Miss Tourism World 2018: The Controversy

Pageant drama is often the best  prime time drama. 

It was not too long ago when Miss Universe was on everybody's food table when Steve Harvey mistakenly named Miss Colombia the winner of Miss Universe 2015. Ariadna was in cloud nine, and she's making a history here for making a back to back win ... only to be rudely awakened when the host came back and doused a pinch of reality in what could be a fantasy-ending for Ariadna and her supporters.. The crown was removed from her head and was transferred to Pia's ... making it the most awkward if not the most  embarrassing Miss Universe ending ever recorded in TV.

Last night,  in Miss Tourism World finals in Melaka Malaysia, another controversy is brewing. As reported by respected pageant blogger  Norman Tinio, Marian Angelu Alcantara of Philippines was given the continental title of Miss Tourism World Asia 2018, and surprise  .. surprise ... she did not make it to the Top 15. Indonesia, Malaysia and Mongolia did ... simply put,  anyone of the three should have won Miss Tourism World Asia by virtue of their Top 15 inclusion. Does the organization have a different interpretation of the awards they're giving? How can you be Best In Asia and then  fail to move forward the competition? Indeed, the continental title still nagged me to death.

And as if it was not enough, the comedy of errors continued when the Top 5 were announced namely: Colombia, Venezuela, Great Britain, Panama and Mongolia. All five proceeded to the Q and A segment according to the report only to be rudely interrupted when there was an announcement  that the names in the Top 5 were wrong. Deja Vu? Shades of Miss Universe 2015 ... the only difference is that in Miss Tourism World, there were more candidates in the shoes of Ariadna?

The host came back with a new set of Top 5. Panama, Venezuela and Great Britain were out and were replaced by Peru, Malaysia and Serbia. Pheew!

2018 have just started and with firestorm created at Miss Intercontinental, the controversy at Miss Tourism World and the camp wars at Binibining Pilipinas make me believe pageantry this year will be more exciting, and there's always something that comes up unexpectedly. I can't wait ... so fasten your seat belts please this is one hell of a roller coaster ride.