Miss Universe confirms manila staging of pageant
17-Nov-16
It’s confirmed. The grand coronation of the 65th Miss Universe beauty pageant will be held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on January 30, 2017, 8 a.m.
This was announced by Shawn McClain, vice president for business development of the Miss Universe Organization (MUO), who flew in from New York City to confirm the good news to pageant fans.
Miss Universe Organization Vice President Shawn McClain signed contracts with Philippine sponsors led by former governor Chavit Singson who will invest $11 million into the event.
In a press launch held in Makati City Wednesday night, McClain said: “The energy and the passion of the Filipino people is really powerful. This is a special place for the Miss Universe Organization because it’s so popular here. It’s energetic fan base…very, very engaged and I couldn’t be happier to announce that the next Miss Universe pageant is going to happen here in Manila in January.”
The MUO executive added that: “it’s a three-hour telecast. So for three hours, the entire world is going to see everything the Philippines have to offer.”
Asked if controversial television host Steve Harvey will still be part of the show, McClain said they will soon announce the hosts and judges for the beauty pageant.
It will be recalled that there was a mix-up in the announcement of the winner in the Miss Universe 2015 contest in Las Vegas, Nevada in December when Harvey declared that Miss Colombia won when “Miss Philippines” was written on the results card.
Businessman and former Ilocos Sur governor Chavit Singson thanked MUO for allowing the Philippines to host the most prestigious beauty contest for the third time.
“This is a rare opportunity and the perfect time to share the good news that our country has one of the fastest growing economies in Asia,” Singson said.
The first time that the Philippines hosted the Miss Universe contest was in 1974, won by the late Amparo Muñoz of Spain. In 1994, the country once again played host to the prestigious pageant where India’s Sushmita Sen was crowned.
http://dailytimes.com.pk/life-and-style/17-Nov-16/miss-universe-confirms-manila-staging-of-pageant
