MISS VIRTUAL WORLD 2022 PAGEANT

2022 PAGEANT

CompE Lockwood

After months of preparation, thrill, and anticipation, the big December night is here. No, not Christmas, but perhaps a close second – The Miss Virtual World 2022 pageant is finally here. And what a night it is!

The show runs seamlessly from an audience perspective, which is good. A smooth, enjoyable show is the goal. But there are two stories here: one in front of the curtain, the other behind it. Backstage at the opulent BOSL Innovation Pavilion Sound Garden Venue is another tale. A team of skilled professionals monitors every aspect of MVW. Their hard work makes the show look easy. It isn’t.

Teamwork is critical. Take Jamee Sandalwood, for example. In addition to being tonight’s emcee, Jamee is the show’s director and manager. She brings experience to her role as the former MVW Sweden, 2015. The closer the event, the more hats she wears.

“You must have an eye on everything,” she says while giving a tour of the stage. “I move contestants around the stage with cues at the appropriate times and coordinate movements to make sure judges see the ladies and score them.”

She summarizes her job: “I make sure it all happens when it’s supposed to.” But she does not work in a vacuum. A virtual army is behind the scenes, handling tasks from taking applications to running the pageant finale.

Like Jamee, DiamondGem Destiny is a Chief Operating Officer. “Basically, we organize everything,” she says. “Meetings, working with judges, coordinating contestants for the various activities— all of this starts months before the finale.” Also like Jamee, DiamondGem is a former applicant – MVW Thailand, 2012. “Being a former contestant, I know what these contenders are going through. It can be quite stressful at times with deadlines, etc.” To ease some of the stress and backstage jitters, DiamondGem and others offer encouragement and understanding.

So, on with the show.

As the invitation-only audience takes their seats, candidates gather behind the curtain. “We talk with them backstage before we go live,” says DiamondGem. “We give a pep talk and answer any final questions they may have.”

During and before the event, pageant officials are in constant contact through a private communications channel. Everyone must know what everyone else is doing.

As in the real world, a live show offers challenges. Something can always go wrong or be unexpected. Unlike the real world, a major virtual concern is the dreaded lag.

“Lag is a technical issue that cannot be helped,” notes DiamondGem. “We all dread it.”

Jamee agrees and adds, “Should anything not go as planned, it’s my job to change things on the fly and make it look smooth and seamless. However, lag for the contestants is always a concern.”

She continues, “The key is making sure everyone is in the right place at the right time. Not just the contestants, but judges, staff, the audience, and us.” The goal is two-fold: crown a new winner and make sure the audience has a good experience.

The good experience begins about an hour before the show, when guests, judges, and others gather for a champagne social at the Sound Garden Venue.

JAMEE SANDALWOOD, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, AT THE 6TH RUNWAY CHALLANGE

Members from all facets of MVW take a quick breather before the show begins.

“It’s nice to be part of the audience today,” Jennifer Steele states with a smile. She spent almost a week decorating the venues, including the runway events and the main venue. She also decorated the bar we are socializing in. Cheers.

During the show, Emcee Jamee acknowledges the judges. “Thank you for your time and attention to the details our prospective candidates are presenting to you today.,” she says. “We appreciate your hard work making the tough decisions.” Indeed, judges have a difficult task ahead.

They assemble in the South Garden Venue before moving to the amphitheater. Their tough job, selecting the winner from a field of winners, awaits.

Sitting at a table at the pre-event social, Joys Cuttita is a third-year judge. “The girls who enter the competition have a particular talent,” Judge Joys notes, as a bartender pours the bubbly. “Each of the girls is special, unique. For us judges, it is sometimes very difficult to select just one.”

DIAMONDGEM DESTINY, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, AT THE 6TH RUNWAY CHALLANGE

Judge Monica Querrien agrees with her colleague. “It can be difficult, yes,” she explains about rendering the final decision. “But I do my best to look at each candidate fairly and make the best decisions based on how they present themselves.”

At 11:45 am, we are asked to make our way to the amphitheater and take our seats. At noon SLT, the curtain pulls back as Jamee takes the stage. Her excitement and enthusiasm are real as she proclaims, “Welcome Ladies and Gentlemen to the MISS VIRTUAL WORLD 2022 GRAND FINALE!!”

And the show goes on as contestants are introduced before a panel of judges, the live audience, and later viewers around the world via recorded social media.

Congratulations to Miss Virtual World 2022, Ann Lykin. Congratulations to the First and Second runners-up: Angelinkanega and MzzSapphire. And congratulations to the officers, staff, and volunteers who make this monumental SL event work, year after year. You all deserve crowns, too.