Miss Universe 2014: AWonderful Journey!

By: Jove Calma

 

The heat was on in Miami! Thousands of beauty pageants enthusiasts trooped to Doral, Florida to witness the prestigious Miss Universe 2014! 88 beautiful candidates from all over the world shared their beauty, grace and wit representing their home countries and territories. They all vowed to win the coveted crown at the 63rd Miss Universe 2014 held on January 25, 2014 in Florida International University.

Wassup?! Jovie Calma LIVE of VIA Times and CPRTV had the privilege in covering the Press Junket at the Miss Universe and the Preliminary Competition. At the press junket, we’re thrilled to have met and interviewed the stunning Beauty Queens as they joined in the celebration of beauty, culture and camaraderie.

Camille Cerf, Miss France, shared that it was her first time in the US and being in Miami was one of her amazing experiences at the Miss Universe. She also expressed in traveling to the Philippines someday.

I’ve asked Alejandra Argudo, Miss Ecuador, who was her major influence to join the pageant, and she replied that it was her mother. “The person that actually has pushed me a lot to follow my dreams is my Mother. She has always been there for me pushing me to do everything that I wanted to do and helped me make them come true,” Ms. Argudo said.

“It’s an amazing experience, it’s a celebration of beauty, tradition and culture. Every single girl brought a little bit of her country and we all got to share it for 3 weeks.” Alejandra added. She also expressed great things to say about MJ Lastimosa, Miss Universe Philippines.

Noyonita Lodh, Miss India, shared when asked if she will be the next Miss Universe and what kind of preparation she had in order to win the crown, she replied “I hope so. I’m giving my 100%. What I’m feeling is a slice of destiny and luck. So if something is meant to be, it will happen. I have gone through a lot of training in becoming Miss India, my catwalk, in posing, photo shoots, everything possible. I’ve learned a lot and I’ve gone through a lot of great experiences and that’s made the girl or the woman that I am today. I would like to tell you that Miss Philippines is a wonderful person. I’m so glad that I got to meet her, because I feel that she’s one person who is so mature, so genuine. It’s so nice to find good friends at a pageant. Every experience has been great, it’s just perfect,” Miss Lodh said. She also added her message to all the Filipinos and supporters of Miss Philippines, “The support that you give to your queen is wonderful, it’s something that other countries look up to. I hope to visit your beautiful country someday.”

We’re grateful for Miss Thailand Pimbongkod Chankaew for giving us a one-on-one interview at the press junket.

Jovie: Congratulations, Miss Thailand, for being here. How do you feel about the buzz and the big excitement that’s going on here?

Miss Thailand: Oh My God, I’m excited like everyone else. I think I’m more excited than the people watching ‘cause I’m actually here.

Jovie: What kind of preparation have you done in order to win in this competition?

Miss Thailand: I had to practice walking, had to practice doing my hair and make up myself ‘cause before, honestly, I didn’t know how. I practice everything, walking was a big thing for me, before I couldn’t walk in heels. I was very determined. Jovie: You’re all vying to win the crown, who do you think is your biggest competitor in the pageant?

Miss Thailand: Honestly, I don’t like to look at other people and judge myself like that. I like to focus on myself. I would rather just focus in myself and do my best. Thank you also to all the Filipinos for your support. I was also able to secure a one-onone with Miss Philippines, Mary Jean Lastimosa or widely known as MJ. She was gracious enough to give us the opportunity, despite of the time constraints.

Jovie: Congratulations MJ, how do you feel that you’re here at the Miss Universe pageant representing Philippines, what’s the best experience that you can share to all our kababayan?

Miss Philippines: The whole journey is such an amazing experience and I would to share this back home, because Miss Philippines pageant is now ongoing, the Binibining Pilipinas 2015 and I just wanted to give more inspiration to all the Filipinas who would like to represent our country. This experience will last a lifetime. I’ve met 87 wonderful girls and learned about their culture, I was able to share my culture and I believe that I have represented our country in the best way that I could. I will never forget this experience. I wrote down every single experience that I had here and after this, I’ll read it everyday, what an amazing experience I had.

Jovie: You are all vying for the title of the Most Beautiful Woman in the Universe, who’s your biggest competitor in this pageant?

Miss Philippines: My biggest competitor would be myself. If I don’t deliver on the pageant night, I don’t think I’ll be the one that they will be choosing. So I have to compose myself and wrap up my mind and be the best that I can be. If I don’t deliver, that’s the end of the game for me.

Jovie: You’re so beautiful inside and out, what’s your definition of real beauty?

Miss Philippines: The definition of real beauty is having that heart, having that passion and being able to be a woman to others, that’s my definition of real beauty.

The preliminary competition of the Miss Universe 2014 was held on Wednesday before the actual pageant. Miss Universe 2013 Gabriela Isler and presenter, Roxanne Vargas, hosted it. All the 88 contestants walked the ramp in their stunning gowns, swimwear and national costumes during the preliminary competition. The competition was judged by Azucena Cierco, President of Trump, Model, Corrine Nicolas, TV producer Jeneine Doucette- White, Jimmi Nguyen, TV Host Lloyd Boston, former Miss Universe Michelle McLean and Tyler Tixier.

Among the 88 contestants, the judges will decide for the top 15 finalists for the grand finale. The preliminary score card was revealed on grand finale with Miss Philippines as one of them. At the grand finale, our very own and Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao was one of the judges.

The finalists who made it to the top 5were Paulina Vega, Miss Colombia, Nia Sanchez, Miss USA, Diana Harkusha, Miss Ukraine, Yasmin Verheijen, Miss Netherlands and Kaci Fennell, Miss Jamaica.

Paulina Vega, Miss Colombia, was crowned as the Miss Universe 2014 with a new crown manufactured by Diamonds International, the newest official jewelry sponsor of the Miss Universe Organization. Nia Sanchez, Miss USA is 1st runner up, Miss Ukraine as 2nd runner up, Miss Netherlands as 3rd runner up and Miss Jamaica as 4th runner up.

MJ Lastimosa may have not won the most coveted crown, but she has won the hearts of many most especially the Filipinos and non-Filipinos supporting her from around the globe. Congratulations to all the winners and to MJ, you are the true Miss Universe to all the Filipinos. You have competed well and you are a true inspiration to many ladies who dream of becoming a beauty queen someday. You showed that true perseverance draws you closer to success!

Stay tuned until next issue of Wassup?! and Happy Hearts Day to everyone! ####

Paulina Vega of Colombia was crowned as the Miss Universe 2014. Photo credits to Nuno See.

(1) VT/CPRTV’s Jovie Calma had a one-one interview with Mary Jean Lastimosa, Miss Universe Philippines at the Miss Universe 2014’s Press Junket in Doral, Florida. Jovie is wearing AKIRA Chicago while MJ Lastimosa is fabulously wearing the Gakuya design by Kim Gan. Photo credits to Amie Hana Photography; (2) Jovie Calma secured an exclusive interview with Ms. Stella Marquez- Araneta, Binibining Pilipinas Pageant Director in the preliminary competition of Miss Universe 2014. Photo credits to Nuno See.

VT/CPRTV’s Jovie Calma’s photo opportunity with Miss Universe 2013 3rd Runner-up, Ariella Arida of Philippines, taken at the Preliminary Competition of Miss Universe 2014. Miss Arida served as the online backstage host of the Miss Universe pageant in Florida. Photo credits to Nuno See.

 

VT/CPRTV’s Jovie Calma photo opportunity with Elvira Devinamira, Miss Indonesia, and Amie Hana of Amour Magazine. Photo credits to Amie Hana Photography