AFTER a controversy over her reign, Binibining Pilipinas-Universe Maria Venus Raj is confirmed to represent the Philippines in the upcoming Miss Universe 2010.
The 21-year-old Bicolana will fly all the way to the city of lights Las Vegas to join the pageant. The coronation night meantime will be held at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino this August 23, 2010.
Venus will compete with more than 80 beautiful ladies all over the world vying for the crown.
To recall, Venus was briefly dethroned after Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Incorporated (BPCI) discovered inconsistencies with the information she disclosed to the organizers and the papers she submitted for the competition.
The decision of BPCI was later on retracted for "humanitarian reasons" and Venus was reinstalled as the Philippines' representative to Miss Universe after she also obtained her Philippine Passport.
As of this posting Tuesday, Venus is the top pick in Miss Universe Online voting, which can be accessed through the pageant's official website.
Venus is followed by Brazil's Debora Lyra, Colombia's Natalia Navarro, Mexico's Jimena Navarrete, and Marelisa Gibson of Venezuela.
The coronation night of the 59th season of the pageant will be aired on ABS-CBN on August 24 at exactly 9:30 a.m.
Replay telecast of Miss Universe will be broadcasted on the same day on Studio 23 at 2:10 p.m. and Velvet Channel at 6:30 p.m. (Glaiza Jarloc/Sunnex)