Top Gowns--Miss Grand International 2020 Finalists in Evening Gowns: (L tom R) Miss Grand Philippines Samantha Bernardo, Miss Grand Indonesia Aurra Karishma, Miss Grand Thailand Nam Patcharaporn Chantarapadit, Miss Grand Brazil Lala Guedes, and Miss Grand Czech Republic Denisa Spergerova--Miss Grand International 2020 Finals, Bangkok Thailand
Last weekend was the Finals of the Miss Grand International 2020 Beauty Pageant. Even though it was the end of March in 2021, yes, the 2020 edition of the beauty pageant took place, after all the COVID pandemic situation that we have been going through. The final TV production was in one word: WOW. Everything about the Finals was incredible--especially when it came to the production; I just hope that the Miss Universe or Miss World people hire the same Thai production team who put on such an amazing program (they won't, but I digress)...
More Gowns--(L to R) Miss Grand Guatemala Ivana Batchelor, Miss Grand Puerto Rico Fabiola Valentin, Miss Grand United States (and eventual Miss Grand International 2020) Abena Akuaba Appiah, Miss Grand Malaysia Jasebel Robert, Miss Grand Argentina Mariana Varela--Miss Grand International 2020 Finals, Bangkok Thailand
The eventual winner was Miss Grand United States of America, Abena Akuaba Appiah, who is 27 years old, Ghanaian-American and a veteran of the beauty pageant world. In 2013, she became Top Model of Ghana, in 2014, she represented Ghana in the Miss Universe 2014 pageant and was even on the X-Factor show in 2012 for her singing talent...
Abena Appiah as Miss Universe Ghana 2014, at Miss Universe 2014
Abena's perseverance in the pageant world paid off as she bested 62 other contestants from all over the world to win the title of Miss Grand International 2020. She did it with grace, elegance, and class.
Crowning Moment--Miss Grand United States of America Abena Akuaba Appiah becomes Miss Grand International 2020, Bangkok Thailand
Since this is my Sashes & Tiaras BLOG, it's all about discussing beauty pageants, and for this BLOG, it's all about the Miss Grand International 2020 Finals Top 10 Evening Gowns. If you missed it, click HERE for my TOP 15 NATIONAL COSTUMES of the Miss Grand International 2020...and click HERE for my TOP 15 of BEST EVENING GOWNS from the Miss Grand International 2020 Preliminaries.
Let's get to the Finals...
But first, the Best National Costume Winners:
Miss Grand Japan Ruri Saji--Miss Grand Japan's National Costume was super creative and super fabulous. She first presented herself as a traditional Kokeshi Doll, which then proceeded to open up and reveal an Anime Robot! The part Wooden Doll/Part Robot was inspired by the handmade wooden Kokeshi dolls to showcase traditional Japanese art, as well as the Anime Robot which symbolizes how far Japanese technology has come since the 19th century. The design was created by Filipino designer Don Cristobal.
The outgoing Miss Grand International...
And, now the Final TOP 10 GOWNS...
Grand Gowns--(L to R) Miss GRand Guatemala, Miss Grand Indonesia, Miss Grand Brazil, Miss Grand Philippines, and Miss Grand United States of America--Miss Grand International 2020 Finals, Bagkok Thailand
Here are MY TOP TEN, from FAVORITE to LEAST FAVORITE...
1. Miss Grand Thailand Nam Patcharaporn Chantarapadit--My TOP favorite gown from the Finals of Miss Grand International 2020 was this one worn by Miss Grand Thailand. The golden gown by Myriad Grand Monde, was stunning onstage. Immediately, when she stepped out, all I could think of was "RICH!", as well as "That must weigh A TON!!". The design was completely covered in gorgeous and very intricate golden sequins, jeweled crystals, laid out in beautiful and figure-enhancing patterns. My favorite part was probably the beads hanging from the sleeves. It added the perfect touch of drama and fashion.
SCORE: 9.90
2. Miss Grand Philippines Samantha Bernardo--My second favorite gown was the one worn by Miss Grand Philippines, Samantha Bernardo. This fitted column design, by Yeye Pantaleon featured a nude-colored base that was completely covered in silver jeweled crystals ranging in sizes. The layout of the crystals was fabulous and just as in Miss Grand Thailand's gown, really exemplified the beautiful curves of the wearer. The gown fit perfectly and looked great from all angles. This was a "master class" in a very good pageant gown design.
SCORE: 9.85
3. Miss Grand Brazil Lala Guedes--Miss Grand Brazil won Best Body in the Miss Grand International 2020 Finals, and when it came time for her evening gown runway, she chose wisely with a design that, literally, was SECOND SKIN next to her. I strained my eyes trying to figure out how this gown was even made, or staying up on her because it looked as if it was PAINTED ON HER BODY; that's how good of a gown this was. Lala looked as if she was almost naked...except for some sequined green and silver "leaves" that were strategically placed to perfection. The would-make-Cher-blush design, was by Brazilian designer Helcio Couture by Helcio Junior and he deserves a bow-down for this Pageant Couture creation.
SCORE: 9.80
4. Miss Grand Indonesia Aurra Karishma--Next to Miss Grand Brazil, this was the second SEXIEST EVENING GOWN of the night. When Aurra came out, I literally gasped because you have got to have a 99.999999% fat-free body, and have EVERY millimeter of your body be...PERFECTION. I loved the color and display of shimmering sequins on the dress, creating a pretty stunning effect. "The Aurora Dress", was designed and created by Wiki Wu 5 Prive Atelier Jakarta.
5. Miss Grand Czech Republic Denisa Spergerova--The model beautiful Miss Grand Czech Republic wore my fifth favorite gown from the Finals in this sexy nude-golden column dress by GL Garlate Design. The gown was completely sheer but covered in an intricate array of gold, silver, and ruby red sequins. It had a side cut-out slit (of course!) and multicolored crystals draped at the shoulders. The neckline shape was gorgeous and overall, it was a nice interpretation of these very popular "Nude-Sequined Pageant Gowns".
SCORE: 9.75
SCORE: 9.45
6. Miss Grand Malaysia Jasebel Robert--Jasebel looked conservative and covered-up--compared to some of the va-va-voom sexi-licious pageant counterparts--in this elegant silver column gown. And that is why I liked it! The silver sequined design. which had a side cut-out slit and semi-nude neckline and sleeves, fit nicely and looked great on her. I especially liked how the crystal designs effortlessly covered her body and parts of her arms. The gown was by Sposa by Rizky.
SCORE: 9.25
8. Miss Grand Puero Rico Fabiola Valentin--For the Finals, Fabiola wore this gown designed by Thai designer Sivalai. It had the combination of the very omnipresent nude/sequin gown plus...a big pouf of an overskirt, to add drama. The dress featured a nude tulle base that was heavily beaded in an array of multicolored sequins in silver, red and black, laid out to accent the shape of the sexy Miss Grand Puerto Rico. To finish it off, it had a very full ombre-shaped tulle overskirt attached at the back high hip. Not sure if that overskirt was even necessary as it looked cumbersome and dare I say, too mucheeey.
7. Miss Grand United States of America Abena Akuaba Appiah--Looking resplendent in canary yellow, the eventual winner of the crown, Miss Grand United States of America, wore this strapless corseted design by Mexican designer Israel Garrido as her final gown. The design featured a fit-to-flare shape, accented by the aforementioned corset, and a side-front open side slit, done in a sequined lace fabrication. I think it was smart for her to choose the same yellow color she wore for the Preliminaries and to showcase her figure but I admit, I liked her other gown better, although I understand why she changed as her final gown was more in line with what a winner would wear...
SCORE: 8.99
In case you were wondering at both of the gowns she wore...
Miss Grand United States-Finals (L) vs. Preliminaries Gown (R)
SCORE: 8.50
9. Miss Grand Argentina Mariana Varela--Miss Grand Argentina wore a lemon yellow gown that also had a back overskirt, that I thought was a bit unnecessary. The main dress--which was a column fit-and-flare design in nude (of course) with vertical beading throughout the skirt, attached to a very fitted corset/bustier. The overskirt, in organza, had layers of cascade ruffles. I felt that the main dress itself was effective enough and the addition of the overskirt took it to a vintage Miss Venezuela 80's edition level. The gown was designed by Julio Gonzalez.
10. Miss Grand Guatemala Ivana Batchelor--Last on my Finals Gowns List was the dress worn by the very pretty Miss Grand Guatemala. I have to say I was very disappointed that she wore this blush-colored design for the Finals since I was a big fan of her red sequined gown in the Preliminaries (see HERE!). This gown, which according to her social media, was provided for her from Guatemala Prom-and-Pageant shop, Blessings Co. Guatemala. It featured a sequined torso over a nude base with a shredded organza lower section. While the design wasn't that bad, for some unknown reason, it had boning/wiring at the hem which made it shift like a hoop skirt, and look rather clumsy as she walked. Overall, it looked dated and aged her and frankly overwhelmed her; I forgot how statuesque and pretty she was.
SCORE: 8.00
CONGRATULATIONS to the new Miss Grand International, from the United States of America (via Ghana!), Abena Akuaba Appiah and her Runners-up!
Click below to watch the entire Miss Grand International 2020 Final Show:
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