Pageant fever is taking over this January as Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach is set to crown her successor in Manila this January 30 (Monday) at the Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay, Metro Manila.
Here’s a rundown of what’s happening and what to expect this Monday! (and other questions you have in mind)
Shouldn’t this be called Miss Universe 2017?
Nope. That should happen later in December, or probably in January 2018. The last Miss Universe pageant was held on December 20, 2015. The controversial year where host Steve Harvey mistakenly announced the wrong winner. The 2015 Miss Universe crown was won by the Philippines’ Pia Wurtzbach. She will be set to crown her successor on Monday, Miss Universe 2016. This will be the second time in the 65-year history of the competition that the pageant will skip the entire year, following the 2014 pageant which was held in January 2015.
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Will Steve Harvey host the pageant again?
Yes, Steve Harvey, the host who mistakenly announced that wrong name during the reveal, will host Miss Universe 2016, despite President Rodrigo Duterte's initial reluctance. Along with him is model Ashley Graham, who’ll probably be helping him out read the cards.
Who else will be visiting the country for the pageant?
Aside from Steve Harvey, Ashley Graham, and Pia Wurtzbach, 86 Miss Universe candidates will also be flying to the Philippines, each won hoping to be Miss Universe 2016.
Along with them will be Miss Universe Organization representatives, including president Paula Shugart.
Miss Universe 1994 Sushmita Sen, who was crowned in Manila, has confirmed that she will be one of the judges of the pageant. Rapper Flo Rida has also been confirmed as a performer.
The following former Miss Universe contestants are also in Manila for the pageant:
Miss Universe 1991 Lupita Jones (Mexico)
Miss Universe 2005 Natalie Glebova (Canada)
Miss Universe 2007 Riyo Mori (Japan)
Miss USA 2014 Nia Sanchez
Miss Universe Great Britain 2014 Gracie Levy
Miss Universe 2014 2nd runner up Diana Garkusha
Miss Costa Rica 2014 Kary Ramos
Miss Norway 2015 Martine Rødseth
Miss USA 2015 Olivia Jordan
Who is representing the Philippines?
Maxine Medina, 26, will be walking the stage on coronation night for the Philippines, representing the country for Miss Universe 2016.
Maxine is an interior designer and a pageant newcomer – Binibining Pilipinas 2016 was her first pageant. Medina is criticized for her poor English-language skills. Many people online and including Miss Universe 1973 Margie Moran advising her to use a translator.
There might be some pressure on Maxine this year, but fans are hoping for a back-to-back win. As the country's representative, she's also acted as host to the other 85 contestants who flew in the country.
Her national costume and evening gown for the pageant will be designed by Rhett Eala.
Previous Miss Universe titleholders from the Philippines, aside from 2015’s Pia, are Gloria Diaz (1969) and Margarita "Margie" Moran (1973).
The pageant was also held in the Philippines twice before: in 1974, when Margie crowned Amparo Muñoz of Spain, and in 1994, when Puerto Rico's Dayanara Torres crowned Sushmita Sen of India.
How can I watch the Miss Universe 2016 coronation night?
Fans can buy tickets to watch coronation night through SM Tickets outlets and Tickets are priced at
VIP: P50,000
Lower Box A: P25,800
Lower Box B: P23,800
Upper Box: P4,800
General Admission: P2,000
The pageant's coronation night will be aired on Monday, January 30 in the Philippines through Solar's etc channel. In the US, Fox will air coronation night on Sunday, January 29. You can also livestream the event on various social media platforms.
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