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Bikinis and gowns: How some Miss Universe bets fared at the preliminaries

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Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News

<p>PASAY CITY — The 65th Miss Universe preliminary competition started rolling at Mall of Asia Arena on Thursday evening, even as most seats were still empty.</p><p>But that did not stop the candidates&#x27; families and pageant fans from filling the arena with applause, cheers, and even the occasional honking of plastic horns to show their support as their respective bets sashayed in their swimsuits, long gowns, and national costumes.</p><div><strong>TOP CONTENDERS</strong></div><p>A mix of Asian and Latina candidates dominated the preliminaries, pageant experts said.</p><p>Miss Universe Venezuela Mariam Habach, Miss Universe Thailand Chalita Suansane, Miss Universe Mexico Kristal Silva, Miss Universe Nicaragua Marina Jacoby, and Miss Universe Philippines Maxine Medina stood out among the 86 candidates, Missosology&#x27;s Ferdinand Abejon told ABS-CBN News.</p><p>Miss Universe Indonesia Kezia Warouw, Miss Universe Singapore Cheryl Chou, and Miss Universe Myanmar Htet Htet Hyun also made it into the list of favorites for former titleholders.</p><p>&quot;This is the best year for the Asian girls . . . I see it on their faces. They look so elegant, their skin is so smooth. They really did well this year,&quot; said Kim Kotter, Miss Universe Germany and Netherlands director and Miss Universe Netherlands 2002. </p><div><strong>EVENING GOWN </strong></div><p>Habach&#x27;s evening gown took the audience by surprise when she took off the detachable portion of her white and blue garb that turned her ballgown into an evening dress that highlighted her slender figure.</p><p>&quot;You can&#x27;t deny Venezuela&#x27;s presence . . . Her evening gown was a total surprise,&quot; OPBM Worldwide&#x27;s international photographer Jory Rivera told ABS-CBN News.</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s not just about the gown. It also has to have an element of surprise on how you turn, how you do a slow motion.&quot;</p><p>Though Medina&#x27;s green gown was met with criticism online, pageant experts liked it.</p><p>&quot;Although some online pageant fans criticized her green gown, she still wore the gown like it was a part of her body,&quot; Abejon said.</p><p>&quot;It was something unusual but it looked good on stage, it glided well.&quot;</p><p>Warouw nearly tripped in her walking gown but regained her footing, while Miss Universe Kazakhstan Darina Kulsitova had a hard time walking in her gown that seemed too heavy for her.</p><div><strong>SWIMSUIT </strong></div><p>Pageant photographers praised Habach&#x27;s slow and fast turns while donning her two-piece swimwear, but added it&#x27;s a tough call as most candidates sported well-toned bodies.</p><p>&quot;More than their toned bodies, what is judged is how the ladies walk in their swimsuits like no one is watching,&quot; Abejon said.</p><p>Rivera said: &quot;It&#x27;s important not to be intimidated with the other beautiful girls . . . If you are not confident, it affects how you sashay on stage.&quot;</p><div><strong>AUDIENCE IMPACT</strong></div><p>Even though audience impact is not part of the criteria, it is a key factor that boosts the girls&#x27; confidence and performance on stage.</p><p>For obvious reasons, Medina enjoyed a loud applause.</p><blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">WATCH: At least 20 supporters of Miss Thailand flew to Manila to back their bet during the preliminary competition. <a href="https://twitter.com/ABSCBNNews">@ABSCBNNews</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ANCALERTS">@ANCALERTS</a> <a href="https://t.co/xK40vlsCol">pic.twitter.com/xK40vlsCol</a></p>— Kat Domingo (@_katrinadomingo) <a href="https://twitter.com/_katrinadomingo/status/824556047687901185">January 26, 2017</a></blockquote><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script><p>Suansane&#x27;s fans, who flew to Manila just to watch the pageant live, cheered and waved flags so wildly it was as if Thailand was the host.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">LOOK: Panamanian amb to PH Rolando Guevara Alvarado watched the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MissUniverse?src=hash">#MissUniverse</a> preliminaries to support Keity Drennan <a href="https://twitter.com/ABSCBNNews">@ABSCBNNews</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ANCALERTS">@ANCALERTS</a> <a href="https://t.co/pw141lkYho">pic.twitter.com/pw141lkYho</a></p>— Kat Domingo (@_katrinadomingo) <a href="https://twitter.com/_katrinadomingo/status/824648127877558275">January 26, 2017</a></blockquote><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script><p>Panama&#x27;s ambassador to the Philippines, Rolando Guevara Alvarado, along his countrymen, attended the event to root for Miss Universe Panama Keity Drennan.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">LOOK: Miss Universe Tanzania 2011 Nelly Kamwelu watched the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MissUniverse?src=hash">#MissUniverse</a> preliminaries live at the MOA Arena | <a href="https://twitter.com/ABSCBNNews">@ABSCBNNews</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ANCALERTS">@ANCALERTS</a> <a href="https://t.co/7SR7kZB1S8">pic.twitter.com/7SR7kZB1S8</a></p>— Kat Domingo (@_katrinadomingo) <a href="https://twitter.com/_katrinadomingo/status/824648386083123200">January 26, 2017</a></blockquote><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">LOOK: Miss Universe Myanmar 2015 May Thaw is in Manila to watch the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MissUniverse?src=hash">#MissUniverse</a> pageant live. | <a href="https://twitter.com/ABSCBNNews">@ABSCBNNews</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ANCALERTS">@ANCALERTS</a> <a href="https://t.co/VUb1kpnens">pic.twitter.com/VUb1kpnens</a></p>— Kat Domingo (@_katrinadomingo) <a href="https://twitter.com/_katrinadomingo/status/824648661359480832">January 26, 2017</a></blockquote><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script><p>Miss Universe Tanzania 2011 Nelly Kamwelu and Miss Universe Myanmar 2015 May Thaw also attended to support their respective bets.</p><p>Fans from Latin American countries such as Brazil, Colombia, and Puerto Rico roared their hearts out this evening.</p><p>The same kind of energy, both from the contestants and their supporters, is expected to return on Monday when the new Miss Universe will be crowned.</p><p>Watch the 65th Miss Universe coronation live on ABS-CBN Channel 2 on January 30, 2017 Monday 8 a.m. (Manila time)</p><div><em>— Photos and video courtesy of Solar, LCS, MUO</em></div><div class="media-content"><div class="slider-for"><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/miss-universe/01/26/1-mu-preliminary-nppa.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/miss-universe/01/26/2-mu-preliminary-nppa.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/miss-universe/01/26/3-mu-preliminary-nppa.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/miss-universe/01/26/4-mu-preliminary-nppa.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/miss-universe/01/26/5-mu-preliminary-nppa.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/miss-universe/01/26/6-mu-preliminary-nppa.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/miss-universe/01/26/7-mu-preliminary-nppa.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/miss-universe/01/26/8-mu-preliminary-nppa.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/miss-universe/01/26/9-mu-preliminary-nppa.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/miss-universe/01/26/10-mu-preliminary-nppa.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/miss-universe/01/26/11-mu-preliminary-nppa.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/miss-universe/01/26/12-mu-preliminary-nppa.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/miss-universe/01/26/13-mu-preliminary-jc.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/miss-universe/01/26/14-mu-preliminary-jc.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/miss-universe/01/26/15-mu-preliminary-jc.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/miss-universe/01/26/16-mu-preliminary-jc.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/miss-universe/01/26/17-mu-preliminary-jc.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/miss-universe/01/26/18-mu-preliminary-jc.jpg"/></div></div></div><div class="media-content slider-desc"><div class="item-desc"><p>Miss Universe candidates during the 65th Miss Universe Long Gown Competition held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Thursday. <cite>Voltaire Domingo, NPPA</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Miss Universe Brazil Raissa Santana during the 65th Miss Universe Long Gown Competition held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Thursday. <cite>Voltaire Domingo, NPPA</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Miss Universe Colombia Andrea Tovar during the 65th Miss Universe Long Gown Competition held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Thursday. <cite>Voltaire Domingo, NPPA</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Miss Universe Mexico Kristal Silva during the 65th Miss Universe Long Gown Competition held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Thursday. <cite>Voltaire Domingo, NPPA</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Miss Universe Myanmar Htet Htet Htun during the 65th Miss Universe Long Gown Competition held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Thursday. <cite>Voltaire Domingo, NPPA</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Miss Universe Nicaragua Marina Jacoby during the 65th Miss Universe Long Gown Competition held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Thursday. <cite>Voltaire Domingo, NPPA</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Miss Universe candidates during the 65th Miss Universe Long Gown Competition held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Thursday. <cite>Voltaire Domingo, NPPA</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Miss Universe Singapore Cheryl Chou during the 65th Miss Universe Long Gown Competition held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Thursday. <cite>Voltaire Domingo, NPPA</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Miss Universe Tanzania Jihan Dimack during the 65th Miss Universe Long Gown Competition held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Thursday. <cite>Voltaire Domingo, NPPA</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Miss Universe Thailand Chalita Suansane during the 65th Miss Universe Long Gown Competition held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Thursday. <cite>Voltaire Domingo, NPPA</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Miss Universe Venezuela Mariam Habach during the 65th Miss Universe Long Gown Competition held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Thursday. <cite>Voltaire Domingo, NPPA</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Miss Universe candidates during the 65th Miss Universe Long Gown Competition held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Thursday. <cite>Voltaire Domingo, NPPA</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Miss Universe Brazil Raissa Santana competes during the swimsuit competition at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Thursday. <cite>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Miss Universe Colombia Andrea Tovar competes during the swimsuit competition at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Thursday. <cite>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Miss Universe Panama Keitty Drenan competes during the swimsuit competition at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Thursday. <cite>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Miss Universe Philippines Maxine Medina during the Miss Universe swimsuit competition at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Thursday. <cite>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Miss Universe Puerto Rico Brenda Jimenez during the Miss Universe swimsuit competition at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Thursday. <cite>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Miss Universe Mariam Habach during the swimsuit competition at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Thursday. <cite>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div></div>

<p>A mix of Asian and Latina candidates dominated the preliminaries, pageant experts said.</p>

A mix of Asian and Latina candidates dominated the preliminaries, pageant experts said.

Bikinis and gowns: How some Miss Universe bets fared at the preliminaries

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Bikinis and gowns: How some Miss Universe bets fared at the preliminaries

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 27, 2017 03:16 AM PHT

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Updated Jan 27, 2017 08:17 AM PHT

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Miss Universe

Maxine Medina

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