Manila for Miss Universe 2015

Miss Philippines Charlene Gonzales during the Miss Universe 1994 in Manila

Manila being eyed as host of 2015 Miss Universe pageant
by Robert R. Requintina
July 10, 2014

There is still no date and venue for the staging of the 2014 Miss Universe beauty contest, but it seems that the organizers are looking closely at the Philippines to be the host country for next year’s pageant.

Sources say that the Philippines might play host to the 2015 Miss Universe beauty which will be announced by the Miss Universe Organization based in New York, USA anytime soon.

If plans push through, this will be the third time that the beauty contest will be held in the Philippines.

It was on the morning of July 21, 1974 when the Miss Universe beauty contest was held for the first time at the then newly constructed Folk Arts Theater in Manila.

It was also the first time that the beauty contest was broadcast from Asia. That year, the pageant was won by the late Amparo Munoz of Spain. Guadalupe Sanchez, who represented the Philippines in the same contest, became one of the 12 semi-finalists.

In 1994, the Miss Universe contest was staged again in the country at the Philippine International Convention Center also in Manila.

India’s Sushmita Sen won the coveted crown. Beauty queen-turned-actress Charlene Gonzales-Muhlach represented the country in the pageant and made it to the semis.

The country has already produced two Miss Universe — Gloria Diaz (1969) and Margarita Moran (1973).

With Manila as the possible for next year’s beauty pageant, the MUO has yet to announce the venue for this year’s contest. But speculations are strong that the beauty pageant will return to the US. Earlier, organizers announced that the pageant will not be held in Brazil this year, as scheduled.

Mary Jean Lastimosa of Cotabato City is this year’s Philippine representative to the pageant. Some 50 contestants have confirmed participation in the 2014 edition of the contest.

Controversies marred this year’s pageant after Miss Universe Thailand Weluree Ditsayabut resigned when she allegedly called for the execution of the prime minister of Thailand.

Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/manila-being-eyed-as-host-of-2015-miss-universe-pageant/