IT seemed like a Rose Bowl or Staples Center event, with cheering sections scattered throughout the crowd at the La Mirada Performing Arts Center last Saturday night, August 21, 2010, where the 22nd annual Miss Asia/USA competition was held, with Korean, Chinese, Japanese and flags of other Asian nations being waved for their respective candidates.
When it was all over (a six-hour event), Ariana Manibog Varela, the Miss Philippines/USA entry, was crowned as the “fairest of them all” and received the coveted crown and title of Miss Asia/USA. It was quite a nail biting affair as the supporters and family members of each candidate yelled, screamed, and whistled support and approval for their candidates, especially when the 10 finalists were singled out. And then there were five—Miss Philippines, Miss Korea, Miss Sri Lanka, Miss Lebanon and Miss Taiwan.
As the five girls stood side by side, holding each other’s hands with the look of anxious anticipation on their pretty faces, results came in one by one from the judges’ panel:
4th runner up, Jennifer Huang Gonzalez, Miss Taiwan; 3rd runner up, Natalie Dinatale, Miss Lebanon; 2nd runner up, Sarah Makandura, Miss Sri Lanka, 1st runner up, Jennifer Cho, Miss Korea, and the climatic announcement, Ariana Manibog Varela, wins MissAsia/USA 2010, as many in the crowd expected.
Although there were some who were disappointed, with supporters of each of the 25 candidates making their presence known by their cheers, whooping and flag waving, in the end the audience as a whole applauded and cheered the new Miss Asia/USA and her court, as they each received their crowns.
Ariana Manibog Varela was charming and regal, waiving and smiling to the cheering crowd as she took her queenly walk and acknowledged the crowd’s approval and delight. Ariana, indeed, will be a most worthy and proud representative of the Asian American communities during her one year reign.
She is the daughter of Lana Manibog Varela and Dr. Gilbert Varela. Her aunt, Lisa Manibog Brennan, a former Miss Philippines International, was her main coach in the art of walking, smiling and speaking like a beauty contest winner. She is also the granddaughter of former Mayor Monty Manibog and Jean Manibog of Monterey Park.
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