Miss Universe 2011 Beauty Pageant - A Translator's Advantage

Oprah Winfrey say's via NBC News:

"I have reservations with the results. If the only basis is the Q and A portion, after having been trimmed down to 5, Ms. Philippines deserved to win. What made her different from the rest is that she had no seconds to rethink of her answer as she had no interpreter to break the ice. The rest had their interpreters and having breaks on seconds to think about their answers. Hands down, Ms. Philippines answered straight to the point." (Later, this statement was being denied by the publicist of Ms. Winfrey.)

This was too good to be true, if Ms. Winfrey really believed that Miss Philippines Shamcey Supsup should be crowned as the Miss Universe 2011, not Miss Angola Leila Lopes and the rest of the five finalists (Miss Ukraine Olesia Stefanko-first runner up, Miss Brazil Priscila Machado-2nd runner up and Miss China ZiLin Luo-4th runner up).

The result became a trending topic online via several top social networking sites (Twitter and Facebook, favoring Miss Philippines).

During the contest, NBC (the carrying broadcast station to air the show via satellite from Sao Paolo, Brazil) held an online contest, where fans clamor for Miss Venezuela, Miss Philippines and Miss Angola for the top spot. Unfortunately, Miss Venezuela didn't make it to the FInal 5.

Or this must be something fishy with the tabulators' computation.

Well, for the part of the winners who stood one inch taller or more with the rest of the 89 international beauties, they respect the decision of the judges, although ordinary people did smell politicking because of the factors, involving hometown decision and commonwealth issue.

Afterall, Angola is part of Portugal's commonwealth nations in Africa aside from Brazil in South America.

So, there.

Miss Universe 2011 & Shamcey Supsup

What is beauty if the brain is empty? What is the essence of a woman? Do you believe in the saying that: "In every man's success or failure, there's a woman behind." If you're familiar with the motto and questions regarding women, then you're apt to watch a beauty contest.

I may be biased upon mentioning the representative of the Philippines to the Miss Universe pageant in Sao Paolo, Brazil this year. Yes, Shamcey Supsup, the crowned beauty from General santos City in Mindanao is also a woman to behold. A well-rounded personality with a topnotcher belt during the recent board examination in Architecture. she was able to display her grace and wit during the national selection, although it's her first time to join such pageant.

Her winnings opened a lot of opportunities in the local showbusiness, displaying her intuitive remarks in judging contestants at the morning show, It's Showtime.

As she romped away with the crown, this lady architect set aside her works in the field of engineering in order to pave way with the preparations of competing along with the 88 stunning beauties from around the world.

A month-long preparation has been highlighted with humanitarian activities at the host country where the ladies jived with the Brazilian lives.

This may be the year of the Filipinas, because the set of international judges, included the Tony/Disney awardee Lea Salonga.

The 60th Miss Universe Beauty Pageant in Brazil - Miss Angola copped the title!

It can easily be tagged as hometown decision but judges thought otherwise. It was Miss Angola, not the heavily favored Miss Brazil who grabbed the crown.

The 2011 Miss Universe Beauty Pageant was staged at the Sao Paolo city auditorium with fans, spectators and family supporters coming from all over the world to witness the 89 lovely candidates from all over the world to vie for the most coveted crown among international beauty titles.

Live audience and home viewers saw the transformation of this set of international beauties for a month-long activities showcasing the beauty and culture of Brazil as they were ushered and oriented to their cultural landmarks, toured to places of this nation-riched sporting history with one of the most beautiful coastline around the world.

Dubbed as the most beautiful day in the universe, the contest was anchored by popular TV hosts in the US, Natalie Morales (a Brazilian by birth) and Andy Cohen.

As for the beauties, their friendship was set aside and went head-to-head on that special night to battle for the crown, via swimsuit, evening gown and the most daunting part, the Q & A portion.

Before the introduction of the night's judges, the emcees announced the 16 ladies who made it to the next round which was the swimsuit competition. The lady who won the online voting was included in the selection.

They were:

1. Miss France - Laury Thilleman, 20
2. Miss Kosovo - Aferdita Dreshaj, 25
3. Miss Colombia - Catalina Robayo, 22
4. Miss China - ZiLin Luo, 24
5. Miss Angola - Leila Lopes, 25
6. Miss Australia - Scherri-Lee Biggs, 21
7. Miss Puerto Rico - Viviana Ortiz, 25
8. Miss Brazil - Priscila Machado, 25
9. Miss Netherlands - Kelly Weekers, 22
10. Miss USA - Alyssa Campanella, 21
11. Miss Ukraine - Olesia Stefanko, 23
12. Miss Panama - Sheldry Saez, 21
13. Miss Costa Rica - Johanna Solano, 20
14. Miss Portugal - Laura Goncalvez
15. Miss Philippines - Shamcey Supsup, 25
16. Miss Venezuela - Vanessa Goncalvez

Latina beauties dominated the first round of elimination with seven of them at the Top 16; four from Europe, two from Asia and one each from North America and Southern Hemisphere.

The set of Miss U Judges

1. Helio Castroneves of the "Dancing with the Stars" fame
2. Vivica A. Fox, an Afro-American actress
3. Miss Universe 2003 Amelia Vega, now a singer
4. Adrienne Malof, US shoe designer
5. Farouk Shami, Beauty Products mogul
6. Isabeli Fontana, international runway model
7. Lea Salonga - Filipina actress, Broadway star and Disney artist
8. Italo Sanzi, international football commissioner
9. Connie Cheung, the very first Asian TV anchor in the US

Meanwhile, emcees segued to announce the winners during the preliminaries before the big night.

Best in Costume - Miss Panama
Miss Congeniality - Miss Montenegro
Miss Photogenic - Miss Sweden

NBC, a media sponsor whose based in the US for the satellite broadcast sponsored an online survey conducted during the swimsuit and long gown competition. Miss Venezuela topped the swimsuit competition according to online fans while Miss Angola topped the long gown competition. Miss Philippines came closely in second to both part of the pageant, according to the fans.

The second roundup for the night saw the candidates narrowed into ten.

1. Miss Australia
2. Miss Costa Rica
3. Miss France
4. Miss Ukraine
5. Miss Portugal
6. Miss Panama
7. Miss Philippines
8. Miss Angola
9. Miss China
10. Miss Brazil

There were lots of ohhs and ahhs while announcing te top 10 because Miss Venezuela or Miss Colombia were not included, also heavily favored to be included in the list.

The ten remaining ladies vied for the long gown competition. Candid interviews were flashed on TV as they paraded their gowns.

For every portion of the contest, local artists showcased Brazilian music (batucada and bossa nova) starting from the swimsuit down to the long gown competition.

The top 5 for the night included:

1. Miss Ukraine
2. Miss Philippines
3. Miss China
4. Miss Brazil
5. Miss Angola

For the most awaited portion of the night, the Question & Answer (Q & A) portion, four of the candidates have interpreters. Only Miss Philippines didn't carry one.

The 5 remaining ladies selected the judges who questioned them by drawing their names. These what came out.

For Miss Ukraine:
For Miss Philippines:
For Miss China:
For Miss Brazil:
For Miss Angola:

And came the declaration and placing of the Top 5 ladies of the Miss U 2011

4th runner-up - Miss China Zilin Luo
3rd runner-up - Miss Philippines Shamcey Supsup
2nd runner-up - Miss Brazil Priscila Machado
1st runner-up - Miss Ukraine Olesia Stefanko
Miss Universe 2011 - Miss Angola Leila Lopes

Miss Lelia Lopes' fate will be changed starting that night as she will be ushered to a presidential suite at the official Miss U headquarter in the US, cared of the franchise owner of Miss U none other than Mr. Donald Trump. \

And a year-round of charity works, travels and excitement await her during her 1-year reign

Congratulations to the ladies!!!