ASEAN Life Vol: 2 March - May 2014 | Page 26

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 www.facebook.com Aside from extensive preparations and an achievement. The Philippines, on the other www.facebook.com 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