“If you could be anyone famous for a day, who would it be and why?”
For sure, this question might seem easy to all of us who are just sitting on a couch, eating chips and drinking wine while watching the final night telecast of the Miss Universe pageant.
What we don’t usually quite get as spectators is that these girls have to answer what we think is a simple question in front of thousands, or millions of people.
Nerves is the one to blame primarily when the message the candidates want to deliver is not delivered correctly. In some ways it is true, but most of the time these women prepare themselves to answer “hard” political, social or economic centered questions.
Why is that? Simple… as a former teen pageant candidate we don’t prepare to answer such simple and “easy” questions even though there is a possibility we are asked not only during the final night, but also in the indoor interview portion. Of course this wouldn’t cross our minds, but it happens often and here is the thing… well trained girls block themselves and are taken by surprise when a judge just asks them what is your favorite color and why?; this is an exaggeration, but you get the point.
The best answer doesn’t always win
Even so, the best answer during the night is not always the one that wins. Actually, it is rarely the one that gets the crown. This has been a debate for the longest time and continues to be because the “best” answer most of the time is only that, the best at the moment.
Have you considered the delivery as important as the content, the security in which the contestants deliver or even if the answer is generic, boring and safe? These are just components that should be used and have been used to evaluate this segment of the competition.
It’s a matter of taste and what we believe is the right way to deliver a message. A leader should have these qualities, an ambassador should have the power to move the masses with the message they convey through their platform, and an official spokesperson should be able to convince with her voice.
It doesn’t matter if the answer is politically correct, if I were a judge the qualities I mentioned would be my top priority when evaluating a candidate. On the other hand, it doesn’t mean the girls should answer something all over the place.
Memorable final answers and speeches
The following are my personal Top 10 best final answers from Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International and Miss Earth pageants respectfully: (“Heads Up! Most of these picks are from past Miss Universe editions.”)
Yoseph Alicia Machado Fajardo, Miss Universe 1996 (Minute 2:15)
Venezuela gained their fourth universal crown with the sassy Alicia Machado with only 20 years. Her answer might not be considered the most rounded and politically correct answer in a pageant, but her sassiness and honest answer made her stand out from Aruba and Finland. Not to mention that her performance throughout the night was the best overall.
Brook Antoinette Mahealani Lee, Miss Universe 1997 (Minute 2:50)
Brook Lee represented the USA at the Miss Universe 1997 edition where she was crowned by her predecessor, Alicia Machado, Miss Universe 1996 from Venezuela. Her witty and down to earth answer made her stand out from the beauties of Venezuela and Trinidad & Tobago. Who wouldn’t want to eat everything in the world twice? For sure that would be my dream come true.
Mpule Keneilwe Kwelagobe, Miss Universe 1999 (Minute 3:26)
If Miss Universe would become pregnant during her reign, should she be allowed to continue being Miss Universe? Today this question might not seem controversial, but back in 1999 everything was different. While the three finalists agreed that Miss Universe should continue with her title, the words that Mpule used and how she delivered it sealed her crown. From being unplaced at Miss World in 1997 to being Miss Universe 1999 with Botswana debuting at this called pageant was an outstanding and bright outcome.
Lara Dutta, Miss Universe 2000 (Minute 3:23)
“I think pageants, like the Miss Universe pageant, gives us young women a platform to foray into the fields that we want to and forge ahead. Be it entrepreneurship, be it in the armed forces, be it politics. It gives us a platform to voice our choices and opinions and makes us strong and independent that we are today.” Who wouldn’t crown this woman with this amazing answer? Not only that, but her poised was out of this world, her serenity and confidence also sealed that second crown for India in just six years.
Jessica Nicole Trisko-Darden, Miss Earth 2007 (Minute 7:13)
Jessica’s answer might be the sweetest of the ones listed here. Miss Earth is an environmental advocate which is why all of their questions are based solely on Mother Nature, but who could’ve thought this kind of question would be asked? Jess made it clear and poured her heart in her answer when she answered how she would describe mother nature to a blind child. This made her the winner in the 2007 pageant, and gave Canada an Earth title.
Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, Miss Universe 2015 (Minute 4:07)
How can I not have Pia? My favorite Miss Universe of all time comes from the Philippines. Most people would only remember the disaster caused by the host of the night, Steve Harvey, when he announced Colombia as the Miss Universe by mistake. However, Pia was the star of the night and her answer was later turned into the Miss Universe official slogan; Confidently Beautiful with a Heart, anyone? 2015 is a year to remember, not because of the fiasco, because a new era began with this winning answer.
Davina Benett, Miss Universe 2017 (Minute 3:15)
This jamaican beauty finished in third place after having the best answer out of the Top 3 back in 2017. Davina not only answered with grace and security, but she also talked about her cause with the deaf community, one that has been forgotten for many years. She truly deserved a higher placement rather than a 2nd Runner Up position..
Manushi Chhillar, Miss World 2017 (Minute 2:30)
It took 17 years for India to win the Miss World title again after a back to back in 2000. In the final round Manushi talked about what should be the highest salary in the world. Of course, she won everyone’s heart with her words “a mother’s profession”. It was a smart move from this indian beauty, but there’s no doubt she is right when it comes to her answer.
Zozibini Tunzi, Miss Universe 2019 (Minute 2:17)
Who doesn’t remember Zozi’s answer during the final night of the past Miss Universe edition? She not only beat out more than 90 delegates, she also won over the heavy favorite and crowd favorite, Puerto Rico, Madison Anderson Berrios, with the elegance she portrayed during that round. This made Atlanta love her and cheer her on to win the coveted crown that night.
Sireethorn Leearamwat, Miss International 2019 (Minute 21:30)
This thai beauty won with her simplicity and beautiful eloquent final speech. She came out of nowhere and beat out the heavy favorites for the Miss International title that year. Her sweet aura came through those weeks and during the final night. She said something like “…if a simple girl like me did it also can you…” Bravo for her. Sireethorn’s win was not only a surprise to her and all pageant enthusiast’s, but her sweet, angelic demeanor wowed not only the judges, but also the other contestants who were thrilled when they announced her as the new Miss International 2019.
Bonus points of memorable answers
Janine Mari Raymundo Tugonon, Miss Universe 2012 (1st Runner Up & Crowning moment)
Here is a bonus of one of my favorite answers in pageant history. I was sure that the Philippines would win their third universal crown in 2012 with Janine after a spectacular presentation and a wonderful answer. Maybe her nerves played a little bit in the delivery, but the message was there and it was pretty convincing. An ambassador shouldn’t be judged by her native language, but rather her delivery, poise, elegance, substance and the conviction she delivers it. Look at the last Oscars, who would’ve thought “Parasite” a south korean film with subtitles would win Best Picture? I definitely didn’t lose hope since it was my bet just like any other beauty queen that doesn’t speak English.
While almost 99% of the girls in the list won their pageant, this doesn’t mean it happens all the time. However, they did and their answers in my opinion were spectacular, but most of the time who we think is the best don’t end up winning like Miss Jamaica 2017 and Miss Philippines 2012 on the list above.
Who’s your favorite beauty pageant finalist answer/speech? Don’t forget to comment down below who you think had the best answers.
Katalina's Notes 
I would eat EVERYTHING in the world😄…
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I would eat everything TWICE! 😂
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