Anyway, going now to the last Big 5 event of the year, Miss Universe, hopefully, will be a bit nicer to me. I think overanalyzing the pageant is not gonna help so I am going to follow my heart and gut feelings. So, I am able to come up with the following (Note: This list is different from my Prediction Game entry):
MISS UNIVERSE 2015
Winner - USA
1st Runner-up - Colombia
2nd Runner-up - Philippines
Rest of the Top 5
Georgia and Paraguay
Top 10
Dominican Republic
Brazil
India
Australia
Vietnam
Top 15
France
Thailand
Japan
Puerto Rico
Russia
Miss USA, Olivia Jordan, tops my list simply because I am confident that she is the only one whom I am assured of being able to come up with a powerful answer to any difficult question. With the new format where the Top 5 will be reduced to a Top 3, this will certainly work for Olivia's advantage. Of course, these are on top of the fact that she is already gorgeous to begin with, as well as the fact that she is very amiable and charismatic. She was not my favorite during Miss USA 2015, but she has certainly become a memorable Miss USA due to her intelligence and heart for charity.
Colombia and Philippines have been flip-flopping in the second and third position. I think it will be interesting if Colombia and USA will be the last two standing, as a repeat of last year's final two. But this time, it will be an American victory instead of Colombia's. Or, it can be a repeat of the 2012 scenario where Olivia Culpo and Janine Tugonon were the last two standing, in the pageant finals which was also held in Las Vegas in the month of December! Isn't that interesting? At Miss Universe, the Dominican Rep and Venezuela scenario happened twice (2003 and 2009), where DR won in 2003, while Venezuela had a revenge in 2009. At Miss USA, the North Carolina and California 1-2 finish also happened twice (2005 and 2009), with NC winning in both occasions. What will be in store for us later in Las Vegas will hopefully be something that is going to be a great pageant story!
Ariadna was indeed unstoppable during the preliminary competition, while Pia, who was backed up by a massive fan base, showed lots of stage presence and determination despite wearing a last minute gown replacement. Maybe Ariadna will end up as Olivia's runner-up, or it could be Pia... But how are we supposed to gauge the girls' eventual response to the final Q&A? We can only speculate, but I just want to see a scenario where my Top 3 girls eventually end up as the actual Top 3, regardless of rank.
Paraguay and Georgia are also in my Top 5! Surprise, surprise!!! I really did not care anymore about the rest of my ranking, because my Top 3 has been solid. So to me, Janet and Myriam were outstanding during the preliminaries and I believe that they deserve high placements if they maintain such momentum, or even surpass their prelim performance at the final stage. Leaving the sash name aside, these two have been consistent all throughout the competition, displaying an admirable fighting spirit!
Dominican Republic is in 6th place. She is fierce and lovely, but I have seen lots of similar looking Latinas like her, although I have to admit that she can also be a great Miss Universe winner in case she gets the nod of the judges. Brazil, with her sexy stare in contrast with such angelic face is in 7th place. I am not really a fan of her beauty, but her body is good for modeling, while her gown choice, although I got tired seeing such design almost every year from a Brazilian delegate, was also one of the best during the preliminaries.
India, who is a famous Bollywood actress, is in 8th place. I find her face a bit too wide for a beauty queen profile, but her smile is infectious and her eyes are captivating. Australia follows her at 9th place, and this is primarily because I don't like her evening gown. Maybe it's just me, but I find it to be a bit tacky. And to round up my Top 10, is the Asian goddess from Vietnam! If there is an Asian whom I think deserves to win the Miss Universe crown more than anyone else, I think it's her! However, I find her gown choice a bit risky and I feel that those swans were unnecessary additions. She's got to change it in order to secure a Top 5 placement, or maybe the judges would think otherwise!
And then came France! France, oh my France!!! With all these bad things happening in France, it will be refreshing to hear Flora speak during the finals so we can hear a bit of French since I can remember! Kurara Chibana of Japan was the last finalist I heard to speak in French during the live telecast, and that was nine years ago! So please, Flora.... Have some spunk and energy during the swimsuit and evening gown competitions, so that you can zoom your way to the Top 5!!! In the meantime, you're in my 11th spot!
Thailand is in 12th position. I think it's about time to have them back in the semis spot. Aniporn has shown a lot of determination to win the crown. Ten years ago, when she was still a kid, Thailand hosted the Miss Universe pageant. It just find it a bit interesting to see a little girl coming from an exotic host country ten years ago to eventually compete ten years later and place at Miss Universe.
Japan's Ariana Miyamoto is a sentimental favorite of mine. She had a bad preliminary presentation, but I feel that her story could probably bring her up there. She is one of the most googled contestants this year, and the American media became crazy with her story! It has even reached continental Europe as well as South America! I just wish that she was prepared well by her organization which, sadly, was very inadequate.
Puerto Rico was gaining on me during the preliminary competition. I love her eyes!!! With Mexico and Venezuela being out in my list, I thought that Puerto Rico should be in. And finally, Russia is in 15th spot simply because I felt that she is perfect for a Victoria's Secret fashion runway!