entertainment
as its highest placement in history through
they can find the perfect match.
Evangeline Pascual. Over the years, the Miss
Aces and Queens headed by Jonas
World franchise has passed through different
Gaffud (recently featured in BBC News),
organizations, but the blue crown was never
is considered as the home of successful
won. When Cory Quirino took over the Miss
beauty queens. Janine Tugonon, Venus
World franchise in 2011, the Philippines,
Raj and Megan Young all hailed from this
coincidentally, finally turned its luck around
camp. Bea Rose Santiago, Precious Lara
with Gwen Ruais, a Filipino-French model,
Quigaman, and Karla Paula Henry, winners
bagging the first runner-up title.
of Miss International 2013 and 2005, and
Big 4 refers to the most exclusive and
grandest pageants, which includes Miss
Miss Earth 2008, respectively, came from
the Kagandahang Flores camp.
Universe, Miss World, Miss International
and Miss Earth. For most countries, having
The “Don’t Say Die!” Attitude
trainings, Filipina beauty queens succeeded
hand, placed in all four pageants from 2011
because they never gave up on their
to 2013.
dreams. Venus Raj, for instance, showed
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Aside from extensive preparations and
an achievement. The Philippines, on the other
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one or two placements in the Big 4 is already
her determination to succeed, rising from
Filipina Beauty Queens
poverty and emerging into a true beauty
in the Making
queen. She was dethroned at first due to
Beauty pageants are taken seriously in the
W
herever they may be,
Filipinos claim that their
love for singing contests
and beauty pageants is deeply embedded
Aside from extensive preparations and
trainings, Filipina beauty queens succeeded
because they never gave up on their dreams.
citizenship issues, but she got her title back
Philippines. Those who aspire to be beauty
Megan Young, Miss World 2013
and made it big in Miss Universe. Angelee
queens invest many years of their young
delos Reyes, Miss Philippines Earth 2013, also
looking at a brighter year ahead. In fact, the
lives preparing for a national pageant. Some
had the same attitude. She was denied entry
newly-presented Binibining Pilipinas 2014
join several local and regional competitions
as a contestant in Binibining Pilipinas twice
candidates have strong chances at getting
Bea Rose Santiago, Miss International 2013
before deciding to join a national pageant.
before she became an official candidate in
in their culture. The popularity of beauty
the crown. Candidates who tried it out for
These competitions are considered stepping
2012. However, she continued trying it out
pageants in the Philippines is comparable to
the third time, MJ Lastimosa and Diana
stones for them to gain more confidence
at another national pageant and went home
Arevalo, came back more prepared than ever.
when competing in a bigger stage.
with the crown. Janine Tugonon also joined
Filipina-German Pia Wurtzbach, last year’s
soccer in Brazil or haute couture in France.
beauty queens sealed the fact that the
Bicolana of Indian lineage, made it to the top
From major national competitions down to
Philippines is indeed a pageant powerhouse.
15. Although the common conclusion was
The Philippines has a beauty camp to
Binibining Pilipinas twice where she only
small barangay contests, there is no doubt
first runner-up, is also in perfect shape to
However, the road to what is considered as
that she garnered a fourth runner-up finish
train future beauty queens. These camps
landed as first runner-up in 2011, but took
that Filipinos totally revere them.
finally get a crown. Even in minor pageants,
the “Golden Years” of the Philippines in the
due to her “major major” mistake during the
are composed of beauty professionals who
the Miss Universe Philippines crown in 2012.
Beauty queens are considered celebrities
Filipinas have already begun turning heads. A
world of pageantry has never been that easy.
final question and answer portion, it was
train aspirants in all aspects of pageantry.
Even Mutya Datul, the first Asian winner of
in the Philippines. From pageant preparation