Early arrivals

 Early arrivals at Miss Universe 2020 pageant venue

By Earl D.C. Bracamonte

The 69th edition of the annual Miss Universe competition has already started. The much-awaited arrival of delegates, especially the frontrunners, have escalated the excitement amongst pagaeant fans to a soaring fever pitch.

Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo arrived to cheers from foreign fans who were at the Seminole Hardrock Casino Guitar Hotel lobby. She wore a two piece white ensemble with fringed sleeves and skirt that showed her well toned physique. Observers said this could be a creation of Yeye Pantaleon because it bears a resemblance to a Heart Evangelists dress he made for the actress. Another citizen pointed out that she was wearing Pia Wurtzbach's Chinese Laundry platforms from 2015, to complete her arrival look.

Miss Universe Brazil 2020 Julia Gamma, who was one of the very few who wore prints, greeted Filipino pageant fans in Tagalog. "Mabuhay, Pilipinas! Kumusta? Ako po Si Julia Gamma, ang Miss Ununiverse ng Brazil. Maraming salamat sa lahat ng suporta. Mahal ko kayo!"

The other candidates who also arrived early in the venue were Amanda Obdam (Thailand), Tehila Levi (Israel), Aisha Harumi (Japan), Elisabet Hulda Snorradottir (Iceland), Jiaxin Sun (China), Natasha Joubert (South Africa), Thuzar Wint Lwin (Myanmar), Christina Lasassima (Laos), Ana Marcelo (Nicaragua), Laura Olascuaga (Colombia), Mariangel Villasmil (Venezuela), Daniela Nicolas (Chile), Alina Luz Akselrad (Argentina), Lenka Nemer (Bolivia), Eden Berandoive (Haiti), Anshika Sharma (Nepal), Asya Branch (USA), Vanessa Velasquez (El Salvador), Sarita Reth (Cambodia), Janick Maceta del Castillo (Peru), Bianca Lorena Tirsin (Romania), Viviana Vizzini (Italy), Chantal Wiertz (Curacao), Maria Thattil (Australia), Klara Vavruskova (Czech Republic), Lola de los Santos (Uruguay), Christiana Silva (Portugal), Hari Park (South Korea), Adline Castelino (India), Alina Sonko (Russia), Ivonne Cerdas (Costa Rica), Anthea Zammit (Malta), Carmen Jaramillo (Panama), Jeannette Akua (Great Britain), Iris Salguero (Belize), Hillary Ann Williams (Barbados), Nguyen Khanh Van Tran (Vietnam), and Andrea Meza (Mexico).

Meanwhile, the MUO shared a compilation video entitled "Same Interview, A Year And A Half Apart," featuring reigning queen Zozibini Tunzi answering a group of queries she was asked before she won the title.

The remaining candidates, who are in transit to the venue from their respective countries, are all expected to arrive tomorrow and undergo the required routine swab testing, like the rest of  their Miss Universe sisters - who have already settled in their assigned lodgings - including Paraguay's Vanessa Castro Guillen, who tested negative to Covid-19 recently.