Our Miss Earth Top 16

Beauty powerhouse countries like Venezuela and India are certainly strong in this year’s Miss Earth: a possible back-to-back victory for Venezuela and a possible first Asian Miss Earth for India. Other powerhouse countries like Mexico, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, South Africa, Spain and Russia sent mediocre delegates this year and none of them are expected to enter the Top 16. Sad to say that Colombia is not represented this year.

In the Americas, USA, Venezuela and Canada are sure hits and you can expect them to enter the top 16 tonight. Panama, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Brazil are also strong contenders, you can also expect them in the top 16. The Dark Horse in this region is the 5’6″ tall Miss Nicaragua. This region is the strongest of all regions that’s why we can expect 8 of them in the semi-finals.

In Africa, Ethiopia–a Miss Universe semi-finalist–is expected to place in the Top 16, too. South Africa, Liberia and Nigeria might pull a surprise. Tanzania is one of the organizer’s favorites and she might also enter the Top 16.

In Europe, the strongest is Poland and Slovak Republic followed by Egypt (if Egypt will not be considered a part of Africa). Netherlands, Wales and Finland might pull a surprise. The dark horse from this region is Switzerland. France is one of the organizer’s favorites and she might also enter the Top 16.

In the Caribbean, Curacao is the most likely to enter the finals. Followed by Bahamas and St. Lucia, two of the prettiest black contestants in the pageant.

In Asia Pacific, India is the strongest followed by Thailand. One of the tallest candidates is Miss Philippines so she’s unmissable in the Top 16 (aside from being the hometown girl). Tahiti is one of the organizers’ favorites so she might also enter the Top 16.

In no particular order, here is our choice for the TOP 16 in Miss Earth 2006:

CANADA – Riza Raquel Santos (20, 5’8″, 35-25-35, 116 lbs.)
Evening Gown – Not in the Top 16
Swimsuit – Not in the Top 16
Photogenic – ranked no. 1
Vibrance and Personality – ranked no. 1

VENEZUELA – Marianne Pasqualina Puglia Martinez (21, 5’9″, 35-24-35, 121 lbs.)
Swimsuit – Ranked no. 12
Evening Gown – Ranked no. 4
Photogenic – Ranked no. 3
Vibrance and Personality – Ranked no. 2

INDIA – Amruta Patki (20, 5’11″, 34-24-36, 125 lbs.)
Swimsuit – Ranked no. 13
Evening Gown – Ranked no. 1
Photogenic – Ranked no. 12
Vibrance and Personality – Ranked no. 7

USA – Amanda Pennekamp (25, 5’8″, 35-26-35, 120 lbs.)
Swimsuit – Not in the Top 16
Evening Gown – Ranked no. 6
Photogenic – Ranked no. 4
Vibrance and Personality – Ranked no. 5

CURACAO – Kristal Sprock (21, 5’7″, 35-24-35)
Swimsuit – Not in the Top 16
Evening Gown – Not in the Top 16
Photogenic – Ranked no. 2
Vibrance and Personality – Ranked no. 3

BRAZIL – Ana Quinot (24, 5’7″, 36-26-36, 129 lbs.)
Swimsuit – Ranked no. 7
Evening Gown – Not in the Top 16
Photogenic – Ranked no. 15
Vibrance and Personality – Ranked no. 6

SLOVAK REPUBLIC – Judita Hrubyova (21, 5’8″, 35-24-36, 121 lbs.)
Swimsuit – Not in the Top 16
Evening Gown – Ranked no. 15
Photogenic – Ranked no. 8
Vibrance and Personality – Ranked no. 12

CHILE – Hil Yesenia Hernandez Escobar (22, 5’11″, 35-25-35, 124 lbs.)
Swimsuit – Ranked no. 8
Evening Gown – Not in the Top 16
Photogenic – Ranked no. 10
Vibrance and Personality – Ranked no. 8

THAILAND – Pathar Rungratanasunthorn (23, 5’8″, 36-25-36, 119 lbs.)
Swimsuit – Ranked no. 1
Evening Gown – Ranked no. 9
Photogenic – Ranked no. 11
Vibrance and Personality – Ranked no. 15

POLAND – Francyz Barraza Sudnicka (26, 5’7″, 34-24-35, 119 lbs.)
Swimsuit – Ranked no. 6
Evening Gown – Ranked no. 2
Photogenic – Not in the Top 16
Vibrance and Personality – Not in the Top 16

PANAMA – Stefanie De Roux (24, 5’8″, 34-24-36, 130 lbs.)
Swimsuit – Ranked no. 9
Evening Gown – Ranked no. 5
Photogenic – Ranked no. 5
Vibrance and Personality – Ranked no. 9

PARAGUAY – Paloma Navarro (21, 5’8″, 35-24-35, 119 lbs.)
Swimsuit – Ranked no. 2
Evening Gown – Ranked no. 3
Photogenic – Not in the Top 16
Vibrance and Personality – Not in the Top 16

ETHIOPIA – Dina Fekadu (22, 5’8″, 34-26-36, 117 lbs.)
Swimsuit – Ranked no. 8
Evening Gown – Ranked no. 14
Photogenic – Not in the Top 16
Vibrance and Personality – Not in the Top 16

BOLIVIA – Jessica Anne Jordan (22, 5’9″, 34-24-34, 118 lbs.)
Swimsuit – Ranked no. 4
Evening Gown – Not in the Top 16
Photogenic – Not in the Top 16
Vibrance and Personality – Not in the Top 16

PHILIPPINES – Catherine Yu Untalan (21, 6’, 34-25-35, 130 lbs.)
Swimsuit – Ranked no. 11
Evening Gown – Not in the Top 16
Photogenic – Not in the Top 16
Vibrance and Personality – Not in the Top 16

EGYPT – Meriam George (19, 5’8″, 33-25-35, 117 lbs.)
Swimsuit – Not in the Top 16
Evening Gown – Ranked no. 13
Photogenic – Ranked no. 5
Vibrance and Personality – Not in the Top 16

Possible Alternates (to complete the Top 20):

SWITZERLAND – Ranked no. 7 in Photogenic
BAHAMAS – Ranked no. 11 in Evening Gown, 9 in Vibrance and Personality
NICARAGUA – Ranked no. 3 in swimsuit, no. 6 in photogenic
FRANCE – Ranked no. 15 in swimsuit, no. 13 in Vibrance and Personality