The ‘reinvented’ Zorayda - FUNFARE by Ricardo F. Lo

When Miriam Quiambao tripped onstage at the 1999 Miss Universe Pageant in Trinidad-Tobago and stood up with a big smile, her poise intact, amidst an approving applause from the pre-pageant audience, she credited her "survival" of that decisive incident (it could make or unmake a winner, you know) to her week-long training in Venezuela which is perhaps the only country in the whole wide world with a school devoted exclusively to building up international beauty queens (although India, even without such a beauty school, is giving Venezuela stiff competition).

If, knock on wood, the Philippine bet, Zorayda Ruth Andam, in the ongoing Miss Universe Pageant (now on its 50th year) in Puerto Rico suffers the same fate, would she react as Miriam did or "perform" in an even winsome style?

"That’s why I really admire Miriam, my idol, because not many beauty queens can maintain their grace and poise in an accident like that," Zora told Funfare before she left for Puerto Rico second week of April.

"That was a trying moment and Miriam, as we all know, passed it with flying colors."

And, I should add, finished first runner-up to Miss Botswana, losing by a mere fraction of a point.

Anyway, like her idol (and the "still missing" Lalaine Edson), Zora also dropped by Venezuela on her way to Puerto Rico for a two-week crash course in poise and stage presence, with lessons on how to keep that winning smile (as if) pasted on her face while in public and especially when talking to people (especially the board of judges who include 1993 Miss Universe Dayanara Torres, who’s from Puerto Rico and now Mrs. Marc Anthony and mother of a cute four-month-old boy).

Zora left by her lonesome the Philippines on April 12, Maundy Thursday, for Venezuela where she stayed until April 27.

And then she flew to Puerto Rico where more than 80 beauties from around the world are now gathered, each of them with a keen eye on the crown won twice by the Philippines (in 1969 by Gloria Diaz and in 1973 by Margie Moran).

A Law student at UP, Zora is a lot like Miriam Quiambao.

She’s also morena, witty and charming, unaffected in her ways, very spiritual (having "surrendered" herself to the Lordship of Christ at age 6) and, as she herself admitted in an interview, well, "untouched" (not having had any boyfriend yet in all her 24 years; her birthday is Sept. 5, 1976).

As usual, this beauty-conscious and beauty-crazy country is keeping its fingers crossed, guessing and hoping that, after a 27-year dry spell, Zora just might bring home another Miss U crown.

On May 11 when you watch the live telecast of the Miss Universe Pageant, you will see a "reinvented" Zorayda Ruth Andam. Here are photos of the post-Venezuela binibini, courtesy of Stella Marquez de Araneta, head of the Bb. Pilipinas Charities, Inc.

Note what a big, big change Zora has undergone – for the better.