In my last "Sashes and Tiaras" post HERE, I blogged about my list of Top 25 Beauty Pageant Gowns of 2016--and early 2017-- since I had to include the most recent "Miss Universe" Pageant. So, now is the "UH OH Sister" of that list: My Top 20 "Oh No Huney! Gowns of 2016/early 2017". As always, there's always some not-so-good that come along with the FABULOUS...


These are gowns that pageant contestants--from "Miss Grand International 2016", "Miss Supranational 2016", "Miss USA 2016", "Binibining Pilipinas/Miss Universe Philippines 2016", "Miss Venezuela 2016", "Miss Universe 2016" and several others--left me wondering "What the Heck?"..."Do You Have a Pageant Glam Team/Best Gay friend?" and "What Were You Thinking?". I am sure that many of them may have had no other choice or might have been "ill-advised" to wear these styles but in any case, these were Beautiful Women Wearing the Wrong Gowns.

I have narrowed my list to 20 and here are the Worst Dressed Pageant Offenders:
1. Miss Grand International Czech Republic Monika Vaculikova: Well, well, well, look what we have here. Monika wore this ivory tulle and lace applique gown that featured feathers (if the tulle and sequins and applique were not enough!). This is a big ol' mess. Plain and Pageant Simple. It's like a tacky stripper wanted to get married and she decided to wear this. She needs to give this to a thrift store in the Czech Republic. ASAP.

2. Binibining Pilipinas Contestant No. 17 Priscilla Kimberley dela Cruz: Well, where do I begin with this one? Priscilla wore this silver gown with what seemed like Christmas ornaments stuck to her shoulders and all around her gown. It's a bit of a mess. The design was like Star Trek-meets-Christmas...and that's not a good thing. And then, someone gave her the unfortunate advice to actually ADD those too-big earrings and a necklace. This was the definition of TOO MUCHEEY.
3. Miss Supranational Slovak Republic Lenka Tekeljakova: If I can say something nice, it is that she looks ethereal--or like she belongs in a flower garden. Other than that, this is just a Flower Mess. Pink tulle, flower pedal appliques all bunched together in her breasts...what would make her think this was A) Elegant; B) Cute; C) Gown chic; and D) Appropriate for an international pageant contestant? I can see this on a Flower Day Parade (if there is such a thing) or a Spring Dance Recital but for the Evening Gown Competition of "Miss Supranational"? Nope.


4. Miss Grand International Ethiopia Genet Tsegay: Oh No Genet! I just have one question: Did you look in a mirror before going out--or at least, when you chose this gown? Here's the thing--those bra cups/pads SHOULDN'T BE SHOWING. EVER. It's so tacky I don't even know where to start. I feel bad for her since she is quite pretty. The tacky-licious bra-pad exposing gown just ruined her.

5. Miss World Philippines Contestant No. 9 Jan Helen Villanueva: Two words: Oh Dear! OK, let me start with the good: I liked the bright canary yellow color of this gown and liked the semi-one-shoulder neckline but after that, it all went No-No. The gathering at the bust looks bulky, the sequin applique looks cheap--and also heavy. And then WHAT IS THAT IN FRONT OF HER CROTCH!? Who, in their right fashion design mind, would place a pointed sequin applique THERE? It's like a big sign saying "Hey! Take a look at my Cha-Cha!" Nope, I won't. 

6. Miss Supranational Germany Anja-Vanessa Peter: I don't even know where to begin with Miss Supranational Germany and this gown. Maybe I'll start with the obvious: THAT "Peacock"-inspired sequined top! First of all, the fit is awkward; it's way too low and makes her look as if she has "Sagging Boob Syndrome". I also think it's a bit too "Showgirl/Las Vegas". And then (yes, there is more!), IT'S A SEQUINED LEOTARD/BODYSUIT...with an attached ivory double-front split skirt. There are so many things wrong with what I just typed, I am shaking! But God bless her, she is a trouper: Smiling through it all.

7. Miss Grand International Moldova Alina Staicu: I had to Google her and her age because, in this photo (and this Mother-of-the-Bride gown) she looked like she was 50. In case you are wondering, she is only 27 years-old. The whole look is a mess: Too much hair, too much makeup and too 1992-like tacky gown. Oh, and in case you might have missed it...check out her BLACK PLATFORM HEELS. Someone PLEASE give this girl a GAY Fashion-savvy Bestie. ASAP!


8. Miss Supranational Gibraltar Aisha Ben Yahya: When you combine Cha-Cha Drag Queen, Figure Skating Costume and "Folies Bergere", this is what you get. While it is super fun and she's probably a hoot at a party, this is just the kind of gown that will get people talking...but for the wrong reasons. #Gurl #YouAreNotAShowgirl

9. Miss Universe Canada Siera Bearchell: Miss Universe Canada wore this white mermaid-style gown for the Miss Universe 2016 Finals Evening Gown competition. In front of MILLIONS of viewers! The dress featured a fitted torso with sequins and applique, sweetheart neckline, nude illusion, full mermaid-style organza skirt section and (if that wasn't enough!), a neck piece. It was A LOT, overwhelming, kind of Tacky-licious and waaaaay too 1980s Pageant Betty. Compared to many of the "Miss Universe 2016" Semi-finalist's gowns, this was just unacceptable. On a good note, Siera's hair and makeup (accentuating those Elizabeth Taylor-like eyes!) was perfect!

10. Miss Supranational England Angelina Kali: While I give her points for "Sexy Drama", this white lace gown was Tacky Sexy--in a "Virgin Elvira" sort of way. First off, the fabrication looked like a doily. There were many things wrong with this: The style was just way too revealing; the side front slit, the side midriff cut-out, the shoulder...and then, she had a look of "How Mucheey?" that took it to another Tacky-licious level.


11. Miss New York USA Serena Bocaj: Miss New York USA was a gorgeous contestant who made a wrong gown choice. When her name and state was called during the Evening Gown portion, I could not believe that she walked out in this golden-silver gathered gown mess. She looked MUMSY, like the mother-of-the-bride. Why would she allow herself to be swallowed up in this concoction? And to add insult to style injury, the fit was awkward at best: It is high-waisted and therefore cutting her body off, it is too heavily ruched at the waist and front (it should have been FLAT with no ruching at the front), and the sequin top didn't help at all. I hope she gave this to Goodwill or Out of the Closet.

12. Miss Universe Myanmar Htet Htet Htun: Htet Htet won the Best National Costume Award for the 65th Miss Universe Pageant--and for good reason! Hers was my favorite!--but she's not getting any trophies for this gown from me! This highlighter yellow nude organza, chiffon, sequined dress is just too tasteless and tacky. There's too much going on, too much "boob-age", too much of everything. It's like a gown the wife of a nouveau riche Russian Oligarch would pay thousands of dollars for because she thinks it "looks expensive". Nope, it looks TACKY.


13. Miss Carabobo 2016 at Miss Venezuela 2016, Frinddy Bocaranda: Oh Frinddy! What Mardi Gras Carnival float are you riding in with this get-up? This emerald green colored gown featured jeweled sequins down the front, an iridescent overlay, nude illusion bodice and naturally, if that wasn't enough, there was a tiered back overskirt. This was a Ticky-Tacky, Figure Skating Costume Meets Carnival Hot Mess. Ayyy Dios Mio! #Mija
14. Miss Earth South Africa Nozipho Magagula: I liked the color of Nozipho's gown but after that, she lost me. This look was cheap-looking and off-the-rack. The fabric looked like it came from Downtown L.A. Santee Alley and it was too short where you could see her super tacky sequined platform pumps (right photo above). This gown choice was a miss, and a shame, for such a pretty contestant. Sorry Nozipho. 

15. Miss Supranational Guadeloupe Jenifer Geran: File under "Bless Your Heart". I am sure Miss Supranational Guadeloupe probably does not get the same amount of pageant funding a "Miss Venezuela" or "Miss Philippines" does. And so, I try and cut her some slack but...this iridescent gown is just Tacky-licious. It looks inexpensive and a bit "Happy Hands at Home"--like if her cousin or grandma made it. I used to excuse these things but, when you are competing in such an international pageant stage, these ladies need to bring it! At the very least: Read a Vogue Magazine or look at Vogue.com for Runway/Red Carpet Gown suggestions and see if anyone in that gorgeous island of hers can copy it! Otherwise, please don't even think about packing such a mess of a dress.


16. Miss Supranational Nigeria Adaeze Obasi: Not sure why anyone did not tell the lovely Adaeza that the inner dress of this gown was WAAAY too short. This could have been nice if the skirt didn't stop 1/4" below her CHA-CHA and if the inside wasn't pink and...well, I could just go on and on. This was "Housewives of (fill in the blank)" tacky.

17. Miss Ohio USA Megan Wise: First off, I think that Megan was one of the most impacting and beautiful contestants at Miss USA 2016. She reminded me of a red-haired Shandi Finnessey (Miss USA 2004 and First Runner-up to Miss Universe 2004). During the Preliminaries, Megan wore this sequin-and-feathers gown. to sum it up: it was A LOT. The feathers really took it to Costume Cha-Cha mode and really distracted from her stunning beauty. I just don't understand why anyone would think that the multicolored sequins weren't enough and therefore, they felt it needed layers upon layers of feathers. Sorry Megan but this gown is one of my Worst Picks for Beauty Pageant Gowns of 2016.

18. Miss Distrito Capital 2016 at Miss Venezuela 2016, Yanett Margarita Diaz Dib: There were A LOT of Too Mucheee gowns at last year's "Miss Venezuela" and one could argue that maybe lots of them were a mess (I kinda liked some of them!), but I just couldn't even begin to explain the one above. The design was by Venezuelan couturier Raenrra and featured a pink and silver sequined column gown with heavily appliqued bodice and then, a very over-the-top multi-multi-MULTI ruffled and tiered back overskirt. That overskirt alone could be used as a major flotation device. And I can only imagine the hours upon hours of work to sew that. The gown itself wasn't so bad (OK, it was Showgirl tacky!), but in combination with the overskirt...she looked like a Drag Queen on a float in Rio in 1995. Really Too Mucheee.

19. Miss Connecticut USA Tiffany Teixeira: Tiffany is GORGEOUS and I really didn't have a problem with her red off-the-shoulder overskirt gown. She looked quite impacting and pretty. But then...my eyes panned down and all of a sudden I had the "Shower Scene from Psycho" music playing in my head: THOSE TACKY LUCITE STRIPPER HEELS!!!!!! She ruined the whole look with those darn shoes! Why do these girls do this to themselves? Two scenarios: 1) She just wants to look taller.  (On Wikipedia, it says she's 5' 7" which means she's probably 5' 5") 2) These gown samples are normally made for 5'8" or taller and therefore instead of shortening the hem, they give her some SUPER high platform heels to fix that! Either way, there's really no excuse to wear these, unless you work at Spearmint Rhino Strip Club in LA. 

Finally...


20. Miss Universe Kazakhstan Darina Kulsitova: Yes, kids I watched the 65th Miss Universe Preliminaries and during the Evening Gown Competition, I almost spilled my wine when I saw this! Darina wore this bell-shaped ballgown featuring hundreds, if not thousands, of jeweled sequins as well as feathers at the bottom. If that wasn't enough, there was a crystal choker to finish it all off! She looked like the top of a Christmas tree. While I gave her points for making a statement...this was a totally tacky and overdone one.

**Hopefully this post helps any future Beauty Pageant contestants at International Beauty Pageants and what they SHOULD NOT WEAR! I'm trying to help one tacky beauty pageant contestant one blog post at a time :)

The gorgeous representative from France, Iris Mittenaere beat out 85 other contestants for the top crown. The 24 year-old, 5' 8" (1.73 M) tall beauty is a native from Lille France and represented Nord-Pas-De-Calais at her own national "Miss France 2016" pageant. Iris represented her nation with "Showgirl" pride donning a actual "Folies Bergere" sequined and feathered boa ensemble as her National Costume...


She's a dental student at the Lille 2 University of Health and Law and supposedly, she wants to become a dentist after she graduates. If she ever does become a dentist, she might just end up being the most popular one in France! Well, for now, she will have to put that aspiration on hold since she will now move to NYC where the Miss Universe Organization is headquartered and spend a year traveling around the world.

A Big Deal for Europe: In winning the "Miss Universe" title, Iris became the second woman from France to win the coveted international title after Christiane Martel won Miss Universe 1953, breaking a 63-year title drought. Iris is also the first European winner since 2002, when Oxana Fedorova, who was from Russia, won that year's "Miss Universe", though she was later dethroned and replaced by Panama's Justine Pasek, her First Runner-up.


And if that wasn't enough, the last time before then that a European beauty had won "Miss Universe" was in 1990, when Norway's Mona Grundt won (I happened to be there in Los Angeles attending that year's Miss Universe!). Miss Universe hasn't been known as a beauty pageant to favor the European ladies, and instead was known as more Latina-centric with 6 of the last ten winners coming from Latin American nations/territories.

And now, let's discuss the GOWNS!!!
Pink Pia: In the beginning of the Final Live Telecast, Pia Wurtzbach "Miss Universe 2015" was introduced by host Steve Harvey and they had some semi-uncomfortable-but-fun banter regarding his hick-up from last year (which I was present for in Las Vegas!). More importantly, she made her entrance in this gorgeous bubblegum pink strapless gown from Sherri Hill. I absolutely LOVED this gown, its shape and those tri-folded dramatic side drapes. The fit was on-point and so was her hair and makeup. It's so funny how outgoing beauty queens (almost) always look so much more "Style Refined" and less "Pageant Betty" after spending a year as Miss Universe and when they are giving up their crown; it's like they've been style educated during the entire time. This was a definite Gown Winner!

Ballgown Pia: Another gown winner was this very impressive dress Pia wore in the Finale when she had to do her Final Walk and crown her successor. She chose this royal blue (same color as the gown she won in last year) super-sized ballgown from Dubai-based Filipino designer Michael Cinco, known for his UBER Couture creations. The gown featured meters and meters of sequined fabric--the sequined applique done by hand of course--and pointed bustline...

And now, onto the Top 9 Finalist's Gowns:


Let's start with the Winner's Gown:
Miss Universe France (and eventual Miss Universe 2016) Iris Mittenaere: Iris wore this almost see-through shimmering gown from Vietnamese designer Hoang Hai. I thought she looked stunning in this creation that featured silver and gold sequins on a nude tulle base with long sleeves. It fit her to perfection and was "Miss Universe" right! She also wore one of my favorite gowns of the Preliminaries--a yellow design--created by Hoang Hai as well.
Score: 9.89

Miss Universe Thailand Chalita Suansane: Chalita wore MY FAVORITE GOWN of the night of the Top 9 contestants--this one shoulder black design. When she stepped onto the stage for the Evening Gown competition, she SHUT IT DOWN! I loved the Haute Couture drama, the simplicity of the silhouette, the overt homage to traditional Thai dresses...and that back cape was EVERYTHING! She looked like a DIVA, from head to toe!
Score: 9.95

Miss Universe Colombia Andrea Tovar: Andrea was my next favorite in this strapless golden gown from Colombian designer Alfredo Barraza. She also wore this for the Preliminaries and I put her as one of my Top 15 Favorites for that. The color was perfect for her and I loved the elaborate and beautifully placed jeweled appliques. I also liked the scalloped tiered details. It was dramatic, queen-like and one of the best gowns!
Score: 9.50 

Miss Universe Haiti Raquel Pelissier: Raquel wore my next favorite gown of the Top 9 in this golden design by young Colombian designer Diego Fernando Marin Mendoza. I thought she looked like a shimmering column in this gown--all six feet tall of her (and more with those heels!). I liked the scale-like design, crystal bodice and nude illusion panel. The interest at the shoulders made for a really nice 3/4 shot--from waist up. This was a non-fussy gown that still was "Pageant Right".
Score: 9.00

Miss USA Deshauna Barber: Deshauna wore this red sequined gown for the Finals, created by Sherri Hill, of course. This gown was different from what she wore for the preliminaries and I thought slightly better than that one. It just oozed a little more "Sexy Glamour", fit her nicely and the nude illusion color was on-point with her skin coloring.
Score: 8.90 
But part of me still thinks she should have worn the same gown she wore at the "Miss USA" Preliminaries:
Miss Universe Mexico Kristal Silva: Kristal wore this silver gown for the Miss Universe 2016 Finals--the same style she wore for the Preliminaries, where I placed her in my Top 30 of that Evening Gown Competition. I liked the sequined applique and how they were heavier at the hem. It was a beautiful gown and right for her. We see less and less of these super high slits (they've been replaced by see-through gowns I guess!) and while it was a nice change to see one, I wished it wasn't sooooo super high.
Score: 8.50


Miss Universe Philippines Maxine Medina: Maxine wore this strawberry red gown from Filipino designer Rhett Eala. Rhett designed most (if not all!) of her eveningwear worn during the 65th Miss Universe. The gown featured a heavily beaded bodice in silver crystals that then cascaded down the center front panel--from heavy to light. the dress had a fit-and-flare silhouette. I liked the dress but it just wasn't "Miss Universe" impacting enough; it seemed more right for "Miss Teen (fill in the blank)" as opposed to the TOP TOP Universal Queen. I don't know, I just wanted more Couture! More Drama! (See Miss Thailand)
Score: 8.45 

Miss Universe Kenya Mary Esther Were: Mary Esther wore this red "Mermaid" style for the Final Night--a change from what she wore in preliminaries. While this was a much better choice than her other gown (also red!), and I liked the dramatic godet panels at the bottom, the "heart"-shaped illusion panel in front was cheesy to say the least and so un-Couture. Once again, I would have rather seen a white column one shoulder DIVA Grecian-Goddess like gown for her. This felt a little Barbie-like--which I guess makes sense since she said she was known as the "Black Barbie Doll" during her time in the Philippines.
8.25

Miss Universe Canada Siera Bearchell: Lastly, Miss Universe Canada wore my least favorite of the Top 9 Gowns on Final Night with this white "mermaid" style. The dress featured a super big "Mermaid" bottom section, fitted torso with sequins and applique, sweetheart neckline, nude illusion and (if that wasn't enough!), a neckpiece. It was A LOT, overwhelming, kind of Tacky-licious and waaaaay too 1980s Pageant Betty. These women have to think "Will this be appropriate for the Oscars Red Carpet?" And if the answer is "Helllssss No!", then re-think your gown choice. On a good note, Siera's hair and makeup (accentuating those Elizabeth Taylor-like eyes!) was perfect!
Score: 7.00