After much dilly-dallying here are my predictions for the 2006 Miss Universe pageant.

As we all probably know by now, Miss Universe organizers have decided on calling 20 semifinalists this year. This couldn’t have come at a better time since there are so many deserving women out of this batch of 86 – but having said this, the process of trimming them down remains as daunting as it has ever been.

Last Monday the girls competed in both swimsuit and evening gowns. A day after that they were then judged based on one-on-one personality interviews. These scores will be averaged and will decide who makes the cut.

As was circulated last year – some say the preliminary judges only selected 15, with the Miss Universe Organization (and owner Donald Trump) picking the remaining 5 slots. This remains to be proven, however.

This list, as it has always been, is a mix of girls who I’d like to get in, and those who I think will get in (sometimes the same thing, sometimes different). My selection is based on pageant photos made available since the start of the event but with a stress on the preliminary competition, and video from the official Miss Universe website.

Here we go:

1. Puerto Rico / Zuleyka Rivera / 18 / 5”9 – My personal choice for the crown, Zuleyka performed the best during preliminaries. She has an awesome figure, a lovely face, and just oozes with sex appeal. She is well prepared for this competition though I would have wished she had waited a couple of years more to mature a bit because many have commented about her being too giggly during the personality interviews.

1. Mexico / Prisclia Perales / 23 / 5”8 – Though not my personal choice for the title – my gut tells me that she is the woman to beat this year. Overall she’s got the complete package – beauty, body and brains. She exudes lots of grace on the catwalk while at the same time is very articulate, oh and she reminds me a lot of last year’s winner Natalie.

3. Colombia / Valerie Dominguez / 25 / 5”9 – I may sound like a broken record already but its true – preliminary competition performance matters a whole lot, Valerie is a great example of this. For the longest time she had been floating around my favorites list but it was not till after the preliminary photos came out that I knew she deserved to be much higher. She is a shoo-in for the Top 5.

4. Canada / Alice Panikian / 20 / 6”1 – A mega favorite from the very start, Alice kinda sizzled down a bit during the last few weeks of the competition. I personally thought she would be the hands down favorite to win but sub-par performance during the preliminaries hurt her chances. I’d love to see her come back with fire during pageant night. She has the potential to win this pageant, and even on her worst day she’d still come as far as the Top 5. I would also love to see the first ever back to back win by a country at the Miss Universe Pageant.

5. Ukraine / Inna Tsymbaliuk / 21 / 5”9 – Talk about energy and how it can make such a difference. This girl wasn’t even on my favorites list a couple of weeks back but look where she ended up. She really worked the ramp during both portions of the preliminaries and now she’s made her way onto so many favorites lists. I wish she’d change her evening gown for the finals though or else I’d give the 5th spot to someone else (to any of the next two).As a side note it is also worth mentioning that Inna is the first contestant under the new Miss Ukraine franchise headed by former Miss Ukraine Alexandra Nikolayenko. If you recall Alexandra was a huge favorite (including mine and Trump’s) to win in 2004 but she didn’t even make the semis. A year later she was invited back to judge the 2005 Pageant – a move many consider to be The Donald’s way of apologizing. This year she’s been seen standing by the side of Mr. and Mrs. Trump during one of the pageant functions.

6. Australia / Erin McNaught / 24/ 5”9 – Another big favorite since the beginning, she’s managed to overcome the controversy that surfaced just weeks before the official start of the pageant when topless photos and calls for her dethronement were all over the news (I don’t think it will matter). Erin is one of the most beautiful delegates this year and is also one of the most intelligent, however during preliminaries she failed to impress me much, maybe because of the high hopes that I had for her. Again a spark during coronation night will work to her advantage.

7. Switzerland / Lauriane Gilllieron / 21 / 5”7 – I’ve seen a major transformation since Lauriane competed in Miss World 2005. Back as an amazing blonde bombshell this girl has a great body and a lovely face – the best I’ve seen this year. I’d also like a gown change for her – something more sophisticated. She’s the last person on this list that I consider to have the potential to win the title.

8. Israel / Anastacia Entin / 21 / 5”8 – I recognize it is a bit risky putting Israel this way up on my list. She isn’t on any other favorites list out there. But there have always been surprises in the history of the pageant and I see lots of potential of her being one of them. First her selection would be a great political choice – after all back home her country is going to war against Lebanon. Secondly she qualifies on her own merit. Not only does she have a lovely face, I think she also did well during the preliminaries, especially during the swimsuit competition.

9. Trinidad & Tobago / Kenisha Thom / 22 / 5”8 – A pageant veteran from Miss World 2004, Kenisha is another one of those girls who crept up my list after a superb preliminary competition. She is the best black delegate this year and I expect that she will do well enough in the swimsuit competition to make the cut from 20 to 10. A bright colored gown is on my wish list for her. Although it has no bearing on the standings I think she’s also among the top 2 in national costume.

10. Philippines / Lia Andrea Ramos / 25 / 5”8 – I am proud to say that from just one photograph I had picked Lia to win the Bb Pilipinas Universe title earlier this year. And I agree with those who say she is the strongest delegate the Philippines has sent to Miss Universe since Miriam Quiambao in 1999. Nonetheless I was quite disappointed with her overall performance to think that she came in as a big favorite to win. I can see her going further then 10 if she lets her hair down later tonight. I’d love to see Lia winning Ms. Congeniality – she has such a bubbly personality and an amazing smile.

11. India / Neha Kapur / 23 / 5”10 – At the beginning I had problems determining if Neha deserved a slot on my list. A lot of photos had her in weird positions that covered her face and body. Although she isn’t as beautiful as many of the girls on this list she just oozes with sensuality and appeal. It’s this x-factor that’s going to get her this far into the competition.

12. Dominican Republic / Mia Taveras / 20 / 5”11 – Its been a more than a year already but I’m still in love with last year’s Miss Dominican Republic. The warmth she exuded still touches my heart to this day, but enough about her. Mia is another strong delegate from the Caribbean nation that brought us a stunning Miss Universe in 2002. Although something tells me she could end up being one of the girls on my list who doesn’t make it I’d like to think that her awesome gown choice during the prelims will be enough to get her a slot – there are 20 after all.

13. Brazil / Rafeala Zanella / 19 / 5”11 – Rafella doesn’t look nineteen, and when she poses for the cameras or hits the runway she exudes sensuality that is well beyond her years. Although she is not a personal favorite she undoubtedly also has that “it” factor and I can see her getting this far in the competition. I’m glad though that Brazil has finally come out of its old-pageant style. This year’s performance was much more contemporary in the pageant sense.

14. Bolivia / Desiree Duran / 20 / 5”10 – A personal favorite early on there isn’t a day that Desiree doesn’t remind me of Miss Universe 2002 Amelia Vega. This comparison hurts her in the sense that she is missing something that Amelia has although I can’t put my hand on it. But maybe it’s just me. I hope she does well.

15. USA / Tara Conner / 20 / 5”5 – Height is going to be the biggest challenge Tara is going to have to face. Being so small her proportions aren’t sometimes ideal especially with her choice of evening gown during the prelims. But we need to be realistic – there is no way that the hometown girl won’t make it – she’s Miss USA! I’m curious to find out if she’ll be wearing the gown that was designed for her on the reality show Project Runway.

16. Indonesia / Nadine Chandrawinata / 21 / 5”8 – I have a feeling that there’s more to last year’s inclusion of Indonesia into the semifinals then by merit alone. I think it was to give Indonesia that pat on the back for braving the staunch opposition back home. It was also their first appearance and we’ve seen a lot of first time success stories at Miss Universe. Nadine though I believe really deserves a slot on this list. She is another of those interestingly beautiful delegates thanks to the mix of Indonesian and German genes. The one-piece swimsuit may hurt her chances of getting in or getting further but I admire the charm that she exudes on stage.

17. Poland / Francys Sudnicka / 26 / 5”9 – A swimsuit photo by the pool was what first got my attention to this European beauty. It’s no surprise that she went on to do great in the preliminary swimsuit competition as well. Her evening gown is being praised by some – I just don’t like the tossed up hair look. I hope she gets in.

18. Japan / Kurara Chibana / 24 / 5”8 – I’m going to go out on a limb here and give a slot to Japan. Although I don’t like her walk, there’s something about her that has struck me since seeing her in her samurai national costume (which I think she will be awarded for). The deciding factor was a backstage photo from last Thursday’s national costume taping.

19. Sri Lanka / Jacqueline Fernandez / 20 / 5”7 – Jacqueline reminds me of actress Eva Mendez, without a doubt she is best delegate from Sri Lanka that we’ve seen in a long time. I really hopes she gets into the Top 20, her personality interview on the Miss U website sounded a bit scripted but it also shows how passionate she is to win the crown.

20. Ghana / Angela Asare / 20 / 6”2 – At six feet and two inches it is hard for Angela not to stand out. She could well be the tallest delegate in history (correct me if I’m wrong) and with those beautiful long legs, reminds me of Naomi Campbell while on the runway. I must admit though I expected her to be prettier based on photos of her I had seen prior to the pageant. I’m not so sure if she doesn’t just photograph well.

CLOSE CALLS/ALTERNATES:EDIT: At 3:13am RP Time (12:16pm LA) I decided on assiging Japan, Sri Lanka and Ghana to places 18, 19 and 20. I have a feeling these last 3 slots could easily go to the first three names on this alternates list, Spain, Serbia & Montenegro and Thailand.

Spain / Elisabeth Reyes / 21 / 5”11 – She almost made it on my list. I just think that she’s been a bit wishy washy and didn’t really shine as bright as she has potential to. I’ve always been a fan of Spanish beauties. Elisabeth is no exception I do hope thoughthat if she makes it through that she’d change her evening gown.

Serbia & Montenegro / Nada Milinic / 18 / 6”0 – Imagine 18 years old and already that tall? I think Nada would make a great supermodel one day. She actually did great and I wouldn’t be surprised if she landed a slot in the Top 20 but decisions had to be made and I just like too many women ahead of her.Thailand / Charm Onwarin Osathanond / 19 / 5”8 – I was telling a friend just the other day that I had a crush on Charm, she seems very sweet and is actually very pretty. I just don’t think she is at that elite level of competition yet. But there are some interesting factors that keep playing at the back of my mind, first being that former Miss Universe 1988 Porntip Bui from Thailand was a preliminary judge, second there’s a lot of Thai influence on this pageant, sponsors BSC Swimwear (a local Thai brand) and Singha Beer and third after Miss Thailand – last year’s host delegate failed to make it to the semis last year even if she deserved it – this could be the organization’s way of making it up to the country. (I have a strong feeling this is going to happen). But if you ask me I dream of another situation like 1988 where girls from East Asia would dominate the Top 5 and eventually someone from our part of the globe winning back the crown.

Nicaragua / Cristiana Frixione Medonza / 22 / 5”8 – My favorite just didn’t have enough power left to last that crucial part of the competition. I don’t think she quite made it though I’d be very happy if she did.

Belgium / Tatiana Silva / 21 / 5”8 – After all that writing I’ve got very little left to say. Tatiana has a beautiful face and she also did well during the preliminaries. She just didn’t make my cut.It’s already past 3am here. See you all in about 6 hours. For the sake of transparency I’ve decided to leave this list as is even if something occurs to me in my sleep. So looking forward to seeing what happens tomorrow.I’m sure the pageant will be great. I especially look forward to seeing Shandi and Carson provide the color commentary.

Cheers.

This entry was posted on Monday, July 24th, 2006 at 2:17 am and is filed under Favorites. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.