LAS VEGAS, Nevada (The Adobo Chronicles) – The Miss Universe Pageant is not just a competition to select the most beautiful woman in the universe.  It is also the most sought-after venue for gamblers to bet on their choice of winner  for the pageant in the hopes of reaping multiple returns for their ‘investment.’

Miss Japan, Ariana Miyamoto, has been making headlines for being the first bi-racial contestant to win the crown in her country and securing the opportunity to represent Japan in the prestigious Miss Universe pageant.

Despite the mixed reaction about her winning the title from within and outside Japan, Miyamoto is leading the odds to be the next Miss Universe among the bettors and gamblers in Las Vegas.

The betting odds are making many countries really nervous about their candidates  — including countries that are considered to be perennial frontrunners in the annual contest, like Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela and the Philippines.

Many other countries who have yet to choose their representative to the next Miss Universe Pageant are seriously considering sending a candidate who is bi-racial in order to be more competitive.

After all, the standard of  beauty is subjective. And mixed.