Miss World tilt: 50 and going strong - FUNFARE by Ricardo F. Lo

You bet this beautycontest-crazy world won’t let the old millennium go without any bang. You bet? This year alone, you have lost count of the Miss This and Miss That held here and in other parts of the world, haven’t you? This weekend, the Miss Asia-Pacific Quest will take a final bow, to be replaced by yet another contest revolving around "preservation of Mother Earth."

Meanwhile, the pioneer of them all, the Miss World Beauty Pageant, is celebrating its 50th anniversary on Nov. 30 with a grand show in London. Here is an interesting report from Funfare’s "beauty experts" Felix Manuel, Joey Cezare, Gery Yumping and Francis Calubaquib:

This year, the Miss World Pageant celebrates its golden anniversary with a spectacular presentation at the Skyscape Millennium Dome in London on Thursday, Nov. 30.

Started in 1951 by Eric Morley to promote the Festival of Britain, the pageant evolved into an annual event participated in by the most number of delegates. Later on the pageant got directly involved in various fund-raising activities to benefit the needy children of the world. Thus was coined the famous motto "Beauty with a Purpose."

The Miss World Pageant is perhaps the most controversial of all existing pageants in the world. Several title-holders got dethroned and some threatened to abdicate brought about by rifts with the organizers. There were also endless allegations that the pageant favored entrants from countries which are members of the British Commonwealth. Despite these, the pageant is still considered as one of the leading pageants in the world.

It was only in 1966 when the Philippines started to send delegates to the pageant. Princess Emraida Kelly Kiram, a Muslim charmer, used her Christian name Vivien Lee Austria when she participated in the pageant. In our 34 years of participation in the pageant we have produced three runners-up (Cecilia "Pinky" Anas Amabuyok, 4th runner-up in 1968; Evangeline "Vangie" Luis Pascual, 1st runner-up in 1973; and Sharmaine "Ruffa" Rama Gutierrez, 2nd runner-up in 1993) and five semi-finalists (Minerva "Minnie" Manalo Cagatao in 1970, Evangeline "Eva" Rosales Reyes in 1972, Sarah Jane Coronel Areza in 1982, Sherry Rose Austria Byrne in 1986 and Caroline "Cara" Villarosa Subijano in 1994).

Areza, Byrne and Gutierrez were recipients of the Asia’s Queen of Beauty award, a special recognition given to the candidate who garnered the highest place in her continent. Other Filipinas who earned special awards: Onelia Ison Jose (1971) for "Most Original Gown," the first time as award of this nature was presented during the coronation night. Her gown of more than 5,000 capiz shells garnered raves from all sectors. It was designed and executed by Ben Farrales. In 1978, Louvette Hammond won as Miss Talent. In 1996, Daisy Garcia Reyes was chosen by her fellow candidates as Miss Personality.

Last Nov. 3, amidst the strong winds and flash floods that typhoon "Seniang" brought to the country, Katherine Annwen Dantes De Guzman, a 20-year-old, 5’9" morena beauty, enplaned for London to fulfill her dream of becoming our very first Miss World winner. We were able to talk with her that stormy afternoon prior to her departure and she promised to do her best to be the epitome of a Filipina who is truly world-class and worthy of emulation.

"Being exposed to various cultures, I have learned to adapt to their way of life without losing my identity as a Filipino," she said.

Katherine grew up in Saudi Arabia where she studied both in Filipino and American international schools. She stopped her studies for the meantime to prepare for the pageant. She plans to pursue her AB Social Sciences studies at the Ateneo after the pageant.

She is not keen on pursuing a career in showbiz, but to dabble in it would not hurt. She co-hosted German Moreno’s Master Showman for two episodes where she showed her singing talent. She is touched by the wholehearted support from the Bb. Pilipinas family and, of course, her parents, San Carlos, Pangasinan Councilor (Engr.) Diego De Guzman and the former Edna Dantes, a registered nurse.

This year the Miss World pageant expects more than a hundred entrants from the four corners of the world. Katherine’s toughest competitors include Vanessa Maria Cardenas Bravo of Venezuela, a 19-year-old statuesque model and a student. Venezuela holds the record for having the most number of Miss World title holders. Priyanka Chopra of India is another top contender, an 18-year-old model and student involved in social work, singing and acting.

Here’s the Miss World honor roll:

• 1951- Kerstin "Kiki" Haakonson, Sweden

• 1952 - May Louise Flodin, Sweden

• 1953 - Denise Perrier, France

• 1954 - Antigone Constanda, Egypt

• 1955 - Carmen Susana Duijm Zubillaga, Venezuela

• 1956 - Petra Susanna Schurmann, Germany

• 1957 - Marita Lindahl, Finland

• 1958 - Penelope Anne Coelen, South Africa

• 1959 - Corinne Rottschafer, Netherlands

• 1960 - Norma Gladys Cappagli, Argentina

• 1961 - Rosemarie Frankland, United Kingdom

• 1962 - Catharina Lodders, Holland/Netherlands

• 1963 - Carole Joan Crawford, Jamaica

• 1964 - Ann Sidney, United Kingdom

• 1965 - Lesley Langley, United Kingdom

• 1966 - Reita Faria, India

• 1967 - Madeline Hartog Bel, Peru

• 1968 - Penelope Plummer, Australia

• 1969 - Eva von Reuber Staier, Austria

• 1970 - Jennifer Josephine Hosten, Grenada

• 1971 - Lucia Tavares Petterle, Brazil

• 1972 - Belinda Roma Green, Australia

• 1973 - Marjorie Wallace, United States

• 1974 - Helen Elizabeth Morgan, United Kingom*

- Anneline Kriel, South Africa

• 1975 - Wilnelia Merced Cruz, Puerto Rico

• 1976 - Cynthia "Cindy" Jane Breakspeare, Jamaica

• 1977 - Mary Ann Catrin Stavin, Sweden

• 1978 - Silvana Rosa Suarez Clarence, Argentina

• 1979 - Gina Ann Cassandra Swainson, Bermuda

• 1980 - Gabriella Brum, Germany**

- Kimberly Santos, Guam

• 1981 - Carmen Josefina "Pilin" Leon Crespo, Venezuela

• 1982 - Mariasela Alvarez Lebron, Dominican Republic

• 1983 - Sarah-Jane Hutt, United Kingdom

• 1984 - Astrid Carolina Herrera Irrazabal, Venezuela

• 1985 - Holmfriour "Hofi" Karlsdottir, Iceland

• 1986 - Giselle Jeanne-Marie Laronde, Trinidad & Tobago

• 1987 - Ulla Weigerstofer, Austria

• 1988 - Linda Petursdottir, Iceland

• 1989 - Aneta-Beata Kreglicka, Poland

• 1990 - Gina Marie Tolleson, United States

• 1991 - Ninibeth Beatriz Leal Jimenez, Venezuela

• 1992 - Julia Alexandrovna Kourotchkina, Russia

• 1993 - Lisa Hanna, Jamaica

• 1994 - Aishwarya Rai, India

• 1995 - Jacqueline Maria Aguillera Marcano, Venezuela

• 1996 - Irene Skliva, Greece

• 1997 - Diana Hayden, India

• 1998 - Linor Abargil, Israel

• 1999 - Yukta Mookhey, India

Notes:

*1974 - Helen Morgan lost her crown after it was revealed that she was married and a mother. Anneline Kriel of South Africa, the first runner-up, took over.

**1980 - Gabriella Brum resigned one day after her crowning because her boyfriend disapproved of her winning. Guam’s Kimberly Santos became the new queen.