We all rooted for Shamcey Supsup today.
But when I saw Miss Angola in Top 16, I felt right away she would win. How she emphasized her neck and shoulders with that high chignon, befitted the crown.
Miss Philippines Shamcey Supsup was the perfect candidate. All of us badingerzies are unabashed in forecasting a Miss Philippines crown. We thought she would do better than last year’s Venus Raj, who finished fourth runner up after a major-major interview disaster, because Shamcey is an honor student at the University of the Philippines and an architecture bar topper. She did, indeed, by placing third, yet far away from the coveted Miss U crown.
Shamcey’s final interview was a winner, by beauty pageant standards. Asked if she would change her religion for love, she answered she wouldn’t because her first love is God, and if he loves her, he would also love her god. I heard all the Miss U fans in the country say, “This is it!”
The Philippine Miss U experiment this year did not succeed. What went wrong?
There was a time when the country would send gorgeous faces and alluring bodies, who failed to bring home the crown. And we thought our candidates lacked height, so we looked for Filipinas taller than 5’6” plus six-inch heels. We thought our mestiza candidates paled beside the Caucasian beauties, while Latinas were heating up, so we searched for the kayumanggi and sent Miriam Quiambao and Venus Raj. They both placed in Top 5, with Miriam almost clinching the crown. Learning from history, our winning formula seemed to have been the wit of Gloria Diaz (1969), the physique of Margie Moran (1973), and the color of Desiree Verdadero.
Shamcey Supsup, despite a rather quirky family name, epitomized all that. Yet we failed again. Her witty answer only proved that Best in Interview still do not count in Miss Universe. Neither does a sizzling stage strategy. Shamcey was overflowing with confidence on stage. Her style was the “tsunami walk,” the latest in beauty contest parlance, and she was poised for the kill. Miss Philippines contestants, I heard, are trained in a beauty queen school in Venezuela. By the way, did anyone notice how artificial Miss Venuezuela looked that evening? I suddenly remembered Venezuelan Minorka Mercado of 1994. That kind of studied elegance on stage.
Towering Miss China failed because of her scanty answer to the question about public nudity. Miss Brazil was of course a hometown victory, as we would recall Charlene Gonzales in 1994 – a privilege given to pageant hosts, I guess. But she was very vivacious, egging her fans to keep applauding her every time she was called. Miss Ukraine, who placed first runner up, was forgettable in that generic yet willowy white gown.
But Miss Angola Leila Lopes did not sashay on stage. She appeared clutching her gown’s hem while descending the ramps, releasing it only when she reaches the stage, much like a queen descending from her carriage, a wisp of a cloud trailing behind her. She gave a rather lengthy answer and hit overtime, trailing with an unfinished advice “We must respect each other…,” and took the crown, proving that there is still a lot of grace, charm, and elegance in unassuming confidence and spontaneity.
But of course, there were judges, and we could only guess what politics, preferences, prejudices, and parameters of beauty they have. This is what I like about Miss Universe. For instance, Miss USA did not count in this year. I am very happy every time USA loses in its own game. Like, there is hope for the rest of us. Miss Philippines is the only Asian; China, which has become quite visible in the pageant lately, may not count anymore since they are getting to be a superpower. Miss Universe transcends geographies. Most finalists were Latinas, as usual. France, which we all thought of as the fashion capital turned in the worst gown in the finals, while how come Australia, Philippines and Miss Universe 2010 had the identical concepts of a gown? This year, an obscure country like Angola takes center stage.
Perhaps next year, Miss Philippines should try a different strategy. Meanwhile, congratulations, Shamcey! You did us proud. @
