France was crowed Miss Universe on January 30 in a glitzy spectacle free of last year’s dramatic mix-up but with a dash of political controversy as finalists touched on migration and other hot-button global issues. / AFP PHOTO / TED ALJIBE
(Eagle News) — Miss France Iris Mittenaere is crowned the 2016 Miss Universe.
The other finalists were Miss Haiti, Raquel Pelissier, who was declared first runner-up, and Miss Colombia, Andrea Tovar, who was the second runner-up.
The 65th Miss Universe pageant held in the Philippine capital of Manila — the home town of the 2015 Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach — was hosted by the controversial comedian Steve Harvey, who made sure that he read the right name prior to his announcement of the winner.
Wurtzbach even came back to the stage prior to the announcement to give Harvey a pair of black-rimmed eyeglasses before he read the winner, and motioned for him to be careful this time.
Mittenaere, is a French model, who earlier emphasized how it is important for a country to be open and compassionate to refugees fleeing war in their own countries.
She said that France is a country which accepts everybody, citing universality as an important part of French culture.
During the question and answer portion, Mittenaere, said that it was important for a person to be elevated, and rise from one’s failure, as he or she learns from the experience.
The question given to all three candidates was: “Name something over the course of your life that you failed at and tell us what you learned from that experience.”
Miss France’s answer was this: “I failed several times in my life. So I thought I failed the first time I went out on a casting because my name wasn’t on the list. And the very next day, I found out that I was in a very new book. So I think that when you fail you have to be elevated and you have to try again and keep going. Tonight, if I’m not one of the winners, I would still have had the great honor of being one of the three finalists. So I think that I have failed before, but to me this is a great opportunity.”
The answer of first runner-up Raquel Pelissier, Miss Haiti was: “About seven years ago, I survived the earthquake. I felt like I was failing myself, because I was not living my dreams. I was living day and by day. And that earthquake was a bad event, but I chose to be a positive person and learn a great lesson from it because if I am here today, it is because I am living my dreams.”
Second-runner up Andrea Tovar of Colombia’s answer to the same question was: “I think that many times, one makes mistakes from many things. During moments when you may not accept someone due to their differences. To not accept them due to their sexual preference and to not be capable of accepting their error. I think any of those experience gives you the opportunity to have strength and value and principles.”
Miss France was crowned Miss Universe on January 30 in a glitzy spectacle free of last year’s dramatic mix-up but with a dash of political controversy as finalists touched on migration and other hot-button global issues. / AFP PHOTO / TED ALJIBE
The Miss Universe judges based their final decision on the answers of the three finalists.
Among the judges were three former Miss Universe titleholders: Miss Universe 1993 Dayanara Torres, Miss Universe 1994 Sushmita Sen, and Miss Universe 2011 Leila Lopes.
The three other judges include Mickey Boardman, the editorial director of fashion and pop-culture magazine, PAPER; former model and television star Cynthia Bailey; and award-winning producer and activist Francine LeFrak.
Miss France thus bested 85 other beauties from all over the world in a glitzy made-for-television spectacle free of the last competition’s dramatic mix-up but with a dash of political controversy as the finalists spoke out on the refugee crisis and other hot-button global issues.
Iris Mittenaere, 24, a dental surgery student from Lille in the north of France, beat 85 of the world’s most beautiful women at the event in the Philippines scheduled for primetime viewing in the United States.
Before this, Miss Philippines’ bet Maxine Medina made it to the top six of the Miss Universe candidates, along with the bets from France, Kenya, Colombia, Thailand, and Haiti.
The top six then advanced to the crucial question and answer question.
It was also Maxine who was the first to be called for the question and answer portion.
Although she had an interpreter with her, Maxine chose to answer in English.
Her question was this: “What is the most significant change you’ve seen in the world in the last 10 years?”
Medina replied, “In the last 10 years of being here in the world, is that I saw all the people bringing in one event like this, Miss Universe. And it’s something big to us that we are one, as one nation we are all together.”
Miss France highlighted the benefits of open borders when asked about the global refugee crisis.
“In France we want to have the most globalisation that we can. We want to have the biggest exchange of people that we can. Maybe someday that will change but now we have open borders,” Mittenaere said.
“Having open borders allows us to travel more through the world and to find out more about what’s out there in the world.”
Miss Kenya, another finalist, said Donald Trump’s presidency “may not have been the choice of many people” and divided the United States.
She also spoke out in support of former US president Barack Obama and said she backed Hillary Clinton to be America’s first woman president.
“I feel once he took up his position, he was able to unify the entire nation,” said Mary Esther Were, 27.
Miss Colombia appeared to allude to Trump when asked why violence was prevalent in the world.
“Although there are presidents who don’t get along with others, we work together to unite. Campaigns, respect and inclusivity to be able to have a social transformation that would educate our children,” said Andrea Tovar, 23.
Monday’s show was headlined by US performers including Grammy award-winning rhythm and blues group Boyz II Men and rapper and Grammy award nominee Flo Rida.
The top six were chosen out of the initial top nine Miss Universe bets who were from the United States, Thailand, France, Mexico, Kenya, Colombia, Canada, Haiti, and the Philippines.
Controversial host Steve Harvey called Medina as the audience applauded inside the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
“I can’t believe this,” said Harvey as he initially called on Medina, and also Miss Colombia during the announcement of the top 13.
The top 13 then wore their best swimsuits for the next phase of the contest.
It is however the top nine bets who went on to the evening gown competition.
Over 100 million votes from the fans at home were the basis of the choice of the top 13 bets.
The other bets who made it to the top 13 are the Miss Kenya, Miss Indonesia, Miss USA, Miss Mexico, Miss Peru, Miss Panama, Miss Canada, Miss Brazil, Miss France, Miss Haiti and Miss Thailand.
During the announcement of the initial top 13, Miss Philippines’ bet Medina was asked by Harvey about what advice her aunt, a former Miss Philippines bet, had given her for the competition.
Medina answered, “To be myself and to be more confident since it (the competition) is going to be here in the Philippines.”
Medina was the eighth candidate called by Harvey.
Before the top 13 candidates were called, reigning Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach was interviewed by Harvey about her experience as the Miss Universe.
During the interview, Pia thanked Harvey for making her the “most popular Miss Universe,” referring to the mistake where the host called on Miss Colombia Ariadne Gutierrez as the winner, only to take it back a few seconds later after realizing the major error he did.
Pia “thanked” Harvey as he was about to finish the interview on her ending reign as the 2015 Miss Universe.
“I never got to tell you Steve, but thank you for making me the most popular Miss Universe,” Pia said, a remark which was applauded by the audience inside the packed SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Harvey was a bit surprised, but recovered after a few seconds, and replied, “Thank you too for making me the most popular Miss Universe host.”
Pia said she wanted the Philippines to be back on the world stage, and said that she was very happy that the contest was held this year in her home country.
Eighty-six of the world’s most beautiful women will be vying for the Miss Universe crown Monday as the Philippines — last year’s winner — stages the beauty contest in a bid to boost tourism and investment.
On December 20, 2015, host, Emmy Award winner Harvey shot to notoriety for initially announcing the wrong winner Miss Colombia’s Ariadna Gutierrez, instead of Miss Philippines’ Pia Wurzbach’s name during the Miss Universe competition held in Las Vegas, Nevada. (with a report from Agence France Presse)