Will Venus join the Miss U Honor Roll?

In 24 hours, a new (the 59th, count ‘em!) Miss Universe will be chosen from more than 80 candidates now gathered at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas for the grand finals set for tomorrow (actually Aug. 23 US Time) night (starting at 9:30 a.m. Manila Time, aired live on ABS-CBN, with primetime telecast also tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. on Velvet [SkyCable Channel 53] and at 9:30 p.m. on Studo 23).

Since the Philippine bet, Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Maria Venus Raj, has been consistently topping the on-line popularity poll sponsored by the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) and figuring prominently among the Top 10 in two other surveys, Filipinos are pinning their hopes on her to bring home the country’s third Miss U crown (after Gloria Diaz in 1969 and Margie Moran in 1963).

“She has a good fighting chance,” according to Stella Marquez-Araneta, head of the Bb. Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI), who flew to Las Vegas a few days ago to give Venus moral support. “So far, she’s doing very well.”

During the preliminaries held Thursday night also at Mandalay Bay, Venus stood out with her “cat walk” and kayumanggi-kaligatan charm with her hair collected in a bun. She got the loudest applause from the audience during the portion in which the candidates introduced themselves.

“The smile never left her face,” observed Funfare’s “other beauty expert” Celso de Guzman Caparas who watched the affair on the YouTube.

The 15 semi-finalists were chosen that night but they won’t be known until the precious envelope is opened on coronation night.

On this page are some of the Miss U winners from 1952 (Finland’s Armi Helena Kuusela) to 2009 (Venezuela’s Stefania Fernandez Krupij) compiled by Celso.

Will Venus join the Miss U Honor Roll?

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