On Thursday, I previewed the favorites in this year’s Miss Universe contest, which wraps up tomorrow beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern. As always, the betting favorites aren’t necessarily the contestants that I (or anyone else) likes best. So this post is devoted to contestants who probably won’t win, but whom I think you will appreciate.
First, Miss Albania, Megi Luka:
For some reason, Balkan beauty queens tend to look a bit dangerous. Miss Luka tries to dispel the image: “Albania values hospitality and is safer than people outside of the country perceive.” Probably true. Next, Miss Belgium, Annelies Törös, who was also featured here:
Belgium’s recent run of pageant contestants is almost enough to make you forgive Brussels for the European Union.
Miss Curacao, Kenisha Sluis, faces long odds, but I’m not sure why:
The Dominican Republic is a pageant hotbed. This year’s Miss DR, Clarissa Molina, lives in New Jersey and owns a Glock, two facts that likely are related:
If I got to pick the winner, it might be Joanna Cooper, Miss Ireland. This is from the pageant’s Instagram feed:
Back to the Balkans with Miss Montenegro, Maja Čukić:
Miss Panama, Gladys Amaya. No explanation necessary:
Vladislava Evtushenko is Miss Russia. Pageant sites always feature a few facts about each contestant. This is one of Miss Russia’s:
Vladislava often takes mirror selfies in supermarkets. Later she found out that the mirrors were cameras.
Well, that’s a little creepy. A holdover from the bad old USSR days, no doubt.
I think Miss Sweden, Paulina Brodd, may actually be rated among the top ten favorites, but I am putting her on the undercard anyway. She was also featured here:
This year, you can go here to vote on the contestants at each stage of the competition. Votes can be cast while the pageant is in progress, from 7 to 10 Eastern. How much they count, I have no idea. But if you are watching the pageant anyway, it wouldn’t hurt to let your voice be heard.
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