TWO FORMER Miss Universe titleholders will return to the stage of the international pageant that made them queens, both of whom have deep ties to the Philippines — Dayanara Torres and R’Bonney Gabriel.
The Miss Universe pageant made the announcement on social media before midnight on Saturday, Nov. 8.
“Say hello to our Miss Universe Commentary Hosts! [star emoji],” read the caption.
“They’ll be your voices through the show! Sharing the best reactions, stories, and unforgettable moments live from the 74th Miss Universe competition [microphone emoji][crown emoji],” the post continued.
This confirmed what 2018 Miss Universe Catriona Gray shared in an earlier interview with the media that she has yet to receive an invitation to return as backstage host.
Gray, the fourth Miss Universe winner from the Philippines, started hosting for the international pageant in 2022, and returned for two more editions.
Gabriel, on the other hand, is returning this year after serving as one of the presenters for the preliminary competition in the 73rd Miss Universe edition held in Mexico last year.
The Filipino-American fashion designer from Texas is the ninth Miss Universe winner from the United States, who won her crown in the 2022 edition held in Louisiana in January 2023.
She established a career in the Philippines as a presenter and has hosted two editions of the Miss Universe Philippines pageant, several competitions in the provinces, and also became a mainstay of the noontime show “Eat…Bulaga!”
Torres is another familiar face in the Philippines. The 1993 Miss Universe titleholder relinquished her crown in the competition held in Manila, when the country hosted the pageant for a second time.
After passing her title to India’s Sushmita Sen, she stayed in Manila to establish a career in the entertainment industry, and ventured into movies, TV, and even music.
Torres was one of the pioneering hosts of “ASAP” when the program debuted on ABS-CBN in 1995, alongside “Concert King and Queen” Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez, and balladeer Ariel Rivera.
She will join Gabriel to share commentary during the 74th Miss Universe final competition show at the Impact Challenger Hall in Nonthaburi, Thailand, on Nov. 21. (Armin P. Adina © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
