Saturday, January 14, 2023

71ST MISS UNIVERSE: AT THE HOMESTRETCH (PART 4)


 JAMAICA - Toshami Calvin.  It looks like this year there are a host of very compelling Caribbean delegates jockeying for one of the Top 16 slots.  Though most buzz and attention is directed towards ARUBA, CURACAO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC and PUERTO RICO, there are rising buzz based on preliminary competition performance that this lady deserves to be in the conversation alongside TRINIDAD & TOBAGO.  I'm rooting for her to succeed.



JAPAN - Marybelen Sakamoto.  Her first name doesn't sound Japanese, and that is for good reason--her mother is actually Peruvian.  She is very solid onstage throughout the preliminary competition.  But she hasn't been receiving much buzz so at most she'll be deemed a worthwhile contender.


KOREA - Hanna Kim.  She is a good looking lady who has a good command of English and strong communication skills.  However, she delivered a wan, lifeless performance onstage during the preliminary competition, becoming the biggest disappointment in the entire batch.  Can she be saved by a strong interview?



KOSOVO - Roksana Ibrahimi.  She's like a slightly plainer version of ALBANIA.


KYRGYZSTAN - Altynai Botoyarova.  She actually delivers a solid performance and should be considered an underrated gem.  Oh, Harnaaz, please remember that her country is NOT "Kazakhstan".


LAOS - Payengxa Lor.  See KYRGYZSTAN.


LEBANON - Yasmina Zaytoun. There were fans who regard her as a possible Top 16 contender prior to her arrival in New Orleans, but as she set foot buzz faded.  Her performance was solid, but not to the level of stunners out there.


MALAYSIA - Cheam Wei Yang.  In a less competitive batch, she would be regarded as a worthwhile contender but with this batch, she can only be considered middling.


MALTA - Maxine Formosa.  She is one of the prettiest delegates from this European island nation.  I find her swimsuit presentation surprisingly low-energy but she seems to make up for it in evening gown and also made a great splash in national costume.



MAURITIUS - Alexandrine Belle-Étoile.  She made a big breakthrough for her country at Miss Supranational last July as she made the Top 12.  It whetted many fans' dreams when she is set to compete here as she potentially could bring forth a breakthrough for her coutnry in this pageant.  Did she deliver enough to realize that dream?  It still remains possible but in my eyes I was drawn to more compelling options.


MEXICO - Irma Miranda.  Compared to her predecessors she's facially on the homely side, to be blunt.  However, she is proven to be a major stage dynamo, and this is reflected in her sterling performance in the preliminary competition.  Based on what we see in the preliminary competition she looks poised to be a serious Top 16 contender.  She is another epitome of the motto "Beautifully Confident".



MYANMAR - Zar Li Moe.  See MALAYSIA.


NAMIBIA - Cassia Sharpley.  She evokes the vibe of the bevy of pretty European delegates in this batch, even if she belongs to another continent.  I regard her as a worthwhile contender.


NEPAL - Sophiya Bhujel.  She most likely is a strong communicator with great advocacy projects.  But would that allow her to overcome her relatively weak stage projection skills?



COMING UP:  NETHERLANDS to SEYCHELLES

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