The Miss Earth pageant has been known for conducting judging sessions with the delegates bare-faced, and another layer of scrutiny for fitness and form. And this year’s contest is no exception.
At the sidelines of the judging for beauty of face, fitness and form, and poise at the Diamond Hotel in Manila on Nov. 1, Miss Earth 2023 Drita Ziri told Inquirer Entertainment that these sessions make the international pageant unique.
‘When it’s in a room and it’s closed, and it’s just them and their catwalk, and how they carry themselves, then you get a different view. It’s more real, I think that’s what sets it apart,’ the Albanian host and model said.
‘You get to see how the girl feels. Since it’s so close to the competition, you can also see their excitement. When they’re nervous, it’s cute, it’s nice, it’s funny, it’s a different feeling that I wish to see more in pageants actually,’ continued Ziri.
One by one, the 81 delegates appeared before a panel of experts without any makeup on for the judging for beauty of face, donning white dresses and smiling before the jurors while sitting on the Miss Earth throne.
Another set of experts were called for the fitness and form judging, and for the poise segment. There, the ladies reappeared in swimsuits of their choice. Some opted to cover up with a boyleg athletic wear, a slinky dress with crystals, and a modest two-piece ensemble of lace, but all of them wore dark sunglasses, and had minimal facial expressions.
‘I think it’s very nice that it’s very raw. You don’t have makeup covering anything. And when you do bikini on stage and production, you get another feeling, it’s just another vibe, another energy. So you judge it differently,’ Ziri said.
She also responded to some observers who point out that the judging for facial beauty and figure just reinforces dated pageant processes, with the modern times seeing competitions highlighting the ladies’ intangible traits and qualities.
‘Definitely there’s something different (that the judges look for), because they’re sitting watching you trying to smile and put your best self. Honestly, I think the saying that the eyes are the window to your spirit is so true. And you have them so close, so you really get all their emotion, and it’s nice to see it, it’s nice to see them, they’re emotional about this experience,’ Ziri explained.
‘With all those emotions and everything they’ve been through, they come to this day and they’re sitting face-to-face with the judges, it’s not only the beauty of the face, it’s not only the physicality. It’s the whole journey being shown in the simplest way possible,’ she continued.
The Miss Earth pageant is marking its 25th year of promoting environmental awareness as a platform that seeks ‘beauties for a cause.’ Throughout the years, the winners and the delegates spearhead projects that encourage sustainability.
The ladies’ intelligence and environmental awareness were tested in different judging sessions with the delegates split into groups. Scores from this round will be combined with the points earned from the judging for face, form, and poise, to help determine the semifinalists.
Reigning queen Jessica Lane from Australia is set to crown her successor on Nov. 5 at the conclusion of the coronation ceremonies that will be held at the Cove Manila club of Okada Manila in Parañaque City.
Event host and development consultant Joy Barcoma is representing the Philippines this year, and is hoping to post the country’s fifth win in the competition.