Critical Beauty

  MANILA, Philippines — Manuel Franco from the Dominican Republic was proclaimed Mister International at the pageant’s 14th edition staged at the New Frontier Theater at the Araneta City in Quezon City on Sunday, Oct. 30. He bested 34 other delegates from all over the world to become the first representative from the Dominican Republic to receive the title. This year’s presentation was mounted three years after the competition’s 13th installment, technically its 2018 edition, was staged in February 2019, also in the Philippines. Trinh Van Bao bested 38 other international delegates that year, making him the second winner from Vietnam. Settling for the first runner-up spot in this year’s edition was Lukanand Kshetrimayum from India, while Orangel de Jesús Dirinot Guanipa from Venezuela was the second runner-up. Jason Li Kwai Chiu from Hong Kong and Myron Jude Ordillano from the Philippines were third and fourth runners-up respectively. Juan Pablo Colías González from Spain rounded up th

  Miss Grand Philippines Roberta Tamondong has been announced as the new fifth runner-up of Miss Grand International 2022 during a live announcement tonight in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. Miss Grand Brazil 2022 Isabella Menin did a live on her Instagram to catch the moment. Philippines replaces Mauritius after the latter resigned. According to MGI President Nawat Itsaragrisil, Roberta will fly to Bangkok to meet with the rest of the top 9 finalists.

  Thai business tycoon and transgender activist Chakrapong "Anne" Chakrajutathib poses for a photo after a news conference Thursday in Bangkok. Photo credit: Anne Jakrajutatip Facebook BANGKOK — A Thai business tycoon and transgender activist has purchased the Miss Universe Organization for $20 million, her company announced Wednesday. Chakrapong "Anne" Chakrajutathib, who controls JKN Global Group Public Co. Ltd., is a celebrity in Thailand who has starred in reality shows and is outspoken about being a transgender woman. She helped establish a nonprofit group, Life Inspired For Transsexual Foundation, to promote trans rights. JKN said it acquired the rights to the Miss Universe pageant from IMG Worldwide LLC, a sports, talent and events marketing company which has held the Miss Universe Organization since 2015. Former U.S. President Donald Trump was part owner of the pageant rights from 1996 until IMG's purchase. JKN said it has established a subsidiary in the

  On this video, I react to the top 5 placements of Miss Grand International 2022 finals held in Jakarta, Indonesia on October 25, 2022. Watch my full live reaction to the entire 4-hour show on this link:

  Brazil’s  Isabella Menin  was crowned Miss Grand International 2022 during a four-hour pageant Tuesday night in Jakarta, Indonesia. Menin succeeded Vietnam’s Nguyễn Thúc Thùy Tiên, becoming the 10th Miss Grand International since the pageant’s inception in 2013. Brazil has been placing in the top 5 for the last three years and has finally won its first crown with Menin's outstanding performance. Menin bested 67 candidates after three cuts, as seen in the livestreamed pageant on YouTube which crossed a million concurrent viewers. First runner-up - Thailand, Engfa Waraha Second runner-up - Indonesia, Andina Julie Third runner-up - Venezuela, Luiseth Materán 4th runner-up - Czech Republic, Mariana Beckova Forming the Top 10 were the candidates from Cambodia, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Spain and Mauritius (who automatically was fast-tracked to Top 10 after winning the Popular Vote). Completing the top 20 were the delegates from Curaçao, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Mexico, Nige

  This group chat was conducted via Zoom on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022 at 9:00 PM EST. My guests include: Peter Sereno, Noemi Melendez, Phil Pugeda, Brian Javier, Summer Smith of the Crown Sisters, Roger of The Pageant Nerd, George of The Pageant Empress, and Henrique Fontes of Global Beauties. Each of us reveals our Top 20, Top 10, Top 5, and winner. Watch the coronation night of Miss Grand International 2022 on October 25 via Grand TV on YouTube.

  The Miss Grand International 2022 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗺𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 took place on Thursday, October 20th at Sentum International Convention Centre (SICC) Bogor, Indonesia. The whole show was amazing! From the thrilling background music, to the substantial description of each costume, the great camera angles, the contestants’ execution, the narration and the huge grand stage!

Miss Grand Hong Kong Chan Mei dazzles the judges with her accomplishments during the closed door interviews at Miss Grand International 2022 pageant. The event took place on October 16, 2022 in Jakarta, Indonesia. The judges included former Miss Grand International titleholders Lees Garcia (2014), Ariska Putri Pertiwi (2016), MGI Vice-President Teresa Chaivisut, and MGI President Nawat Itsaragrisil. Chan admits that she does not have a chance to win the crown, but she wishes to join the MGI team to work possibly as a historian. A student of literature and an accomplished writer, she dreams some day of winning the Nobel Prize for Literature and wants to help MGI get nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.  

  Miss Grand Türkiye Deria Koc gets emotional during the closed door interviews at Miss Grand International 2022 pageant. The event took place on October 16, 2022 in Jakarta, Indonesia. The judges included former Miss Grand International titleholders Lees Garcia (2014), Ariska Putri Pertiwi (2016), MGI Vice-President Teresa Chaivisut, and MGI President Nawat Itsaragrisil. Deria was doing well for the first couple of minutes until she becomes emotional while sharing her experience as a refugee counselor. Then she addresses her weight problem by sharing a shocking story, admits that she's not the prettiest girl in the contest and that she will not win the golden crown, but tells the judges that she at least deserves a top 20 spot and this would make her happy.

  Congratulations to Alexandra Rae Morales of the Philippines for winning Miss Supermodel Worldwide 2022 in Jaipur, India on October 15. She is the first woman from her country to win the title. 1st runner-up: Kaylee Roxanne Zwart (Netherlands) 2nd runner-up: Nova Retalista (Indonesia) 3rd runner-up: Sonia Alt Mansour (France) 4th runner-up: Alina Cheveleva (Kazakhstan)  Asia-Thailand Europe: Estonia Russia: Belarus Africa: Ethiopia America: Ecuador IMAGES COURTESY OF MISS SUPERMODEL WORLDWIDE FACEBOOK PAGE

  Congratulations to Lê Nguyễn Bảo Ngọc of Vietnam for winning the Miss Intercontinental 2022 on October 14 in the Meraki Resort in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. She also won Miss Intercontinental Asia & Oceania 2022. Her victory marks her country’s first time in winning the title. 1st runner-up - Puerto Rico - Mariela Pepin (Miss Intercontinental North America 2022) 2nd runner-up - Brazil - Maria Cecília Almeida de Sousa (Miss Intercontinental South America 2022) 3rd runner-up - Nigeria - Joy Raimi Mojisola (Miss Intercontinental Africa 2022) 4th runner-up - Germany - Tatjana Genrich (Miss Intercontinental Europe 2022 5th runner-up - Venezuela - Emmy Carrero (fast-tracked to top 6 after winning Power of Beauty award) PHOTO COURTESY OF MISS INTERCONTINENTAL

  Congratulations to Anabel Payano of the Dominican Republic for winning The Miss Globe 2022 crown on October 15 in Tirana, Albania. She is the first woman from her country to win the crown. 1st runner-up: United Arab Emirates - Anamaria Babau 2nd runner-up: Albania - Drita Ziri 3rd runner-up: Thailand - Thanawan Wigg 4th runner-up: Vietnam - Lam Thu Hong Top 10: Philippines - Chelsea Fernandez Latvia - Anastasija Aleksejevska Colombia - Sofia Donado Ghana - Prisca Abah Brazil - Heloisa Godinho Poland - Patrycja Krzywoń Costa Rica - Nella Chaves Venezuela - Argiannis Luna Montenegro - Natasha Stefanovic Estonia - Sirel Saad I think the winner has been pre-determined. Payano was the last finalist to respond to the final question, but a few seconds after her answer, the host was given a card with the results. There was not even time for the judges to deliberate. Weird. Also, Payano’s IG account hardly has any photos or images from the pageant which she doesn’t even follow, assuming that

Crystle Stewart, the president of the Miss USA Organization, was asked by a reporter if the Miss USA 2022 contest that took place last October 3 was rigged to favor Miss Texas USA as the winner.   Watch my vlog which addresses the issue:

  This interview was conducted via Zoom on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022 8:00 PM EST (Monday, Oct. 10, 2022 11:00 AM Sydney). Sheridan will represent Australia in Miss Earth 2022 to be held in the Philippines on November 29.

  Congratulations to R’Bonney Gabriel, 28, of Texas for winning Miss USA 2022 tonight in Reno, Nevada. Gabriel is the 10th winner from her state. The last one was Crystle Stewart, the current Miss USA president, who won in 2008. Earlier, Gabriel had also won the Best State Costume. Gabriel also makes history by being the first Miss USA of Filipina descent, and the third of Asian descent after Mai Shanley of New Mexico (1984) who is part-Chinese and Brooke Lee of Hawaii (1997) who is part-Korean. Gabriel will now represent USA in the next edition of Miss Universe which will take place in New Orleans on January 14, 2023. COURTESY OF MISS USA North Carolina's Morgan Romano placed second, Nebraska's Natalie Pieper in third place, Ohio's   Sir’Quora Carroll in fourth place, and Illinois's Angel Reyes in fifth place. Last year’s  Miss USA Elle Smith  passed the crown to Gabriel, 28. Gabriel, a fashion designer, designed her Miss USA interview outfit on her own as a tribute to

  Miss Teen USA 2022 is Faron Mehdi of Nebraska, 18, who was crowned on October 1st in Reno, Nevada. 1st runner-up: Idaho - Jenna Beckstrom 2nd runner-up: California - Cassidy Hill 3rd runner-up: Michigan - Isabella Mosqueda 4th runner-up: Tennessee - McKinley Farese Mehdi makes history by being the first Indian-American to win the crown, which is also the first for Nebraska, 

The new Manhunt International 2022 Lochie Carey of Australia who was crowned last night at the Okada Hotel in Manila, succeeding last year’s winner Paul Luzineau of the Netherlands. Celeste Cortesi, Miss Universe Philippines 2022, handed the trophy to Carey. Completing the top 5 are: 1st runner-up - Philippines, Joshua De Sequera 2nd runner-up - USA, Elijah Van Zanten 3rd runner-up - Vietnam, Tran Manh Kien 4th runner-up - Netherlands, Cas Hagman