2010 Miss Universe bets compete in Miss World

Four candidates in the recent 2010 Miss Universe beauty pageant, two of them semi-finalists, will take their chance again in another beauty contest as they compete with more than 100 delegates in the 60th Miss World beauty contest to be held in Sanya, China on Oct. 30.

This year’s Philippine representative is 2010 Bb. Pilipinas-World Czarina Catherine Gatbonton, 19, of Malolos, Bulacan. She also won Manila Bulletin Reader’s Choice Award during the coronation night at Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City last March 6.

The four 2010 Miss Universe candidates who will compete in the 2010 Miss World finals are Miss Bahamas Braneka Bassell, Top 15 Semi-Finalist Miss Belgium Cilou Annys, Miss Turkey Gizem Memic, and Top 15 semi-finalist Miss South Africa Nicole Flint.

Previous Miss Universe candidates who will join this year’s Miss World pageant are Miss Curacao Angenie Simon, competed in Miss Universe 2009; and Miss Norway Mariann Birkedal, who competed in 2008, the Wikipedia said.

2010 Miss World candidate Miss Korea Jung So-ra will also compete in the 2011 Miss Universe beauty contest.

Other 2010 Miss World candidates who previously joined other beauty contests are Miss Canada Denise Garrido, competed in 2008 Miss Earth; Miss Ecuador Ana Galarza, winner of 2007 Reina de Ambalo; Miss India Manasvi Mamgai, winner of 2008 Miss Tourism International; and Miss Venezuela Adriana Vasini, winner of 2009 Reina Hispanoamericana.

The reigning Miss World is Miss Gibraltar Kaiane Aldorino.

Founded by Eric Morley in 1951, as part of the Festival of Britains celebrations, the Miss World is considered the oldest beauty pageant.

“The first Miss World, Sweden’s Kiki Haakonson, was the first and last winner to be actually crowned in a two-piece swimsuit. During the first decade of the pageant’s success, the outfits of contestants continued to raise eyebrows and grab headlines. In 1959, Loretta Powell of the United States arrived at the House of Commons in London clad in a Stetson, ruffled shirt and cowboy trousers.

She may have gotten away with wearing what at the time was considered a tad outrageous, but she didn’t get away with her ‘guns.’ The two stern-faced coppers in charge demanded she hand over her ‘firearms’ – even copies are not allowed in the British Parliament,” the pageant’s website recalled.

The country sent its first representative to Miss World in 1966. It was in 1977 when Mutya ng Pilipinas acquired its right to the Miss World contest. But in 1992, the Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. got the local franchise to select the candidate for the same international pageant.

Under the BPCI, the first Philippine representative to the Miss World contest was Marilen Espino, who unfortunately was not able to compete for health reasons. She was replaced by Bb. Pilipinas-Maja International Marina Benipayo.

Espino retained her title.

The Miss World crown, however, remains elusive for the Philippines.

The highest honor the country has received in the pageant was first-runner up which was won by Evangeline Pascual in 1973. It became a controversial year for the contest when the winner Miss USA Marjorie Wallace was dethroned. Wallace is the first Miss World winner from the US.

Reports said that organizers offered Pascual the duties but not the title. Miss Jamaica Patricia Teresa Yuen Leung, who won second runner-up, accepted the offer to complete the duties.

Organizers later decided not to offer the title to any one the runner-up in the contest.

Despite not winning the crown, the Philippine delegates either won as runner-up or semi-finalist. They also received special awards.

Robert Requintina, Manila Bulletin

Philippine candidates who prominently figured in the contest were Sharmaine “Ruffa” Gutierrez, 1993, second-runner up, and Asia and Oceania’s Queen of Beauty; Caroline Subijano, 1994, Top 10 Semi-Finalist; Daisy Reyes, 1996, Miss Personality; Katherine Anne Manalo, 2002, Top 10 Semi-Finalist; Maria Rafaela Yunon, 2003, 4th runner-up; Maria Karla Bautista, 2004, 4th runner-up, Asia and Oceania’s Queen of Beauty; and Carlene Aguilar, 2005, Top 15 Semi-Finalist.