Miss Universe 2019 Recap: The Fab, the Drab, and the Downright Flops
Dec 10, 2019 • Matthew Balicudiong
South Africa’s Zozibini Tunzi is crowned Miss Universe 2019. While most people agree she deserves the crown, this year’s Miss Universe pageant held in Atlanta, Georgia had a mixture of good and bad moments.
Here’s a quick review of the prestigious beauty competition, in case you missed it:
FAB: Diversity in the TOP 10
https://www.instagram.com/p/B51XIadgHo3/
Seeing Miss Iceland and Miss Indonesia join the almost-always strong contenders was a delight. These girls’ presence proves that the pageant really is anybody’s game.
FAB: Elegance meets eloquence
This is the Top 5 Q&A with… South Africa!#MissUniverse2019 LIVE on @FOXtv. Airing in Spanish on @Telemundo. pic.twitter.com/FyZxRcCwhh
— Miss Universe (@MissUniverse) December 9, 2019
Beauty and brains. All the candidates have it.
This year’s pageant gave more time to the candidates’ voices – opening statement for the Top 20, Q&A for the Top 5, and a final word for the TOP 3.
DRAB: A voice-over talent introduced the candidates
South Africavote.missuniverse.com
Posted by Miss Universe on Saturday, December 7, 2019
A bit of a disappointment. Most beauty pageant fans would expect that the candidates will get to introduce themselves on the big night, but nope, it didn’t happen. Like last year, the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) divided the ladies into three groups, but it used clips from the preliminary competition and a voice-over. No special shoot for this portion – SAD.
FAB: #MissUniverse2019 = Wonder Woman film turned beauty pageant
Women are the heroes indeed. The Miss Universe pageant literally is the biggest gathering of the most beautiful women in the world – from the candidates, the selection committee, the performer, and the co-hosts. Steve Harvey is the only thorn among a bunch of gorgeous roses.
FLOP: The National Costume competition winner mix-up
A miscommunication, a prank, or simply a bad joke?
During the live broadcast, host Steve Harvey announced Miss Philippines Gazini Ganados as the winner of the National Costume competition but ended up dwelling on Miss Malaysia’s national costume instead. It obviously confused a lot of viewers.
Timing is really everything. This happened after Ganados failed to enter the Top 10. She finished in the Top 20 — ending the Philippines’ almost a decade-long Top 10 streak.
So to clear the air, the MUO clarified everything on social media.
DRAB: Was Miss Thailand ripping off Catriona Gray?
Is it just me or kinokopya talaga ni Thailand si Catriona in every way possible??? The attitude, the angas, the walk, the turn, even the gown has a resemblance to the lava gown. #MissUniverse2019#MissUniversePhilippines2019#MissUniverseThailandpic.twitter.com/I5S6J7ZXXX
— #SEAGames2019 🏐🇵🇭 (@VolleyPilipinas) December 9, 2019
We saw what you did there Thailand.#MissUnivers2019 #MissUniversePhilippines2019 pic.twitter.com/5MLDUvHGAc
— Jay Castillo (@JayCastillooo) December 9, 2019
First was the design of her gowns. Second, her overly-amplified social media presence. And finally, her TOP 5 look and walk. It is too much for some netizens.
PERSONAL TAKE: You are already beautiful, smart, and fantastic on your own Fahsai Paweensuda Drouin. As in. I hope your pageant mentors would learn from this experience.
FAB: Catriona Gray’s Final Walk as Miss Universe
“Alon” [Wave] it is. Our queen definitely made waves during her reign. If you watched it, admit it or not, this part of the program made you cry – minus the “karalangan” part.
But above anything else, you made the Philippines proud! As Steve Harvey would put it, your successor has big shoes to fill in.
FAB: Miss Universe 2019 is South Africa
https://www.instagram.com/p/B51fuo8Aemw/
Miss South Africa Zozibini Tunzi broke major stereotypes on a typical beauty queen, on women in society, and on people of color. Her winning answer? When she said we should teach young girls today to “TAKE UP SPACE!” when it comes to leadership. Ugh. Goosebumps moment.
Also, she pulled off a so-called “sandwich victory” for South Africa. In 2017, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters was crowned Miss Universe. Last year, Tamaryn Green was 1st runner-up. And this year, the crown is back in South Africa.
What do you think? Did I miss anything? Comment down below.
