SASHES AND TIARAS.....Best Pageant Gowns of 2012

Pageant Fab!

Ladies, Show Me Your Best Gowns--Miss Venezuela 2012 contestants during the Evening Gown portion of the competition

First off: HAPPY NEW YEAR! Hope everyone had a safe and hopefully fabulous New Year's Eve. Now, speaking of fabulous (nice segway!), I wanted to cap off my "Best Of 2012" Lists here with one of my favorite topics: Beauty Pageant Gowns. Now, I realize that there were over 100,000 pageants that occur EVERY YEAR in the US alone (!) and I'm sure there might have been some pretty ones at, say, "Miss Arkansas USA" or "Miss Hawaii America" pageants, for example. The Blog of Will Henderson, thePageantGuy.com has done a wonderful "Top 10 Pageant Gowns of 2012" recap, but I wanted to concentrate on the beauty pageants I discussed here on my blog, mainly Miss Venezuela, Miss USA, Miss World and Miss Universe. So, let's get to it:


Best Gowns of the Miss Venezuela 2012 Pageant:

Maria Grabriela Isler Mis Guarico and the new Miss Venezuela 2012--Isler wore one of the most beautiful gowns of the pageant--and of the entire year for me. It was all things Alta Moda with its clean yet sculptural silhouette, gorgeous ivory silk ziberline fabrication, cascading ruffle detail and lightly strewn details designed by Venezuelan fashion designer Gionni Straccia. It's no wonder she won the "Miss Elegance" prize as well as the top Miss Venezuela crown.

Rociree Silva, Miss Peninsula Goajira and Miss Venezuela 2012 Semifinalist-- Rociree wore this silk crepe gown designed by Hugo Espina which featured digital petal-style cut-outs and was accented with bugle beads/crystals in a blush color. The gown had a silk chiffon over-cape that was attached at the contestant's wrists and back of gown, which made her give DRAMA onstage.

Elian Herrera Miss Aragua 2012 and Miss Venezuela Internacional 2012---I LOVED her gown. It was simple and elegant--so 2012 and so red carpet. Elian is over six feet tall and this silk crepe column gown by designer Valentina Cedeño fit her flawlessly.

Hylene Baez Miss Amazonas--Hylene wore one of the best Mermaid-shaped gowns of the Miss Venezuela Pageant--and of 2012. It was designed by Venezuelan designer Hugo Espina and was strapless, with a sweetheart neckline, and had lots and lots of sequins and crystals throughout. Pageant Gorgeous.

Oriana Lucchese Miss Miranda--Oriana  wore one of my Top Pageant Gowns of 2012 in this pink silk crepe column, off-the-shoulder gown with silver sequin accents. It was designed by Pageant Gown extraordinaire Gionni Straccia. It's very "Barbie", but "Barbie Couture". If I had my editing eye, I would have removed that big overskirt; the pink column gown is a TEN on its own.


Best Gowns of the Miss USA 2012 Pageant:

Alyssa Campanella, Miss USA 2011---Alyssa was giving up her crown at the 2012 Miss USA in June of last year and she did it in style. She wore two fabulous evening gowns, beautiful enough for me to include here in my "Best of 2012 Pageant Gowns" list. First, she wore a GORGEOUS ivory gathered Grecian Goddess gown with a sequined neckline and structured shoulders (above photo)...

Then when she made her "Farewell Walk", she wore yet another fabulous gown (above photo)--this time a blush-colored sequined number that Mermaid-flared into organza and tulle ruffles. Alyssa looked Paris Haute Couture Runway Model Chic!

Miss New York USA 2012 Johanna Sambucini--This gown on Johanna was one of my favorites of the Miss USA 2012 and of the entire year. It was a see-through nude-colored halter-neckline style gown with encrusted crystals. Incidentally, it was so pretty that Miss Tanzania Winfrida Dominic at last month's Miss Universe, wore the same style for her official "Evening Gown Portrait":

Miss Illinois USA 2012 Ashley Hooks--This high-neck halter style iridescent gold gown, with open back, degrade sequins, and dramatic full back and train, fit Ashley like a glove. A great pageant gown for sure and one of my Top Picks for 2012.

Miss Oklahoma USA 2012 Lauren Lundeen--I LOVED this gown featuring oversized jeweled and mirrored crystals over a nude-colored tank-silhouette. She looks very Miss Puerto Rico/Miss Dominican Republic/Miss Venezuela in this. If there was a negative, it's those shoes: too big, too stacked heel, too Drag Queen/Stripper. A pair of gorgeous silver strappy ones would have been perfect. Thank goodness I'm not rating the shoes, but the gowns instead!

Miss Maryland USA Nana Meriwether--Born in South Africa, six foot tall Nana tried out for Miss California USA a bunch of times and went on to Miss  Maryland USA where she finally won. Oh, and now because Miss USA Olivia Culpo just won the Miss Universe title, guess who is the new Miss USA? Yep, Miss Nana. I liked the white chiffon gown with silver leaf-like details which she wore at the Miss USA 2012 Finals. It's a great gown because of the shape, details and all the flowing fabric which adds drama as she saunters on the stage. She looked like Aphrodite at Mt. Olympus.

Miss Rhode Island USA Olivia Culpo--Olivia Palermo doppelganger Olivia Culpo, won the Miss USA title and last month, Miss Universe. I loved her raspberry chiffon Empire-style gown she wore at Miss USA 2012, it was one of the prettiest gowns of the night--and the year. She looked elegant, glamorous, red carpet-ready and yes, it had all them yards and yards of fabric for her to give stage DRAMA as she walked. Once again, I would have not  put those Lucite Stripper Platforms with such a light-as-air gown, but somehow these Pageant Girls are drawn to those tacky things like moths to a flame! WHYYYYY????

 Best Gowns of Miss World 2012 Pageant:

Ivian Sarcos Miss World 2011 from Venezuela--Ivian wore this UBER fitted mermaid sequined lace applique embroidered ivory gown designed by Venezuelan designer Hugo Espina to give up her Miss World 2011 crown at the Miss World 2012 Finals in China. She looked SUPERHUMAN and taller than anyone within 100 feet of her. This is certainly one of the most impressive Pageant Gowns of 2012.

Miss Mexico Mariana Berumen-- Miss Mexico's gown was very Sofia Vergara Va-Va Voom WOW! She really looked perfect from head to toe in this red strapless mermaid-shaped sequin-and-tulle gown. One of the best, if not the best of the Miss World 2012 Finals.

Miss Australia Jennifer Kahawaty-- The lovely and very exotic Jennifer wore this purple Grecian Goddess gown at the Miss World 2012 Finals.  The gown was created by Melbourne Australia fashion house Belluccio and it featured intricate embroidery woven into the bust and high-hips, cinched waist and gathered chiffon full skirt, as well as a "hidden" slit.

Miss Venezuela Gabriella Ferrari--Miss Venezuela did not make it as a Semifinalist at last year's Miss World but the gown she wore was still one of my favorites of the year. It was an ivory and gold gown with a completely sequined torso that then "exploded" into a feathered mermaid bottom. It was designed by Miss Venezuela Pageant Designer King, Gionni Straccia.

Miss Ireland Rebecca Maguire--This red with silver sequin applique plunging neckline fitted gown on Miss Ireland was one of my Top Faves from this Miss World 2012 "World Fashion Designer Award" Competition. This is a perfect example of a gown that can work for an international beauty pageant as well as a major awards red carpet. It fits perfectly and has "hints" of sari fabrication.

Miss Israel Shani Hazan-- Shani looks STUNNING in this ivory with silver crystal detail gown that hugs her EVERY curve perfectly. It's simple, elegant and yet, still has enough "Pageant Punch". This gown is a fantastic example of the fit-to-flare shape--or "Mermaid-Lite" as I like to call it.

Miss Sri Lanka Sumudu Prasadini: This was one of my favorite gowns from the Miss World 2012 "World Fashion Designer Award" Competition and therefore it had to make my "Best Of 2012" list here. This ivory gown had elements of Grecian Goddess and Sari Princess with its draped one shoulder effect. It was dramatic and elegant.

Best Gowns of the Miss Universe 2012 Pageant:

Miss Croatia Elizabeta Burg: I LOVE this gown. It is SO red carpet award show appropriate FAB, so "Classic Modern", so elegant but sexy (look at that back) and there was NO HOOCHIE SLIT, no obvious Stripper Platform Heels....it was a lesson in How To Dress For a Beauty Pageant 2012. Perfection.

Miss Puerto Rico Bodine Koehler: I thought this blush/light pink fit-to-flare gown was beautiful. The heavy-to-light beading is delicate and not so "Pageant In-Your-Face", the shape is great and I especially like the Couture-like touches such as the 8" horsehair that stiffens the hem.

Miss Lebanon Rina Chibany: Rina wore an emerald green gown featuring a plunging neckline, a dropped shoulder, fitted waist and gorgeous paillettes for the Miss Universe 2012 Preliminaries and it was one of my favorites of the pageant and the year for sure. Of course, I recognized this gown right away: It was a gown from the Elie Saab Spring 2012 Ready-to-Wear Collection. Flawless.

Miss Australia Renae Ayris--I loved this gown! It featured a strapless, bustier top section, fitted gown with a tulle bottom section made super full by many godets (triangle sections/insets of fabric). I also thought the silver beading was exquisite. This is one of the BEST of 2012 and should be made in EVERY color!

Miss France Marie Payet-- This creme colored beaded gown was beautiful., elegant, well-made and hit all the right red carpet/pageant notes. One of the best in the Top Ten Evening Gowns at the Miss Universe 2012 Pageant--and the entire year.

Miss Kosovo Diana Avdiu: Calling Grecian Goddess...via Miss Universe Kosovo. If I had to style a movie based on Athena or Aphrodite, this would be the gown I would put my actress in. Best in an Ivory-colored Gown. Hands down! And, if I'm not mistaken, this is a "stepped up" version of the gown Nana Meriwether wore at the Miss USA 2012 Finals.

Miss Brazil Gabriela Markus: Gabriela wore one of my favorite gowns at the Miss Universe 2012 Finals. It was a strapless and very fitted golden sequined and chiffon gown with a center front slit. It looked expensive and she looked like the girlfriend, wife--or mistress--of a very rich Dubai Sheikh. In other words: Loved It!

Miss South Africa Melinda Bam: This golden paillette one shoulder gown with chiffon "fall" was beautiful. Melinda looked like an A-List actress walking down the Cannes Film Festival red carpet in this.

Miss Venezuela Irene Esser: Irene wore this emerald green silk satin gown with crystal detailing for the Finals of Miss Universe last month. Her gown was designed by Gionni Straccia of course. I loved the color, the delicate yet very expensive looking Swarovski crystal detail. The gown celebrated the Christmas season and was still giving "Pageant COUTURE". This style will be knocked off (in polyester with plastic sequins unfortunately) by mass-market pageant dress companies TOMORROW!

Miss Philippines Janine Tugonon: Finally, I will end my "Best Pageant Gowns of 2012" with this great gown that Miss Philippines wore at the Miss Universe 2012 Pageant. Janine-who ended up as First Runner-Up-- wore this aqua blue iridescent organza strapless gown. She looked like a "Pageant Angel" in this. It featured a strapless folded top section with intricate crystal beading detail and a fan-pleated full skirt. Oh and did I mention that she WORKED it OVERTIME on stage?! The way she walked, did her "Cobra" head moves and then finished it with her arm across the waist pose: Drag Queens across the World will be copying it! It was MAGICAL. She should have won. Just from that alone.

Once again, Happy New Year and Here's to a Gloriously Bedazzled, No Hoochie Slits, No Lucite Stripper heeled, Red Carpet Fab...Pageant Gown 2013!!!