Amid all the controversies being faced by the Miss Universe Organization (MUO), Lupita Jones, Miss Universe 1999, couldn’t help but be impressed with the way the Miss International pageant remained classy all these years.
Jones, Mexico’s first-ever Miss Universe titleholder, was the national director of the Miss Mexico pageant that fields candidates to Miss Universe, until 2023 when she locked horns with MUO over certain policies changes. She is currently the national director of the Miss International Mexico..
But between the two major global pageants, she said Miss International stands out for its emphasis on international culture.
‘I love the Miss International pageant because they really focus on culture, how the candidates can share their countries’ cultures,’ Jones told Inquirer Entertainment.
The Mexican beauty queen granted an interview at the sidelines of the 63rd Miss International pageant’s preliminary evaluation in Yokohama, Japan, on Nov. 24, but begged off from answering questions about Miss Universe.
Her country posted its fourth Miss Universe victory in Thailand on Nov. 21, in a scandal-plagued competition that has birthed controversies all throughout, even after Fatima Bosch’s proclamation as the new queen.
Jones has also publicly declared her disapproval of the current management of the MUO, and how the pageant has been run lately.
In discussing the Miss International pageant, she cited how the delegates also get immersed in Japanese culture through the different visits to different places in the country.
Jones also shared that another thing that she loves about the Miss International pageant as a national director is the organization’s focus on the delegates’ wellbeing by imposing a ‘minimum body index,’ the only competition she knows has one.
‘That means a lot to me, because that means that they take care of the health of the girls, and not push them just to put their health at risk. And that’s what I love about Miss International,’ she said.
When asked about the qualities that she finds in Miss International winners, Jones said she observed that the queens possess classic beauty, very elegant and very articulate in her speech.
She also encouraged the public to follow the pageant. ‘This is the season for beauty pageants, so enjoy! Miss International is one of the classy pageants that we still have. Just support your favorite, and wish the best for the winner,’ Jones said.
Mexico is represented by Natalia Garibay in this year’s Miss International pageant, hoping to post her country’s third win at the final gala in Tokyo, Japan, on Nov. 27.
Eighty delegates from different countries and territories around the world are competing to succeed reigning queen Thanh Thuy. Binibining Pilipinas Myrna Esguerra is representing the Philippines and is on a mission to obtain the country’s seventh crown.