Miss Universe 2012

[samuel]

I wish fans still come and read this board.. here is my first list of top 16 semifinalists:

My current top 16............

in random order:

Venezuela
Puerto Rico
USA
Croatia (moved up)
Paraguay
Chile (moved up)
Slovak Rep. (facially not that strong but ok)
Vietnam (again moved up)
Australia (do not get the hype so much but she is pretty)
Philippines
South Africa (she will be in the top!)
Mexico (many have her on so that is why she is getting a spot)
Kosovo (again, do not find her too pretty but ok)
Netherlands (looking good)
Czech Republic (sometimes harsh looking but Trump will like her)
France

Bubbles: Singapore (looks good in photos), Japan, China (she will be prepared!), Ukraine (good training), and Ecuador.

The field is pretty much open this year, not much standouts or clear front runners so it will be interesting!!

[fungluvsam4ever]

LOVE your list Samuel! You are so smart~!!!

[fungluvsam4ever]

My list is:

China
Japan
Philippines
Kosovo
Colombia
Venezuela
Puerto Rico
Korea
South Africa
USA
Poland
Chile
Paraguay
Australia
Czech Republic
Slovak Republic

Bubbles: Singapore, Ukraine, Lebanon, Albania, and Canada

[samuel]

List of updated top 16:

Top 16:
Australia
Netherlands
Cayman Islands
Vietnam (internet vote)
Paraguay
Kovoso

Top 10:
USA
Czech Republic
Sri Lanka
Ecuador
Philippines

Top 5:
Venezuela
Puerto Rico
South Africa
Chile
Poland

[fungluvsam4ever]

My current top 16 list:

South Africa

USA

Puerto Rico

Chile

Poland

Philippines

Croatia

Venezuela

China

Cayman Islands

Paraguay

Germany

Netherlands

Vietnam

Mexico

Australia

[samuel]

Your list is good too FungluvSamuel4ever!

[samuel]

OK................ here is my final list of predictions. My top 16 for Miss Universe 2012 is......

In alpha. order (actual placements to be written later):

Australia
Brazil
Croatia (trump pick despite ok body)
Czech Republic (not too strong but I am pretty sure Trump will like her)
France
Georgia (trump pick? She looked fierce last night)
Guatemala (good performance last night, possible surprise)
New Zealand (she has a good look, I hope she makes it despite the hand swinging)
Paraguay (consistent performance)
Philippines
Poland
Puerto Rico
South Africa (love the gold gown)
Sri Lanka (possible surprise, she stood out last night)
USA (short and weak gown, but she is too stunning. HOPE she changes her gown for finals!! She needs a good gown to make top 5)
Venezuela (I think she will make it despite bad styling in swimsuit and ok gown)

[samuel]

OK... the top 10 is.. in random order:

Venezuela
Puerto Rico
South Africa
New Zealand
Paraguay
USA
Philippines
Australia
Brazil
Poland

[fungluvsam4ever]

OK, I am changing my top 16 list. Here is my final top 16 list (actual placements TBD):

USA
South Africa
Venezuela
Puerto Rico
Philippines
Australia
Malaysia
Paraguay
Guatemala
Kosovo
Georgia
Czech Republic
Poland
Sri Lanka
Croatia (even tho. her prelim performance was weak)
Internet vote: Thailand or Vietnam

[samuel]

Here is Samuel's top 5..... like again, actual placements to be determined:

USA
South Africa
Puerto Rico
Venezuela
Philippines

[samuel]

Here are my final Miss Universe 2012 predictions:

Let's begin with bubbles........ in order of placement:
26th place: Finland
25th: Netherlands
24th: Vietnam (Internet vote)
23rd: India (interview may have saved her)
22nd: El Salvador
21st: Mexico (many like her..)
20th: Ecuador (I don't see the hype, she looks better in photos)
19th: Kosovo (she looks better in photos too)
18th: Guyana (her recovery from the fall and the smile may help her indeed!!)
17th: Malaysia (barely missed my list because of sash factor and the weird arm movements in the gown presentation)

TOP 16:
16th: France
15th: Czech Republic
14th: Georgia
13th: New Zealand
12th: Brazil
11th: Paraguay

TOP 10:
10th: Guatemala
9th: Poland
8th: Sri Lanka (her fun presentation will attract the judges' attention)
7th: Croatia (without a doubt beautiful, but I think her body is slightly weak, not as strong as other delegates. I have a feeling she may not advance to top 10 but who knows??)
6th: Australia (wanted to put her in top 5 but took her out in the end)

TOP 5:
4th RUNNER UP: USA (height and preliminary gown caused me to place her here; I think she would win based on face ALONE but she is lacking catwalk skills and a great gown. HOWEVER, if Tara made top 5 in 2006, Olivia should make it too).

3rd RUNNER UP: Puerto Rico (catwalk queen imo, facially losing out so placing her here)

2nd RUNNER UP: Philippines (her gown may not be the strongest but I like her cobra walk. And.. Philippines was 4th last year, 5th in 2010, so I am taking a risk and giving her 2nd runner up!!)

1st RUNNER UP: Venezuela (strong in swimsuit alt. her hair was bad... change final gown to secure top 5 placement, other than that, she seems to have a bubbly personality, always smiling and jolly)

MISS UNIVERSE 2012: South Africa (facially may not be the best but like her gold gown and presentation. South Africa usually has strong interview skills and she is the oddmakers/ other websites' frontrunner, so I have her as the new Miss Universe)

WISH ALL THE DELEGATES THE BEST AND PUT ON A GOOD SHOW TOMORROW!!!

[samuel]

Congratulations to Olivia, our new Miss Universe!!

Some interesting trivia and pageant facts:

Olivia is THE FIRST Miss Universe to win both titles (USA and Universe) on the same stage since Sylvia in 1967! Ever since then, no winner has been able to do that.

First Miss Universe winner to win on home turf since Denise in 2001.

First Miss Universe since 2009 to be called last into the top 16

8th Miss USA to win Miss Universe

Brazil, Kosovo, USA, and Venezuela placed for the second consecutive year.

Brazil placed in the top 5 for the second consecutive year.

Philippines placed for the third consecutive year; three consecutive placements in the Top 5.

France placed for the fourth consecutive year.

Australia placed for the fifth consecutive year.

Poland last placed in 1989.

Turkey last placed in 1990.

Peru last placed in 2005.

India last placed in 2007.

Hungary last placed in 2008.

Croatia last placed in 2009.

Mexico, Russia, and South Africa last placed in 2010.

This is the first time since 2002 that no black contestants made the semifinals.

First time since 2005 where all the top 5 finalists have previously won the title.

At 5'7", Olivia is one of the shortest Miss Universe titleholders in the history of the pageant.

[samuel]

Hmm.. not bad, I have 9 out of the top 15!!

Happy USA finally won Miss Universe, yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[samuel]

Olivia looked so stunning... she was not young, but sported a very elegant, sophicated (typo) look.

Her natural beauty shined and the judges loved her for that. She wasn't the typical beauty queen (good catwalk skills, height, etc.). That is why she won.

Hometown advantage may have helped her a little but with the competition so tough and having beauties all around the world, hometown advantage can only take you this far; the judges saw something in which we didn't beforehand and that is how she won.

Congratulations to Olivia!! Shortly after her crowning, I visioned her winning Miss Universe but with the other delegates + height + better gowns + training, I thought she would make top 5 only but BOY she showed us. It is nice to see such a nice surprise and not the typical pageant models (trained pageant patties) win Miss Universe.

Congratulations OLIVIA!!!

[fungluvsam4ever]

USA looked very beautiful... she deserved it! I do not know why others complained..........

Yes, she won in Vegas, but so what?? She is so stunning, she can win in any country!!