ENTERTAINMENT | Maxine Medina had an ace, but she didn't use it

Miss Universe Philippines Maxine Medina joins Steve Harvey onstage as the Top 13

is announced. Jonathan Cellona, ABSCBNNews

MANILA, Philippines  -- Thousands let out a collective howl after Miss Universe host Steve Harvey said the Philippines' bet Maxine Media was not using an interpreter during the crucial interview round.

The hometown audience cheered wildly throughout the competition as the model and interior designer glided on stage in a floral two-piece bikini and a sparkling red gown.

Until the question-and-answer portion, when Medina was asked what "significant change" she saw in the world in the last decade.

An interpreter repeated the question in Tagalog, to which, the beauty queen insisted on replying in English.

"In the last 10 years of being here in the world is that I saw all the people being in event like this Miss Universe. It's something big to us. As one nation, we are all together," she said.

While Medina kept her poise and spoke with conviction, she did not address the question, underscoring how the interview is the Achilles heel of Filipina beauty queens.

Eventual winner Iris Mittenaere of France and third-placer Andrea Tovar both used interpreters. First runner-up Raquel Pelissier of Haiti answered in English but had an interpreter on standby.
Pageant-watchers say an interpreter affords the candidate the time to gather her thoughts and give a coherent answer, while masking some of the tension.

But in the Philippines, a former US colony, English proficiency is often seen as a measure of intelligence, especially with the proliferation of call centers, where the ability to speak the language is an advantage.

Crowd favorite Chalita Suansane, who was with Medina in the bottom half of the top six, gave a very simple but heartfelt answer through an interpreter.

Suansane said she respects Thailand's late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who led the Southeast Asian nation like a father.

Medina's predecessor, Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, was a natural public speaker. She spoke extemporaneously at many events and made the pageant slogan her own -- confidently beautiful with a heart.

The Philippines' history in Miss Universe is full of perceived near-misses because of a fumbled interview.

Venus Raj may have started a top five winning streak in 2010, but settled for fourth runner-up. Asked what was her life mistake, the dusky half-Indian beauty said there was "nothing major major problem" that she encountered.

The following year, Shamcey Supsup said her future husband should share the same religion when Miss Universe promotes diversity and tolerance.

Miriam Quiambao settled for second place to Botswana's Mpule Kwelagobe in 1999 after struggling to answer whether a pregnant Miss Universe should be allowed to complete her reign.
In Medina's case, it is unclear whether the interview cost her the crown.

This year's Miss Universe is a departure from recent years where the contestant with the best glamor shot won the crown.

Organizers emphasized the need for Miss Universe to empower women with her own life story, like surviving an earthquake like Pelissier or recovering from a near fatal car accident like Peru's Valeria Piazza.

Medina could have tapped the pain from bashers, who ridiculed her and put her down when all she wanted was to deliver the Philippines' first back-to-back win.

She could have spoken to her countrymen about cyber-bullying that has made the Internet here and abroad a dark and toxic place.

She could have proven her critics wrong.