SASHES AND TIARAS.....Recap of the Gowns of "Nuestra Belleza Latina 2014" Semi Finals!

 Latina Swimsuits Beauties--Nuestra Bella Latina 2014

Last night was the Semi-Final Episode Before the Finals--of this year's Nuestra Bella Latina beauty pageant and Reality TV Show. If you follow beauty pageants, you're well aware of Nuetra Belleza Latina and if not, well, the TV show is a cross between "America's Next Top Model" and "Miss Universe"--but only with Latina contestants. Castings are held across the US to find which women will make the final round to be on the show and contest.

The show is on its EIGHTH SEASON on Univision and consistently one of the highest rated TV programs for not just the Spanish-language network, Univision, but sometimes, it beats out its English-speaking counterparts that air during the same time on Sunday nights. Yes kids, it's that popular. Sunday night was the penultimate episode (next Sunday is the Final Crowning Night). The reality show/beauty contest was down to the Top Five.

Las Top Cinco: Contestants from "Nuestra Belleza Latina 2014" in their evening gowns

As part of the episode, there was an "Evening Gown" fashion show/competition. Six fashion designers--of Latino descent--are commissioned to design the gowns for the contestants throughout the season. But now for this pre-Finals episode, there were only four designers left. I wanted to Recap the Gowns of these contestants--from my Least Favorite to Most Favorite, with my "Gown Scores" (10 being the highest). So...Here we go:

Aly Villegas: Aly from Mexico and for the Semi-Finals, she wore a canary yellow slinky jersey gown from US designer of Peruvian descent designer Eduardo de las Casas. The gown was two seconds from Tacky-licious; the nude illusion panels were very 1997. Between the mock-neck and the long sleeves and too-high stacked nude platforms...I didn't know what I liked least. But then,  I focused on that VERY 1993 Prom/Quinceañera hair:

 1993: Bouffant with a side front fall.

Gown Score: 6.7

Alina Robert: Alina is originally from Cuba and was unfortunately eliminated last night. First off: she's GORGEOUS; beautiful face, great telegenic features. For the gown portion, she wore a blue halter neckline style hi-lo gown with crystal trim and black waistband designed by Colombian-born/raised in Puerto Rico fashion designer Gustavo Arango. I actually liked the dress. There was nothing extraordinary about it and yes, it looked like something one would buy at a department or prom/pageant store.

Alina's Back: With that being said, it fit her well and highlighted her shoulders and very pretty face. In terms of her hair, it was A LOT. But I didn't have a problem with it. 

Gown Score: 8.7

Nabila Tapia: Nabila hails from NY and is of Dominican Republic descent. Last night she wore a silver sequined and ivory organza gown designed by Venezuelan fashion designer Giovanni Scutaro. The style was very Miss Venezuela (no surprise there). It featured "Disco Ball" silver sequined bust cups and a fitted column gown with attached multi-ruffled back train detail.

Disco Nabila: Between her side-swept hairstyle, earrings, crystal cuff and gown...she was the ultimate "Pageant Betty". It was a little tight at the waist and hips (notice the rippling and pulling happening in the photo above), but those pageant girls always love it TOO TIGHT, unfortunately.

Gown Score: 8.9

Josephine Ochoa: Josephine is Guatemalan descent and from Los Angeles, CA. She was "Miss Guatemala U.S. 2013". The blond-haired, brown-eyed beauty wore a gold metallic and crystal gown, also from Venezuela designer Giovanni Scutaro.

Golden Girl: The column shaped gown featured a drop shoulder, high neck and very plunging back. This was one of my favorite gowns of the night. It looked perfect for Josephine. I also loved the fabrication; unusual and luxe. This is definitely not from a Prom-and-Pageant store. If only Josephine was 6 feet tall, this gown would have been an OUT OF CONTROL moment!

Gown Score: 9.0

Aleyda Ortiz: Aleyda wore a royal blue Empire-cut chiffon gown with silver sequined top detail, designed by Eduardo de las Casas. Aleyda worked this gown OVERTIME. In terms of the design, this wasn't anything earth-shaking and in fact, was very "Pageant"-expected. But it was the fact that Aleyda was wearing it...At one point, she was holding on to the chiffon over-layers and then dropped them...in a very dramatic "Pageant Fab" move captured in the one of the photos above. She was VERY "Miss Universe" contestant.

Gown Score: 9.2

Not Her First Time At The Rodeo: I think Aleyda is probably going to be the next "Nuestra Belleza Latina". This is my guess. Aleyda is no stranger to pageants and in fact, was the First Runner-Up to "Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2013" (above) and then...

Got to represent "Puerto Rico" in the "Miss Intercontinental 2013 Pageant" and also got First Runner-Up (left). I think that next Sunday, it will finally be the time she moves from First Runner-Up to being an actual Winner...We'll see!

WHO WORE WHAT?.....People En Español's 50 Most Beautiful People (Los 50 Mas Bellos) 2013 Red Carpet, the Good and "Ayyy Mija!"

 People En Español 50 Mas Bellos (50 Most Beautiful) Issue with singer/actress Lucero on the cover

People En Español had their Party for the "50 Mas Bellos" Issue at the Marquee nightclub last night in NYC. The "50 Mas Bellos" People Magazine issue is the Spanish-speaking version of the magazine's "50 Most Beautiful" and highlights some of today’s most popular names in Hispanic
entertainment.  This year’s cover features 6 leading telenovela actors
and one talented singer/actress, the one-and-only Lucero.

A couple of years ago, I was invited to attend this event in NYC when I
had designed a ensemble for the "Chica Orbit"--the Latina Orbit Gum Girl (Orbit Gum/Wrigley's was one of the main sponsors at the time). I had a
blast at the event back then:

 Nick Verreos and "Chica Orbit"--model Rosario Abarca--at People En Español's "50 Mas Bellos" 2011 Party, NYC

 But back to this year's 2013 Mas Bellos:

The magazine gathered all 7 stars under one roof for a shoot at a luxurious mansion in sunny Miami Beach. The
leading men gracing the cover are David Zepeda, Sebastian Rulli, Eugenio Siller, Rafael Amaya, Erick Elias and Jason Canela (above photos). Now, let's get to the red carpet of last night's event. there was some "Bueno", some OK" and yes, my favorite, some "Ayyy Mija!" (and "Mijo!"):

Adamari Lopez: Puerto Rican actress and host of Telemundo's "Un Nuevo" show, Adamari Lopez wore this silver iridescent organza dress that fit way too oddly. The "strapless" section was too high, the sleeves cut her in a weird section of her arm (looked too Missy, or "abuela") and well, overall, it's not chic enough. I expect more form her. Llamame and my PR person will lend you one of my FAB new NV Nick Verreos dresses!

Nuestra Belleza Latina 2007 Alejandra Espinoza: Huuuuney!! Alejandra is a SEX Bomb in this shimmery fringed minin dress. I think she looks great and yes, UBER sexy. I also, can't help but see the  similarity between her and the current Miss Universe 2012 from the US, Olivia Culpo:

 How do you say DOPPELGANGER in Spanish???

Nuestra Belleza Latina 2010 Ana Patricia Gonzalez: Ana Patricia looks very appropriate and on-trend in this fitted body-con stretch satin printed dress with a boat-neck line. The center-parted hairstyle and blush-colored clutch/nude heels are perfect. This former queen knows how to NOT look HOOCHIE and perfectly Fab!

Candela Ferro: TV personality, model and host of Telemundo's "Al Rojo Vivo", Argentina-born Candela Ferro wore this snakeskin-printed bustier peplum top and shorts. I like this look on her! It's "Alexander McQueen Lite": Me Gusta! I also loved the pop of color in her blue pointed heels. Well done Candela and her stylist!

Chiquis Marin: Daughter of Mexican-American singer/icon Jenni Rivera, who died in a plane crash last year, Chiquis Marin, wore a black lace and satin gown for last night's event. Her makeup and hair looked beautiful, and although I do think it's appropriate for her to be in black, the gown style looks a bit too "Mother-of-the-Bride-Meets-Pageant-Queen circa 1996". A simple black sheath dress with some sparkle would have sufficed.

Danna Garcia: Colombian telenovela actress and model Danna Garcia wore this long printed gown at last night's party. The pose is all things CALIENTE. But, I'm not so sure of the dress. I think the long sleeves attached to the dress were maybe...too MUCHEEY. What do you chicos think?

Lili Estefan: TV personality Lili Estefan (and yes, cousin of La Gloria) wore this golden paillette sequin dress with gold belt to last night's People En Español's 50 Most Beautiful 2013 event. I think this was perfcet for the night and for her. Muy Bueno Lili!

Maite Perroni: Telenovela Actress (and former "RBD" member) Maite Perroni a BIG Latina star. But she will not hit any "Best Dressed" lists with this little sequined romper; she looks like she's every-other-girl at a Vegas nightclub standing in line to get in. Maite needs to do better. This is dos minutos from HOOCHIE.

Luz Garcia: Dominican Republic-born TV personality Luz Garcia this ivory applique and feathered/tulled dress at last night's event. It's VERY Figure Skating Costume. It's like Marchesa-on-a-budget. The red strapy heels don't even help.

 Oh, and I can't help but notice how much she reminds me of Kylie Minogue. Is that just me?

Nuestra Belleza Latina 2012 Vanessa De Roide: I like the unusual fabrication of this black strapless A-line dress. But...I think it should have been lined to just-above-the-hem. Other than that: Muy bien mi amor! 

Beauty Queen Minis: (L-R) Finalists from "Nuestra Belleza Latina" Marina Ruiz, Barbara
Turbay, Viviana Ortiz, Marisela Demontecristo, and Audris Rijo attend People En Español's 50 Most Beautiful 2013 at Marquee on May 13, 2013 in
New York City--Leave it to former Latina beauty queens to chose micro-mini shimmery dresses. This is so expected. So why not trying something different ladies? They look fine (my favorites are the second and third from the left) but still, they look like "Budweiser Beer Girls". They need to be more Fashion Model Chic.

Ayyy Mija: 

Marjorie de Sousa: Venezuela-born model and telenovela villain actress Marjorie de Souza thought she was going to her Prom or Quinceañera . What. Is This. Pouffy. Mess? On a good note: her hair and makeup are FABULOSO! Muy chevere!

Maripily Rivera: Latina Drag Queens Rejoice--Puerto Rican "model" (and I use the term very, very loosely!) Mariply, did not disappoint last night in that she looked CHONCHEE, HOOCHIE and very Tacky-licious: a bubblegum pink sequined wide-leg jumpsuit with too-plunging neckline and pink feathered clutch purse, a fake tan and a CAMELTOE. Ayyyy Mija!



Los Hombres/The Men:

Henry Santos: Record producer Henry Santos was one of the Best Dressed Hombres at last night's "Mas Bellos" party at Marquee. The "Rat Pack" style red jacket fit very well and looked modern and right for his slim build. The tie and pocket hankie added the right amount of "finishing touch". Also, his facial grooming was...perfecto!

Jason Canela: One of the magazine's "Mas Bellos" coverboy, telenovela Cuban-American actor Jason Canela wore this look above at last night's party. I think he could have looked better; more polished. All the right elements are there; the dinner jacket, the skinny tie, the slim black pants...maybe the shirt should have been a white dress shirt. and PS: keep the jacket buttoned. Por favor. Oh, and here's another "Evil Twin": Jason is sooo the Latino twin of ...

 Joe Jonas

Rafael Amaya: Mexican model, singer actor Rafael Amaya wore this gray plaid, tie, white dress shirt and pants look at last night's People En Español's 50 Most Beautiful 2013 at Marquee NYC. The only problem I have with this entire look is...those BROWN square toed shoes of his. Ayyy Mijo!

Sebastian Rulli: Argentine-Mexican actor/model (and "Mas Bellos" coverboy) Sebastian Rulli  decided to wear this satin-ized blue suit, pink dress shirt and multi-printed bow tie. Two words: No LIKEY. Sebastian is one of the most handsome boys and somehow he looks NOT handsome in this and worst of all, awkward. Oh, and what is with that THUMB ring? LOSE it!

Jaime Augusto Mayol: Puerto Rican model and TV host Jaime Augusto is THE SINGLE BEST DRESSED MALE of the night! Una Palabra: WOW. Muy bien Jaime Augusto. Muy Bien