Beauty Pageant Minute: Miss Equatorial Guinea 2012

  
A New African Queen...

Gorgeous in Purple: Jennifer Riveiro Ilende, Miss Belleza Guinea Ecuatorial 2012 (Miss Equatorial Guinea)

Last week, on April 27th, the tall and very beautiful Jennifer Riveiro Ilende was crowned Miss Belleza Guinea Ecuatorial 2012 (Miss Equatorial Guinea) at the Sipopo International Conference Centre in Malabo.

Jennifer made it into the "Pageant Record Books" as she will be the first ever representative of that African nation to compete in the 62nd edition of the Miss World pageant, which will take place on August 18, 2012 in Dongsheng Fitness Center Stadium, Ordos, Inner Mongolia, China (yes, not Miami, not Sao Paulo, not London...nope...INNER MONGOLIA!!!)

Crowning Moment: Jennifer Riveiro Ilende gets her "Miss Belleza Guine Ecuatorial 2012" crown

In the event that you may be "Geographically-challenged", Equatorial Guinea is located in Middle Africa. The independent nation is made up of two parts--a section in the continent and another section made up of islands offshore, one of which contains its capital city, Malabo. It is one of the smallest countries in continental Africa and also one of the richest per capita. But of course, it is no surprise that the wealth is very unevenly distributed. It is also THE ONLY nation in Africa that has Spanish as one of its official languages (French and Portuguese are the others).

Now, onto the pageant and the winner. The pageant is organized and run by Agencia Mogue, a model agency in Equatorial Guinea, with the help of Constancia Mangue de Obiang, first lady of the nation.

La Mas Bella: The new "Miss Belleza Guinea Ecuatorial 2012" Jennifer Riveiro Ilende is 21 years old, 1.80m tall (about 5' 11" tall) and is a model. She could do well in August at the Miss World 2012 pageant. Now, onto the GOWNS:

The gowns were FABULOUS, chic and  modern. Take a look tat the three Finalists above. At least with these three: not ONE tacky, bedazzled, too-high slit mess in sight! The winner (middle), wore a purple-colored chiffon gown with gathered bust and one-shoulder satin strap detail; clean, elegant and oh-so-right. Her "Damas" (Runners-Up) look resplendent as well. The one on the left, looks THE DEFINITION of CHIC in her red gathered-halter neckline gown and the one on the left, looks VERY Spring/Summer 2013, in her lilac-and-purple watercolor flower-print gown.  How could a tiny African nation pageant get it SO right? Is it because a modeling agency is running the pageant? Is their "Official Stylist" ON IT, when it comes to what Beauty Pageant contestants should be wearing in 2012, and is referencing Fashion Magazines, the International Red Carpet, and not "Toddlers & Tiaras"? Whatever it is, they are YEARS ahead of some of these much bigger international pageants and what their pageant girls are wearing:

Miss COOCHIE SLITS:

Yes, You Might See My Underwear: "Nuestra Belleza El Salvador/ Miss El Salvador Universe 2012" Ana Yancy Clavel (left) and "Miss El Salvador World 2012" Maria Luisa Vicuna

Oooh Huney, That is a HIGH Slit: "Miss Brasil World 2012" finalist (left photo, on the right) Camilla Serakides and "Miss Slovak Republic Universe 2012" Lubica Stepanova (right photo)--These two ladies were ill-advised for sure. There are elements which are good in each of these gowns, however, the TOO HIGH slits, negates any of those good elements and deems the ladies--and their gowns--two minutes away from a stripper pole.

 Pageant Betty's:

Miss Dominican Republic Universe 2012 Pageant: Above are the Finalist in this year's pageant--and their bedazzled, be-organza'ed, be-high slit'ed gowns...If someone went back in time to well, 1992--I would NOT be surprised to see this photo--and more importantly--these same gowns!

 Miss Binibining Pilipinas Miss Philippines Universe 2012 Pageant: See comment above.

Uh NO: Let's just hope that NO ONE follows the fashion advice of this pretty woman, Fernanda Semino, and what she wore--and head-scratchingly won in!--at last year's "Miss Uruguay Universe 2011" pageant. Sequined Applique Halter and iridescent POLY organza. Enough Said.

Beauty Pageant Gown Minute: Miss Brazil World, Miss Ukraine World and Miss Japan Universe 2012

Prom...Or Pageant???

Blond Satin and Blue: Miss Brazil World 2012 Mariana Notarangelo

As you know, I LOVE me some PAGEANTS--well, Beauty Pageants to be exact. And I especially love me some Beauty Pageant Gowns and enjoy covering that topic here on my little ol' Style Blog...Recently, there has been a lot of pageant crowning activity around the world and therefore, it seems natural to discuss some of the pageant gowns as well.

Just yesterday, a new Miss Mundo Brasil 2012 (Miss World Brazil 2012) was crowned during a gala in Porto Alegre. She is the lovely Mariana Notarangelo, 24 years old and 1.75 m (5' 9") and from Rio de Janeiro. The blond Notarangelo (sounds like an Italian liqueur!) is not new to the pageant scene: In 2010, she won the title of "International Queen of Coffee" in Manizales (Colombia) and in 2011 was also the winner of the "Miss Global Beauty Quest" competition held in Seoul (Korea).

Royal Blue Princess: Miss Brazil World 2012 Winner Mariana Notarangelo

She won wearing a bright blue satin gown with princess seaming and shoulder detail. It looked a bit wrinkled at the hem, but that's neither here nor there--as they say. And naturally, there was a crystal-trimmed waist (can't be a Pageant Gown without some sequins!!). She looked fine, but...

What I was scared of was one of the Runner-Up's gown on the right above: Camila Serakides (is she Greek? Sounds like a Greek last name--my half-Greek self is inquiring): how do you say "HUUUUNEEEYYY!!!" in Portuguese? Not only is the neckline PLUNGING, then, her gown's slit is well, dangerously perched on a good view of her CHA-CHA! That dress looks CHEAP and Hoochie. And that's UNIVERSAL not just Brazilian!

Next up, it's the new Miss Ukraine World 2012: Karina Zhyronkina, 21 years old and standing 1.77 m ( approximately 5' 10") won the coveted title of "Miss Ukraine World 2012". Both her and "Miss Brazil World" at the top of the post, will get to represent their nations at the upcoming "Miss World 2012" Pageant in Ordos, Inner Mongolia China on August 18th (anybody up for a trip to INNER MONGOLIA???).

Karina is very beautiful and looks AMAZING in her swimsuit (LOVE that turban and pool caftan/cape huney!)...

Ukraine Prom Season: Bright, shiny and satin...a theme for gowns at the Miss Ukraine World 2012 finals

Karina wore an electric blue shiny satin gown. Looking at the rest of the Finalists, bright bold colors--in shiny satin--seemed to me the Miss Ukraine World 2012 Gown Theme. Both her and Miss Brazil world's gown are very "Prom"-like I have to say. These Pageants--and these girls need to bring up the Gown Couture Quotient a notch or two. Bright shiny poly charmeuse gowns are OK for proms, but for a national pageant of this stage--I think they need to "step it up". Just sayin'....

Finally, a non-bright, non-shiny Pageant winner:

Ayako Hara, Miss Japan Universe 2012: On April 1, a new Miss Japan Universe 2012 was crowned. For her "crowning" evening gown, she wore a black non-shiny (it's called matte) crepe gown with a "striped" black-and-nude colored neckline and midriff.

Ayako Hara, Miss Japan Universe 2012

Ayako looked elegant and very Lady-Like appropriate. Like a newscaster for a local News Academy Awards coverage. I hesitate to say, she could have looked a bit more Haute and dare I say it, sexier!

Who's That Girl in the Gold Sequins? Miss Japan Universe 2012 (center), flanked by her finalists

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED the gold sequined gown on the right---this girl has got it GOING ON!!!! It's very Zuhair Murad-meets-Elie Saab!!! And figures she didn't win! If I was a judge at this pageant, I know for sure I would have given this girl the HIGHEST evening gown scores!!! Hopefully she will let the new Miss Japan Universe borrow her gold sequined gown for this year's Miss Universe 2012 Pageant....A boy can DREAM right?