Miss Philippines Maxine Medina and the other international beauties owned the stage with their alluring evening gowns, national costumes, and swimsuits. The 65th Miss Universe Preliminary Rounds was held at the Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City on Thursday, Jan 26. A panel of judges includes Miss Universe 1993 Dayanara Torres and Miss Universe 2007 Riyo Mori will pick the Top 12 finalists.
Ferdinand Abejon of Missosology said that among all the 86 candidates, Miss Universe Philippines Maxine Medina, Miss Universe Venezuela Mariam Habach, Miss Universe Thailand Chalita Suansane, Miss Universe Mexico Kristal Silva, and Miss Universe Nicaragua Marina Jacoby stood out.
Maxine Medina among 12 Miss Universe Favorites List
In any Miss Universe event, the fans cannot help but have their favorites. According to PEP, the 12 Miss U Favorites of this year include Miss Philippines Maxine Medina, Miss Thailand Chalita Suansane, Miss Panama Keity Drennen, six-footer Miss Indonesia Kezia Warouw.
Other favorites include Miss Malaysia Kiran Jassal, half-filipina Miss New Zealand Tania Dawson, Miss Australia Caris Tiivel, Miss Sierra Leone Hawa Kamara, Miss Haiti Raquel Pelissier, Miss Venezuela Mariam Habach, Miss Colombia Andrea Tovar, and Miss Brazil Raissa Santana.
Maxine Medina: a Radiant Emerald in Rhett Eala Evening Gown
The emerald green evening gown that Maxine most elegantly wore in the Preliminaries was crafted by Rhett Eala. In an interview with GMA News Online, Eala said that he wanted the gown to be “sexy and beautiful” because Maxine wanted to show off her figure. “I’m not going to do anything not flattering for her figure,” he specifically stated.
Whenever Maxine takes the ramp, the fringes of the layered dress makes her movement ravishing. The glamorous shimmer and shine of the gown’s sequined details also seals the deal as an official show stopper.
Maxine Medina’s Wears Vinta-Inspired Gown for National Costume Show
The traditional boat from Mindanao, the vinta, is the muse of Maxine Medina’s Gown for the National Costume event. The gown was also designed by Rhett Eala. Maxine was golden in her impressive and intricate headdress inspired by the Philippine coral reefs. With her South Sea pearl earrings, she was simply unforgettable. The purple and green accents to her golden ensemble definitely left the audience with something to talk about.
The 65th Miss Universe Coronation Night airs live from the Mall of Asia Arena at ABS-CBN and GMA on Monday, January 30 beginning at 8 AM.