MANILA, Philippines- This year?s Miss Universe Pageant, set at the Crown Convention Center in Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa, Vietnam on July 14, will be telecast on Hallmark Channel live at 9 a.m., and at prime time, 7:30 p.m., on the Velvet channel.

Representing the Philippines in the competition is Jennifer Barrientos, up against 79 other contenders. The rigorous rounds are ongoing, and the final decisions will be based on three main aspects?best in swimsuit, best in evening gown and interviews.

Barrientos, 22, is a 5-foot-8 model and church ministry youth leader who used to work as ?welcome ambassador? for the Star World Hotel in Macau.

Emcees for this year?s pageant are TV host Jerry Springer and Spice Girl Melanie Brown.

Last year, Japan?s Riyo Mori won in Mexico City and traveled across the globe as an advocate for HIV/AIDS education, research and legislation. Mori was also in the cast of the reality show, ?Pageant Place,? which currently airs on Velvet Fridays at 9 p.m.

The Miss Universe pageant started as a local ?bathing beauty? competition led by Catalina Swimwear in California. It has since evolved into a quest that advances opportunities for role models to get active in various advocacies.

Among these advocacies is increasing HIV/AIDS awareness by focusing on women?s health and reproductive issues and building relationships with committed organizations.

Velvet also airs a full-season marathon of ?The Pageant Place? on July 13, starting at 1 p.m. And on July 21 at 7:30 p.m., the new reality show where mothers and their daughters experience all the drama behind joining a beauty pageant will be showcased in, ?Crowned: The Mother of All Pageants.?

Miss Universe pageant replays are set on July 14, 9 p.m. and July 19, 4 p.m. on Hallmark; and July 16, 8:30 p.m. and July 19, 10 p.m. on Velvet.

Velvet is available on SkyCable Platinum, SkyCable Gold, SkyCable Silver and other quality cable operators.