MANILA — Blame it on the weather.
Fainting spells have affected some Miss Universe candidates because they weren’t accustomed to the hot weather in the Philippines, Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo said on Thursday.
Teo disputed that a tight schedule has caused the candidates to get sick.
“I think it’s because of the weather, they came from very cold countries, like Switzerland and Russia. There was even one candidate wearing fur coat,” Teo told reporters.
“It’s not a very tight schedule, they have time to rest,” Teo said, adding that there were events when only half of the candidates were present while the others were allowed to take a break.
“It’s more on the adjustment of the weather, plus the jet lag,” she said.
Miss Curacao Chanelle de Lau reportedly fainted while Miss Angola Luisa Baptista was ushered off the stage in a luncheon event in Makati City last week.
Miss Italy Sophia Sergio also experienced a fainting spell during the governor’s ball. In Cebu, Miss British Virgin Islands Ericka Creque was ushered out in a wheel chair.
The preliminaries will be held Thursday night at Mall of Asia Arena.
The DOT has named the preliminary judges. They are: former Miss Universe Dayanara Torres, model and Real Housewives of Atlanta cast member Cynthia Bailey, international marketing director Rob Goldstone, People’s Choice Awards president Fred Nelson, and women’s empowerment activist Francine LeFrak. SFM
