This year's Miss Supranational pageant may fundamentally be still like other recent editions (especially since 2018), I've noticed that they are playing with new terminologies in an attempt to make their brand more distinctive from other major pageants. For starters, they start publicizing about the "Experience", describing the whole period the candidates are competing as such. There is also the way they chose to describe the preliminary compatition as an "evaluation" instead of a "competition", and for what most pageant fans and pundits would call a swimsuit competition, it's now called "confidence evaluation"--supposedly because this competition is more about body confidence and obviously trying to distance from the notion that body shapes would be judged. I'm not sure if these terminologies would stick in the public's consciousness in the long-term, but we do have to give the World Beauty Organization credit for trying something. Another interesting development is that this pageant increased the maximum eligibility age for the candidates--if in Miss Universe you feel that 29 years old is already a tad too mature, this pageant now allows ladies up to 33 years old to compete. You can see this with the presence of some notable veterans in this batch.
This year's turnout of 65 candidates is a tie for the fourth lowest turnout in this pageant's history, tying with the 2017 edition and only exceeding 2009 (the inaugural edition), 2012, and 2021. But it could've tied last year's edition of 69 candidates, as four ladies participated in the Supra-Chat, and three of them could not make it to Malopolska, Poland for various reasons.
CHILE - Francisca Lavandero. This blonde participated in Episode 1 of Suprachat, but later on had issues with her national organization that she couldn't show up in Poland. She seems to be an attractive looker who could've shaken up an already competitive batch.
EQUATORIAL GUINEA - Anita Mikue. She's also an attractive looker who seems to be a worthwhile contender in this batch..It's unknown why she couldn't make it, so at this point she's considered a no-show.
SOMALIA - Fowzia Abdirashid. Though her portrait on the Miss Supranational website exposed her hair, she is normally clad in a hijab, and would've made a standout impression with her very pretty face and thoughtful communication skills. Such a shame because of visa issues she couldn't make it to the pageant venue, and it would've been interesting to see how they would've accommodated her during the "confidence evaluation", as she's likely to adhere to edicts of extreme modesty for her culture.
One candidate actually showed up in Poland, but due to personal reasons opted to withdraw a few days later and she is...
ALBANIA - Klara Musabelliu. She's a well-spoken slender brunette. Wonder what are her "personal reasons" for not being able to continue with the bulk of the competition?
So how are the remaining 65 candidates? It's interesting that with ALBANIA's withdrawal, there is no country represented that began with the letter "A". So instead, we have to start with...
BELGIUM - Jana Meskens. She's a great looking girl, but in the "preliminary evaluation" she proved to be a tad raw, so she is unlikely to advance to the Top 24.
BOLIVIA - Stephanie Terrazas. Now, she's reasonably polished, but she doesn't quite make a standout-enough impression for the Top 24. I would consider her a worthwhile contender.
BOTSWANA - Dabilo Moses. She made a splash with her live introduction during the opening ceremonies, and there are some who felt especially as this is her country's debut in this pageant, that this could be her ticket to make a breakthrough for her country and make the Top 24. I'm not as convinced judging from her preliminary performance, but it's possible if personality holds a strong weight this year she could advance.
BRAZIL - Sancler Frantz. This finalist from Miss World 2013 is already 32 years old but she is still competing at a high caliber in this competition. I feel she is a Top 12 shoo-in but I'm not sure how highly favored she is to make the Final Five and gain that win that some fans felt was deprived from her in her Miss World stint by the unstoppable Megan Young.
CAMBODIA - Chily Tevy. She gives refreshing ingenue vibes, but with a very formidable Southeast Asian contingent she may not have enough mojo to secure a Top 24 slot.
CAMEROON - Kevine Ghomba. She's an overachieving entrepreneur who is reasonably polished, but there are stronger Africans who made a stronger impression so at most she's a worthwhile contender. I have a feeling in the future we'll see her as a pageant director.
CANADA - Alexa Marie Grant. She's a lovely brunette who made a standout impression in Suprachat, becoming a Top Five finalist there. She does know how to project well onstage, even if her "confidence" photo didn't seem impressive, she was actually a strong performer. Moreover, as a finalist in Suprachat, she potentially has a potential to fast-track to the Top 20, along with a Top 10 opportunity as she's one of the Top 10 in the Surpa-Fan Vote. Being a Top Eight finalist in Talent is gravy on her standout impression. Now, I have quibbles about her choice of evening gown during the preliminaries as for me it's a busy blue misfire. Hope when she makes the Top 24 (as she seems to be amont the likeliest to make the cut) that she'll make a gown change.
CAYMAN ISLANDS - Melissa Bridgemohan. Now, for body diversity, we have this lady. No one's expecting her to advance to the Top 24, but at least we can say that women of all shapes and sizes are represented and seen with her presence.
COLOMBIA - Valentina Mora. She is a Classic Latina Beauty Queen (CLBQ) with her jet black locks, fair complexion and consistently sleek and polished presence. She is competing at a high level that she is likely to make a serious play for the Top 12.
COSTA RICA - Margaret Gray. This country's population mix is reportedly the whitest in Central America, so it's a bit of a shock to see this country represented by a black lady, and despite her very American name, her English skills are not as strong. She's attractive, but not enough to be in serious contention for the Top 24.
COTE D'IVOIRE - Yasmine Wognin. She's a slender lady who is reasonably polished, but her best prospects for advancing would be if she won the Supra-Fan vote, as she's one of the 10 finalists.
COMING UP: CROATIA to GIBRALTAR
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