Maricel second-placer at Mrs. World pageant - FUNFARE by Ricardo F. Lo

As the whole world – nay, the whole universe! – knows, India is the biggest winner of them all, having bagged all the beauty titles at stake, from Miss Universe to Miss World to Miss Asia to, yes, Mrs. World 2000.

But the Philippines hasn’t been far behind, having won a "world" title (Miss World Tourism, by Peachy Manzano) at a contest held in Malaysia. Rachel Soriano also won as second runner-up at another Miss Tourism contest held in Malta.

Our very own Maricel Morales-Espinosa finished second to Miss India, Adti Govitrikar, in the Mrs. World 2000 pageant. Not a bad record, is it?

Here’s the usual exclusive report from Funfare’s "beauty experts" Joey Cezeare, Felix Manuel, Gery Yumping and Francis Calubaquib:

Early this month Maricel Morales-Espinosa (a movie actress and wife of action star Ace Espinosa) was handpicked by the Miss Asia Pacific Quest Incorporated to participate in the Mrs. World 2000 Pageant held Dec. 16 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. In the 8th edition of the pageant, Maricel nearly won our first Mrs. World crown but she was edged out by a stunning beauty from India, Adti Govitrikar. Thirty-five married women from around the world vied for the title of Mrs. World. The court of honor includes Mrs. Russia (second), Mrs. Spain (third), and Mrs. Finland (fourth).

Maricel is the former Mutya ng Pilipinas-Asia Pacific 1995. She represented the Philippines in the Miss Asia Pacific Quest held in Baguio wherein she landed as one of the semi-finalists. The following year she was chosen again by MAPQ to compete in the Miss Tourism International Pageant in Taipei, Taiwan (ROC).

The Mrs. World Pageant, initially known as Mrs. Woman of the World, started in 1984. The first winner was from Sri Lanka: Bernadine Rose Ramanayake-Senanayake who became one of the few women who captured two international crowns. It would be recalled that she won as Miss Asia in 1981.

1986 was the first year when the Philippines competed in the pageant. Former Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 1983, Rosita Capuyon-Liwag (wife of movie actor Greggy Liwag), competed and landed as one of the semi-finalists. She also won as Best in National Costume.

And here’s the Mrs. World honor roll:

*1984 – Bernadine Rose Ramanayake-Senanayake (Sri Lanka)

1st runner-up, Deborah Wolfe (United States)

2nd runner-up, Lilly de Wolf (Colombia)

3rd runner-up, Jean Martin (Scotland)

4th runner-up, Alexandra Appiano (Italy)

*1985 No Contest

*1986 – Astrid Elena de Navia (Colombia)

1st runner-up, Sucetty de Mendez (Costa Rica)

2nd runner-up, Diane Vincent Marini (Canada)

3rd runner-up, Donna Hild Russell (USA)

4th runner-up, Carlota de Del Rio (Panama)

*1987 – Barbara Riley (New Zealand)

1st runner-up, Erendira de Luna (Mexico)

2nd runner-up, Pinchi Mor (Israel)

3rd runner-up, Sylvia Hahn de Lopez (Venezuela)

4th runner-up, Cynthia Amann (United States)

*1988 – Pamela Nail (United States)

1st runner-up, Susanna Beijner (Sweden)

2nd runner-up, Karin Snellers (Holland)

3rd runner-up, Ila Ruderman (Israel)

4th runner-up, Karen Daly (Australia)

*1989 – Lucia Boggiano de Zoeger (Peru)

1st runner-up, Savinee Pachimsawat (Thailand)

2nd runner-up, Jennifer Kline (United States)

3rd runner-up, Irina Suvorova (Union Soviet)

4th runner-up, Valerie Eramanis Carver (Singapore)

*1990-94 No Contest

*1995 – Marisol Soto de Volio (Costa Rica)

1st runner-up, Maria Gamble (Spain)

2nd runner-up, Kimberly Brasher (United States)

3rd runner-up, Valerie Eldredge (Mauritius)

4th runner-up, Ronda Mattila (Finland)

*1996-98 No Contest

*1999 – Starla Kay Stanley (United States)

1st runner-up, Inese Slesere (Latvia)

2nd runner-up, Dorota Eftychiou (Cyprus)

3rd runner-up, Antonela Cetinski (Croatia)

4th runner-up, Shivani Wedanayake (Sri Lanka)

*2000 – Adti Govitrikar (India)

1st runner-up, Maricel Morales-Espinosa (Philippines)

2nd runner-up, Russia

3rd runner-up, Spain

4th runner-up, Finland