Miss Universe 2021 (Dec 12/13 in Israel)

[Frau Muller]

Let’s discuss all-things Miss Universe! This is the 70th edition. Final show happens Dec 12 7pm est…Dec 13 2am locally (Eilat, Israel time).

Most of the 80 candidates have arrived. Have you selected your favorites? Easy choice for me - Puerto Rico #1! …followed closely by Paraguay, Brazil, Thailand & Argentina.

Profiles: https://www.missuniverse.com/delegates

Wikipedia has a traditional list of candidates:

Miss Universe 2021 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

The Missosology Facebook page is one of the best reporters on daily activities, who’s rising in standings, many photos, etc.

https://m.facebook.com/missosology/

Global Beauties regularly updates its standings on the top 20:

https://m.facebook.com/globalbeauties/photos/a.1380855102002814/4499141816840778/?type=3&source=48

 

[Frau Muller]

Sadly, Miss France tested positive for the upon her arrival in Israel yesterday.

Miss Universe France 2021 tests positive for COVID-19

Miss Universe France 2021 Cle?mence Botino has tested positive for COVID-19.

www.gmanetwork.com

Miss France tests positive for COVID-19 ahead of pageant

Miss France Clemence Botino has tested positive for the COVID-19 after her arrival in Israel for the 70-th Miss Universe pageant. Clemence shared this in an Instagram post on Monday. "I’m writing because I have

filipinotimes.net

 

[Frau Muller]

p.s. To complicate matters, this year’s Miss World competition is happening at the same time in Puerto Rico! BUT Puerto Ricans (and Latin Americans in general) are fiercely loyal to Universe…so it’s Universe loyalty for me!

 

[Frau Muller]

The candidates visited and toured Jerusalem, ahead of the competitive events at a Red Sea resort.

Miss Universe contestants rock Jerusalem

The way to the pageant this year has been fraught with challenges due to the pandemic.

www.jpost.com

Missosology

Missosology. 1,874,474 likes · 199,227 talking about this. Analyzing Beauty Pageants since 1999 ◼ Big5 Ranking ◼ Beauty Talks ◼ Timeless Beauty ◼ Hot Picks ◼ Pageant Coverage

www.facebook.com

 

[PRlady]

My DH used to be CEO of the big YMCA in Jerusalem. (Don't think of your corner Y with a gym, this is a massive historical building with a hotel, restaurant, youth programs, kindergarten, community programs etc.)

He's still friendly with the Palestinian hotel manager and almost split a gut laughing this morning from his FB page. There was Raed, proudly posing with an array of international beauties visiting the Y. Since pageant girls are tall and Raed is about 5'5" it's an unintentionally hilarious look, but I'm glad he enjoyed himself.

 

[Frau Muller]

First Moroccan “miss” in 43 years:

404. That’s an error.

Today Euro 24 News

new.in-24.com

Apparently, there are also first-time representatives from Bahrain and the UAE. I’m wondering how/if they’ll compete the swimsuit portion? We know that UAE figure skaters opt for modest outfits and head coverings.

 

[Frau Muller]

The 80 candidates are now in competition mode, having moved from Jerusalem to the resort of Eilat a couple of days ago.

The judges have arrived, too (much discussed among fans…two from Philippines…how many Latins?). Today is the first of two interview days. Friday is the all-important Preliminary Show (each in swimsuit & gown), to select 15 semifinalista, to be revealed at the finals.

As in recent years, the 16th semifinal will be determined by fan vote (usually going to either Philippines or Thailand…but this year there’s a charge…so perhaps that will affect the mass voting of the past).

THE PRELIMS SHOW WILL BE LIVE-STREAMED THIS FRIDAY @ 9:30pm local time…2:30pm eastern US time…immediately following the National Costumes Parade (7pm local/12 noon est). I’ll paste the link to the streaming once it is revealed by the MU Organization on its social media pages.

I’ll do a top-10 predictions list after the Prelims. For now, the fans’ faves to make finals include:

Top-top list: PARAGUAY, Colombia, Philippines, India, Brazil, Spain, Puerto Rico

Close to top: USA, Israel, Mexico, South Africa, Portugal (born in Venez, as was Miss Greece), Belgium (born in Ethiopia), Vietnam, Thailand (with interesting story due to her non-traditional figure…and bullying)

…Venezuela fluid (floats in & out of top lists)

 

[Frau Muller]

Candidate profile vids now being uploaded to the MUO page…for ex, Belgium’s fascinating story of survival in Ethiopia, until she was adopted by a Belgian family:

UP CLOSE: Miss Universe Belgium

Get to know Miss Universe Belgium Kedist Deltour: passionate about family and supporting children. Download the Miss Universe app to vote your favorite deleg...

www.youtube.com

To see all, go to this MUO page of all delegates, by alphabetical order of country:

Miss Universe Organization 71st Year Delegates

www.missuniverse.com

Then go to a delegates’ “View Profile”…then click “Upclose Video”

 

[Frau Muller]

All of the profile vids are also here on the MU YouTube channel…direct access but not in alpha order:

https://www.youtube.com/missuniverse/videos

Ok. Just got through all of vids that are up. (About 10 are missing.)
Impressive group of candidates. Most seem to be quite well-spoken achievers. Most are well-traveled polyglots. Those who caught my eye for what they said and how they said it:

BELGIUM (as mentioned above)
CHILE environ engineer & beekeeper
COSTA RICA harrowing anorexia story with photos
FRANCE. from isle of Guadeloupe…and just rejoining the competition after a week in quarantine for *****
ICELAND. impressive personality…dancer, etc
IRELAND. another gr talker…radio host and nurse
JAPAN. UCLA grad in Intl Devt (yeah!)
MEXICO. Natural sparkle, energy…survivor of several thyroid operations
NAMIBIA stand-up comic! Personality plus!
PHILIPPINES another great speaker and proud member of LGBTQ community
SOUTH AFRICA. overcame odds to dance ballet…and she looks amazing
SPAIN compelling…Moroccan ancestry
THAILAND - as said above, famous for her unusual physique & anti-bullying cause…also great speaker

Just a few of the stand outs. I’ll keep these in mind as I watch their Prelim performances on Friday…who will shine in catwalk, etc.

 

[jeffisjeff]

Not exactly about Miss Universe, but this seemed like the most relevant thread:

Dozens of camels barred from Saudi beauty contest over Botox

Saudi authorities have conducted their biggest-ever crackdown on camel beauty contestants that received Botox injections and other artificial touch-ups, the state-run Saudi Press Agency reported Wednesday, with over 40 camels disqualified from the annual pageant. Saudi Arabia's popular King...

news.yahoo.com

 

[Frau Muller]

The judged Prelimary Competition, with all contestants in swimsuits and gowns, is tomorrow - Friday at 12 noon est. livestream on MU’s YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTdxW3Si8aduSuZbzyR2jlw

Once there, “The 70th Miss Universe Preliminary Competition” Watch Live

This will be immediately followed by the National Costumes Parade @ 2:30pm est…not judged but always a lot of fun…with outfits getting larger & wilder by the year! (Last time, Miss Malaysia represented a village hut that turned from day to night…it took three stagehands to help her drag that thing across the stage!)

Can’t wait! Make it a full fun afternoon or night in virtual Israel!

ps - Fans and experts’ lists of favorites will finally gel after prelims. Based on the interview videos, BELGIUM is now a solid fave, along with Paraguay, India, Philippines, Spain & Puerto Rico (for top 5 or 6)…but nothing is sure until we see their performances in ss and gown. I’m secretly hoping that “body-positivity” Thailand, brainy Japan, and comedian Namibia also shine…and I have a soft spot for Korea, who is seldom mentioned but is tall & gorgeous…and I bet she’ll bring the bling (figure skating style)!

 

[Japanfan]

Seems awful what they do to the camels? Inflated body parts with rubber bands - which I think is abusive.

 

[Frau Muller]

Among many MissUniv v-logers out there, this is one of the best…Canada’s Sierra Bearchell gets to the point, in a short vid. Her pre-prelims Top 16:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OHeB1VAn9cQ

 

[Frau Muller]

Direct link to the Prelims livestream…today…Fri, Dec 10, 12noon EST…soon!!!

The 70th MISS UNIVERSE Preliminary Competition | FULL SHOW

Watch the 70th Edition of the MISS UNIVERSE Preliminary Competition, LIVE from Eilat, Israel.Miss Universe 2021 will be the 70th Miss Universe pageant, to be...

www.youtube.com

I’ll watch the last two groups of Golden Spin women LPs, then straight to Universe! Whee!!!

 

[Frau Muller]

Prelims over. Short break before costumes, which don’t count for the finals; just for fun.

A lot has changed. I’ll make the final predictions list tomorrow. For now, suffice to say that I was truly impressed by these “discoveries” who haven’t been touted by fans up to now:

CHINA

CROATIA (Golden Spin effect? LOL)

EQUATORIAL GUINEA - WOW! POW!

ITALY

NAMIBIA (although I’d earlier liked her video & talk)

POLAND (double wow!! And I earlier liked her video story…classical concert pianist…later environ engineer…perfect ss & gown, etc, etc. Polyglot.)

SINGAPORE - “cute” in photos but great pasarela…extraordinary effect in motion!


Pre-faves who did well incl Belgium, Brazil (despite small trip), Chile, France, India, Israel, Paraguay, Philippines, Pto Rico (great pasarela…despite weak purple puff-sleeved gown…my heart broke), Spain and USA.

Will these new & earlier faves make the 16 semifinalists?

 

[Frau Muller]

In years past, the Prelims stream has stayed up for a while (days) on the MU YouTube channel. Hopefully that’ll be the case this year, for those who may have missed it live. Ditto the costumes show, which goes live any minute now.

 

[Frau Muller]

Great but long costume show…which in normal times takes place a couple of nights before the Prelims.

Many great costumes but one truly wow moment, summarized in four words:

FRANCE AS JOSEPHINE BAKER

Instagram

www.instagram.com

I crown her Miss Universe right now…and it’s about her total beauty and performance today, prelims & costumes. 100%.

C’est tout.

 

[tony]

I know that the world often revolves around the USA having primetime coverage, but this event is actually occurring at 2AM Monday morning in Israel local time. That's so ridiculous.

 

[Frau Muller]

I know that the world often revolves around the USA having primetime coverage, but this event is actually occurring at 2AM Monday morning in Israel local time. That's so ridiculous.

Right…so it’s not just an Olympics thing.

In the case of Miss U it’s probably as much about the Latin American market (Telemundo) than it is about the USA (this year on FOX).

Since live satellite transmissions, this has been happening with Miss Universe, eg, the 1973 edition from Athens started at 2am local time…the 1974, 1992 and other editions from Manila started at breakfast time the next morn! All to allow 7 or 8pm prime-time viewing in the eastern US/LatinAm.

I find it nothing short of amazing that, in this Era of the Crud, Israel or any other country can pull-off this sort of intl event with relatively few glitches. Yes, Miss France had to go into mandatory quarantine for a week when she tested positive upon arrival…but was “freed” from quarantine just in time for rehearsals & today’s Prelims…and she totally slayed! So happy for her.

 

[Frau Muller]

This was tough! Tomorrow’s MU 2021 finals will begin with the revelation of the judges’ 15 semifinalists + fans’ vote for the 16th semi (that usually means Philippines or Thailand).

My final predictions for top 15, in alpha order (with bold for those who I think may make top 5):

BELGIUM
BRAZIL
CHILE
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
FRANCE
INDIA
ISRAEL
JAPAN
NAMIBIA
PARAGUAY
POLAND
PUERTO RICO
SPAIN
USA
VIETNAM

Fan vote for 16th: PHILIPPINES

Maybes, based on yesterday’s prelims? China, Croatia, Italy, Laos, Singapore & South Africa.

Internet-experts’ faves who didn’t quite convince me: Colombia & Venez…but there’s a little conspiracy theory that Colombia might make the cut because Steve Harvey is again the host…due to the infamous history of Colombia-Philippines. And Harvey’s daughter is on the judges panel this year! We thought that figure skating conspiracy was bad.

Good luck to all! Have fun! It’s tomorrow at 7pm est on both Fox (English) & Telemundo (Spanish)…with Telemundo alone commencing preview shows/red carpet, etc at 3pm est, then a post-show at 10pm est. Many live hours of MU tomorrow on Telemundo! Que viva la belleza!!!

 

[Frau Muller]

Tonight’s the night! I’m hosting a viewing party with fellow Boricuas in the DC area…complete with sashes & crowns for all! This is our Super Bowl & Olympics combined.

My final-five pics:

INDIA for the win!
Other top five: USA, Namibia, Paraguay, France!

…but, wait…

The Spoiler to possibly nab it all but I’m afraid of building her up too much…?
PUERTO RRRRRRRICOOOOOOO!

 

[ryanj07]

I’m very excited for tonight’s pageant! It is being held early in the morning hours in Israel to be broadcast prime time for Fox and Telemundo, but a former Miss USA said that the delegates get a chance to have a quick rest before the live show and will be running on adrenaline so it isn’t much of an issue.

I really like USA, PR, France, India, and Belgium. There are a few others that I really like but those are probably my top picks.

 

[Seerek]

Not mentioned in the thread yet who could be a spoiler

Kenya, Argentina, Honduras, Great Britain, Nepal

 

[ilovepaydays]

So, um - is Steve Harvey actually supposed to be funny?

 

[PatChan4O]

Medusa?

 

[Karen-W]

Well, MU is on tape delay here on the West Coast, so I'll eagerly check in here for updates from the East Coasters!

ETA - I guess I can watch it on live on Telemundo. Figures.

 

[ilovepaydays]

Top 16:
France
Colombia
Singapore
Panama
Puerto Rico
Bahamas
Japan
Great Britain
USA
India
Vietnam
Aruba
Paraguay
Philippines
Venezuela
South Africa (Viewer’s choice)

 

[Karen-W]

This was tough! Tomorrow’s MU 2021 finals will begin with the revelation of the judges’ 15 semifinalists + fans’ vote for the 16th semi (that usually means Philippines or Thailand).

My final predictions for top 15, in alpha order (with bold for those who I think may make top 5):

BELGIUM
BRAZIL
CHILE
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
FRANCE
INDIA
ISRAEL
JAPAN
NAMIBIA
PARAGUAY
POLAND
PUERTO RICO
SPAIN
USA
VIETNAM

Fan vote for 16th: PHILIPPINES

Maybes, based on yesterday’s prelims? China, Croatia, Italy, Laos, Singapore & South Africa.

Internet-experts’ faves who didn’t quite convince me: Colombia & Venez…but there’s a little conspiracy theory that Colombia might make the cut because Steve Harvey is again the host…due to the infamous history of Colombia-Philippines. And Harvey’s daughter is on the judges panel this year! We thought that figure skating conspiracy was bad.

Good luck to all! Have fun! It’s tomorrow at 7pm est on both Fox (English) & Telemundo (Spanish)…with Telemundo alone commencing preview shows/red carpet, etc at 3pm est, then a post-show at 10pm est. Many live hours of MU tomorrow on Telemundo! Que viva la belleza!!!

Wow - you called 8 of the 15, and South Africa got the fan vote (because Philippines made it through on her own)! Nice job!

Color me shocked that Brazil didn't make the Semi-Finalists!

I’m very excited for tonight’s pageant! It is being held early in the morning hours in Israel to be broadcast prime time for Fox and Telemundo, but a former Miss USA said that the delegates get a chance to have a quick rest before the live show and will be running on adrenaline so it isn’t much of an issue.

I really like USA, PR, France, India, and Belgium. There are a few others that I really like but those are probably my top picks.

Interesting that both you and @Frau Muller had Belgium as one of your picks and she didn't make the Semi-Finalists. Wonder what the judges didn't like about her.

Not mentioned in the thread yet who could be a spoiler

Kenya, Argentina, Honduras, Great Britain, Nepal

Nice catch on GB!

Top 16:
France
Colombia
Singapore
Panama
Puerto Rico
Bahamas
Japan
Great Britain
USA
India
Vietnam
Aruba
Paraguay
Philippines
Venezuela
South Africa (Viewer’s choice)

Just because I'm jingoistic like that... GO USA!!!!!

 

[ilovepaydays]

Not sure if I like the high-waisted bikini bottoms on some of the Top 16.

I do like that they got (what looked like) three swimsuit designs to pick from.

 

[tony]

Colombia, Singapore, Puerto Rico, Japan, India, Vietnam, Philippines, Venezuela would be top 8 for me, and then two of USA, France, and Aruba to round it out.

And I'm already wrong.