One has to navigate through a handful of exasperating tests for making it to the final round. In that milieu, the utmost difficult and confidence-dwindling one is the Q/A section about which all the contestants are keyed up. The participant is expected to keep her nerve while answering with unflinching flair. Also, she has to think on her feet and answer promptly. There is no room for stumbling where some still do and some just pass it with flying colours. Here are 10 examples of the same:
Gloria Diaz (Phillipines) Miss Universe 1969:
Q: “In the next day or so, a man will land on the moon. If a man from the moon landed in your hometown, what would you do to entertain him?”
A: “Oh, just the same things I do. I think if he has been on the moon for so long, I think when he comes over he wants to change, I guess.”
Gloria Diaz, Miss Universe 1969, displays some of her prizes. Although Miss Universe no longer receives a sceptor or a trophy, she does receive prizes from sponsors that range from Clairol to Mikimoto Pearls to Maurice Lacroix and Hoya Crystal.
Sushmita Sen (Miss Universe 1994):
Q: “What is the essence of being a woman?”
A: “Just being a woman is God’s gift that all of us must appreciate. The origin of a child is a mother, and is a woman. She shows a man what sharing, caring and loving is all about, that is the essence of a woman.”
Mpule Kwelagobe (Botswana), Miss Universe 1999:
Q: “If Miss Universe would become pregnant during her reign, could she be allowed to continue as Miss Universe?”
A: “Personally, I think Miss Universe is a symbol of a woman in prone to celibacy her femininity. And I believe that…Thank you (applause)… And I believe that if she got pregnant, you are not supposed to end the title. But, as a woman she should celebrate her femininity. Thank you.”
Rio Mori (Japan), Miss Universe 2007:
Q: “What is the one lesson you learned as a child that still affects your life today?”
A: “I have been dancing since I was a child. I grew up among many students and teachers. I learned to always be happy, patient and positive. That is also what I want to teach to the next generation. Thank you.”
Diana Mendoza (Venezuela ), Miss Universe 2008:
Q: “Which have it easier in life: men or women?”
A: “God made us to share and have differences, but big differences? I don’t think so. The difference is that men think, they think that the faster way to go to a point is to go straight, and women know that the faster way to go to a point is go the curves and fix every curls”
Leila Lopes (Angola), Miss Universe 2011:
Q: “If you could change one of your physical characteristics, which one would it be and why?”
A: “Thank God! I am very well satisfied with the way God created me, and I wouldn’t change a thing. I consider myself a woman endowed with inner beauty. I have acquired many wonderful principles
from my family, and I plan to follow these through the rest of my life. And now I would like to give all of you a piece of advice: Respect one another.”
Olivia Culpo (USA), Miss Universe 2012:
Q: “What is that something you’ve done, that you will never do again?”
A: “First I’d like to start off by saying that every experience, no matter what it is, good or bad, you’ll learn from it. That’s just life, but something I’ve done that I’ve probably regretted would be picking on my siblings’ growing up because you appreciate them so much more when you’re older, you get closer with your family. Everybody fights with their siblings, right?!”
Zuleyka Rivera (Puerto Rico),Miss Universe 2006:
Q: “what was your definition of success?”
A: “True satisfaction is when a human being has fulfilled their goals and realized the work they have done. Overcoming obstacles makes you strong and enables you to succeed.”
Yendi Phillips (Jamaica), Miss Universe Runner-up 2010:
Q: “Some countries still practice the death penalty and she asked if it is acceptable and why?”
A: “Life is a gift, a gift given by only one ultimate creator and that none of us as humans have a right to take a life. And she believes that, we as mere beings of the earth have no right to control what it is and there is only one to control it and that is God.”
Janine Tugonon (Phillipines) First Runner Up, 2012:
Q: “As an international ambassador, do you believe that speaking English should be a prerequisite to being Miss Universe? Why or why not?”
A: “or me, being Miss Universe is not just about knowing about how to speak a specific language. It’s being able to influence and inspire other people. So whatever language you have, as long as your heart is to serve and you have a strong mind to… to show to people, then you can be Miss Universe. Thank you.”
These are the top most honest confessions made by the participants and winners of the beauty pageant.
