So Miss Universe 2011 is just around the corner and I already have my suspected predictions. I think the one that is ahead of the whole pack has to be Miss USA, Alyssa Campanella.
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| USA Alyssa Campanella |
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| Miss Universe 1997 Brooke Lee |
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| Marena Bencomo from Venezuela the real Miss Universe |
Not since Rachel Smith or Shandi Finnessey has there been such a beautiful Miss USA. I can see USA winning it's 8th crown, after all USA hasn't won since 1997 when Brooke Lee from Hawaii was surprisingly crowned the most beautiful girl of the night. (Marena Bencomo from Venezuela and the 1st runner up should've won.) Alyssa was actually a contestant at Miss Teen USA 2007 where she represented New Jersey and placed only 1st runner up to Hilary Cruz from Colorado. It's almost like it's meant to be considering all the work she had to go through before being able to compete in the Miss USA pageant this year. She lost the Miss New Jersey USA crown twice first in 2009 where she placed 1st runner up to that years Miss New Jersey and then the following year in 2010 where she was only a semi-finalist. That year she relocated to California where she competed in Miss California USA and won. Also how amazing would it be if Jimena Navarrete from Mexico crowned Alyssa Campanella from USA, and also her roommate. I can see it happening.
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| Karin Ontiveros Miss Mexico |
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| Vanessa Goncalves Miss Venezuela |
Two other very strong competitors are Karin Ontiveros from Mexico and Vanessa Goncalves from Venezuela. They both have been training for the longest. (Karin for 10 months and Vanessa 9 months.) Beauty pageants in Latin America are taken very seriously, so you know these girls have been working extremely hard. This is not just a beauty title it's a job that is very hard and takes up a lot of these girls time. They both also have so much pressure on them this year. Karin is trying to bring Mexico it's third crown and it doesn't help that last years Miss Universe is from Mexico too. After last year Venezuela missing the top 15 with Marelisa Gibson, Vanessa is trying to come back strong for her country and hopefully bringing Venezuela it's 7th crown. First up Karin who is very beautiful and looks very strong. When she first won Nuestra Belleza Mexico last year I knew she was going to be a very strong competitor. I could see her winning, but as time when by and more girls started being elected she lost it for me. I almost feel like she will place but not win. I can see her placing very high in the top 5. She will have to perform very strong in a year where the latin girls are probably the strongest of the bunch. Vanessa Goncalves from Venezuela is a girl that I don't see being as strong as other winners from Venezuela, but I'm doubting that they will leave Venezuela out for a second year in a row. It's all about the sash with Venezuela. She makes top 15 it's almost a sure bet she will make top 5. I hear Vanessa has gone through a drastic transformation since she won back in October. That's the thing with these Venezuelan girls, they win and then when they arrive to compete in Miss Universe they look completely different. Witch can be a good thing.
Before
After
Take for example Cynthia Landen Miss Venezuela 2000. When she won she was a blond and not very polished. She arrived in Puerto Rico that year to compete in Miss Universe 2001 and looked like a complete different person. She was a brunette and has lost a significant amount of weight. (Her nose looked different too.) She placed 4th runner up to Oxana Federova who won that year. Anyways expect both of them to do very well.
China
One country that really surprised me this year is China. Wow! She's beautiful and way better than last year's Miss China. (Poor girl looked out of place and looked like she hadn't even gone through puberty. ) Miss China is under new national director so they are bringing it this year with Lou Zilin. I also hear she's been training with Lu Sierra who happens to be the runway instructor for the Miss USA/Universe pageants. Expect Lou to do very well and come extremely prepared when she arrives in Brazil. I really feel like it's going to be "The Year of the Latina" yet again. Latin American delegates are bringing it this year. So far in my list making it are Mexico, Venezuela, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, and Argentina. I still need to see more from Ecuador and Nicaragua as they can easily ease their way in the semifinals.
Brazil
This years host delegate Brazil is probably the weakest Miss Brazil crowned. She's not doing it for me, facially she's not beautiful. She was also controversial when she won. Topless pictures of her were leaked and when she won she was booed by the audience. She has also been very open about having plastic surgery in three different occasions. If she makes it, it will only be because she's the host. European countries have been performing extremely well in the past two years. As they have dominated the semifinals in 2009 and 2010. I just don't know how serious these girls are about winning. I almost feel like to them it's only a "beauty title" and don't realize that it's a hard job that requires them to relocate to New York for a year and travel to different countries. I can see Kosovo, Netherlands, Ukraine, Czech Republic, France, Finland and Albania making the semifinals.
Kosovo
Ukraine
Kosovo and Ukraine have been gaining a lot of steam since they both won their national titles, and pageant followers seem to really like them both. Two countries that I'm still on the fence about are Russia and Spain. I really haven't seen a lot from them. I'm waiting for them to arrive in Brazil.
Israel
Miss Universe 1976 from Israel
Israel is also another girl I've been seeing a lot of. She's actually very beautiful. Israel hasn't placed since 2005 and they have won in one occasion in 1976. I will have to see how prepared and strong she is when she arrives in Brazil.
Malaysia
Miss Universe 2009 Dominican Republic (left) 1st runner up
Miss Universe 2010 Jamaica (right) 1st runner up
Other girls that I've taken notice off are Malaysia who is actually from the Miss World 2007 class. Let's not forget that in 2009 and 2010 Dominican Republic and Jamaica both placed as 1st runner up and had also competed in the Miss World 2007 pageant. So what does this mean for Malaysia can it happen a 3rd year in a row? Is she going to continue the trend and place 1st runner up? Will she even make the semifinals? She is a very beautiful girl and seems very strong. Malaysia has only made the semifinals one other year and that was in 1970.
Australia
Another girls who I'm liking a lot is Australia. She is beautiful and a true Aussie. She reminds me of Jennifer Hawkins. If she wants to be taken seriously she needs to loose like 5 pounds and tone up a little bit. I can see her being very strong. Australia has been making the semifinals since 2008 and made top 5 in 2009 where she placed 3rd runner and 2010 where she was 2nd runner up. Hmmm...1st runner this year and then a win in 2012?
2nd runner in 2004...
...1st runner up in 2005...
...Miss Universe in 2006.
It's happened. Puerto Rico was 2nd runner up in 2004 the next year in 2005 she placed 1st runner up and BAM! She wins in 2006.
Angola
From Africa I only see Angola being a strong competition. Leila Lopez is very beautiful and she reminds me a lot of Micaela Reis who was top 10 in 2007.
Ghana
Bahamas
Ghana might be a surprise placement this year as she previously represented Minnesota in the 2009 Miss USA pageant where she was among the top 15. Another girl who competed that year too as Miss Florida is Miss Bahamas. I don't expect her to place though.
South Africa
South Africa was a girl who I had taken notice of when she first won her national title, but as time has past it's almost like she's fizzled. She will have to bring it. South Africa usually does very well and they have placed every year since 2007. Hopefully she can keep the trend.
Miss Philippines 2010
Miss Philippines 2011 Eh!
Philippines is just OK. She's no Maria Venus Raj. The last time they placed was in 1998 and they weren't able to place again until just last year 2010, where Venus was 4th runner up. They have won in two occasions one in 1969 and then again in 1973.
Mauritius
I'm seeing this years delegate from Mauritius making a lot of favorite lists. She beautiful but I need to see more of her. Some of the pictures I've seen aren't very strong. She reminds me of Miss Curacao 2010. She was heavily favored and then on the final night she missed the top 15 all together. Island girls are usually never strong. They lack the experience and training.
Trinidad & Tobago
Trinidad & Tobago is another girl who competed in the Miss World 2008 pageant. She was able to place 2nd runner up to the winner that year of Russia. I want to see it but I can't. Usually Miss World and Miss Universe are way two different pageants. What Miss World is looking for in a girl, Miss Universe isn't necessarily looking for. It's happened though.
Indonesia
Indonesia is beautiful but they are usually never strong. Especially because they refuse to wear a two piece bathing suit. That can hurt a girl.
Egypt
And last Egypt who is actually very beautiful. Egypt has never made the semifinals and usually there's always a surprise placement every year. Last year it was Guatemala, the year before Croatia. I can see her being this years "Wild Card." So there you have it my pre-thoughts on this years Miss Universe pageant. It will be very interesting to see what happens when they arrive in Brazil this August. Girls who were strong all year will probably fizzle due to the pressure and be left behind like it usually happens. Until then....
