Miss Universe 2007 Controversy: Tony Romo One of Many US JudgesThe reason the predominantly Mexican crowd was booing Miss USA's selection into the final five following Rachel Smith's nasty fall on stage during the evening gown competition probably had less to do with a US immigration policy towards Mexico than the star-studded assembly of US-born judges that helped boost her into the final five.
Some conspiracy theorists have even suggested that these judges settled for an Asian woman to win knowing that Miss USA could not possibly take the crown while punishing the Mexican crowd by ensuring that the two Latin American representatives would not win either (heavily favored Miss Venezuela and Miss Brazil). That theory doesn't come into play with the other Asian delegate, Miss Korea (Honey Lee) who was also among the favorites compared to big 22 to 1 underdog, Miss Japan.
The Mexican crowd booed Miss USA when she first began answering her surprise question but cheered her at the end, perhaps realizing she did not deserve their hostilities. It was reported that NBC warned the angry crowd during the commercial break that by booing Miss USA, they would set a bad precedent for the world to see.
But what the world saw was the make up of judges who included: NBC's "Heroes" James Kyson Lee, NBC's "Deal or No Deal" briefcase model Lindsay Clubine, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, rocker Dave Navarro, and champion figure skater Michelle Kwan. Marc Bouwer was born in Johannesburg, South Africa where he studied fashion and won the South African Vogue Young Designer Award, but he currently resides in New York.
"A more diverse group of judges is needed," expressed Gambling911.com Senior Editor, Payton O'Brien. "I think the Mexican crowd was reacting to a global perception that the US is seen as too influential perhaps and this was illustrated by the make up of the judges and its ability to ensure Miss USA made it into the final 5 after she fell."
There was also booing for pageant owner Donald Trump, who brushed off the reaction to Miss USA as a response to the controversial US immigration policy.
U.S.-Mexico relations worsened in the past year after the U.S. National Guard was sent to the U.S.-Mexico border to assist the U.S. Border Patrol and help build hundreds of miles of wall to keep out illegal migrants.
Mexicans are also upset over a U.S. Senate proposal for a sweeping immigration reform bill that would limit the consideration of family ties, capping visas for foreign parents of U.S. citizens at 40,000 a year. The plan would change a system that favored family ties for four decades.
Many Mexicans also feel that the United States exerts its influence to tip the balance in its favor, whether in global politics or sports events, and they probably witnessed this type of "influence" in the make up of the judges as well.
On Tuesday, Mexican media lamented the fact that their contestant, Rosa Maria Ojeda, did not make it to the top five in the pageant while Smith did, despite falling down on the runway. Smith's fifth place finish only added to the theory that the United States always is favored.
The Mexican newspaper El Universal said Ojeda's fans were not as upset about her top-10 finish as they were that "the judges did not penalize that fact that Miss USA totally fell on her seat after she stepped on her dress."
The newspaper said that when the show went to a commercial break, an NBC representative warned the audience of 9,000 to behave because "this gives the world a bad image of Mexico."
But controversy stretched far beyond what some viewed as "perceived favoritism" towards Miss USA.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo was one of the Miss Universe 2007 judges. He is widely rumored to be seeing American Idol season four winner Carrie Underwood (above)
Hours before the pageant began, dozens of protesters held a mock ceremony in downtown Mexico City that featured "Miss Marijuana," "Miss Sexual Health," "Miss Human Rights" and other candidates with obscenities written across their sashes. The group yelled "Neither ugly nor beautiful, should a woman be considered an object!"
Sweden, famous for producing three Miss Universe title holders, dropped out of the pageant, claiming that the competition does not represent modern women.
Pageant organizers say the Miss Universe contest carefully selects women who are intelligent, well-mannered and cultured.
Even Miss Mexico was not immune from the controversies. In April 2007, controversy erupted over the proposed national costume of Rosa Marķa Ojeda, Miss Mexico.
The skirt of the costume depicted scenes from the Cristero War, a Roman Catholic rebellion in the 1920s in which thousands of people were killed, including hangings. The outfit included a bullet-studded belt and crucifix necklace. The design was chosen from over thirty others and had been intended to show Mexico's culture and history, but it elicited controversy amid claims it was in poor taste and inappropriate. Pageant owners said that the costume would be redesigned to include image of the Virgin of Guadalupe.
1999 Miss Teen USA Vanessa Minnillo and "Extra" weekend correspondent Mario Lopez hosted the live, two-hour telecast, broadcast on NBC and Telemundo, had been expected to be viewed by more than 600 million people in more than 180 countries.
Though Miss USA managed to squeak into the final five, ratings for the show in the States delivered the lowest adults 18-49 ratings since 1995 and the lowest ever in viewership, quite possibly attributable to the Memorial Day holiday.
The Miss Universe pageant averaged 7.1 million viewers and a 2.4/6 in the demo, losing to CBS in each of its two hours from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. "Two and a Half Men" and "King of Queens" (8.7 million, 3.0/8) won the first hour in viewership and the demo while "CSI: Miami" (9.4 million, 2.9/8) won at 10 p.m.
At press time it was not known how many people watched Miss Universe, but web results to the Gambling911.com site for Miss Universe betting odds related content was impressive with more than 55% of readership coming in from outside the US. The site also observed a rather large number coming in from the Philippines (6% of all traffic), whose delegate was denied a final 15 spot along with Miss Greece. Both were relatively strong favorites to be crowned Miss Universe 2007 following the oddsmakers leading pair: Miss Venezuela and Miss Brazil, both with +400 odds at online betting website
BetUS.com
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Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com
Originally published May 29, 2007 9:01 pm ET
