#missuniverse2013 fails to answer the question…and wins!

Congratulations are in order for the Philippines’ very own Ariella Arida for winning 3rd runner-up in the Miss Universe 2013 pageant. It’s quite a feat to be the only Asian in the Top 5, and fourth year in a row that we’ve done it.

Ariella placed first in the swimsuit competition but unfortunately it seems her tacky evening gown did her in. Ara did her best to carry it, but the color and the material was far from queenly. We would have thought it came straight out of the bargain racks of Divisoria.

(Photo courtesy of http://www.facebook.com/MissAArida)

Ariella gown

In the Question and Answer portion, all the other four finalists (Ecuador, Spain, Brazil and Venezuela) needed interpreters. Either the judges weren’t sharp enough or there’s simply too much politics in Miss Universe. But Miss Venezuela Gabriela Isler totally missed the answer to her question.

Q. What is your biggest fear and how do you plan to overcome it?

A. We should overcome all our fears and this in turn would make us stronger. As soon as we overcome our fears, we can face any challenge.

Huh?

It pays that the new Miss Universe 2013 has the biggest smile and the widest mouth this side of the Amazon River. Maybe Donald Trump likes it that way. Congratulations are still in order and we wish her a fruitful reign!

(Photo courtesy of http://www.facebook.com/MissUniverse)

Miss Universe 2013

P. S.

It remains that Ariella Arida had the best answer in the field of four other Spanish-speaking candidates. But it’s apparent from this experience that being able to think well on the spot isn’t enough.

Asked about “What can be done about the lack of jobs for young people starting their career around the world? “…

Miss Philippines answered: “For the people who have lack of jobs, I do believe that we people should invest in education and that is my primary advocacy, because we all know that if everyone of us is educated and well aware of what we are doing, we could land into jobs and we could land a good career in the future. Education is the primary source and ticket to a better future.”

#missuniverse2013 fails to answer the question…and wins!

Congratulations are in order for the Philippines’ very own Ariella Arida for winning 3rd runner-up in the Miss Universe 2013 pageant. It’s quite a feat to be the only Asian in the Top 5, and fourth year in a row that we’ve done it.

Ariella placed first in the swimsuit competition but unfortunately it seems her tacky evening gown did her in. Ara did her best to carry it, but the color and the material was far from queenly. We would have thought it came straight out of the bargain racks of Divisoria.

(Photo courtesy of http://www.facebook.com/MissAArida)

Ariella gown

In the Question and Answer portion, all the other four finalists (Ecuador, Spain, Brazil and Venezuela) needed interpreters. Either the judges weren’t sharp enough or there’s simply too much politics in Miss Universe. But Miss Venezuela Gabriela Isler totally missed the answer to her question.

Q. What is your biggest fear and how do you plan to overcome it?

A. We should overcome all our fears and this in turn would make us stronger. As soon as we overcome our fears, we can face any challenge.

Huh?

It pays that the new Miss Universe 2013 has the biggest smile and the widest mouth this side of the Amazon River. Maybe Donald Trump likes it that way. Congratulations are still in order and we wish her a fruitful reign!

(Photo courtesy of http://www.facebook.com/MissUniverse)

Miss Universe 2013

P. S.

It remains that Ariella Arida had the best answer in the field of four other Spanish-speaking candidates. But it’s apparent from this experience that being able to think well on the spot isn’t enough.

Asked about “What can be done about the lack of jobs for young people starting their career around the world? “…

Miss Philippines answered: “For the people who have lack of jobs, I do believe that we people should invest in education and that is my primary advocacy, because we all know that if everyone of us is educated and well aware of what we are doing, we could land into jobs and we could land a good career in the future. Education is the primary source and ticket to a better future.”

Miss Universe 2013: PHL in beauty grand slam?

And the answer is: we can hope! :)

After the coronation of Mutya Johanna Datul as Miss Supranational 2013 in Belarus, Megan Young as Miss World 2013 in Bali, the pressure is high on the chemist-beauty queen from the province of Laguna, Ariella Arida to bag the Miss Universe crown, something which has eluded the Philippines since 1973.

Reports state that Ariella is a top favorite in a field of 86 equally beautiful candidates from all over the world, and we wish her luck! The live telecast of Miss Universe 2013 from Crocus City Hall in Moscow happens in a few hours!

Beauty Grandslam

My beauty watching friends say the Question and Answer portion of the pageant will be very crucial. I retrieved Ariella’s answer in the Bb. Pilipinas 2013 Q & A and contrary to what some people say, it wasn’t bad at all. I am sure she will do better in Miss Universe 2013 because she had ample time to train for it.

Prior to winning Bb. Pilipinas Universe, Ariella or Ara was a contestant to Binibining Laguna and Miss Philippines Earth 2012. Her parents are both public school teachers and she graduated with a degree in chemistry from the University of the Philippines Los Banos.

We caught Ara during a crying moment with her mom after the winners were announced in the Bb. Pilipinas 2013 pageant.

arielle arida with mom

Miss Universe 2013: our Top 5

Avid beauty watchers can’t wait for the wee hours of Sunday, November 9 (about 2am) when Miss Universe 2013 will be telecast live from Crocus City Hall in Moscow, Russia. I won’t be up so early to watch the pageant so I will probably just wake up to announcements in my social media feeds about who the winner is :)

The good news is that the Philippines’ very own Ariella Arida is emerging to be a heavy favorite in the world’s most prestigious beauty tilt, even winning the title Ice Princess in a pre-pageant contest. The pressure is up because Venus Raj in 2010, Shamcey Supsup in 2011 and Janine Tugonon in 2012 all landed in the Miss Universe Top 5 and won runners-up titles. So let us wear our colors proud Team Philippines and vote for Ariella using this link

Ariella - Miss Universe 2013

Remember, we also predicted Olivia Culpo to win Miss U 2012 in our fearless forecast here . Here’s our Top 5 bets for Miss Universe 2013: (all photos courtesy of the official pageant site at www.missuniverse.com)

1. Bb. Pilipinas Ariella Arida – for patriotic reasons and because her beauty can stand out with the rest of the 85 world-class contestants ;)

2. Miss USA Erin Brady of Connecticut

Miss USA - Miss Universe 2013

3. Miss Spain Patricia Yurena Rodriguez

Miss Spain - Miss Universe 2013

4. Miss France Hinarani de Longeaux

Miss France - Miss Universe 2013

5. Miss Puerto Rico Monic Perez

Miss Puerto Rico - Miss Universe 2013

The rest of our Magic 14:

6. Miss Colombia Lucia Aldana

7. Miss Dominican Republic Yaritza Reyes

8. Miss Venezuela Gabriel Isler

9. Miss Croatia Melita Fabecic

10. Miss Poland Paulina Kropinska

11. Miss Israel Titi Yitayish

12. Miss Czech Republic Gabriela Kratochvilova

13. Miss Panama Carolina Brid

14. Miss Australia Olivia Wells

Ariella Arida : Bb. Pilipinas Universe 2013

A truly Filipina beauty. This is 23-year old Ariella Arida of Alaminos, Laguna who was declared Bb. Pilipinas Universe 2013 in last night’s pageant (which we covered) at Smart Araneta Coliseum. It was truly celebratory because Bb. Pilipinas is turning 50 golden years in 2013 and this year’s batch were all lovely!

arielle

Ariella or Ara for short is a chemistry graduate from the University of the Philippines-Los Banos. During her teeange years, she was the lead majorette for her town’s drum & lyre band and also played volleyball. She stands five feet 7 1/2 inches tall.

In our fearless forecast of pageant result, we did say she would be on the Top 8. Even if she was already on stage in her crown and scepter, we caught Arielle breaking down several times. She probably couldn’t believe she would be adjudged the fairest of them all. Congratulations!

Bb. Pilipinas Universe 2013 in a tender moment with her mom…

arielle arida with mom

Arielle was the first to be called in the crucial Question and Answer portion and we think she made a good impression with her answer.Asked by judge, the PNP Chief Dir. Gen. Allan Purisima about the “life lesson that women can teach men,” she answered “sensitivity.” To paraphrase: men are more logical and straightforward, women think with their heart and that’s why women can teach men to be more sensitive.

We wish Ms. Arida good luck in Miss Universe 2013! :)