Belle of the ball
(Stories by Wendella Davidson who covered the Miss Universe 1999 pageant compliments of the Guyana Lottery Company and the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Limited) A CORONATION Ball at the Chaguaramas Convention Centre, Chaguaramas, Trinidad, at which Miss Universe 1999, Mpule Kwelagobe of Botswana, was guest of honour, brought the curtains down on the activities related to the Miss Universe pageant. The function capped three weeks of hectic activity during which 84 of the world's most beautiful women, among them Guyana's Morvinia Sobers, competed for the coveted title of Queen of the Universe. Pretty ladies, beautiful gowns, glittering lights, featured inside the Centre, while outside, fireworks lit the night sky. The Ball was held at the Convention Centre after the original venue, Pier I, was abandoned following the electrocution, just days before, of a linesman who was working on a lightpole outside the venue. Chairman of the Trinidad and Tobago Pageant Company, Mr Carlos John, explained, that the decision to change the venue was in the interest of the safety of the pageant delegates and guests at the ball. Earlier, 2.5 billion people watched as Mpule Kwelagobe was crowned the 48th Queen of the Universe. Responding to host, Jack Wagner's question, Miss Botswana said a Miss Universe winner should not be forced to give up her title if she became pregnant during her reign because: "When you enter a beauty pageant, you do symbolise women, and women do get pregnant and have children. I do not see being pregnant interrupting anything I do in my life. "That's what it's all about, celebrating the fact that you're a woman and that you can bear children. Miss Botswana won the thunderous applause of the 3 000-odd persons at the $12M Universe Centre. The centre was constructed on an abandoned heliport. The 5ft 10 in, brown-eyed musician, athlete and electronic engineering University student hails from the land-locked country of Botswana in Southern Africa. She is the first person to represent Botswana at the Miss Universe pageant. Two years ago, she had placed among the top ten finalists in the Miss World pageant in Seychelles. The four-man Botswana delegation was ecstatic at her victory, declaring: "She truly deserved it." The designer disclosed then that Miss Botswana's gown had to be remade after the original one was stolen in her homeland. First-time host of the Miss Universe Pageant, Trinidad and Tobago, out-did itself, putting the spotlight on the twin-island's famous Carnival festival. It was reported that more than $100M was spent to host the event. The pageant began promptly at nine with a 12-minute sequence which featured the introduction of the 84 delegates in national costume accompanied by Peter Minshall's local carnival characters, `Tan-Tan' and `Saga Boy', African drummers, steelband, `Moko Jumbies' or stilt dancers, and others prancing to the tantalising rhythm of `Oh Yo Carnival. Then the island's best-kept secret - the names of the ten finalists - was let out of the bag. Wagner, star of hit television series, `Melrose Place' announced the top ten. They were Miss Botswana, Mpule Kwelagobe; Miss Ghana, Akuba Cudjoe; Miss India, Gul Panag; Miss Jamaica, Nicole Haughton; Miss Mexico, Silvia Salgado; Miss Philippines, Miriam Quiambao; Miss Puerto Rico, Brenda Lopez; Miss South Africa, Sonia Raciti; Miss Spain, Diana Nogueria, and Miss Venezuela, Carolina Indriago. The beauties were chosen by local judges at a Presentation Show staged on May 21. The delegates of the pageant were judged in three categories; swimsuit, evening gown and one-on-one interviews. Miss India, Gul Panag won the first question and answer session. Among the highlights of the show was the serenading of the ten finalists by Julio Iglesias, Jnr. He sang his hit tune `One more chance' as the girls paraded in evening wear before the 10 celebrities who were judges for the final phase of the Miss Universe competition. They were models Kylie Bax and Melania Knauss; fashion photographer, Patrick Demarchelier; former Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, Charles A Gargango; Heavyweight Champion of the World, Evander Holyfield; Le Cirque Restaurant owner, Siro Maccioni; fashion model, Marcus Schenkenberg; Victoria's Secret `Angel' Stephanie Seymour; Buffalo Bills player, Bruce Smith, and Sport Illustrated Senior Editor, Diane Smith. Most persons were amazed at the high scores given the delegates by Holyfield for this segment which was won by Diana Nogueria, Miss Spain, who also won in the Oscar de le Renta swimwear category. Five finalists Miss Botswana, Miss Philippines, Miss South Africa, Miss Spain and Miss Venezuela then made it to the second level and two were later eliminated. In the final one-on-one interview, the girls were each asked whether they thought Miss Universe should discontinue her reign if she became pregnant. Impressive in her evening gown and swimsuit, Mpule's poise and diplomacy in answering the question gave her the winning edge. Mpule was crowned by former queen, Trinidadian, Ms Wendy Fitzwilliam. As, the new Miss Universe began her victory walk, fireworks lit the nightsky. This was followed by the rhythmic and tantalising beat of tassa drummers who were positioned on the foreground of the Convention Centre and who provided music for some 12 `moko jumbies', all beautifully attired in gold and white. As the tassa drums rolled, Miss Philippines and Miss Spain were first escorted to the Convention Centre. About half an hour later, a regal Miss Universe was also escorted to meet with foreign and local journalists, among whom was one of her nationals, Yeneneh Ezra. He was beside himself at the sight of his compatriot gracefully making her way along the red-carpeted catwalk. The soft-spoken Ms Universe, further warmed the hearts of journalists, as she stood in a dignified and humble manner, answering the questions put to her. And, even as she was being led away to the Ball, there were shouts of "We Love you, Miss Universe!" Miss Universe 1999 will spend her year-long reign, travelling throughout the world, making special appearances on behalf of the Miss Universe Organisation, its sponsors and affiliated charities. Miss Universe 1999 will also be represented in the United States by the William Morris Agency.
UNSUCCESSFUL delegates of the just-concluded Miss Universe 1999 pageant are expected to benefit considerably from their participation in the contest, a senior official of the Miss Universe organisation said. In an invited comment, Maureen Reidy, President of Miss Universe Inc. said the organisation had been re-defined and one of its purposes is to be known as a company that advises women. She noted that the new mission statement of the Miss Universe Inc. seeks, among other things, to assist women of the pageant to achieve their career goals. Speaking specifically about the delegates, Miles said they are very goal-oriented and promised to open the doors of opportunity for them, through the organisation's key corporate alliances. Promising to do her best towards achieving that goal, Reidy said "whether or not you win, we can help you achieve your career goals."
ON THE morning of the Miss Universe Pageant 1999 - May 26 - Guyana's delegate, Morvinia Sobers, donned a red `tube-top' dress, highlighted by macaw feathers, to travel to the Universe Centre. The dress made such an impression on Miss Botswana, Mpule Kwelagobe, that she asked Morvinia for it. "Mpule and I were great friends and like most of the other girls, they eagerly looked forward to see what I would wear on any one morning," Morvinia said, adding that she presented the dress to Miss Botswana. After Miss Botswana won the coveted title, she remarked that it was Morvinia's gift that gave her luck. At a press briefing held at Le Meridien Wednesday, Morvinia said her experience was thoroughly rewarding and feels that she did her country proud. Evidence of good representation of her country was the reported announcement by joint partner of the Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA, Donald Trump at the Coronation Ball which followed the crowning of Miss Universe on the night of May 26 last, that Miss Guyana, Morvinia Sobers had placed second in the swimwear segment. And reports are too that Sobers placed eighth in the evening gown category and ninth in the national costume segment, which was won by Miss Trinidad and Tobago, Nicole Simone Dyer. However, the Chronicle was unable to confirm the latter information. When Morvinia departed these shores on May 7 last, not many Guyanese can honestly say they rated her highly. It was the view of the small Guyanese contingent of supporters at the Pageant that the Guyana delegate's performance far exceeded their expectations when all factors were considered. And, speaking at the press conference hosted by National Pageant Director, Sri Yoogeandra, Wednesday, Morvinia said that her experience in Trinidad was rewarding. Commenting on the level of support, the reigning Miss Guyana feels that more should have been forthcoming from the Guyanese people and pleaded for the new delegate to a Miss Universe pageant to be accorded such. Though the schedule was hectic - late nights and early mornings - Morvinia said she developed friendships with almost all the delegates, including those from non-English-speaking countries. She is of the opinion that future Guyana delegates should be allowed much scope in terms of their preparation. In this regard, she alluded to the short period within which she had to prepare for the international contest. Some delegates, she said, began training about three years before the May 26 pageant.
THE Technical Team which outfitted Morvinia Sobers, Guyana's delegate to the just-concluded Miss Universe 1999 pageant, staged in Chaguaramas, Trinidad, is peeved over the treatment meted out to them. The team comprising Donna Ramsammy-James, Derek Moore, Michelle Cole and Pam Fox, were left "in the cold", when they travelled to the twin-island Republic to lend moral support to Sobers. An obviously upset Ramsammy-James, speaking in the presence of National Pageant Director, Mr Sri Yoogeandra, Wednesday after a press conference he hosted at Le Meridien Pegasus Hotel, told the Chronicle: "Whatever we did, was done to help Guyana, was done with love, and to be blocked at every stage...I mean, I'm totally disgusted..." According to Ramsammy-James, the team, out of pure interest, paid their own fares to the twin-island republic to observe the rehearsals and, in particular, to see Sobers go through her paces. But she said they were frustrated because they were not able to access much-needed passes for their entry into the Universe Centre, and were made to "dole out" sums of US dollars to buy tickets. But according to Sobers, all arrangements were made with her supervisors for the names of members of the technical team to be recorded as persons who should be granted passes on her behalf, and to have access to her. These names were subsequently removed. No reason for this move has as yet been proffered. Ramsammy-James said as a result, the technical team members were forced to spend long hours under tents which were available outside the Universe Centre, with the hope that someone would have assisted them. She said that only on one occasion did the National Pageant Director offer them two tickets which he subsequently retrieved after the rehearsal. Ramsammy-James further refuted an alleged statement by Yoogeandra that he was not aware that team members had planned to travel to the twin-island republic. Commenting on Morvinia's performance, she said: "I think she did Guyana proud, and I think we all should be very happy as to how she did, despite the odds..."
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