Analysis

 Profiling the Miss Universe winner

By Earl D.C. Bracamonte

I've said it many times before, but I'll say it once more - the Miss Universe competition is the most glamorous job interview! Yes, you read it right. It is a job placement couched in the dynamics of a beauty pageant. And she's not just your usual pretty face with the curvaceous body, but an empowered woman of elegance, wit, having a heart for humanitarian causes, and espousing crusades of her own. It's quite a tall order for a job position that lasts for twelve months (well, less in some years and more in others). Her prize money is prorated, usually, for twelve months to serve as her stipend/salary during the course of her reign.

Employee of the Year

The minute a winner is proclaimed, her job begins. She is whisked off to New York and live there for a year and work as the organization's spokesperson.

"She is a diplomat! A Miss Universe is someone who is real, who is relatable. It has nothing to do with height. The Miss Universe, once she lives in New York, doesn't model; that's not her job. By the way, that is why girls do not make it to the Top 20. Interview is important - you are a spokesperson, you are the face of the company. You have to speak, not model. Stop with the height stuff," reiterated pageant coach and show choreographer Lu Sierra in an interview.

Social media force

A Miss Universe must have a strong social media presence, too, for her to reach the most number of people, which she could not normally accomplish in person, especially in a global pandemic where movement is highly regulated.

If you look at the Instagram accounts of the more recent winners, you would notice that their followers are in the millions. Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach has the most number of followers with 12 million, followed closely by Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray with 11.7 million. Others with a fairly sizeable following are Miss Universe 2014 Paulina Vega with 5.7 million, Miss Universe 1994 Sushmita Sen with 5.6 million, Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo with 4.7 million, Miss Universe 2016 Iris Mittenaere and Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi with 2.6 million each, Miss Universe 2006 Zuleyka Rivera, who's part of the selection panel this year, with 2.2 million, and Miss Universe 2010 Ximena Navarrete with 2.1 million.

Of the 74 official candidates in the 2020 Miss Universe search, it is the Philippine candidate Rabiya Mateo who has the highest following with over 1-million followers (to date), and counting. So, it comes as no surprise that her Up Close and Personal introduction video has the highest number of likes and following, to date, with over 700,000 likers, and still growing.

Social calendar

 Because she is a social figure, and a sought-after one at that, a Miss Universe's events calendar is filled to overflowing. Which means that in any given day, she could be on her feet from morning 'til evening. And since she can't always go to a salon for appointment, especially in unannounced appearances, she must be a styling and grooming expert on her own, who can do her hair and face in a huff.

Which also presupposes that she must achieve aced her gown and swimsuit pasarela to cement her position to the final round and, eventually, the crown - especially in this 69th edition where the continental/regional grouping is done away with.

Charismatic speaker

This is the reason why the closed-door/panel interview weighs 60 per cent in determining who lands in the first cut - the semifinal round. This year, it is 20 plus 1 from the online votes.

When interviewed who he thinks deserves to wear the Mouawad crown, CEO and founder Fred Mouawad said that she must have the passion, skill, and the drive to continuously learn and make a positive impact.

"She must have the ability to connect with an audience and charm them with elegance, intelligence, and beauty. One with high moral values and ethical standards, and has the willingness to devote time to learn about and support causes that make the world better," he added.

A Miss Universe must be effortless in convincing its many benefactors to shell out funds for its coffers that would be used in its overhead and outreach expenditures.

Network of connections

Because of her many associations with persons she meets, both natural and juridical, a Miss Universe, after her reign, is assured of a steady flow of work and/or career options. Because of her unique skills set and experience, she could easily be a product endorser, a spokesperson for causes other than her own, a fashion model for a luxe brand, a resource person, a lecturer, trainer or coach (like Samantha Bernardo or Dani Walker), and a bevy of other opportunities that would prove to be limitless.

So now that you know what the WME/IMG is looking for, do you have your favorites in order? By the way, owners of mobile devices may want to download the iQiyi app, as well as the Lazada app, so they can watch all the live stream Miss Universe shows for free.

There will also be free live streams on the Facebook and YouTube channels of Miss Universe for the National Costume and Preliminary shows.

Catch the live 69th Miss Universe competition broadcast over the A2Z channel 11 network in the Philippines at 8 am, the Telemundo network in the Americas, or FoxLife in other parts of the world.