SASHES AND TIARAS.....Miss Venezuela 2018 Finals: EVENING GOWNS RECAP: My TOP 10 BEST List!

Venezuela Vestidos--Some of my BEST GOWNS of the 2018 Miss Venezuela Beauty Pageant (L to R) Miss Lara Claudia Villavicencio, Miss Barinas Kelly Mejias, Miss Portuguesa Isabella Rodriguez, Miss Trujillo Karla Fermin, Miss Merida Sarai Builes--Miss Venezuela 2018 Finals, Caracas Venezuela

Last week were the Finals of the 65th Annual Miss Venezuela Beauty Pageant. The Miss Venezuela Pageant has long been known as THE Beauty Pageant to end all Beauty Pageants. Because of the very sad economic situation in the country (population has to stand in hours-long lines to buy basic necessities!)--and recent controversies the Pageant has had including the fact that the organization closed temporarily over corruption pay-for-play claims of contestants receiving money for favors from businessmen, changes in management (Beauty Pageant Czar Osmel Sousa is gone!), the pageant has been downgraded in its impact and influence unfortunately.

Top Three--(L to R) First Runner-up "Miss Yaracuy" Alondra Echeverria, Miss Venezuela 22018 Isabella Rodriguez "Miss Portuguesa", Second Runner-up "Miss Tachira" Oricia Dominguez--Miss Venezuela 2018 Finals, Caracas Venezuela

This year's contest was held in Estudio/Studio 5 of Venevision TV Network and while the gorgeous women Venezuela is known for were still there as contestants, let's just say it was a much less extravagant affair than it had been in the past: Less titular musical acts, less pomp-and-circumstance, and less-than-Couture-like dresses...

Venezuela Winner--Miss Portuguesa Isabella Rodriguez is the new Miss Venezuela...to represent her nation at 2019 Miss World--Miss Venezuela 2018 Finals, Caracas Venezuela

In terms of the winner, 5' 10" (178 cm) tall Miss Portuguesa Isabella Rodriguez beat out 23 other entrants for the top title. Rodriguez is an Industrial Security Student and hails from Petare, one of Venezuela's (and South America's) largest slums. Many hailed her winning as a notice of change within the "new" Miss Venezuela in a pageant known for choosing more winners from the higher echelons of society as well as having more European backgrounds.

Queen Isabella--Miss Portuguesa Isabella Rodriguez at the 2018 Miss Venezuela Beauty Pageant

For some reason, Isabella will now represent Venezuela at the 2019 Miss World instead of representing her nation at next year's Miss Universe; a separate pageant will be held to choose the beauty who will go on to Miss Universe sometime next year. So...in essence last week's pageant was Miss World Venezuela even though it was touted as being the official MISS VENEZUELA.

Now, let's discuss THE GOWNS! Here were my TOP TEN FAVORITES:

1. Miss Trujillo Karla Fermin--Karla wore this chartreuse-and-gold-colored Mermaid-shaped gown during the Finals of Miss Venezuela 2018. I really liked the colors and strong shape. Her gown had a Cleopatra-like neckline like the winner's, but hers being all silver crystals (as opposed to pearls). I thought the design was impacting and strong enough to be worn on an international level.
Score: 9.45

2. Miss Lara Claudia Villavicencio--Miss Lara 2018 wore this champagne-colored silk gown from designer Cesar Santana. I loved the side drape detail, perfect fitted shape and Haute Couture-like silk gazar-with-golden-sequins side overskirt. It was quite a dramatic look, harking back to the "Good Ol' Days" of Venezuelan Designer Alta Moda of Guy Meliet.
Score: 9.35

3. Miss Barinas Kelly Mejias--Blush pink sequins were in order as the gown choice of Miss Barinas Kelly Mejias. The dress featured pink and silver beads completely covering a dress over nude illusion, with a leg-revealing side slit and full lower half silhouette. While the upper portion of the gown was fairly simple, the drama of the skirt made the dress a “wow” and the overall impact was stage impacting and looked expensive.

Score: 9.20

4. Miss Merida Sarai Builes--Sarai wore one of the most elegant gowns of the night in this strapless red silk ziberline design. The gown had a squared-off bustline with nude illusion panel, paillettes hand-sewn onto the neckline of her bustier and sprinkled delicately on the body and side draped skirt. She looked regal, above-it-all and chic. 
Score: 9.10

5. Miss Portugusa Isabella Rodriguez--Isabella, who became the eventual winner, and wore one of the best gowns of the night. The ivory column dress--designed by Franco Montoro--featured a Cleopatra-like neckline of pearl embellishments, a "backless" panel of nude illusion and gown detailed with silver sequins. The design fit Isabella perfectly and the white color was perfect against her naturally tan skin.

Score: 9.05

6. Miss Monagas Anaid Fuentes--Anaid wore this pale pink silk crepe off-the-shoulder gown that was actually quite beautiful and Alta Moda in its design and details. I loved the scroll-like drape of the neckline as well as the multicolored beading. It was also great that this designer took the DESIGN 101 lesson of FOCUS ON ONE AREA by concentrating the details in the torso although the draped chain detail on the sleeves was a bit TOO MUCHEE.
Score: 9.00

7. Miss Bolivar Maria Jose Hernandez--This violet colored sequined gown made my TOP FIVE spot of the Miss Venezuela 2018 Evening Gowns for its shape, simplicity, elegance and impact. The fit was perfect, I loved the golden sequin waistband and soft fit-to-flare skirt shape, ending in violet-like petals from knee to hem. She looked like a GLAM Violet Orchid.
Score: 8.99

8. Miss Sucre Annabella Alsamarrai--Designed by Moniz & Fornes, This was a gorgeous gown modeled by Miss Sucre 2018 Annabella Alsamarrai. I loved the fit, the royal blue color, silver sequin applique and elegant shape featuring a strapless neckline and soft back overskirt.
Score: 8.95

9. Miss Anzoategui Maria Eloina Hurtado--Maria Elonia wore this strapless ivory shimmering gown from designer Edgar Alfaro. The dress had this GORGEOUS side drape at the bust, chandelier crystal sequins covering the entire body, creating an impacting column-shaped design. The overall effect was very "Cher"-like which I loved. If there was any critique, I wasn't a fan of the white panties/bodysuit showing from underneath.
Score: 8.60

Lastly...

10. Miss Zulia Maria Eugenia Penoth--Eugenia Penoth wore this pink gown for the Finals of Miss Venezuela 2018 and I thought it was pretty enough to make it into my Top 10 Best Gowns. The dress had flower-like appliques as well as thousands of crystals embellishing the design, set over nude tulle. It also had a dramatic silk ziberline overskirt. While it was very late 90's "Miss Venezuela" Pageant Betty, it was done well and pretty enough to make my BEST List.
Score: 8.40

CONGRATULATIONS and Felicitaciones to Isabella Rodriguez, Miss Venezuela 2018--Good Luck/Buena Suerte at next year's Miss World!

And if you LOVE Beauty Pageants and Pageant Gowns, check out my "The Pageant Coloring Book" on Amazon.com, allowing you to make your VERY OWN EVENING GOWN competition via fashion sketches--Click image below: