Nagsimula nang dumating kahapon ang mga kandidata ng Miss Universe 2017 na dadalo sa kick-off ceremony ngayong gabi sa Conrad Hotel, sa Pasay City. Excited na rin silang makaharap si Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte.

Ayon kay Department of Tourism (DoT) Undersecretary Katherine de Castro, kabilang sa mga naunang dumating ang half-Filipina na si Tania Pauline Dawson ng New Zealand dakong 3:20 ng madaling-araw lulan ng flight PR 219, kasunod si Ms. United States Deshauna Barber dakong 4:45 ng madaling araw, sakay ng flight PR 103.

Sinalubong sila nina Usec. De Castro at Gov. Luis ‘Chavit’ Singson, ang pinuno ng private partners ng pageant.

“I think he (Duterte) really sees the value of what Miss Universe means to the people. The Filipino people would love the Miss Universe, and for him to allow it to be held in the country really shows the support for the people,” reaksyon ni Miss New Zealand sa tanong kung ano ang sasabihin niya sakaling makaharap ang Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte.

Empleyadong lasing, patay matapos sapakin ng ginising na katrabaho

Pamilyar naman si Miss USA Deshauna Barber sa kulturang Pilipino dahil roommate sila ni Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach sa New York. “Pia has told me a lot about what to expect, so I am hoping you guys can still surprise me. I am incredibly excited to be here and I look forward to all the festivities,” sabi ng 5’10-inch beauty titlist.

Sinabi ni De Castro na magiging busy ang schedule ng mga kandidata na magsisimula sa press conference sa Malacañang kasunod ang photo shoots sa iba’t ibang lugar sa bansa gaya ng Siargao at Cebu.

“This kick-off party is open to the public so you are all invited. The girls will be here for a week and as we have announced we will soon be traveling to the different islands of the country,” ani De Castro.

Ibinunyag rin niya na isa ang Pangulong Duterte sa mga posibleng maging hukom sa coronation night.

“It’s a rule for Miss Universe Organization not to have a judge from the host country but I think if it’s the President, that’s gonna be another, you know, I think they will make an exception to the rule,” ani De Castro sa Palace press briefing. “I think Miss Universe Organization is very much welcome to have him in the show,” aniya.

Inaasahan na rin ang pagdating nina Miss Indonesia Kezia Warouw, Miss Japan Sari Nakazawa, Miss Malaysia Kiran Jassal, Miss Myanmar Htet Htet Htun, Miss Thailand Chalita Suansane, Miss Australia Caris Tiivel, Miss Korea Jenny Kim, at Miss China Li Zhenying bago ang party.