SASHES AND TIARAS.....Miss Philippines Universe Binibining Pilipinas 2016 Finals EVENING GOWN RECAP!

SASHES AND TIARAS.....Miss Philippines Universe Binibining Pilipinas 2016 Finals EVENING GOWN RECAP!

Evening Gown Best & Uh Oh: Bibibining Pilipinas Miss Universe Philippines 2016 Finals

And the Winner Is...Maxine Medina is crowned Binibining Pilipinas Miss Universe Philippines 2016

Photos courtesy of Binibining Pilipinas Facebook

The finals of the Binibining Pilipinas 2016 occurred Sunday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Metro Manila Philippines. The winner of Binibining Pilipinas becomes "Miss Universe Philippines" and goes on to represent her nation in the prestigious Miss Universe pageant slated for the end of this year.

 Miss Universe Philippines 2016 Maxine Medina

There were 40 total contestants vying for the coveted crown and the winner was #29 Maxine Medina representing Quezon City. Medina is an interior designer and model who, according to Wikipedia, stands 5' 7 1/4" (that 1/4" is very important!). She will now try and follow in her predecessor's high heels (!)--last year's winner Pia Wurtzbach--who won the Miss Universe title. Speaking of Pia, she was present to crown the new winner and for her traditional "Farewell Walk". She looked radiantly gorgeous in a white satin gown with nude illusion top section:

Byeeeeeeee!!!!! Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach during her "Farewell Walk" at the Binibining Pilipnas 2016 beauty pageant

                                         Photos courtesy of Binibining Pilipinas Facebook

Best Costume Design goes to... Bb #3 Angela Fernando in Frederick Peralta

Photo courtesy of Binibining Pilipinas Facebook

And now to I want to really discuss: THE EVENING GOWNS!!!

                                        Photos courtesy of Binibining Pilipinas Facebook



Gown Parade: It is always a thrill to see the evening gowns in a top national pageant, such as Binibining Pilipinas/Miss Universe Philippines. This year's gown parade featured LOTS of very "Pageant and prom"-looking gowns. This is not necessarily a negative thing, but as I was watching the show--and then looking at the individual photos--it seemed more and more as if the organizers had gone to one big "Pageant & Prom" store (albeit a little more upscale one!) and gathered up 40 gowns to then be worn by the contestants. There was LOTS of glitter, lots of semi-Pageant Betty, and of course, a mermaid...or three, as well as enough illusion backs to make a figure skater blush with delight! Within the 40 gowns on display, I have narrowed down my Top ten Favorite as well as my top 5 Not-So Favorites. So, let's begin with...

My TOP TEN Favorite gowns of Binibining Pilipinas 2016:

All photos courtesy of Binibining Pilipinas Facebook

Bb #16 Vina Openiano: If I had to pick a favorite, it would be this canary yellow gown worn by Vina Openiano. I loved the color, the sequin applique and the shape fit her very well. She looked like a Pageant Goddess. Her hair and makeup were DIVA-licious, as well!

Score: 9.4

Bb #36 Maria Gigante: coming in a close second was this strapless silver sequined gown with a layer of aquamarine iridescent tulle, worn by Maria Gigante. I though the gown was exquisite and regal-like in its elegant simplicity. The bustier sequin detail was quite nice and she looked fresh and modern with her hair and makeup choices.

Score: 9.35

Bb #37 Jehza Mae Huelar: I thought this was one of the better gown styles, especially because of its clean and elegant lines and no-fuss and overly glittery "pageant" design. The "Mermaid Lite" shape on this emerald green satin gown showed Jehza's silhouette quite well and I loved the diagonal crystal details as well as one shoulder neckline. If there was any critique it was that I would have suggested no earrings with this; keep it clean and simple.

Score: 9.30

Bb #3 Angela Lauren Fernando: Angela's red paillette and silver sequin gown was a stunner onstage, particularly because of the impacting color and royal-looking sequin applique detail. The gown fit well and made a definite statement with the sweeping hem.

Score: 9.25

Bb #31 Kylie Buenaventura Verzosa: Kylie was one of the favorites to win the pageant and instead, she had to settle for the Binibining Pilipinas International tile, or basically, she was the First Runner-up (not a bad place to be!). She wore a very flowy voluminous chiffon gown that featured a fitted sequined top section and violet-hued ombre shaping effect. She worked the stage overtime and was very impacting. It was nice to see a non-fitted design and especially one that was very pretty.

Score: 9.25

Bb #33 Leonalyn dela Cruz: My favorite part of this design and gown is the bust section and that intricate sequin work. I wished the gown did not have that side-front slit, but I get the design decision to put it in there; it's very Pageant-perfect. But for a true red carpet fab gown/design, it wouldn't need that high slit.

Score: 9.10

Bb #13 Joanna Louise Eden: Simple, elegant...chic. Love the emerald green color, the lack of sequin cha-cha-ness (quelle surprise!!??). This is a gown that would truly be worn at a top red carpet awards show and/or worn by Queen Rania at a Gala fundraising event; very elegant.

Score: 9.15

Bb #32 Jennyline Carla Malpaya: Love the blue and white strapless gown worn by Jennyline. The bold sequin design is almost national costume-like but it makes such a strong impact.

Score: 9.15

Bb #27 Dindi Joy Pajares: I love a good one-shoulder gown and this was a nice one. While I am not so sure how necessary it was to add that iridescent organza cascade over-layer, it did add a multi-dimensional interest to the gown silhouette. The nude pumps, however, were a MISS! Silver strappy heels would have been much, much better!

Score: 9.05

Bb #1 Gail Doraine Ventic: Finally, in terms of my Top ten, I wanted to add what I thought was one of the best of the Mermaid Queens. This blush colored gown with white scroll-like applique was impacting and made a statement on the stage. I would argue that the pointed lace applique at the hem of the gown wasn't necessary, however. This was a simple case of leave it alone...keep it simple, elegant and chic.

Score: 9.00



Honorable Gown Mention: 1990's Over-the-Top Good

Bb #26 Jennifer Ruth Hammond: Finally, I want to add Jennifer's gown and design in my Top Ten list as a "Gown Alternate". First off, in terms of any negatives, it is A LOT of gown and yes, it is a bit 1996 in it's design. But...the red color looks beautiful on her and the sequin work on the torso is quite nice. Does this gown remind one of a Figure Skating Costume gone Gown-haywire? Probably, but, Jennifer still worked it overtime!

Score: 8.99

And now...My "Uh No!" List-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bb #17 Priscilla Kimberley dela Cruz: Well, where do I begin with this one? Priscilla wore this silver gown with what seemed like Christmas ornaments stuck to her shoulders and all around her gown. It's a bit of a mess. The design was like Star Treck-meets-Christmas. And that's not a good thing. And then, someone gave her the unfortunate advice to actually ADD those too-big earrings and a necklace! This was the definition TOO MUCHEEY.

Bb #20 Geisha Naganuma: I am assuming that there was a pearl and sea theme to this gown design. This might have worked if it was a Fashion Student design competition inspired by French Polynesia. But as a gown for Miss Universe Philippines...nope. The cray-cray holes in the gown were dumbfounding. Truly.

Bb #34 Sarah Christine Bona: For a hot minute, I almost thought this gown design was kind of fabulous. But then I put down my glass of red wine. On a positive note: I do like the gold applique detail which is very "Met Museum Guo Pei-like" but the nude iridescent organza (tacky) and the pointed applique right there in her YOU-KNOW-What...even more tacky. Sorry Sarah, this was an 'Uh-Oh" gown for sure.

Bb #24 Niza sabrina Sophia Limjab: This green lace and silver sequined strapless gown looked cheap. Plain and simple. I think the combination of the bright green and silver was not a good thing but I especially think that it did not help to bring so much attention to her...sistahs! This design was verging on something a Vegas stripper might wear to one of her clubs "red carpet events".

Bb #35 Mariella Castillo: At first glance, I thought "OK, this seems to be an OK gown". But then I put on my reading glasses (to get a close-up look at the gown) and saw these awkward darts on the bust. I IMMEDIATELY knew what they were about: the gown did not fit the beautiful Mariella correctly and someone--the alterations person--decided to do a "Mickey Mouse" (what I call a quick sewing fix) and alter the bust to fit her better. But kids, I noticed it, and I'm sure I wasn't the only one...

Bust Side Dart Not: In fact, it looks like a store-bought dress that has been altered at the last minute by someone who had about one semester's worth of sewing class. As they say in the South: Bless Her Heart.



Last but not least, I have to add the Winner--the beautiful Maxine Medina--and her gown choice, in my "Uh Oh" section...

Bb #29 Maxine Medina: While I LOVED the deep raspberry/fuchsia color of her gown and the fit was perfection, the overall design was two seconds away from a Pageant Betty/Prom & Pageant-licious Gown. I might be slightly too design critical but, this design was not worthy of the winner of Miss Philippines Universe and I sure hope she looks somewhere else when it comes to what she wears at the Miss Universe 2016 pageant. What took it over the tasteless edge for me was...the bow in the back. While it was sweet and pretty, it was rather amateur; I wish the bow was more of a couture-like Obi or abstractly-draped bow, but just a regular ol' bow?? A future Miss Universe doesn't wear bows on her gown; that's for her 15-year old cousin.

CONGRATULATIONS to all the Binibining Pilipinas 2016 Winners and to Maxine Medina, the new Binibining Pilipinas 2016. Let's hope she stays away from Pageant Betty bows.

SASHES AND TIARAS.....Worst of 2015: The Most "Oh Dear!/Ayyy Mija!" Beauty Pageant Gowns of 2015 List!

SASHES AND TIARAS.....Worst of 2015: The Most "Oh Dear!/Ayyy Mija!" Beauty Pageant Gowns of 2015 List!

Oh No! Pageant Gowns of 2015--(Clockwise, L to R) Miss Oklahoma USA (and eventual Miss USA) at Miss USA 2015; Miss Croatia at Miss World 2015 Top Model/World Dress Designer Competition (center); Miss Sucre at Miss Venezuela 2015; Miss Croatia at Miss Universe 2014-2015 Evening Gown Website Portraits; Miss Guatemala at Miss Universe 2015 (far lower left)

In my previous post HERE, I discussed my Best of 2015 Pageant Gowns so now, it's time for my Worst of 2015 List. These gowns were a combination of Too Mucheey, UBER Pageant Betty, Too Hoochie (Slit-a-licious), or just a Gown Mess. So, let's get to the "Uh No!" Beauty Pageant Gowns...



Let's begin with Miss USA 2015:

Miss Oklahoma USA (and Miss USA 2015) Olivia Jordan--Yes, she won Miss USA 2015 and was the 2nd Runner-up at Miss Universe (good for her!) but...if
I was a judge at the Miss USA (and I guess there are reasons why I wasn't) I would have scored her very, very low on this gown. On a
good note: I liked the bubblegum pink color. But beyond that: NOT SO
MUCHEEY. This is a Quinceañera Hot Mess. It also reminds me of a "Gone With Wind" Costume...for Barbie!
Somehow the judges liked it but I was definitely NOT a fan. This is a
crinoline ball gown mess. But, obviously, that did not matter; she still won the pageant. Sometimes what gown these girls wear matters and...sometimes it does not. 





Rashontae Wawrzyniak Miss Michigan USA: GURL! That is A LOT of
Horsehair trimmed bell sleeve! I get the DRAMA of this dress but...it's
two minutes from a Fashion Students' Sophomore Runway Show creation--and
looking "Elvira Pageant". Definitely one of the Worst of 2015. Poor gown choice especially since she is so beautiful. It's one thing if the contestant ain't that pretty and she makes a bad gown decision, it's a whole other thing, when you are gorgeous and you have questionable taste. 



Miss Venezuela 2015--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Miss Nueva Esparta Genesis Saavedra: One of the most "Oh Dear!" gown offenders this year at the Miss Venezuela 2015 Pageant was this gown by Douglas Tapia.
It was definitely TOO MUCHEEY. Now, don't get me wrong, I appreciate all the work and scroll-like cascades,
but when you combine that with the sequins, and those OVER-THE-TOP
earrings, the entire look is an "90's Disney Mermaid Princess Gone Wrong". It's like Disney and Sea World had a sordid affair in the 90's and the off spring ended up in a South American Beauty Pageant.

But there was worse...





Miss Sucre Maydeliana Diaz: Oh "Big Bird"! Talk about over
designed. This is a prime example of waaaaayyyyyy TOO MUCH: The sequins,
the applique, the feathers. Designer Hugo Espina must have been
on a "Let's put everything and the kitchen sink" kick when he came up
with this. While the audience thought it was a big hit, this would have
made very "Oh No!" headline in the fashion news. This had to be the Worst Gown of the Miss Venezuela 2015 Beauty Pageant--and therefore one of the "Uh Oh!" of my 2015 List. And I still cannot believe that someone felt it was really necessary for her to have those over-the-top earrings, in addition to this big ol' mess of a dress. Ridiculous. Fire the stylist. Ahora.



Miss World 2015------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Miss Bosnia and Herzegovina Marijana Marcovic: Believe it or not, this cha-cha ruffled and pointed bustier mess was one of the Top 10 Finalists of the Miss World 2015
"Best World Fashion Designer Dress".  Not kidding, because I wish I was (what are those judges drinking??). This black and silver
trimmed black and gold trimmed hi-lo design was created by Carmen Line according to the Miss
World website. It is tacky and very "My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding". The
pointed strapless neckline is not just obnoxious but would be ripped to
shreds by any red carpet correspondent if this was ever worn to a major event. Speaking of pointed...

Miss Croatia Maja Spahija: Where do I begin with the design cray-cray.
Maybe the pointed front bustier/torso "rabbit ears" might be a good
start. I can only imagine this design in front of the "Project Runway"
judges and we know Nina Garcia, Zac Posen and Heidi Klum would have a
FIELD DAY! And if the kooky pointed front wasn't enough, look closely,
there's a candy colored tulled underskirt. Cray-cray for sure. On a good
note, I do appreciate all the pattern and technical work that probably
went into creating all those torso paneled sections.





Miss Aruba Nicole Van Tellingen: Will someone please tell Nicole--and
whoever designed this--that it's not 1994 but 2015. The gold lace mini
dress with the acid orange/red tulle overskirt reminds me of a cheap
knock-off of a late 80's/early 90's Christian Lacroix creation. Maybe
she was trying to be "Designer Retro"...who knows.

Miss Netherlands Margot Hanekamp: On a good note--Margot looks like
she would be fun at a cocktail party! On a not-so-good note--this dress
is a big ol' tacky mess. The gold lace, the "Dynasty"-like shoulder, the
too short front, her hair style, THAT one TOO-BIG earring...Who told
her this was a stylish look? Poor thang.





Miss British Virgin Islands Sasha Wintz: Looking at this gown hurts my
eyes. There's so much polyester here in the cheap satin and cheap lace
that I am afraid if someone with a lighter gets too close to her, she
might catch on fire! On the design front, the horizontal ruching and
lace-and-diamante top, the diamante trim on the dress...PLUS...the
mermaid shape...this is just beyond tacky-licious.

Miss Germany Albijona Muharremaj: When I look at this dress, all I can
think of is an episode from "My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding". There are so
many things wrong with this: the cheap $2.99 a yard red stretch sequin
fabric, the nude illusion with red sequin detail at the torso and then
the poly chiffon back panels. She looks like the hostess in a very
off-the-strip Vegas strip club.

Miss Cyprus Rafaela Charalampous: Oh Rafaela. What were you (and your
designer) thinking? OK, let's get this out of the way: it's a black
netting dress black hot shorts underneath. And this is considered stylish?
Where? I don't even think the tackiest of the Kardashian sisters would
have worn this, even before they were multi gazillionaires. This has to be one of the worst of 2015 Beauty Pageant Gowns. Tacky as tacky can be.

Miss Sweden Natalia Fogelund: Just when you thought you'd seen a lot
of Cray-Cray, in walked Miss World Sweden. Just take a look at this torn
tulle black and white mess. It's like she went through a hurricane or
tornado...or maybe a paper shredder. Wow. And for that, she gets my inclusion here on my Worst Pageant Gown of 2015 List.



Miss Universe 2014 (which occurred in January of this year)---------------------------------------------

Miss Croatia Ivana Misura: There's no way around it, there is WAAAY
too much sheer. And the applique placements on the sisters and her
you-know-what aren't helping. I think the red sequin applique is
actually quite nice, I just wish that I could get some more of it and
cover Ivana up! She was competing for Miss Universe NOT Miss Hoochie!

Miss India Noyonita Lodh: Petite Noyonita (her stats said she's 5' 6"
but you know that means she's more like 5' 5" if not shorter)...anyhow,
Miss Universe India looks like a cheap stripper in this very sheer dress
with silver paillettes. It's not cute or tasteful and then there's
those too clunky nude platform heels! There's nothing that says I AM TOO
SHORT more than showing these kind of shoes. The whole look screams "Ayyyy Mija!".

Miss Guyana Niketa Barker: Not a fan of the "pick-up" peplum and
mermaid bottom section; it screams Prom-and-Pageant...and tacky. Plain and simple: NO PICK-UP POUFS, PLEASE!!!

Miss Lithuania Patricija Belousova: This dress looks as if her grandma--or first year fashion school
student--made it. Here's some advice to her: watch past Miss Universe
Pageants and what the Winner wore. Try and copy it. She looks like she's going to a Sweet Sixteen party in some remote village of her country.

Miss Mauritius Pallavi Gungaram: How could the very pretty Pallavi not
know this is a mess??!! While I like the deep fuchsia color and I can
(almost) like the skirt section--sans the big ol' sequined and applique
"bow"--the entire thing is a big ol' mess. I can almost hear the
photographers thinking "GURL! This gown is a DEFINITE No...but go ahead,
we'll take the photo nonetheless!".

Miss Argentina Valentina Ferrer: Oh Valentina! She is so sexy and
pretty (and her body WITHOUT this gown is SLAMMIN'!) but...this dress is tacky. This bugglegum pink velvet concoction just screams "AVN
Awards"; the scooped front slit/opening, the velvet, the fit, oh
and then the silver crystal trim. No Mija!

Miss Aruba Digene Zimmerman: Digene walked onstage during the Miss Universe 2014 Preliminaries and it was a "Oh No
She Didn't!". First, we saw that she was wearing a lilac printed dress
of sorts with a sequined bodice but then, she did this:

And I was like "OOOOOOHHHH!" I have to say that I give her
"At-a-Girl" points for even going there (and I am sure lots of Aruba
drag queens crowned her their next IDOL!), however...I just can't
believe she wore a sequined swimsuit with an attached printed chiffon
skirt! It was A) nervy but on a style level, a little Tacky-Licious. And
B) yes, therefore, she is in my "Uh OH!" List of 2015.

Miss British Virgin Islands Jaynene Jno Lewis: File under "Bless Your
Heart". I get that probably Jaynene and the Miss British Virgin Islands
Organization may not have the gown budget of the Miss USA, Miss Russia (Elie Saab Haute Couture!!), or Miss Ukraine (Zuhair Murad Haute Couture!!)
but this canary yellow poly satin mermaid silhouette gown is tacky-licious. The bust fit is bad and I cannot get past the ripply side
seams. I have to say, when you are competing on this level--at the Miss
Universe--there is NO EXCUSE; either spend the money or bow out
darling.

Miss Canada Chanel Beckenlehner: Chanel wore this bubblegum pink colored
strapless gown that yes, featured a peacock feathered train. Oh and if
that wasn't enough, it had a a slit/opening and naturally, that wasn't
enough so...she styled it with tacky too-high crystal Stripper Heels. I
don't even know where to begin with this. I feel bad for the birds
whose feathers were plucked for this. This gown would have been actually kind of nice if it was just a flared column all in the pink crepe satin
without the opening and definitely without the "National Costume"-like
feathered detail. It's almost garish bad.



Miss Universe 2015-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Miss British Virgin Islands Adorya Baly: Oh why is Miss British Virgin Islands almost always on my "Uh Oh!" List. I feel bad. Well, with that said, let me begin on a good
note--I love the canary yellow color. And I do like the flower-like
sequin appliques. Where it all goes a bit tacky is the sheer netting,
the center front plunging neckline showing her too-mucheey cleavage.

Miss Ghana Hilda Frimpong: Oh Hilda, it looks like you are
leaving the pageant world and walking straight on to the set of the next
Real Housewife of (fill in the blank). I usually discuss the "Slit
Happy" Pageant Gals but seriously, Miss Universe Ghana and this dress
took the Slit thang to another level; there are two slits and depending
on how she walks, you could probably almost see her you-know-what. There's
nothing cute about this. It's very "Oh Dear!"

Miss Japan Ariana Miyamoto: Miss Japan was one of the Semi-Finalists at this year's Miss Universe pageant. Until the judges saw this gown...It was Star Trek-Meets-Trashy AVN Awards. I
just don't know why such a pretty girl would do this to herself; or
make such a lack of taste level judgement. I just do not get it, the
real point of the Evening Gown Competition--besides having the judge see
their "poise" and "elegance", it is also to see if they have a level of
taste. After all, if you are the new Miss Universe, you'll be walking
many Red Carpets, and you don't want to end up on the WORST List. Here,
with this gold high side-slit pleather concoction with black and white
printed chiffon back details, Miss Universe Japan failed.

Miss Bulgaria Radostina Todorova: As they say in the South:
"Bless Her Heart", which really translates to "GURL, you are a Mess!".
This is sweet and cute, if she was 18 and it was a New Year's Eve Dance
in Missouri. But it ain't, it's THE MISS UNIVERSE PAGEANT! The dress
looks off-the-rack, cheap, it's too short...well, I'll just stop there.
I, at least, give her points for wearing strappy heels and not those
clunky platform heels.

Miss Venezuela Mariana Jimenez: This white gown worn by Miss Venezuela for the Miss Universe 2015 Finals was a big disappointment. I expected more--or at least something more sophisticated, slightly more sexy and certainly more "Red Carpet Couture"-worthy. This Raenrra-designed dress was none of that. She looks like a woman twice her age, at the wedding of her daughter! It wasn't Too-Mucheey and it certainly wasn't "Oh Dear!", it was just nothing extraordinary or outstanding and in fact, it was dated. And I haven't even begum discussing those awful sheer sleeves and torso/neckline...Ayyy Mija! I still can't understand why she didn't wear any of those other gowns from her year's Miss Venezuela pageant!

Miss Serbia Dasa Radosavljevic: This gold sequin dress is fine if
you are a background dancer at a Cruise Ship's Dinner Theater show, but
it looks cheap and tacky for Miss Universe. I could find this fabric
for $2.99/yard in Downtown LA. That's not a good thing.

Miss Hungary Nikoletta Nagy: I love canary yellow (as I have said previously in this blog) but the
combination of the bright cheap poly satin with the gold lace and then gold
sequins and the (yeah, there's more!), crystal straps in the front
torso...it's all a bit cheap-looking and Tacky-licious. It's also very
Quincieniera "Ayyy Mija!".



But the Award for Worst Gowns of 2015 at Miss Universe is...

Miss Guatemala Jeimmy Aburto: Miss Guatemala Universe wore two gowns--not just one--that were worthy of being on my Worst of 2015 List. The one on the left is what she wore for the Preliminaries. If
the rather garish fuchsia-pink sequins weren't enough, somehow the
designer decided that it needed more as in clown-like bias hemmed
ruffles at the bottom plus nude netting and then let's just do silver
diamantes to fill in the space....This would be fun if it was a Gay Pride Float for Drag Queen Mermaids. But it isn't.

And then, the gown on the right is what she wore for the Miss Universe 2015 Evening Gown Website Portraits. Pink stretch lace--and silver
crystals--plus the mermaid "lite" shape...well, they all add up to Pageant Betty Oh Dear! She is very pretty and that pose is indeed, impacting.
But, the gown...oh the gown: it's Too-Mucheey and Tacky. Can we please give the Miss Guatemala Organization some Fashion/gown help??!! Por favor?



So....the honor of Worst Pageant Gowns of 2015 Goes to...

It's a TIE:

Miss Sucre Maideliana Diaz at Miss Venezuela 2015 and her "Big Bird" Monstrosity of a Gown that was Too Muchey, Too  1987 and Too Chonchee...and her Co-winner is... 

Miss Guatemala Jeimmy Aburto at Miss Universe 2015 for this pink sequins and nude illusion clown ruffle trimmed "Pageant Mermaid". 

Let's hope that Beauty Pageant Contestants in 2016 learn from these ladies and do not make similar Gown Mistakes. Or...maybe pray that they do! So, we have something to write about!

Happy New Year!!!