Venus Rising

For at least two hours, the nation was diverted from monitoring the aftermath of the Quriino Grandstand bus siege because of the Miss Universe beauty pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada. Many had pinned their hopes on Miss Philippines Venus Raj in bringing home the crown that has eluded this beauty queen-crazy natiion since 1973 when Margie Moran bagged the title. Gloria Diaz first won the same title in 1969, while Miriam Quiambao almost had the crown but Miss Botswana stole the limelight in 1999.

Venus was a crowd favorite and she looked all set to balance the Miss U crown on her head- till the Q&A portion. Asked by William Baldwin what her greatest mistake in life and how she made it right? Venus seemed stumped for an answer. At 22, what big mistake is a provincial lass expected to have made? and whose retelling would have shaken the very foundations of Mandalay Bay? If she were a former drug addict, a hostage-taker,an abusive mother? maybe she could have left no eye dry in the audience with her answer?



But at 22? Maybe she fell in love with a jerk? got pregnant? Or cheated in an exam?Or shoplift? And who in the right mind will you tell that to the world on Miss Universe Coronation night?

VENUS' fate was sealed not because she didn't have the right answer but because she didn't get the right question ( you know, the one that has to do with saving the planet, the children and the rights of women).

Still and all, she is a winner. A major, major winner.

credits to joanne rae m. ramirez