Miss Universe 2014 Preview & Predictions
Screw the Pro Bowl! I can’t watch it. Admit it, neither can you. I’ll be watching Miss Universe. I can hear the tweets now “That’s a Violation!” Well, the Pro Bowl is a violation. Andy Dalton made it so I don’t want to hear it.
Most decent sites are taking plays on the contestants so I’ll be wagering my money on some talented, intelligent, beautiful women competing against one another for the glorious crown of Donald Trump’s Miss Universe. You can watch Team Carter vs. Team Irvin.
There are too many contestant with no shot at winning this prestigious event so we’ll be looking at the top 11, according to Vegas oddsmakers.
Here are the odds, as of 1/22:
Miss Colombia +450
Miss Costa Rica +450
Miss Mexico +450
Miss Venezuela +600
Miss USA +600
Miss India +600
Miss Spain +900
Miss Russia +1000
Miss Australia +1000
Miss Indonesia +1000
Miss Sweden +1000
Contestant Profiles:
MISS COLOMBIA
Paulina Vega Dieppa
22 years old – 5’9″
Paulina comes into this competition with a ton of momentum. She won the Miss Colombia Miss Universe Pageant with a perfect score in every category.
She’s rumored to be a bitch by other contestants, but that could just be some scared women.
She’s been modeling since she was 8. Her grandmother, Elvira Castillo, was Miss Atlantico 1953, whatever that is. It does mean she has pageant-winning genes racing through her DNA. She currently studies Business Administration.
Fun Facts: She sleeps with her eyes open. She loves making to-do lists and checklists.
Analysis: She’s gonna be tough to beat. Colombian women are notoriously beautiful and she’s now slouch at all. Combine those looks with that win-at-all-costs attitude she’s rumored to have and I can see why she’s a favorite. Rumors are that she never smiles unless there is a camera nearby. The sleeping with her eyes open is too creepy for me so don’t know if I’ll lay any cash on her, but definitely a safe bet.
MISS COSTA RICA
Karina Ramos
21 years old – 5’8″
Karina was +600 last week and has moved to +450. Money is coming in on Ms. Ramos, who looks to be the first Tica to take home the crown. Costa Rica has had two top ten finishes (2004, 2011).
Karina, who prefers to be called Kary, started her career at 9 by working as the host of at TV program. She’s a seasoned veteran. She studied Public Affairs and owns her own modeling agency and academy.
Analysis: Kary has been in front of the camera since she was 9 so there’s no way she’ll be rattled under the big lights of Primetime television. They say she’s got an infectious charm that makes people fall in love with her. Among the three favorites, I’d lean Kary.
MISS MEXICO
Josselyn Garciglia
Age 24 – 5’8″
Josselyn is adventurous. As 17, she moved to London learn another language and travel throughout Europe.
She enjoys swimming and water polo. At 22, she graduated near the top of her class with a degree in Nutrition.
She’s an observant type and often ends up impersonating those near her. She hates mornings and usually wakes up in a bitchy and bratty mood.
Fun Fact: She often trips going up steps, claiming she has two left feet.
ANALYSIS: Is she a little long in the tooth at 24? Probably not, but it is a concern. She’s definitely stunning and deserves to be in this class, but I just don’t think she’s the total package. She didn’t spend her childhood in pageants and that could back to haunt her. This isn’t the D-League here. She can be clumsy and bitchy so I don’t know how that will go with the judges. I’d say there is better betting value out there.
MISS VENEZUELA
Migbelis Castell
Age 19 – 5’7″
Reports are she graduated high school in 2010. That would make her like 15 at graduation?
She’s currently a dual major studying Social Communications and Politics.
Migbelis may be a natural. She didn’t decide to enter the Miss Universe competition until the age of 17 and still won.
She’s a big fan of baseball and cooking.
FUN FACT: She likes to put her feet on the table.
ANALYSIS: Migbelis is young and she’s got a lot of national pressure on her. The reigning Miss Universe is her compatriot Gabriela Isler and Venezuela has a record seven crowns. I’ll bet that Rex Ryan is betting on Migbelis with the whole feet on the table stuff. I don’t think she handles the pressure, but you can’t count her out simply because she’s from Venezuela and that’s a helluva pedigree.
MISS USA
Nia Sanchez
Age 24 – 5’8″
Nia graduated high school and moved to be a nanny.
She’s traveled to the Middle East, Austria and Switzerland. She’s done mission trips in Mexico. In total, she’s visited 15 countries.
Nia’s been modeling full-time for the past seven years and currently lives in Las Vegas.
FUN FACT: She’s a 4th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and is also a certified instructor.
ANALYSIS: Nia is a total contender. You gotta love her fierceness. A 4th degree black belt? She’s a former nanny? She lives in Vegas? I Like it all. At 5’8″ she’s got good size, too. The age isn’t so much a concern since she does quite a bit of martial arts. Definitely worth considering a play.
MISS INDIA
Noyonita Lodh
Age 21 – 5’6″
Noyonita won her first pageant at 16.
She’s currently working on a degree in Business Management.
Sources say that Noyonita is extremely likable. Some even say she’s enigmatic. People are drawn to her personality.
Don’t be fooled though, she won a reality show with 15 contestants to determine who would be Miss India. In that show, she had to compete weekly against the other contestants. Noyonita doesn’t crack under pressure.
FUN FACT: Belly-dancing is her favorite past time.
ANALYSIS: I’m a fan of Noyonita. I think her enigmatic personality will play big with the judges. India isn’t new to having a Miss Universe. They took home the crown in 1994 and 2000. Belly-dancing? If a talent portion was included, she’d be a lock!
MISS SPAIN
Desire Cordero
Age 21 – 5’9″
Desire has been working as a model since she was 15. She began modeling internationally at 17 and has lived all around the world working as a model.
She has a Bachelors degree and looks to continue studying Oceanography.
People describe her as cheerful and optimistic.
FUN FACT: She missed a train for her first date with her current boyfriend. Her father, a pilot, flew her from Seville to Mardrid on his small plane.
ANALYSIS: Desire is stunning. I’m a little shocked at the lack of chatter that I’ve seen around Desire. That concerns me. I’m wondering if might not come across well at the interview. I have nothing to base that on, but something has kept her off my people’s list of potential winners.
MISS RUSSIA
Yulia Alipova
Age 24 – 5’10”
Yulia is a heat power engineer from Balakova. She’s a cum laud graduate majoring in mathematics and physics.
She’s a certified Russian-English translator.
Her friends insisted that she enter the Miss Russia Universe Pageant and she won by unanimous decision.
Fun Facts: In her spare time she travels, reads, trains in vocals, goes to the gym, does yoga and pistol shooting.
ANALYSIS: Putin is coming strong with this contestant. A math and physics major? She goes to the pistol range in her spare time? 5’10’? She could be a real dark horse. Yulia is an English translator so she’ll cruise through any interviews. She doesn’t have an instagram that I could find, but pictures on the internet say to keep an eye on her.
MISS AUSTRALIA
Tegan Martin
Age 22 – 5’10”
Tegan has been modeling in Paris since she was a teenager.
She’s pursuing a degree in Nutritional Medicine. That’s a big deal because Tegan has dealt with weight issues in the past. She won Miss Australia Universe on her third attempt. Judges thought she had looked malnourished in previous years. Tegan mentors girls struggling with confidence issues.
She is roommates with Miss USA.
Fun Fact: Tegan is a big fan of going to live concerts with her friends.
ANALYSIS: Tegan is a great story, overcoming diet issues. I just don’t think she’s in the same class as some of the other contestants. The fact that she lost her first two attempts isn’t something that I can overlook.
MISS INDONESIA
Elvira Devinamira
Elvira likes to eat right, sleep well and exercise daily.
She likes to dress fresh, clean, elegant and chic without wearing too much makeup. Elvira is hoping to be known as more than just a contestant. She’d like to be known as a new friend to the other contestants.
People who know her says she has a true natural beauty from the heart.
Elvira loves surprises.
Fun Fact: Her favorite quote is “Love is a language spoken by everyone”.
ANALYSIS: I can’t see Elvira as a true contender here. She’s too sweet for this stuff.
MISS SWEDEN
Camilla Hansson
Age 26 – 5’8″
She’s Miss Sweden, but she moved to London when she was 18. Camilla was actually born in Stockholm.
Her first modeling gig was for a lingerie line.
Camilla is an ambassador for Operation Orphan and is currently studying Nutrition.
She has taught catwalk and confidence to young girls. Camilla is a Christian at heart.
Fun Fact: Camilla has designed some of her own pageant dresses.
ANALYSIS: I just can’t get behind a Miss Sweden who lives in London and has dark hair. I just don’t see her being a player. I won’t be putting any cash behind Camilla.
WAGERING: I’m gonna put a wager on 3 contestants here. I like the momentum that Miss Costa Rica has right now. I think Miss India is solid value at +600. My final wager will be on Miss Russia. She has too much brains to overlook.
BEST BET: Miss Costa Rica
In case you missed Miss Canada’s insane costume during the National Costume presentation, it’s below. Whoever designed this is either on some solid recreational drugs or just one screwed up designer. Notice the Stanley Cup in her hair!
Enjoy the show, avoid the Pro Bowl. Who knows…we might have to live tweet the event. Remember this, betting on any TV competition always makes it much more interesting to watch. Don’t judge.