MJ For The Win

After Desiree Verdadero's "almost-there" performance in the 1984 Miss Universe as 3rd Runner-Up, Bb. Pilipinas started to focus on the candidates aptitude in the interview as opposed to fitness (swimsuit) and grace (gown), forgetting that the Miss Universe pageant is still a competition of form versus being. They forgot that the wit and maturity of the contestants only gets considered during the finals interview portion or in the case of recent MU pageants, the Top 5. 

In 1985, we sent Joyce Burton, a very smart girl with a very good communication skills but failed to place in the semi's as she somewhat deviated with the Philippines' "Filipina" brand. Then there was Liza Berroya, a MENSA member who aced the interview portion in 1992 Binibining Pilipinas but unfortunately landed 42nd in MU 1992 after garnering an average of 8.3333 --  a composite score or average from her Swimsuit's 8.13, Interview's 8.53, and Gown;s 8.34.

And who could forget the high hopes we had for now-lawyers Zorayda Ruth Andam (2001) and Anna Theresa Licaros (2007)?

It was only, after Venus Raj that Philippines was able to regain its brand consistency that it regained it's powerhouse accolade as proven by its 4 year Top 5 placement streak. With that said, there are only 2 possibilities for Mary Jean Lastimosa (MJ) during the Miss Universe (MU) 2014 pageant. 

1.) Not able to place in Top 15/16 for reason of losing its consistency with that Filipina look brand, or,
2.) Snag the MU 2014 effortlessly. 

Why? She's got the right timing having a perfect package (looks, fit, grace and wit) that Nina Ricci Alagao once had, that if not because of bad timing (Abu Sayyaf terrrorism) could have given India's Lara Dutta a run for her money during the MU 2000.