Will Megan conquer the world?

MANILA, Philippines - As we go to press yesterday, Funfare’s “other beauty expert” Celso de Guzman Caparas relayed the news that Megan Young was declared Top Model winner, fifth placer in the Beach Fashion and fourth placer in the Multimedia Segment (interview with the Indonesian press). That “fast-tracked” her to the Top 15 semi-finalists.

Do all these augur well for Megan’s fate in the grand finals of the 2013 Miss World set for tonight at the Nusa Dua Convention Center in Bali, Indonesia? The big question is: Will Megan conquer the world and bring home the country’s first Miss World crown? (Watch the delayed telecast of the event tonight starting at 10:30 on GMA.)

If you ask Funfare “beauty-watcher” Gerry Diaz, he’ll tell you that, yes, Megan will top the pageant over the 128 other hopefuls. Keep our collective fingers crossed, and say a little prayer for Megan.

Gerry cited these “positive signs:” 1) Megan was among the few tapped to participate in the pageant’s inaugural presscon where she wore a Kate Middleton-inspired dress, 2) Megan drew ohs and ahs when she danced the singkil in the Dances of the World segment, 3) Megan was chosen one of the Top Ten Models (and emerged the top winner), and 4) Megan has been figuring prominently in the betting.

Observed Gerry, “With these developments, it looks like we are heading for a first time win in Miss World. The elusive crown is the only major international beauty that the Philippines has not won. We had two close finishes in 1973 when Evangeline Pascual was proclaimed 1st Princess and in 2012 when Gwendoline Ruais was likewise proclaimed 1st Princess. To this day, it has remained a mystery why Julia Morley of Miss World did not elevate Evangeline Pascual to the Miss World title when the winner Marjorie Wallace of the USA was dethroned.

“Will 2013 be the next golden year of Philippine pageants, 40 years after the pageant’s last golden year? In 1973, the Philippines had its strongest performance on the world stage of beauty. Margie Moran won the Miss universe crown in Athens, Greece, while Evangeline Pascual almost scored a double win for the Philippines when she placed 1st princess in Miss World. Marilen Ojeda won 4th runner-up honors in the Miss International pageant in Japan and Nanette Prodigalidad won 1st runner-up in the Miss Maja International pageant.”

Hope springs eternal.