Monthly Archives: January 2015

Arts, Fashion, International

STELLA MARQUEZ ARANETA STEPS DOWN AS HEAD OF BINIBINING PILIPINAS CHARITIES

7 Comments
Miss Philippines' evening gown in the Miss Universe Preliminaries, left. The same gown during thr pageant finals, right.
Miss Philippines’ evening gown in the Miss Universe preliminaries, left. The same gown during the pageant finals, right.

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – The Philippines’ contestant to last night’s Miss Universe Pageant held in Doral, Florida, failed to make it to the top 5 finalists, dashing the hopes of millions of Filipinos for a third crown. Miss Philippines made it through to the top 10.

Blame quickly turned to Lastimosa’s wardrobe, including her much-maligned ‘national costume’ designed by Colombian Alfredo Barraza. Many compared the gown to a giant wedding cake.

Reports from Florida also indicate that Lastimosa altered her white evening gown right after the preliminary competition to show her natural curves better. Many noticed a lower cleavage line and a better hugging waist line in the pageant finals (see photos).

Others were quick to accuse Barraza and the head of the Binibining Pilipinas Charities (BPC), Stella Marquez Araneta, a Colombian beauty queen who married a Filipino, of sabotage.

Responding to critics, Araneta said there are no Filipino designers good enough to design gowns worthy of an international pageant like Miss Universe. Filipino fashion designers and netizens took her to task for her comment.

But now, the “GownGate” seems to be over.Miss Philippines' National Costume

“I can’t take this any more, I have to let it go,” Araneta told reporters in Manila. “To be blamed for the failure of the Philippines to win the Miss Universe crown a third time is just not fair, just because I am Colombian and I chose a Colombian designer,” she added.

With those words, she formally stepped down from the top position she holds at the BPC.

Manny Pacquiao’s mom, Dionisia, is said to be wanting to replace Araneta. (Pacquiao was a judge in last night’s Miss Universe finals.)

Incidentally, the new Miss Universe is Paulina Vega. From Colombia.

International, Language, LGBT

BIG CHANGES COMING TO MISS UNIVERSE PAGEANT NEXT YEAR

Leave a comment
Donald Trump with 2012 Miss Universe Olivia Carpo of the United States.
Donald Trump with 2012 Miss Universe Olivia Carpo of the United States.

DORAL, Florida (The Adobo Chronicles) – While the world is anticipating the final results of the 2014 Miss Universe Pageant now being held in Doral, Florida, Donald Trump has announced major changes in the international competition starting next year.

The business mogul and Miss Universe Pageant owner spoke with reporters tonight while he was busy assisting the 10 finalists put on their evening gowns in the dressing rooms.

Specifically, he announced three major changes:

1. The Miss Universe organization will now actively recruit transgender contestants to this international competition which originally only allowed contestants who were born women.

2. Because of the perennial outstanding performance in the pageant of contestans from Latin America (including Venezuela, Argentina, Colombia and Brazil), the pageant will adopt a new official language which will be used throughout the competition, from the preliminaries to the finals.  That language, of course, is Spanish.  Non-Spanish speaking contestants will still be allowed to engage the services of a language interpreter.

3. Trump will have to personally approve the final decision of the pageant’s panel of judges to ensure that his favorite contestants win the crown.  After all, he’s paying for it.

The LGBT community and Spanish-speaking countries immediately praised Trump’s new policies.  The government of the Philippines, meanwhile, has mandated the teaching of Spanish in schools and universities — from kindergarten through college, especially among women and girls to increase the country’s chances of winning more Miss Universe crowns.

 

International, LGBT

REVEALED: ONE OF THIS YEAR’S MISS UNIVERSE CONTESTANTS IS A TRANSGENDER WOMAN

1 Comment
Talackova and her attorney, Gloria Allred
Talackova, right, and her attorney, Gloria Allred

DORAL, Florida (The Adobo Chronicles) – The 63rd edition of the Miss Universe Pageant concludes tonight with the finals in which Gabriela Isler of Venezuela will crown her successor.

Just hours before the televised event, The Adobo Chronicles has confirmed that one of the 88 contestants is a transgender woman. And it is not Miss Canada.

Many will recall the big controversy that rocked the past Miss Universe Canada Pageant when Jenna Talackova was thrown out of the contest before being allowed to compete again, with the blessing of Donald Trump. Talackova was initially disqualified because she was not born a woman. It took the threat of a lawsuit from Talackova and her celebrity attorney Gloria Allred to change Trump’s mind.

Which of the 88 ladies is a transgender woman? Could she win the coveted crown?

Watch for the great reveal tonight at 8pm Eastern time or its equivalent in time zones worldwide.