On Sunday, 7PM/ET Jan, 29 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, the Philippines. Eighty six lovely ladies representing their home country competed once again for the last time and chance of bringing home the crown in this year's 65th edition of Miss Universe coronation night.
After a month of rigorous display of poise, grace and brains to determine who embodies the true beauty to represent the Miss Universe. 23-year old, medical surgery student, Iris Mittenaere of Lille, a town North of France emerged victorious besting other 85 candidates.
In her final Top 3 Q&A:
Name something in your life that you failed at, and tell us what you learned from that experience".
Miss France using an interpreter, she answered:
"I failed several times in my life, so I thought that I failed the first time that I went out on casting because my name wasn't on the list. And the very next day, I found that I was [booked]. I think that when you fail, you have to be elevated, and you have to try again and keep going. If tonight, I am not the winner, I will still have the great honor of being one of the three finalists. So I think I may have failed before, but for me this is a great first opportunity."
Lengthy - I know, and confusing. Lol.
And so there were some comments spreading on social networks saying that the interpreter - translated it wrong. French savvy netizens posted the corrected version. And this is their version. Lol.
"I failed several times in my life. I thought I failed an exam during my first year of medical school because my name wasn't on the passing list. So, the very same day I went to buy a new set of books to keep on studying. I think when you fail, you have to stand up and keep going, we are all able to do so. If I don't win tonight, I will still keep on smiling tomorrow because I am proud to be part of the three finalists. I've learned a lot from my failures and happily, I did end up passing my first year of medical school."
Well, the latter is a polished version, I thought the interpreter convey the same message. Only it goes many stops (lol) before hitting the point.
What she's been trying to say after all is to never give up. If you failed, stand up, try again and keep going.
And she won.
Completing the Top 3 were Miss Haiti, Raquel Pelissier as 1st Runner-up and Miss Colombia, Andrea Tovar as 2nd Runner-up.
Other ladies who made it to the Top 6:
4. Miss Thailand, Chalita Sausane
5. Miss Kenya, Mary Esther Were
6. Miss Philippines, Maxine Medina
Credits: Inquirer.net
Top 9:
Miss Mexico, Kristal Silva
Miss Canada, Siera Bearchell
Miss USA, Deshauna Barbers
Credits: Inquirer.net
Top 13:
Miss Brazil, Raissa Santana
Miss Peru, Valeria Plazza
Miss Indonesia, Kezia Warouw
Miss Panama, Kelty Drennan
Felicitacions Mlle France. And to all the ladies - you are all winners.