Will Miami be MJ’s lucky charm?

MANILA, Philippines - Miami played host to Miss Universe pageant from 1960 to 1971 (held in Miami Beach Auditorium), 1984 and 1985 (in James L. Knight Convention Center) and 1997 (in Miami Beach Convention Center).  

After 17 years, the pageant is back in Miami (this time in Doral City) where our bet Mary Jean “MJ” Lastimosa (left) is touted by locals, international pageant webmasters and aficionados as “one of the most likely” to wear the newly-designed Miss U crown (inset).  

In a while, we will know what fate awaits MJ as ABS-CBN airs the pageant live starting at 10 o’clock this morning and Lifestyle Network an hour earlier (9 a.m.), with replays on Jan. 27 (12 noon), Jan. 31 (9 p.m.) and Feb. 1 (3 p.m.).