This year's gown prelims is a bit of a step down from last year. I haven't really seen spectacular gowns that caught my fancy and a lot of girls disappointed me. Anyway, my commentary is based on Miss Universe standards, that is it is all about the girl. The gown fashion wise may be trash but if the girl carried it well and the girl looks amazing and moves comfortably with it, then she is the one. And those "the one" are highlighted and later on the second review, I will group them and eventually reveal my Top 15.

Miss Albania Adrola Dushi’s yellow gown reminds me of the gown of Miss Brazil last year. She looks beautiful but lacks radiance and I don’t really think her catwalk skills are that top notch.

Notice how a few details of Miss Angola Marcelina Vahekeni’s gown are similar to what her predecessor Leila Lopes was wearing a little later after the gown show. Anyway, the red appliques are nice touches. How the right long sleeve with a sleeveless left arm fare to fashion enthusiast would be very debatable. I also think she needs to put extra flavor to her walk which by the way mimics Leila walk as well.

Miss Argentina Camila Solorzano came one in shimmering silver gown. She ‘s got the walk and the gown suits her well.

Miss Aruba Liza Helder looks amazing in her yellow gown which sports silver bodice. She has a nice catwalk too.

I hope Miss Australia Renae Ayris will chance her gown at the finals. Quite a bid disappointed by the white dress accented by silver. It is not bad but I expect more from Australia.

Sensual in walk, Miss Bahamas Celeste Marshall exudes confidence in her silver on black gown. It is an interesting gown and I think that held it nicely. My only issue is that the colors do not really match her skin tone.

Miss Belgium Laura Beyne’s red strapless gown is wonderful to look at especially that a nice see through train was added to have a fresh look.

Miss Bolivia Yessica Mouton donned a gown in which I am not so sure how to describe he color but nevertheless she looks sexy in it because it is strapless and has a mermaid cut.

The pale blue gown of Miss Botswana Sheillah Molelekwa evokes the 70s but it is to her advantage. It fails to show off her figure and that extra cloth on her right arm looks tacky to me.

Miss Brazil Gabriela Markus looks absolutely wonderful. I love her gown which prominently features the radiating silver add-ons emanating from her bosom. She also looks fresh, comfortable and confident.

Miss British Virgin Islands Abigail Hyndman gown is a poor color choice for it is drab and that huge origami in her train is a bit overdone. Love the huge opening at the front skirt though.

Another drab color choice was by Miss Bulgaria Zhana Yaneva. It is like dirty white but dirtier. The patterns of the beadings though are commendable but it failed to shimmer against the limelight which makes the whole wardrobe more drab.

You can tell Miss Canada Adwoa Yamoah is well trained. Reminds me of Nana Meriwhether but she is no Nana, I have to admit. The white color has an interesting cut because it shows her figure but it does not go well with Adwoa’s dark skin. Well, if only Ms. Biniaz avoided that foot injury.

Miss Cayman Islands Lindsay Japal came out looking like Ximena. I love the vibe she is exuding. The glittering bodice and the revealing skirt is great but I believe a better design to show off the body shape of Lindsay is needed. I also think that her hairdo was a mess. It was meant to be wavy but it turned out to be disheveled.

I honestly do not understand the hype on Miss Chile Ana Luisa König. Her gown is so plain and her steps are way too overdone. She has a nice face and practically that it is it. She failed to impress me in the gown segment.

Miss China Ji Dan Xu almost fell down as she walked down the stage. Facially, this girl is mediocre but her body shape in her fuchsia mermaid cut gown is excellent.

I am a bit disappointed with Miss Colombia Daniella Alvarez Vasquez. She lacks finesse and elegance. I think her yellow gown is tacky and I am not particularly impressed by the way she played with neck shawl. It gives the impression that everything is unnatural and choreographed.  Remember that is also the downfall of Miss Colombia Natalia Navarro who somehow showed unnaturalness by playing with her sarong.

Miss Costa Rica Nazareth Cascante looks stunning her silky white dress. I love the fact that it showed off her nice curves.

Then out came the goddess Miss Croatia Elizabeta Burg. I just love her. The bunned hair gives me a Sushmita Sen aura. Her gown is elegant as always. I always loved this green applique on nude canvass.

Miss Curacao Monifa Jansen has a lovely strapless gown in pale cream color. She looks comfortable in her own skin walking like that.

Another disastrous gown this time from Miss Cyprus Ionna Yiannakou. The red gown is a monstrosity with huge cavity on the front and a busy skirt.

We had some issues with Miss Czech Republic Tereza Chlebovska’s body figure before and I think that such issues were validated in the gown competition. I mean, she’s beautiful but there is something in her body structure that made her figure look all too straight in gown. Her waist and hips appeared to be with a single measurement. I think this will be her fall down so I am not listing her in my Top 16.

Okay came out without any doubt the worst gown in the competition. The black long sleeve open back dress is just horrible and look at that walk of Miss Denmark Josefine Hewitt. She looked uncomfortable and would you agree if I say that she looks like she is hunching?

Miss Dominican Republic Dulcita Lieggi came out in fiery red. The floral ensemble in the breast area looks great and she held this segment quite well. I’m not a fan of her but she did well.

Miss Ecuador Carolina Aguirre looks great in red as well and this girl is confident. I love the figure hugging gown that showed a lot of skin at the back. I think it will look great if she bunned her hair instead of letting it down.

Miss El Salvador Ana Yancy Clavel looks elegant in white and the silver waistband makes it even more elegant. She appeared fresh, confident, and sweet.

Can someone remind me where we have seen Miss Estonia Natalie Korneitsik’s white gown before? I swear I saw it either at Miss World or Miss Universe. Anyway gown wise, she is great. The walk lacks finesse though.

Miss Ethiopia Helen Getachew earth red gown is so plain and lacks life.

The came out Miss Finland Sara Chafak with full confidence. She looks like a Barbie doll in here with wet hair look and a gown that is unique. Truthfully the gown is a love-hate piece but we have to admit Sara carried it well. I guess it was a tactic to make sure Sara stands out and I think it was a success.

Miss France Marie Payet disappointed me with a rather simple white gown heavy laden with beads. I quite thankful though that she carried it well and if there is any consolation, it actually highlighted her body figure.

Miss Gabon Channa Divouvi’s mermaid cut with ruffled white skirt looks okay. She walks rather quickly though.

Goddess Miss Georgia Tamar Shedania came out with a figure hugging gown with interesting patterns. Basically it is a series of zigzags in gold and white interweaved with vertical black add-ons. She carried it well and well, Tamar is a goddess so we expect the very best and she delivered.

I think black will look great if you add pizazz on it. That is why the plain black dress of Miss Alicia Endemann is a disaster for me. I’m quite sorry for her because I thought this girl had it after coming out strongly in swimsuits photos.

The red gown of Miss Ghana Gufty Ofori failed to impress me. It also highlighted her poor body figure.

Miss Great Britain Holly Hale’s sequined dress in subdued yellow canvass with ruffled skirt and a generous slit is okay-ish.

Miss Greece Vasiliki Tsirogianni’s gown looks like Angelina Martini-inspired albeit a little bit sexy. I just think lacy gowns are really not in this year.

Miss Guam Alyssa Cruz’ silky white gown I think was not fitted to her well. I can see a huge crease while she walks.

Oops, another girl that almost fell down! Miss Guatemala Laura Godoy looks okay in her shining silver gown in white canvass but her walk I think was too overdone.

I love the way Miss Guyana Ruqayyah Boyer walks. The cut of the gown is unique but the color is way due too subdued abd the overlay fabric looks tacky. But anyway, the talk of the town is that she fell down while she was turning at the front of the runway. I think she took a lot of attention for it ala-Miriam Quiambao moment.

Miss Haiti Christela Jaques body form is well presented by her shimmering gown but the color choice is so bland. Anyway she carried it well.

Miss Honduras Jennifer Andrade’s gown looks wonderful from the top but goes downhill from there. The huge train is distracting and frankly, useless.

Miss Hungary Agnes Konkoly’s gown should look okay if not for that low waist.

Miss India Shilpa Singh’s gown had been voted by the panel as one of the best but largely because, in my opinion, everyone else had bad gowns they never bothered to use at the prelims. Shilpa unfortunately appeared too stiff and I was always saying in my mind this girl should relax and loosen up.

Miss Indonesia Maria Selena looks fabulous in her mermaid cut gown. I love the fact that it is strapless and those threads coming out from the lower portion is just unique. The gown showed off her body figure but I am disappointed by her walk. I suppose she felt that the floor is quite slippery which eventually she yielded to it on the last pose. Luckily it was a slip and not a fall.

I have to admit Miss Ireland Adrienne Murphy is growing on me. Her scarlet gown is a clean piece with a hint of elegance which suits well to the body frame and looks of Adrienne. The sleeveless attire was complemented by what it seems two large bows on her shoulders which makes it unique.

As you can see in this first group, I highlighted five girls and they are Misses Brazil, El Salvador, Finland, France, Georgia and Croatia. These are the girls are in my Top 15 at the prelim gowns.

UP NEXT Gown review from Miss Israel to Miss Vietnam

Spectacular Miss Vietnam in a lovely ao dai! Missed the livestreaming of Miss Universe 2012 National Costume Presentation? Not to worry view the YouTube video below!!!

National Costumes at Miss Universe can go from the very simple to the absurd but in the night of the presentation, beauty watchers noted some few malfunctions. First, Miss Estonia almost tripped after she kept stepping on her skirt. Miss St. Lucia couldn't open her umbrella properly and Miss USA kept on pulling something. It was supposed to show off a spectacular/surprise thing like fireworks or glitters or whatever but the point is it didn't work. 

The National Costume presentation however is a chance of the candidates to flaunt their country's culture. Like this costume of Miss Korea which is actually a traditional hanbok. View the rest of the costumes from Miss Japan to Miss Vietnam and share your Top 3 in this group.

Miss Universe Georgia 2012, Tamar Shedania, performs onstage at the 2012 Miss Universe National Costume Show on Friday, December 14th at PH Live in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 89 Miss Universe Contestants will compete for the Diamond Nexus Crown on the LIVE NBC Telecast of the 2012 Miss Universe Pageant set for 8:00 PM ET on December 19, 2012.
HO/Miss Universe Organization L.P., LLLP

Few more photos from Miss Albania to Miss Jamaica at the gallery below and select your top 3 in this group.

Miss Universe Kosovo 2012, Diana Avdiu, accepts the Miss Photogenic Award from former Miss Universe, Leila Lopes, at the Trump International Hotel. The 89 Miss Universe Contestants will compete for the Diamond Nexus Crown on the LIVE NBC Telecast of the 2012 Miss Universe Pageant set for 8:00 PM ET on December 19, 2012.
HO/Miss Universe Organization L.P., LLLP

Fun fact: Since 2005, all winners of the Miss Photogenic award never made it to the semis.

Miss Venezuela Irene Esser demostró la superioridad de su belleza está en los concursos preliminares de Miss Universo. Mientras todos los demás sea utilizado vestidos blancos o de color rojo o azul, Irene era diferente, ofreciendo a los jueces y al público con una mejor alternativa - el color negro. El vestido era hermoso por su cuenta. El vestido refleja el carácter de Irene como una elegante y una personalidad alegre. El negro es un color elegante, mientras que el diseño refleja un estado de ánimo alegre.

En la competencia del traje de baño, Irene mostró todos los demás cómo hacer la pasarela. Ella se recuperó con alegría y confianza. Nadie puede echarla de menos en el escenario porque tiene una presencia imponente.

Con Irene Esser, es el momento adecuado para tener séptima corona de nuestro país. Viva Venezuela!