Best of The Best--Best Gowns of International Pageants 2018 (L to R) Miss Universe Venezuela Sthefany Fernandez, Miss International Colombia Anabella Castro, Miss Universe Canada Marta Stepien, Miss Universe South Africa Tamaryn Green, Miss World 2016 Stephanie Del Valle
It's that time again: The End of the Year BEST Of List! As you know, I LOVE discussing Pageants and especially, Pageant gowns here on my BLOG so, it's now time for my
BEST of 2018 List of the BEST PAGEANT GOWNS from this year's top international pageants. I chose VERY CAREFULLY my Top 20 using the following criteria:
Stage Impact,
Elegance,
Fit,
Haute Couture-like Design,
Fashion Quotient,
Taste Level and overall
Styling. It was quite difficult to narrow it down to a Top 20 but I had to do it...
Best Details--Swarovski Crystals, Jeweled Sequins, Couture-like Silhouettes, Perfect Fit...Gowns from international pageant contestants from my Best of 2018 Pageant Gowns
As it turned out my TOP 20 BEST PAGEANT GOWNS of 2018 came from the following pageants:
Miss Universe,
Miss World,
Miss International,
Miss Grand International, and
Binibining Pilipinas/Miss Universe Philippines. And while in my blogs, I might have scored these various gowns differently, for this Best of 2018 List, I reassessed my previous critiques as well as scores when thinking of them all together.
So...without further delay, here they are, starting with my NUMBER ONE choice:
1. Miss Universe Canada Marta Stepien--My No. 1 Best Gown of 2018 was this fabulous design worn by Miss Universe Canada at this month's Miss Universe 2018 pageant. Marta SHUT THE GOWN DOOR DOWN with this over-the-top design from Dubai-based Filipino designer Michael Cinco. She actually wore this gown for the Preliminaries but only featured the dress--and not the 5-tiered crinoline overskirt. She overtook the stage--and the Evening Gown Competition--when she stepped out in this, SLAYING everyone else in my opinion. I loved the Couture look, fabulous over-the-top effect and her You-Only-Get-One-Miss-Universe-Gown-Chance gumption. INCREDIBLY over-the-top and INCREDIBLY fabulous!
Score: 9.95
2. Miss Universe South Africa Tamaryn Green--Tamaryn, who ended up as Almost-Miss-Universe--or 1st Runner-up--wore this silver crystal gown for the Miss Universe 2018 Final Crowning Night. This was one of my favorite gowns of the night and in fact, at the time, I said it was MY FAVORITE. The design was from Galluzi e Gini, the same designer/brand that created her preliminary Gown (which I also loved HERE). The strapless column gown featured a side cowl drape and open side front slit and looked VERY Atelier Versace-like in its design, shape and all-over crystal fabrication. The fit and length were spot-on but unfortunately because of that side skirt panel, it had a "life of its own" and kept wanting to crawl into her walking space; it really affected her moment on the stage but luckily, later she realized what to correct--in terms of her walk--to make up for that clumsy runway mishap. Even with that, the gown itself was TOP NOTCH. And I loved the styling including her hair and the matching silver crystal strappy heels.
Score: 9.90
3. Miss Universe Indonesia Sonia Fergina Citra--Sonia Fergina showed up to pay the GOWN RENT at the Miss Universe 2018 Preliminaries in this red entrance-making gown, designed by ANAZ. I loved this dress which featured long exaggerated "Elizabethan"-like sleeves, Princess seam front slits, and a sexy fitted gown with red ruby jeweled crystal embellishments. She looked DIVINE, regal and crown-worthy. If there was any critique, having both slits in the side front made for that center front panel to scoop up under her legs and was runway-awkward. But, even with that, the design, Alta Moda-like shape and overall impact is worthy of my Number 3 spot.
Score: 9.85
4. Miss Venezuela International Mariem Velazco--I absolutely loved the white pearl-sequined gown worn by Venezuela's Mariem Velazco, who eventually won the 2018 Miss International crown. The gorgeous dress, designed by Venezuelan designer Alejandro Fajardo, was THE PERFECT pageant gown for someone to win....and she did. The gown featured a beautiful fit-to-flare silhouette with sweeping train, a plunging sweetheart neckline with see-through illusion...a center front slit to show leg, and an "open back" covered in see-through illusion. It was PERFECTION, even down to the matching shoes. THE SHOES! I end with that.
Score: 9.82
5. Miss World 2016 Stephanie Del Valle--My top favorite look from this year's Miss World was actually worn by a former Miss World and one of the presenters of the show--Puerto Rico's Stephanie Del Valle, Miss World 2016. When she was onstage in this violet sequined-and-nude-netting gown, I gasped "Oh No She Didn't!". She did. Look at that to-the-floor perfect length. Seriously. The gown was designed and created by Carlos Alberto and was EVERYTHING, darling. Muy Bien.
Score: 9.80
6. Miss Universe Venezuela Sthefany Gutierrez--Sthefany made her Evening Gown appearance at the Miss Universe 2018 Preliminaries in a silver-nude gown from Venezuelan designer Nihal Nouaihed. It was so great that she wore it to the Final Crowning Night as well. The fitted dress featured long sleeves and beautiful silver sequins in a "fireworks"-like display over a nude illusion base. It was simple and gave an almost Retro-like air of Cher and Bob Mackie, especially with her long straight hair. This year there were so many of these "Nude"-style gowns in beauty pageants and this was one of THE BEST!
Score: 9.75
7. Miss Grand India Meenakshi Chaudary--In a golden shimmering gown from Falguni Shane Peacock, Meenakshi shimmered in the Miss Grand International 2018 stage. She looked STUNNING in this sequined gown featuring a high side slit, long sleeves and sweetheart neckline. The golden color and the fit were perfection. Normally I am not a fan of seeing the bust cups on these kinds of "nude/sheer" gowns and really feel there has to be a more tasteful way of doing them (as opposed to actually SEEING THEM!) but here I almost forgot they were there.
Score: 9.70
8. Miss Grand Venezuela Biliannis Alvarez--Venezuelan beauty Biliannis dazzled in this ivory and nude gown designed by Venezuelan designer Julio Mora at this year's Miss Grand International 2018. The column dress featured nude iridescent organza panels on the side as well as throughout the top portion accentuating her perfect figure, creating a second skin look of gown perfection. The gown fit beautifully and her softly waving hair and "Latina Barbie"-like makeup worked as well. I even liked her gold platform pumps.
Score: 9.65
9. Miss International Colombia Anabella Castro Sierra--This ivory sequined dress was created by legendary Colombian designer Alfredo Barraza for Miss International Colombia Anabella Castro Sierra. This design was simply beautiful in the way it fit her, how she wore it, the asymmetrical neckline details, as well as the silver appliques that adorned the upper torso. On a pure "Taste Level", it was chic, elegant and pure gown perfection.
Score: 9.50
10. Miss Grand Cambodia Molika Dy--I was mesmerized by this highlighter yellow colored silk gown worn by Miss Grand Cambodia at the Miss Grand International 2018 Beauty Pageant. Even though she didn't make the cut of the Semi-Finalists or Finalists, her gown for me was one of the BEST of 2018. The Princess-seamed Mermaid shape, beautiful fit and fabulous gold applique detail and cultural nod to her land, really took this design to a higher level.
Score: 9.40
11. Miss Grand Japan Haruka Oda--Miss Grand Japan wore this gown designed by Filipino designer Louis Pangilinan to the Finals of the Miss Grand International 2018 Beauty Pageant. Miss Grand Japan looked every bit the perfect beauty queen in this gorgeous baby blue gown that was truly "Pageant Perfection". While some could argue that it was a bit too "Pageant Betty", for me the design was GREAT Pageant Betty: I loved the fit, the fantastic side pleated draped overskirt and beautiful sequined applique fabrication. If there was any complaint, it would be those silver clunky heels; they should have been simple silver strappy/non-platform ones.
Score: 9.20
12. Contestant No. 20 Catriona Gray, Binibining Pilipinas 2018--Catriona Gray, who eventually won the top crown at the 2018 Binibining Pilipinas Beauty Pageant (as well as Miss Universe!), wore this gorgeous gold/nude gown for the Finals. The dress was designed by Mak Tumang and was created using muted gold paillettes encrusted with more than 10,000 Swarovski crystals. The nude illusion back was inspired by the "splatter of the waves" of the Philippine Island's coasts. I thought this was a perfect gown for Catriona and very on-trend with what all the top pageant queens are wearing. The fit was superb and the golden shimmer was striking on stage.
Score: 9.15
13. Miss Universe Vietnam H'hen Nie--Miss Universe Vietnam SLAYED the runway and stage in this canary yellow gown that she wore for the Miss Universe 2018 Preliminary Competition. Not only was the walk, attitude and runway performance worthy of a standing ovation, the gown delighted me with its bright color, flourish of exuberant chiffon/georgette and torso draped sequins. Normally I am not a fan of those "button earrings"... but DARLING, she brought the Preliminaries Evening Gown Competition House DOWN!
Score: 9.13
14. Miss Grand Paraguay Clara Sosa--Maria Clara Sosa, who eventually won the top Miss Grand International 2018 crown, wore this ivory dress designed by Paraguayan designer Avelina de Maier. The iridescent organza design featured drop shoulder cap "sleeves", applique embroidery and a dramatic side drape fall on a fitted column gown. The white color was right for Clara and made a strong statement onstage; she looked like a Winner...and indeed she was!
Score: 9.10
15. Miss Grand Indonesia Nadia Purwoko--Designed by Indonesia designer Sebastian Gunawan, Nadia dazzled in this gold sequined column gown at the Miss Grand International 2018 beauty pageant. I thought the design fit her well and showed off her tall, lean figure. The heavily beaded fabrication was rich and basically made her look like a thin block of gold bullion!
Score: 9.05
16. Miss Universe South Africa Tamaryn Green--Dressed in an off-the-shoulder ivory gown from Galluzi e Gini , Tamaryn looked like a Gown Angel! I thought she did a fabulous job on stage at the 2018 Miss Universe Preliminaries in this dress featuring an ivory colored crepe column gown (which was perfect against her skin color) with sequined details and a double chiffon cape. The gown was simple, exquisite and still had immediate impact.
Score: 9.00
17. Miss Universe Curacao Akisha Albert--This silver sequined gown worn by Miss Universe Curacao was one of my favorites of the Miss Universe 2018 Finals and therefore I had to include it here in my Best of 2018 Top 20. The fit was perfection and Akisha looked every bit a Pageant Goddess in it. I loved the radiating upper torso crystal details and how it framed her figure and the styling was on-point--including her chignon hairstyle, makeup and earrings. She was ELEGANZA defined!
Score: 8.99
18. Miss Universe Malta Francesca Mifsud--Designed by Moda Ivanka Philippines, this emerald green gown was a STUNNER on the stage, really making Miss Universe Malta look like a DIVA. She wore this to the Miss Universe 2018 Preliminary Competition and really stood out, even though not enough to put her in the Semi-finals. The design featured a sequined strapless-like dress with super high side front slit opening and full satin overskirt that added DRAMA with a capital "D" to the entire look.
Score: 8.95
19. Miss Universe Thailand Sophida Kanchanarin--I really loved this custom gown designed by Asava which featured a fitted silhouette with many panels (pattern-making marvelousness!) and gorgeous sequined jewels hand-sewn throughout. The red dress was a gown change from what she wore during the Preliminaries and therefore it was exciting to see. The design was a true example of Haute Couture in its style, hand-done detail and perfect fit.
Score: 8.90
Lastly...at Number 20:
20. Miss World Mexico Vanessa Ponce De Leon--Vanessa wore this off the shoulder blush/ivory sequined gown and it made her look like a WINNING QUEEN! The design featured a column gown with a full back overskirt and fitted top section with v-neckline. I loved everything about it and especially, that she wore the right nude heels (not some tacky "Stripper Platform" ones). It was a perfect stage-impacting, elegant design that fit well and looked marvelous.
Score: 8.85
...And Don't Forget about my "Pageant Coloring Book" where you can create your VERY OWN Evening Gown Competition using my Fashion Illustrations! Click HERE to Purchase:
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