Ariella steals show in Miss U preliminaries

CEBU, Philippines - Miss Philippines Ariella “Ara” Arida stole the show during the recent Miss Universe preliminary competition after she strutted on stage wearing her swimsuit and evening gown that not only gained one of the loudest cheers from the crowd but also positive feedback online, making her a trending topic on Twitter.

Filipino fans stayed awake after midnight just to support Ara. While watching the livestream on the official Miss Universe site, Filipino netizens from around the world shared how much Ara wowed them and how proud they are of the Philippines’ bet to the prestigious beauty pageant.

Even in the venue, Ara was one of most applauded candidates among 85 other beautiful women from different parts of the globe. She confidently showed off her fit and sexy body wearing a red bikini. From showing her bubbly aura at the swimsuit competition, Ara then exuded elegance and class when she walked on stage in her yellow evening gown.

During her walk, the hosts described Ara as an athletic woman who was influenced into sports by her dad, a gym teacher. They also said that she was a class valedictorian with a degree in Chemistry, which she intends to use to develop her own line of organic fragrances.

This year’s Miss Universe will be crowned this Sunday (Nov. 10) in Crocus City Hall in Moscow, Russia. The show will be hosted by Thomas Roberts of “MSNBC Live” and Mel B of “America’s Got Talent.”

Watch it live on Velvet Channel at 2 a.m. with a delayed telecast on ABS-CBN at 9 a.m. and a primetime replay at 10 p.m. (FREEMAN)