Entertainment

Barbie USA is Miss Barbie U

May 18, 2012 | 12:00am

Don’t look now but there’s really a contest for Miss Universe among Barbie Dolls, no kidding!

Held last April 17 at the Manila Film Center, with the Brandon Routh Doll as host and the Heidi Klum Doll as co-host, contest included 39 “dollegates.” Routh played Superman.

The real Miss Universe 2012 will be held in December (venue has yet to be announced).

Miss Doll USA Frances Marie Smith was crowned as Miss Barbie Universe 2012 by outgoing Miss Barbie Universe 2011 Maria Venus Raj of the Philippines. Her court of honor includes Miss Doll Greece Faith Knightly, Miss Doll Brazil Bella Isabelle Fabiolla, Miss Doll Angola Leila Lopes and Miss Doll Australia Claudia Reid.

Other semi-finalists were “dollegates” from Spain, Philippines, South Africa, Jamaica, Colombia, India, Tanzania, Venezuela, Thailand, Kazakhstan and Ireland.

Recipients of special awards were Miss Doll India (Miss Photogenic and Miss Sunsilk), Miss Doll Australia (Best in Swimsuit), Miss Doll Sweden (Best in Evening Gown), Miss Doll Brazil (Best in National Costume), Miss Doll Czech Republic (Miss Congeniality), Miss Doll British Islands (Ambassador of Peace — Beauty with a Purpose), Miss Doll Paraguay (Darling of the Press), Miss Doll Haiti (Best in Style), Miss Doll Colombia (Miss Elegance) and Miss Botswana (House of Garci Muse Award).

.... that includes Miss Doll Angola Leila Lopes, Miss Doll Greece Faith Knightly, Miss Doll Brazil Bella Isabelle Fabiolla and Miss Australia Doll Claudia Reid.

Funfare’s “other beauty expert” Celso de Guzman Caparas, an avid doll collector, was invited as a preliminary judge together with 2005 Bb. Pilipinas Universe Gionna Cabrera (also Miss Photogenic in Miss Universe 2005), 2009 Miss Gay Philippines Shane Madrigal, 2011 Bb. Gay Pilipinas Universe Miriam Jimenez, PBB Teen Edition Season 4 contestant Kiko Ebro, Jenica Pandes (HR manager, Toy Kingdom, SM CDO), fashion designers Basty Sta. Maria (of Dubai), Boogie Rivera (of Cagayan de Oro) and Jo Buzeta.

Judges at the grand finals were Colombian fashion designer Oscar Plata, 2004 Miss International Queen second runner-up Maria Christina Dandan, model Benz Sangalang, Miss Barbie Universe official crown maker Norman Lungsod, CDO’s fashion designer Dr. Mavy Cooper, Manila’s Five Prettiest Kevin Balot and pageant blogger Waggy Winner of Missosology.

Phoemela Baranda, Iya Villania, Poi Subijano (Miss Barbie Universe organizer) and Miss Universe-Philippines Venus Raj during the launch of Miss Barbie Universe last year.

In his report, Celso said that the Miss Barbie Universe 2012 doll pageant was launched on ABS-CBN’s Umagang Kay Ganda on Sept. 11, 2011. It was produced by Miss Barbie Universe Organization, headed by Poi Subijano, a fashion designer, doll collector and transgender beauty queen maker; and supported by Pinoy na Nagmamanyika (PnN), a Filipino doll group founded by Manolito Paul “Matto” Garcia; Norma Lungsod (official crown maker), fashion designer Winston Navarro, Henry Castello and Jason Yao (photography), Earl (motion graphics) and Deon Dulay (design).

“This early,” said Celso, “five cities are being considered to host the Miss Barbie Universe 2013: Sun City, South Africa; Bangkok, Thailand; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Macau, China; and San Juan, Puerto Rico.”

Philippines’ Doll Maria Venus Raj was the first-ever winner of Miss Barbie Universe pageant held in Honolulu in June 2011. Doll Venus also romped away with Miss Photogenic, Best in Long Gown and Best in Swimsuit honors. Runners-up were “dollegates” from Paraguay (Paloma Bianca Vargas), Ecuador (Dindi Mirasol), Tanzania (Nena Tanina) and Nakina Crawford (Jamaica).

Top to bottom: The 16 semi-finalist ‘dollegates’ in evening gown…same group in swimsuit…and host Brandon Routh Doll with special awardees.

Added Celso, “For the record, the other two Filipina dolls that have won in international pageants are Melissa ‘Dindi’ Gallardo, Miss Doll Universe 2006 (held in Cartagena, Colombia), and Krista Kleiner, Miss Doll International 2010 (held in Venice, Italy).”

Both victories were featured in Funfare on March 17, 2007 and July 1, 2011, respectively.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit http://www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)