Maria Venus Raj, the country’s candidate in the Miss Universe pageant, won in the chicken wing eating contest held at Diablos Cantina in the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on August 15, 2010. (Photo courtesy of universalqueen.com)

Miss Philippines Maria Venus Raj, who is in Las Vegas, Nevada, to compete for the 2010 Miss Universe Beauty Pageant, recently won the Chicken Wing Eating Contest as part of the fun games held at Diablos Cantina at Monte Carlo Resort and Casino.

Raj is seen as a strong contender, as she remains the top choice for the crown in an online popularity survey conducted by the Miss Universe Organization.

Earlier, the 2009 Miss Universe Stefania Fernandez said that it is already clear in her mind who will replace her as the top beauty queen next week.

Fernandez made the statement during an interview with the Associated Press in which she also said that she has already picked the Top 5 candidates.

She said that her choices will remain a secret for now, adding that she will reveal them after the coronation night on August 23, 2010.

The 14 other candidates in the survey ranking are Miss Venezuela, Miss Jamaica, Miss Indonesia, Miss Thailand, Miss Guatemala, Miss Colombia, Miss Peru, Miss Mexico, Miss Puerto Rico, Miss Russia, Miss Brazil, Miss Trinidad and Tobago, Miss Haiti, and Miss France.

The Miss Universe Organization has also revealed the judges for the preliminary competitions in this year’s beauty contest. The preliminary judges will select the Top 15 candidates who will advance to the semis.

The 83 candidates will be judged in three categories — swimsuit, evening gown, and interview. The event was held on Wednesday. The semifinalists will be announced during the grand coronation night.

This year’s preliminary judges are President of Farouk Systems Inc. Basim Shami, publicist and TV personality BJ Coleman, finance official Carlos Bremer, Corinne Nicolas of the Trump Model Management, talent producer Louis Burgdorf, entertainment correspondent Natalie Rotman, and Sadoux Kim, of “The Apprentice’’ franchise.

The judges for the televised show of the 59th Miss Universe beauty pageant have yet to be announced.

Meanwhile, Raj’s mother, Ester Landagan, is now racing against time to be able to fly to Las Vegas, Nevada to witness the reigning Miss Philippines-Universe compete with dozens of international beautify titlists for the Miss Universe crown.

Landagan, an ordinary housewife from Bato, Camarines Sur, said she had witnessed ceremonies when her daughter was honored with medals and trophies as proof of intellectual prowess, but to personally see her capture the Miss Universe title would top them all.

Bato Mayor Janet Bernaldez revealed that Venus’ mother had wanted to accompany her stunningly beautiful daughter as chaperone but local sponsors of the beauty pageant said Raj’s prize for copping the Miss Philippines-Universe title did not include money to cover plane fare and accommodations for a companion.

Learning of Landagan’s sad fate, the Batoenos of California headed by Ric Tuyay passed the hat to raise the amount needed to bring her to Las Vegas.

See also:

• Venus Raj makes the top 10
• Miss Universe goes nude; RP’s Raj teaches them how to behave
• Another mishap: beauty queen dies
• Venus mourns, but is ready to shine
• Quiambao on Raj: 'She has what it takes…'
• Raj a top choice for Miss Universe crown