Sari Nakazawa, 23, was not able to win the third Miss Universe crown for Japan. The only two Miss Japan candidates to win Miss Universe are Akiko Kojima and Riyo Mori, who won in 1959 and 2007, respectively.
Mori was in the Philippines on Jan. 26, Thursday, to serve as one of the judges at the preliminary competition of Miss Universe 2016. The event was hosted by Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach and Filipino actor Derek Ramsay.
In 2015, Miss Japan Ariana Miyamoto managed to make it to the Top 10. On March 12, 2015, Miyamoto crowned Nakazawa as her successor.
On Jan. 30, Monday, Wurtzbach will crown her successor at the Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines. The musical performers during the coronation night are Flo Rida and Boys II Men.
The judging panel includes Miss Universe 1993 Dayanara Torres from Puerto Rico, Miss Universe 1994 Sushmita Sen from India and Miss Universe 2011 Leila Lopes from Angola. They will be joined by TV and film producer Francine LeFrak, Paper Magazine editorial director Mickey Boardman and "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" star Cynthia Bailey.
Steve Harvey is returning as the host of the coronation night with "America's Next Top Model" judge Ashley Graham as the backstage host. The former arrived in Manila on Jan. 28, Saturday, ABS-CBN News reported.
United States president Donald Trump sent a message to Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte through officials of the Miss Universe Organization, Rappler has learned. Duterte acknowledged the message and thanked Miss Universe Organization president Paula Shugart, who she mistakenly identified as Miss USA 2016, a title that belongs to Deshauna Barber.
On Jan. 18, Wurtzbach participated in a dinner program in Baguio City, Philippines, which was hosted by Miss Universe 2011 third runner-up Shamcey Supsup. Distinguished people of the city welcomed them along with Shugart, Miss Universe 2016 host committee chairman Chavit Singson, and some Miss Universe 2016 candidates including Nakazawa.
Have a glimpse of the Miss Universe 2016 event in Baguio here: