MANILA, Philippines - “Everything. The infrastructure, the president, everything has changed, but the people and the soul that the city carries, and the love it has shown to me, that, for generations, never does change,” Miss Universe 1994 Sushmita Sen said of what changes she has noticed from her “homecoming” to the Philippines.
As soon as she landed, she said, she was greeted by a student named after her, and she longed to have a Filipino hairdresser to do her dresses for the coronation this morning.
“Honestly, I’d rather be a contestant than a judge. Everyone has worked so hard, I can’t just give a ‘no’,” she confessed.
“But, as in any competition, the best girl must win. The best country must put its best foot forward for us!”
According to her, she is looking for a “21st century woman, who is unapologetic about it. She should enjoy it. She should live her life…She should inspire training and she should be very beautiful and very body confident, because a Miss Universe must love her body and her shape. But it’s not supposed to be superficial. She should be impacting legions of people around the world and she has to forget that she is from, for example, Philippines, and she has to become a universal presence, someone who has equal love and can be equally loved by the rest of the world.”
As someone from India, she voted online for Miss India, but as a judge, she has to see all contestants equally. She, however, thinks Miss Philippines Maxine Medina is absolutely beautiful and she has a big legacy to fulfill.
“I’m a big fan of Pia (Wurtzbach). She’s just a wonderful girl!” Sen said of Miss Universe 2015.
"I'm looking for a strong, beautiful woman, who's going to inspire other women and young girls," Miss Universe 2011 Leila Lopes explained of her criterion.
Magazine columnist and editorial director Mickey Boardman said that while he will be keeping his eyes on contestants famous for their beauty, such as Colombia, Venezuela, and the Philippines, he will also definitely look for a “dark horse” since “all contestants are amazing.”
“I want her to be beautiful inside as she is outside. I want know the impact she wants to make in the world. And I want her to be strong and confident and just have that little extra something that when she walks in the room, you go, ‘There’s Miss Universe!’” award-winning producer and philanthropist Francine LeFrak shared to Philstar.com on how she will scout for the winner.
She said it is her first time in the Philippines, and so far, she has been having a wonderful time. She has toured Manila and National Museum, and loves chicken adobo.
“It’s a great honor because Miss Universe has the opportunity to make a huge impact on women and girls throughout the world,” she said of how she feels as a judge.
She thinks that through the years, Miss Universe has changed a lot. A Miss Universe winner’s inner beauty has become a lot more important. “Also, a lot of Miss Universe contestants have become as well rounded as other people and they’ve lived real world problems,” she noted.
“The Miss Universe now is a much fuller, complete person that could make a real impact to the world.”