Locked away in a Vietnamese luxury resort today, the eve of the Miss Universe pageant, are 80 of the world’s most beautiful women, anxiously wondering who is the best of them all. For a gruelling month, they have strutted their stuff in swimsuits, high heels and evening gowns, national costumes and Vietnamese au dai suits, trying to catch the eyes and win the hearts of jury panelists.
They have braved the tropical summer heat, a hectic travel schedule and endless rehearsals, local crowds and paparazzi, and even a bat that drew wide circles through the spotlight of one of the many preliminary events. But the moment of truth — when 79 dreams are crushed and one comes true — was fast approaching in this 57th edition of a winner-takes-all contest that, organizers say, will be watched by a billion people in 170 countries. The Final Night show starts at 8am tomorrow (local time) here to coincide with the prime-time Sunday evening TV slot in the United States, home of the extravaganza that is co-owned by millionaire-celebrity Donald Trump.
Speculation on the front-runner has run hot in the palm-fringed resort town of Nha Trang, fuelled by pageant-bloggers and scraps of gossip that have trickled out of the resort where the women are sequestered away. Many favoured Miss Venezuela, 22-year-old Dayana Mendoza, whose country is admired here as a ‘pageant powerhouse’ that has long drilled contestants with makeovers, English classes and runway-practice.
Miss Veneuzela was also the hot favourite of punters on the betting website www.Bookmaker.Com, followed by other Western hemisphere beauties from Puerto Rico, Panama, United States and Columbia.
Who do you think will walk away with the crown? Will Simran make us proud? Take a guess.
