The Miss Universe Competition has just officially started with a traditional kick-off event held Saturday, December 10, at the S Mason Mall in Conrad Hotel at the Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City.
Organized by the LCS Group and Solar Entertainment Corporation, the event's major highlights, included a ceremonial walk and speech by reigning Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach, the introduction of 10 of this year's candidates, as well as welcome speeches by Miss Universe Organization President Paula Mary Shugart and Solar's President and CEO Wilson Tieng.
Flown in from different parts of the globe to attend the kick-off event, as well as other official activities in select locations during their five-day stay in the Philippines, the candidates introduced at the event are Miss USA Deshauna Barber; Miss Japan Sari Nakazawa; Miss Australia Caris Emily Tiivel; Miss New Zealand Tania Pauline Dawson; Miss Korea Jenny Kim; Miss Thailand Chalita Suansane; Miss Malaysia Kiran Jassal; Miss Vietnam Dang Thi Le Hang; Miss Indonesia Kezia Roslin Warouw and Miss Myanmar Htet Htet Htun.
Miss Universe Philippines Maxine Medina joined the visiting candidates and will be with them as well in their week-long pageant related activities in the country, including a tour around Cebu which will host the pageant's swimwear presentation.
Hosted by Miss Universe 2011 3rd Runner up Shamcey Supsup and GMA 7 artist Benjamin Alves, the gathering was also attended by the members of the upcoming pageant's organizing committee led by LCS Group of former Ilocos Sur Governor Luis "Chavit" Singson, alongside partners Okada Manila, SM Lifestyle Entertainment, Philippine Airlines and Pay it Forward, as well as the government as represented by Department of Tourism.
Host Committee Chair Richelle Louise Singson - Michael assurance of their commitment that the best teams are in place in ensuring all will go well with the international pageant's activities. She has promised many exciting activities and various events for the Filipino people leading up to the successful crowning of the next Miss Universe come January 30, 2017.
