The Jax Network's Top 20 List - Miss Universe 2008

Here is my Top 20 list for this year's Miss Universe 2008. This list will change as the pageant progresses. Some girls who may not be in this list now may appear in the next update and some girls who are on this list now may disappear. Who knows? Just stay tuned and keep an eye for my updates!

1ST ROW: Top 5 - Venezuela / USA / India / Puerto Rico / Colombia
2ND ROW: Top 10 - Korea / South Africa / Australia / Czech Republic / Japan
3RD ROW: Top 15 - Kosovo / Panama / Belgium / Russia / Trinidad & Tobago
4TH ROW: Top 20 - Albania / Canada / Dominican Republic / Nigeria / Philippines

The Jax Network's Top 20 - Miss Universe 2008

Here are five girls who I believe will have a chance to make the final cut, in alphabetical order. There will be no scores for these girls. But please remember that as the pageant progresses and new photos and videos are made available, my Top 15 list will change and who knows these five girls may even break into the Top 15. So, stay tuned!

GATECRASHERS (TOP 20)

Miss Albania - Matilda Mcini

Miss Canada - Samantha Tajik

Miss Dominican Republic - Marianne Cruz

Miss Nigeria - Stephanie Oforka

Miss Philippines - Jennifer Barientos

The Jax Network's Top 15 - Miss Universe 2008

OK, here are the next five girls that round up my first Top 15 list for this year's Miss Universe 2008. These girls make up the Possible Contenders (Top 15) group.

POSSIBLE CONTENDERS (TOP 15)

Miss Kosovo - Zana Krasniqi

(Official Photo - 9.8 : Evening Gown -8.9 : Average - 9.35)

Miss Panama - Carolina Dementiev

(Official Photo - 9.3 : Evening Gown - 9.3 : Average - 9.3)

Miss Belgium - Alizee Poulicek

(Official Photo - 9.6 : Evening Gown - 8.9 : Average - 9.25)

Miss Russia - Vera Krasova

(Official Photo - 9.2 : Evening Gown - 9.2 : Average - 9.2)

Miss Trinidad & Tobago - Anya Ayoung-Chee

(Official Photo - 9.4 : Evening Gown - 8.9 : Average - 9.15)

The Jax Network's Top 10 - Miss Universe 2008

Here are the next 5 girls in my first Top 15 list for this year's Miss Universe 2008. Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together, the girls from Bubbling Under The Top (Top 10).

BUBBLING UNDER THE TOP (TOP 10)

Miss Korea - Sun Lee

Will Sun be able to outdo Honey and bring back the crown to Korea for the first time? It's not impossible and besides, Sun is trained by the multi-talented superwoman and national director extraordinaire, Ines Ligron. So, let's see if Sun will be able to join Simran in the Top 5 and gives everyone a run for their money. (Official Photo - 9.4 : Evening Gown - 9.8 : Average - 9.6)

Miss South Africa - Tansey Coetzee

After lackluster performances by past Miss South Africas in recent years, even though last year's delegate was super gorgeous, Tansey seemed set to bring South Africa back to the Top 15. Can she do it? I'm sure she has all the goods and talents. (Official Photo - 9.5 : Evening Gown - 9.6 : Average - 9.55)

Miss Australia - Laura Dundovic

Now this is one lady who looks set to follow in the footsteps of Jennifer Hawkins. She happens to be the best Australian delegate since the thunder from down under swept the universe off its feet in 2004. Laura did well in both the official photo and evening gown shots and I believe she stands a chance. Watch out for her! (Official Photo - 9.4 : Evening Gown - 9.6 : Average - 9.5)

Miss Czech Republic - Eliska Buckova

Eliska is the strongest European delegate, in my humble opinion. She executes both photo shoots perfectly and I'm really hoping she gets a chance to grace the final night with her presence in the Top 15. (Official Photo - 9.4 : Evening Gown - 9.5 : Average - 9.45)

Miss Japan - Hiroko Mima

The reigning Miss Universe is Japanese and it has not been done before that the Miss Universe Organization will crown a back to back winner. Nevertheless, it's not impossible and besides, just like Sun Lee, Hiroko is trained by Ines Ligron, the greatest national director ever lived! She can beat all odds! Not really digging her make-up for the official photo though, what's with the cat's eye? (Official Photo - 9.1 : Evening Gown - 9.7 : Average - 9.4)

The Jax Network's Top 5 - Miss Universe 2008

Alright, peoples! Here is my first Top 15 for this year's Miss Universe 2008 and I've divided my list into three categories - Girls I Believe Will Take It All (Top 5), Bubbling Near The Top (Top 10) and Possible Contenders (Top 15) and not forgetting five more girls I believe will have the chance to make it through to the final list - Gatecrashers (Top 20). For now, I will post my Top 5 list first.

GIRLS I BELIEVE WILL TAKE IT ALL (TOP 5)

Miss Venezuela - Dayana Mendoza

All hail the queen, peoples! This will be Dayana's year and after a missed opportunity with Ly Jonaitis last year, this will be the year the Venezuelans will rejoice and be redeemed of the elusive Miss Universe crown. Mariangel Ruiz is the only Miss Venezuela that came closest to the crown after Alicia Machado won it in 1996, although both Veruska Ramirez and Claudia Moreno were also 1st Runner-up. Anyways, I'm hoping for Dayana to take it all. (Official Photo - 9.95 : Evening Gown - 9.75 : Average - 9.85)

Miss USA - Crystle Stewart

Now this is one lady the three gorgeous Latinas need to watch out for! Crystle is the strongest Miss USA in recent history, even I believe superior to the flawless Rachel Smith. With perfect execution of both the official photo and evening gown shots, it seems this girl is destined for a bright future. (Official Photo - 9.8 : Evening Gown - 9.8 : Average - 9.8)

Miss India - Simran Kaur Mundi

Enough of the Americans for the moment, here comes the Queen of Asia - the gorgeous Simran who I believe is the strongest Indian candidate after the perfect Lara Dutta. Will she finally end India's dry spell? Let's hope she does her best this coming July 13th and as always, she happens to be my sentimental favourite for the crown. (Official Photo - 9.9 : Evening Gown - 9.6 : Average - 9.75)

Miss Puerto Rico - Ingrid Marie Rivera

Will Puerto Rico win again after Zuleyka took the crown only in 2006? It's quite a difficult feat to achieve but not possible. With tons of experience, Ingrid has positioned herself to be one of the girls to beat pre-pageant. And after the release of the official photo and evening gown shots as well as candid photos, Ingrid looks set to be a frontrunner this year. Expect her to do well! (Official Photo - 9.6 : Evening Gown - 9.8 : Average - 9.7)

Miss Colombia - Taliana Vargas

I believe that a Latina will win this year and if my predictions are correct, the crown will be a 3-way fight between three gorgeous Latinas - Taliana, Ingrid and Dayana. Of the three girls, I place Taliana third, behind both Dayana and Ingrid. But don't count her out just yet, with a near perfect evening gown shot, she still stands a chance in grabbing the crown. (Official Photo - 9.35 : Evening Gown - 9.95 : Average - 9.65)

The Best Official Photos - Miss Universe 2008

After the evening gowns, here are my favourite official photos for this year's Miss Universe 2008 and as always, in no particular order. These ladies, as they are lined in these photos, are Miss Nigeria, Miss Russia, Miss Tanzania, Miss USA, Miss Venezuela, Miss Kosovo, Miss Netherlands, Miss Norway, Miss Philippines, Miss Puerto Rico, Miss Czech Republic, Miss Finland, Miss India, Miss Japan, Miss Korea, Miss Albania, Miss Angola, Miss Belgium, Miss Canada and Miss Colombia.

For the moment, I've chosen twenty best from each category - official photos and evening gowns. And I've not ranked these girls in terms of superiority yet because I'm about to announce my first Top 15 girls in my next post. So, stay tuned!