Saturday, July 6, 2024

MISS SUPRANATIONAL 2024: AT THE HOMESTRETCH (PART 1)


 Miss Supranational is celebrating its 15th anniversary and edition (because remember they had to skip 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic).  It should be a cause of a grand celebration but it seems it's more a bit business-as-usual for this edition.  It couldn't manage to hit the heady turnouts of the 2013 and 2015 editions when they attracted over 80 candidates, but they almost beat the 70 threshhold as 73 countries confirmed their participation.  However, five dropped out, and they are:

CAMBODIA - Chhum Chandara.  She has slick polished photos like the one below, so she had potential.  She conributed videos during the pre-arrival activities to the point she was shortlisted in the Supra-Influencer award, and many were waiting for her arrival until the Supra-Model competition, when it's confirmed she'll not make it.  Wonder why she no-showed?

EQUATORIAL GUINEA - Maria Jose Nzema Nguema.  She is attractive, but it seems she would be overshadowed by stellar contenders out there.

KOREA - Choi Jeong-Eun.  Considering this country had a winner in this pageant seven years ago, wonder why this year the representative chose to drop out?  She's a cute ingenue, but I don't know if she knows how to make a striking presence--a typical problem that befell most representatives from this country in most pageants/.

TOGO - Igniefe Afi Claire / Bithja Gozo Akakpo.  The initial designated representative seems very attractive in a cute girl-next-door way but then she got replaced with a less conventially pretty but more striking contender, who also then no-showed.  Visa issues, perhaps?


ZIMBABWE - Yollanda Chimbarani.  She seems to be a very striking lady who potentially could make a splash, but somehow she just cimply couldn't travel to Poland to compete.

Anyway, the final roster of 68 is still worth celebrating and highlighting, so let's proceed with:

ALBANIA - Ema Hila.  This brunette with jet-black tresses and fair complexion is attractive and reasonably polished, but not quite enough to make an impact.


ARGENTINA - Augustina Bruenner.  This attractive brunette has limited support and resources that hinder her from being able to make a standout impression with a competitive group of ladies out there, so she's also ending up an also-ran.


ARUBA - Rashida Schmidt.  This tall, ebony-complexioned lady made a splash winning the Caribbean group for the Supra-Model competition, and I feel she looks like she has an inside track for the Top 24 and possibly beyond.  Hard to believe this is this country's debut in this pageant.


AUSTRALIA - Janaya Reimers.  This blonde seems to have polish and strong communication skills, so she seems to have an inside track to the Top 24.


BANGLADESH - Towhida Tusnim Tifa.  She's attractive, but not as buffed and polished as other contenders out there.  Her consolation is that she got shortlisted in Talent.


BELGIUM - Elizabeth Victoria Raska.  There are some pageant fans and pundits buzzing about her as having strong stage presence and a potential Top 24 finisher.  Yes, her catwalk skills are undeniable, but there is something about her facial features that I find a bit too strong (I tend to term it as "angular") that I'm not as bullish as others out there.


BOLIVIA - \Estefanía Ibarra.  The panel of experts seem impressed with this lady's stage presence that she won the Supra-Model title for the Americas, over the likes of MEXICO (who got shortlisted in this competition) and big favorite BRAZIL.  I'm not quite seeing it, but well, we'll see if that could be her ticket ot make the Top 24.


BOTSWANA - Leah Barobetse.  She made the shortlist in Supra-Model for Africa, and with her intelligence and communication skills she could make a play for a Top 24 slot.


BRAZIL - Isadora Murta.  This gorgeous brunette is firing on all cylinders, with a standout charisma and stage presence, strong communication skills that help her get short-listed in Supra-Chat, and , and a strong social media presence to be shortlisted in Supra-Influencer.  I have a feeling she'll make a serious play for the Final Five and possibly win.  I especially love her sensational preliminary elegance (e.g. gown) presentation as it was the most dramatic of them all--what seemed to be a plain black outfit turned out to be a cloak concealing a dazzling bejeweled gown underneath.


CANADA - Rachel Murgel.  Like AUSTRALIA, this burnette has good looks, strong catwalk skills, and great communication skills to have an inside track to the Top 24.  What I'll remember most about her is her choice of national costume--she channeled Shania Twain's outfit in her iconic "That Don't Impress Me Much" music video.  I'm so glad Shania is already considered that iconic to be one indelible image of this huge and idverse country.


COMING UP:  CAYMAN ISLANDS to DENMARK

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