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Meeting Your Favorites
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BLESSING IN DISGUISE
I have always looked at beauty queens, title holders and beauty candidates as people who are placed in pedestals. Never did I imagine that I will come across someone who will change my life forever...And there she was, Ma. Criselda Ferrer. An epitome of beauty, intellect and character. Somebody who has a big heart and a good soul. Meeting up in a very unexpected time and place, everything turned out to be a "blessing in disguise." She's a woman and a lot more. Yet despite the beauty of this young woman afoot, her values with regard to simplicity, love, and humility remain deep rooted in the ground. It is indeed a pleasure of knowing someone who has the power to make things right. She's outstanding. A picture of how women should be. You made everything right Dhang. You are the joy in my life and I'll tell the world, it's because of YOU. Iris
MEETING THE MILLENIUM UNIVERSE
I immigrated to America in 1973 and saw Miss Universe pageant for the first time. Since then, I've been watching the Miss Universe, every year. I never thought that I would actually meet a Miss Universe in person, but life is full or ironies. I live in a city where there is a huge Indian community. For India's Independence festival, the reigning Miss Universe of 2000, Lara Dutta, came to my high school, and she was kind enough to give me her signature, as well as to take a photo with her. It was like dream. Also, I found out that near my house lives 1987 Miss Korea, First Runner-up, Choe Youn-hee, who was the First Runner-up at the 1988 Miss World Pageant. To me, life seems beautiful. Han S. Shin
MISS USA 1999 I have faithfully watched the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants ever since '84. I live in New York City and work in the IBM Building, on 57th and Madison, which connects with the Trump Tower - the new headquarters of the Miss Universe Organization. In mid April of this year ('99) I was walking through the Trump Tower after lunch and I passed by three people and I overheard them saying something about the Miss Universe pageant. I recognized one of them as Kimberly Pressler - Miss USA '99 from New York! She was casually dressed wearing jeans, a pink cashmere and even had glasses on...but she looked adorable. She was with some Miss Universe staff members. I went up to her and introduced myself and we struck up this great conversation! She's so incredibly sweet and personable! I was telling her about that I had a pageant viewing party for the Miss USA pageant with a bunch of my friends in February and we all placed bets on who the winner would be when it got down to the final three. And out of 8 of us I was the only one rooting for her...everyone else was rooting for the first runner up, Miss Tennessee - Morgan Tandy High. Everyone threw in $20...and I ended up winning $140!!! She got a real kick out of the story! I'm from the same area of Buffalo, NY as her...so we talked a little about that. But what I also found out was that she lived in Japan as a kid and so did I! My father worked at the U.S. embassy in Tokyo. We both couldn't believe how much we had in common...it was great! And she was so receptive and charming! I wished her the best of luck at Miss Universe and gave her a huge hug! Now, the cool thing about all this is that the two staff members with her were chit chatting with us as well and the VP of marketing was asking me what I do for a living, etc. She must have been impressed because she gave me her card, asked me to fax her my resume and I had an interview with them the next week to work in marketing for Miss Universe! The interview went so well and I'll find out in the beginning of June, after they all come back from Trinidad from crowning the new Miss Universe...hopefully Kimberly...if I got the job or not! So, wish me luck everyone! And enjoy the pageant this Wednesday night! Sasha
MISS HOLLAND 1998 On Friday 4 December 1998 I met Miss Holland 1998, Nerena Ruinemans. She came to us to have her hair cut (I'm a hairstylist). I told her that I'm a big fan of Miss pageant. She told that she always look to the Miss Holland pageant but that she never thought that she would become Miss Holland. I have a lot of pictures with her in the garden. It was the most wonderful day of my life. Greeting, Jochem Jochem Pollema
MISS UNIVERSE 1994 / MISSES USA 1995 & 1998
Sushmita Sen, Miss Universe 1994: Me & a couple of my friends were shopping for jeans at GUESS down Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills one Friday afternoon late 1995, then we saw this stunning model, at least at first we thought she was an Italian model, then my friend whispered, isn't she the Miss Universe from India? We were shocked to find out that she was Sushmita Sen. So we approached her, & talked to her, she was really nice and really beautiful up close. She told us that she was still going to live in Los Angeles for another year because of her contract with Miss Universe, & thanked us - after we told her we were originally from Manila - for being so hospitable and for having such a beautiful country. After that, we bought a ready to use camera with film, and used all 24 shots with her, she was really nice!!! Chelsi Smith, Miss Universe 1996: Me & my partner Ken went to see the Miss Universe live in Las Vegas in 1996, after the show, we went to the coronation ball hoping to get pictures of the new Miss Universe Alicia Machado, but every photographer in the room wanted the same thing, so we had some photographs w/ Ali Landry, Miss Mexico, Miss Philippines, Miss Canada & Miss Aruba. Then somebody tapped my partner's shoulder and asked, "You don't want me in your camera?", then we looked, it was Chelsi Smith!!! Ken said, of couse we do, but I coudn't say a word, no sound was coming out of my mouth, I didn't even have the strength to smile in our picture with her, but I gave her a hug, and still no word, all she said to me was, "It's okay. Just don't forget to send me a copy." She knew I was shocked. Shawnae Jebbia, Miss USA 1998: I was visiting L.A. again in the summer of 1998. My friend Ron, had this crazy idea to drive to Century City, go to their apartment, and pretend we were pageant journalists from the Philippines. We got there, and we were looking for Wendy Fitzwilliam on the intercom. The woman on the other end was really nice but she said "as long as you don't have an appointment, I can't let you guys in", so we said, okay, and asked who she was, and she said, " Miss Jebbia, Shawnae Jebbia". Joell Gallardo Bowles
MARGIE MORAN AT COLLEGE
I keep watching the 1973 Miss Universe Pageant tape. I think Margie Moran truly will always be in the top three in Miss Universe best winners forever. When Margie entered the Bb. Pilipinas in April 1973, she was a classmate of my eldest sis in Maryknoll College (now Mirriam College). By the way, I attended elementary and High School in St. James Academy in Malabon run by Maryknoll too, that's why Margie is close to my heart. When she won the local pageant, she stopped schooling to go to Athens. We couldn't believe when she captured Miss Photogenic in Athens and thought that it was only for the sake of not standing a chance in the title but we were so stunned when she won! In the Bb. Pilipinas, it was Candy Maramag who won the Miss Photogenic Award and not her. After her reign, she went back to school in Maryknoll and then became a classmate of my other older sister four years younger than her. Everytime I fetched my sis in school, I always bumped into her and always loved to watch her movements and beauty of her face and skin - she was amazing! and so Poised! Honestly, no other Miss Universe could compare to her for me. You know, regarding Miss World Beauty Contest (Eric Morley admitted hating to use the word Pageant and insisted on the word Contest for a long time - maybe not to be accused of imitating Miss Universe), the 1997 Miss World was shown here VIA SATELLITE on Channel 7 last year and it was around 4:30 madaling araw! I couldn't wake that early 'coz I was so tired the night before. But it was shown later in the afternoon though. This year, Channel 5 would be airing it "LIVE" which I am sure is only a delayed telecast again. Fidel Blas
MEETING BROOK LEE
I live really close to the Miss Universe office in Los Angeles. I went there to get a program book. Brook came into the lobby - she was even prettier in person. She gave me her autograph and we talked for a few minutes. She was so nice. Ann
REMINISCING ABOUT GEMMA CRUZ
When she walks into a room, you can't help but stare, gawk or "look-up" at her. From my vantage point, she's a towering 5'11" and I'm 5 - something. Her name is Gemma Teresa Guerrero Cruz and she will be the new Secretary of Tourism effective July 1, effectively replacing Mina Tapia Gabor. Gemma first entered the Philippine psyche sometime back in 1965 when she won the Miss International Beauty Pageant held in Tokyo, Japan. She was the first-ever Filipina to be declared the most beautiful woman in the world in an official beauty contest. With the Philippines being a beauty-obsessed Republic, she made headlines in the country and I guess all over the world since being a beauty contestant then and being victorious at the end of the quest merited relatively huge space in international print magazines like Time and Newsweek. I don't think People Magazine was born yet but it would surely have been potential cover material.
What made Gemma Cruz tick and what factors made her win the Miss International title. Obviously her statuesqueness is a factor. She lorded it over the other Asian women and matched the European and American beauties' dizzying heights. Her face was exotic and with her hair pulled back further, the vision revealed an oval face with brown almond eyes, full red lips and a perfect Asian nose. And may I add, untouched by the forces of nature created by man or woman. She had an hour-glass figure and looked stunning in her swimsuit. During the talent portion, she played the nose flute, virtually unheard of instrument until she brought it to the fore. It was ethnic Philippines from start to finish. She was proud of her heritage. And that performance was probably the first tourism campaign that gained international recognition. It was certainly the ideal publicity "gimmick" only dreamt of by public relations practitioners. But it was no gimmick. It was vintage Gemma Cruz. And when she was asked what she would do with the money, I think the cash prize was about US$10,000, then, she told the interviewer that she would donate it to Boy's Town or some charitable organization in need of the dough. She had conviction. She totally bowled over the audience and impressed the judges. And when she was crowned, the crowd was tumultuous in their response to Gemma Cruz being crowned MISS INTERNATIONAL of 1964-1965.
Decades have passed and Gemma is now a golden girl with a mission to promote tourism to the Philippines. She has the educational background, the experience of travel and culture and she obviously has the conviction to be a successful Secretary of Tourism. And with time and exposure in the Department of Tourism, just like her pioneering victory during the beauty contest, she might just win it again and realize Philippine Tourism crowned in all its glory in the millenium. Raul Teehankee
MISS PHILIPPINES 1997, ABBYGALE WILLIAMSON ARENAS IN SAN DIEGO, CA.
I have liked Miss Philippines-Universe 1997, Abbygale Williamson Arenas since the 1997 Miss Universe Pageant. The first time I saw her at the parade of nations, I was so amazed to see how beautiful the Philippine candidate was. Since then, I became a really big fan of hers and I would go to the public library and constantly print out pictures of her from the internet. I put all the pictures that I collected in my photo album and I showed all my friends and my cousins. My good friend Mark thought Abbygale was a very beautiful person also. This year I met Abbygale's uncle at my uncle's birthday party and I was extremely happy. Here's my opportunity to meet my long time idol in person. Abbygale arrived to San Diego, California from New York City on April 3, 1998 after a modelling assignment. Her uncle called me and I was shocked that I was actually talking to my one and only idol. No words can express the way how I felt when I was on the phone with her. It was such a great feeling. She has the sweetest voice. The following day April 4, 1998, her uncle called me again and told me to come over to his house to meet Abbygale. I was very, very excited that I got dressed up, poured cologne all over me, and loaded my camera. I went to her uncle's house and I finally met her in person. She was the tallest and most beautiful person I have ever seen. It was such an honor to shake her hand and even get a hug from her. We talked throughout the whole night and enjoyed it so much. I got to spend at least 3 hours with her and I must admit, that was the best time of my life. We took pictures and I used up my whole film. Her relatives were very polite and they treated me with respect. That's my story about meeting Abbygale Williamson Arenas. ABBYGALE IF YOU READ THIS, I MISS YOU SO MUCH.....I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU ABBYGALE.....YOU HAVE MADE SUCH A HUGE IMPACT IN MY LIFE AND I WILL NEVER STOP THINKING ABOUT YOU.....LAST BUT DEFINITELY NOT THE LEAST, I LOVE YOU FROM THE HEART.....LOVE, EDWIN Edwin Aquino Rivera Espiritu
MONA GRUDT AT SIX FLAGS MAGIC MOUNTAIN
I used to be an avid fan of roller coasters, and I used to take a day, every other week, to go to Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. One time, I went there with a good friend of mine, and we were standing in line at a ride called "Colossus". I thought I recognize the girl in front of me but I wasn't sure....so, I tapped her in the shoulder and asked, "Excuse me, are you Mona Grudt?" She proudly and snubbishly answered..."Yes, and I'm Miss Universe." I was so happy to see her and ride my favorite roller coaster with her. She was big screamer and I think she enjoyed the ride like I did. Ben Kramer
THRICE AT MISS UNIVERSE
I was physically present at three Miss Universe Pageants in my lifetime. The first time was in 1974. My mom was still pregnant with me and she was sitting in the audience with my brother at the Folk Art's Theater in Manila. The pageant was won by Spain's Amparo Muņoz. Unfortunately, she now belongs to a handful of queens that did not finish their reigns. My parents happened to be very good friends with Armi Kuusela, the very first Miss Universe from Finland, who married a Filipino, but has since been widowed. Twenty years later, Miss Universe came back to Manila and I was very excited! I had been watching the pageant every year since 1984 and this time I was especially excited because I had a huge crush on the reigning queen, Puerto Rico's Dayanara Torres. From the moment I watched her crowned in Mexico City, I had a crush on her not only because she was gorgeous but she was just my age. She was born only six weeks before I was. Anyway, when the 1994 pageant took place, unfortunately I did not have a chance to meet her. But I did get to see all the delegates one evening at the Polo Club. Everything just happened by chance. The favorites then were Miss Belgium, Christelle Roelandts, who only finished 20th over-all, Miss Philippines, Charlene Gonzales, who did pretty well as she landed in the final six and that night I thought that she would win, and Miss Venezuela, Minorka Mercado, who impressed everyone with her towering stature and left as Second runner-up. Nobody picked Miss India, Sushmita Sen to win and the whole thing turned out to be an upset. Many were disappointed. But to Sushmita's credit, let me just say that I included her in my top ten and I thought that that night I saw them all, she was the best dressed. And I saw as she ascended the steps, she really did it like a queen even if she was not very tall. The third time, and surely not the last, that I was physically present at Miss Universe was during the 1996 pageant in Las Vegas, NV. I was there to attend an Extravaganza for the company I work with, Herbalife International. I hardly had time to go around. I arrived in Las Vegas on the night before coronation night. Later on that night however, after the new Miss Universe had been crowned and we had finished our opening ceremonies at UNLV's Thomas and Mack Center, my Uncle took me to the MGM Grand to do some gambling. There in the lobby, we saw two delegates walk in. My friend said it's hard to believe how they could be so beautiful and not win. At that time we didn't know yet who had won. But the next morning, while I was in a cab going to UNLV, it was announced that Venezuela's Alicia Machado had won the crown. When they asked her what she would like to do she said she would like to do something she hadn't been able to do in weeks, that is to: "eat, eat, eat, and sleep". The rest is now history. Martin Tordesillas
MEETING BARBARA PALACIOS
Last Saturday, July 26th in Boston's Puerto Rican Festival, I met Barbara Palacios for the first time. I work for NYNEX and my company has chosen Barbara as the company spokeperson for the Hispanic Market. NYNEX was one of the sponsors of the Festival, and I decided to sacrifice my Saturday just to work at the Festival and to meet Barbara. She came to the NYNEX tent, accompanied by the director of the Puerto Rican Festival and by another male escort, around 2:30 p.m. She was wearing a comfortable pantsuit, high platform shoes, a dark sunglasses, and she was carrying a white nylon bag. She looked tall, sophisticated and poised. She stayed just a little less than an hour, signing autographs and giving interviews. However, before she left, I was able to take a group picture with her as well as a picture with me. I told her that I was a big fan of beauty pageants. I asked her if Irene Saez would be the next President of Venezuela and she said that it would be difficult to say at this moment, but then again she said that life is full of surprises. She also told me that she is married with a 3-year old son, and the entire family lives mainly in New York City and constantly visits Caracas. She said that she would no longer co-host the Miss Venezuela Pageant because she had been doing it for seven years and that she is too tired. She even complimented me with my Spanish (even though my native language is Filipino)! Overall, my meeting with Barbara was unforgettable, as it marked my first ever meeting with a major beauty queen! Rafael Delfin
MY BEST MEMORY OF HER, MISS UNIVERSE 1988
In 1988, Pornthop Nakhirunkanok represented Thailand to Miss Universe Beauty Pageant. All Thai people anticipated her as the new queen who would bring fame and success to our country. Finally, our dream came true when she turned to be Miss Universe. Personally, I didn't expect to see her but I appreciated her brightness and wit 'coz she knew how to handle each problem in every situation. In 1989, when she finished her wonderful reign as Miss Universe, there has been a number of bad rumors about her that degrades her fame and destroyed all good deeds she has done for the country. I was so sad for a little woman who could not fight against the rumor gossip (of course, it is the characteristic of Thai people). In mid 1989 Pornthip proved herself to the world againthat what she has in the pageant that "As Miss Thailand, I wanna make a difference for all malnutrition children" by setting up the Pornthip Foundation for children and open a concert of her own. Truly, she is not a singer but she did that because of her pure heart. I attended that concert and I found that everything she did, it's for children, not for herself. I had a chance to takl to her after the concert and she just said she didn't do everything for fame and money, on the other hand she wanted to prove herself to Thai people that she is just a simple woman who needs to do something for her hometown. That's so impressive, and since that night, I patterned my life after hers. Art Pimpa
MISS UNIVERSE 1986 & THE PANAMANIAN QUEENS
Miss Universe 1986 was held in Panama City, my country. I was just a kid, about to become a teenager. But when I found out that the pageant was going to be held here I felt really excited. In 1986, there was a huge campaign to keep Panama beautiful, dedicating it to the upcoming delegates of the Miss Universe Pageant. The experience was incredible. I went to the tapings of the musical number, and afterwards, managed to enter one of the delegates' lunches where I had the chance to look at my favorite contestants. And why not get a souvenir from them? The one that most catched my attention was Miss Colombia, Maria Monica Urbina. She surely justified her 2nd runner-up spot. One of the most beautiful women there, impressed me and I still have that image in my heart. And her smile. Miss Brazil conquered the audience, even before the preliminaries. She was noticed by this outstanding attitude; she has a great personality. And that made her one of the most popular and favorites ever, here, by the audience and the delegates themselves. Miss USA was amazingly beautiful. And the experience started my interest in pageants. I've looked forward to the Panamanian beauties to do well in Miss Universe, and what's left to say, that I am more than glad that our queen, Lia Victoria Borrero came as the 5th runner-up. Congratulations for this very high achievement you have done for Panama, and good luck for all upcomin queens in the future. Edwin Dominguez
MY FAVORITE MISS UNIVERSE!
In the early 50's (1952), the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant started in Long Beach, California. My first pageant that I witnessed was in 1958, when the sweet, beautiful Colombian Luz Marina Zuluaga won the Miss Universe title for 1958. I have found through fans that their first pageant that they witnessed turned out to be their favorite Miss Universe. I guess that the impact and the excitement made it happen. In January of 1991, my life-long dream came true when I went to Manizales, Colombia to finally meet my favorite Miss Universe, Luz Marina. Needless to say, the emotion was beyond words. I had taken $500 worth of gifts to five Luz Marina and her family, and I know what it feels like to be Santa Claus. It was lots of fun!!! It was a dream, and still is to this day. I telephone her a few times a year, and always on the anniversary of her coronation. God willing, I will be with her next year (1998) to celebrate her 40th anniversary as Miss Universe! William Prendiz de Jurado
IRENE SAEZ AT 20
I would like to share an impression that I got from Irene Saez when she was Miss Universe. It made me her fan forever. She was in New York in January of 1982. Because Irene always mentioned Venezuela in her speeches, in a press interview a journalist asked her about her excessive nationalism. She answered, "I've been Miss Universe for six months and a Venezuelan for all my life." Since that article that I read (I still keep it), I love Irene as one of her most loyal fans. As a Venezuelan, I will go from Los Angeles to Venezuela to vote for her for President in 1998. Max Salazar
AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE WITH AISHWARYA & SUSHMITA
Aishwarya is from Bombay, the place where I come from. She lives not too far from my place. I have seen her from afar but never spoken to her unlike my Father. I would do anything though! People say that Sushmita and Aishwarya are real rivals, which in some case could be true, as a lot of people favor Aishwarya. When I met Sushmita, the question came up and she said no, of course. I have however got their autograph both together on a same card. My Dad flew with Aishwarya and got her autograph saying, "Dear Shyella, Happy New Year, Oceans of Luv and Luck, Aishwarya Rai." Sushmita's one was, "Dear Shyella, Love Always and God Bless, Sushmita Sen." Shyella D'Penha
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