Venezuela is Miss Universe 2008!

Riyo Mori’s (JAPAN) reign ended with a bang! (Not because she was slapped by Miss Egypt Yara Naoum) It’s the first time in the MUO’s history that the outgoing queen did not wear a gown. Instead, she wore a tuxedo, a signatured tuxedo of course! Riyo Mori will forever remain as one of the most beautiful Miss Universe ever! (Let’s not forget Jennifer Hawkins of Australia).

Ever since Dayana Mendoza won the Miss Venezuela 2007 pageant, she was bookmarked to win the Miss Universe 2008 crown. She previously competed in the 2001 Elite Model contest in France and eventually became a professional model sashaying the runways of Paris, Milan, NY and Tokyo. Dayana is the right girl that MUO is looking for: A model, fresh and vibrant.

I never thought that the MUO would crown a Venezuelan after the headache that Alicia Machado (Miss Universe 1996) caused them that it’s impossible to even think of Dayana Mendoza winning. Since 1996, Venezuela produced 4 First Runners Up (1997,1998, 2000,2003), 1 Second Runner up (2007), 1 Third Runner up (2001), 2 Fourth Runner up (2002, 2005), 1 Top 5 (1999) and 2 Non Semi Finalist Placements (2004, 2006). Dayana’s victory means 5 Miss Universe crowns for Venezuela (tied with Puerto Rico).

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The Jennifer Barrientos, Philippine delegate for Miss Universe did not place in the pageant. For the first time in the Miss Universe history, the Miss Photogenic was not awarded. Jennifer Barrientos could have easily won it with the help of her overzealous compatriots. The three C’s (Colombia, Cumbia and Cubao) according to the pageant analysts are the factors to be blamed for the non placement of our delegates in the international scene. Colombia (helps train Filipina beauty queens) and Alfredo Barraza (Evening gown and National Costume designer) are allegedly sabotaging the chances of our delegates by giving them wrong packaging and ugly gowns. Cumbia boutique’s (Owned by the Aranetas) array of gowns and cocktail dresses are not exactly fashionable. Most of their (Cumbia) dresses have been used by previous queens in other pageants. Cubao (refers to BPCI and Madam Stella) needs young blood and needs to change. Stella Marquez de Araneta, Pitoy Moreno and the oldies in the BPCI board should step down. We need somebody like Inez Ligron (National Director of MUJ) to change BPCI.