SASHES AND TIARAS.....Miss World 2013 is...MISS PHILIPPINES Megan Young!!!

 The new Miss World: Megan Young, Miss World Philippines was crowned "Miss World 2013" today in the Miss World 2013 Final Show, Nusa Dua Indonesia

23 year old Filipino-American US-born TV presenter and actress Megan Young "Miss World Philippines" was crowned "Miss World 2013" in a glittering show in Indonesia. This marks the VERY FIRST TIME in the international pageants 63 year history that a Miss Philippines has ever won that coveted beauty crown.The contest was televised LIVE in the USA on E! Entertainment at 5 am (!). And you can bet your Beauty Pageant Sashes and Tiaras...that I DVR'ed it! I then woke up this morning at 8 am to watch it! It was a GREAT pageant and a fabulous show, highlighting Indonesia, its culture, fashion in a marvelous manner.

 Gown Beautiful: Megan Young "Miss Philippines" and new 'Miss World 2013"--Miss world 2013 Final Show, Nusa Dua Indonesia

Wearing
a gorgeous form-fitting mermaid style gown in a pink/blush color with silver sequin applique, Megan Young--who moved to the Philippines at the age of
10--wept as the Miss World sash was put over her shoulder by Miss World 2012 Yu Wenxia, from China.

 Megan Young, Miss Philippines and new "Miss World" being crowned by last year's Miss World, Yu Wenxia--Miss world 2013 Final show, Nusa Dua Indonesia

She told the cheering crowd in Nusa
Dua in southern Bali she would "be myself in everything I do, to share
what I know and to educate people". The competition was moved to Bali from the capital, Jakarta, because of protests from hardline Muslim groups. Security
for Saturday's event was high in Bali, a resort island with a majority
Hindu population, but no further demonstrations were reported.

The Top Three: Miss France, Marine Lorphelin (left, above), came second in the contest and Miss Ghana (right, above), Carranzar Naa Okailey Shooter, took third place; the winner Megan Young Miss Philippines, in the center of course--Miss World 2013 Final Show, Nusa Dua Indonesia

Curse broken: As I stated in the beginning of this post, Megan Young goes down in history as the first-ever Filipina to win
Miss World—breaking a popular urban legend that no Filipina will ever
win the title. The legend can be traced back to 1977
when Peachy Veneracion reportedly made the curse after she was forced to
withdraw from the pageant at the time. Since then,
despite the Philippines successful finishes in the Miss Universe pageant and other
international beauty competitions, the Miss World crown has been elusive...until now!

 Mabuhay Megan! Miss World 2013 Megan Young Miss Philippines--Miss World 2013 Final Show, Nusa Dua Indonesia

COMING UP: I will have a FULL GOWN REVIEW of the Top Finalists of "Miss World 2013" in an upcoming post SOON here on my blog, but for now, I wanted to highlight the beautiful winner and new "Miss World 2013", Megan Young...

Congratulations Megan and...Maligayang bati sa inyong pagkapanalo Kongrats and Mabuhay PHILIPPINES!

SASHES AND TIARAS.....Rating the "Miss World Philippines 2013" Evening Gowns! My Top Favorites and Some Not So Much...

 Gown Girls: The "Miss World Philippines 2013" contestants, during the Evening Gown Competition

Photo Courtesy of OPMB Worldwide

This past Sunday was the crowning of the new "Miss World Philippines 2013". 23 year-old 5' 8" tall gorgeous actress Megan Lynne Young won the crown and will now be competing in next month's "Miss World 2013" contest in Indonesia. Did I already say that she was absolutely gorgeous? Yeah, I think I did. Even among the 100+ contestants slated to compete in "Miss World", I think that Megan should do very well. If she doesn't, then something is very wrong in the "Miss World" judging.

 Megan Young "Miss World Philippines 2013"

I discussed her win HERE but now it's time to rate the Evening Gowns. All of them--from my Top Best to "Uh Oh". First, here's who won the "Best in Gown" during the finals on Sunday:

 Photo Courtesy of OPMB Worldwide

Maria Paula Bianca Paz: This wasn't MY FAVORITE gown of the night but it was up there...so here are my Best to Some Not-so-Best...



First, here are my Best:

 Photo Courtesy of OPMB Worldwide

Janicel Lubina: Janicel ended up being the 1st Princess (in other words, First Runner-up) of "Miss World Philippines 2013". And rightly so. If Megan (the actual winner) wasn't competing, Janicel would have won this, easily. Her gown was my Top Pick of the night. It was an interesting sequined applique see-through gown that was both sweet and sexy and still very Pageant Fab. Her hair and small tear-drop earrings were on-point in terms of styling.

Nick Gown Score: 9.80

 Photo Courtesy of OPMB Worldwide

Megan Young: The actual winner of the pageant--Megan--wore my second favorite gown of the night in this royal blue silver sequined gown with a satin waistband. The gown fit beautifully; she looked beautiful; it was all flawless.

Nick Gown Score: 9.78

 Photo Courtesy of OPMB Worldwide

Karla Patricia Alas: I LOVED this gown. It was very "Miss Venezuela"/Gionni Straccia (especially the neck jeweled detail). The fit and silhouette were very COUTURE. I'm sure if one looked up close, this gown is probably a Masterpiece in Gown-Making. Very dramatic and very good.

Nick Gown Score: 9.75

 Photo Courtesy of OPMB Worldwide

Maria Paula Bianca Paz: Maria won the "Best in Gown" award. I liked her gown, it was very Givenchy Haute Couture by Riccardo Tisci referential. I don't really have any criticism of it. I just wish her hair and styling was on par with such a runway-looking gown.

Nick Gown Score: 9.75

 Photo Courtesy of OPMB Worldwide

Jennifer Hammond: Jennifer was Pageant Perfect in this strapless blue gown with side jeweled details. This gown doesn't "re-invent the gown wheel" but it does the job in terms of being impacting. I think it helps that it's on the beautiful Jennifer.

Nick Gown Score: 9.72

 Photo Courtesy of OPMB Worldwide

Angelica Lopez: I thought Angelica was very "Flamenco Goddess" in this fire-red "Mermaid Lite" gown. I loved that her hair and makeup were so "Miss Philippines" traditional. She should be in a "Mabuhay!" ad for the Philippines Board of Tourism. For Sure.

Nick Gown Score: 9.6

 Photo Courtesy of OPMB Worldwide

Vina Openiano: I liked this coral-colored feathered and crystal gown. The one thing I didn't like was the fact that I could see through her bodysuit underneath. I know that it was probably the point. I just thought it might have been two minutes away from being a bit too "Las Vegas". But, overall, I still liked it.

Nick Gown Score: 9.25

Ria Rabajante: This is a nice-looking gown. Love the color and horizontal sequin detail. This is why she's on my "Best" list. However, the chiffon contrast is predictable and it's been done before so nothing Couture-shattering. And yes kids, I'm not a fan of those platform gold heels. Please leave those to Strippers or Drag Queens. Pretty Please?

Nick Gown Score: 8.99

 The Not-So-Like-y Bunch:

 Photos Courtesy of OPMB Worldwide

Mermaid Not: Omarie Linn Osuna (left) and  Aikah Dindah (right)--How do say "Too Mucheey"? These Mermaid-shaped gown were a bit too "Prom/Quinceañera" for my taste. Omarie's was too close to a wedding dress for a New Jersey Housewife and the blue one on the right--the rosettes at the knee...well, that ended it all for me.

Nick Gown Score: 7.99 for both

  Photos Courtesy of OPMB Worldwide

It's 1993 All Over Again: Maria Paula Estenzo (left) and Mercegrace Raquel (right)--This mini dress under a gathered long dress look is a bit "Pageant Played Out". Sorry. I was making dresses like this in 1993 (yes, I am that old!). Can we PLEASE be a bit more creative? On a good note: I do appreciate the sequin applique on both dresses. But...

Nick Gown Score: 7.80

  Photos Courtesy of OPMB Worldwide

Stripper Heels and Double Slit No-No: Samantha Mae Bernardo (left) and Khadija Nasser (right): I just cannot even begin with these two looks. Such a shame because these woman are so pretty. But their gowns...not so much. The white one on the left is a bit too "I Can Find it in Downtown L.A." and those too-high "Stripper Heels" are tacky-licious. And then, there's the blue double slit number on the right: two words--DOUBLE. SLIT.

Nick Gown Score: 7.60



My Bottom Two Are...

 Photos Courtesy of OPMB Worldwide

Pageant Betty Prom Dress Sale: Princesslyn Dignadice (left) and Zahra Bianaca Saldua (right)--These two lovely "Miss World Philippines 2013" contestants ended up here on my "Uh Oh" bottom list of gowns because their dresses were so not Couture; not red carpet; not directional. Both screamed Prom and kind-of tacky. Let's just say that if these two dresses were on "Project Runway", Nina Garcia would NOT be happy...

Nick Gown Score: 7.15



Until Next Time! Remember Say "No" to Stripper Heels and Double Slits...at least for now!

SASHES AND TIARAS....Actress Megan Young Crowned Miss World Philippines 2013

Filipina Queen: the newly-crowned "Miss World Philippines 2013", actress Megan Lynne Young

Actress Megan Young was named Miss World Philippines 2013 during the Finals which occurred last night, Sunday, August
18. The 2013 Miss World Philippines pageant took place in Solaire Resort and Casino in Pasay City. 23-year-old Megan Lynne Young--who stands 1. 73m (5' 8")--will now represent the Philippines in the Miss World 2013 pageant in Indonesia in September (The Miss World 2013 Finals are September 28th).

OMG: Megan Lynne Young (right) reacting as she is named "Miss World Philippines 2013"--with First Runner-Up Janicel Lubina (left) smiling graciously

 Stay Put Girl: Megan Young "Miss World Philippines 2013" as she gets her crown pinned on

The 23-year-old actress-turned-beauty queen, who bested 24 other
contestants for the coveted title, also won SIX (out of the 17) special awards during
the pageant. Besides winning the top crown, Megan Young also won "Best in Fashion Runway", "Miss Sports by FILA", "Miss Bold and Glamorous by Revlon", "Miss Olay", "Miss World Laguna", "Miss Bench Body".

  Top Five: (left to right) 4th Princess Omarie Linn Osuma, 1st Princess Janicel Lubina, "Miss World Philippines 2013" Megan Young, 2nd Princess Zahra Bianca Saldua, and 3rd Princess Paula Bianca Paz

 Megan Young photos

Young is an alumna of Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition 2 and
starred in several ABS-CBN shows including "Precious Hearts Romances",
"Maalaala Mo Kaya" and "Betty La Fea". It's not the average path for Beauty Queen-dom to first be a well-known and popular young actress to then, become a beauty queen; it's usually the other way around. But then again, this IS The Philippines and being a Beauty Queen sometimes takes higher priority.

 Miss World Philippines 2013 stage (top photo) and contestants (bottom photo)

Megan is the third holder of the "Miss World Philippines" title since
the franchise’s separation from the Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc.,
which handles the Philippine representation to the Miss Universe
pageant. The "Miss World Philippines" franchise is owned by CQGQI--Cory Quirino Global Quest, Inc.The actress will follow the footsteps of 2011 Miss World first
runner-up Gwendoline Ruais and 2012 Miss World top 15 contender
Queenierich Rehman.



Megan in the Swimsuit Competition:

 Megan Young in FILA Swimsuit during Miss World Philippines 2013

Megan during Evening Gown Competition:

Gown Perfect: Megan looked STUNNING during the evening gown portion of last night's contest. I absolutely LOVED this royal blue and silver sequined see-thru gown with plunging neckline and satin waistband. The gown was superbly made; looked red carpet appropriate; not at all "Pageant Betty"..in other words: I Approve! The hair and minimal accessories also finished off the look perfectly. This woman knows what she is doing (or at least she's got a team around her that does!).

 Congrats to Megan Young and Best of Luck at next month's "Miss World 2013" pageant!