miss Globe and Gustavo Gianetti - Mr. World and Cecília Valarini - Reina Hispano Americana

2004  -   2     Colombia - Jermmy Vargas- Miss International and Deissy Deossa - Miss Intercontinental

2005  -   2     Venezuela -Alexandra Braun - Miss Earth and Emmarys Pinto - Miss Intercontinental

2006  -   2     Venezuela -Daniela Di Giacomo _ Miss International and Viviana Ramos Puma - Miss Globe

2007  -   2     Brazil- Helen Da Silva - Miss Globe and Alan Bianco Martini - Mr. International

2007  -   2     China - Zhang Zilin - Miss World and Jeffrey Guang - Manhunt International

2009  -   3     Venezuela - Stefania Fernandez - Miss Universe, Adriana Vasini - Reina Hispano Americana and Hannelly Quintero - Miss Intercontinental

2011  -   2     Ecuador - Fernanda Cornejo - Miss International and Olga Alava - Miss Earth

2012  -   2     Philippines - Alexis Gomez - Miss Tourism International and June Macasaet - Manhunt International

2013  -   4     Philippines - Megan Young - Miss World, Bea Rose Santiago - Miss International, Mutya Datul - Miss Supranational, Angelli Gomez - Miss Tourism International

2013  -   3     Venezuela - Gabriella Isler - Miss Universe, Alyz Henrich- Miss Earth, and Jose Anmer Paredes - Mr. International

2014  -   2     Philippines - Neil Perez - Mr. International and Jamie Herrell - Miss Earth

2015  -   4     Philippines - Pia Wurtzbach- Miss Universe,  Angelia Ong - Miss Earth and Ann Lorraine Colis - Miss Globe, Leren Mae Bautista- Miss Tourism Queen International

2016  -   3     India - Rohit Khandelwal- Mr. World, Dimple Chetan Patel - Miss Globe and Srinidhi Shetty - Miss Supranational

2016  -   2     Puerto Rico - Stephanie del Valle - Miss World and Heilymar Rosario - Miss Intercontinental

2017  -   6     Philippines - Karen Ibasco - Miss Earth, Angeli Gomez- Miss Tourism International, John Raspado - Mr. Gay World.  Teresita Marquez Reina Hispano Americana, Janine Alipoon - Miss Tourism Int'l

2017  -   2     Vietnam - Khan Hnghan - Miss Globe and Trương Ngọc Tình - Manhunt International

2018  -   5     Philippines - Catriona Gray - Miss Universe, Karen Gallman- Miss Intercontinental, and Sharifa Akeel - Miss Asia Pacific Int'l,  Cynthia Thomalla - Miss Eco Int'l, George de Lumen- Universal Ambassador,

2019  -   2     Thailand- Sireethorn Leearamwat - Miss International and Anntonia Porsild - Miss Supranational

2019  -   2     Philippines - Cyrille Payumo and John Jeffrey Carlos - Mr. Gay World

2020  -   2     USA - Lindsey Coffey - Miss Earth and Abena Appiah - Miss Grand International

2021  -   2     Mexico  Andrea Meza and Andrea Bazarte - Reina Hispano Americana

2021  -   3     Philippines - Maureen Montagne - Miss Globe, Cinderella Obenita - Miss Intercontinental, and Joel Carcasona - Mr. Gay World

PS: If there is anything I missed please feel free to comment and we will make corrections right away.

Commmentaries: When Readers Dictates What They Want To Read

From time to time we encounter readers who expressed their preference to pageant news updates over current political issues of national interest. But sometimes pageant news is just so scarce and sparse, the news is few and far between, especially now that there there is no pageant activity around the world. My suggestion here is ... (not that I am complaining) to my readers and followers, we should be contented with what is being offered at the table. I remember my Mom who always tells us, "Just eat what is being served and don't look for food that is not there." Bloggers crack their heads on what story to tell so the blog will not run out of topics to discuss. It is not an easy job. Again ... not that I am complaining.

Even prolific writers run out of ideas on what to write, even the creative ones resort to recycled news just so this site will be up and running. Others resort to discussing pageants that happened decades ago, as they and become pageantry's self-proclaimed historians.  I can't blame them because the members demand pageant-related topics and for sheer lack of materials, they recreated the past and discuss it with the present. Which to some is useless and unnecessary.

When Cheasli committed suicide imagine how many threads were made, how sorry everybody was because of her untimely death.  If the blogger is not creative he will succumb to just repeating the content of the previous threads. Lest one becomes redundant and superfluous other writers talked about conspiracy theories and whodunnit plots and murder itself just to differentiate his thread from the rest. I did one myself, and to make our thread in contrast with their content, we distance ourselves from Cheasli's death and instead focus on launching instant mini advocacy that talks about suicide prevention and early detection of a depressed person and being aware of its signs.

Again, not that I am complaining, but when some readers just happen to pass by and open this blog by accident, and then she suddenly whispered to you a dreary, "Pageant related topics only please ..." sometimes it can be frustrating ... and infuriating.

The taunting voice kept on reverberating in your consciousness and make you question yourself, "are the current political issues of national interest less important than pageant updates? And then the thought segued to the voice so powerful it can limit your breathing space and restrict your freedom and made you realize somebody is dictating you what to do and what topic you will start. And then you start asking yourself, "will they like what you have written or you will be reprimanded right away just like when somebody just sprung from nowhere and ask you, "Who are you? Are you a low life?"

Political topics are fillers, not that we want to write them.  When the blog owner's mind is blank and there are no pageant updates available, can we not resort to writing political issues to fill the void and the vacuum that is constantly infecting the site environs? Just like today, how many NEW topics were added? Three or four?  And there are days when to is only one or two - it gives the impression to onlookers and bystanders that the internet is decaying or dead, just like what detractors are saying.

If all members are active members and not finicky readers, then it is a different scenario. When the pages of the blog are deluged with comments, one will feel there's life in its four corners, and the atmosphere is vibrant, active, and dynamic.  But the fact of the matter is, only a few are, and the rest are just waiting in the wings for news.

We are not getting anything from being a blogger nor there are incentives so we will continue doing it. It is our way of showing this is a labor of love.  We want to contribute because we do not want it to die.  So if it's only consolation if we can try a little, being nice to each other and not grabbing the blogger's throat and giving him a jugular, there is still hope for it to survive.  But if toxicity persists and everyone is free and entitled to say his piece even if his manner of doing it is rude or crude then nobody can blame a member if he finally decided to call it quits.

Just my two cents worth.  And an unsolicited opinion.

English Language in Pageantry

English is the universal language, and nobody can deny that. Owing to the size of the English-speaking population and its usage in our daily life, the English language has been acknowledged as the world's lingua franca. 

The world is taking globalization seriously, and having English as a common language only makes business easier. English is also the language of science, mathematics, technology, tourism, finance, business, and countless other areas and one wonders if another language will be used it would be doubly hard. 

English is the most used language on the internet - most of the content produced on the internet is in the English language. And what made English the most used language? Several factors made it happen"

1.  Hollywood movies- They have a captive audience around the world.  Though some of them were dubbed in local dialect to suit a few, the majority has managed to survive with English making them learn in the process.

2.  English songs have global acceptance. Imagine an Ilocano 5-year-old belting Celine Dion's My Heart Will Go On and later growing up a man making English his second language. Sing your heart out in English and wonder how many English songs will follow.

3. Books are written in English and one newspaper considered English the most preferred language for written publications. English is not only widely spoken ... but is also widely read.

4. The English language is simple and is easy to pick up.  No annoying verb conjugations and tenses you only add ed if it happens in the past or simply add s to show plurality.

5. Internet had its refrain sang in English.  If you browse websites you will see its content done in English.

Learning a new language can be tedious and a long-drawn-out process. However, irrespective of what country you were born in, if you imbibe English gradually, a plethora of possibilities are waiting for you. But in pageantry, there is a growing concern about its use - and it is all about diversity.

I watched the video of the Pageant Nerd, (TPN for short) and he discussed in passing the growing phenomenon as he observed pageantry in the last decade. This is what he said:

"As I have mentioned in other videos, another trend, a worrying one for me is the ever-increasing focus on delegates speaking English in international competitions. More and more pageant finalists and winners in recent years have been proficient if not fluent in English even when they represent countries where English is not their official language. 

A case in point is the quick chat with Steve Harvey after delegates are announced as Miss Universe semi-finalists. This has happened in the five most recent times Steve has hosted. And you probably know my thoughts on that. Of the 85 women who have done the chat since 2016, not a single one of them has used a translator. One assumes they weren't made available unlike in other parts of the competition.  In some cases, it was abundantly clear a non-English delegate, had rehearsed a pre-prepared answer. 

I get it,  This global pageant organizations are businesses, one that needs a spokesperson to effectively represent their brand. And English is a global language of business.  But should non- English speakers even bothered to enter anymore if they hold legitimate hopes of winning an international title?

Could an international pageant organization not focus its efforts for a year on the market where the reigning title holder's language is spoken?  Easier said than done, I know, but I truly hope international pageants and their supposed celebration of diversity broaden their horizon in this particular area. "

Hijab and Beauty Contest, Like Water and Oil, Doesn't Mix

 I am telling you my opinion, not with any tinge of bias or prejudice against those wearing hijab.  But it has to be said, and let it all out.

Hijab is an Islamic concept of modesty and privacy, most notably expressed in women's clothing that covers most of the body. Although firmly rooted in Islamic tradition, the hijab is not strictly defined in the Muslim holy book, the Quran. It is often a  personal and cultural concept, not a religious one.

Simply put, the "rules" of wearing the hijab are:

1. To not display your appearance (beauty) except what is already apparent (i.e., your face and hands, and possibly your feet).

2. To avoid showing hair on your head.

3. To refrain from wearing tight clothing, so your figure isn't exposed.

The hijab, once worn as a scarf covering one's hair and covering the body, can only be taken off in front of family members or women. A Muslim woman wearing the hijab will therefore usually refrain from showing her hair to any man not related to her by blood.

Whether it is hijab or burqas for Muslims or a habit for Christian nuns, its use doesn't have religious undertones,  it is more for modesty.

 A Christian or a Catholic nun using her habit shows her reverence, fidelity, repudiation, and surrender to mundane and carnal desires like clothing, makeup, and jewelry.  A Muslim woman wearing a hijab does so because culture dictates it, and for as long as wearing hijab is not forced then I don't have a problem with it.

Having said that, it looked like hijab and beauty contests contradict each other, just like oil and water, they can't be mixed together.

We know what is happening in a beauty contest - and everybody knows the drill. The "de rigueur" is one has to flaunt her face, her body, her figure, and especially the hair where a lot of candidates have to use gimmicks and tricks to catch attention.  For isn't it the hair is the woman's crowning glory? The candidates twirl, pirouette and they gyrate to show their bodies and figure. I just can't fathom what will the judge use as the basis for his judgment when the girl is fully covered versus others who are almost baring their soul?

Do you see now where this point of view going?  If the hijab is covering the hair, and the body, it is downright foolish to render judgment and be fair to everybody if you ignore what the beauty contest requires, letting everybody see what you got.  Granting the woman with the hijab won,  what happens when all of the sudden you found out she has unkempt hair, or she is bald-headed ( not that I frown at seeing baldies), or her hair is not even?

Look, guys, I am not mean or a condescending person, and I am not racist or biased to our Muslim sisters.  All I am doing is just stating the obvious that hijab and beauty contests contradict and oppose each other. If Miss Somalia advances and wins Miss World, well and good and the ball now is on Julia Morley's side.  I am just stating my reservations.

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