SASHES AND TIARAS....Miss Grand International 2019 EVENING GOWNS: My TOP 15 BEST & OH DEAR!

Gown Gorgeous--Best of the 2019 Miss Grand International Evening Gowns (L to R) Miss Grand Thailand Coco Arayha Suparurk, Miss Grand Peru Camila Escribens, Miss Grand Venezuela Valentina Figueroa, Miss Grand Vietnam Nguyen Ha Kieu Loan--Miss Grand International 2019 Preliminary Competition

The Finals of the 2019 Miss Grand International beauty pageant took place this past Friday in Caracas, Venezuela at the Poliedro Area of Caracas. The winner--beating out 59 other contestants from all over the world--was the host nation, VENEZUELA!

The New Miss Grand International--Miss Grand Venezuela Valentina Figueroa

Model and student of architecture, Valentina Figueroa took the crown. She stands 1.84 M (6' tall), is 19 years old and was born in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela. Since the pageant took place in Venezuela, and it was announced that it will return there next year, it was exciting that she had won...

Miss Grand Venezuela (and new Miss Grand International) Valentina Figueroa with the outgoing Miss Grand International, Paraguay's Clara Sosa--Miss Grand International 2019 Finals, Caracas Venezuela

I am sure many pageant fans might have been a little bit perplexed by her win but...I watched the pageant and yeah, she was FABULOUS; well-spoken, looked gorgeous, statuesque, semi-natural and approachable enough. Well deserved. 

Valentina Venezuela--Miss Grand Venezuela Valentina Figueroa

And now, time to discuss the EVENING GOWNS!!!

Top Gowns (L top R): Miss Grand Thailand Coco Arayha Suparurk, Miss Grand Peru Camila Escribens, Miss Grand Venezuela Valentina Figueroa, Miss Grand Vietnam Nguyen Ha Kieu Loan--Miss Grand International 2019 Preliminary Competition

More Top Gowns: (L to R) Miss Grand Mexico Maria Malo, Miss Grand India Shivani Javhad, Miss Grand Ecuador Mara Topic, and Miss Grand Brazil Marjorie Marcelle--Miss Grand International 2019 Finals, Caracas Venezuela

Below are my TOP 15 PICKS for the Evening Gowns seen during the 2019 Miss Grand International Preliminaries, and in addition, I included some of the gown changes that occurred from the Preliminaries to the Final Night within my Top 15 Picks...Let's begin with the eventual winner of the top crown:

1. Miss Grand Venezuela Valentina Figueroa--Winner of the 2019 Miss Grand International crown, Venezuela's Valentina Figueroa was also my top choice for Evening Gown. Designed by Venezuelan designer Nidal Nouaihed, the gown was on trend with the slew of "nude gowns" that have been a favorite of late, for beauty pageant contestants as well as celebs on the red carpet. This particular gown featured a nude tulle illusion base with striking silver sequins throughout. The dress also had a center front slit and interesting horsehair netting shoulder detail. During the Preliminaries, she wore the gown with a back overskirt in peach iridescent organza (with crystals on it) to add drama, but it was removed for the Finals. I think this was a good move to remove it; it was definitely Too Mucheeey!
9.92

2. Miss Grand Peru Camila Escribens--My second favorite gown was worn by the Peruvian beauty, Camila Escribens. She actually received the trophy for Best Gown. This golden encrusted gown was certainly a stage-impacting design and well-deserved of the trophy (even if it was my very-close 2nd Best). This was another one of those "Nude Gowns", with the gold sequin applique and silver rhinestones. It also had gold beading falling from her shoulders. With her straight dark center-parted hair, she was very "Bob Mackie Cher" in this, which means I LOVED IT! If there was any critique, I am just not a fan of the "sistahs" being so...well...on display.
9.80

3. Miss Grand Ecuador Mara Topic--Mara looked elegant and very beautiful in this gold sequined gown. It was dramatic, figure-flattering and I especially loved the back golden cape. I also liked that the entire gown (for once!) wasn't all sheer and that the length was perfect (no sight of those tacky platform heels!).
9.75

4. Miss Grand Mexico Maria Malo--If I have to be honest, Maria was probably my favorite to take the top crown, but I get it, the pageant was in Venezuela and that country's contestant was gorgeous and well, it was their night! But moving on...Maria wore the strapless lilac-colored sequined gown in the top photo. I liked its Old Hollywood Glamour simplicity and especially the lovely side drape. But then, for the Finals, she changed to another lilac-colored sequined gown (above photos) which I REALLY LIKED! The column shape fit her well, making her look TEN FEET TALL, and as a Fashionista, I really appreciated the unique sleeve. Muy Bien!
9.65 (For both!)

5. Miss Grand Vietnam Nguyen Ha Kieu Loan--Miss Grand Vietnam triumphed the Evening Gown Preliminaries with wearing the only jumpsuit "gown". And I loved it! It was designed by Do Long and featured a stunning golden/nude sequined jumpsuit with hand-applied yellow feathered exaggerated sleeves. It was dramatic, stage-worthy and fashion unique! When she appeared on stage, all I could say was "You Go Girl!".
9.50

6. Miss Grand India Shivani Jadhav--In a gorgeous gown designed by Falguni Shane Peacock, Shivani certainly made a strong gown impact. This gold sequined dress fit her to perfection and featured a v-neck, sequined belt, and side front slit. It was very Red Carpet Fab! It there was any critique, it would be the shoes; I wished she would have worn strappy NON-PLATFORM ones.
9.40

7. Miss Grand Thailand Coco Arayha Suparurk--I absolutely LOVED Miss Grand Thailand! She had personality, realness and was ready for her close-up....every time! For her evening gown, she wore this red and blue sequined one-shoulder design from Unkuniya. The gown was super sexy, featuring the red-and-blue sequined panel with a nude leg-and-torso-exposing side, as well as iridescent organza back cape detail. Was it probably A LOT? Maybe. But I loved it. She SOLD IT like her rent was due!
9.25

8. Miss Grand Colombia Genesis Andrea Quintero Perez--Genesis wore this golden/nude sequin gown (yes kids, another one!), but I have to say, it fit her perfectly, looked nice and respectable and looked expensive. Nothing wrong here; this was Golden/Nude Gown Design 101.
9.10

9. Miss Grand Brazil Marjorie Marcelle--The sexy-beautiful Marjorie Marcelle wore the silver gown in the top photo for the Preliminaries but changed for the Finals to another silver sequined one (in the photo above). I really liked the first one better (the Finals one was a bit of a hot tackylicious mess), and therefore this is the one I am judging. The Preliminaries gown was designed by Helcio Junior. It fit her gorgeously, I loved the degrade of the sequins--from heavy to light--as well as the bust/neckline scroll-like details. I almost didn't mind the somewhat tacky nude illusion panel on her side thigh. I repeat: ON HER SIDE THIGH! I really tried to ignore that.
8.99 (for the Preliminaries Gown)

10. Miss Grand Panama Carmen Drayton--Carmen was another "Gown Changer" who wore one gown for the Preliminaries (top photo) yet changed for the Finals (above photo). And once again, my favorite of the two was the Preliminaries one. First off, the second one (Finals) was too Las Vegas Showgirl in Copacabana; the purple feathers were not necessary and between the super-high side slit and super low plunging neckline, I just couldn't even focus. Here's a design lesson: PICK ONE! Now that we have gotten that out of the way, I liked her Preliminaries gown. The pink-backed sequined design wasn't too Hoochielicious and really made her looked pretty, elegant, and statuesque.

8.98 (For the Preliminaries Gown)

11. Miss Grand Ireland Sudawan Kumdee--Sudawan wore this "Nude Gown" style featuring pearl, amethyst and silver sequins throughout. The fit was nice and I thought the crystal work was excellent. Overall, this was a lovely sequined gown that made her look like a Star.
8.95

12. Miss Grand Germany Lalaine Desiree Mahler--Lalaine wore this lavender-colored sequins-and-satin gown, which was a nice choice. The design featured a "Nude-and-Sequined" silver/lavender column dress with a lavender-colored satin overskirt. The dress was dramatic and very pretty. It checked off all those traditional Beauty Pageant Gown boxes. As a fashion-lover, I have to say that it was just a bit too 1990s in its design and I just love it when designers take evening gowns to another place....that isn't the 90s decade.
8.90

13. Miss Grand Chile Francisca Lavandero--Francisca wore this golden/nude gown that featured gold sequined "strips" along with radiating crystals throughout. The sequin work was nice and it was a different take on the "Nude Gown" theme. It fit her nicely but I just wished she would have chosen non-platform gold strappy heels.
8.75

14. Miss Grand Dominican Republic Stephanie Bustamante--Designed by Nidal Nouaihed, this violet-colored gown featured a nude illusion top section, silver rhinestone "necklace", silver degrade sequin work, a side chiffon cape and...(yes, there's more!), feathered skirt. Needless to say, it was MUCHO! But, here's the deal, I kinda liked it. At least there was no Hoochie side slit! And, at least, she styled herself with an elegant up-do. I loved that she looked like the Hostess of a "Carnival Cannes Festival" if there was ever such a thing.
8.50

15. Miss Grand Puerto Rico Hazel Marie Ortiz--Last on my Top 15 is this red dress worn by Miss Grand Puerto Rico. Designed by Angel Guzman, this red sequined gown featured a nude illusion front piece, one-shoulder design, back chiffon accent and high side front slit (of course!). The red color was perfect for Hazel and she looked like the perfect Beauty Pagent contestant. But that's the thing, it was a tad too 1990s/early 2000s Pageant retro for me. And then she really styled it wrong with those nude platform heels. Oh well. At least the rest was striking.
8.50

And...The "Oh Dear" Top 4:
Yes, kids, there were some hot messes in terms of Evening Gowns so here are my Top 4...

Miss Grand Belarus Karina Kiseleva--This is straight-up "Lion King" Gown Madness. The feathers, the nude vs. solid paneling, the sequins...why are there crystals on her shoulders and draped down her back??? And then, she thinks it's fine to wear a diamante necklace to finish it all off. And then (Part 2), her hair!!! It's like she's going to Happy Hour after work.

Miss Grand Costa Rica Brenda Castro Madrigal--The beautiful Miss Grand Costa Rica chose to wear this white gown that would have been OK if it wasn't for the gold chain detail that messed it all up! I just don't get it. I am trying to think of being a "fashion fly on the wall" in the fittings with her (and her Pageant Glam Squad) thinking "Ummmm, maybe we should remove those gold chains. Por favor!" I am, also so not a fan of the rhinestone "button" earrings. It's so mature.

Miss Grand Italy Mirea Sorrentino--Looks like someone is ready for a Gay Parade! Part of me loves this (the Gay Parade part) but then, I clear my eyes and realize that yes, this is like 100 tiers of gathered tulle ruffles, there's a side front opening and then nude/black sequined lace top, and she's got a top bun that will withstand a nuclear war. Wow. Maybe this might work at, say, a Eurovision contest.

Miss Grand Nigeria Ocheche Favour--Lastly, I wanted to discuss the lovely Ocheche Favour, Miss Grand Nigeria. This purple gown was a bit confusing. There's the sequined asymmetrical base, the satin back skirt, the nude illusion backing....it was a lot. But more distressing was the placement of the sequins ON THE BUST. One word: No. Oh and yes, then there are those blush pink heels. Oh Dear!

That's it!

CONGRATULATIONS to the new Miss Grand International and her Runners-up! And Congrats to the Miss Grand International Organization for yet another, fabulously produced show and pageant.