Pageant Minute:The New Miss Universe 2011 is...Miss Angola, Leila Lopes!!!

The Most Beautiful Woman in The Universe

The new Miss Universe, Leila Lopes of Angola, being crowned by last year's Miss Universe, Ximena Navarette of Mexico

Last night was the Finale of the Miss Universe 2011 Pageant. As you may know--if you've been following my BLOG--it was held in São Paulo Brazil, and yes, I've been having a BLAST doing my "armchair" Fashion Reviews of those gowns--The Good, The Hoochie, and the Trends. The show was broadcast LIVE on NBC and Telemundo here in the US. And of course, I watched! In fact, I was invited to a FAB Viewing Party in Hollywood last night by the one-and-only former Miss Universe 1997 Brook Lee!

Miss Universe 2011, Leila Lopes in Evening Gown and Swimsuit

The Winner was Miss Angola, the exotic and oh-so-stunning Leila Lopes. She was one of my favorites in terms of her evening gown back when I reviewed BOTH the "Official Evening Gown Portraits" as well as last week's Preliminaries. She was NOT a favorite to win amongst the well-versed "Pageant Watchers"/Missosologists.

Leila Costume: Miss Universe 2011 Leila Lopes in her "Miss Angola" National Costume

But HUUUUUNEEEEYYY: The minute that show began and the Top 16 were announced, she STOLE the show!!!! The 5'10" stunner lit up the entire stage the minute the camera hit her! In fact, the minute I saw her on TV, I turned to my fellow party guest, NIKOLAKI Co-Designer David Paul, and said "That's The Winner!! She's GA-GA-Gorgeous!" . She was also a BIG favorite with the audience in attendance. You could hear the shouts of support while watching the live telecast. It was quite interesting in that the mostly-Brazilian audience were cheering HER more than their own Miss Brazil!!! In case you might be Geographically-deficient, she's from Angola, which is in the continent of Africa. Angola was a former Portuguese colony (that is why she spoke Portuguese, the official language of Angola and of course, Brazil). This makes her the FOURTH woman from an African country to win the Miss Universe title.

Final 2: Miss Ukraine Olesia Stefanko (1st Runner Up) and Miss Angola Leila Lopes (Miss Universe 2011)

The Top 5 were (L to R) Miss Brazil Priscila Machado, Miss China Luo Zilin, Miss Philippines Shamcey Supsup, Miss Ukrain Olesia Stefanko, and Miss Angola (foreground), Leila Lopes

Miss Universe 2011 Leila Lopes: Wearing a perfectly regal strapless gold, feathered and embroidered/applique' sequined gown with Princess-side slit; this gown was one of my favorites.

1st Runner Up Miss Ukraine Olesia Sefanko: Wearing a Empire-style white "Grecian Goddess" gown with gold and sequin under-bust and neckline trim detail. Also, on my "Top Miss Universe 2011 Evening Gowns" list. She is absolutely beautiful but I think it was this simple yet elegant dress that carried her all the way to the final two.

2nd Runner Up Miss Brazil Priscila Machado: Priscila wore a different gown than in the Preliminary Competition. I liked the canary yellow color in this gown; it really made her stand out amongst all the other finalists. This is a very "Pageant Betty 101" Gown--the one-shoulder, the side-cut-out's, the slit, the back shoulder drop/fall. I designed a gown just like this back in 1994 right after attending Fashion School. But...it worked here! She definitely made a statement and the judges liked it.

3rd Runner Up Miss Philippines Shamcey Supsup: Shamcey wore the same "transparent" sequined gown she wore in the Preliminaries. It was (I hate to be repetitious, but...) one of my FAVORITES from the "Transparent Trend" at the Preliminary Evening Gown Competition. She was so Mestiza and so pretty! She also reminded me of a gorgeous local weather anchor here in LA, Maria Quiban from MyFoxLA Good Day LA.

4th Runner Up Miss China Luo Zilin: Luo wore the same gown she wore in the Preliminary Competition as well, a fitted-torso but full from-the-hips-down red gown. She's six feet tall, so she carried it off very well!

Best Costume: There was really no "Official Miss Universe 2011 Costume Competition" where they gave out prizes, trophies, etc. However, it was announced during the Telecast, that an "expert panel" (maybe the Preliminary Judges?) did review the National Costumes and "chose" Miss Panama Sheldry Saez as the Best! Of course, being that I am half-Panamanian (mi Mami!), I was very happy!!! It was FAB-u-LOUS as you can see from the photo above.

Leila Lopes, the day after winning Miss Universe 2011, as she gets interviewed by Brazilian TV

Congratulations to the new Miss Universe, Leila Lopes and Congratulations to the country of Angola! This is, by the way, the FIRST time, that country has ever won a Miss Universe. Parabéns!!

Pageant Minute: Miss Universe 2011 National Costumes--Latin America!!!

Viva Las Latinas!!!

Miss Colombia Universe 2011 Catalina Robayo: I highlighted this costume of Catalina's in my "What Will the Miss Universe 2011 Contestants Wear as their National Costumes" last month before they even arrived in São Paulo. I thought it was FABULOUS then and I love still now!! Taking the striped sombrero vueltiao and creating a fantastic costume out of it: Genius!!!

Miss Mexico Universe 2011 Karin Ontiveros: Her colorful costume looked like a Colonial Sequined Diva celebrating El Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). The colors are outstanding; I love the feathers, the fit-to-flare fuchsia paillette gown, the eery skull mask, all topped off with a late 19th Century/early 20th Century wide-brimmed hat. It's like she's ready for the Races in a Mexico City Country Club--and later a Day of The Dead Party!!!

Miss Nicaragua Universe 2011 Adriana Dorn: You gotta hand it to the Latinas--they do not skimp on their national costumes!!! Adriana looks very festive in this blue & white (colors of the flag of Nicaragua, of course) costume featuring multi-colored ribbons and bows as well as tassels. She also has this Chiquita Banana aspect which naturally, I adore!!!

Miss Venezuela Universe 2011 Vanessa Goncalves: As I described it in my "Miss Universe 2011 Preview of National Costumes" post last month, this costume was inspired by "Diosa Yara" María Lionza --or Goddess Yara, who guards and protects the jungle; represents religious mysticism and the strained ecology of Planet Earth. Designed by Venezuelan designer from the State of Zulia, Nidal Nouaihed. From head to toe, it is perfection!!!

Miss Chile Universe 2011 Vanessa Ceruti: Yes, kids, her costume represents the Chilean Miners. Well, the sexy I-am-about-to-do-a-Strip-Show-200-feet-below version... Enough said!

Miss Bolivia Universe 2011 Olivia Pinheiro: I have a feeling that these South American beauties had to "step it up", just a little bit, when it came to their "National Costumes" since...HELLO, they were in BRAZIL, the Home of over-the-top Carnival Fabulocity!!! Miss Bolivia is no exception. This winged, feathered and be-jewelled Fantasy Bird-like Creature/Mythical Indian God combination of a costume is a show-stopper. Bolivia is famous for the pollera and bowler hat costume that the indigenous women in Bolivia wear, so it's nice to see a different representation for this Andean South American nation.

Miss Ecuador Universe 2011 Claudia Schiess: Another South American who went the "Fantasy Indian Goddess" route is Miss Ecuador. This costume is truly one of the most imaginative and eye-catching of the bunch (and trust me, there were A LOT!). Ecuador is famous for it's BANANAS...so I'm just glad she didn't come as one for her Miss Universe 2011 National Costume!

Miss Brazil Universe 2011 Priscila Machado: Finally, the "hometown girl", Miss Brazil in her "Carnival in Brazil" costume. The feathers in the colors of the national flag, the silver crown, silver sequined bra-top, bottom, THOSE silver stiletto boots!!!! She's very "Vintage 1975 Carnival in Rio". Being that the Miss Universe 2011 Pageant is in her home country, I'm a bit surprised the costume wasn't even more GRAND and more OUT of Control...or that she wasn't flanked by four HOT barely-dressed Brazilian boys next to her!!!

Pageant Minute: Miss Universe 2011 National Costumes--The Islands!!!

Spread Them Wings Huney!!!!

Miss Universe 2011 is TONIGHT, and I am "celebrating" this--and the fact that it is the 60th Anniversary of the international beauty pageant--by doing as many Miss Universe 2011 Posts as I can muster right here on my little ol' NICKVERREOS.COM Blog. I am "done" with my Review of the Preliminary Gowns and now it's time to highlight the National Costumes. Since there is no National Costume Competition any more (sadly), I want to showcase here my FAVORITES in terms of the Miss Universe 2011 contestant's Costumes...
Oh, and PS: How the HECK do these women pack these things??? Inquiring minds want to know!!! You get charged like $50 per suitcase now when you fly (in Coach of course), so I wonder how much does it cost to ship one of these below...and who pays for it???

Lets Begin With "The Islands":

Miss Bahamas Universe 2011 Anastagia Pierre: Wow!! The colors of those wings are UNBELIEVABLE!!! It certainly makes a statement. I've been to The Bahamas TWICE now for the FAB Island of The World Fashion Week and I have never seen a bird like this but maybe I wasn't looking!!! And I give Anastagia MAJOR "Nick V." Points for wearing a barely-there sequined bodysuit. You have got to have a SLAMMING body to pull that off...and she does!!!

Miss Aruba Universe 2011 Gillain Berry: Very "Carnival", silver/metallic costume featuring a feathered headress and strong-shouldered sequin top. I can see her on top of a big float in Aruba just shakin' her thang! I can hear the samba music now!!!

Miss British Virgin Islands Universe 2011 Sheroma Hodge: Love. Love. Love. First, I love that she didn't go the "Carnival" route and have an oversized winged costume. There were enough of those--albeit all very FAB!! The colors, shape and overall effect of this costume says "Happy Times Everyone!!" And BTW: Is there a miniature toy person on top of her head being encircled by hat headgear? Who is that and why are they up there???

Miss Curacao Universe 2011 Eva Van Putten: This is the MOST FABULOUS beaked Bird of Paradise I have ever seen!!!! Whoever designed and created this must be GAY!!!! There are Drag Queens in NYC right NOW copying this Costume! No reason why, but only because it is so Fierce! The colors, the oversized paillettes mimicking feathers-down to the pumps!!! So many of these girls put their costumes on and just wore them with some regular pair of heels--but not for Eva. She goes ALL or nothing!

Miss Haiti Universe 2011 Anedie Azael: This costume is one of my favorites in the Caribbean Section. It's Traditional and Folkloric yet still has touches of Fantasy. The green sequined palm tree in the middle torso: Fantastique!!! And so is that headdress. I can see a Haitian DIVA walking around in Port-au-Prince wearing this, and people just bowing to her and saying in Creole "You Go Girl!"

Miss Trinidad and Tobago Universe 2011 Gabrielle Walcott: Do not mess with Gabrielle kids! This is one of the most outstanding of these "Carnival COUTURE Birds of Fantasy" costumes. Unbelievable really! All those GORGEOUS feathers and look at her body in that teeny-tiny sequined bikini!! She is giving ALL those Victoria's Secret Supermodels a run for their money in this!!! If only she would have finished it all with red sequined feathered pumps, then it would have been PERFECTION!!!

Miss Guam Universe 2011 Shayna Jo Afaisen: I thought this was just "Darlin'"!! The costume represents "Sirena", a Mermaid legend from Guam. She certainly is a gorgeous little Mermaid in this green oversized paillette (that micks the fish scales) costume. She's even featuring a crown and "Guam" shield. Definitely, the "Empress of the Guam Seas"!!!

Pageant Minute: Miss Universe 2011--Preview of the National Costumes!!!

São Paulo...Here We Come!!!

Costume Redux: Mai Phuong Thuy - Miss Vietnam World 2006; Sources say this will be the National Costume for Miss Vietnam Universe 2011 Vu Thi Hoang My

Beauty Pageant Fans...yes, that means YOU (well, me, really!!!), the 60th Annual Miss Universe 2011 Pageant is next month (Final Telecast is Monday September 12th) and 89 contestants (surpassing the previous record of 86 contestants in 2006) from all over the world are arriving in São Paulo Brazil--site of this year's pageant. So what if all the tickets have been all but, given away to the "Elite" of São Paulo and if you're about to spend THOUSANDS of dollars to fly to Brazil, book a hotel and plan to go see the finals (not no mention all that Churrasco you plan on eating!)--well, you might not be able to see the pageant (I hear there might be some seats left in the "nosebleed section" of the theater). But...you can enjoy all my Miss Universe 2011 BLOG postings here!!!



First up: A Preview of what the contestants will be wearing to represent their nations, in terms of their "National Costumes". I've gathered some images from the world wide web which will give the pageant fans a "taste". Enjoy:



ASIA:

Miss Korea Universe 2011 Jung so-ra: Very traditional; it's rich and elegant.

Miss Singapore Universe 2011 Valerie Lim: Asia meets Indian sari meets "Oh-that's a REALLY high Side Slit!"

Miss Thailand Universe 2011 Chanyasorn Sakornchran: FIERCE Thai Goddess with a "nod" to Madonna and Jean Paul Gaultier's "cone bra"!!

Miss Indonesia Universe 2011 Nadine Ames: High-Slit Traditional. She needs some LONG gold finger nails to finish this look!

AFRICA:

Miss South Africa Universe 2011 Bokang Montjane: Multi-colored Fashion School Project-looking Tulle and Prints

EUROPE:

Miss Slovenia Universe 2011 Ema Jagodic: A green gown with a green tulle back overskirt. Very 2001.

Miss France Universe 2011 Laury Thilleman: Oh, how cute is that? She's Marie Antoinette eating cake and powdering herself! The Fleur-de-lis appliqued blue, red and white gown is very over-the-top Drag Queen, but I think c'est pourquoi je l'aime

Miss Romania Universe 2011 Larisa Popa: Dracula cape meets lingerie stripper meets Pocahantas???

Miss Ireland Universe 2011 Aofi Hannon: Wow, very "Clash of The Titans"!! What that has to do with Ireland..we will soon find out I am sure...

Miss Czech Republic Universe 2011 Jitka Novackova: Looks like a variation on the Gateway Arch in St. Louis Missouri and Demi Moore's tacky Academy Award gown from 1989...

The CARIBBEAN:

Miss Dominican Republic Universe 2011 Dalia Fernandez: Mermaid sequined Diva. This should be on a Barbie Doll!

Miss Aruba Universe 2011 Gillain Berry: Welcome to Carnival kids!!! Love anything that opens up to big ol' wings!!!!

Miss Haiti Universe 2011 Anedie Azael: She had me at SEQUINED PAILLETTE PALM TREE. Love!

LATIN AMERICA:

Miss Venezuela Universe 2011 Vanessa Goncalves: Just released!! Yes, kids, this is what the current Venezuelan titleholder for Miss Universe will be bringing--and wearing--to the Miss Universe 2011 Pageant. It is inspired by "Diosa Yara" María Lionza --or Goddess Yara, who guards and protects the jungle; represents religious mysticism and the strained ecology of Planet Earth. Designed by Venezuelan designer from the State of Zulia, Nidal Nouaihed. It features thousands of turquoise, green and silver crystals in degrade' form and a silhouette of a mythological dragon. I wonder if that tail is to "snap" any of the other contestants...if they get too close?

Miss Colombia Universe 2011 Catalina Robayo: This National Costume", titled "Golfo de Morrosquillo" (Gulf of Morrosquillo, a gulf of the Caribbean Sea in Colombia), was designed by Alfredo Barraza and I think it's FAB-u-LOUS!!! It's like the big ol' hat just exploded and created a sassy "Road to Rio Bob Hope Movie" gown!!!

Miss Peru Universe 2011 Natalie Vertiz: Inca Warrior Princess for a National Costume...well, you really cannot go wrong with that! She gets an "A" from me!

Miss Ecuador Universe 2011 Claudia Schiess: Love the gold, love the feathers, very Inca Empire Princess. Interesting for a girl with the last name of SCHIESS--doesn't sound very "Inca" to me...Well, Thank goodness she's not wearing a bunch of BANANAS (as you know, they are one of Ecuador's biggest exports, of course)! I'll give her that.

Miss Paraguay Universe 2011 Alba Riquelme: Looks like someone is REALLY getting ready to go to the Carnival with this ensemble! I just have one question: How the heck do you pack that? And who pays for the extra baggage fees???

Miss Chile Universe 2011 Vanessa Ceruti: OK, this is really one of my faves: She is GIVING you "Sexy Miner"--lest you forget all about those infamous Chilean Miners...FABULUSO!!!!