Author Archives: paddylastinc

I’ve had a hard time selecting the girls for my second hot picks. After seeing them in person during the talent competition and their sponsors tour, there are some girls who went up from practically nowhere to the top of my list. Catriona is still a force in the competition. I firmly believe that she’s still the one to beat for the top plum at this point but there are girls who are peaking at this point and are challenging her claim to the most coveted crown.

It’s not going to be easy for Catriona to maintain her stronghold to the Miss Universe Philippines title but her international exposure, gift for gab and universal beauty are still the main factors that’s keeping her afloat amongst these bevy of beauties. She is still my Top Pick at this point.

Trailing behind her is the formidabble rallying of Ena Velasco. She’s slowly and surely becoming one of those girls that may pose a greater challenge to Catriona. She is beautiful, moves like a gazelle and her background as a doctor will play well to her advantage. For now, she is my alternate pick for the top title.

We cannot easily discard beauty over brains. This is a beauty pageant after all. Ma. Ahtisa Manalo is arguably the prettiest in this batch and her beauty alone could catapult her to the top. She is undeniable. A Miss International prototype to the hilt.

Vicky Rushton may just be Ahtisa’s biggest rival for the International crown. She’s like a ray of sunshine with that effervescent smile. Her presence has been widely felt in the competition since the beginning and I’m expecting her to peak real soon.

I am quite certain that if Michele Gumabao will be fielded to the Miss Supranational, there’s a big chance for her to bring the crown back to Asia. I’m still not discounting her to win the top plum but she’s kind of fading for me.

Karen Gallman is at a disadvantage because of her height but like Catriona, her gift of gab may just give her one of the coveted crowns. For now, I am delegating her as Katarina’s succesor.

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I am delegating Aya Abesamis and Samantha Bernardo as my 7th and 8th placer for now. Both have polarizing yet similar auras. They are also in the ‘oldest’ contestants category so I am expecting that they will either go home crownless or one of them will do an upset.

To complete my Top 10 are Wynonah Buot and Loren Mar Artajos.
Wynonah because of her facial beauty alone. I’m still not sold by her overall packaging but I think she’s still got a lot to offer. Artajos’ experience will be a huge advantage for her but up to this point, I’m not seeing her advancing into the winners’ circle but she’s definitely part of the upper 50% .