NETHERLANDS - Melissa Bottema. She makes a distinctive presence possessing arguably the prettiest face in this batch with her stunning long jet-black tresses parted in the middle. She made me think of a cross between Morticia Addams*6 and 1970s-era Cher if they have the facial features of an ethereal transcendent angel, and that is precisely what she channeled during the Preliminary Competition. She's also a superb communicator, so many are buzzing she has an inside track into the Top 10--but I found out the race for the Top 10 is very crowded this year...
*6 I'm thinking in terms of the cartoons as originally created by Charles Addams and when Anjelica Huston played the role in the 1990s movie version. I know she's played by gorgeous actresses Carolyn Jones in the 1960s TV series and Catherine Zeta-Jones in the mega-hit Netflix series Wednesday.
NICARAGUA - Glennys Medina. She's a bright and effusive talker with strong stage chops, so it's possible that a Top 20 slot could be made available for her.
NIGERIA - Boma Dokubo. She's very much like ANGOLA, though a differentiation is made in the Preliminary Competition as ANGOLA brought a lot of drama in her evening gown presentation while this lady opted for a more subdued presence. I see her still making a serious play for the Top 10 though I've noticed many pageant fans and pundits would relegate her simply in the Top 20.
PANAMA - Julia Leong. See CHILE and CUBA, though a tad less charismatic than either of them.
PARAGUAY - Maelia Salcines. She created a great early impression as she displayed strong communication skills and she has a pretty face. But I'm not that convinced that her stage chops are as superb as other fans are hyping about. In the Preliminary Competition, for instance, I'm underwhelmed by her gown choice. So, even if some regard her as a Top 20 shoo-in, I have my reservations even if undeniably she is competing at a high level.
PERU - Luciana Fuster. She is one of the shorter candidates in this batch, but she is performing at a stratified level that many are buzzing she's a possible crown contender. For me she evokes beach-y vibethat you associate with sexy ladies from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil*7, but with a bright, talkative vibe. She admitted she has an existing contract with a radio station as she's a radio DJ back home, but she notes that there is enough flexibility in her ongoing contract to be able to perform her duties if she is chosen as one of the winners. Still, I have a feeling Nawat and co. may have reservations handing this country its second Miss Grand crown because of that contract, but many are still rooting for her to go far and maybe get the crown.
*7 Though if you know your geography, you would realize that Peru's coasts face an ocean opposite to Brazil's, as Peru faces the Pacific while Brazil faces the atlantic.
PHILIPPINES - Nikki de Moura. After winning her national pageant, many Filipino pageant fans and pundits are hyping this half-Brazilian lady as the one who can finally clinch that win for our country. However, when she set foot in Vietnam, though this lady is still making a standout impression, attention seems more focused towards four Southeast Asian ladies: INDONESIA, MYANMAR, THAILAND, and host country VIETNAM.that it seems she's overshadowed and even possibly her Top 20 chances are in jeopardy. But she still continued to compete at a convincingly high level, and demonstrated she's an excellent communicator, and made a convincing case for herself in the Preliminary Competition by channeling Beyoncé especially during the evening gown round. Of course the big favorites also delivered that night, so if we follow Nawat's original policy of "Final Five or Nothing" for us, this lady may be considered a shock boot, but I'm optimistic she'll be like her predecessor, Roberta Tamondong*8 who managed to make the cut even if not finishing in the Final Five.
*8 Roberta made the Top 20 last year and missed making the Top 10. However, after the pageant, the Top 10 finisher from Mauritius decided to decline the responsibilities accorded to the 5th runner-up, and the slot is offered to her. And Roberta embraced the responsibilities with aplomb, to the point that she is now promoted to go-to presenter for the various events staged by this pageant, and she's most likely going to the host for tonight's Grand Final. And sha has so far been doing an excellent job as host.
POLAND - Kornelia Goleblewska. This blonde is good-looking, but she's a weak, verbose interview, and even if her stage skills are solid, she cannot make as big a splash as the standouts out there.
PUERTO RICO - Maria Cristina Ramos. She is also well-regarded by many pageant fans and pundits and is a proven stage dynamo. But I'm not that impressed with her in her interview, though reportedly she was one of the 13 who got an extra audience with Nawat, Teresa, and Isabella. She looks like she has an inside track to the Top 20.
ROMANIA - Denisse Vivienne Andor. She's a good communicator and has solid stage chops and mentioned she's already a veteran of various pageants, but I feel she is delivering more on a P.A.T.I.S. level, just like CHILE, CUBA, and PANAMA.
RUSSIA - Anastasiia Volkonskaia. During the two rounds of fashion shows and swimsuit events, she strikes a fierce "Blue Steel" look that for me, made her features look more like a youthful Jocelyn Wildestein hunting for a wealthy (possibly oligarch) sugar daddy. But I warmed up to her during the closed door interview as she exudes a sympathetic, likeable personality, and she flashed natural smiles during the Preliminary Competition which actually made her look prettier, so she is emerging as a Top 20 possibility.
SEYCHELLES - Shaniah Dick. It seems she's conceived at the time Shania Twain released her hit album Up! hence her parents named her as such (though they added an "h" at the end to remind people that her name rhymes with "Mariah"). She facially reminds me of Abbott Elementary creator and star Quinta Brunson, though even as pretty as Quinta's features are, it's not the sort that reads as a charismatic beauty queen. She's a solid communicator but her stage chops were obviously raw, so it's difficult for her to make serious inroads into the finals. At least we appreciate to see this country debut in this pageant.
SINGAPORE - Jiahui Jade Woo. In therms of stage skills, she's one of the weakest, but like MALAYSIA she proved to be a great communicator.
SOUTH AFRICA - Gugulethu Mayisela. She is a very thoughtful, intelligent, and articulate lady who displays a maturity that belie her 19 years of age. She's actually also a polished competitor, but she didn't quite make a convincing impact during the Preliminary Competition that I'm fretful if there is room for a third African, she would not be the one to get it.
COMING UP: SPAIN to VIETNAM plus the "FEARFUL" FORECAST
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