‘More to Miss U than just the crown’

MANILA, Philippines – Today, only one girl will be named Miss Universe. But it’s not going to be the end of the world, or the universe, for the rest. Take it from these former Miss U runners-up.

For Miss USA 2015 Olivia Jordan and Miss USA 2014 Nia Sanchez, there’s more to Miss Universe than just the crown.

Both believe that there’s a “fate” aspect to it, but winning a pageant can’t be without hard work.

Nia, 26, said, “I do believe in destiny and that everything happens for a reason, but there’s so much more to Miss Universe than just the crown. Yes, everyone wants the crown and it’s an amazing accomplishment. But I feel that, say for example, when I competed in Miss Universe, I wanted it with all my heart, I felt I could have been an amazing Miss Universe, but I had to believe that it wasn’t for me. It was for Paulina Vega and I had to be thankful for my placement.”

The taekwondo coach/actress became first runner-up in the 2014 Miss U.

“There’s something to be said about being prepared. You don’t want it to be your destiny when you’re not ready. Mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually, you wanna be ready for it,” Nia added. “I do think that there’s destiny as to who is meant to be, but there’s so much you can get out of the pageant — the friendships, the relationships, the connections.”

Olivia said that while she was competing at the 2015 Miss U, she took a Rumi quote to heart. “Live life as if everything is rigged in your favor, Rumi said. Early on in the pageant, some of the people would say, ‘This or that person is going to win.’ I could have that negative attitude and be like, ‘There’s no point in trying.’ But the reality is, if you try your best and you live as if it’s rigged for you, then I think in that way, you get the most of that experience. Whether or not it’s your destiny to receive the crown, at the end of the day, you’re going to have to learn so much about yourself, you would have grown as a person, and it’s all worth it,” said the 28-year-old beauty queen.

Olivia landed in the Top 3 of the 2015 Miss U that saw Pia Wurtzbach crowned as the winner.

“I definitely felt that way as I competed for Miss USA: ‘This was rigged for me, I’m gonna win this.’ Then at Miss Universe, even with that mentality, I knew ultimately it was rigged for Pia (laughs). I’m just kidding, but yes, I do believe in destiny, but you have to give it your all because otherwise, what’s the point?” Olivia added.

The two ladies have been flown to Manila by PLDT Home to be “pageant insiders” to the 65th Miss Universe. They provide live updates, commentaries and behind-the-scenes on the broadband brand’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts as PLDT Home Fibr positions itself as a “world-class Internet provider to world-class events” like the Miss Universe. Who else can do the job better than women who had been through the experience itself?

Nia and Olivia have already seen most of the 86 candidates up close and they have come up with their own bets. They have similar choices: USA, Philippines, Brazil, Canada, Thailand, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela and Mexico.

In today’s pageant finals, changes will be introduced. For the first time, semi-finalists will be grouped into a Top 12, 9, 6 and 3.

“I wish it was a Top 15 or like when we competed for Miss USA, we had a Top 20. (It means) more girls having the opportunity to shine on stage,” Nia said. “I do feel there are some very strong girls who have to be left out. It will be good, it’s gonna be the best of the best.”

Asked what they thought of the changes, Olivia opined, “I am a traditionalist and I have a hard time with the changes. Like for me, in the swimwear competition, to have four women at a time, my fear is that it’s going to be comparative, that it becomes ‘whose body do you like best onstage?’ I don’t like that. I don’t think you can compare one woman to the next. One woman could be meant to be toned and another woman is meant to be curvy. I don’t want to compare. Everyone is beautiful in their own way.”

She thinks though that the new pageant owner, the talent agency WME/IMG, is “creating its stamp on the pageant” with the changes. “For me, if something is not broke, don’t fix it…. But I understand their need for innovation, how to make it better, how to make it new.”

Meanwhile, the two squeezed in some R&R into their jampacked schedule. They went to El Nido in Palawan with Pinay beauty queens MJ Lastimosa and Bea Rose Santiago. MJ is Nia’s Miss U batchmate turned close friend who attended her bachelorette party in Las Vegas. Nia wed actor Daniel Booko in 2015.

Nia also shared that growing up in California, her bestfriend was half-Filipino. “So, I had a Filipino momma. I understand Filipino culture because she was like my second mother.”

As for Olivia, she found a close friend in Pia. “I was very blessed to have Pia as a roommate, to have her as Miss Universe. Talking about destiny, it was a wonderful moment that I got to be part of her journey, and learn with her and grow with her. Pia was very much a role model to me as well as a friend.”