Miss U ‘live’ on ABS-CBN

MANILA, Philippines - The most beautiful woman in the Philippines, Janine Tugonon, vies to become the most beautiful woman in the universe as she competes in 2012 Miss Universe pageant in Las Vegas, airing live via satellite tomorrow, Dec. 20, 9:30 a.m. after Kris TV.

After Shamcey Supsup’s third runner-up finish last year, the whole country has high hopes that Janine will take home the crown this year.

Pageant fans are raving about Janine online as she rocked the preliminaries and conquered the stage with her signature cobra walk, wearing her evening gown, swimwear and national costume. Many believe that Janine is a strong competitor and has a big chance in winning the title.

According to pageant expert Noel Berioso of OPMB Worldwide, an accredited online Philippine pageant site by the Miss Universe Organization to cover this year’s Miss Universe, Janine is one of the favorites after she got handpicked to participate in various pre-pageant activities among 88 other gorgeous women.

Noel cited that Janine was chosen to join Miss Cayman Islands in a special photo shoot for hair sponsor CHI; be part of a fundraising for kids and the Jubilee theater tour in The Bally’s Las Vegas; and   recently, talk about the Miss Universe benefit auction with Miss USA in an interview with Fox television.

International pageant website GlobalBeauties.com also chose Janine as the top pick among Asian candidates this year and is one of the predicted top five countries in the competition.

Since the pageant is delayed this year compared with the previous years, Janine has more time to prepare herself in every aspect making her more fit to compete for the crown.

But in the end, Janine’s fate still lies in the hands of the judges that include singer-songwriter Cee Lo Green, world series champion and MVP Pablo Sandoval, photographer Nigel Barker, singer-actor Diego Boneta, TV personality Scott Disick, celebrity stylist Brad Goreski, award-winning chef Masaharu Morimoto, Miss Universe 2012 Ximena Navarrete, Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings and TV star Lisa Vanderpump.