You are the universe

She was the one who caught my eye since I saw her face in the Miss Universe website weeks ago. Riyo Mori, raven-haired with eyes that seem to be glowing and  lit from within. Just as Whitney Houston cooed in her song, 'So Emotional': "I don't why I like you, I just do!"

Perhaps I was still smarting from Kurara Chibana's near-win last year, or maybe this fascination with Japanese women started when Miyako Miyazaki finished 5th in the 2003 pageant. There's something about these three women, something that to me made them all worthy of the title. After all, Japan was the first Asian country to win the title in 1959, so they've been deserving to win (to a slightly greater degree that the Philippines, who last won in 1973 and almost won in 1999).

But I'm really loving these Japanese ladies of recent years. In fact, I was so in love with Ms Chibana that I changed my drag name from Mimi Kikimura to Kurara Chibana last year. Now the temptation to embrace the name Riyo Mori is almost too strong to resist. But out of loyalty to Ms Chibana, I will resist said temptation. Besides, almost every fag in town will surely call themselves Riyo Mori because she won. Well, fuck those fags. Where were they when Japan wasn't winning?

This year I am really happy with the outcome because my bet won! Surely, Ms Korea had been declared by pundits to be the lady to beat because of her beauty and grace but these days, those are not enough. You gotta have spunk, and character, things that Riyo Mori sweats off her porcelain skin. From her confident swish and swagger wearing her national costume to her playful twirling of the shawl in the swimsuit competition to her devil-may-care romp wearing that neo-gypsy Gucci gown in the long gown competition, Riyo Mori ate up every inch of the stage given her, along with the other delegates (ha-ha!).

On a sad note, I was really hoping that Ms Tanzania will make it to the top 5 but I guess one can't have it all. I think Ms USA got in the top 5 because of her live fall-and-rise on stage. Shades of Ms Miriam Quiambao in 1999. And I really think Ms Korea's answer in the final round deserved the 2nd runner-up post, at least. It would've been tremendous and ground-breaking to see Japan and Korea fighting it out for the crown, with China sulking as the 2nd runner-up (dream sequence).

And, while I'm not surprised to see Ms Philippines receiving the Ms Photogenic Award, I am proud to say that this year, she really deserves it. 

It actually felt like Christmas morning. I woke up around 7AM, saw that Kaloy was still sleeping, so I crept back to bed. At around 8 I woke up to Dave's voice and I shouted, "Ms Uuuuuuuuu!!!!" as I stretched and yawned. Over coffee, scrambled eggs and cream crackers the three of us watched as the pageant unfolded before our eyes. By 10AM, Riyo Mori is the new Ms Universe, and I am here, reporting it to all of you.