L-R Korea’s Catharina Choi (Fire), Austria’s Katia Wagner (Air), Venezuela’s Alyz Henrich (Miss Earth 2013 winner) and Thailand’s Punika Kuntornrat (Water)
Miss Earth 2013 is Venezuela! My pick for the crown!!!
Miss Air is Austria, Katia Wagner.
Miss Water is Thailand, Punika Kuntornrat.
Miss Fire is Korea, Catharina Choi.
Scroll down for Top 16
Congratulations to all the winners!
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The outdoor stage at Versailles Palace in Alabang. Beautiful perhaps for a wedding but a challenging venue for a beauty pageant and a nightmare for journalists and photographers. We could hardly see and get good shots of the contestants without pushing people out of our way. Hoping for a better venue or stage layout next year.
The Miss Earth 2013 beauty tilt opened beneath a drizzling dark night but the damp evening did not dampen the spirits of the audience or the contestants. The opening number featured the girls in their eco-friendly outfits. The self-intro video showcased each contest divided into four regions – Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas.
Loved the hosts Oli Pettigrew and his wife Linda Black who brought an international flavor to the pageant were tres professionnel.
The Miss Earth 2013 contestants waiting for the opening number to start!
After the opening number featuring the contestants in their eco-friendly outfits, Miss Earth Philippines Carla Henry then spent a moment talking about the devastation of Typhoon Yolanda. She quoted Nelson Mandela (RIP) and then thanked all the nations who came to our aid.
Miss Earth 2008 Karla Henry (in white) gives a short speech on Yolanda thanking all the nations as represented in the pageant for coming to the aid of the Philippines when it was at its darkest hour.
Next. A video on Miss Earth 2013 activities that showcased the pageant’s strength – earth friendly projects.
Although the garden of Versailles in Alabang is an uncomfortable outdoor venue for photographers and bloggers (much prefer an indoor place) it was a sight to behold with the Miss Earth contestants on stage surrounded by shimmering pools and exotic foliage.
The judges are introduced. Yey! Lorraine Shuck is on the board along with Sarah Meier and Iza Calzado, three beautiful women I admire.
Top 16 announced:
Some of the contestants as they were called forward as part of the Top 16 circle of Miss Earth 2013…
Austria (my pick)
Turkey (my like)
Korea (my pick)
Chile (me like)
Mexico (my pick)
France (my like)
China
Mauritius
Thailand (my pick)
Spain (my special mention)
Poland (my special mention)
USA (my special mention)
Philippines (my pick)
So. Africa (my pick)
Venezuela (my pick)
Serbia (my pick)
(Hm. Oli Pettigrew didn’t play up on the suspense and just announced the 16th contestant with no drama. I so much prefer it to have drama!)
Serbia’s Andjelka Tomasevic throws her face to the night sky as her name is the last to be called during the announcement of the Top 16. A pensive Russia meanwhile stares blankly.
The Top 16 contestants at Miss Earth 2013 wave to the audience…
Swimsuit competition now with the Top 16 in glittery aqua green bikinis by Ricky Abad.
The Swimsuit Competition of the Top 16 winners in Miss Earth 2013 begins…
Here are some of the Top 16 Miss Earth semifinalists parading in their Ricky Abad bikinis that are to die for! Top row L-R – Serbia, Spain, Turkey and South Africa. Bottom row L-R – USA, Chile, Philippines and Mauritius.
I have to say choreography is bad for photographers seated in the media section hoping to get publishable shots of the girls. By the time they come close to our area, their backs are turned to us. Rats! The hubby had to go force his way and push people around just to get a good spot for photos. Hoping that this doesn’t happen again in the next Miss Earth pageant. And thanks to my hubby Ron for being forceful even if his true nature is gentle.
At this point, I must mention that Ricky Abad outdid himself with these fashionable bikinis adorned with sheer shawls. Kudos to you, my friend!
King of Hearts David Pomerantz serenades the girls…
Now the girls are back on stage, the Top 16 as well as the rest of the contestants all in long gowns for a serenade by the crooning minstrel we love so much in the Philippines – David Pomerantz.
The Long Gown Competition
The Long Gown Competition of the Top 16 in Miss Earth 2013
Austria – White, simple gown with glittery accents. Backless with beads dangling at her back.
Turkey – Love the gown. Mermaid na aqua green with silver accents.
Chile – White lacy.
Korea – Yellow mustard with pleats. Can’t make up my mind if I like.
Mexico – Blue tinged sequiny qown. Like fish scales.
France – Crimson and lovely. But looks like a red version of Korea’s gown?
China – Sheer and sexy. Silvery blue with white train.
Maritius – Gold and gorgeous.
Thailand – Another red gown. With an elegant pleats, beads and long train.
USA – Silvery white serpentina.
Poland – Beige and very feminine. Lacy at the bottom.
Spain – Dark glittery gown.
Philippines – Long sleeved white number. Don’t like her all covered up :’(
So. Africa – Stunning in bright green. Fab!
Venezuela – Pearly beaded gown. She’s on the rocks. Gorgeous! Best gown for me!
Serbia – White and simple. Too simple I think. Its like a bad rip off of Venezuela’s gown, sorry to say.
I’ll be coming up with a more detailed post on my thoughts on the Top 16 gowns.
The Long Gown Competition of the Top 16 in Miss Earth 2013
Announcement of Top 8
(Combined scores of swimsuit and gown)
Austria
Korea
Mexico
Thailand
Poland
Philippines
Venezuela
Serbia
(They are all in my forecasted list of favorites while Poland is my special mention, yehey!!!! Click here to read my forecast written just hours before the pageant.)
The Top 8 at Miss Earth 2013 – L-R – Austria, Mexico, Poland, Venezuela, Serbia, Philippines, Thailand and Korea
The Question and Answer segment
The girls have 30 secs to respond.
(I won’t write down the full QnA but only what my fingers can handle.)
Austria – Iza Calzado asked the Q on best invention ever. A – there are many but Solar energy is best. (Shakey voice but good answer.)
Korea – Q by Sarah Meier – There’s all kinds of discrimination but which is the worst kind for you? A – Any kind of discrimination is bad. (To the point. Good answer.)
Mexico – Q – Whats the biggest risk you ever took in your life? A with help of translator – Joining this pageant! Its for a cause and a way to teach public about environment. (Nice answer, swak!)
Thailand – Q – Aside from climate change what is the biggest threat to mother earth? (Thailand opened in English apologizing for her poor English then used a translator.) A – Human behavior. It affects whole world. (She went overtime and I wonder if they get minus points for doing that. Anyway, it was a good answer.)
The first four Miss Earth contestants during the Q and A segment…
Poland – Q – Why does God allow natural disaster? A – Because God wants to show people how to … Love together, (she struggled through her answer because, as the hosts mentioned, she didn’t speak English well. Nevertheless she attempted to answer in English and while I could understand what she wanted to say, she couldn’t explain it. I kept saying they should give her more time given her handicap.)
Philippines – Q from Lorraine Schuck – Its been a month since Yolanda. How do u think mother earth feels now? A – Sad, I wrote a song about it. It’s a wake up call. We must care for each other and the environment. (Best answer overall for me! Delivered with confidence and conviction.)
Venezuela – Q – How does eco-tourism contribute to the protection of thr environment? Translator – Because we people are responsible for the destruction of nature. We need to be aware of mother earth, save the earth. (Hmmm… Didn’t really answer the Q. Disappointed.)
Serbia – What ways can a woman be defined as an earth warrior? A – Beauty is not just physical its what we have inside. We need to care for each other. Share happiness. Beauty should be inside and out. (She went overtime. Shakey voice. But hats off for attempting to answer in English even if she isn’t fluent.)
The next four Miss Earth 2013 contestants during the Q and A…
Next. Miss Earth 2012′s Yereza Fajksova’s farewell walk. Then another serenade by David Pomerantz of the Top 8. Then the announcement of the winners!
Miss Earth 2012 Tereza Fajksova says her goodbyes to all her supporters… although she is no longer the reigning queen of the Earth, she remains queen in hearts forever…
The ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE WINNERS!
Miss Earth 2013 is Venezuela! My pick for the crown!!!
Miss Air is Austria, Katia Wagner.
Miss Water is Thailand, Punika Kuntornrat.
Miss Fire is Korea, Catharina Choi.
Because many were rooting for Angelee Claudett delos Reyes of the Philippines, it seemed like a letdown when Venezuela was announced the winner. The journalists in my section felt that the Philippines’ answer was the best one out of all 8 and I totally agree. I’ll be writing more about this in another post however, I just want to make it clear that Venezuela was my choice for the crown but not seeing the Philippines as one of the runners-up made me feel sad even if my favorite girl won the crown. In my heart I rejoice for the beauty of Alyz Henrich our new Miss Earth 2013 queen!
The memeber of the press rush up to the winners as soon as they form their winners’ tableau. L-R Korea’s Catharina Choi (Fire), Austria’s Katia Wagner (Air), Venezuela’s Alyz Henrich (Miss Earth 2013 winner) and Thailand’s Punika Kuntornrat (Water)
Congratulations to Carousel Productions and to Team Miss Earth for another successful edition of the Miss Earth beauty pageant!!!
Here are more photos of the post-pageant celebration:
Post-pageant celebration! Miss Earth 2013… Top left photo is me with Venezuela, top middle with Katia Wagner of Austria (Air), top right with Miss Earth 2102 Tereza Fajskova, bottom left with Zeny Seifert, Crimea and Ukraine (two of my favorites that didn’t enter the Top 15, middle bottom I’m with Miss Earth Philippines 2009 Sandra Seifert who hardly needs makeup to look glamorous, middle right I’m with Korea and bottom right with Thailand. GORGEOUS WINNERS!
