XAMURAI'S VERDICT
Miss Universe 2022 - CURACAO
1st Runner-up - VENEZUELA
2nd Runner-up - JAMAICA
Rest of the Top 5
4. THAILAND
5. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Top 10
6. PUERTO RICO
7. COLOMBIA
8. PHILIPPINES
9. USA
10. ANGOLA
Top 16
11. SOUTH AFRICA
12. BAHRAIN
13. MEXICO
14. GERMANY
15. ITALY
16. VIETNAM
Honorable Mentions: PERU, PANAMA, GUATEMALA
Might pull a pleasant surprise: ARUBA, MAURITIUS, MALTA
I am gambling on Gabriela Dos Santos. I know that she's just from a very small territory and her win may not serve the business or marketing goals of the newly revamped Miss Universe, but no one can deny that she's on a totally different level in terms of facial beauty, freshness and overall appeal that we have not seen since Oxana Federova. I guess it's time to go back the basic, to reset and remind the public that this is the most anticipated international beauty pageant - the real ONE and ONLY - and not some sort of a right-wing movement that serves only one sector of the society who are NOT mainly supporters of beauty pageants. Let us restore order, and from there, we can smoothly adapt with the new changes, challenges and new agenda that we want people to embrace. This is still a beauty pageant, so let's crown the MOST BEAUTIFUL ONE, someone who has the universal charm and wit. I believe that Gabriela has both. The Mouwad Crown belongs to her......
If not Gabriela, Amanda Dudamel can fill the position just as well! To me, it's just between the two of them. Venezuela is on the roll to win their 8th Miss Universe crown and they have been waiting for this since 2013! The only country to achieve a back-to-back win, Venezuela is sending their best delegate so far since the exit of beauty czar Osmel Souza from the MVO. Amanda is simply mesmerizing, charming and totally likable! She reminds me of the charisma of 1998 1st RU Veruska Ramirez who is also from Venezuela.
Jamaica's Toshami Calvin is my 2nd RU and I am convinced that she's the best black delegate this year. A black barbie with a statuesque figure, she can be likened to a chocolate-colored mannequin with a perfectly sculpted face! Beautiful skin color, clean look and a great speaker! I just love her!
Completing my Top 5 are Thailand and the Dominican Republic, who are both outstanding in swimsuit and evening gown rounds (with no need of explanation and justification). So, I don't think they can be denied of that spot if they play their cards well on the final night!
For my Top 10, four of them are actually major Top 5 contenders but I am not sure if they will be changing their EGs during the final night. I think they are saving their best for the last, and if they show up with better gowns than the ones they wore during prelims, they are definitely major threat for the crown! Puerto Rico is stunning, and one of my pre-arrival Top 3 favorites! Colombia is also a major favorite and is being pegged as the one to beat! The thing is, she waited for so long to reach the stage that she rightfully deserved so I can feel the hunger to win during her performance. Philippines really needs to change her gown if she wants to stay on the game until the last round. USA, meanwhile, had the best swimsuit performance during the prelims but the EG was not really my cup of tea, so I hope that she changes that too. She's already beautiful enough, without the need of wearing complicated gown design and color combinations. Angola was the best from Africa and I can only pray that the judges share the same sentiment.
Moving on with the rest of my Top 16, I think that South Africa will still be called out, although I am not a fan of her body proportion. Angola and Jamaica are way better than her because they have long, lean legs. Bahrain is a sentimental favorite and I want her to be interviewed in the Top 16. Mexico was not in my radar before, but she was outstanding in the prelims and had a huge support from the fans! Germany and Italy were the best from Europe although they lack the energy on stage. I fear that they will stop at swimsuit round only, and not to go further. If they're lucky enough, I hope that at least one of them will be in the Top 5. Italy was my pre-arrival No.1 favorite. And Vietnam will probably win the fan vote. She might go further to the Top 10!
So what do you think of my verdict this time? Do you agree or disagree?
