Beauty Pageant Minute--Miss Universe 2012 Preliminary Competition--Evening Gowns--My Top 15 Best List!

Beauty Pageant Minute--Miss Universe 2012 Preliminary Competition--Evening Gowns--My Top 15 Best List!

Las Mejor! (Translation: The Best)

Where Did Miss Universe Venezuela Irene Esser (photo above at last night's "Miss Universe 2012 Preliminary Competition") end up on my list? Read on kids...

Last night was the all-important Miss Universe 2012 Preliminary Competition at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino Las Vegas. All of the 89 contestants from all over the World who are competing for the title of Miss Universe 2012, paraded in front of a set of judges--different from the ones in the Final Telecast next Wednesday December 19th--in Evening Gown and Swimsuit. The top 15 vote-getters of these preliminaries will be announced during the Live Telecast as the Semi-Finalists. One additional lovely lady, by "Fan Vote" gets to be in the group, to make it a total of 16 Semi-Finalists. So, let's get to my favorites of the Miss Universe 2012 Preliminary Competition Evening Gown section:



No. 1:

Miss Croatia Elizabeta Burg: I loved this gown when they published the "Official Website Evening Gown Portraits" and I still LOVE it now! It is SO red carpet award show appropriate FAB, so "Classic Modern", so elegant but sexy (look at that back) and there was NO HOOCHIE SLIT, no obvious Stripper Platform Heels....it was a lesson in How To Dress For a Beauty Pageant 2012.



No. 2:

Miss Puerto Rico Bodine Koehler: I thought this blush/light pink fit-to-flare gown was beautiful. Again: No too-high slit, nothing too HOOCHIE, no sign of the too-high pumps...this was sweet and yes, FABULOSO! Love that 8" horsehair that is stiffening the hem of the gown by the way--that's a sign of Alta Moda darlings!



No. 3:

Miss Lebanon Rina Chibany: Speaking of Alta Moda, Miss Universe Labanon, is next on my "Nick Faves" list. Rina wore an emerald green gown featuring a plunging neckline, a dropped shoulder, fitted waist and gorgeous paillettes. Of course, I recognized this gown right away:

 It was a gown from the Elie Saab Spring 2012 Ready-to-Wear Collection. Flawless.

No. 4:

Miss Georgia Tamar Shadania: Tamar wore a strapless silver and ivory gown with lots of sequins. This was definitely a stand-out of a gown--one of the best in the "All-Over Sequin" category.



No. 5:

Miss Guatemala Laura Godoy: I thought this was an impressive showing in the Miss Universe 2012 Preliminary Competition Evening Gown portion. Miss Universe Guatemala's gown was a fit-to-flare style, very well-made and very-well fitted, and the silver sequins/crystals were done fabulously! It was stunning and definitely, "Miss Universe"-material.



No. 6:

Miss Bahamas Celeste Marshall: The tall and very beautiful Celeste wore a silver metallic and black organza gown--fit-to-flare shape (a favorite of these girls!). I thought the gown was great; elegant yet still show-stopping and not "Pageant Betty" typical.



No. 7:

Miss Brazil Gabriela Markus: Miss Universe Brazil caused me to say a loud "WOW" as I watched the Preliminaries via Ustream last night. In this photo you cannot tell, but she looked AMAZING! This golden sequin gown was perfect, especially for her and she WORKED it OVER TIME, in terms of her aplomb. She HAS to be a Semi-Finalist; if I was a judge.



No. 8:

Miss Indonesia Maria Selena: Here's another golden-colored gown and yes, one of my favorites of the bunch...on Miss Universe Indonesia. She looked chic and very "Miss Universe"-like in this gold lame gown with feathers and princess-seam slit. It was a nice change from what she wore for the "Miss Universe 2012 Evening Gown Portraits" HERE.



No. 9:

Miss Tanzania Winfrida Dominic: Love this gown and love this girl. The combination of this beautiful girl and this great gown: Perfect. I'm usually not a fan of iridescent organza but here, it's beyond fab!



No. 10:

Miss Kosovo Diana Avdiu: Calling Grecian Goddess...via Miss Universe Kosovo. If I had to style a movie based on Athena or Aphrodite, this would be the gown I would put my actress in. Best in an Ivory-colored Gown. Hands down!



No. 11:

Miss Thailand Nutpimon Farida Waller: Miss Universe Thailand looked beautiful in this iridescent white and silver sequined strapless fit-to-flare gown. It was very Marchesa. The crystal detail was gorgeous. And once again, it was MUCH better than what she wore for the "Miss Universe Evening Gown Website Official Portraits" (Seriously: Do they FORCE these girls to wear tacky dresses they do not want to wear for those website portraits?).



No. 12:

Miss Singapore Lynn Tan: Elegant. Classic. Very Carolina Herrera. Love. Very Red Carpet Award Show. This ivory duchesse satin fit-to-flare gown with black lace applique exudes "Glamour". Therefore, I love it! Good job Miss Universe Singapore!



No. 13:

Miss Jamaica Chantal Zaky: OK, if one was just looking at this photo above, it would seem as she was very "Pageant Typical" in her gown choice, etc. But, let me say that she was NOT; she was UBER Fabulous! She WORKED this golden sequin gown to no end and eventually, made me have to say that "This Girl is Miss Universe Material!". The long earrings are not really necessary but other than that: YOU GO Miss Jamaica!



No. 14:

Miss Venezuela Irene Esser: Irene has "chispa" (as they say in Venezuela)--it roughly translates into "spark" as in "she's got a 'spark'...something extra special". And yes, she does, it was very obvious even on my computer screen while watching the Preliminaries. In terms of her evening gown, it wasn't one of my TOP favorites, but...it was still in the Good bunch! I loved the sequined striped black and nude detail of the torso portion, down to the hips. But to be honest, I just wasn't a fan of the flamenco ruffled-and-feathered bottom section. It looked a little bit tacky-licious. I just wish, the entire gown would have been the same as the torso. And similar to the fantastic Zuhair Murad dress that Blake Lively wore:

 Now that, would have been "Red Carpet Fabuloso"!

Lastly...No. 15:

Miss Mexico Karina Gonzalez: One word: wow. It's a hot-shorts sequined leotard with an ATTACHED gown-skirt. Who knew? Is this a "Pageant Evening Gown Trend"? I somehow missed? I hope not, to be honest. I was very much "on the fence" with this gown. The fact that it's a sequined hot-short GOWN is a bit Drag Queen Krazee. And maybe that's why I like it. But at the same time, it is a questionable choice. If a top A-List actress wore this on the red carpet...there would be HE** to pay. Trust me. I'd be talking about it the next day. For sure. But something about Karina's beautiful face, hair and the way she "walked it", made me feel that she belonged here...in my Top 15 Best.

***Next Up: The "Miss Universe 2012 Preliminary Competition Evening Gown "Oh Dear's!": My "Questionable Choices" for Gowns...

Beauty Pageant Minute-Miss Universe 2012--The Miss Universe Official Evening Gown Portrait "Oh Dear's"!

Beauty Pageant Minute-Miss Universe 2012--The Miss Universe Official Evening Gown Portrait "Oh Dear's"!

Uh Oh...

 A Green Disney Princess...courtesy of Miss Universe Thailand

Photos Courtesy of MissUniverse.com

Yes, kids, it is now time for the "Oh Oh's" of the "Miss Universe 2012 Evening Gown Portraits". I could write about "The Best Gowns" all day long...but all that EVERYONE here on my BLOG and on Twitter ask is "When are you going to post the OH DEAR'S??!!" Now, as a side note, I think that we can also say that this category can be titled "Could have done better" (just to be nicer). With that being said...here you go, the "Oh Dear's/Could Have Been Better":

Miss Ecuador Carolina Aguirre: Darling. No. Purple POLYESTER satin and POLYESTER organza. With diamate busline trim. No. This is Cha-Cha on an "Oh Dear!" level.

 Miss Gabon Channa Divouvi: This young woman is soooo pretty, I just do not understand why this tacky-licious gown was placed on her. It has got so many things: the bows, the iridescent organza overskirt layer, the glued-on sequins strewn throughout the gown...It is definitely in contention for getting MAJOR "Oh Dear!" points!

Miss Guyana Ruqayyah Boyer: See-through red stretch lace. No lining. Pleather neckline trim. Enough said.

Miss Thailand Nutpimon Natthayalak: The Disney Princess Award Goes To...This gown looks a little dated and too "Prom-a-licious" for Miss Universe, that's my opinion. I think my biggest issue is that she looks as if she has one leg in this photo. Not really a dress design problem, but it doesn't help.

Miss Cyprus Ioanna Yiannakou: I like a high-low style. They're very on-trend--for cute little Summer dresses as well as red carpet gowns. Here's a high-low style on Miss Universe Cyprus that just doesn't work. I think it's be too short on the "high" part (in the front) and the shredded fabrication in such a strong color red looks a bit inexpensive. 

Miss Montenegro Andrea Radonjic: Here's another high-low ensemble. Andrea wore a forest green bustier with a high-low gown-skirt. The combination of a strapless bustier and the separate too-high-low skirt looks dated--like 1996. 

 

 Miss Serbia Branislava Mandic: Another high-low style and this one looks as if it came from the late  80's/early 90's. Maybe in Las Vegas, this might work as an "evening gown" but if the gorgeous Branislava ever stepped on an actual red carpet in LA or NY in this, she will get lots of "Oh Dear's!" Oh, and I can't even begin to discuss those earrings and shoes!!

Miss Nigeria Isabella Agbor Ayuk: Isabella, what were you thinking? Iridescent baby blue. Oversized bows. Crystals on the bust. Too short. A Slit. It's Prom-a-licious "Oh Dear!" Here's a thought: when picking their evening gowns--whether for these portraits or Preliminaries--these girls should think "What would Halle Berry, Charlize Theron, (any A-List Actress) wear...at the Academy Awards?" And if you look at the gown you have on and the answer is "Not this one!", then maybe it's time to change.

Miss Belgium Laura Beyne: Two things: I like this dress...for a post-pool time evening cocktail and dinner in Mykonos. But as your evening gown choice for the Miss Universe Official Evening Gown Portrait? Not so sure. 

Miss British Virgin Islands Abigail Hindman: Speaking of post-pool cocktail hour--this would be perfect for the lovely Miss British Virgin Islands, if she were in "Carnival Fiesta" on the island of Tortola in her home of the British Virgin Islands. It's very colorful and festive, but somehow doesn't exude the chic elegance a "Miss Universe" evening gown choice should. But if I saw her at a party in Tortola wearing this dress, I would hang out with her in a HOT MINUTE!

Miss Cayman Islands Lindsay Japal: I was torn where to place Miss Lindsay. She could have fit in my "Pageant Betty" section easily but this was Pageant Betty 2.0--therefore, she went here in my "Oh Dear!" section. The gown, the hair, the earrings...it's all so dated. I understand how this could be a fashionable style in her native Cayman Islands, but once you reach the international stage, you definitely need to switch it up!

Miss Indonesia Maria Selena: Maria is absolutely gorgeous. So pretty. What's not pretty is this dress. It would have been OK without the sewn-on roses. What is that about? If Michael Kors of Project Runway was judging this, he would say "It looks like she got ATTACKED by a bunch of roses!". And he may be right. Take the roses out and leave the red lace gown as it is.

Miss Curacao Monifa Joanne Marie Jansen: Well, well, well, look what we have here! When I first saw this photo, I admit, I exclaimed a loud "Oh Dear!"  She certainly makes a statement. I have a feeling many a Drag Queen are studying this pose and gown for future performances. She's very "Dancing With The Stars"/Cha-Cha/Figure Skating Costume Oh Dear. I give her points for that! But shouldn't the illusion at least match her skin color?!

Miss Hungary Agnes Konkoly: Agnes is so pretty but this dress is so "Oh Dear!". It's just not "Evening Gown"-enough! First off, it's too short, it's lacking any luxe details and looks more like she's going to dance Tango as opposed to competing in the "Miss Universe Pageant".



And Finally...

"The Adrienne Maloof 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Look-alike of the Miss Universe 2012 Evening Gown Portrait Award" Goes To...

Miss Paraguay Egni Eckert: Everything about this picture screams "She's a cast-mate of the 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills', is worth a billion bucks, has a private plane and lives in a gated community away from the poor folk" , oh and on top of it, all she needs is a veil...because she's getting married. Egni=Diva.

Beauty Pageant Minute--Miss Universe 2012--Slit Queens, Cha-Cha/"Dancing With The Stars" Couture!

Beauty Pageant Minute--Miss Universe 2012--Slit Queens, Cha-Cha/"Dancing With The Stars" Couture!

Slit Queens and Cha-Cha Love:

I Hope The Judges Don't See My...Miss Universe India Shilpa Singh and the gown she wore for the "Miss Universe 2012 Evening Gown Official Portrait" 

Photo Courtesy of MissUniverse.com

I've discussed my Favorites of the Miss Universe 2012 Evening Gown Portraits HERE, as well as the "Pageant Bettys" and "Too-Short Gown" girls HERE...so now, it's time to get SERIOUS. SLIT-and-Cha Cha serious. This year--as has been the case recently, there are A LOT of SLIT HAPPY Gowns in the Miss Universe Pageant Evening Gown Official Website Portraits, as well as what I call the "Cha-Cha/Dancing With The Stars" Queens. Now, again, these are just the website's "Official Evening Gown Portraits" and therefore they may not be the actual gowns the ladies will wear in the very important Preliminaries--or the Final telecast for that matter. Lots of the girls like to save the BEST for then. Irregardless...

Let's begin with the SLIT QUEENS:

Miss Albania Adrola Dushi: Do I see TWO slits? I think I do. The other one is just being hidden by an overlay of chiffon. It's a good gown and she certainly is giving a "Do you want a piece of this?" look. How do you say that in Albanian?

Miss Guam Alyssa Cruz Aguero: Alyssa wears a purple-blue one shoulder gown with silver sequin detail and a slit--a very high slit, in which she wants to show you as much leg as possible. I would have rather liked it if she wasn't pulling her gown and dropped it so there might have been a hint of a slit. I have a feeling she's pulling and lifting it because the gown maybe too long on her.

Miss Czech Republic Tereza Chlebovska: I just want to say the name "Tereza Chlebovska" a HUNDRED TIMES!! Love that name. She sounds like a Prima Ballerina! But I digress, let's discuss the gown and that slit: it's a pretty gown and I just didn't think she needed so high a slit. She already looks like she's "Sex on Wheels" so why push it?

Miss Sri Lanka Sabrina Herft: Sabrina could be under my "Pageant Betty" AND "Slit Queen" categories with this dress and entire look. It's very "Pageant 101"...from 1996; it's got the one shoulder, it's got the applique, it's got the chiffon overlay, the slit. It's all there. Like "Check, Check, and Triple Check!" I happen to think...or hope...that Pageant Gowns can evolve.

Miss Georgia Tamar Shedania: The Lady in Red gives you Drama and a Slit! It's not a bad gown, I actually have issues with the dangling "ribbons" more than the slit. This gown looked very familiar for some reason and then it hit me:

 It's a very close cousin--in red--of the beautiful gown that Dayana Mendoza from Venezuela (above), wore to win her "Miss Universe 2008" crown. But notice there are no dangling straps/ribbons.

Miss Estonia Natalie Korneitsik: The pretty Natalie ends up in a "Slit Queen" gown here for the "Miss Universe Evening Gown Official Portraits". I'm bothered by two things. First, the hip draping is distracting and draws my eye to that section. Second, I think she may need a lining under those double layers of chiffon. In the photo, I can see her legs and I'm scared to guess what the judges on stage might also see.

Miss India Shilpa Singh: Shilpa's fuchsia pink gown is very "My Super Sweet Sixteen"...the "I Want To Be Sexy" version. I think there's too much happening here: the embroidered applique in the upper torso bustier, which then is somewhat continued (inexplicably) onto the rest of the gown; then, there's a keyhole near her tummy, a full tulle skirt, and then, the slit. This gown can be helped with editing (take out this and take out that..). Also, why can I see nude-colored bust pads on the bustier? It's distracting to say the least. And a big NO-NO in fashion.

Miss Jamaica Chantal Zaky: This gown isn't so bad. I do love the royal blue color and the back drape/fall, although I think it is attached to her bracelet/cuff!?! The slit isn't so HOOCHIE in that it doesn't seem so high--just right (unless her hand is covering how high that slit really goes!). Chantal is here because yes, kids there was still a SLIT in her gown.

Miss Ukraine Anastasia Chernova: How sweet does this lovely young lady look! I want to take her home to meet the parents! She does continue the sweet demeanor with this strapless modified ball gown. It's a sweet color, it's got sweet details. But wouldn't you know, these pageant girls cannot live without their slits! They are SLIT ADDICTED! (Note to self: Trademark that!)

Miss Colombia Daniella Alvarez Vasquez: First off, I do love a bright color! Highlighter Yellow is FAB! This gown is interesting for it's no-hold's-barred color but also for the neckline detail and the way the shirring/gathering cascades into the bottom skirted section. But, at the same time, it might be considered in some circles a Hot Mess. Not sure about the nude illusion center front bustline panel (you can barely see it in this photo but it looks like it's there). And yes, there is that slit. Say "Hola" to that slit.

Miss Vietnam Luu Thi Diem Huong: Another "Highlighter Yellow" gown. It is strapless and yes, has a big ol' slit. What's most interesante is what is happening around the bustline. What. Is. That? Is there a black edge trim to this gown? If so, it doesn't make sense. Or--worse still--is that the poor girl's black strapless bra sticking out from the dress? If so, the photographer should've Photoshopped that, or the beautiful Miss Vietnam shouldn't have worn it. Either way, it doesn't make sense.



Now, the Cha-Cha Love and Dancing With The Stars Ladies of "Miss Universe 2012":

Miss Spain Andrea Huisgen: Andrea is another one of my favorite contestants and hopefully she will go far; she's got the height, the "spunky" Miss Universe personality, the "I Will Be Famous" and be in "Hola Magazine"-dating-a-Spanish-Footballer look. With this gown, she gets right into my "Cha-Cha" category easily. It's a strapless mermaid-style gown in a gold lame-like fabrication with shredded organza. I actually LOVE this gown but I know some fellow pageant-watchers I've spoken to, well, were not as complimentary. But we agreed, it's FULL-ON Cha Cha!

Miss Malaysia Kimberley Leggett: The lovely Kimberley--another favorite to be in the Semi-Finals (and I can see why), wore this salmon pink colored sequin/feather and illusion gown. It's VERY "Dancing With The Stars"-meets-Figure Skating Costume. And you know I love me some Figure Skating! It's also very "Cha-Cha". Therefore, she lands here.

Miss Greece Vasiliki Tsirogianni: For her gown choice in the Miss Universe 2012 Evening Gown Portraits, Vasiliki wore this nude illusion tulle fitted gown with ivory flower applique. It also has Figure Skating Costume elements as well as a "Dancing With The Stars" costume vibe.The lace over illusion is a big trend in Pageants right now and it can often work well (as seen on Olivia Culpo), but on Vasiliki...not so much. This is why my koukla ("doll" in Greek) ended up in this category.

Miss Peru Nicole Faveron: Nicole wore a column nude tulle/illusion gown with gold jeweled and flecked details. It's a good  gown--in my eyes but yes, some others may think she's a little too "Dancing With The Stars"/Cha-Cha. I can see why. The way this can be taken to a more Red Carpet Couture level is make it more fit-and-flare, add a slight dramatic train and make it not be so see-through. Then, it might look slightly "McQueen"-like.

Miss Costa Rica Nazareth Cascante: Oh Chica, the temperature just got a bit more Caliente. This aqua/turquoise blue and silver beaded gown  has "Carnival Cruise to San Juan Puerto Rico" written all over it! She is a major Cha-Cha Queen in this. Nothing else to say.

Miss Dominican Republic Dulcita Lynn Lieggi: I'm a little "on the fence" with this gown. I like the seafoam green color and the detail of it looks expensive. I also appreciate the lack of a HOOCHIE slit (or at least from how she's posing). I just think it's a little too "Cha-Cha" and with that too-stiff hairstyle, earrings, overall look, she seems "dated"--like very 1998 Pageant. She is GORGEOUS though. I just think she would have looked more up-to-date in a different dress, different hairstyle, etc.

Miss Mauritius Ameeksha Devi Dilshand: Silver gown with silver illusion sides. How could she NOT end up in this "Cha-Cha/Dancing With The Stars" Category. And add "Figure Skating Queen" to that as well.



Finally, The "Monica Belucci Sex Goddess Cha-Cha Miss Universe 2012 Award" Goes To...

Miss Kosovo Diana Avdiu: One word: WOW. This gown has all the elements of A) Cha-Cha Queen and B) "Dancing With The Stars"-like Couture, plus she she GIVING YOU Cleavage darlings. Serving it. And that look. She's almost saying "It's OK if if you don't place me in the Semi-Finals but...if you do, I could make you very, very happy..." Amen Sister!



***Next: The "Oh Dear's!" of the Miss Universe 2012 Evening Gown Portraits...Just You Wait!